Laneway
By Callum Ludwig
A long-time dispute over the function of a laneway in Warburton has led to it being temporarily closed to vehicles.
After a street sweeper struck part of a building in 2019, the use of the lane has been a hot topic ever since; it was closed until June 2021 when it was reopened and has now been closed again.
Director of Environment and Built Infrastructure Hjalmar Philipp said that Yarra Ranges Council can confirm that from Friday 8 November 2024, a laneway from Warburton Highway to Thomas Avenue was temporarily closed to
through vehicles until further notice following traffic safety issues and possible impact to buildings.
“The laneway will still be available for the emergency services, pedestrians and cyclists. This closure also coincides with the start of hightraffic season for 2024/25 for Warburton,” he said.
“If Council determines that the laneway should be permanently closed, this will be done in consultation with local businesses.”
A local business owner has also claimed they have faced structural damage to the basement of an adjacent building due to the raised level of
the right of way when it was cemented, the street sweeper incident and ongoing traffic issues at the western end of Thomas Avenue.
Founding Partner of Treehouse Nature & Healing at 3377 Warburton Highway (one of the buildings adjacent to the laneway) Tate Jerrems said they [himself and his co-founder Dwayne McCumiskey] have faced issues since their tenancy-to-ownership crossover from 2017-2019.
“The right of way’s ‘cement version’ requires excavation simply in order for us to survey for original elevations, in having our building’s wall remediated, that may necessitate full replace-
Santa’s elves return
By Dongyun Kwon
Recently, Santa Claus received a request from the Rotary Club of Healesville as the Rotarians needed assistance to refresh and decorate the town with Christmas wreaths.
After Santa received the request, he recruited 10 local elves to help him with this request.
The elves have started their job to bring the Christmas vibe into the town and are currently very busy finishing up everything on time.
Santa is planning to install the Christmas wreaths on the main street of Healesville in the first week of December.
Turn to page 15 for more
Santa Claus recruited 10 local elves to help him with a Christmas wreath decoration request from Healesville Rotary Club. (Dongyun Kwon: 443473)
ment of original materials,” he said.
“The Right of Way’s legal character needs to be discussed with the owners of the title originating the asset as a road under the Land Act 1958, being us,”
“The Right of Way’s permanent future needs to be re-designed and reconstructed in alignment with our original assets, accommodating pedestrians and cyclists in a safe, practical, logical way with definite opportunity for creative materials / relevant artistry embedded into the surface of the asset.”
Turn to page 7 for more
Don’t let it escape
By Callum Ludwig
An unattended burn-off in Warburton has provided a prompt reminder ahead of any last summer burning that residents need to take proper precautions.
CFA crews were called to a grassfire on Old Warburton Road at Warburton at 7.10pm on 10 November.
A CFA spokesperson said the fire was believed to be a private burn-off left unattended.
“The incident was declared safe at 7.26pm and the local council was notified due to local burning-off by-laws,” they said.
“CFA had two trucks on scene from Warburton.”
Warburton CFA Captain Ron McIntosh was one of the brigade members who attended the scene.
Mr McIntosh said he spoke to the chap involved who was very apologetic and thought it would be okay.
“He started it in the morning and then he got called into work so he’d raked it down as best he could into a little pile and then left it just sitting there smoking away,” he said.
“I said ‘No it’s not okay’, you must make sure that your fires are completely out before you leave them, it must be out under Council regulations, it must be registered, there must be somebody there with it at all times and you must have water available.”
The first Fire Danger Periods of the 2024-25 bushfire season were declared on 28 October in the Wimmera and Yarriambiack regions, with more having since followed in other regional areas of Victoria.
Mr McIntosh said the risk of leaving a burn-off unattended is that you could have another Black Saturday.
“That’s the potential because you’ve got no-
body watching it, it was on Old Warby Road which isn’t really a highly frequented road in the first place and it could have been up behind the house before anybody knew about it,” he said.
“I doubt that he’ll do that again but the point is that you shouldn’t really have to have that conversation with people who live in this area to make sure that their burn-offs are properly extinguished,”
“Once they’ve started the fire burning, then it’s up to them to make sure that they’re going to be there at all times, regardless of what phone calls they may receive even if they have to have somebody else that they could ring, whether it be a neighbour or a friend or something like that, that can then come and take over from them while they go and do whatever the urgent matter might be.”
Under Yarra Ranges local laws, burn-off offences include:
• Burning offensive material
• Burning off posing a danger to a person or neighbouring property
• Burning off without adequate attendees, tools
and water supply to control the fire or windrow
• Burning off without prior notification to ESTA, and reasonable attempts to notify neighbours
• Burning off causing a smoke hazard
Leaving a burn-off or incinerator unattended, except for in a Rural category property
Refusing to immediately extinguish a fire or substance when instructed by an authorised officer or emergency services worker
Burning off on Council land without a permit
Director of Communities at Yarra Ranges Council Leanne Hurst said burn-offs found to be breaching their Local Laws are liable for penalties.
“Outside of the CFA’s declared Fire Danger Period (FDP), burning off is enforced by the Community Safety Team,” she said.
“During the Fire Danger Period, Council’s Local Laws regarding burning off are suspended, and CFA and Victoria Police manage enforcement and infringements,”
“Exemptions apply, and we encourage community members to read our Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law and the rules for burning off at yarraranges.vic.gov.au/burnoff.”
Road rehabilitation for Yarra Valley
By Dongyun Kwon
In early October, Star Mail checked out the quality of the roads in the Maroondah Reservoir Park after receiving a report from a Warburton resident, a regular park visitor.
There were a number of serious potholes around the roads in the park.
Following the article, Parks Victoria conducted road safety inspections of parks across the Yarra Valley, which its staff undertake quarterly.
Parks Victoria area chief ranger Conrad Annal said Parks Victoria has commenced repairs of the three Yarra Valley parks.
“Repairs to potholes in Maroondah Reservoir Park’s access roads are expected to be complete in the coming weeks after the storm and flood events of 2022 impacted the popular park’s road surfaces,” he said.
“Badger Weir Picnic Area road works are complete, and repairs are now underway in Donnelly’s Weir carpark.” Badger Weir Picnic Area roads have been resurfaced. (Dongyun Kwon: 443688)
IN BRIEF
Hoddles Creek burn-off spreads
CFA responded to reports of a burn off spreading at around 4.31 pm on Worlley Road in Hoddles Creek.
Three CFA units from Hoddles Creek and Hillcrest attended the scene.
Upon arrival, crews found a grass and scrub fire spreading a quickly began work to contain the situation.
The incident was deemed under control at 4,50 pm and safe at 5.01pm.
Woori Yallock barbecue gone wrong
CFA responded to reports of a barbecue fire at around 5.25 pm on View Street in Woori Yallock.
Four CFA units from Hillcrest, Yellingbo and Seville attended the scene.
The incident was quickly brought under control at 5.36 pm and declared safe at 5.38 pm.
Woori Yallock frequenter wanted on warrant
Gary Brenden Conway is wanted on warrant.
The 52-year-old is wanted on warrant for several offences.
He is described as having a tan complexion with grey/black short hair.
He is known to frequent the Woori Yallock area.
Anyone who sights Mr Conway or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Warburton shop vandalised
Warburton Police are seeking public assistance to identify persons responsible for causing damage to the Charlie Horse Vintage Clothing store, located on Warburton Highway in Warburton overnight between 10pm on Thursday 31 October 2024 and 8am on Friday 1 November 2024.
Images of the damage shared by police appear to show the shopfront had been heavily ‘egged’ and the perpetrators had also written ‘STINKY’ with some form of white paint on a window. Anyone with any information or footage that may capture the incident, please contact the Warburton Police Station on 5966 2006.
Badger Creek person trapped in a chair
CFA responded to reports of a person with an arm trapped in a chair at around 4.11 am on Friday 15 November on Hannover Road in Badger Creek. Four CFA units from Wandin, Healesville and Badger Creek attended the scene alongside Ambulance Victoria.
Upon arrival, crews found a person with an arm trapped in a chair and worked to free the patient.
The patient was then handed into the care of Ambulance Victoria.
The incident was deemed safe at 4.23 am. Stokke pram recall
Certain models of Stokke YOYO 3 pram/stroller frame have been recalled as the affected pram/ stroller’s brakes can fail when in use.
The affected models ‘AA’ in the serial number.
Recalled Australian models: YOYO 3 frame in black and white
Affected serial number: 142AA0044415 to 142AA0044564
An unattended burn-off in Warburton that spread is an important reminder to heed the local laws. (File)
Fourth term for Jim Child
By Callum Ludwig
JimChildhasretainedhispositionasO’Shannassy
Ward Councillor at Yarra Ranges Council following the 2024 local government elections.
This will take him to his fourth consecutive term and 16 years at Yarra Ranges Council by the next election period.
Cr Child said he is quite pleased about his reelection and receiving over 3000 more first preference votes to the next candidate.
“When you think of what happened through the election, I’ve been challenged by six candidates and out of those six candidates were three candidates endorsed by a political body, and my first question is, why the interest by political parties to stand candidates in O’Shannassy,” he said.
“I think the electorate probably sent a message back to those parties; ‘You didn’t move on Jim Child’.”
Cr Child refers to the Greens-endorsed candidate Wil Mikelsons, Animal Justice Party-endorsed candidate Chloe Bond and Victorian Socialists-endorsed candidate Dylan Little, whose name and image were removed from the Victorian Socialists official website weeks out from the election. When asked why by the Star Mail, the Victorian Socialists did not respond.
Cr Child said he was very pleased to see the successful candidates elected and after meeting each one of them, he thinks they’ll have a very good council going forward.
“I look at Melba Ward and young Mitch (Mazzarella) being elected there at 19 years of age, to really take the step to stand for local government and then to be elected is truly wonderful for a young person like that and I think that we’ve got strong youth representation on this council for the next four years,” he said.
“The other point which is probably a disappointing part is that Fiona McAllister is our lone woman councillor again, I do have concerns about that, that we should have a stronger repre-
sentation of women on our council,”
“Yet we had a number of women stand and if you look at O’Shannassy, we had three women stand but it gets back to the will of the voters and who they want to vote for and I think that that’s what we have to respect.”
Cr Child received 4360 first preference votes (45.36 per cent of total first preference votes) with the second-best being two-time candidate Karen Duke with 1116 (11.61 per cent). After preferences were distributed, Cr Child ended up with 4838 votes (50.34 per cent), ahead of Ms Duke (1793, 18.66 per cent), Mr Mikelsons (1520, 15.82 per cent) and Ms Bond (1460, 15.19 per cent)
Cr Child said particularly with the lack of fe-
male representation on the Council, it’s important councillors continue to be considerate of all who they represent in the next term.
“We have to, I think it’s entrenched in our council, especially in the past council that we have to respect that diversity, who we represent, who we work with and our fellow councillors,” he said.
“If you look at the previous council with three women councillors, those three women played an important part with their insight into council and the local government area and it was so important to have their contribution,”
“On a positive note with Cr McAllister, she is so up to speed with the issues within Yarra Rang-
es, I will always value her input and I think that we’re very fortunate that she was returned, and returned unopposed for Ryrie, which may tell you something too.”
O’Shannassy Ward had the lowest turnout of enrolled voters with 10,015 total votes (79.99 per cent of the total enrolment). 404 (4.03 per cent of the total votes) were informal votes and couldn’t be counted towards the result.
With three new councillors coming on board, Cr Child said they will be keen to help them get comfortable and productive as quickly as possible.
“We want to get our new Councillors through that process as quickly as possible and bring them up to speed so they play a very important and positive role with the new Council, we don’t want people to go on a journey for the next 12 months just learning,” he said.
“It’s about getting in there, getting your knowledge base involved in the Council’s decisions and representing your constituents, we don’t want to be bogged down with a non-productive Council,”
“We can contribute too, going forward in regards to the next Federal election coming up, there’s a valuable piece of work that we’ve got to do leading up to that as well, because our local government representatives, through our advocacy policy, will be playing a very important part when it comes time to engage with those politicians and what they are proposing to put forward in the Yarra Ranges.”
Cr Child reiterated some of his key goals from before the election are on his agenda in his fourth term;
Continuing to oversee the start of the construction of the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination, pushing through the Yarra Junction Place Plan and Urban Design Framework, monitoring and being involved in the Parking Management Framework including the paid parking pilot in Warburton and sustainably managing the expected increase in tourism to the Upper Yarra.
Upgrade for Coldstream Community Centre
From 25 November, the Coldstream Community Centre will temporarily close for essential upgrades that will enhance accessibility, boost energy efficiency, and better equip the centre for community use during emergencies.
The project, expected to be completed by the end of March weather permitting and will improve the Centre’s ability to support the community in multiple ways including:
Redesigning the main entrance for improved accessibility for all users
Updating bathroom facilities
Installing solar panels and battery storage, enabling the Centre to function as an emergency hub during power outages, ensuring it remains operational when the community needs it most
Enhancing the kitchen to support food distribution during emergencies as well as for events
Expanding storage and refrigeration capacity
Coldstream Community Centre will temporarily close for essential upgrades from 25 November. (Supplied)
Additionally, energy-efficient improvements will see the centre get a new ceiling within multi-purpose room 2.
Yarra Ranges Council communities director Leanne Hurst highlighted the significance of
these improvements for the Coldstream Community Centre.
“We know Coldstream Community Centre is a much-loved community space and these planned works will allow it to continue to be an important space for people to use for activities, sports events, meeting space, and a place that people may use during power outages to recharge their devices and feel safe,” she said.
Ms Hurst emphasised that the Yarra Ranges Council received fast-tracked funding from the Federal Government’s Preparing Australian Communities fund, which allowed these upgrades to proceed sooner than anticipated, resulting in the short notice.
“Without this funding, these improvements may have faced delays or been unfeasible,” she said.
“While this temporary closure may be a short-term inconvenience, we are confident
for
the long-term benefits will be significant. These upgrades will create a new welcoming space that better serves the needs of our entire community.
“It’s a small impact now, with a huge benefit for the future - ensuring a more resilient, adaptable venue that can accommodate a broader range of activities and events.”
Coldstream Community Centre will be closed from 25 November 2024 and reopen by the end of March, 2025.
Council is working with existing bookings to relocate events to nearby venues whenever possible.
Residents who regularly use the space and who have questions are encouraged to reach out by calling on 1300 368 333 or email mail@ yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Jim Child has been elected for a fourth term as O’Shannassy Ward councillor. (File)
Gender balance stagnates
By Mikayla van Loon
While the rest of the state remains stable in its gender representation within local government, despite the 50/50 target falling short, the results in Yarra Ranges have reverted to a one to eight female representation ratio.
Having elected the highest percentage of female councillors in 2020, with an increase from just 11 per cent to 44 per cent, it has unfortunately returned to the original figure.
With Fiona McAllister the only woman to hold her seat at the table in Ryrie, she will yet again serve a four year term as the only woman.
Not only was there a reduction in women elected for the shire, under-representation was also seen in the number of female candidates choosing to run, with just eight of the 24 being women.
Running as a candidate for Streeton in 2020, Amy Muratore said given the political climate, in her opinion, women just don’t feel safe to run, something that was a “disappointing trend”.
Four years ago however, the environment was different, with the pandemic in full force and just one woman holding a position, the push for female representation was at the fore.
“Out of the nine councillors, the only female was Fiona, and a lot of like minded women started popping their heads up and I actually had almost like a support network,” Ms Muratore said.
“We were running different campaigns, and we were running in different wards, but with candidates like Roxanne Horn, Bec Brannigan and Jo Skelton, who ended up being successful, we were all young parents living in our communities, using council services, and decided we would all run.
“We all had the shared goal that we would like to see the gender balance on Yarra Ranges Council improve.”
Despite not winning herself, Ms Muratore said to see four women elected last term her “goal for running for council was achieved”.
Ms Muratore said in the lead up to the election, given the pandemic, women used their networks to campaign but this time around it was not as easy.
“We were campaigning in the middle of a pandemic, so it completely changed the playing field because we were limited in how we could campaign, it meant that we had to rely on community organising and women are good at that,” she said.
“They can make connections in the community, because they are in the community, doing things with their children. Even if they don’t have children they’re part of local clubs, they’re the managers of household budgets, they’re using the toy libraries, they’re going to the maternal child health nurse.
“So it set women up to succeed a little better, whereas this time round, now that we’ve gone back to a traditional election cycle, it’s certainly a man’s game to win.”
The push for women to run in 2020 was also backed by groups like Voices of Women, Victorian Local Governance Association and the council itself.
Welcoming a second child into the world and with her daughter in school, as well as being a teacher herself, Ms Muratore said this time
around it just wasn’t possible for her to run even though it “certainly was tempting”.
“It’s certainly something that I have not put aside but for me, watching what Jo Skelton and even Fiona, to a degree, had to do as as mothers running on council, and the support and the pay that you get, while my family and my kids are this young, it’s not that appealing,” she said.
“It sets it up for a bit more of a self funded retiree game, and really people that are not primary caregivers, the majority of which are men.”
Having also encountered threats during her campaign in 2020 and photos being taken of her daughter while at the park, Ms Muratore said this time her family’s safety was also a huge consideration.
Across the state in 2020, the percentage of women elected rose from 38 to 43.8, with the ABC reporting this make-up remains in 2024, robbing Victoria of the 2025 target issued under the government’s gender equality strategy.
Looking at eastern councils, Nillumbik (43 per cent), Maroondah (56 per cent) and Manningham (56 per cent) held the same percentage of female councillors as in 2020.
Knox saw a reduction from eight to five but women still held a majority. Cardinia gained another female representative with four women now serving.
The ABC reported that across the board it was “almost a 50-50 split between men and women in metropolitan councils” but that others heavily slanted towards men.
“It is a state trend, but we are seeing some exciting things, especially in Stonnington, people have been working really hard. So I’m heartened by some of those results,” Ms Muratore said.
Incumbency levels were also high for Yarra Ranges, seeing a 56 per cent majority of councillors reappointed.
Nillumbik had the lowest return rate with just 14 per cent while Manningham had the highest at 67 per cent.
Ms Muratore said if diversity of all kinds is going to be achieved within Yarra Ranges Council, then perhaps incumbency needs to change to ensure they are being elected on merit and not just
“rely on name recognition”.
Despite commenting on Cr McAllister being “a force on Yarra Ranges Council” and how “she’s very strong in her service to the community”, Ms Muratore said “that’s not diversity”.
“I am pleased we now have a bit more of an age diversity and I’m hopeful about some of those newer candidates coming in but we need to see gender balance because it provides a diverse lens on things that cannot be under-valued.”
The Yarra Ranges Council chamber will see just one woman represent the shire this term. (Supplied)
Telstra outage drags on
By Callum Ludwig
An Upper Yarra resident has been left frustrated and annoyed following an outage to his landline service through Telstra.
Three Bridges resident Peter Dunn, responding to the Star Mail via email after over a week of difficulty making any contact over the phone from his home, has been without his phone or internet service at his home since Tuesday 15 October.
Mr Dunn said on that day he went over to his neighbour’s place and with difficulty, because he wasn’t on his phone, managed to get through to Telstra to advise of his problem.
“They booked a service call for that Thursday but no one turned up, when I rang Telstra again they advised that the problem wasn’t with my phone but the pit located at Howells Road in Gilderoy, they advised that someone would fix the problem in a couple of weeks,” he said.
“When I called back after this didn’t happen I was advised that the problem had been scheduled for repair on 14 November, they did ask me if I wanted an interim mobile phone which I received a couple of days later,”
“This phone was configured to replace my land line and therefore needed to be kept inside so that I could receive calls however as the mobile phone signal is so weak their phone does not receive a signal inside so it is pretty much useless.”
Mr Dunn has had to travel to the Yarra Junction Library in order to access his emails during the outage.
Mr Dunn said he relies on his landline because the mobile phone coverage at his home is so poor.
“To make a call I have to be outside and I have to be standing in the right spot or the line drops out, people effectively can’t call me as the mobile phones don’t work inside the house, so it is a case of don’t call me, I’ll call you,” he said.
“The mobile phone might work better if I still had the internet but that is dead also, the fact that the internet is dead means I cannot access my
emails or do my internet banking, fortunately the only bill outstanding is Telstra’s, so they can wait for that,”
“Last year a land owner dug up the phone line and it only took a week to fix so I do not understand why this is taking a month, this is exceedingly frustrating but Telstra has obviously marked
this as low priority.”
Mr Dunn noticed a frame had been put around the problem pit on Friday 8 November, which was removed by Monday 11 November, but after checking with Telstra again had been advised the repair was still set for Thursday 14 November.
Telstra Regional General Manager Jenny Gray
said suspected cable damage is disrupting a small number of landline services in Powelltown.
“Mobile, nbn and other broadband services are not affected,” she said.
“We’re working to get these services back online as quickly as possible and we thank everyone for their patience.”
A Telstra customer in the Upper Yarra has been left disconnected after a nearly month-long landline outage. (AAP)
Laneway closure dispute
By Callum Ludwig
A long-time dispute over the function of a laneway in Warburton has led to it being temporarily closed to vehicles.
After a street sweeper struck part of a building in 2019, the use of the lane has been a hot topic ever since; it was closed until June 2021 when it was reopened and has now been closed again.
A local business owner has also claimed they have faced structural damage to the basement of an adjacent building due to the raised level of the right of way when it was cemented, the street sweeper incident and ongoing traffic issues at the western end of Thomas Avenue.
Director of Environment and Built Infrastructure Hjalmar Philipp said that Yarra Ranges Council can confirm that from Friday 8 November 2024, a laneway from Warburton Highway to Thomas Avenue was temporarily closed to through vehicles until further notice following traffic safety issues and possible impact to buildings.
“The laneway will still be available for the emergency services, pedestrians and cyclists. This closure also coincides with the start of hightraffic season for 2024/25 for Warburton,” he said.
“If Council determines that the laneway should be permanently closed, this will be done in consultation with local businesses.”
Mr Philipp said the temporary closures also comes alongside several other traffic changes that have been or will be taking place in Warburton in the coming months, including:
Changes to time restrictions with new signage
Asphalting parking spaces
Paid parking for visitors’ pilot project (consultation has been taking place with businesses over the past few months)
A turning circle will be constructed on Thomas Avenue to ensure that vehicles (particularly vehicles towing caravans or trailers) can turn within Thomas Avenue and not use the laneway as a cutthrough.
The turning circle on Thomas Avenue was the solution to illegal traffic not following the oneway designation for the laneway in 2021, put out for further consultation in 2022, amongst other
smaller changes which can be found here: shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/thomas-avenue-turning-area.
Founding Partner of Treehouse Nature & Healing at 3377 Warburton Highway (one of the buildings adjacent to the laneway) Tate Jerrems said they [himself and his co-founder Dwayne McCumiskey] have faced issues since their tenancy-to-ownership crossover from 2017-2019.
“The right of way’s ‘cement version’ requires excavation simply in order for us to survey for original elevations, in having our building’s wall remediated, that may necessitate full replacement of original materials,” he said.
“The Right of Way’s legal character needs to be discussed with the owners of the title originating the asset as a road under the Land Act 1958, being us,”
“The Right of Way’s permanent future needs to be re-designed and reconstructed in align-
ment with our original assets, accommodating pedestrians and cyclists in a safe, practical, logical way with definite opportunity for creative materials / relevant artistry embedded into the surface of the asset.”
Mr Jerrems claims that when they bought the site after facing eviction as tenants, he discovered the internally boarded cavities and original windows in the basement had been covered with a false wall, power points and a long bench.
Mr Jerrems said they removed the bench and false wall internally in the basement in March 2021, as well as removed the boarding, masonite and original cracked glass, and informed Council in April 2021 of the structural damages.
“We informed Council of the wrong cement level of the laneway (from 2001) and our original Heritage assets, in September 2021,” he said.
Mr Jerrems provided Star Mail with previous communication from Yarra Ranges Council that the previous doorway and windows of the base-
ment were boarded up by a previous landowner and prior to the cementing of the laneway, which had a design that ‘closely matched’ existing conditions and ground levels at that time when it was carried out in around 2001 based on plans from 1996.
Mr Jerrems has since spoken to owners of the 3377 Warburton Highway site from around 2001 and prior and received some written testimony from them, which was shared with the Star Mail, and corroborates that the cement level of the laneway may not have been as high as it is currently. Mr Jerrems believes the level is 0.5m above the level it was when the laneway was crushed rock prior to cementing around 2001-2002.
Mr Jerrems said they are yet to even consider any formal claims against the Council and their intention is to keep these issues away from the legal justice system.
“This has all destroyed my inner environment, being insinuated as ‘crazy’ or ‘a liar’ for so many years, when all I’ve ever done, and we’ve ever done, is try to show Council and others the mirror of their errors, behaviours, and impact on our person(s) and those of our reputation, both privately and commercially, within the Shire of Yarra Ranges,” he said.
“Our property is good to go, once remediated, there are no structural issues across any of the building otherwise, it was exceptionally designed and exquisitely built,”
“We all know that commercial lease opportunities are extremely rare in Warburton, this is only one of three zones in the basement that cannot be made available for the growth and opportunity of any small business ventures here, from now into the future.”
The 3377 Warburton Highway property is featured in the Victorian Heritage Database as the ‘Gainsborough Store’ and was considered ‘the region’s oldest store in near original condition’ (Tansley, 1978).
Attached to the agenda of the Council meeting in June 2021, civil engineering firm SMEC Australia recommended the full closure of the laneway.
Mr Jerrems has contacted a legal third party regarding ongoing concerns and also referred the circumstances to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
The level of the laneway seen though one of the original windows in the basement. (Supplied)
L-R: Tate Jerrems and Dwayne McCumiskey. (Stewart Chambers: 443640)
The basement prior to 2001. (Supplied)
The laneway, prior to being cemented around 2001. (Supplied)
NEWS Grants benefit Upper Yarra
By Callum Ludwig
Two Upper Yarra groups are set to benefit from grants through AusNet’s Energy Resilience Community Fund, introduced after the February storms to help improve energy resilience and literacy in communities.
The Millgrove Resident’s Action Group (MRAG) will receive $22,000 for their Millgrove Community & Energy Resilience Training Program and the Powelltown Residents’ Water Association (PRWA) will receive $13,000 for their Powering Up Powelltown project.
MRAG Associate Member Sam Rye said their funding will be directed to energy and community resilience training and improving the capacity of both in the township.
“Residents will learn about things like renewable energy and batteries um, as well as community resilience, working with some of the excellent folks at ResilientCo who are national leaders exploring community resilience and training people in that,” he said.
“This application for funding was already guided by the work that MRAG had been doing under the Resilient Millgrove Plan, which was a community-developed plan that already looks at a range of different factors that are going to help Millgrove to become a more resilient community, building resilience to the various challenges from climate and different social dynamics,”
“We’re definitely really keen for people who want to go deep and come along for that journey of multiple workshops or field visits and the like, but we also welcome the broader community who are interested in, what they’ve heard about these different systems such as solar battery, and they want to just understand more about it and how it might be relevant to them.”
MRAG’s resilience efforts in recent times have included the Millgrove Muster event held in 2022, the development of the Millgrove Resilience Plan and the Millgrove Community Open Days held in 2023 and 2024. The program the AusNet funding will go towards will look to help educate and train residents, households and businesses to be more energy resilient and to help out in disaster events in the community such as storms.
MRAG Vice President Phil Pomaroff said it’s definitely funding they wouldn’t otherwise have had to deliver training and education.
“Having more people out there that can get into what we need to achieve, it’s going to be beneficial so we are quite grateful for the fund-
ing,” he said.
“We had a training program last Saturday in activating an emergency hub and it’s something that we want to be able to increase the capacity of by training people up, so after a big event you want to have a place where people can get to and find out information, report information, recharge phones, hopefully, access communications and get counselling, all of the stuff that you need,”
“We’re isolated so we need somewhere people can get that help at the local level, the ground level, and then hopefully as time goes on we’ll get the Council and other resources coming and help with the effort.”
MRAG anticipate being able to roll out the new training program in January or February 2025.
President of the PRWA Nick Smith said their funding will go towards undressing the very unreliable power they have found we have out in the Valley.
“We’ve found out the hard way that when the power goes out we can be days without power
and part of our action plan for the resilience of the town, of course, involves power because without power we have no communications and we’re isolated totally..” he said.
“When this grant became available we applied because we could see that we’ve got a hub of buildings there that we’ve identified as going to be part of our recovery and AusNet came up with the grant to help us to do that so we’re very thrilled.”
In the event of an outage, Mr Smith and other Powelltown residents have experienced that the telephone exchange servicing the town can fail within 14 hours and within another hour and a half, they are without mobile service so access to power is crucial in keeping communications online.
Mr Smith said without the funding, they otherwise would not have been able to implement this part of their plan.
“With this, we will at least be able to power up satellite services to have some form of communication out to the outside world, that’s what’s happening up here, we’ll use that to communicate
with who we need to and to get messages out to say what the community needs in a recovery situation,” he said.
“Whatever comes our way, we’re going to need some form of power to do what we’ve got to do to fix things, but I’m very proud of our association, we’re a good bunch of locals who care about their community.”
The PWRA has been operating in the township for over 30 years, having built and maintained the town’s gravity-powered water system while also establishing an Emergency Committee who identified the need for mobile generators in the town, which the grant will fund.
Executive General Manager of Distribution at Ausnet Andrew Linnie said the company is pleased to be able to help make a difference through the Fund.
“The Energy Resilience Community Fund was created to enable projects that will build longterm community energy resilience and provide support to communities during recovery the recovery phase of severe weather events which significantly impact the network,” he said.
Next series of Living With Fire to be presented
By Dongyun Kwon
As the hot and dry season is coming up, Healesville Community Emergency Group (HCEG) is hosting one more event as a part of its Living With Fire series.
It is the fifth public presentation HCEG has organised under the series.
HCEG spokesperson Graeme George said the series had covered different topics regarding the bushfire.
“Our presentations have covered the topics of protecting your house, designing your garden, helping landscape your farm, looking at general risks with climate change,” he said.
“This time, we’re looking at the effect of fires on wildlife, and we’ve invited professor Michael Clarke, who is an expert on this topic.”
Michael Clarke is an emeritus professor of zoology at La Trobe University and has a longstanding interest in the impact of fire on fauna.
In 2010, he appeared as an expert witness in fire ecology at the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
Prof Clarke said he would speak about the historical relationships between fire, people and wildlife and the implications of bushfires which have become a global problem.
“I’m going to tell people about the complexity of managing fire for human beings and for wildlife, and the challenges that presents,” he said.
“This is a terrific effort by the local Healesville community to try and wrestle with some of that complexity.
“I’ve been working in this space for a long
Professor Michael Clarke. (Supplied)
time, particularly studying the impact of fire on wildlife and trying to get the balance between protecting human life and conserving the amazing bushland and forest that are around places like Healesville.”
There’ll be an update on the community Bushfire Impact Mitigation Plan for Healesville after Prof Clarke’s presentation.
Mr George said HCEG worked on the Bushfire Impact Mitigation Plan for 18 months, suggesting long-term programs to reduce the risk of bushfires.
“It’s a whole of landscape management plan to encourage landowners, land managers and agencies to undertake landscape practices to reduce the risk of bushfires having an impact on
people, property, assets and the local ecology,” he said.
“It’s more than just fuel reduction and there are a lot of other things that we can do, for example, we can put windbreaks to slow down fire.”
The event will be held at The Memo, Healesville from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday 23 November with support from Yarra Ranges Council. Doors will open from 1.30pm for check-in.
There will be time to mingle and chat over afternoon tea after the presentation.
The event will be free of charge but bookings are essential via the following website, eventbrite.com/e/fire-people-and-wildlife-its-notrocket-science-its-much-more-complex-tickets-1075285019439?aff=oddtdtcreator
In 2010, Prof Michael Clarke appeared as an expert witness in fire ecology at the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. (File: 319207)
MRAG are receiving $22,000 from AusNet for a new resilience training initiative. (File)
Tackling the tobacco wars
By Callum Ludwig
Just a week after the Star Mail delved into the issue of the illicit tobacco trade, the Victorian Government has announced its measures to improve regulation.
The Victorian Government’s measures mirror most of what the Liberal Nationals Proposed Bill contained, including a licensing scheme, fit and proper persons test and increased search and seize powers for Victoria Police.
“We’re implementing the toughest laws anywhere in the country to smoke out the illegal tobacco trade and keep Victorians safe,” Premier Jacinta Allan said.
“This strict licensing scheme will establish a dedicated tobacco regulator to help ensure all businesses are operating within the law,” Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne said.
“Victoria Police has been tireless in its work to disrupt and dismantle organised crime. These new search powers will give police new ways to crack down on crime lords and keep the community safe,” Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said.
The changes under the Tobacco Amendment (Tobacco Retailer and Wholesaler Licensing Scheme) Bill 2024 are as follows:
Introducing a tobacco business licensing scheme for retailers who pass a fit and proper persons test, with potential to be refused based on history and past associates
Bolster Victoria Police’s search and seizure powers in regards to illicit tobacco, while also increasing the role police play in considering the suitability of licenses
Establish a new tobacco regulator which will administer the licensing scheme, support police, be responsible for enforcement and compliance of licences and has the power to search shops, suspend licences, and seize illegal items.
Increase penalties for those selling illicit tobacco to fines of more than $355,000 or up to 15 years in jail, or fines of more than $1.7 million for businesses.
Eildon MP Cindy McLeish said due to the Labor Government’s delay, Victoria is behind the game yet again as the only state in Australia without a tobacco licencing system.
“With two firebombings per week on average, the bill to crack down on illicit tobacco and firebombing has finally been brought forward, albeit very late,” she said.
“The lead time for the introduction is still 18 months away, we don’t have that time to waste, offenders need more than a slap on the wrist,”
“While the Labor Government were sitting on their hands, the Victorian Liberals and Nationals have been at the forefront to stamp out organised crime associated with illicit tobacco and stamp out firebombing.”
Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence said the Victorian Liberals have been at the forefront of the fight against illicit tobacco and related crime gang activity for years.
Ms McLeish and Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence both argued for the Liberal Nationals proposed Tobacco Amendment (Stamping Out Fire Bombings) Bill 2024 in Parliament on Tuesday 29 October, which the main difference being the lack of
mention of a regulator and altered penalties for first-time offenders of up to 5000 penalty units –the equivalent of $1 million and up to two years in prison for second and subsequent offences.
“Over the past two years, Victoria has had 110 tobacco shop fire-bombings, including one that confronted our community in Seville, which burned out and forced shut several other small businesses and health providers in the shopping strip. This impacted the livelihoods of these small businesses – the operators and workers, through no fault of their own, and was a shock for our community,” she said.
“Finally, the government has introduced new legislation to deal with the licensing and enforcement – something the Victorian Liberals have been calling for two years now – but the law will not come into effect for another two years, sometime in 2026,”
“Why the wait? On the current run-rate there could be another 100 or more fire-bombings between now and the new laws coming into force leaving local communities and small business owners living in fear. I hope that is not the case, but our push was for the government to act sooner.”
“Local communities want action and certainty now, not to wait two more years for these laws to be implemented, and the government must take responsibility if there are more fire-bombings that could have been avoided.”
VicHealth has welcomed the introduction of the licensing scheme for it’s potential health benefits, with their data estimating tobacco kills 4000 Victorians and about 20,000 people around Australia every year, making it the leading cause of preventable deaths and years of life lost.
VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said she supports the new retail licencing scheme for to-
bacco and it will save lives.
“A tobacco licencing scheme will remove dishonest sellers from the market, ensuring they aren’t peddling poison to school children, or selling illicit tobacco or vapes,” Dr Demaio said.
“Currently, tobacco can be sold by anyone, anywhere in Victoria, with no requirement for retailers to notify the Victorian Government.”
According to VicHealth, Victoria spends more than $600 million dollars a year on smokingrelated healthcare, whether it be primary and
Bundled Branch Collection
specialist medical care, hospital stays, nursing homes, pharmaceuticals and ambulances.
“Tobacco is the only product that will kill two out of three of its users, and it doesn’t discriminate,” VicHealth Executive Manager of Health Promotion Systems Michelle Murray said.
“Alarmingly, the latest data shows Australian teen smoking has increased for the first time in a quarter of a century, on the back of rising use of vapes.”
Yarra Ranges Council bundled branch collection will commence on Monday, 25 November and take place throughout the Yarra Ranges until Friday, 13 December.
Items accepted for collection
Each household can place out up to three cubic metres of bundled branches, provided: Branches must be tied with non-plastic string.
Their pile has no more than 20 bundles of branches. Each individual bundle, tree limb or log is no longer than 1.5m, no wider than 200mm.
We offer:
Home Caring Yarra Ranges takes a person-centred approach to care, putting the client at the centre of everything we do.
For more information about our services or to talk to someone contact us on 1300 693 035 or visit www.homecaring.com.au/yarra-ranges
Logs should be straight and clean with side branches removed.
Items NOT accepted for collection
stumps, timber, roots, hard waste, bamboo, creepers, soft plants and grass clippings
Bundled branches must be placed on your nature strip up to one week prior to your collection week - check yarraranges.vic.gov.au/myneighbourhood for your property’s collection week
For more information please call Council on 1300 368 333 or visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/bundledbranches
Increased regulation is coming for the tobacco industry. (File)
Revving for mental health
By Dongyun Kwon
After overcoming severe mental illness, Chirnside Park resident Marcus Reeves has put on a car and bike show She Won’t Be Right Mate (SWBRM) to support people who are going through a similar experience he had.
Now its fourth time, SWBRM is going to focus more on mental health this time, inviting mental health and well-being services to the venue to connect people with mental issues with the suitable organisations on the spot.
Event organiser Marcus Reeves said SWBRM this year has the same aim from the previous ones, fundraising for Eastern Health while enjoying a day with fun activities.
“We have headspace, EACH, Bloke Psychology, Australian Defence Force Soldier On present and there are another one or two services just in case anyone needs any information or they’re not sure where to go to have a chat,” he said.
“We’ve got similar activities again this time, we’ve got face painting, petting zoo, jumping castle, Becky Bubble show.
“We’ve also got racing car simulators, remote control racing cars and slot cars, handball and basketball competition.”
There will be also a live band performance, giveaways and raffles as well as some sports stars, former Richmond AFL player Dale Weightman and former Australian boxer Barry Michael, coming up.
The last three SWBRMs went successfully with the increased amount of donations each time.
The first one ended up having about 150 cars along with about 1500 people and raising $11,000 throughout the day, which proceeded to Eastern Health to get gym equipment for patients to exercise.
The second event attracted approximately 280
cars and 3000 people along with raising $18,000 which went towards an Eastern Health program, called FaPMI (Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness), to improve support for parents and carers, children, young people and families including helping 16 families get a weekend retreat in Balnarring.
Despite unlucky weather and a few other things, Mr Reeves said the event was still able to raise $25,000 last year.
“Last year’s donation went similar to the first year, went to upgrading facilities in the mental health inpatient ward, they were able to purchase an area for families to be in and get artwork painted. They were able to upgrade some furniture,” the event organiser said.
“This year’s target is $30,000. My goal is to do a similar crossover to what we did with FaPMI, where we can send families or people away.
“I’d love to try and fund people’s psychologist appointments through Eastern Health.”
His hard work has been recognised as he has been nominated as a finalist for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award in the 2024 Victoria Community Achievement Awards.
Mr Reeves said he is grateful for being a finalist in the award.
“I do this event in the hope it can help someone who is going down a similar path to what I did in 2019,” he said.
“There are so many people out there doing great things, and many nominated in the same
categories as ours who are all deserving.
“I prefer to be in the shadows, but [I’d be happy to come out from the shadows] if being nominated can help bring more awareness and help a young kid, parent or partner see it’s OK to have our bad days, there is help out there and life can be a wonderful place once you come out of the rip dragging you back down into the bottom of the ocean.”
SWBRM is free entry for kids under 12 but $10 for adults and car entry.
It will be held at Yarra Glen Racecourse from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 23 November.
The tickets can be purchasable at the event or at the following website, eventbrite.com.au/e/ she-wont-be-right-mate-car-show-and-familyday-tickets-836939718227
To vote for Mr Reeves for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award, please visit awardsaustralia.app.do/2024-community-achievementawards-for-victoria
The vote can be done multiple times with a condition of one vote per day.
Dads Chat Project expanding in Yarra Ranges
By Callum Ludwig
An opportunity for dads and male carers to have their say on what they’d like to see for them in local programs and activities is currently open.
The Yarra Ranges and Maroondah City Councils have each partnered up with allied healthcare provider Building Better Brains to expand on their Dads Chat project, which both Councils have recently held in local venues, opening up surveys for their residents to say what they’d like to see.
Tony Vallance from Building Better Brains said it’s super exciting and he’s feeling extremely positive about it.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the feedback from the surveys they’ve put out on the socials from both councils and really looking forward to using that data to dive in and create really useful, hands-on, locally-applicable resources for dads out there,” he said.
“A common theme I’ve heard from them is feeling isolated, so finding ways to help the dads
feel connected, help the dads feel safe enough to share our stories, our scars and our stars, some of the awesome things that have worked for us and for our young kids,” he said.
“Also when things don’t work out, research has shown us that the zone of good enough parenting is 70 per cent so we need to be a bit reflective but not too harsh on ourselves when we’re not at our best because we all juggle so much, it’s about learning to reflect without too much judgment and then bounce back in and go at it again with our kids.”
Mr Vallance led a pair of Dads Chat events for the Yarra Ranges and Maroondah earlier this year, an in-person Maroondah event in April and an online event in the Yarra Ranges in July.
Mr Vallance said he encouraged dads and male carers to dive in to the project, even if they need to just sit there in the room.
“You don’t have to share if you don’t feel comfortable but once you’re there in person with a bunch of guys going through incredibly
similar stuff, from the awesome parts of fatherhood to the more challenging parts,” he said.
“Being able to share it and realise that you’re not alone, to learn a bit about the brain and behaviour and techniques that we can do as dads to help our kids feel more connected, to help them with their big feelings as well, it’s just such an awesome opportunity,”
“I think having that local approach is super important because we outsource so many things in life, we might be looking at YouTube videos or TikTok videos or whatever it is about parenting or about various things, but speaking to, sharing with and chatting with other dads and being supported to learn a few more new things, to vulnerably share a few things and share some of our victories with a bunch of our local dads is awesome.”
For Yarra Ranges dads and male carers to give feedback and find out more about the Dads Chat Project, including local in-person consultation opportunities in local townships,
visit shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/dads-chatproject.
Director of Communities at Yarra Ranges Council Leanne Hurst said they know there’s a gap in programs and activities for male carers and dads, so their teams are partnering up to learn more and develop a plan to address this.
“We’re working with Maroondah Council on a project to hear from dads and male carers of children under eight years, about things they feel would support them in their family role, social settings and the community,” she said.
“I strongly encourage all local dads and carers to share their feedback at Shaping Yarra Ranges, so we can develop programs and activities that support dads and male carers, their families and the wider community.”
For Maroondah dads and male carers, visit yoursay.maroondah.vic.gov.au/dads-chat-project.
Engagement for both Council’s surveys closes on 4 December.
Car entry is $10. (Australian Car Events)
Lachy, Rhys and Joel helped run SWBRM last year and will help again this year.
Paul sitting next to his hot rod. (Australian Car Events)
She Won’t Be Right Mate is a car and bike show to fundraise for people with mental issues.
With the presence of Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) in the Yarra Valley last fruit season, history has shown us that we need to be prepared and tackle the fruit fly issue head on this season. Using traps for monitoring for any QFF that are possibly in the area will help detect the first generation, and then we can focus on preventing QFF establishing. Investment in prevention is cheaper in the long run, when compared to the fruit losses and the cost of management should the QFF population take hold. Minimising the use of QFF control chemicals also significantly contributes to the preservation of all the beneficial bugs in our growing systems. Fruit growers, both commercial and home gardeners, should always consider that new QFF risks can arrive in any new season at any stage, mainly from the transport of infested fruit grown in QFF areas. Your fruit can be impacted suddenly if your neighbour’s fruit has QFF or the tree down the road is infested. Blackberries can also host QFF in mid-late Summer. Be prepared. Install and monitor fruit fly traps and prune your fruit trees to allow for installation of netting.
TIPS FOR USING QFF TRAPS
Traps help monitor for the presence of Queensland Fruit Fly. In the Yarra Valley there is a network of traps to detect the first QFF around. Your traps are an essential part of this network!
Early detection means rapid action can be taken at the crucial time to prevent costly damage and to minimise the of area control required. It also means unnecessary action is avoided when there are no QFF present, saving money, chemicals and protecting the beneficial insects. Trap information helps everyone determine when the best time to start management, or if you need to be doing more to control QFF better.
Traps should be hung at 1.5m high in trees and shrubs. Ideally, traps should be in operation by blossom time, and stay for the whole season. Place traps in amongst the leaves to protect the trap from direct sunlight. QFF don’t like hot traps. Checking traps is really important. If you detect a QFF, a control program can begin straight away. Remember to notify the Regional Coordinator, your agronomists, local nurseries, friends, family and neighbours. Visit, check and clean the trap at least weekly. Record your trap results to help with future QFF management decisions.
Old lures need to be removed and replaced according to label directions, about every 3 months. Expired lures can maintain their attractiveness to QFF, but they loose their ability to kill the QFF, which can lead to misleading monitoring results.
TIPS FOR NETTING TREES
Netting fruit trees is a big commitment for any fruit grower. It’s expensive, annoying and complicated. However, it is chemical free, reusable and it is adjustable to the fruit trees or plants requiring protection each season. The additional benefit is that it can protect the fruit from other insect pests, birds and possums!
Netting is the best defence against Queensland Fruit Fly because even with all of the cleaning up of fallen fruit, trapping, baiting programs and other controls, some pregnant female QFF can still lay eggs in fruit. Netting is the last line of defence!
Netting should be put over the fruit tree or garden when the fruit is small, green and immature. Wait until the flowering and pollination is completely finished. Use a structure like a metal frame, or star pickets with plastic pipe arches, to hold the netting away from the fruit. This stops the QFF reaching the fruit through the netting holes, and the larger structure allows for better air flow around the tree, minimising the fungal disease risk under netting.
Netting comes in any length, at 3m, 6m, or 10m roll widths, or pre sewn into box shapes of various sizes e.g. 3m x 3m x 3m to cover a tree or tomato patch. Netting bags can protect a small cluster of fruit. Use netting that is 2mm or smaller in hole size. Ask your local nursery to help find a net solution.
Summer prune stone fruit branches to keep the branches small and short.
Prune the long leafy shoots to at least half or shorter. The fruit for next year will be at the base of these shoots. This technique helps manage tree vigour, and promotes increased fruit production. Some prefer to only prune stone fruit in Summer. Keep all fruit production at a height that you can prune pick and protect! Everyone can grow summer fruit if they manage it responsibly.
tone for new look Woolworths store
SevilleshopperswillenjoyanewWoolworths shopping experience with fresh food, convenience and value the cornerstones of the renewed supermarket in town.
Woolworths Seville, located on the Warburton Highway, has received an extensive upgrade, with an expanded range of fresh fruit and vegetables, electronic ticketing throughout the store and new self scanning checkouts to assist customers paying for their groceries quicker.
A selection of 100% Australian meat and a great variety of fresh, local seafood will be available from the fish market.
A large Macro Wholefoods market range and a dedicated offering of plant-based protein can also be found in store.
Woolworths Seville Store Manager, Andrew Ezzat, who’s been working for Woolworths for 30 years, is looking forward to showcasing the new look store. “My team and I are excited to offer our customers a new shopping experience with an extensive range of groceries to choose from across the store, as well as a number of innovative new features to provide convenience and value.
A feature of the renewed store is the Direct to Boot service withthreededicatedparkingbays.Afterplacingtheirorder online, customers simply confirm when they’ve arrived via the Woolworths app or SMS link to notify the store team, who will then pack the order directly in the boot with no additional charge.
Caring for those less fortunate is at the centre of the store’s commitment to the community, as the store is proud to partner with Foodbank. Woolworths Seville will also continue to partner with a number of community groups
in town like the Seville Fire Brigade, the Seville Football Club and local primary and secondary schools.
Store highlights include:
• Macro Whole Foods - Discover everything from healthier vegetable chips and snacks, to raw ingredients for baking and cereals and muesli for breakfast.
• Deli - With cured meats sliced to order and a range of delicious local and international cheeses, the continental style deli has everything you need for a perfect platter.
• Direct to Boot - Customers can conveniently pull up in a marked Direct to boot parking bay to pick up
Opening hours for Woolworths Seville are 7:00 am - 10:00 pm, 7 days a week.
The Woolworths Seville team celebrate the store's relaunch
Team member Tayla, one of the original team members from when the Seville store first opened, cut the ribbon
Deli delights
Drop by your new deli and enjoy a slice of the good life.
Inspired by a classic Italian delicatessen, our glass cabinets are brimming with cured meats, salami and antipasti from local and international producers. All these delicacies are ready to serve but we can slice your meats just the way you like it –thick, thin or shaved. Please ask for a taste if you can’t decide, there’s plenty to try.
One of our deli favourites is the D’Orsogna sliced honey leg ham served off the Bone, made from Australian Jarrah Honey and Australian Pork. The D’Orsogna family has been crafting authentic and flavoursome smallgoods here in Australia for more than 67 years. From a humble suburban butcher shop, D’Orsogna has been in partnership with Woolworths for more than 60 years and has grown into a well-loved national brand.
Our cheese section is also filled with goodies from small and large local makers, as well as international classics such as aged Italian pecorino, Swiss gruyère and rich, creamy French brie. The olive
section is worth exploring too, with plump Sicilians, rich Kalamatas and a wide variety of sliced, marinated and stuffed varieties ready to enjoy.
Prosciutto is great in appetisers, served with melon and mozzarella or simply enjoyed on its own.
From the farm to your table
Your new local fresh fruit and vegetable market is here bringing you the best of the country.
When it comes to fresh, it doesn’t get any fresher than this. We take great pride in partnering with Australian farmers to bring you fruit and veg –fresh, crisp and full of flavour.
You might also notice that one of our sections has fruit and veg that looks a little bit different. We call this range The Odd Bunch. It’s made up of fresh produce that looks different, but is just as beautiful on the inside, healthy and nutritious and represents great value. Not only does it save you money but it helps our farmers sell more too. There’s nothing odd about that.
Ask any of our friendly experts what’s in season, or if you’d like
your heavy fruit or veg cut and wrapped to size, just ask!
Seville, try Direct to boot today.
We’ll pick, pack and pop your groceries in your boot, same day for free*. No need to leave your car.
Shop now at woolworths.com.au or download the Woolworths App.
*Min. spend $50 (excludes bag fees). Order cutoffs apply. Subject to availability. Pick up time may be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Visit woolworths.com.au for full T&Cs.
Experience Indian culture
By Dongyun Kwon
Healesville Pop-up Space and The Memo were filled with Indian culture on Sunday 10 November.
Diwali - The Festival of Lights is the event hosted by the Rotary Club of Healesville.
Diwali, known as the festival of lights, marks the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and the beginning of a new year in Hindu tradition.
Healesville Rotary Club vice president Terry Hill, who was also master of ceremonies for the Diwali Festival, said the event was to embrace different cultures.
“As an international organisation, Rotary embraces all cultures. With our Indian-born members, it was appropriate that we showcased Diwali - The Festival of Lights, to bring cultural awareness to Healesville,” he said.
“The theme of Diwali is a positive one and fits perfectly with Rotary’s theme of the year ‘Love Healesville’.
“It is all about celebrating the good things in life and we in Healesville are most blessed with the life that surrounds us.”
This year, the event was held for the second time in Healesville after the first one in 2022.
Over 120 people turned up and had a great time while enjoying cultural performances, a DJ, face painting, a balloon twister and food trucks with delicious Indian cuisine, coffee, ice cream and doughnuts.
Healesville, no shortage of interesting events
Three different events in Healesville offered locals a great time by providing the experience of different cultures and train journeys from Darwin to Adelaide as well as music and food.
Healesville Library hosted the Italian Cultural Immersion Community Lunch where locals had free lunch while experiencing Italian music, dance and food on Thursday 7 November and Armchair Travel - On The Ghan on Saturday 16 November where attendees heard about the Ghan train trip, one of the world’s great train journeys.
Healesville Festival Incorporated commenced its free gig series Something’s Popped Up at the Healesville Pop-up Space outside Healesville Library on Saturday 16 November. Something’s Popped Up is going to be held again with different musicians between 12pm and 3pm on 23 and 30 November.
Here are some highlights of the events.
L-R: Lorraine, Wendy and Alison with Terry Green after Armchair Travel - On The Ghan. (442718)
L-R: Honnie Purdy, Colleen Scott and Jill Fleming enjoying a chat after Italian Cultural Immersion Community Lunch. (442513)
Armchair Travel - On The Ghan presenter Terry Green (left) with Katie. (442718)
L-R: Jeanette McRae, June Oates and Lee Howson with Rosa Voto (singer/dancer) and Phil Carroll (accordion player) at Italian Cultural Immersion Community Lunch. (Stewart Chambers: 442513)
L-R: Shona, Java, Sabina, Shaura and Kate enjoying Something’s Popped Up. (444195)
L-R: Brian and Kaz Buchanan, Nigel Barford, Gary Butler, Frankie Ruffino and Fiona Couper from Lions Club of Healesville selling sausage sizzles at Something’s Popped Up. (444195)
Healesville Rotarians Aparna, Chrissy and Annie performing a cultural Diwali dance. (Rotary Club of Healesville)
Mr Hill interviewing the performers about their performances, how long they have been performing for, how they became involved in performing, what they do to prepare and much more.
The Rotary District Governor for 9815 Colin Byron making a speech at the Diwali Festival at The Memo.
Sandhya George, singing at the Diwali Festival at The Memo.
Garden will open to all
By Dongyun Kwon
Award-winning accommodation chosen by travellers is opening its beautiful garden for a good cause.
Yarra Gables in Healesville, formerly known as Marna House, is inviting both locals and visitors to visit the open garden and is offering an exclusive opportunity to explore the grounds, with all proceeds will be donated to Healesville InterChurch Community Care Inc (HICCI).
Yarra Gables owner Helen Wood said HICCI is very much in need of extra funds coming into Christmas.
“They’re needing to support more people than they normally would at any other time of the year, and so these funds will be used to go towards that,” she said.
“HICCI’s also conscious that there’ll be some people who need help but may feel hesitant to reach out and ask for help.
“I hope this encourages people to step forward if they need some extra support.”
Yarra Gables has been rated number one for two years running by Trip Advisor in Australia and the South Pacific and also rated in the top 10 properties in the world based on guest reviews in its accommodation category for its outstanding design, exceptional service and welcoming atmosphere.
The garden is a real highlight of the property and often the talk of locals about town.
Helen Wood and Ralph Henderson, the current owners, have made extensive changes to the grounds, and it is now an explosion of seasonal blooms with a mix of mature trees and newly designed garden.
During the Opening Garden, guests can meander through the pathways, relax in one of many picturesque settings and enjoy a Devonshire Tea or a glass of wine on the lush lawns.
“Local artists will be setting up their easels and painting, and visitors will be able to see artists in action,” Ms Wood said.
“There’ll be outdoor games, both for the kids and the adults, and beautiful places to wander or sit and enjoy the lovely garden that now complement this iconic property.”
Visitors will also have a chance to hear about the 120-year history of the property, see photos of it through the decades and understand the stories behind the walls that have witnessed generations of change at Marna House.
Apart from Opening Garden, Ms Wood has run a clothes swap at Yarra Gables for the last nine years to help raise donations for HICCI.
“It’s a bunch of girlfriends who get together and recycle fashion, and we make a small perhead donation of $20, and that money goes to HICCI every year,” the Yarra Gables owner said.
“My management consulting company TMS Consulting matches whatever money we raise during the clothes swap each year and donates that to HICCI as part of our Christmas donations. We also donate the leftover fashion at the end of the day to local op shops.
“Recycling fashion is great for reducing landfills. It’s also good for the environment.”
The garden will be open between 10am and
3pm for two days on 22 and 23 November.
The entry ticket is $5 along with Devonshire Tea, a scone and a glass of wine will be on sale on site.
Staff from HICCI and Yarra Gables are donating their time to collect entry fees and help run the event.
“There is no obligation to buy anything else. They can just have a wander around the garden but if they want to do this with a scone or a glass of Prosecco that can also be purchased on site.” Ms Wood said.
“There will be lots of lovely places to sit in the garden and places for the kids to play. There is a cubby house and a fairy garden which our guests love.”
Busy season for Healesville as elves are back
By Dongyun Kwon
Healesville elves have started their job to bring the Christmas vibe into the town.
Recently, Santa Claus received a request from the Rotary Club of Healesville as the Rotarians needed assistance to refresh and decorate the town with Christmas wreaths.
After Santa received the request, he recruited 10 local elves to help him with this request.
Healesville Rotary Club president Sally Piper said the Rotary Club purchased 12 new wreaths, which were added to 24 older wreaths, with the help of the Healesville Lions Club.
“They were naked, just fresh greenery, so now the elves are decorating them with baubles,” she said.
“These will all be installed in December. The wreaths will be put at the base of the lamps and then a crew, come along from the shire, will put the Christmas wreaths up on the lamps.
“We’ll have a grand unveiling with Santa in the first week of December.”
This is another project that two local community groups, Healesville Rotary Club and Healeville Lions Club, put their hands together for the benefit of the local community.
Sally thanked the Lions Club for the help.
“When we put out the call that we were trying to maintain our old wreaths and to purchase the new wreaths, which was another edition of 12, the Lions Club put their hand up straight away to help us with the bauble,” she said.
“We could do the refreshing of the old ones and are able to decorate all the new ones as well.
“They have been an amazing help. We love working together with another service group in our town because we all love Healesville.”
A Rotarian couple, Chippy and Cheryl, have
been designated as Christmas wreath guardians by Santa and they have stored the Christmas wreaths for about 15 years in Santa’s secret vault, where no one can find them. The president is calling for help from the local community.
“If anyone would love to support us in growing our Christmas decorations in our main street, all they have to do is contact the Rotary Club via email (secretary@rotaryhealesville. org),” Sally said.
“Any donation, whether it’s large or small, helps us put another bauble on another little Christmas tree.
“Our goal is every lamp in our street would have a Christmas wreath decoration.”
Santa Claus recruited 10 local elves to help him with a Christmas wreath decoration request from Healesville Rotary Club. (Dongyun Kwon: 443473)
Three-year-old Prue receiving a present from Santa for being a good girl. (443473)
Elves are working hard to finish off their job by the first week of December. (443473)
One part of Yarra Gables garden. (Dongyun Kwon: 406073)
Yarra Gables, formerly known as Marna House, has been in Healesville for 120 years. (406073)
NEWS Wandin honours fallen
By Callum Ludwig
Members of the Wandin community gathered on Monday 11 November to pay respects to the many Australians who have served.
The Rotary Club of Wandin helped organise the Remembrance Day event at the Wandin Cenotaph, gathering at 11am.
Rotarian Tim Manders rallied the troops to put together the event and said he think it’s very important that people still come together to remember those who have served.
“From the kids’ perspective, it’s maintaining that connection with the Australians in our past, I think the war memorials in some cases have become forgotten monuments, and by instilling this tradition in the kids from a young age, they maintain that relationship through their lives,” he said.
“It’s also an opportunity for the wider community to come together, leave everything else at home and just remember the men and women who gave us everything they had to effectively have the lives that we take for granted today in many cases,”
“I think it’s a wonderful experience, it’s a beautiful location and we’re very fortunate to have what we have and we’re also very fortunate in our case that the war memorial, whilst it sits on a Crown allotment, is adjacent to a private residence and the homeowners allow us to use their front garden for the ceremony because they’re community people and that’s who they are.”
Chase, Claudia, Harry and Harper of Wandin North Primary School and Saveria and Naomi from Wandin Yallock Primary School presented,
Wandin Rotary Club’s Brian Hodgson, Mt Evelyn RSL’s Chris Derry and Roman, Adrian and Andy from the Victorian Military Vehicles Corp, who also put on a display of light vehicles at the event.
Mr Manders said the Rotary Club of Wandin were more than happy to coordinate the event gain.
“Rotary is all about the community in all shapes and sizes, it’s not all about fundraising though we do fundraise a lot for various charities, but it’s also about that community hub and the connection,” he said.
“By us organising this, it’s to maintain connection with the wider community and in actual fact, the people who own the property adjacent to the war memorial, their house was partially destroyed in a fire two years ago and Rotary came to their aid with financial assistance in the early stages.”
Yarra Valley pauses for Remembrance Day
By Dongyun Kwon
On Monday 11 November, Yarra Valley residents paused to honour Australian servicemen and servicewomen.
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.
At 11am on 11 November 1918, the Germans called for an armistice to secure a peace settlement, and they accepted the Allied terms of unconditional surrender.
In Yarra Glen, the service started at 10.40am at the Yarra Glen Cenotaph.
Eildon MP Cindy McLeish gave a presentation covering her Anzac Day trip to the Kokoda Track.
She also spoke of her father’s service and what the day meant to her and her family.
The Yarra Glen Primary School students read the poems.
Lincoln Agnew recited In Flanders Fields and Savannah Sprott recited The Victory Emblem.
Yarra Glen RSL vice president George Miller OAM recited a letter written home in 1916 by Walter George Parker, 4178 from Bullecourt, and Wear a Poppy was read by Rosemary Bowling.
Gabby Shortis, granddaughter of former Yarra Glen RSL president Stephen Shortis, played the bugle for the Last Post and Rouse.
A reception was held in the Yarra Glen RSL rooms of the Memorial Hall following the service.
Eildon MP Cindy McLeish gave a presentation covering her Anzac Day trip to the Kokoda Track. (Supplied)
Gabby Shortis (right), granddaughter of former Yarra Glen RSL president Stephen Shortis, played the bugle for the Last Post and Rouse. Yarra Glen Cenotaph filled with wreaths. Yarra Glen children placing poppies. Yarra Glen RSL president Michael Watkins.
alongside
Wandin community members gathered to pay their respects. (File)
Wandin North Primary School students presented on the day. (Garry Byrne)
Wandin Yallock Primary School students were also in attendance. (Garry Byrne)
The Victorian Military Vehicles Corps put on a small display of light military vehicles. (Garry Byrne)
NEWS Healesville pay respects
By Dongyun Kwon
Continued from page 16
On Monday 11 November, Yarra Valley residents paused to honour Australian servicemen and servicewomen.
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. At 11am on 11 November 1918, the Germans called for an armistice to secure a peace settlement, and they accepted the Allied terms of unconditional surrender.
In Yarra Glen, the service started at 10.40am at the Yarra Glen Cenotaph.
Eildon MP Cindy McLeish gave a presentation covering her Anzac Day trip to the Kokoda Track. She also spoke of her father’s service and what the day meant to her and her family.
The Yarra Glen Primary School students read the poems.
Lincoln Agnew recited In Flanders Fields and Savannah Sprott recited The Victory Emblem.
Yarra Glen RSL vice president George Miller OAM recited a letter written home in 1916 by Walter George Parker, 4178 from Bullecourt, and Wear a Poppy was read by Rosemary Bowling.
Gabby Shortis, granddaughter of former Yarra Glen RSL president Stephen Shortis, played the bugle for the Last Post and Rouse.
A reception was held in the Yarra Glen RSL rooms of the Memorial Hall following the service.
In Healesville, the service officially started at 10.45am at the Healesville Memorial with a welcome address by Healesville RSL president Colette Shaw, followed by wreath laying.
John Stanhope, who has played bugle and trumpet on both Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services since 1974, once again played The Last Post with his instrument and Retired Warrant Officer John Harris recited The Ode.
Federal Casey MP Aaron Violi attended the service as a keynote speaker.
Mr Violi thanked the Australians who sacrificed their lives not just in the First World War but also in all other wars to keep the peace in the world.
“In this 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, we gather to remember and pay tribute to the many thousands of Australians who have lost their lives in wars and conflicts,” he said.
“We stand together to commemorate their bravery and sacrifice, for they gave all their tomorrows so that we could have today. The First World War, now a century ago, saw more than 400,000 Australians enlist in the Australian Imperial Force.
“This was no small figure for a country with a population of just under 5 million. Of them, more than 60,000 lost their lives, a devastating toll on a small country, including locals from Healesville and surrounds.
“Almost a million Australians served in the Second World War. Australians also served in the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, the Indonesian Confrontation, the Vietnam War, in Afghanistan and continue to be involved in peacekeeping operations.”
After Mr Violi’s speech, Healesville High School students Denzel Parsons and Cooper Bell recited In Flanders Field and the response poem.
Ms Shaw said Healesville RSL was happy with the turnout, particularly with the number of local children, including kids from Queens Park Kindergarten, although Remembrance Day is not a public holiday.
“The Healesville RSL and community came together to remember and commemorate the sacrifices and service of our veterans and serving men and women on Monday 11 November,” she said.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day with the sun shining. We were fortunate to have Mr Aaron Violi as our keynote speaker this year. Aaron gave an insightful and emotive speech on the local men and women who went off to war and their stories.
“Veterans loved seeing all the children. It really made their day, as well as mine.”
After the service, all attendees were welcome to place a poppy in the urn and have morning tea in the member’s lounge.
Acting Senior Sergeant Rebecca Phillips (left) and Leading Senior Constable David Grey laid a wreath.
Retired Warrant Officer John Harris (left) recited The Ode, and Healesville RSL president Colette Shaw. (Kath Gannaway)
Queens Park kindergarten, the Wombats group attended the service.
Keynote speaker federal Casey MP Aaron Violi (left) with Ms Shaw.
Healesville High School captains Denzel Parsons and Cooper Bell.
Healesville RSL members Vietnam veterans Neil Skinner and Colin Chandler with Taungurung woman Raelene Cheetham whose husband Andy also served in Vietnam.
Healesville Primary School captains; Dom Grbac and Phoebe Leonard were proud to lay wreaths for Eildon MP Cindy McLeish and Yarra Ranges councillor Fiona McAllister.
Alice’s incredible find
An exciting scientific discovery was made when eight-year-old, Alice Dutton, a budding citizen scientist from Tecoma, recorded the call of the threatened Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) during a Birrarung Riverfest event at Spadoni’s Billabong in Yering.
According to Melbourne Water’s frog data, the species has not been recorded in this location for 24 years.
Alice captured the rare call using the Melbourne Water free Frog Census app on her mum Jess’s phone, and it was later verified by specialist ecologists who listen to and categorise every call submitted via the app.
Freshwater ecologist and Melbourne Water Waterwatch Coordinator Jane Petch, who was training people on how to use the app at the Spadoni’s Billabong event, said the recording was significant because there has been concerted effort by Melbourne Water and the Yarra Ranges Council to improve the habitat in that area.
“The Growling Grass Frog has not been officially sighted at Spadoni’s Billabong since 2000,” Ms Petch said.
“The recording of so many frog species at Spadoni’s Billabong reflects its improved ecological health thanks to the work of Melbourne Water to re-connect the Billabong to the Yarra River. This means that the Billabong now receives fresh inflows from the Yarra when river water levels are high.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see these targeted conservation efforts supporting the return of
local wildlife.”
The Growling Grass Frog was listed as vulnerable in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 in 2003. This listing was made due to threats to the species’ habitat, including urban development, land clearing, and changes to water quality in its wetland habitats.
Jess, Alice’s mother, said the event had further sparked her daughter’s interest in frogs and the local ecosystem.
“We had never heard of the Growling Grass
Frog before that day, but Alice was thrilled by her discovery and felt like a real citizen scientist,” Jess said.
“There were so many different frog calls in the area, and it was exciting to learn that we had captured a rare recording of a vulnerable frog species.”
Since the event, Alice has become an enthusiastic frog tracker.
“Alice and I now listen for frogs wherever we go, whether in the garden or on walks. She even gave a presentation to her class, and we’ve started mak-
ing frog-friendly habitat at our home,” Jess said.
“I’d encourage kids to have a go at making a recording using the Frog Census app because you might discover something really special.”
Yarra Ranges Council Director for Planning and Sustainable Futures, Kath McClusky said the council has invested in habitat improvement works to enhance the area’s ecological health, including the restoration of the surrounding wetlands and floodplains.
“We are thrilled to hear about the return of the Growling Grass Frog to the Yarra Valley. The works undertaken at Spadoni’s Billabong are part of our ongoing commitment to improve local ecosystems and support biodiversity. Alice’s discovery underscores the value of our partnership with Melbourne Water and the community’s involvement in conservation,” she said.
Ms Petch added, “The data gathered through the Frog Census app is crucial for our conservation work. It helps inform Melbourne Water’s environmental projects and supports decisionmaking around the management of local waterways and wildlife.”
Frogs, as “indicator species”, are highly sensitive to changes in their environment, making them key to understanding the health of ecosystems.
In metro Melbourne, there are 16 species of frogs, including the vulnerable Growling Grass Frog, which is primarily found in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs.
Wandin North Primary School’s $5000 for storm recovery
Coles and Planet Ark have partnered up to spur on the next generation of eco-champions with one Upper Yarra school among 20 around the country to share in $100,000 to help fund sustainability initiatives as part of the inaugural Coles and Planet Ark Sustainable Schools Competition.
Announced during Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week, 20 schools from across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia were recognised for their commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment and will each receive $5,000 to drive sustainability at their school.
Wandin North Primary School in Melbourne’s Yarra Ranges was one of the winning entrants with its innovative project to restore land and create small habitat retreats for local mammals which were damaged following a large storm in 2021.
Sustainability and Environment Teacher Laura Attrill said Wandin North students were passionate about the environment and always coming up with new ways to protect the plants and animals within the community.
“We lost a significant amount of canopy cover when a storm tore through our school three years ago and we then lost another three old gum trees during a more recent storm this year, so this prize will allow us to add small mammal
boxes, bird boxes and rope bridges within the bushland area to provide a safe haven for our local animals,” she said.
With more than 160 applications received throughout the competition, Coles Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer Anna Croft
said she was impressed by the broad range of initiatives and high standard of applications from schools across the country.
“The quality of projects submitted by students and teachers in the inaugural Coles & Planet Ark Sustainable Schools competition
was extraordinary and further demonstrated the incredible passion that young people have for protecting our planet,” she said.
“Whether it’s finding a solution for fast fashion, working to protect a threatened species or a native-Australian plant, to developing a schoolwide composting and recycling system, it’s clear that this next generation is ready and willing to make a real impact,”
“We’re proud to work alongside our partner Planet Ark to help create a more sustainable future, one school at a time.”
Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling said the organisation was pleased to partner with Coles to encourage more Aussie students to ’Join the Cycle’ this National Recycling Week and help improve their school’s sustainability report card.
“This competition is an excellent way to engage the next generation in sustainability. The prize of $5,000 will make a tangible difference to these environmental initiatives, while educating students and empowering them to feel part of the solution,” she said.
“We were incredibly impressed by the quality of the entries in this first year of the competition and incredibly proud of the students and teachers who have come up with these brilliant plans to improve the environment around them and the community they live in.”
Leesa Riley from Melbourne Water with Alice and her mum Jess. (443343)
Eight-year-old Alice captured the sound of a rare Growling Grass Frog at Spadoni’s Billabong Reserve. (Stewart Chambers: 443343) Alice with her mum Jess. (443343)
L-R: Mia, Zara, Phoebe, Laura Attrill, Mason and Hugo of Wandin North Primary School. (Rebecca Michael)
60 reasons to celebrate
By Callum Ludwig
The Wandin Preschool community came together to celebrate the kindergarten’s 60th birthday on Sunday 10 November.
Just under 70 previous staff, students and families of the kindergarten returned for the celebratory Open Morning where they were also able to enjoy old photos, a commemorative video, a sausage sizzle, birthday cake and a raffle.
Among the esteemed guests were founding members of the preschool Ray Taylor and Valmae Gaudion, who were among the local families keen to start a kinder in Wandin over six decades ago, as well as opening year student Wendy Bartsch.
Wandin Kindergarten teacher Geni Kogelman said listening to the community members tell their stories about how the kinder began and the devotion and dedication to three years of fundraising, meetings and working with other community members was extraordinary.
“The efforts and determination to get a kinder up and running in Wandin, for the Wandin families is a credit to them all, we continue to have these strong community connections with our families 60 years later, they have created such a
legacy,” she said.
“It is amazing that these community members are still here to help us celebrate their efforts and to think that Valmae’s great-granddaughter is in the kinder program this year, experiencing Wandin kindergarten all these years later.”
Back on Friday 23 August, current students and their families also celebrated the milestone with a Famly Fun Night at Ace Space in Chirnside Park including a magician, ‘lucky envelopes’, crazy hair and raffle prizes to help with some fundraising.
Ms Kogelman said it was interesting to hear the list of fundraising ventures the original local community members came up with to raise the funds to build the kinder.
“Some of which included waste paper drives, bottle drives, fabric drives with Fred Guadion (Valmae’s husband) taking a truck load of paper all the way into the city to cash it in, there was a fishing competition in a local dam, with the lucky tagged fish, that never seemed to get caught,” she said.
“There were over 300 people catered for in a local dance where mothers donated their time to
do the catering making some items like two dozen jelly cakes or 10 sponges, Ray Taylor recalls in our commemorative video that actress and singer Tony Lamond came and sang giving up her time for the event,”
“In the planning process a significant donation was made by Percy (PJ) Mould a local councillor, who heard of the plight of the parents in developing a kindergarten for Wandin and he came forward and donated a block of land, this gave the committee a wonderful gift and great hope in their efforts as this was one aspect of their work and fundraising efforts that they now didn’t need to find additional money for.”
In 2021, Wandin Preschool amalgamated into Yarra Ranges Kindergartens who took over the administrative demands from the parents on the Committee of Management who had done so over the previous 57 years. Wandin Preschool subsequently became one of 22 kinders under their stewardship and parents can still remain actively involved in the kinder’s Parent Support Group who support the preschool’s fundraising and social events, maintenance and other aspects of the kinder.
Ms Kogelman said in 2025, Wandin Preschool
will be offering 7.5 hour sessions for children in the three and four-year-old programs, which will be the longest sessions they have ever offered at the kinder, as a result of the Victorian Government’s Early Years reforms.
“We always have dreams and plans to make modifications to our setting, we can only do this through our fundraising efforts and we are in the process of developing some new ideas to incorporate more playscapes into the playground, there is hope that we may be able to apply for grants in the coming year to help us achieve these goals,” she said.
“Once again, the community spirit shines through with these celebrations with the Parent Support Group assisting to coordinate the events, seeking donations from local business, creating promotional signs, running stalls and donating their time in support of our kinder,”
Our staff have also supported events by being involved with the planning, promotion, attending events and also seeking community support and creating take-home appreciation cookie gifts for attendees on the Open Morning.”
Gladysdale Primary School’s community pantry
By Callum Ludwig
Gladysdale Primary School has found another way to give back to the local community.
The School Council has recently started a community pantry out the front of the school that is open for local residents and passersby to take what they may need or give what they can.
Gladysdale Primary School’s School Council President Beck Jane said they have a very community-focused school council that workshopped the idea about 12 months ago.
“The supplies for the pantry build come from Sanders Apples and the schools families and the food donations, so far, have come from school families,” she said.
“Being a roadside pantry, we wanted to provide an easily accessible place for people to go for food, sometimes walking into a building and asking for help can be confronting. “
Located at 550 Little Yarra Road, Gladysdale Primary School’s community pantry can be clearly spotted out the front of the school and is easily accessible for pedstrian on the footpath or motorists who can pull up into one of the car parks and quickly grab anything they need with minimum fuss. It can be found right near the shiny red apple at the front of the school.
Ms Jane said the community pantry is open to anyone in need, and anyone can donate.
“We have some lovely locals who have pledged their home grown citrus, stone fruits and eggs,” she said.
To start, the community pantry has been adorned with an array of ready-to-eat soup, cans of baked beans, a couple of jars of Vegemite and some other goods.
Anyone wishing to donate to the pantry, simply bring any items you have and place them on one of the shelves of the pantry.
“Our Patch to Plate program will be providing fresh herbs and we are also in talks with some local businesses for weekly donations of their surplus food so keep your eyes peeled.”
The pantry is open to all and can be found outside the school on Little Yarra Road.
(Gladysdale Primary School)
The new Gladysdale Primary School Community Pantry.
Attendees including founding members Valmae Gaudion and Ray Taylor (centre) enjoyed the celebration. (Supplied) The Wandin Preschool was brightly decorated for the event.
NEWS
Time to air out the quilts!
By Callum Ludwig
A community fundraising event for the Upper Yarra women and children’s refuge Benwerren is also set to showcase the craft of talented local quilter Joy Lewellin.
‘The Airing of the Quilts’ will be held at Crestwood Place in Yarra Junction at the start of next month with each $5 entry fee going to Benwerren.
Volunteer at the Benwerren Boutique op shop Bee Rawlinson helped organise the event and said people come in crisis and Benwerren gives them a really safe place to just relax and get their life back in order.
“It’s a really good cause and a lot of really good people involved in it, many parts make the whole of it work and I’m really grateful for the efforts of people like Joy because they make a huge difference,” she said.
“Joy is someone whose quilts take hundreds of hours to do, she never sells her quilts, she gives them away and she does things like give them to people in need,”
“She’s a tireless worker and it would be nice if she got some credit for it.”
The exhibition will feature over 70 handmade quilts made by Ms Lewellin for people to see, with attendees welcomed to the light refreshments available, an array of patchwork material to buy and a $5 lucky dip and a raffle with all proceeds going to Benwerren.
Ms Rawlinson recently visited Ms Lewellin whol told her that she has been doing patchwork and quilting for more than 30 years.
“She started doing it because she enjoys the creativity of it and you can do it anywhere, Joy worked teaching patchwork and quilting for more than seven years at The Patchwork Tea House in Warburton until she retired,” she said.
“In the past five years Joy has only hand stitched her projects, she has donated quilts to the nursing home in Yarra Junction and many to hospitals for fundraising raffles amongst other places,”
“It would be hard to put a price on them [the quilts] and the many hours they take to design and craft, she prefers to give them away.”
The Airing of the Quilts is a North American tradition of groups exhibiting their quilting and not common in Australia, but the idea was put forward by Yarra Junction resident Margaret Coulter as a fundraising idea for Benwerren.
Ms Rawlinson said making and donating quilts means everything to Joy.
“The smile it puts on someone’s face is priceless, especially if it’s someone who has never owned something handmade and to give people something you have made is special,” she said.
“Joy really wants to help Benwerren to get a generator and have it wired into the switchboard so that they can keep running, even when there are blackouts, in the past some of the longer blackouts we have experienced have meant
COMMUNITY DIARY
that people staying at Benwerren have had to go home,”
“Joy is happy to lend her work to the cause [because] ‘it’s something unusual, something I’ve wanted to do for a while so it’s great that Benwerren can get something out of it too’ and it marries two of Joy’s passions, patchwork quilting and helping her community.”
Fundraisers were quoted $19,000 to install a wired-in generator at Benwerren.
Benwerren CEO Nichole Kelly said they’re just amazed by Joy and the residents of Crestwood Place.
“Their generosity is just amazing, they approached us and said that they wanted to do this and to donate the money to Benwerran and we were blown away by that and just really grateful,” she said.
“We’re wanting to get them [the generator] wired in so in periods when the power goes out, we’re still able to prepare meals for our families whereas in the past, we’ve had to send people home over winter and things like that,”
“I’m a keen quilter myself so I’m really excited to see Joy’s quilts as well.”
food needs.
This year there are changes to parking for spectators as the traditional area will not be available.
As with many shows, compliance costs have magnified and our estimate of maintaining necessary traffic control for the event exceeds $10,000, making it unmanageable so all parking will now be within the reserve.
ON AROUND THE VALLEY
Wandin Rotary Custom Car and Bike Show returns
The 14th year of the Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show starts this Wednesday 20 November, and continues with events in December, February and March.
The principal beneficiary continues to be the Royal Children’s Hospital with over $100 000 donated to date.
Other beneficiaries are the local CFAs and local community projects such as camping projects for schools, an annual speech competition, resourcing STEM programs in schools and supporting
For show cars, there is no change but all spectators will enter via the second gate 100 metres towards Seville from the show car entry.
The parking space has been extended and will be adequate.
Want to be part of Connecting Community Festival?
Dear Community Members from Healesville and surrounds,
I’m writing to invite you or a group you may be involved in, to be part of the next Connecting Community Festival which will be held in and around the Healesville Memo, Pop-up Space, Library and surrounds on Saturday 8 March, 2025.
The objective of the festival is to create a forum for people within our community from different demographics, to showcase “what their group is all about” and for others to see “what’s in our own backyard”.
The festival will be a great opportunity for your group to attract new members and perhaps fundraise for your community organisation.
Please contact us to discuss the potential for your community group involvement.
We can all come together and make a great Connecting Community Festival, funded by the Yarra Ranges Festivals and Events.
Yours sincerely,
Catherine Nolan
Connecting Community Festival Coordinator 0417002793 catherinenolan@bigpond.com
Healesville-Yarra Glen Uniting Church annual fete is back
Healesville-Yarra Glen Uniting Church is holding its annual two-day fete from 9am to 2pm in the Darron Honey Centre, 286 Maroondah Highway, Healesville on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November. Books, plants, jams, cakes and more, including sausage sizzle.
Animal Blessing set to go once more in Healesville
Everyone and their pets are welcome to join His Eminence Zimo’g Rinpoche for his 13th Annual
Animal Blessing to be held at Queens Park, Healesville.
Always a happy and heartfelt ceremony, inspired by World Animal Day, is dedicated to animals past, present and future.
Nalandra Buddhist Institute spiritual director Zimo’g Rinpoche has a great love for all animals, and this event creates joy as owners’ four-legged friends receive individual blessings.
It also eases a human heart if an animal is unable to attend or is deceased.
They too are remembered - bring along a photo to display.
Provide your animal’s name at registration. Pets attending receive blessed ribbon cords, blessed water and blessed food.
Bring a vegetarian picnic, blanket/portable chairs and enjoy a friendly, family, pet-welcoming day.
Sunday 8 December
Queens Park, at the “Sound Shell” Stage, 36 Don Road, Healesville.
Registration: 10.30am; Blessing Ceremony: 11.00am; Lunch: 12.30pm Entry: By donation - with proceeds to Animal Aid. Animal Aid volunteers will attend and bring along some dogs for adoption.
For more information: email nalandrainstitute@ gmail.com or call Prue 0425 841 913.
Joy Lewellin with one of her quilts. (Bee Rawlinson)
Over 70 quilts made by Joy Lewellin will be on display.
All your automotive needs
Keeping Your Toyota in Top Shape: The Healesville Toyota Service Advantage
When it comes to maintaining your Toyota, there’s no better place to turn than the Healesville Toyota Service Department. With a commitment to excellence and a range of customer-focused benefits, Healesville Toyota ensures your vehicle receives the best care possible while providing you with a hassle-free experience.
Expert Care from Toyota-Trained Technicians
At the heart of Healesville Toyota’s service offering is their team of Toyota-trained technicians. These experts possess an unparalleled understanding of Toyota vehicles, ensuring your car receives specialized attention tailored to its specific needs. As the saying goes, ‘Nobody knows your vehicle like our qualified team of experts. ‘This expertise translates into accurate diagnostics, efficient repairs and maintenance that keeps your Toyota running
Toyota Service Advantage: Predictable Pricing for Peace of Mind
One of the standout benefits of choosing Healesville Toyota is the Toyota Service Advantage program. This innovative offering provides cappedprice servicing for the first three to five years on the road, depending on your vehicle model. By keeping the cost of your annual service predictable, Healesville Toyota helps you budget for maintenance with confidence, eliminating unexpected expenses and ensuring your Toyota receives regular, professional care.
Genuine Parts for Genuine Performance
Healesville Toyota understands that using the right parts is crucial for maintaining your vehicle’s performance and longevity. That’s why they exclusively use Toyota Genuine Parts in all their services and repairs. These parts are designed specifically
WHERE RELIABILITY & QUALITY SERVICE COMES STANDARD
for your Toyota model, ensuring perfect fit, function, and durability. As Healesville Toyota puts it, ‘There’s no better way to keep your Toyota in peak condition.’
Toyota Express Maintenance: Quick and Convenient
For those with busy schedules, Healesville Toyota offers Toyota Express Maintenance. This service is designed to complete your maintenance in approximately 90 minutes, allowing you to get back on the road quickly. While you wait, you can relax in their free lounge, enjoying amenities that make your short stay comfortable and productive.
Flexible Options for Every Schedule
Understanding that different customers have different needs, Healesville Toyota provides various options for your service visit. Their comfortable waiting areas feature free Wi-Fi, a children’ play area, great coffee, and daily newspapers, making
your wait pleasant and productive. For those who can’t be without a vehicle, Healesville Toyota offers service loan cars or courtesy vehicles, ensuring you can still get where you need to go while your Toyota is being serviced.
At Healesville Toyota Service Department, it’s clear that customer satisfaction goes hand-inhand with expert vehicle care. From their skilled technicians and use of genuine parts to their convenient express service and flexible waiting options, every aspect of their service is designed to provide you with peace of mind and keep your Toyota performing at its best.
For more information on Healesville Toyota’s opening times and alternative transport options, simply give them a call. Experience the difference that comes with servicing your Toyota at a dealership that truly understands your vehicle and values your time.
Healesville Toyota is committed to providing quality service. (Supplied)
All your automotive needs are covered at Healesville Toyota.
Tips for kitten season care
It’s that time of year again – kitten season!
Tiny kittens are beginning to arrive at Animal Aid, and many might be found out in the community needing a helping hand.
If you stumble upon a litter of kittens, there are a few important steps to follow to give these little ones the best chance of thriving.
Check for mum
Kittens do best when cared for by their mother.
If you find a litter, step back and observe from a distance to see if she’s nearby.
She may be out hunting or avoiding the area because she senses you nearby.
Cats are naturally cautious, so monitor the
CARTOON
aid Animal
Mark Menze Animal Aid CEO
area for a few hours to see if she returns.
Protect the kittens
If the mother doesn’t come back, ensure the
kittens are safe from immediate dangers like predators or extreme weather.
Very young kittens are especially vulnerable to the cold, heat, and dehydration, and they can’t go long without their mum’s care.
Older kittens can go a bit longer, so take your time to assess the situation.
Call ahead and bring them to safety
If the mother is still absent after a few hours, it’s essential to get the kittens to a safe place.
Contact Animal Aid or your local vet to coordinate next steps, and please call ahead if possible.
They’ll receive the care, warmth, and nour-
Now that summer is almost here, some of us may be reminiscing about the cool winter days, the warm doona and hot cuppa, and a pile of good books to go with the cold, quiet nights.
This reviewer recently chatted with Robin Barden, Manager of Lilydale Library, about the Warm Winter Read campaign last June to August.
Looking back at the Warm Winter Read PASSION FOR PROSE
The annual campaign was hosted by Public Libraries Victoria and facilitated by all 51 public library services across the state.
Along with Janet Laws from Croydon Library, Barden coordinated some of the reading initiatives on behalf of Your Library Ltd.
“This was the third year of the campaign, with 1800 readers signing up for the challenge,” Barden said.
“It’s been tremendous to see so many of our patrons getting involved and sharing their passion for reading. Some very keen readers actually told me they wished the challenge could have gone on longer!”
“The library staff love to get involved as well, reading, reviewing and recommending books and taking part in the various challenges. Some of our favourite challenges this year were ‘Create a Cosy Reading Spot’, ‘Listen to an Audiobook’, and the ‘Literary Pair and Share’ foodie challenge.”
One of the campaign’s highlights was author Garry Disher’s visit to Lilydale Library.
A Warm Winter Read Ambassador, Disher spoke to a very enthusiastic audience about his crime fiction, including his latest book Sanctuary.
During the challenge, Barden herself enjoyed books by authors such as Claire Keegan, Paul Murray, Madeleine Gray, Clare Chambers, and Bonnie Garmus – just to name a few.
When asked about people’s reading tastes and habits in recent years, Barden said: “There has been a big move to ebooks – many people love the convenience, while some still prefer the tactile qualities of a physical book. Audiobooks are also increasing in popularity in our busy lives.”
“The way people discover new books is also changing, with people sharing their passion for reading on social media platforms such as TikTok. Ultimately people who love to read will read
ishment they need until they’re ready for new homes.
Handle mum with care
If you find the mother cat and plan to bring her and the kittens to a vet or shelter, act with caution.
Cat bites and scratches can quickly lead to infection, so keeping her calm is important.
Ensure she is in a secure carrier, as cats—especially anxious or active ones—can easily escape during transport.
With your care, these tiny lives have a chance to thrive.
By giving them a safe start, we can all help vulnerable animals find their forever homes.
The better Ridley Scott sequel
Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal M 4/5
Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II is an excellent sequel to Scott’s 2000 historical action epic.
After his home city is conquered, Lucius (Paul Mescal), son of Maximus from the first film, is sold into slavery and becomes a gladiator.
Gladiator II’s plot follows most of the same beats as the first film, but distinguishes itself with an invigorating current of idealism, corruption and scheming (and so brings more new ideas to the table than Alien: Romulus, 2024’s other Ridley Scott sequel).
Mescal is both formidable and sensitive as Lucius, Denzel Washington steals the show as Macrinus, Lucius’s flamboyant, Machiavellian master, and Pedro Pascal is deeply engaging as Acacius, a noble Roman general tired of serving tyrants.
in any format and don’t like to be without a good book.”
“People love Australian stories, as can be seen from the success of ‘Australian Noir’, gripping crime stories by writers such as Jane Harper, Candice Fox, Chris Hammer, and of course the aforementioned Disher.”
“There has been an increase in diverse voices in Australian writing. For example, there have been some brilliant books published recently by First Nation writers. Graphic novels are also an increasingly popular and inventive way of storytelling,” Barden said.
She described libraries as “warm, vibrant community spaces offering so much to the library user (and for free!)”.
“The best way to support libraries is to pay us a visit, join up and use all the great things on offer – and best of all, by borrowing a book... or three.”
“Research shows us that reading for pleasure offers so many benefits, with a positive impact on our mental health and feelings of connectedness. It also increases empathy, self-esteem, and awareness of other cultures.”
“Librarians love to engage with readers and share the pleasure we all gain from stories. Hearing what people have enjoyed reading and sharing recommendations is one of the best parts of my day,” Barden concluded.
The sequel does a better job than the first film of showing the people’s distrust of their corrupt leaders, in this case the detestable twin emperors Caracalla and Geta, and Lucius’s journey as a star gladiator is the focal point of a well-woven web of intrigue.
Call me crazy, but I find the action in the first Gladiator unsatisfying: it’s bloody and tense, but often choppy and shot too close.
Gladiator II’s action is an immense improvement, with wider shots, fewer cuts and grander, more creative staging (including a phenomenal naval battle inside the Coliseum).
Gladiator II does seem stylistically slightly toned-down from the first film, though, with the first film’s rival gladiators having an almost Mad Max-like aesthetic (and where the original has some odd editing, II has some annoying shaky camerawork).
Gladiator II is arguably more of a soft reboot than a sequel, but offers richer character writing and political conflict, with Washington as the fun villain centrepiece, and is a compelling, visceral thrill-ride playing in most Victorian cinemas.
Gladiator II
Starring Paul
STUNNING HOME WITH BREATHTAKING VIEWS
STUNNING HOME WITH BREATHTAKING VIEWS
WELCOME to your dream retreat!
This beautifully presented split-level home offers breathtaking mountain views that create a serene backdrop for everyday living. Imagine relaxing on the spacious decking, soaking in the stunning surroundings.
Inside, beautifully presented and ready to just move in and make it your own. With an emphasis on open, light, and space, the design prioritizes comfort and style. Master suite boasts mesmerizing views, a walk-in robe, and an ensuite, making it a perfect sanctuary where you may never want to leave the comfort of your bed.
The inviting lounge features a central fireplace, providing a cozy atmosphere ideal for gatherings. Newly renovated with modern tones and quality flooring throughout, this home caters to even the most discerning buyers.
The large kitchen is a chef’s delight, offering ample bench space, abundant cabinetry, and updated appliances, all adjacent to the open dining area and a convenient study nook. The bedrooms are fresh and inviting, featuring new carpets, shutters and split system air conditioning in all bedrooms ensuring year-round comfort, an additional split system in the dining area enhances the home’s climate control.
The stunning family bathroom includes a dreamy bath and a walk-in shower, complemented by a gorgeous laundry that adds to the home’s appeal.
Step outside to discover a large undercover area, well maintained gardens, and ample parking, including a double garage, lovely area outside for entertaining or simply enjoying the outdoors.
Don’t miss this opportunity to own a slice of paradise with spectacular views and all within an easy stroll of the pristine Yarra river and charm of the Warburton township.
PEACE AND PRIVACY IN SOUGHT AFTER SHERBROOKE
IN what could be considered the most soughtafter area throughout the Dandenong Ranges, is this ‘wow’ factor open plan home that provides more than enough room for all the family to enjoy.
Low-maintenance BV construction boasts a brilliant entertaining deck that overlooks the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens for quiet strolls with mother nature.
Fully renovated throughout 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms (full ensuite) and is surrounded by stunning green lawns of 1,575 sqm, mature trees and colourful local birdlife.
All kept comfortable by a cosy combustion wood fire, gas ducted heating, and split system cooling. With a securely fenced yard, 6m X 3m store shed/workshop, under-house storage, and the convenience of a remote lock-up garage. If you are looking for a better lifestyle in the ‘Hills’, then look no further than this outstanding opportunity.
CONTEMPORARY CONVENIENCE
AFFORDING a luxury lifestyle within an extremely convenient location, this well designed residence brings together spacious living and quality appointments.
From the outset, stylish, contemporary appeal conveys an impression of sophistication and upon entry, a thoughtful selection of design elements result in a unified look, including neutral tones and features.
A thoughtful entry foyer leads into a formal living area and the open-plan layout feels completely relaxed, incorporating the kitchen, casual family and meals area to create a superb hub, perfect for entertaining friends and family. Access via a glass sliding door reveals a private decked outdoor zone—the ideal space to unwind at the conclusion of the day or when hosting guests.
Designed to excite those who like to cook, the fully-equipped kitchen features stainless steel appliances; electric oven, gas stove and dishwasher, as well as ample storage, stone benchtops and a long island bench with breakfast bar. Light fills this space, creating a pleasurable atmosphere for both cooking, dining and relaxing.
Continuing on, the master bedroom comprises a walk-in robe and a full ensuite. Whilst the further two bedrooms are fitted with double built-in robes and are within easy access to the large bathroom incorporating a bathtub and separate toilet.
Other key features include; gas ducted heating, storage, high ceilings, water tank, and double garage with internal access.
An ultra-convenient location, a short walk to Lilydale Railway Station, the shops, cafes and amenities that Lilydale has to offer. Victoria Road Primary and Lilydale Heights school zoning, comfort and convenience collide here to create the ultimate low-maintenance lifestyle property. Determined to impress, an inspection is recommended to make this marvellous home your own.
Chic, comfortable and convenient are three words that describe this ultra-modern complex of townhouses, showcasing quality fixtures and desirable inclusions spanning over a light-filled, contemporary layout. Town houses 2, 3, 4 and 5 are available to purchase.
Brand new, never lived in and set in the highly esteemed enclave; these stunning homes are located only moments from Lilydale Railway Station and shopping precinct. Boasting stylish accents and a sturdy construction, the residences are altogether complemented by a wellcomposed garden and contemporary façade lending a hint of all that awaits inside.
Neutral tones, high ceilings and timber flooring are seamlessly integrated throughout the light-filled interior to provide vivid contrasting and
spaciousness, enhancing the exceptionally inviting ambience. Furthermore, the beautiful views, and tree top aspect are a true point of difference.
Designed with an open-plan living area incorporates the dining domain, connecting with the well-equipped kitchen featuring stainless steel electric oven and stove plus dishwasher. Other highlights list as; stone benchtops, a series of sizable drawers, tilled splashbacks, plenty of preparation space and easy connectivity via sliding doors to the sizeable balcony outside.
Three spacious, carpeted bedrooms are well proportioned, with robes. Main bedroom with access to a full bathroom whist bedroom two and three are zoned together and share a modern bathroom hosting the addition of a bathtub with separate toilet. On this level there is also
the thoughtful addition of a study nook. Seasonal relief has been well catered for with four split system units in each house, dedicated laundry with storage and bench space, water tank and double garage with extra storage space and remote roller door and internal access.
Suitably positioned in a reputable community, this address is placed only a short walk from quality primary and secondary schooling options, Reserves with playgrounds. Also within easy reach of golf courses, local eateries, Eastland and EastLink freeway for direct access to the CBD. Proximity to the delights of the Yarra Valley for weekend activities are also a bonus.
An ideal property for those looking to downsize on maintenance and upsize in lifestyle, these stunning residences are truly in a league of their own.
YOUR DREAM LIFESTYLE IS WITHIN REACH
HAVE you ever imagined escaping the hustle and bustle of suburban life to live on a peaceful property with stunning views, quiet surroundings, and absolute serenity?
What if we told you, it’s more affordable than you think?
Picture yourself enjoying warm summer evenings, hosting friends for dinner on a gorgeous deck beneath the stars—this is the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of. And that’s just the beginning. The property boasts:
• Spacious modern living with distinct living zones
• A fantastic garage and sheds for all your tools and toys
A well-equipped backyard studio/home office with impressive additions
A separate spa room for ultimate relaxation This home is ideal for tradies, young couples, or anyone looking for space, tranquility, and easy access to Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs for work. With motivated vendors eager to sell, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.
• Located just a 5-minute drive from Launching Place Primary School, as well as nearby parks and reserves, it’s also only a short 5-minute drive to Woori Yallock Central Village.
Don’t miss your chance to see this property— your dream home could be closer than you think.
Thislight &spaciousbrickveneerhomehastheperfectblendofspace,comfortand moderntouches.Entrancetothehomeisthrough afabulousenclosedsunroomandthen stepinsidetodiscovertheopen-planlayout,galley-stylekitchen,mealsarea,downstairs rumpusroomwithitsownpowderroom,spaciousunder-housestorageandampleoffstreetparkingforcars &caravansetc.Thelocationdirectlyacrossfrom aNationalPark offersscenicviewsandeasyaccesstowalkingtrails,perfectforoutdoorenthusiasts.
JanBrewster 0409558805
MickDolphin 0429684522
CHARACTERCOTTAGEINPRIMELOCATION
Nestledona quietno-throughroadisthischaractercottageseton1332sqm.The flexible floorplanoffersmanyoptionsofeither3 bedroomsor2 plusa gorgeoussunroometc. Otherfeaturesincludehighceilings,polishedfloorboards,anopenfireplace, ducted heating, acentralbathroom &kitchenanda singlegarage/workshop.Thedeckjustoff thediningarea,istheperfectplacetotakeintheestablishedgardens,abundantbirdlife andthesoundofthegentleflowingClematisCreekatthebottomofthegarden
JanBrewster 0409558805
OFFERSCLOSING4pmWed.27/11/24
Thisinviting,fullyrenovatedhomeprovidesanidealescapefromthecityandisseton anear-level1/2acreintranquilhillsidesurroundings.Withmodernupdatesandversatile dual-livingoptions,itisa perfectchoiceforfamilies.Propertyhighlightsinclude astone & timberkitchen,openplanlivingwithvaultedceilings &fireplace,coveredentertaining spaces,beautifulgardens& lushlawn,a self-containeddownstairsapartment,large doublegarage,4-carcarport,off-streetparkingâulardriveway,perfectfortradies.
MickDolphin 0429684522
AlisonBarkley 0494175410
PEACE& PRIVACYON1575SQM
Inwhatcouldbeconsideredthemostsought-afterareathroughoutthedandenong Ranges,isthis‘wow’factor,spaciousopenplanfullyrenovatedhomethatoffersan entertainingdeckthatoverlookstheAlfredNicholasMemorialGardens, acombustion wood fire,gasductedheating,splitsystemcooling, asecurelyfencedyard,6m x3mstore shed/workshop,under-housestorageandtheconvenienceofa remotelock-upgarage. Ifyouarelookingfor abetterlifestyleinthe‘Hills’,thenlooknofurther! 3 A 2 B
GrantSkipsey 0418528102
THE CHURCH, YARRA JUNCTION
A local gem, The Church Yarra Junction has been extensively remodeled and expertly designed with flair and opulence. Offering country accommodation at its finest, this retired Church backs right onto the Warburton Rail Trail with an abundance to offer as an ideal place to call home or an incredibly appealing investment opportunity. As tourism growth is projected throughout the region with the much-anticipated Warburton Mountain Bike Destination opening to the public early 2025, this is an ideal start to build your portfolio.
Bright open space basked in beautiful natural light, wood-burning fireplace, split heat/air systems, washer and dryer, euro-style electric oven, free-standing bathtub, balcony, native gardens and multiple seating areas. Currently configured to sleep 4 with 1 Queen size bed downstairs and 2 King size Single beds on the mezzanine/ upstairs level. There is plenty of onsite parking and bike storage, walk to the local cafe’s and Yarra Junction shops or wander along the picturesque trail to Warburton and beyond. Also close to the Yarra Centre community, gym and swimming facilities. Having previously operated as a Bed & Breakfast, this turn key ready property is now offered by The Weekender Property Co. as an opportunity for the astute Investor or entrepreneur.
Stepintothischarming 5bedroom,2 bathroomhomewithcharacterstraightfromthe1890s,that seamlesslyblendsrusticambiencewithmoderncomforts.Setonover2,000sqmsofgorgeous landscapedgardens,thisserenecountryhomeinvitesyoutoexperience alifestyleofrelaxation.The heartofthehomeistheinvitingopenplankitchen.Theloungeexudeswarmthandcharm,witha woodburningfireplace.Themainbathroomshowcasesa luxuriousclawfootbath,a quirkyretrostyle toilet,anda spaciouslaundrywithabundantstorage.Outside,theexpansivegardensarea true haven,filledwithfruittreesandendlesspossibilitiesforentertaining,gardeningorsomeartworkinthe additionalstudiospace. Auniquecombinationofhistoricbeauty,modernamenities,andserene surroundings,thisisthequintessentialcountryretreat.
RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068
38ChristineStreet,Millgrove
$540,000-$580,000
AffordableOpportunityinthisCharmingHome Tuckedawayattheendof aquietstreet,thischarminghomeoffersa fantasticopportunityforfirst timebuyersorsavvyinvestors.Currentlytenantedwith asolidrentalreturn,itpresentsgreatvalue. Thecozyhomefeatures2 to 3bedrooms, 1bathroom,andanopenplanlivinganddiningarea, alongwithanoriginalkitchenthatopensouttoa largeoutdoordeckperfectforenjoyingthe serene,treefilledsurroundings. Awoodfireandsplitsystemensureyearroundcomfort,whilethe carportandspaciousbackyardofferplentyofroomtorelaxorentertain.Thispropertyisa wonderful packageandgreatvalueformoney.
RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068 Inspection: ByAppointment 3 A 1 B 1 C
PicturesqueAcreagewithGloriousViews
EnjoytheglorioussurroundsandfantasticYarraValleyviewsatthisbeautifulproperty,situatedon justover10picturesqueacreswith amixtureofundulatingpastureandscatteredbush.Thehome issuperbandjusta fewyearsoldoffersthegrowingfamily afantasticsemirurallifestylewithself sustainableoffgridlivingwithalternativesolarpower.Beautifullypresentedandoffering 3bedrooms with aluxuriousmainbathroomandensuiteinthemainbedroom.Thekitchenisstunning,lightand brightwithqualityappliancesandfixturesthroughoutwithamplebenchandcupboardspace. Immerseyourselfintheoutdoorswithestablishedgardensandloadsofspaceforthekidsandpetsto exploreandenjoy, afantasticsmallacreagepropertyin abeautifullocationwithacresofspaceto createyourownhobbyfarm.
LargeAcreageBlisswithPeaceandPrivacy Admireandenjoytheamazingviewsallyearroundatthissuperbproperty,situatedonjustover36 picturesqueacreswith amixofundulatingpastureand abushsettingit’ssuretoimpress!Theclassic rusticmudbrickhomeiswarmandinvitingandhasallthecharmandambienceofa countryescape offering 4bedroomsplusanoffice/studyarea.Thespaciouslounge/livingareasoffergreatspacefor thewholefamily.A separatemeals/diningareahasamplespaceforthegrowingfamilyplus alarge kitchenareaand averyimpressivecombustionstyleovenandhotplate.Amplecar,trailer,truckor caravanaccommodationwith alargebarnandloadsofextraroomtomove, ablankcanvasready andwaitingtocreatetheidealcountrylifestyle.It’sa greatplacetocallhome.
DavidCarroll M 0419539320
COMPLETE WITH CREATIVITY AND CHARACTER
NESTLED into an exclusive, no through road location, surrounded by nature yet close to all that Belgrave South has to offer, this unique and very comfortable, 2 storey home comes complete with a versatile floorplan and a creative design.
Beautifully landscaped with rock walls and intricate paving, you will see the years of love and care that this property has received.
Filled with plenty of natural light, the living areas are spacious, offering a lovely lounge with wood fire and a dining area that is large enough for the entire family. With plenty of cupboard space, the modern kitchen blends perfectly with its surrounding decor and will be a welcome addition to any buyer.
A split system, along with hydronic heating and the cosy wood fire, all function perfectly together no matter what the season and will keep you comfortable year round!
Although currently being used as a two bedroom home, the mezzanine home office and oversized dressing room to the main bedroom could also become two further bedrooms with ease if needed. Two bathrooms, including a luxury ensuite, are ideal for any growing family and a generous laundry provides extra storage for all your bits and pieces.
Outside, a partially covered timber decking is large enough to host any function and there simply is no better spot to enjoy the outlook over your colourful, peaceful block.
Fully fenced, the property also boasts two workshops, a water tank, solar panels, a carport that is ideal for trailers and the like, parking for 2 cars, excellent under house storage and a mature, colourful garden.
Enjoy all the benefits that this lifestyle property will gladly give you, as well as discovering this sought after family friendly community.
PUZZLES
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
ACROSS
1 Vision-related (5)
4 Major sale (9)
9 Camper (7)
10 Relating to the natural emblem of a clan or tribe (7)
11 Thoughts; ideas (7)
12 Made sense (5,2)
13 Well pleased (9)
15 Bag (4)
17 Just (4)
19 Pain in a nerve pathway (9)
22 Common crumble ingredient (7)
25 Forbidden (7)
26 US state home to the Grand Canyon (7)
27 Scrutinise (7)
28 Designer of goods and structures (9)
29 French painter, Edgar – (5) DOWN
1 Wearer of rose-tinted glasses (8)
2 Conveyance through (7)
3 Settler (9)
4 Danish writer, Hans – Andersen (9)
5 Unneeded (5)
6 Valued (5)
7 Travelling from place to place (7)
8 Break loose (6)
14 Undeniably (5)
15 Right side of a ship (9)
16 Loss of hair (8)
18 Hurting (7)
20 Getting bigger (7)
21 Polished (6)
23 Bedeck (5)
24 Hold responsible (for something bad) (5)
only be used
No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.
No. 213 No. 212
Golfers post top scores
By Ron Hottes
The V.V.V’s:
A couple of outstanding results posted from the girls this week. Seven of them fronted the starter, and two of them accrued 21 superb points. Georgie Houniet won the top voucher by winning a tight countback from Merilyn McDonald. You two ladies can be very pleased with that score. Deborah came in third, after recording a 17-point result. Next week, the girls are holding their firstever Ladies’ Bowl at Warburton, with 16 pairs representing six Clubs, competing for great prizes. More to report in next week’s edition.
Wednesday 13 November, Stableford:
Every now and then, a simply outstanding score is posted. This particular mid-week, it is David Mackay, who recorded that outstanding score, with a 41-point win. This was made more outstanding, because the ‘early-birds’ got through without getting wet, but around the middle of the day, the skies opened up, making everyone and all equipment very wet indeed. David is an ‘early-bird’, so good timing, David. Trevor Porter, another one hitting off early, grabbed the runnerup voucher with 38 solid points. Trev only won this on a countback, as David Hatt also posted a 38-point score. Balls reached down to 33. There were four NTPs taken home by Mario De Vincentis (3rd), Dale Horrobin, (9th), the inimitable Merilyn McDonald (a super second shot on the 10th) and finally Ross Machar (12th).
Twilight:
There were plenty of above-average scores on this afternoon and evening, but the best of them belonged to current Club Champion Clinton Toohey. Clint amassed 21 points, to win a tight
countback over Jason Kennedy. Clint and Kenno both play off single-figure handicaps, so that total is even more impressive. If you scored 17+ then claim a ball next time you’re at the Pro shop. The three available NTPs went home with Ben Lever, (great 2nd shot on the 10th, Panda), Chris-Leighton, (12th) and Troy-Veenker,(15th).
Saturday 16 November, Par:
Playing Par is the competition that is most daunting, but especially for those who play off a good golfer’s handicap (In practice, Par is set up for longer handicappers). With this fact in mind, this day’s results proved that theory big time. David Scott plays off a generous 30+ handicap and boy, did he use it to perfect effect on this day. The popular ‘Scotty’ returned a stunning +10 to easily win the day. This was highlighted by the fact that runner-up Lee Creedy (+6) and third-placegetter Clinton Toohey (+5), would have easily won on any other given day. Well done to all three boys for posting those scores. Unusually, the balls reached down to square. NTP winners on this special day went home with Dale Sund (3rd), Clint Toohey (9th and 17th, good day out Toosa), Andy Lockey (12th) and Michael Pinkster (15th).
This week’s horse talk
By Anita Prowse
The Yarra Glen Pony Club held their Horse Trials and Super Cross on the weekend, winners wereHorse Trials Pony CLub section
• Gd3 - Louise Morris on SP Whispering Willow from Yarra Glen And District Pony Club
• Gd4 - Heidi Dredge on Coolinda Park Zippity Doodah from Yarra Glen And District Pony Club
• Gd5 - Zahra Ross on Kolbeach Honeymoon from Ringwood Horse and Pony Club
• Gd6 - Kayleigh Muscat on Sparkabus from Dandenong Ranges Horse and Pony Club
• Open Section
• Gd3 - Tiffany Snodgrass on My Amber Princess
• Gd4 - Melissa Muir on Beau
• Gd5 - Baylee Clark on Bellaview Park Apples
Super Cross Pony Club Section
• Gd3 - Loise Morris on SP Whispering Willow from Yarra Glen And District Pony Club
• Gd4 - Ruby Rose on Young Vinni Shampas from Seville Pony Club
• Gd5 - Lilia Simpson on Samaria Creek Warrior from Yarrambat Pony Club
• Gd6 - Lilly Heal on Star Boy from Yarra Glen and District Pony Club
• Open Section
• Gd3 - Tiffany Snodgrass on My Amber Princess
• Gd4 - Melanie Gibb on Kendalee Levitate
• Gd5 - Baylee Clark on Bellaview Park Apples Well done everyone competing, volunteers and committees.
The last UYPC Freshmans for 2024 is on Saturday starting at 9.30am, hope to see you all there. Happy Riding everyone!
Up and over. (Supplied)
Warburton Golf Club results. (File)
Yarra Junction bowl on
By Elly Byrne
This week’s competitions had both Yarra Junction Bowling Club teams travel to Heathmont Bowling Club in two games on two different surfaces with two different results.
Having slipped down the ladder after the last midweek game the Eagles were determined to pull back a few points knowing that a bye with no points was still to come in the next few weeks.
Heathmont put up a great challenge but with two rinks ahead and a third slightly behind after the break Junction held tight to win 57:52 winning two rinks and drawing the third. A great result for an away game keeping them in the top four for now.
The weekend team, previously unbeaten,
All are welcome at Yarra Junction Bowling Club. (Supplied)
faced a slightly harder matchup on the grass green, and battled away in the heat and occasional gust of wind. Rink scores fluctuated throughout
Thriller for Warburton
By Garry Lewis
A nail-biting finish in the Weekend Warburton 2 game against the top side Vermont South 3 at home was the highlight of this week’s Pennant Competition for the Burras.
Warburton’s top side were looking forward to playing their friendly rivals, Upwey- Tecoma 1 at home, following their recent positive form. However, the Tigers had other thoughts and quickly adjusted to the green conditions to record a strong victory over the Burras, 58 shots to 98.
Unfortunately, the home side could not get into the game with most players down on their recent good form.
Rink scores were as follows: P. McConachy 17/ 17; G. Walsh 13/ 24; C. Neale 14/ 25 and T. Appleton 14/ 32.
The Burra’s number one side is determined to re-group against Heathmont 2 away this week.
The Warburton 2 team played top side Vermont South 3 at home in warm conditions and led overall for most of the game. After the break the visitors fought back strongly to eventually level the scores at 76 shots each with one end to play.
Mat Stoessiger’s rink steadied under pressure in the final two ends with their third, Max Reynolds, bowling some brilliant bowls to guide the Burras to a thrilling victory by one shot, 77 to 76.
Rink scores were P. Summers 31/ 13; G. Lewis 13/ 22; M. Van Meurs 21 / 10 and M. Stoessiger 12/ 31. The Burras play Croydon 3 at home this week in another challenging game.
Warburton’s Midweek side hosted Ringwood 1 on Tuesday and came away with a convincing win. Two rinks blitzed the opposition early and at the break the Burras led by a large margin. Ringwood fought back, however,
The Jack Attack Triples Competition at Warburton Bowls Club continues to be popular. (Supplied)
and margins tightened before the Burras won 66 shots to 42.
Rink scores were S. Lord 20/ 15; G. Walsh 25/ 12 and R. McKail 21/ 15. The Burras next play Chirnside Park 1 away.
Pennant Training continues Thursdays from 4pm at the club. New and beginning players are always encouraged to attend and join in the fun. Coaching is available.
The Wednesday Night Barefoot Bowls Jack Attack Competition continued last Wednesday in cool conditions.
Mandy Olcorn from the new Bowl-OChicks team commenced the evening well by winning the prize for being the first person to touch the jack.
Once again it was great to see the more experienced teams assisting and encouraging the new teams with several close results occurring. The new 3D’s team have started their first season extremely well by being undefeated after two games.
Social Bowls continues to be played on Mondays from 12 midday with everyone including new and beginning players encouraged to attend. Come along and give Bowls a try!
the first half both for and against but Heathmont pulled away after the break to take the win with the Eagles taking 2 rink wins. Having a couple of sixes against close to games end is always difficult to come back from. With a 21-point lead on the ladder the Eagles still sit in a good spot going forward to Round Six against Lilydale.
The first night of the Community Cup event took place on Friday 15 November. This three consecutive week event is a great competition between local community groups to bowl socialize and have fun, so get on down to the club on Friday night to watch round two. The BBQ will be fired up and the bar open.
Results after night one:
1. Motley Mob 39
OLAM 28 5. Egg farm 27 6. Simply irresistible 26
7. Friends of Hoddle creek 10
8. Burnt out Blokes 8
9. Recovery options 2
10. Home hardware 1
Improvements at the clubhouse and grounds continue making it a great local community and sporting venue. New potential members will always be welcomed so come try bowls with the Yarra Junction Bowling Club and keep up to date via the Facebook page.
Only one team won last weekend at Yarra Glen
By Rodney Bates
Friday
Night Under Lights
This coming Friday, 22 November, Yarra Glen Division 1 Side are playing a night pennant fixture at home against Bundoora.
As well as some great bowls, the club will have a variety of meals on offer, including burgers, rolls, dim sims and chips.
Game starts at 7pm, kitchen open between 6 and 8pm.
Weekend Results
Saturday was a mixed bag, with Side 2, Division 4 the only winner on the day.
Division 1 played away against Croydon.
With both teams in the top 4, this was a crucial game to set up the season for the winner.
Yarra with two rinks up, going down 62/71 (4 Points). C. Carswell 10/27; S. Manifold 20/14; Beau Simmons 14/11; Ben Simmons 18/19.
Division 4 Side 2 played on the slick synthetic greens of Ferntree Gully.
Yarra has had a stellar start to the season with four wins in a row, and Ferntree Gully was just out of the four, clearly keen to get the points.
With two ends to play on the M. Ramage rink, overall scores were level 83 all.
Matt Ramage played a weighted shot to remove FTG’s shot with his last bowl, converting to a three shot end win.
Ferntree Gully were only able to get one shot on the last end, with Yarra Valley winning by two shots 86/84 (14 Points). S. Smith 33/10; M. Ramage 22/14; R. Thurkle 23/29; A. Thurkle 8/31.
Disappointing week for Healesville team
By Ian Milgate
Healesville’s Team 1 played Mooroolbark at home who were on level points as Healesville but above Healesville on percentage.
It was going to be a great game as both sides have been playing well this season.
Mooroolbark got the jump on Healesville and by the half time break, Healeseville was well down.
In the second half Healesville came out to play and reduce the large margin but in the end, Healesville could not make up the deficit and went down by nine shots 43/52.
Ian Milgate, Hilda Gurney, Rob Broadhurst, Steve Graham 13/14
Gerda Otto, Robert Ayres, Col Jarvis, Effie Laban 15/19
Rita Featherstone, Robyn Turville, Bob Brown, Steve Bulled 15/19
Healesville’s Team 2 played away at Ringwood. Although Healesville was playing them on their own turf, Healesville was confident that if they played well, they would get over the top of Ringwood, as Ringwood was on the bottom of the ladder.
Apart from John Fitzpatrick’s rink the other
two rinks were struggling, although Mick Featherstone’s rink came home strong to win their rink.
Overall, it was a great win and the most valuable player for the day was Karl Tok.
Keep up the good work everyone.
It was great to catch up back at the club for Gerry Gommers 90th Birthday celebrations.
Congratulations Gerry.
Karl Tok, Glenda Graham, Mike Adams, John Fitzpatrick 27/11
Russell Smith, Gerry Gommers, Damian Key,
Barry Parker 15/21
Jim Viggers, Bernard Godde, Judy Veermann, Mick Featherstone 19/18
Saturday’s Team 1 played away at Donvale and were expected to win as Donvale were struggling and were second bottom on the Ladder.
As Healesville was missing a few players, the team still needed to be vigilant to maintain their top spot on the ladder.
Well, Donvale looked every bit a top contender as they came out to play and after six ends they were 26 shots ahead of Healesville.
Although it was hot and extremely windy, causing the bowls to get blown around, Healesville started to claw their way back to be 15 shots down at the half time break.
Adrian Beale’s team were making good progress with Gerda Otto putting some great shots down.
After the break, Healesville was confident and the lead was narrowed to eight shots, but in the end, Donvale was just too good on the day and Healesville went down by 13 shots 89/76.
The one highlight was Mark Ward, Bob Brown, Robert Ayres and Ian Milgate picked up eight shots on one end, to see an eight pin coming their way.
At home, the Division 6 Side 3 played Bayswater. A close tussle in all rinks, but just missing out 59/68 (three Points).
A. Skillern 15/15; D. Skillern 19/15; D. McMenaman 14/20; T. Dickson 11/18. Midweek pennant
• Playing at Home v Chirnside Park, our Division 2 Side had a three rink win.
• The rink of Peter Leonard was 21 all with the last end to play, with Deb Bates and Bill Grund combining to hold the winning shot.
• Final score 60/52 (16 points). P. Leonard 22/21; P. Tirant 24/16; A. James 27/11.
• Division 3 played on the challenging Monbulk green, going down 46/78 (2 Points). L. Baker 14/22; T. Dickson 23/16; Di Skillern 11/38.
Healesville is now second on the ladder and will play Chirnside Park next week.
Milgate, Robert Ayres, Bob Brown, Mark Ward 23/28
Barry Parker, John Fitzpatrick, Rob Broadhurst, Colin Jarvis 20/21
John Howard, Chris Hawting, Rita Featherstone, Steve Bulled 19/20
Gerda Otto, Mick Featherstone, Robyn Turville, Adrian Beales 14/20
Saturday’s Team 2 were to play at home against Eltham.
Eltham was sitting in third spot on the ladder, two points above Healesville, so it was going to be a fairly even match.
Unfortunately, Eltham forfeited given Healesville an easy 16 points to put Healeville third on the ladder.
It’s disappointment for the team as they have not played a game for three weeks.
Let’s hope some of these sides sort themselves out.
Healesville play Diamond Creek next round at home so let’s practice and be well prepared as they are only one spot below Healesville on the ladder.
Bob Brown watching the head. (Supplied)
Yarra Glen Division 1 Side are playing a night pennant fixture at home against Bundoora on Friday 22 November. (Unsplash)
SPORT Athletics put on a show
By Jamie Strudley
A huge week of competition for Yarra Ranges Athletics with members representing the club at Little Athletics EMR Region relays and seniors at Vic Milers and round 5 of AVSL.
The Little Athletics athletes finally had the opportunity to represent the club this week at the Region Relay Championships, a qualifier for the Victorian Little Athletics Relay Championships. Tough conditions at Box Hill but YRA managed to secure five Gold, three Silver and five Bronze, and hopefully lots of teams progressing to State Champs in December. All the runners and teams were amazing with no scratchings on the day and hopefully lots of fun in teams with their mates.
A shout out to three of YRA’s multiclass runners who were part of an EMR team that came a close second to Ringwood in the 4x200m and 4x100m. Hopefully they get a rematch at States! Big thanks to the Age Leaders who coordinated their teams, and also our parent volunteers who had to put in overtime due to the program unfortunately running well behind. Results are:
• Girls17 Medley Relay: 2:43.28 (1st); 4x100m: 55.46 (2nd); 4x200m: 2:03.09 (1st);
• Female 16 Medley Relay: 2:48.42 (1st);
• Female 15 4x100m: 57.02 (2nd);4x200m: 1:55.15 (1st);
• Female 14 Medley Relay: 2:50.69 (3rd); 3:08.50 (5th); 4x100m: 63.98 (7th); 57.46 (3rd); 4x200m: 2:14.79 (7th); 2:01.77 (3rd);
• Female 13 Medley Relay: 2:54.14 (5th); 4x100m: 59.54 (7th); 4x200m: 2:06.09 (5th);
• Female 12 Medley Relay: 3:08.97 (9th); 3:15.56 (11th); 4x100m: 62.93 (7th); 70.23 (10th); 4x200m: 2:10.22 (7th); 2:32.70 (12th);
• Female 11 Medley Relay: 3:13.91 (4th); 3:34.04 (8th); 4x100m: 63.29 (3rd); 74.58 (11th); 4x200m: 2:14.18 (2nd); 2:33.80 (9th);
• Female 10 Medley Relay: 3:16.57 (5th); 4x100m: 67.49 (6th); 4x200m: 2:23.22 (6th);
• Female 09 Medley Relay: 3:37.23 (6th); 4x100m: 73.47 (6th); 4x200m: 2:35.57 (4th);
• Male 12 Medley Relay: 2:46.06 (4th); 4x100m: 61.33 (10th); 58.02 (5th); 4x200m: 2:08.76 (11th); 2:02.03 (4th);
• Male 11 Medley Relay: 3:12.02 (7th); 4x100m: 64.73 (9th); 4x200m: 2:22.82 (8th);
• Male 10 Medley Relay: 3:11.40 (7th); 3:32.52 (12th); 4x100m: 64.24 (4th); 72.97 (13th); 4x200m: 2:48.27 (11th); 2:19.75 (8th);
• Male 09 Medley Relay: 3:22.01 (7th); 3:51.81 (12th); 4x100m: 74.94 (11th); 68.68 (6th); 4x200m: 2:46.57 (11th); 2:28.17 (6th);
• Mixed 09 4x100m: 67.73 (1st); 4x200m: 2:42.18 (12th);
• Mixed 10 4x100m: 76.25 (14th); DNS; 65.78 (6th); 4x200m: DNS; 2:22.88 (5th);
• Mixed 11 4x100m: 63.86 (6th); 73.36 (13th); 4x200m: 2:20.18 (8th); 2:36.09 (11th);
• Mixed 12 4x100m: 67.68 (13th); 57.71 (3rd); 4x200m: 2:07.61 (5th); 2:18.26 (12th);
• Mixed 13 4x100m: 58.33 (4th); 4x200m: 1:59.00 (4th); The senior squad were in action at round 5 of AVSL in Frankston. The under 20 women’s team
continued their domination again winning their age group for the round, while the open women finished second. Results are:
Women
• 200m: Camden Hewitson 27.85 (5.9); Ashleigh Rooke 28.80 (4.1); Taryn Bourke 29.83 (3.3); Shani Bullard 31.98 (5.9);
• 3000m Walk: Carolyn Rosenbrock 17:49.6h;
• Discus: Meg Sparkes 26.60m; Hayley Wilkins 22.72m;
• Hammer: Sarah Ebbels 34.05m; Anne-Marie Ebbels 31.27m; Camden Hewitson 26.94m; Kathi Hewitson 21.55m;
• High Jump: Emily Pincott 1.48m; Shani Bullard 1.28m; Erin Taylor 1.28m; Ashleigh Rooke 1.18m;
• Javelin: Meg Sparkes 16.76m; Hayley Wilkins 34.06m;
• Shot Put: Camden Hewitson 10.70m; Hayley Wilkins 8.63m; Ashleigh Rooke 8.06m; AnneMarie Ebbels 7.16m; Shani Bullard 6.63m; Sarah Ebbels 6.50m; Erin Taylor 5.99m; Lily Messom 5.56m; Kathi Hewitson 5.01m
• Triple Jump: Camden Hewitson 10.12m Shani Bullard 8.23m; Erin Taylor 8.19m; Ashleigh Rooke 7.48m; Lily Messom 6.77m; Kathi Hewitson 6.48m;
Men
• 200m: Liam Russell 23.29 (3.1); Oliver Duncan 24.07 (4.6); Blake Saloyedoff 26.22 (2.3); Joseph Johnston 28.37 (1.0); Pete Willmott 31.44 (1.4);
• 800m: Liam Russell 2:07.31; Daniel Gibbs 2:15.65; Blake Saloyedoff 2:16.32; Craig Hewitson 2:45.90; Pete Willmott 2:55.49;
• Discus: Dale Bullen 31.75m;
• High Jump: Oliver Duncan 1.68m; Pete Willmott 1.13m;
• Javelin: Dale Bullen 41.70m; Ilikimi Tove 25.64m;
• Shot Put: Craig Hewitson 7.68m; Pete Willmott 7.65m; Liam Russell 7.32m;
• Long Jump: Ilikimi Tove 3.59m;
• Triple Jump: Oliver Duncan 10.92m; Craig Hewitson 6.97m;
• Officials: Carolyn Rosenbrock; Seven club athletes competed in the opening Vic Milers meet for the season. 3000m events for all athletes, all taking the opportunity to chase PB’s. Briar Keyser ran a 30 second PB to record a new club U20 record of 10.46.39. Results are:
• Women 3000m: Olivia Twining 10:03.82; Grace Muller 10:44.15; Briar Keyser 10:46.39; Rori Jones 11:45.92;
All eyes look to next week for Lusatia Park
By Garry Nicholls
Lusatia Park’s attention turned to the two-day format for this game and playing against East Ringwood on their home ground, Lusatia Parl won the toss and sent them in.
In hot conditions, Terry took the first wicket at 7, the runs were moving along slowly and at tea after 41 overs they were 2/103. After tea with 8 wickets in hand, the home side were looking to build a hefty target by the end of the day’s play. Terry came on for his second spell and took the wicket of Gray who had made a solid 78. With 10 overs left and wickets in hand, the remaining batters started to open up and attack the bowling, finishing at 9/259. Lusatia Park’s bowlers tried their best in the hot conditions with Terry taking 3/50 and Jordy who just missed out on a hatrick taking 3/59. With 80 overs to face next week the task is certainly not beyond them.
The 2nd XI played Kilsyth at home, the visitors winning the toss and electing to bat. Lusatia Park struck early with Viren taking a wicket
in his 1st and 4th over and Bhavin in his 3rd to have them in trouble at 3/18. The visitors steadied and put on a partnership of 55 for the next
• Men 3000m: Max Savill-Bentley 8:30.13; Luke Hunter 9:41.21; Sam Arnold 10:12.12; A belated congratulations to Sam Arnold for his effort in the Melbourne Marathon. Sam missed the club record by three seconds when recording 2 hours 43.35.
This weekend it’s a return to normal Little Athletics competition on Saturday morning. Watch the socials for any early events. The seniors are competing in the AV State Relay Championships at Doncaster.
Training for our little athletes five-12yo takes place on Tuesdays from 4-5pm. All registered and trial members are welcome. Please check our website for more training session details. 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!
wicket until Stephen Morgan took the wicket of Woolhouse for 56. They lost wickets steadily after that and finished all out for 171 in 56 overs, Morgs the best of the bowlers taking 4/46 and Vire taking 3/39. With 26 overs remaining in the day’s play, Lusatia PArk looked to see out the remaining overs with minimal damage losing just the one wicket, Mick Dwyer for 35, the n.o. batsmen PB on 48 and Sumant on 38. With 80 overs to play next week, they’ll be looking to build a big lead.
The 3rd XI played Heatherdale at Wesburn oval no.2 and the visitors batted first, putting on a 1st wicket partnership of 59. They kept building a target steadily and finished their 36 overs at 7/208, the best of their batters J.Box 52 retired, R.Larkin 44 and A.McKenzie 37. Best of the bowlers was Stu taking 2/50. Lusatia Park then took to the crease looking to chase down the target but lost their first 2 wickets for only 19. The next wicket fell at 61 but then lost another 3 wickets while adding only 38 to the target. The task proved too much in the end finishing the
innings at 7/169 with Corey top scoring with 52 retired, Ben Sharman 30 and Stu 28 n.o.
Unfortunately the 4th had the opposition forfeited and the weather wasn’t on the side of the ladies competition on Sunday.
Last Tuesday the T20 side hosted Yarra Junction. The visitors won the toss and selected to bat, they started off well with an opening partnership of 55 when Terry got the 1st wicket of Ryan Carter who was scoring well 33 off 15 deliveries. Wickets started to fall reasonably quickly with Yarra Junction being bowled out for 98 in the 14th over. Terry ended up with 3 wickets, Tyson and Alex ended up with 2 each. In come Lusatia Park’s openers batting well together with a 50-run partnership before Mick Nicholls was dismissed. Not long later Tyson. Alex came in batting well however we started losing a few wickets The boys did well to reach the target in the 15th over. Top scorer was Alex with an unbeaten 26. This Tuesday sees the side travel to Healesville to see if they can keep up their winning form.
Lusatia Park Cricket Club results. (File)
Oliver Duncan makes it over the high jump bar in round 5 in Frankston. (Supplied)
Brookley and Emily in relay action.
Amelia and Flynn relay change at region relay champs.
Taryn Bourne competing in the 200m in Frankston.
Kristion and Koby showing their relay change at region relay champs.
First half century for Senti
By Travis Gloury
Senior 1st
XI
Bayswater Park 2nd XI V’s Yarra Glen (away)
2 day, game 80 overs each day, week 1 Yarra Glen all out 247 (75.3 overs)
Tim Lilley was promoted to open the batting and was joined by Phil Cowan batting at number four in the fourth over after the early loss of Noah Evans and Travis Gloury retiring hurt due to an ongoing shoulder injury.
The combination worked well as Phil pounced on any loose delivery with attacking stroke play with the reward translating to runs on the scoreboard on a ground with a reasonably quick outfield.
With the left handed Tim Lilley playing the
anchor role, the pair took the score to 55 before Tim was caught behind to their left arm orthodox spinner in the 14th over.
Liam Senti was next in and began his innings patiently as Phil continued to attack the opposition bowling before being dismissed in the 32nd over for 90, off 83 balls which included 15 boundaries and a six with balls disappearing all around the ground to give the team a great platform to set up the day with a sizable score.
At 3/122, Yarra Glen were soon 5/134 in the 38th over when Tom Davey partnered Liam over after losing Brad Willmore and Sam Gloury.
Tom attacked the bowling from the 1st ball hitting three 4’s and two 6’s in an innings of 27 off 27 balls with the score on 6/164 in the 44th over just before the tea break.
With the day in the balance, Yarra Glen boys pushed on with Jordan Bain run out at 7/181 and debutant, Brodie McCann dismissed at 8/195 in the 60th, with Liam chipping away at the other end in a patient and mature innings.
Together with number 11 batsman Matt Donnelly, the pair increased the scoring rate for the next 15 overs to take the score to 9/241, before Liam was dismissed for 62 in a well made and well deserved first half century in the 1st XI, with Matt Donnelly playing a nice cameo innings of 20 to give our score a boost at the end, was the last man out with Travis returning to the crease with the team posting 247 runs in 75.3 overs.
Liam Senti who made his first 1st XI half century on Saturday. (Supplied)
Healesville stay competitive despite tough games
Healesville Cricket Blasters kicked off on Thursday night with 40 kids aged 4-10 getting out and having fun learning how to play cricket - thanks to Ash Hamer for co-ordinating the program and all the parent helpers.
Cricket Blasters is Thursday nights 4.30 to 5.30pm at Don Road oval (until Queens Park oval is available for use).
U12-3 Healesville 7/94 defeated by Eastfield 6/127
Ryder Hudson 20, Reggie Morcombe 17, Angus Morcombe, Jackson Lehman, Asher Lehman one wicket each.
U12-7 Healesville 6/118 defeated Lusatia Park 6/114
Second win for the season!! Standouts for the game were Will Ferguson (33 runs) and 1/5 off two overs.
Angus Holmes made 19.
Felix McMahon (2/12 off 3 overs) is on a hatrick next game thanks to great catches from Otis Rowland.
The other wicket takers were Fletcher Brook (1/9 off 2) and Milo Jackson-Ward, (1/8 off 2).
U14-3 Healesville 240 v Wonga Park 1-14 (day 1 of 2-day game)
Away against Wonga Park saw the team face the only team so far to have beaten them.
Winning the toss and batting, a good start was required and this was achieved through Raff Morcombe plundering the first ball to the boundary.
Him and Harry Thomas would build a strong 50 run partnership before “Harold” gloved one down the leg side.
Max Ferris, Summer Caldicott and Harry Duff would soon join him in the change rooms while Raff Morcombe up the other end retired on a well made 63, the highlight being his six over the fence off Wonga’s strongest bowler.
While Morcombe batted superbly the rest of the team struggled to maintain their wicket with James Howden (15), Mika Kerst (13) and Aeden Senti (18) getting starts but unable to kick on with it.
After the strong start the team stumbled to 7/147 with still 22 overs to bat.
Louis Keath would then prove resistance playing a balanced hand making 36 before going out to a knee high full toss caught on the boundary.
Bringing in the retired man Raff Morcombe to bat with the more than capable Ryder Hudson for the last wicket with the score 9/201. Morcombe would then take it upon himself to do the brunt of the scoring plundering 4’s and manipulating the strike despite Ryder being a strong batter. He moved quickly from 63 off 50 to 97 off 71.
With the intensity in the camp at fever pitch and everyone on the edge of their seat, Charlie Prewett the heart of the Wonga Park attack yet someone Raff had dominated all day sent down a good delivery and Raff looked to heave it away being bowled tragically for 97 closing the innings at 240.
A great knock regardless but everyone disappointed for the lad. Healesville would bowl 6 overs at Wonga with skipper Aeden Senti taking
Cricket Blasters is on Thursday nights 4.30 to 5.30pm at Don Road oval until Queens Park oval is available for use. (File: 443874)
a wicket leaving Wonga 1/14 in reply of 240.
U14-7 Healesville 5/120 defeated by Lusatia Park/Hoddles Creek 133
Taylor Caldicott 25, Thomas Quaggin 14, Monty Forbes 13*, Kael Senti 12*, Angus Morcombe 2/28, Ben Hunter 2/11, Tully Ellis 2/8
U16-4 Healesville 4/119 v Lusatia Park 2/86
(day 1 of 2 day split innings game)
The U-16’s Game against Lusatia Park is evenly poised at the half way point. Lusatia Park won the toss and put Healesville into bat on a very windy morning.
A great opening partnership between Tyler Braden 29 (retired not out) and Sammy Drummond 35 (44), a personal best 20 off 36 balls from Wyatt Coleman, and Patty Leonard 12 not out sees us at 4/119 at the half way point. In windy conditions, and a few down in the field, The Healesville boys whilst not taking lots of wickets kept the scoring slow, Lusatia park 2/86 at the end of the day, wickets going to Wyatt Coleman 1/5 off 3 and Denzel Parsons 1/11 off 3.
The match will be decided this Saturday. 1st XI Healesville 262 v Eastfield 0/17
(day 1 of 2 day game)
After two wins on the trot, the boys headed to Eastfield looking to get a good start in its second 2 day match of the year.
Winning the toss and electing to Bat, Nick Zinghini and Josh Handasyde looked at setting up the game once again.
Picking off the bad ball and positive batting saw the bloods put the pressure back on Eastfield early and the runs flowing with the bloods 0/100 at drinks after 20 overs.
The third 100 partnership the pair have got this season.
Handasyde was through his shot too early popping it up for mid off to take a lunging catch to be dismissed for 45.
Nick Zinghini would be the next to go being adjudged LBW for 65.
With the platform set, Ash Hamer and Tom Handasyde looked at keeping the runs flowing before Ash picked out forward square leg.
Continuous wickets flowing with minor partnerships of around 20 runs seemed to be the theme with Tom Handasyde 25, Hudson Hetherton 1, Max Minney 21 and Luke Chandler 12 all found themselves back in the sheds before the 50 over mark and the score yet to eclipse 200.
So from 0/105 the bloods slipped to 7/197.
Skipper Darren Edwards and Darcy English seemed to rebuild the innings with Edwards 41 steady in defense and Darcy keeping the score ticking over.
Darcy would eventually be caught at short cover for 22.
Tampaline soon followed, and a last wicket resistance would see the team make 262.
Healesville had eight overs at Eastfield and failed to take a wicket despite some strong appeals leaving Eastield 0/17 at the close.
A strong position for Healesville requiring good bowling but feel they could’ve made more runs if the team was able to capitalize on the strong start.
2nd XI Healesville 1/65 v Eastfield 213 (day 1 of 2 day game)
On a hot, windy, Saturday afternoon, a day where the 2s were hoping to bat loss the toss and found themselves bowling against Eastfield.
Beau Hawkins (1/39 off 13) and Jack Drummond (3/39 off 11.4) starting us off, Beau bowling good line and length was having the batsmen struggling to even catch the edge of the bat playing and missing ball after ball, bowling in a good partnership with Jack who was able strike early taking the first two wickets in the 6th and 8th overs getting the team off to a great start of 2/13.
Beau struck next with a perfect ball nailing the top of off two overs later bringing Eastfield to 3/17 in the 11th over.
With a little bit of a batting partnership being formed we tried to keep on top and keep pushing when the breakthrough came with Max Wallace (3/27 off 9) taking three wickets in an over.
Looking to be in a very good position with the score now 6/68 at the 27 over mark, the team
rolled through a couple bowling changes trying to get the last few wickets, Riley Cameron (1/20 off 6) got a sharp caught and bowled catch to bring the score to 7/88.
With the heat starting to really set in and take its toll, Healesville started to lose our way in the field, with the tail wagging Michael Davern (2/23 off 10) managed to have a break through turning one past the bat for a stumping.
Beau came back on for a second spell trying to get the last wicket but again with no luck going his way was getting edges through slips or balls just missing the stumps.
Jack came back on after Beau for his second spell trying his luck to get the last wicket, have a ball pop up to short cover and caught only to have bowled a front foot no ball, luckily was able to get the last wicket bowling Eastfield out for 213 in the 64th over.
With 15 overs left to face to complete the days play, Mark Powell (36*) and Riley Cameron (2) opened the batting.
Mark got us off to a good start with Riley until Riley got himself out, spooning one up and being caught seven overs in.
Max Wallace (17*) joined Mark and the crease who had been playing shots and seemingly scoring runs with ease continues his recent form, finishing the day at 36 not out and Max playing some big shots, not being trouble by the short amount of overs to last also finished unbeaten on 17.
Healesville finished the days play at 1/65, trailing Eastfield by 148 a good platform has been created for us to chase down the rest of these runs next week.
3rd XI Healesville 8/157 v Chirnside Park 3/113
(day 1 of 2 day split innings game)
Round 6 saw Healesville travel to Chirnside Park for the first of the season’s 2 day games with the bloods winning the toss and electing to bat. Kris Andersen batted magnificently at the top of the order for a well made 104 but apart from that it was an indifferent innings, with Healesville reaching 8/157.
In hot conditions the team as a whole bowled and fielded well but struggled to make regular breakthroughs, Chirnside finishing the day at 3/123.
With another innings each to go, some early wickets next week will be the key to winning the game.
4th XI - Healesville 155 defeated by Mooroolbark 7/232
Healesville hosted Mooroolbark at Margaret Lewis Reserve.
Mooroolbark won the toss and elected to bat, it was hard work in the feild due to hot and very windy conditions, I am proud of the effort in the feild especially from some of the younger players in our squad. Mooroolbark set Healesville a target of 7/232 (A Keith 4/19, M Jackson 3/35) Healesville’s run chace started with some promise, but the imposing total would remain out reach, Healesville finished with a total of 10/155 (M Harding 50* , C Bell 39, A Keith 20) 5th XI - Healesville 4/197 defeated Yarra Junction 98
Lee Caldicott 50*, Summer Caldicott 42*, Mika Kerst 33, Nate
2/10
By Josh Handasyde, Michael Davern, Adam Keath, Matt Wilkinson, Pete Nolan and Chris Handasyde
Caldicott 20, Danny Hyndman 2/11, Sam Hyndman 2/11, Shannon Maile
