Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 10th December 2024

Keep the doctor away

By Callum Ludwig

The Rotary Club of Wandin has come together for its annual apple distribution to local schools.

Each year since 2019, the Rotarians have hand-packed and delivered one kilogram of apples to each student and staff member at a number of local schools.

Rotarians Gavan McIntyre and Paul Martin said this year they will be delivering another 1200 bags of apples.

“They’ll be going to Yering, Coldstream, Wandin North, Wandin Yallock, Seville, Woori Yallock, Hoddles Creek and Silvan,” Mr Martin said.

“We think that especially leading into Christmas where a lot of families in the Yarra Valley are under financial stress, this is just a small way we can go towards providing in the month of December something that would just take a little bit of pressure off each family’s budget, but equally provide our young folk with some healthy apples.”

Turn to page 13 for more

By Dongyun Kwon

The Federal Government announced the funding as part of its Thriving Suburbs Program, which helps fund community infrastructure projects with significant costs, on Thursday 5 December. As part of the Thriving Suburbs Program, the investment of over $5.7 million will go toward the upgrade of the sporting pavilion at Don Road Recreation Reserve in Healesville to keep com-

munity members connected, enrich the quality of life at a local level and enhance social inclusion.

The grant is going to be used for a replacement of the multi-purpose community and sports pavilion complete with associated amenities to support the multiple sporting clubs, ovals, courts and exercise stations at the reserve.

Healesville Football Netball Club president Toby Millman said the details of the facility upgrade are yet to be discussed.

“We will work in consultation with the Yarra Ranges Council to design suitable facilities to accommodate both the Healesville Football Netball Club and the Healesville Junior Football Club,” he said.

The program also supplied $1.5m for improvement works at Lillydale Lake to enhance and activate parklands, improve access to the lake, car parking, recreation and fitness facilities.

Yarra Ranges mayor Jim Child said Yarra

Ranges Council was appreciative of the significant funding announcement.

“We are delighted to receive more than $7.28 million from the Federal Government’s Thriving Suburbs funds for some much-needed community assets in Yarra Ranges,” he said.

“We look forward to working with the community to start planning and shaping what the new facility at Don Road will look like.”

Turn to page 7 for more

L-R: Woori Yallock PS’ Primary Welfare Office Andre Campbell, Principal Oliver Thockloth (Principal) and Wandin Rotarians Gavan McIntyre and Paul Martin. (Stewart Chambers: 447966)

Shoulder to shoulder

By Mikayla van Loon

Industrial action reached the Yarra Ranges’ largest police station this week, as members walked off the job in solidarity with fellow officers as the pay and conditions dispute persists.

On and off duty police from Lilydale stopped work for 30 minutes as part of the intensified action which has seen hundreds of police walk out stretching from regional townships like Wodonga to the city headquarters.

Leading senior constable Peter Williams has worked at Victoria Police for 16 years, currently as the youth resource officer within the proactive policing unit, and took part in the strike action on Wednesday 4 December.

“I would say through the years I’ve been a part of VicPol there’s been two EBs where the government has not listened and not valued us, and stood back and said, ‘No, you’re getting enough. Your conditions are good enough’,” he said.

“It’s detrimental to not just us as working police members, but the community as a whole. It shows the community that we aren’t supported, and if we’re not supported, then how do we support the community?

“We have 1000 members off. We have 700 members on sick leave. When is enough enough? It gets to the point where we are all at breaking point.”

With a lack of new recruits and dwindling numbers, Leading SC Williams said this ongoing action was not only about pay but retention and welfare.

“In 1988 there were 9900 police in Victoria Police, and there were about a million people in Melbourne. Moving forward to today, they say there’s about 17,000 police, but that’s including PSOs, sometimes they include the unsworn who are not on the front lines so realistically it’s less than that.

“And then the population of Melbourne is probably about six million. We haven’t kept that in line with the population growth, so Victoria Po-

lice actually needs lots more members to address what the need is for the community and that’s not happening.”

In his view, Leading SC Williams said the potential for many more members to walk away from the job is high given the day-to-day expectations placed on them.

“I know from the time I’ve been in Victoria Police, I don’t think I’ve seen it this bad,” he said.

“If it’s not fixed quickly, then the numbers will reduce. It’ll just get worse. And my biggest fear is actually that members of the public who are potential victims will be in need of assistance and that’s not coming.

“And that’s what we’re here for, the victims.”

Leading SC Williams said from being spat on to bitten, plus overtime and unfair pay, it can make for a difficult day at work.

“The conditions we have currently and not being valued are not good enough and that needs to be addressed,” he said.

“The people who are working on the van and the members out here in the Yarra Ranges who are really community minded, really live amongst the community, are embedded in the community and spend their working hours supporting the community, need to be treated better and be given the conditions we have applied for through TPAV and the government and management should come to the party and address what our needs are.”

With pieces of the welfare puzzle missing currently, Leading SC Williams said of course the police response is lacking but if the requests of the Police Association members are met, it means the people they serve in the community get a better outcome too.

“If we have more members, we have better conditions, and we have people happier by wanting to come to work with less stress, then the community will get service delivery that we’re about, we’re in business for, hopefully, then the community will be served in a better way.”

Council stands with community against violence

Yarra Ranges Council staff proudly marched with community members and government representatives at the Walk Against Family Violence 2024.

Staff members marched in the city on Friday 22 November, advocating for a Victorian community where everyone is safe, equal and respected.

The walk took place shortly before the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from 25 November to 10 December.

To mark the 16 Days of Activism, the council has flown several banners around the region, reminding the community and visitors that violence against women is never acceptable, run storytime events in local libraries and delivered community grants to groups hosting events.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child said that everyone – especially men – can help to prevent violence against women.

“The 16 Days of Activism is a reminder that we need to continue the work of preventing violence against women – that we need to have zero tolerance for any violence against women and girls,” Cr Child said.

“The only way we can have a society with zero violence against women and girls is if everyone challenges sexist behaviours and attitudes – which can be as simple as taking a friend aside and letting them know their comments were unacceptable, and modelling positive behaviour towards women.

“We have an important role to play in local government by influencing change through service

delivery, setting behavioural standards and working to change systems and structures that contribute to inequality.”

Council staff also heard a keynote speech from Not One More Niki founder, Tarang Chawla, about how men can help to prevent and end violence against women.

Not One More Niki was founded in memory of Tarang’s younger sister, Nikita, who was murdered by her partner in 2015.

“When we heard from Tarang Chawla, 88 women had been murdered in 2024 to date – that number is now 94, just one week later. That’s almost one woman killed every day of that week,” Cr Child said.

“Tarang said that it’s not just enough to not be violent towards women – we need men to get involved in the conversation, to listen to women and to try harder to change this trend.

“Men can help out, in small and large ways, by listening to women and their experiences, speaking up against sexist behaviours, jokes and attitudes, being vulnerable about their feelings with their friends and loved ones and by educating themselves and others in their circles.

“Nobody is going to be perfect at this, but we all need to try, and try a lot harder, if we’re going to turn around the horrific statistics we’re seeing climb almost every day in the news.

“I’m proud of our Council staff who came along to listen, who I hope will speak out against sexism in their day to day lives, and those who came to the city to join the Walk Against Family Violence.”

As part of their training at the council, staff must

undertake Gender Equity and Bystander Training. This training equips staff to help prevent violence against women, by demonstrating ways to address sexist behaviours and attitudes in the workplace and in their day-to-day lives.

On and off duty police officers from Lilydale Police Station took part in the work stoppages on Wednesday 4 December. (Mikayla van Loon: 448584)

Calling for more resources, better pay and fair working conditions members said they have reached breaking point. (448584)

Raising their hands in favour of seeking better outcomes, Lilydale’s members stood in solidarity with fellow officers across the state. (448584)

The council has a commitment to Gender Equity through its Gender Equity Action Plan, Council Plan and Health and Wellbeing Plan.

Yarra Ranges Council staff joined hundreds for the 16 Days of Activism walk in Melbourne. (Supplied)

25 years imprisonment

By Dongyun Kwon

Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse and explicit language.

A former Yarra Glen resident was sentenced to be imprisoned for at least 17 more years after being found guilty of historic child sexual abuse.

Mr Roder (pseudonym), born in June 1970 and now aged 54, was accused by his two stepchildren of 27 charges of sexual abuse.

County Court of Victoria Judge McInerney imposed 25 years’ jail with a non-parole period of 18 years.

“All of the sentences are imposed in regard to serious sexual offences. In regard to each charge, Mr Roder is sentenced as a serious sexual offender,” the County Court decision reads.

“Given that Mr Roder is currently serving a sentence of five years and one month with a non-parole period of three years and five months passed by me on 19 December 2023, it is necessary for me to set a new single non-parole period.

“I determine that the single non-parole period to be now fixed ... will be 18 years to be served from 19 December 2023.

“I note therefore that from 19 December 2023, Mr Roder has served 344 days of this single non-parole period.”

The 54-year-old man was in a de facto relationship with the mother of the two complainants from 1999 to 2010.

EW (pseudonym), the youngest, was born in 1994 and assaulted by Mr Roder from the age of five in September 1999, through to the age of 13 in December 2007.

MW (pseudonym), the older child, was born in 1991 and assaulted by Mr Roder from the age of 10 or 11 in January 2002 to 18 in December 2009.

EW was treated with contempt, being regular-

ly called by Mr Roder a “little c***”, disciplined by him physically and with the use of a strap.

As a result, EW was particularly fearful of Mr Roder.

The first sexual touching involving EW by Mr Roder occurred in the period between September 1999 to September 2000.

The child was home ill from school.

When EW was eight, he was raped by Mr Roder in the bedroom.

The first sexual assault on MW occurred between January and March 2002 when he was in Grade 5.

During the sexual abuse committed on these

boys, Mr Roder had told both kids to keep such acts a secret.

Mr Roder emphasised the need for such offending to be kept secret over and over again and told MW if he did not do what he wanted, his disappearance would be arranged by friends of Mr Roder.

MW said he was still scared of Mr Roder at the age of 18 when groped by Mr Roder two different times in February and later in 2009.

If you have experienced or witnessed sexual abuse, contact 1800Respect via call on 1800 737 732 or text on 0458 737 732 or contact Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 for help.

Final fire restrictions announced

Fire restrictions will be in force across the whole state soon with the final Fire Danger Period (FDP) declared for the Yarra Ranges, Knox, Maroondah and Manningham.

Thiswillcomeintoeffectfrom1amonMonday23 December.

After a drier-than-average autumn and winter, much of Victoria faces an elevated fire risk this summer, particularly in the state’s west, northeast, and southwest Gippsland, as well as the Mornington Peninsula and parts of greater Melbourne.

CFA District 13 Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer Matt Hirst said the conditions mean locals need to stay vigilant as the region heads into fire season.

“What we’re seeing is the result of months of dry conditions,” he said.

“Despite recent rainfall, fine fuels, such as grasses and leaf litter on the forest floor will dry out very fast, which could lead to conditions for fires to spread quickly.”

MrHirstalsostressedtheimportanceofsafepractices when it comes to burn-offs.

“Our crews are ready, but we need everyone to do their part to minimise risk,” he said.

“Preparing your property is one of the most important steps you can take before fire danger days arrive.

“If you’re planning a burn-off, make sure it’s done safely and that you register it online.

“This ensures emergency resources can stay focused on genuine incidents.”

Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child also encouraged residents to continue clearing their properties of excess vegetation, which can quickly become fuel in a fire.

“The Fire Danger Period officially marks the start of the fire season in Yarra Ranges and it indicates the heightened fire risk and from which burning off in the open is prohibited,” Cr Child said.

“Prior to and during this period, fallen tree debris, grass, twigs and excess vegetation can dry out and become very flammable and provide fuel in the event of a bush or grass fire, so it’s important to clear up what you can before the fire season begins properly.

“Inparticular,roofspoutingandunderandaround decks should be kept clear of flammable material all summer.”

Cr Child reminded people however, that burning off was not the only option with FOGO bins a weekly opportunity to discard green waste.

“Once the Fire Danger Period is underway, community members can utilise their hard waste collection to get rid of branches between January and March.”

Recently,thecouncil’sFireHazardInspectionProgram has been operating with 357 inspections undertaken. This has resulted in 221 fire prevention notices being issued where property owners have a period of time to clean-up their property in readiness for the fire season. “Our emergency services do a fantastic job of keeping the community safe right through the year, especially during the fire season, but we need to remember that managing bushfire risk is everyone’s responsibility,” Cr Child said.

“Weneedtodoourbitbyclearingourpropertiesto reduce the risk of a grass or bushfire taking hold.

“There’s very little time before the Fire Danger Period begins, so when planning a burn off, you must check conditions and whether you’re able to burn off in your area.”

Landowners conducting burn-offs must notify authorities online at the Fire Permits Victoria website at www.firepermits.vic.gov.au, or by calling ESTA on 1800 668 511. By registering your burn-off before 23 December, any reports of smoke or fire will be crosschecked with the burn-off register to avoid unnecessary response of fire services. No burning off is permitted during the FDP without a Permit to Burn, which can be applied for through the Fire Permits Victoria website. For more information, visit cfa. vic.gov.au/firedangerperiod

IN BRIEF

Telstra outage in Mount Beenak

There will be a mobile outage due to a planned Telstra upgrade for Mount Beenak commencing Tuesday 10 December 2024.

Telstra will be upgrading its mobile base station that services Mount Beenak to bring a better user experience to the community. The upgrades will improve the mobile site’s capacity, meaning faster downloads, smoother streaming and less congestion but mobile service in the area will be affected during the works.

Telstra mobile customers in the area or who pass through the area will receive texts advising of the upcoming work.

Landline services, NBN internet services, and mobile coverage from other providers will not be impacted.

The site will need to be switched off during the following periods:

Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 December full site outage (four days)

Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 December intermittent disruptions

Telstra customers can continue to make calls and send texts during disruption to mobile services by switching on Wi-Fi Calling. This is a free setting on most popular mobile phones and allows your mobile to make and receive mobile calls while connected to Wi-Fi.

Vehicle theft spike

Yarra Ranges Police have taken to social media over the week asking the public to take caution after a rise in vehicle theft.

Police continue to see a concerning spike in theft of vehicles from gyms and aquatic facilities across our region.

The Yarra Ranges Eyewatch page said that offenders will often ask for people inside the gym working out to let them in, using the excuse that they ‘have lost their swipe card’ or ‘left their swipe card inside’.

Once inside, offenders head to the unsecured lockers and bag holders and steal car keys and other valuables.

Police said that when people are getting their your daily workouts they should use secure lockers provided or keep their valuables with them.

“Never allow someone to access the gym who does not have a swipe access card,” the post read.

If you lose your swipe access card, report it to the gym or aquatic centre as soon as possible, so it can be deactivated.

Wandin North armed robbery

Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit are appealing for information in relation to an Armed Robbery that occurred between 8.00pm and 8.30pm on Wednesday 4 September 2024 at a business premises in the Wandin North Shopping precinct.

Investigators wish to speak with witnesses with information relating to anyone seen to be acting suspiciously in the area at that time.

Investigators have compiled a digital face image of the suspect that is said to be of a 60 per cent likeness to the offender.

Any information please call Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000 or Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit on 9739 2401.

two

County Court of Victoria. (Cam Lucadou-Wells: 231934)

Debate over wombat control

By Callum Ludwig

The humble wombat is a largely-loved native critter across the country, but conservationists are concerned about the treatment they are receiving from landowners.

Wombats are protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975 but landowners can apply for an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) permit that allows for the ‘destruction’ of wombats that are causing damage, though non-lethal methods are recommended.

Wombat Protection Society (WPS) volunteer and South Gippsland farmer Ali Martin said she first joined the WPS because she feels coexisting with wildlife is preferable to seeing them as pests.

“I just got more involved and we started to develop more educational materials for farmers, property owners and people that potentially want to be involved in assisting us with orphaned wombats that need safe release sites on properties where they won’t be shot or they won’t get hit on roads, basically a safe haven for them,” she said.

“We started doing educational stands, going to agricultural farms and community events just to talk to people about wildlife, particularly wombats, on their property and things like if they’ve gotten caught under the house and what we could do to help with that and what options there are other than just going straight to the traditional method of shooting without thinking.”

In 2023, 222 permits were issued that allowed for lethal control of a maximum of 1902 wombats. The amount of ACTW permits issued each year can vary due to factors like changing environmental conditions such as rainfall and its impacts on food and water availability for wildlife.

Raewyn Jeganathan runs the Waratah Wildlife Shelter, started in Launching Place and in the process of moving to Big Pats Creek, and said we need to do better for wombats.

“I regularly get calls about ‘nuisance’ wom-

bats and am often frustrated by people’s lack of compassion to the animals, I get that it’s frustrating when they’re digging under the house or trashing the vege patch but we are living in their homes and we need to be more mindful of that,” she said.

“Our reluctance to explore ways to coexist with wildlife is really quite disgraceful, we’d rather just kill it because we feel entitled to do so and DEECA issuing so many permits only encourages this mindset,”

“DEECA should be providing more education, offering advice and resources to encourage people to live alongside our beautiful wombats, it’s really quite an insult to carers to think that we put all this time and love into raising these animals only to have DEECA hand out so many kill permits.”

Wombats digging burrows can undermine building foundations or fencing and cause significant damage or can create safety risks by creating large holes that agricultural equipment, trail bikes or small vehicles can fall into.

ACTW permits are meant to be issued when all practical non-lethal control options have been exhausted and the animal, such as a wombat, is having a negative impact on crops, pasture, infrastructure or human safety.

Ms Martin said their key message is just to not jump to shootings as there’s a range of other options that are suitable to anybody’s needs no matter what they may be.

“One option is a wombat gate that’s really heavy, wombats will push through it and they’ll use it within days but it’s too heavy for a lamb to push through it or they just think it’s part of the fence and they are good for smaller properties,” she said.

“Another option is a wooden pallet under a gate, which allows the wombat to move freely but sheep or a lamb won’t try to go under it,”

“Another thing we suggest is building wildlife corridors or shelter belts, which is something

that’s very common now to do, and you might do it within your paddocks and fence it off and if you’ve got a nice little bushy area, it’s great for your stock because it gives them shade, but it’s great for wildlife and wombats because they’re more inclined to dig their burrows in that space while protecting your stock from falling down a hole.”

For wombats under houses, property owners are recommended to put a radio and a torch near or under the house before bed and when the wombat returns from foraging, the activity might deter it after a few nights in a row.

More information on wombat behaviour and non-lethal control options is available at: vic.gov.au/common-wombat-wildlife-management-methods wildlife.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_ file/0029/710876/Living-with-Wildlife-Wombats.pdf

Be part of a vibrant Community and enjoy the Facilities

222 permits leading to the death of a maximum of 1902 wombats were issued in Victoria in 2023.

Learning about the past for the future

By Dongyun Kwon

Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation hosted an event called yalingbuth yalingbu yirramboi (yesterday today tomorrow), opening up the gate of Coranderrk to the public on Saturday 7 December.

It was a follow-up event of the exhibition with the same name to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the closure of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station.

Even though the station was officially closed 100 years ago, the history of Coranderrk did not end in 1924, and the stories of Coranderrk have been continuing today through the descendants.

Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation director Brooke Wandin said 2024 offered an opportunity to reflect on the Coranderrk community’s impressive effort to gain autonomy, and the powerful narrative holds relevance today.

“The event is to commemorate and to think about what it means in 2024 to be a First Nations person and also to think about how the old stories from Coranderrk are still relevant today,” she said.

“Sometimes, we look at history and think it’s long ago, and it doesn’t affect us anymore but it does.

“It’s a part of our family, this land and the local history.”

Yalingbuth yalingbu yirramboi was full of fun activities including Ilbijerri production of ‘Coranderrk’ which provided context about the history of Coranderrk as well as other cultural performances.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Mutti Mutti man Kutcha Edwards and the trio were invited to perform their music as well.

Ms Wandin said it’s important to tell people about the true history.

“There are lots of different people who

have come to live in this area, and I think it’s very important to understand all of the different stories and histories of the place where you live,” she said.

“Unfortunately, there is still a lot of denial about the history in Australia and there needs to be a whole range of different ways to share history.

“I hope (visitors) are really thinking about the deep, long history of First Nations people.”

Star Mail will delve into the history of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Station next week.

United to give gift of sight

The Fred Hollows Foundation is thanking the Yarra Ranges community for their continued generosity and support this year.

In 2024, The Foundation has seen 109 new donors from the Yarra Ranges support their work, with 1042 locals in total donating $300,248, helping the charity restore sight to people living with avoidable blindness around the world.

Demonstrating their community spirit, Victorians have donated an incredible $9,692,070 so far this year.

Founding director Gabi Hollows expressed her gratitude to the Yarra Ranges community for supporting the foundation’s important work.

“Unfortunately, avoidable blindness is increasing globally, but we know that nine out of 10 cases of blindness and vision impairment are preventable or treatable,” Gabi said.

“We can do something about it. The Fred Hollows Foundation has restored sight to more than three million people and we won’t stop until we achieve our mission of ending avoidable blindness. We wouldn’t be able to restore sight to as many people here in Australia and around the world without the generosity of our community.

“Thank you to the people of the Yarra Ranges for allowing us to carry on Fred’s vision of ending avoidable blindness.”

Chansouk, an imaginative girl from Lao PDR, regained her sight thanks to life changing surgery.

When she was just two years old, she was on the verge of blindness after suffering from a traumatic eye injury from a nearby fire.

Chansouk’s family sought help at Oudomxay Eye Hospital, where Dr Senglar Laosern, who was trained by the foundation, diagnosed her with cataract in her right eye.

With only four eye doctors for every million people in Lao PDR, many children like Chansouk remain untreated.

Dr Senglar and visiting physician Dr Phatoumphone, who was also trained by the foundation, performed successful surgery on Chansouk, bringing joy to her mother Nam.

“I would like to thank all the nurses and doctors, and The Fred Hollows Foundation,” she said.

Now aged nine, Chansouk loves maths and dreams of becoming a doctor, just like Dr Senglar.

Chansouk’s sight restoration journey highlights the critical need for eye care in Lao PDR and the life-changing impact it can have on young lives.

In Victoria, the foundation partners with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) to provide culturally appropriate eye care.

Last year, the foundation performed more than 4.3 million eye screenings, distributed more than 6.8 million doses of antibiotics for trachoma and ran education sessions for more than 5.6 million adults and children globally.

For more information about The Fred Hollows Foundation or to help restore sight, visit hollows. org or call 1800 352 352.

Watch Chansouk’s story here: youtube.com/ watch?v=msA1QNBp7BQ

Ilbijerri team performing production of ‘Coranderrk’. (Dongyun Kwon: 448854)

Wandin women singing the Welcome to Country. (Dongyun Kwon: 448854)

Chansouk has regained her eyesight thanks to the donation from Yarra Ranges residents. (Supplied)

(L-R) Wurundjeri man Thane Garvey, his son Koah Garvey and his mum Shona Rimmer enjoying the event. (Dongyun Kwon: 448854)

$5.7 million for pavilion

By Dongyun Kwon

Collaboration of a local sport club, a local government and a local federal MP finally came to fruition as the Federal Government’s investment of over $5.7 million for Don Road Recreation Reserve in Healesville has been secured.

The Federal Government announced the funding as part of its Thriving Suburbs Program, which helps fund community infrastructure projects with significant costs, on Thursday 5 December.

As part of the Thriving Suburbs Program, the investment of $5,775,000 will go toward the upgrade of the sporting pavilion at Don Road Recreation Reserve in Healesville to keep community members connected, enrich the quality of life at a local level and enhance social inclusion.

Healesville Football Netball Club president Toby Millman said this upgrade will accommodate the growing Healesville sports teams.

“An upgraded pavilion will provide more room for spectators and players to enjoy local sport. An upgrade is long overdue,” he said.

The grant is going to be used for a replacement of the multi-purpose community and sports pavilion complete with associated amenities to support the multiple sporting clubs, ovals, courts and exercise stations at the reserve.

Mr Millman said the details of the facility upgrade are yet to be discussed.

“We will work in consultation with the Yarra Ranges Council to design suitable facilities to accommodate both the Healesville Football Netball Club and the Healesville Junior Football Club,” he said.

“Aaron Violi has been a strong supporter of Healesville clubs and we can’t thank him enough for his advocacy on the need for an upgrade at Don Road.”

Federal Casey MP Aaron Violi said he was pleased this funding has been secured for the Healesville community.

“Working alongside Yarra Ranges Council, I am pleased this federal funding has been secured and will deliver upgraded facilities at Don Road Recreation Reserve,” he said.

“This upgrade is much needed to support Healesville’s growing population and will allow current and future generations to continue to enjoy the benefits of sport.”

The Thriving Suburbs Program is designed to build better cities and more liveable suburbs, targeting projects, such as sporting and cultural hubs, libraries and parks.

Federal infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government minister Catherine King said the Thriving Suburbs Program is all about building better cities and more liveable suburbs, with the projects getting funding across Victoria set to increase community cohesion, liveability and accessibility.

“Today’s announcement is a demonstration of how our Government recognises the importance of elevating urban areas because that is where most Australians live,” she said.

“Whether sports clubs, urban precincts or community hubs, community facilities are the backbone of connected societies – and they’re becoming increasingly important.”

The program also supplied $1.5m for improvement works at Lillydale Lake to enhance and activate parklands, improve access to the lake, car parking, recreation and fitness facilities.

Yarra Ranges mayor Jim Child said Yarra Ranges Council was appreciative of the significant funding announcement.

“We are delighted to receive more than $7.28 million from the Federal Government’s Thriving Suburbs funds for some much-needed community assets in Yarra Ranges,” he said.

“We know there is a significant need for a new community and sporting pavilion at Don Road, with the current decades-old pavilion no longer meeting community needs.

“The pavilion there has hosted countless community events and sporting games, and the redeveloped pavilion, when completed, will be a home-away-from-home for many Healesville residents for decades to come.

“We look forward to working with the community to start planning and shaping what the new facility at Don Road will look like.”

Car park safety concerns at shopping precinct

By Callum Ludwig

The state of the carpark behind the Yarra Junction shopping precinct has drawn the ire of locals, who fear its state of disrepair is a serious safety issue.

Large potholes have appeared and parts of the car park surface have degraded, causing uneven ground that could put pedestrians at risk and cause damage to vehicles.

Warburton resident John Ashby said one of the reasonably deep potholes is right next to the pedestrian crossing.

“It’s got some stuff just jammed in it but anyone pushing a pram, or just young kids or elderly people could turn and step there and fall and then anything could happen, let alone the damage it probably does to cars,” he said.

“And it’s not the only one, there’s a few of them there and it’s not as if it’s been there for a week or

so, it’s been there for quite some time.”

Mr Ashby himself contacted the store manager at Woolworths to express his concerns and was told they would ‘address’ it. The management of the car park and the shopping centre itself is the responsibility of retail asset management company RetPro which owns the Yarra Junction shopping precinct.

Mr Ashby said it feels like there’s a lack of responsibility for the duty of care to the health and safety of residents.

“You virtually have to come to a stop to go through it, but come holiday times and weekends when the place is full of tourists and other people that are not aware of it, it could end up in all sorts,” he said.

“What we should do is we should get a whole heap of people there and put a picket line outside there until the owners of the place fix up the holes,

but why should we have to go to extremes like that.”

The public toilet facilities for the shopping centre were also recently out-of-order for an extended

period, which another local ‘anonymous tipster’ also contacted the Star Mail with concerns about.

“I complained to the centre management about the potholes, the state of the safety marking, the mould on the rear entrance, the fact that the disability access toilet has been out of service for weeks and the general shabbiness of the place,” the tipster said.

“I spoke to the management a week ago and the only thing that has happened is the the carpark deteriorated and presents a health and safety issue. This is especially true for older visitors and those with a disability.”

“I also asked who would be liable if someone tripped in a pothole and broke a hip, they are apparently.”

The tipster also said they were told that the centre was receiving quotes for repairs of the potholes. RetPro was contacted for comment.

One particular pothole has been filled with rubber strips to temporarily cover the damage. (Stewart Chambers: 446598)

Healesville

Bidgee-widgee crisis

By Callum Ludwig

A Seville East resident and wool grower whose property adjoins a car park with access to the Warburton trail has raised some concerns about some native planting done by Yarra Ranges Council.

Julie Blake keeps alpacas and has had issues with the Acaena species, also known as the bidgee widgee or sheep’s burr.

Ms Blake said she has previously worked with Yarra Ranges Council’s Ribbons of Green and Bushland teams on planting efforts near and on her property.

“It’s always been a conscious effort not to plant invasive things, they know that I don’t like the kangaroo apple and a few different ones that once they get a hold, nothing else tends to get a look in because it’s so invasive,” she said.

“We’ve always dealt with and been smart about getting rid of dock, periwinkle and blackberries, there’s numerous different things like the buttercups at the moment, which seem to have gotten a foothold as in different seasons, obviously, it’s different as to what takes off,”

“When I saw this (bidgee widgee being planted) I initially asked Ben at the Bushland team what they were doing and he basically said that it’s Indigenous and they can plant it.”

Ms Blake has issues with the plant being so widespread in the Killara Station Carpark, which provides access to the Warburton Trail.

Ms Blake said she wished she had noticed it sooner, but will be continuing to monitor for it on her animals, in her paddocks and on her nature strip.

“We were lucky because where our animals are grazing down at the bottom there, they’ve grazed it so that it hasn’t had a chance to flower, and seed has not been forthcoming on the plants on our side of the fence,” she said.

“However, now that it’s overgrazed down there, the animals, and I’ve moved them now, but they were putting their head through the fence to get what’s on the other side and that’s where there are heaps of seed heads,”

“We breed our alpacas and we do sell our clip each year so it is a real problem because once it gets into the fleece, it dries and then it explodes and all the little seed heads are like a little hand grenade in there, they disperse through the fleece in that area, then it’s near impossible to pick out once it’s dried.”

Ms Blake has had to tediously remove burrs from the eyes of her alpacas, including purchasing tricin and optiflox (eye treatments) from the vet, and had to cut fleece around their toes. She is worried that her wool clip will be worthless and will possibly have to be burnt.

Ms Blake said she knows the value of Indigenous plants but that this instance was just a bad choice.

“I know that it is Indigenous, and I know the value of Indigenous plants, particularly ones that aren’t common, and when you get something like the lovely little blue beetle that only feeds on the bidgee widgee, it’s gorgeous,” she said.

“I get all the plants are just as important as our birds and bats and native fauna, it’s got lots of little intricacies but we as humans also have

our own quirks and given that we domesticate and we impose on their domain more and more, I think we have to be careful,”

“We have to make good choices but on a walking trail and next to a farm that produces fleece, this was a bad choice.”

Yarra Ranges Council confirmed they are aware of a community member raising concerns about the bidgee-widgee (acaena novae-zelandiae) planted in Seville.

Director of Planning and Sustainable Futures at Yarra Ranges Council Kath McClusky said bidgee-widgee was planted by Council at Killara Station carpark, adjacent to Kylie Lane several years ago, as part of revegetation works.

“It was chosen due to its characteristic ability to bind soils, retain moisture and provide valuable habitat for frogs and other wildlife, We understand the impact that burrs can have for wool producers and we’ve been in contact with the community member and will work to find a solution that works for all parties,” she said.

“This indigenous plant commonly found in Yarra Ranges provides excellent ground cover and habitat, making it ideal to use in revegetation. The plant’s seed heads can stick in the fur of animals and in socks for people walking through it. While these seed heads can be an inconvenience, they don’t burrow into the skin like many grass seeds so they don’t cause injury to dogs and other animals.”

Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk

By Dongyun Kwon

In recognition of International Day of People With Disability on Tuesday 3 December, Star Mail would like to introduce a local state forest site accessible for people with disability.

Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk, Toolangi State Forest is a Grade 1 all-abilities walk.

It’s around 700m return and approximately 450m of the trail is a boardwalk wide enough for wheelchairs.

There is a gravel track from the car park down to the start of the boardwalk.

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) forest and fire operations executive director Adam Saunders said Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk has recently undergone upgrades to enhance accessibility and safety for visitors.

“The improvements included replacing the old boardwalk with a more durable, non-slip surface, adding new handrails, and enhancing accessibility features to better accommodate wheelchairs and individuals with mobility challenges,” he said.

Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk is situated on Taungurung Country.

It’s a popular circuit walk through the cool temperate rainforest in the Toolangi State Forest. From the carpark and trailhead on Sylvia Creek Road, visitors have the option of undertaking three different walks – the short Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk or longer Myrtle Gully Circuit or Tanglefoot Loop.

Picnic facilities, shelter and a toilet can be found adjacent to the Wirrawilla carpark.

Mr Saunders said DEECA recognises people with disability face greater barriers to visiting natural environments.

“DEECA is focussed on removing these barriers to ensure everyone can experience the outdoors and the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature,” he said.

“We are actively working to create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor recreation experience across Victoria.

“There are many sites across the state with accessible features and infrastructure, such as sealed walking tracks and accessible toilets and picnic tables.”

Some of Julie Blake’s alpacas. (Supplied)

Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk, Toolangi State Forest is a Grade 1 all-abilities walk. (Supplied)

The burrs in plain sight on a pair of Julie Blake’s gloves. (Supplied)

Revitalising old buildings

By Callum Ludwig

Exploring uses for a number of abandoned sites in the Upper Yarra has been a valuable learning experience for RMIT Architecture students this year while also helping think about the future of the region

As part of RMIT, Yarra Ranges Council and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)‘s partnership on the Upper Yarra Local Development Strategy, the university students visited and investigated ideas for some local derelict buildings, with their concepts currently on display in the Arts Centre in Warburton.

RMIT Lecturer on Architecture and Urban Design Claire Scorpo said the council had identified a number of buildings throughout the Upper Yarra Valley that were unused; some of them were in important locations, some of them had heritage value attached to them or some had cultural value.

“The studio gave the students the opportunity to understand a little bit more about these places, the context which these buildings were in and consider ways that you could potentially repurpose the buildings, get better community input into these areas, as well as celebrate the kind of richness of these buildings and perhaps bring back some cultural legacies or cultural information of the area that could be accessed by people in the community, but also other people who might have visited these places too,” she said.

“It was about trying to find ways that by developing these buildings, there could be something richer than just putting a new program into them.”

The folios and cardboard models created by the students will be on display in the Arts Centre until 19 December for the Upper Yarra community to view.

Ms Scorpo said the students considered a number of different factors of sites, including the flora and fauna, any Indigenous cultural history and the current importance of sites, such as forestry-related significance in areas like Powelltown.

“They had a full-day site visit on quite a rainy day, were they spent a lot of hours both on the site that they’ll work on and in the region in general, speaking to community members to try and get a little insight into the place,” she said.

“One in particular, which is a larger model, which is located in Boy’s Camp, Boy’s Camp is just outside of Powelltown and in a clearing in the forest that has an existing building on it that’s abandoned and there’s a bit of a question as to what the history of this actual site was, but there’s a Leadbeater’s Possum population near there and the forestry industry too,”

“This student looked at the idea of an accommodation place for an artist or scientist to research the Leadbeater’s Possum, but also to provide an unmanned information centre for people who are walking on the walking trail that runs through the site, to maybe engage in learning a bit more about the possum and the foresty industry

and how that shaped the area.”

Other potential projects explored by the students included Wilmont’s studio, cross-pollinating some existing community buildings in Yarra Junction and the Launching Place General Store.

Ms Scorpo said she thought it was such a valuable opportunity for the students and they really got so much out of it.

“It’s rare in university that you’ve got live projects or that you’re able to speak with stakeholders and community members about something that is important and so they were lucky to have the opportunity to come out, go on a tour of all these buildings with council members, DEECA members and other community members that were involved and then share a presentation and dinner with a group of the community that are involved in the different working groups,” she said. “It’s an invaluable experience for them to see how this kind of work can have an impact in communities and I do think there’s a really great opportunity for universities to partner with councils, especially where I’ve done a few projects that have been regional councils where there’s great opportunities on both sides,”

“Students get these wonderful opportunities to be inside council which is generally a pretty opaque place, especially for students and then council are able to get a whole lot of minds researching about these different areas, using the process of the university to develop ideas and perhaps bring up things that they may not otherwise have the time or the budget to be able to be

Warburton IGA set for exciting upgrade

By Callum Ludwig

The next steps towards the newly upgraded Warburton IGA are set to get underway.

Yarra Ranges Council endorsed the Construction Management Plan for the upgrade on 8 November 2024 and it is now publicly available and details how the works will be undertaken.

Fisher Developments and its Managing Director Alan Fisher have taken on the project, with previous owner Shane Wyles having sold the business with a leaseback from Fisher Developments to continue operating the business after the upgrade is complete.

Mr Wyles said the developer is one he knows personally and is well-experienced with a number of other supermarkets.

“He’s really keen on using a lot of local people, I was involved ONECORE Contracting which is a local business that has been involved in shoring up the old Sanitarium factory and that sort of thing, they’re excavators and in civil engineering, and I was in the meeting that introduced them to the developer Alan,” he said.

“They’re in the process of getting the permits to knock down the other two derelict buildings that are on the site, what used to be CJ’s Pizza Shop and an old house there,”

“I’m confident it will start hopefully, early in the new year.”

The project is estimated to cost around $7 million and will upgrade the store to a size of about 1500 square metres, of which 1250 square metres will be dedicated to making up the store floor and will also include 60 additional on-site parking spaces, which could help alleviate ongoing parking concerns in the township and make truck access and movement easier.

Mr Wyles said he believes it will be about a 12-month build.

“All things being equal, if they don’t hit anything that halts progress and there’s nothing wrong, it should be roughly a 12-month build, that’s generally how long a supermarket of this size takes and there’s significant excavation that has to be done at the site,” he said.

“It will be absolutely fantastic, we currently have no car parking for our existing little store on

site so we go to, I think it’s 62 or 64 car parks and that it itself gives fantastic access,”

“It will be wide aisles and it’ll be roughly the same size as the Mount Evelyn supermarket, it’s something that we’re extremely excited about and that the community deserves.”

Fisher Developments has already delivered a complete redesign of a shopping precinct including an IGA in the town of Irymple, near Mildura as well as having taken on another IGA renovation in Tatura.

Mr Wyles said he expects the project will have a great positive impact on the Warburton community.

“We’ll almost treble in size, whereas even Tony at Mount Evelyn, they just did a whole refurbishment, which was fantastic, I was there at the opening and it’s a fantastic store and now we expect ours to be in a similar vein to that,” he said.

“We’ll at least double our number of employees and it could possibly be more than twice as many, we currently have 26 team members so we will go at least to 52 and it may even be more than that.”

The general working hours during the con-

developed in the detail that they do.”

One of the Upper Yarra LDS working groups is dedicated to the exploration of Repurposing Abandoned Places, with the others being Energy Resilience and Renewable Energy, Eco-Tourism and The Walking Economy, Improving Transport and Access and Artisanal Agriculture and Abattoir.

Director of Communities at Yarra Ranges Council Leanne Hurst said the Upper Yarra Local Development Strategy will help identify and develop ideas that support local growth and bring long-term economic, environmental and social benefits to the Upper Yarra.

“At the moment we have five working groups, led by local community members, who are working on different opportunities that will form part of this strategy, these groups have also been supported by local businesses, government agencies and academia,” she said.

“The next steps for the project are to continue working on business cases, and have the opportunity to tap into available funding from the State Government as well as seeking other investment streams,”

“We anticipate that some of the innovation opportunities will develop into tangible pilot projects over the next two years, and we’re delighted that this project has attracted strong community support.”

For more information on the Upper Yarra LDS, please contact the Project Manager Julian Guess at j.guess@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

struction period will be between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, with no work to be done on Sundays or Public Holidays other than with written approval. Nearby residents and businesses would be advised of any additional or altered working hours.

Mr Wyles said the works will aim to minimise the impact on the community during construction.

“Obviously there will be a little bit of truck movement in and out, however, they will have to have street cleaners to ensure there’s no mud on the roads and I know all of the trades are required to park on-site,” he said.

“It’ll be fully-fenced and the pharmacy, which isn’t owned by the developer is completely on board and has a quarantine area which will be integrated during the construction phase.”

During construction, the site will be signed for contact details for the general public to contact with any complaints they may have. Complainants can speak to foreman Corey Meka on-site during works, or contact the Fisher Developments head office (03 5021 0122) with all complaints to be handled by the project manager Shaun Landells.

Cardboard models and plans from RMIT architecture students are on display in the Arts Centre, Warburton. (Stewart Chambers: 448236)

A concept for a ‘Warburton Youth Hub’ by Lily McColl and Will May. (Stewart Chambers)

The models are on display until 19 December. (Stewart Chambers: 448236)

130 proud years celebrated

By Callum Ludwig

Another Upper Yarra primary school community has come together to celebrate a historic milestone.

Yarra Junction Primary School turned 130 years old in 2024 and a ‘Country Fair’ event was held on Sunday 1 December to mark the occasion.

Yarra Junction Primary School Principal Lisa Rankin said it was a wonderful day of celebration and connection with past and present staff, students and community members welcomed.

“Acknowledging this special occasion gave us the opportunity to celebrate the Yarra Junction community, and the wonderful learning and opportunities that Yarra Junction Primary has provided over many years,” she said.

“We are so proud of our school and our school’s importance to the Yarra Valley community, celebrating our school’s birthday every five years has been a tradition, since I became Principal of YJPS in 2018,”

“Schools are such a special hub of a community, as they provide a meeting place, we always welcome back our students and staff to visit and share in the development of our school.”

School Captains Maddy and Jackson delivered the birthday cake to the main stage with the help of school council president Jess Newell, whilst the crowd sang Happy Birthday to YJPS.

Local politicians, Eildon MP Cindy McLeish and Casey MP Aaron Violi also visited the school to give an address and both enjoyed some spending at the student-led stalls too.

Ms Rankin said she could not be prouder of their school community for the support they gave to the school to ensure the school grounds were looking their best.

“I am also immensely proud of our students and staff, our students performed dance routines, skits, played instruments and sang on the main stage and we also were fortunate to have Ms Gee Page, a classroom teacher, also sing throughout the day,” she said.

“Our Grade 5/6 students have been working both in class and as home tasks to create a market day stall throughout all of Term Four, and today their planning, budgeting, marketing and preparations came to fruition as they ran their market stalls in our school stadium.”

Yarra Junction Primary School holds a celebration of the school’s anniversary every five years.

Ms Rankin said to acknowledge the history of the school, the school library was turned into a memorabilia display that included photos from over the past 130 years.

“The library was a thoroughfare all day, with adults and children enjoying viewing both photos from the past and present,” she said.

“During our 130th Birthday event, our school buildings were open so that past students, staff and families could wander through and view our engaging indoor and outdoor learning spaces,”

“Thanks to everyone who supported our school’s birthday by helping and attending the event, what a wonderful and joyful celebration and Happy Birthday to Yarra Junction Primary School.”

L-R: School Captains Jackson and Maddy with the 130-year birthday cake. (Supplied)

Homemade scrunchies for sale.

Adriana and Isla at their stall.

Ms Whitelock from Tilbon Music Services and her senior guitar groups.

Casey MP Aaron Violi chatting to Nash about his market stall, Beefy Hoops, which was selling home made jerky. It wasn’t hard to find the Grade 5/6 market stalls with this colourful display pointing the way.

Nash showing Eildon MP Cindy McLeish what’s on offer at the stalls.

Yarra Valley update

Hello Yarra Valley gardeners!

Welcome to the December 2024 fruit fly update where we will look what fruit is susceptible to QFF infestation. Thanks Cal and Fruit Fly Murray Valley for the animated infested fruit images! Fruit with skin that can be easily pierced and fruit with flesh that is nutritious for larvae to develop in make good QFF hosts. Injuries to fruit also make good access points for fruit fly.

By Dongyun Kwon

In the Yarra Valley, 97 species of wild birds were spotted in six hours by Coranderrk Currawongs, a group of three animal lovers.

Coranderrk Currawongs participated in the Twitchathon, a fundraiser for Landcare Victoria where participants compete to spot the most bird species in a six-hour window.

This year, the Coranderrk Currawongs consisted of The Monthly (a magazine) production editor Patrick Witton, Healesville Sanctuary zookeeper Zac Bryant and Healesville Sanctuary life sciences manager Falk Wicker.

Coranderrk Currawongs captain Falk Wicker said this was the second time the team has participated in the Twitchathon.

“We knew about it and were on the right mailing lists. Initially, I found out about it via social media and some of my birding contacts,” he said.

“Matthew Crawford (a producer and presenter at ABC Radio) who organises the event does a great job trying to recruit new teams and help worthy causes in the meantime.”

The event was held on the last weekend of October.

The team started the journey at a nearby lake from Healesville Sanctuary where they could find a number of predictable birds including ducks, coots and cormorants.

The first two hours went in a flash with 62 species listed.

In the end, they wrapped up their list with 97 species.

Applications now open Rewarding challenge

Yarra Ranges Council is calling for interested community members to apply for a place on the new Stormwater Community Reference Panel.

The Panel will serve as a direct link between Yarra Ranges Council and the community, with an expression of interest open to anyone who has who has stormwater and flood management knowledge or lived experience.

The Panel will work collaboratively with Council to understand the stormwater and flood management challenges affecting the municipality and to provide a community voice to guide the initiatives identified in the Stormwater Management Plan 2024-2034.

Mayor Jim Child said the Panel will form a partnership between the community and Council to help shape decisions and ensure that project-related communications reflect community concerns and priorities.

“We know that the management of our stormwater system is something that some of our community are concerned and passionate about. And that’s why we’ve allocated $16 million in the coming years to start addressing this issue,” he said.

The team captain said the team tried to cover as many different habitat types to maximise their chances of seeing as many different bird species as possible.

“We chose Yarra Ranges as our home range for the bird race,” Mr Wicker said.

“Places we visited include Coranderrk Bushland Reserve, Healesville Sanctuary only for birds outside of exhibits, Birrarung/Yarra River flats outside of Healesville, farm dams along the Maroondah Highway, Lilydale Sewage Plant and part of the bike track between Lilydale and Coldstream.

“The challenge of finding as many birds as possible within six hours is so rewarding and an interesting experience because you have to strategise and decide which locations you give preference to, in order to broaden the range of bird species one might expect to see or hear there.”

Mr Wicker is originally from Germany and he has always loved animals since he was a kid.

He encouraged other animal lovers to get into the world of birding.

“Sir David Attenborough once said ‘The question is not when you found your passion for animals and nature – the question should rather be, when have you lost yours?’,” Mr Wicker said.

“My interest was mainly fluffy mammals to begin with, but when I was 12, I started to attend a youth group that was run by my local zoo in Germany.

“Their focus was birds, so we built nest boxes, examined owl pellets and went for bird walks.”

QFF like pome fruits in late Summer and Autumn. Apples, Pears, Quinces and Pomegranates.

QFF like stone fruits in any warm weather. Peaches, Nectarines, Plums and Apricots are notable favourites. The scent of ripening stone fruit can attract QFF from afar.

QFF like tomatoes! They have seeds and are technically a fruit! Tomatoes are also attractive to Green Metallic Tomato fly. You could find either or both species of larvae in the crop.

“We also know that challenges with our stormwater drainage is anticipated to grow in the future due to climate change, urban development, and increased population pressures so we continue to advocate to other levels of government and State government departments for additional funding.”

The Panel will include people with specific interests and/or expertise in flood and stormwater management 10 community members representing a balanced mix of gender, ages and geographical representation within the municipality.

The Panel is due to meet on Thursday afternoons every four months (three meetings per year). Community members are involved in a voluntary capacity and must abide by the terms of reference.

Community members wishing to apply for a position on the Panel will need to visit shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au to complete their application with the closing date being midnight on Friday 21 December.

Further details including a position description and terms of reference can also be found at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

QFF like figs. They have a sweet attractive aroma in Autumn. Interestingly, the fig has a small hole at one end that the QFF can lay their eggs into unnoticed.

QFF like capsicums and chillies. They have seeds inside they are a fruit. A thin skin and an ideal protected area allows the larvae to mature safely. The heat in chillies does not scare a QFF!

QFF like the sweeter citrus including oranges, mandarins grapefruit, cumquats, lemons and limes. Citrus provide the best overwintering or shoulder season breeding opportunities, and the evergreen tree provides year round shelter for QFF.

QFF larvae are also hosted by Loquats, Guavas (Feijoas), Kiwi fruit, Grapes, Lillypilly, Kangaroo apple, Mangoes and Avocados. It was only recently discovered that QFF infest some Olive varieties. Cherries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries and Blackberries are also susceptible to QFF damage.

Agriculture Victoria’s Queensland fruit fly information page. “Queensland fruit fly host fruits for home gardeners”

Team Coranderrk Currawongs, (L-R): Patrick Witton, Falk Wicker and Zac Bryant. (Supplied)

Long service honoured

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Yellingbo resident and a long-time committee member and former president of the Sheep Station Creek Reserve was nominated for a long-service award by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) in recognition of his 51 years of dedicated service.

Neville Sargeant first became involved in the reserve in 1974 when he was approached by the secretary of the Yellingbo Progress Association.

At the time, the reserve had an old, dilapidated building with no power, water, or toilets – the reserve was difficult to maintain, and the lack of facilities meant it could not be easily hired out for events.

Mr Sargeant received a long-awaited recognition for his service, an award for his years of dedication – while he was grateful for the recognition, he expressed some disappointment that it took so long for the award to come through, especially given the extensive time and effort he had put in over the years.

“Volunteering is crucial in small communities,“ Mr Sargeant said.

“Without people willing to make a commitment, these projects wouldn’t happen.“

One of Mr Sargeant’s earliest achievements was securing a drop toilet facility for the reserve, making it usable for functions like cricket matches.

The reserve also lacked basic services like electricity, but in 1989, Mr Sargeant, an electrical contractor, helped secure power for the site – with donations from the Woori Yallock Football Club for

night training at the reserve – he was able to fund the necessary work to bring power to the reserve.

As time went on, he worked to further improve the reserve’s facilities. In 2003, he spearheaded a project to build new amenities block with toilets, a kitchen, and meeting room.

The project was funded by the sale of land previously owned by the Showgrounds Committee, and it was officially opened in 2004.

His commitment didn’t stop there – in addition to the amenities block, he organised the installation of water, a shelter shed, and a proper car park, making the reserve more accessible and functional for the community.

Despite the challenges of fundraising and dealing with bureaucratic red tape, Mr Sargeant remained dedicated to improving the reserve.

He raised funds through various means, including selling land and securing grants, and contributed countless hours of his own time – over the years, he has also made several donations, including lighting for the local football club.

Reflecting on his time with the reserve, Mr Sargeant said the highlights were clear: securing power and water for the site, building a new amenities block, and providing essential infrastructure for the community.

However, he also acknowledged the difficulties in maintaining community involvement, noting that small communities often struggle to attract volunteers, even though these efforts are vital for local success.

Looking to the future, Mr Sargeant is hopeful that the next generation will continue the work of

Two more silver awards

By Dongyun Kwon

Along with the great achievement of Healesville Sanctuary, two Yarra Valley accommodations spurred getting recognition for the value of the Yarra Valley in the tourism industry by bringing two silver trophies.

Eden Yarra Valley (EYV) was presented a silver award in the Self Contained Accommodation category while Kangaroo Ridge Retreatment (KRR) received a silver award in the Hosted Accommodation category at the 2024 Victorian Tourism Awards.

EYV co-owner Lisa Chapman said her team hadn’t expected to win any award as it had been their first time entering the awards.

“The team at EYV were beyond thrilled to win silver with our very first time entering an award,” she said.

“I’ve been told that it’s very unusual to get an award for your first time entering.

“We couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved at Eden and of our passionate team.”

EYV is a luxury boutique accommodation in Yarra Glen.

It is a private estate with 10 bedrooms and nine bathrooms set on two acres of botanical gardens, complemented by amenities such as heated pool, games room with pool table, fully equipped bar, trampoline and swings, a separate large dining or conference space, ‘Potter’s Gallery’, and parking for 17 cars.

Ms Chapman said EYV was opened up in 2021.

“Itwasarandomopportunity,Ihadn’tplanned to buy any property and I hadn’t planned to go into the accommodation business,” she said.

“It was during Covid when my best friend and I came across the property for sale, we knew that there was a significant gap in the market for large group accommodation in the Yarra Valley, and people wanted to have private accommodation where, in particular, wedding groups could stay together.

“We can accommodate the bride and the groom, both their families and some friends altogether.”

The commitment of the team to excellence and the uniqueness of the property have led to almost 300 five-star reviews from past guests, which fits EYV’s vision of offering lifelong wonderful memories to its guests.

“Right from the day we opened our doors, we were very focused on providing a premium product, which was perfect in every way,” the co-owner said.

The EYV is now targeting a gold award next year.

KRR won a gold award in the same category last year and a bronze award in the national stage earlier this year.

Despite the one-ranked-down result, KRR owner Rebecca Ritter wasn’t disappointed, rather, she was excited to collect all three different colours of the trophies.

“It was sensational to see that the category itself has grown in terms of the participants who entered in,” she said.

“So it was very competitive and winning silver is just fantastic.

“It’s good to see my team really working hard to get at the levels that they are.”

Located on top of the hill, KRR is the ultimate Yarra Valley adults only hideaway, offering two mudbrick retreats with panoramic mountain and vineyard views.

Even after the huge success of winning a top award at the state level and taking third place at the national stage, KRR has never given up innovations to offer better services for its customers.

This year, KRR has made three innovations to offer a service for solo travellers, to keep the property’s natural beauty intact and to attract more international travellers.

Ms Ritte said KRR started the new solo stay package from June, targeting solo female travellers aged 35 and over.

“We pick them up from the airport or their place in Melbourne, then drive them out here, and they just basically hide away for a couple of nights,” she said.

“Another innovation we did was we introduced five miniature goats to help with landscape management. These little legends munch away invasive species and help reduce bushfire risks in our high-risk zones.

“The third thing was expanding our horizons internationally. We participated in the Visit Victoria’s Becoming International Ready program. In October and November, we were busy as we had 80 per cent of our bookings from international.”

maintaining and improving the reserve. Although he’s now in his 90s, he remains a committee member and is committed to supporting the reserve as long as he can. His advice to anyone considering volunteering is simple.

of community involvement and the lasting impact of dedicated volunteers.

Prestigious awards for students

By Dongyun Kwon

Two names have been added onto Healesville Primary School’s Tricia O’Reilly Memorial Scholarship Award name list shield.

The annual award was presented to two Grade 6 students, Ruby Russell and Sophie Anastasio at the school assembly on Friday 6 December.

Grade 5/6 teacher Ali Mende said both students deserved to win the award academically and non-academically.

“Ruby is the Myer House captain. She is involved in the school community by running assemblies and helping out during sports carnivals,” she said.

“She is a kind and inclusive student who always tries her hardest with everything she does, and loves playing soccer on the weekends for our local community.

“Sophieisabrightstudentwhoexcelsacademically. She is polite and respectful to her teachers and classmates. Sophie strives to achieve a high standard of work and is a keen netballer in the local community.”

The Tricia O’Reilly Memorial Scholarship Award was established in 2001 in honour of Tricia who tragically passed away in a car accident while making her way home at the age of 12.

She attended Healesville Primary School and

went on to Healesville High School.

As a legacy, the late Senior Sergeant Tony Van Gorp of Healesville Police set up the award and scholarship to be presented to Grade 6 students from Healesville Primary going to Healesville High School to help cover the cost of school books, uniforms and school fees.

Tricia’s family, representatives from Healesville High School and Healesville Police along with some past recipients attended the award ceremony to celebrate the achievement of the two students.

Two award recipients said they were proud to win the award and will keep up their good work in high school.

Ruby said being a Myer House captain was a great experience.

“I got to cheer the team on, and I got to help learn and teach them the song, and we won many things,” she said.

Ruby is also active in sports.

She is a versatile soccer player who plays for Healesville U13 Girls Hearts team in Healesville Soccer Club.

A great academic achiever, Sophie, shared tips for keeping good academic scores.

“Try to stay focused on your own work and don’t get too pressured with time,” she said.

“And always do your homework!”

“Get involved, do your bit, and help out where you can – small communities need people who care,“ he said. Mr Sargeant’s story is a testament to the power

Neville Sargeant with Decca staff, Sheepstation Creek Road Reserve Committee and friends of families involved. (Stewart Chambers: 438277)

Eden Yarra Valley co-owners Lisa Chapman (right) and Suzanne Theodor with silver trophy in the 2024 Victorian Tourism Awards. (Andrew Hobbs Photography)

Tricia O’Reilly Memorial Scholarship Award recipient Ruby (blue shirt) and Sophie (red shirt) with past recipients. (Dongyun Kwon: 448685)

Apples aplenty for schools

By Callum Ludwig

The Rotary Club of Wandin has come together for its annual apple distribution to local schools.

Each year since 2019, the Rotarians have hand-packed and delivered one kilogram of apples to each student and staff member at a number of local schools.

Rotarians Gavan McIntyre and Paul Martin said this year they will be delivering another 1200 bags of apples.

“They’ll be going to Yering, Coldstream, Wandin North, Wandin Yallock, Seville, Woori Yallock, Hoddles Creek and Silvan,” Mr Martin said.

“About 30 people have turned up (to help), some have been and gone, and we’re just blown away because the club does not have many members but it’s the partners, friends and some other community members who have turned up as well,”

“We think that especially leading into Christmas where a lot of families in the Yarra Valley are under financial stress, this is just a small way we can go towards providing in the month of December something that would just take a little bit of pressure off each family’s budget, but equally provide our young folk with some healthy apples.”

The Rotarians and support were hard at work on Wednesday 4 December at Old Oak Orchards, packing the apples offered at a generous rate by Gavin and Andrew Corbett into bags generously donated by Glenn Barker of Yarra Valley Packaging.

Mr McIntyre said it’s also a very important opportunity to teach kids about the local growers in the Yarra Valley.

“I think it’s very important that they realise that apples don’t just appear in the supermarket, they’re grown, they’re stored, they’re packed, they’re transported to market and then come back to the shop, it’s a big circle really so this helps them understand,” he said.

“Hopefully the teachers will give them a bit of a talk when they get these apples tomorrow, explaining how lucky they are to be getting the apples and it’s just so important also that the kids also learn that the best food is that which is grown

locally and that they can get less than 20 kilometres from where they live.”

The annual apple donation has already left a lasting impression on some local students in previous years with Wandin North Primary School

WIRE INDUSTRIES

student Jake citing it as one of his main motivators to do a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Wandin.

Part of Jake’s fundraiser recently led to a water well being installed in a remote village

in Cambodia.

Originally expecting to be packing later into the evening, the great turnout from Rotarians and supporters led to the crew ‘bolting’ it in and finishing off the day’s work with a barbecue.

Woori Yallock Primary School students with their apples. (Stewart Chambers: 447966)

Woori Yallock PS Grade 6 students Mila and Makayla. (Stewart Chambers: 447966)

Rotarians and supporters hard at work at Old Oak Orchards. (Callum Ludwig: 447966)

Gavan McIntyre with a couple of bags of apples ready to go. (Callum Ludwig: 447966)

Yering PS student Cara with a bag of apples. (Stewart Chambers: 448463)

Wandin North Primary School students holding their apples aloft. (Supplied) Seville Primary School celebrate their apple delivery. (Supplied)

Artist’s new works

By Callum Ludwig

A well-travelled artist with an eye for the natural environment is exhibiting in the Warburton Waterwheel’s gallery this December.

Gwendal Guery, who held an exhibition called ‘Misty Mountains’ at the Waterwheel in November last year, has returned with new works in ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’.

Mr Guery has a holiday home in Warburton he loves to head up to and said he does spend more time in Warburton than he even was when he exhibited last year.

“I do spend more time in Warburton, most of the weekends and school holidays and it’s never enough, I ride my gravel bike or go for a hike, I ‘m always in awe of the beauty of the mountainI, I immerse myself in the landscape, breathing it in and connecting to it,” he said.

“I really loved exhibiting at the Waterwheel gallery last year, I enjoyed the process and excitement leading to the exhibition so I’m very happy to do it again now, it’s a beautiful space,”

“I hope it will gain more recognition and that more people will come to see the different artists on show during the year.”

Mr Guery arrived in Australia around a de-

cade ago and is Breton, meaning he hails from the Lower Brittany region of northwest France. He travelled a lot before moving to Melbourne, including in North America, part of South America, Siberia, North Africa and Europe and exploring by bike.

Mr Guery said the exhibition is named after a song of the same name, a classic of ‘Bluegrass Music’, which he likes very much.

“(It is) associated for me with the Appalachian mountains where I spent a lot of time a number of years ago, although the fauna and flora are different, the mountains of the region strongly remind me of the Appalachians by their shapes, dense vegetation and the mist which often lingers there,” he said.

“My inspiration this year is similar to last year, still about the mountains and valleys in the region. I worked on a different approach to light, less diffuse as it can be on misty days but more grazing at the beginning or end of the day,”

“I’m also worried about global warming and the loss of biodiversity, my recent works reflect my response to these concerns and how they intersect with my love of the natural world.”

Mr Guery does landscape paintings, using both acrylic and oil, on canvas or wood. He lives

A look at pre and post war

By Mikayla van Loon

Having had a long held interest in the conflict and stories of both World Wars, Healesville author Anthony Jones embarked on writing the story of a World War I soldier named Walter Edward Shiells.

“When I got to about page 120 I just kept going with it and the book ended up something like 768 pages altogether,” he said.

Titled The Infamy That Is War, the book explores the pre, during and post war impacts beginning with the Franco-German War of 1870-71 and finishing with the change in political orders, the end of the Victorian era and the new age of uncertainty.

“I wrote it over a period of nearly 10 years, and I travelled a bit back to battle sites, to Gallipoli and the Western Front, and I just do a little bit whenever I felt like it really and I think about 2018 I thought I’d just better get on with this and finish it,” Mr Jones said.

While the book process began by exploring Walter Shiells’ story, Mr Jones said it was the lead up to the war where his fascination was sparked.

“The long build up to the war, because the alliances were formed way back in 1870-71 after the Franco German war, the German versus the French. It only lasted a couple of years, but the Germans won it, and the French never forgave them for that,” he said.

“It was always their intention to take back the land of Alsace Lorraine that the Germans took over after the war, and they managed to do that after World War One, the land was given back to them.

“So that’s where my interest started, it took so many years, 40 odd years, for the build up before it actually exploded into a world war.”

In a review by Dr Stewart Dickinson, he said Mr Jones touches on the involvement of each combatant and their motives for being in the war.

“The writer, whilst acknowledging the various combatants, gives an Australian perspective of the conflict, and humourous anecdotes add to the richness of the dialogue,” Mr Dickinson said.

in towards the city in Melbourne and comes to Warburton to ride his bike in and around the forest.

Mr Guery said his idea behind the exhibition is that ‘we as humans are obviously not doing a good job at looking after the earth.’

“Our planet and our only home can’t afford to provide as much as we take, can’t bring back lost species and lost habitat, our greed and our ‘needs’, the belief that we are the most important being on this planet, has disconnected us from our natural environment,” he said.

“Animals don’t do that, is it ultimately what defines us as humans, that we are the only species that will destroy its own environment but are we not animals too? Should we not care and act a bit more like our fellow animals?”

“My anthropomorphic representation of kangaroos in some of my paintings, as humoristic as it can look, also raises that question, Kangaroos are a particularly interesting species as they resemble humans in many ways so they fit pretty well with this concept, they would do better than us, can’t we find comfort and security in our environment without destroying our ecosystem? It is time for us to look to our counterpart living creatures to find a way forward.”

“This authoritative documentation of World War I and its aftermath concludes with a prelude to World War II and reinforces the notion of the futility of war.”

Mr Jones said it was important to highlight that the Treaty of Versailles wasn’t signed until 1919 and that a war continued on in Russia.

“It led directly to World War Two. Some historians say it didn’t, but really it did, because it was a rise of Hitler during the ‘20s and ‘30s, mainly the ‘30s, that was a direct result of World War One, when the blockades on Germany were imposed by Britain, mainly, and that really upset the Germans, because they lost about 800,000 people due to starvation.

“The Germans never forgave them for that. Even though they kept them out of the Rhineland and things like that, they really did not police it efficiently after maybe the mid 1920s and the Germans already had a military build up which they weren’t supposed to be doing it all, but they were doing it behind the scenes.”

Reflecting on the impacts across the ocean, The Infamy That Is War talks of the change seen in Australia from a pre-war innovative country to a post-war timid and somewhat broken nation which lost 62,000 of its finest and saw the wounded reach 140,000.

The Infamy That Is War can be found on Amazon.

Gwendal Guery’s depiction of Big Pats Creek. (Stewart Chambers: 447962)

Early Morning Warburton. (Stewart Chambers: 447962)

Gwendal Guery’s art will be on display in the gallery throughout December. (Stewart Chambers: 447962)

Healesville resident and now author Anthony Jones used his interest in war to write his first book. (Supplied)

TARRAWARRA MUSEUM OF ART

Major exhibition is on now

TarraWarra Museum of Art has announced a major group exhibition featuring artists who work out of the nationally and internationally renowned Arts Project Australia (APA), a gallery and studio that supports artists with intellectual disabilities and which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Presented from 30 November 2024 to 10 March 2025, Intimate Imaginaries is the first major survey of the work of APA artists in an Australian museum, highlighting the vital contemporary practices of 13 artists that have emerged from the studio over the past five decades. The term ‘imaginaries’ is commonly used to describe realms of pure invention or flights of fancy, but it can also refer to more everyday creative activity: how we perceive, shape and make sense of ourselves and the world around us. In this spirit, Intimate Imaginaries brings together bodies of work by a range of artists who each express a compelling, richly inventive and deeply felt worldview. While the exhibiting artists utilise a range of media and processes in their works — including painting, drawing, ceramics, soft sculpture and video — they all share a distinctive handmade aesthetic.

TarraWarra Museum of Art Curator Anthony Fitzpatrick said his relationship with Arts Project Australia has evolved over a number of years, and one of the highlights was in 2017 when he had the great privilege of being invited to participate in their guest curator program.

“Initiated two years ago, Intimate Imaginaries has provided an enriching opportunity to strengthen this relationship through the significant partnership that has been established between the studio and TarraWarra. This close collaboration has been vital in the development of this exhibition which presents the distinct practices of each artist in ambitious ways,” he said. Bringingtogetherearlyandrecentworksalongside several new commissions, highlights include

established artist Terry Williams’s improvised, hand-stitched soft sculptures of everyday objects. With a career that spans over three decades in which he has explored a diverse range of materials and techniques, Williams will also present a newly commissioned large-scale sculpture of himself in the armchair that he works on in the studio.

Other exhibiting artists working across soft sculpture include Bronwyn Hack, who will present her carefully crafted fabric models depicting different organs of the human body; and multi-disciplinary artist Mark Smith, whose text-based soft sculptures use colours and textures to elicit emotional responses from his selected words. Figurative

painter Cathy Staughton will present her bold and colourful works of Luna Park (spanning almost four decades) that interweave her autobiographical and fantastical dream imagery of the iconic landmark, and she will also recreate one of her self-portraits, in which she substitutes Mr. Moon with her own visage, as part of a commissioned large-scale mural. Inspired by notions of family, home and childhood memories, Lisa Reid will present a selection of her meticulously rendered ceramics of vintage appliances and objects including her new commission, a sculpted recreation of her mother’s 1971 Elna sewing machine, alongside a suite of sepia-toned works on paper. Multi-

disciplinary artist Alan Constable will showcase hand-modelled, wet-finish colour glazed ceramic replicas of various types of cameras — including a newly commissioned telescope — reflecting his life-long fascination with optical instruments. The youngest exhibiting artist, a selection of Samraing Chea’s detailed drawings created using coloured and graphite pencils highlights the artist’s humorous observations and wry social commentary on daily life. Employing abstract shapes and vivid colour, Julian Martin will present his refined pastel compositions distilled from found imagery; and Georgia Szmerling’s highly expressive paintings of plant and water formations will feature alongside a newly commissioned large-scale mural of forest landscapes of Wurundjeri Country of the Yarra Ranges. Revealing his fascination with suburban life, Chris O’Brien will showcase his sculptures and zines, as well as three video works that include The Cop Shop, a cop show drama filmed onsite at TarraWarra.

“We are incredibly excited to be collaborating with TarraWarra Museum of Art on the first survey exhibition of APA artists in an Australian museum, which reflects their continued mission to position artists with intellectual disabilities within artistic discourse and advocate for their inclusion in the contemporary art space,” APA Executive Director Liz Nowell said.

The exhibition Intimate Imaginaries is the culmination of a year-long series of events and programs celebrating Arts Project Australia’s 50th anniversary, including a major new publication titled Arts Project Australia: 50 Years. Throughout 2024 and beyond, APA continues to acknowledge that individual creativity will always triumph over conformity. On Saturday 8 March 2025, TarraWarra will host a special day-long celebration featuring talks, performances and family-friendly making activities, inviting audiences to connect and create with participating APA artists.

BY ANTHONY FITZPATRICK

Now

showing in the Yarra Valley until 10 March 2025

Alan Constable, Untitiled 2022

Courtesy of the artist and Arts Project Australia

Mark Smith ‘Intimate Imaginaries’ on display at TarraWarra Museum of Art, courtesy of the artist and Arts Project Australia. (Andrew Curtis)

Changing of the seasons

The change from spring to summer has brought with it all seasons conditions, from beautiful sunrises to fog, storms and warm light.

Yarra Valley resident Tracey Frazer has been snapping the changes on her daily walks in this magnificent region, witnessing storm clouds rolling in and pink and orange hues as the sun rises or sets.

She even spotted a rare fog-bow, a similar meteorological phenomenon to a rainbow but rather than sunlight interacting with rain, it occurs when much smaller water droplets are found in fog or mist.

The rarity is a coveted achievement for photographers, given the angle of Australia’s sun, making it even more uncommon for our continent.

A rare fog-bow captured among the thick fog on Monday 2 December.

A storm rolling over the Valley on Tuesday 26 November as the sun set. (Tracey Frazer)

A storm rolling over the Valley on Tuesday 26 November as the sun set. (Tracey Frazer)

A storm rolling over the Valley on Tuesday 26 November as the sun set. (Tracey Frazer)

A storm rolling over the Valley on Tuesday 26 November as the sun set. (Tracey Frazer)

As the morning started to become day, the clouds broke up, reflecting the sun in all its shades.

A storm rolling over the Valley on Tuesday 26 November as the sun set. (Tracey Frazer) Light wove itself through the trees on Friday.

The fog was thick in the distance on Friday morning. Spring flowers danced in the grass on Friday 29 November.The golden sun beaming through a tree.

YARRA VALLEY ECOSS

Exciting agricultural twist

Yarra Valley ECOSS’s annual Artisan Twilight Market is back with an exciting twist in 2024.

A number of special guests will be joining the festivities as well as the usual spread of performances, activities and stallholders.

Community Engagement, Market & Events Coordinator at Yarra Valley ECOSS Leanne Hall said they are very excited to be putting on the ECOSS Twilight Market- Artisan Ag. Food Extravaganza.

“This will be a ‘one-off’ very special event, thanks to funding from Victorian Government Department of Agriculture. We will showcase five local Agricultural businesses accompanied by a five-star chef who will be offering cooking demonstrations and free tastings from the local produce.

“Costa Georgiadis (of Gardening Australia) will host his kid’s book launch alongside a wonderful program of performances, children’s activities and over 40 stalls.”

The market will be held on Friday 20 December from 3.30pm to 9pm.

MS Hall said the Market is a great opportunity to celebrate another big year at ECOSS with our extended community.

“It gives us the opportunity to offer a site tour and show everyone our year’s achievements in a festive atmosphere.,” she said.

“It’s a great opportunity to connect, bringing everyone together in an inclusive fun environment whilst doing any last minute Christmas shopping and supporting local businesses, this event will offer people culinary inspiration and

showcase local food producers,”

“Christmas is not always a happy occasion for everyone, which highlights how important community and connection is, we hope to spread some joy in offering this event free for the community.”

The afternoon will start with a Welcome to Country with local Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Kim Wandin and followed by Costa Georgiadis’ book launch, Formidable Vegetable who sing songs about Permaculture, Smoke Stack Rhino, Szara Fox and The Midnight Secrets, Awol Monks, Kids Permaculture Puppet Show, Jigsaw Jumps and more.

Ms Hall said the lineup of performers is outstanding and world-class, and is a really diverse program with something for everyone!

“All the performers will bring dancing vibes, inspiration to get in the garden and enjoy our beautiful environment, Costa will bring his wonderful smiles and entertain kids and adults alike, the Jigsaw jumps event seems to engage all ages of kids, particularly the teenagers so make sure to bring your helmet,”

“The tours are sure to inspire, the food is sure to be delicious,”

“The community are invited to a delicious culinary experience with free entry and free tastings prepared by a 5 star chef, with the kids entertained you can come along for dinner, celebrate with a drink, arrange your Christmas party, there will be lots of food available with Mexican, Indian, Tibetan, Dumplings, as well as a BBQ.”

The event was made possible through a generous grant from the Department of Agriculture.

Enjoy a cultural experience at the Yarra Valley ECOSS Artisanal Ag. Food Twilight Market. (Supplied)

Brenna and Charlie.

Op shop ready to go again

By Dongyun Kwon

After one month of waiting since the official announcement was made, an opportunity shop in Healesville marked its reopening on Wednesday 4 December.

As Star Mail reported in early November, Healesville-Yarra Glen Uniting Church took over the East End Op Shop from Healesville Living and Learning Centre which had operated it for over four decades.

The church started refurbishing the op shop as soon as it took over the ownership, and the East End Op Shop has been reborn fresh.

Healesville Living and Learning Centre community development coordinator Shona Rimmer attended the reopening ceremony and bought a purple dressing gown and a cookbook.

“It’s so nice to see it so active,” she said.

“It’s beautiful, vibrant, fresh and lovely now.”

The refurbishment work has been done by a group of volunteers from Healesville-Yarra Glen Uniting Church and the local community.

Healesville-Yarra Glen Uniting Church Council chairman Bruce Argyle said they would like to keep the legacy of Healesville Living and Learning Centre and continue that going forward.

“We’ve got new lighting, new floor at the back half, new shelving and painted everything,” he said.

“We’ve installed two air conditioner heaters for heating and cooling.

“We’ve also got new benches, a new kitchen, a new change room and new signs.”

The op shop will operate from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturday until the Christmas shutdown.

After two weeks of shutdown from 22 December to 7 January, the shop will reopen on 8 January with new operating hours and days.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering for the East End Op Shop is encouraged to call the East End Op Shop on 03 5962 1243.

Volunteering is vital for local community

By Dongyun Kwon

As International Volunteer Day was on 5 December, Star Mail interviewed a local volunteer who devotes her time to keeping the local parks up to scratch.

A Healesville resident has been cleaning barbecue facilities in the local parks.

Djadjawurrung woman Faye Cole said she wanted to help the local community.

“I clean all the nine barbecues and pick up rubbish in Queens Park, Coronation Park and Apex Park every day, twice a day,” the 72-yearold said.

“I saw the barbecues were dirty and they definitely needed to be cleaned, so I’ve been cleaning them since September.”

Ms Cole does the volunteering work around 10am and 4pm daily.

Lucas (left, four-year-old) and Chloe (seven-year-old) had a birthday party in Queens Park with their sister Jasmine. (Dongyun Kwon: 448847)

Cake cutting by Healesville Living and Learning Centre representative Shona Rimmer and East End Op Shop committee member Dale Prentice. (Dongyun Kwon: 448176)

Mr Argyle giving opening address.

Shopping time.

Ms Rimmer (left) buying a purple dressing gown and a cookbook.

East End Op Shop committee members Beth Honeycombe (left) and Margaret Blair at the register. (Dongyun Kwon: 448176) The new East End Op Shop sign.

The East End Op Shop reopened on Wednesday 4 December.

Faye Cole is happy to help the Healesville community. (Dongyun Kwon: 448545)

Santa Claus is coming

By Dongyun Kwon

Santa Claus is coming to town and making stops throughout the Yarra Valley in the lead-up to Christmas.

Here’s where you can have an early catch-up with Father Christmas before the big day: Wandin residents are in luck, with the chance to see Santa at both the Rotary Club of Wandin’s Custom Car and Bike Show at Wandin East Recreation Reserve from 4pm on Wednesday 18 December and when he does a run around town on Sunday 22 December.

St Nick will be visiting the families of Seville on Sunday 22 December from 3pm. Santa popped by for photos with attendees at the Hillcrest CFA Open Day at the end of November but will be returning to the towns of Woori Yallock, Launching Place and Don Valley as Christmas draws near.

On Saturday 21 December:

There will be one truck starting at 3.30pm with Santa on board which will travel to Henry Street and Lester Street, proceed to Alpine Boulevard and Warburton Highway and all roads on Allsops Road side. A second truck also starting at 3.30pm will travel to Phillip Road, Williams Crescent, Nester Road, Shevlins Lane and Elvian Road.

He will then head to Don Valley to go to Don Road and Warburton Highway, then the township area and proceed up to Grandview Road. Then Santa will travel down Dalry Road through to Healesville Koo Wee Rup Road.

On Sunday 22 December:

Truck one and Santa will begin at Middleton Road estate and then finish up at Symes Road estate. Truck two and Santa will travel to Barak Drive to Riverview Parade, then Garden Hill and adjoining roads. Then Santa will head to Glenview Road onto Gembrook Launching Place Road, into Bellbird and all roads on the Wickhams Road side of the Warburton Highway and he will proceed to Schoolhouse Road and finish up on Lusatia Park Road.

Hillcrest CFA encourages families to listen out for the sirens on the night which will announce Santa’s arrival but Santa may be delayed if the brigade receives a fire call during this time and if Hillcrest CFA need to cancel or alter the Santa runs they will update the community as soon as they can. Residents can stay tuned to the ‘Hillcrest CFA’ Facebook page for a live tracker of Santa on the day.

Santa visited Yellingbo residents at the Yellingbo Christmas Fair held on 1 December. Santa will be on the back of a Hoddles Creek CFA tanker saying hi to all the residents and giving out some small treats to all the kids on Saturday 21 December from 2pm onwards and if you live in the area and would like to catch up with Santa and members of the Hoddles Creek Fire Brigade, please let the brigade know via a message to the ‘Hoddles Creek Fire Brigade - CFA’ Facebook page, to Captain Graham Boyd at 0419 310 491 or First Lieutenant Brett Kerford on 0418 557 780 with a location and time that best suits and they will certainly try very hard to accommodate you in Santa’s busy schedule.

COMMUNITY DIARY

Stalls will be open from 12pm to 3pm at the Don Valley Hall.

A BBQ will be provided by Don Valley Primary School, barista coffee, tea and cold drinks available and there will be a door prize of a $10 voucher to spend on site. There will also be Christmas activities including carols with Leah and Kerryn, a special visit from Santa and free kid’s activities.

WHAT’S ON AROUND THE VALLEY

WHYLD’s Festive Summer minimarket coming up

The Woori Yallock, Hoddles Creek, Yellingbo, Launching Place and Don Valley (WHYLD) Community Groups’ seasonal summer minimarket is coming up on Saturday 14 December, with a focus on the festive season.

Next Wandin Rotary Custom Car and Bike Show

The first Wandin Custom Car and Bike Show for this season was held on Wednesday 20 November, with around 400 show cars and an equal number of spectator cars.

As promised, the Rotary Club of Wandin have undertaken a systematic review of parking, traffic control and management after the first show and it has been decided to reopen the Field Day car park diagonally opposite the Reserve for spectators as in previous years. For future shows, please use this car park on the corner of Parker and Seville – Monbulk Roads for spectator parking.

Yarra Junction will be welcoming Santa on Saturday 21 December from 10am and he will be visiting the whole town throughout the day.

Little Yarra CFA will be taking Santa on a tour of Powelltown, Gilderoy, Three Bridges and Gladysdale on Saturday 14 December from 9.30am and will be at each location for approximately 20 minutes, where he will be giving out lollies.

For residents who live along any of the streets listed and can’t make it to the designated locations, please contact Little Yarra CFA via their Facebook page and they will will slow down going past your home to wave and share lollies.

Due to time restraints at each location, unfortunately, no one will be allowed onto the truck, but photos can still be taken from the outside and in the afternoon Santa will also be staying around the Little Yarra Fire Station after the run for anyone wanting extra photos with Santa.

Listen out for the sirens which will announce Santa’s arrival.

The locations of the Little Yarra CFA Santa stops are:

9.30am 1626 Yarra Junction – Noojee Road, Powelltown at the Little Yarra CFA satellite station 10am Leaving Powelltown travelling along Little Yarra Road then along Tarrango Road, Gladysdale to arrive at 11am at Bundaleer Road, Wesburn turning around at Buffer Break Track then returning along Tarrango Road to Hazeldene Road by 11.30am before turning around at Parkinsons Road, Gladysdale along Little Yarra Road Gladysdale turning around at Rayner Court then to Gladysdale Recreation Reserve by 12pm (Er-

nest Lloyd Reserve) Gladysdale and finally arriving by 1pm at Little Yarra CFA, 605 Little Yarra Road, Gladysdale for photos with Santa.

Santa will also be making an appearance at the Wesburn/Millgrove Fire Station for free photos on Sunday 15 December from 10am to 2pm, having already held one photo session on Saturday 30 November.

Kids can also write a letter to Santa for him to read and put it in the letterbox to Santa right up until Christmas Eve at the fire station.

Warburton CFA has already jollied up their trucks ready for Santa’s arrival and will be taking him to the Warburton Carols on Monday 23 December as well as visiting the townships Warburton, East Warburton and Big Pat’s Creek with Santa on Christmas Eve from 12.30pm.

Reefton CFA’s Santa run will take Father Christmas to the towns of Reefton and McMahon’s Creek as well as all the way up to the Upper Yarra Dam from 4pm on Christmas Eve.

On Sunday 22 December, Santa Claus will go around the Badger Creak area on the back of Badger Creek CFA fire truck from 4pm.

On Christmas Eve, Father Christmas will visit Coldstream between 4pm and 7pm thanks to lift from Coldstream CFA, and on the same day, he will also travel around Yarra Glen to hand out lollies to kids.

Please avoid parking on the surrounding roads. For the November show, there was space for 300 more cars on the Reserve, but cars were still congesting adjoining roads.

The Rotary Club of Wandin are aware that spectator’s personal budgets are tight so do not wish to increase the $2 entry fee. However, they ask supporters of the event to appreciate that any surplus they make goes to the Royal Children’s Hospital, so perhaps a little more as a donation would help offset the $4000 deficit resulting from traffic control and management.

If any attendees know of any business which might like to advertise as supporting the traffic control and management please let the Rotary Club know.

The next event is on Wednesday 18 December 2024 with parking for over 700 show cars and at least as many spectator cars.

Community Directory distribution

The 2025 Rotary Healesville and Yarra Glen Community Directory is now in its distribution phase. If you haven’t received your free letterbox drop by Christmas, please pick up a copy at Healesville Community Link in the Healesville Library building. Merry Christmas from Rotary.

Blue Gum Reserve new playground opening

A new playground in Blue Gum Reserve located at Bluegum Drive, Badger Creek will open on Sunday 19 January.

The opening ceremony will take place between 11am and 2pm.

Come and enjoy free sausage sizzles, games, prizes and entertainment.

Please note that the gates will not be opened before 4pm and the only result of arriving early is creating road congestion. The band cranks up at 5pm and finishes at 8pm. It would be appreciated if attendees could clear the grounds before 9pm as finishing at this time creates a cost saving in the traffic control and management.

Santa Claus is going to hop onto fire trucks to travel around the Yarra Valley. (Supplied)

Father Christmas loves the Yarra Valley, where he can warm himself from the cold of the northern hemisphere.

The worst films of 2024

It’s finally happened – after eleven years of running this column, I didn’t see enough bad movies this year.

2024 still had a decent crop of bad movies, but I mercifully avoided most of them, and the majority of films I saw this year were too enjoyable and/ or basically competent to fill a top ten worst list.

Before we get to the four worst films of 2024, let me address the year’s worst trend.

Four of the year’s best films (spoilers for next week) used generative AI in some capacity. Here used extensive age-changing AI effects, Alien: Romulus ghoulishly resurrected Ian Holm using deepfake technology over an animatronic, Late Night With The Devil used AI for three brief title cards (when they could have just hired a freelance artist), and Civil War used AI for some of its posters.

AI is a Pandora’s box of plagiarized content, stripping the soul and effort from real work, robbing jobs from real people and glutinous energy demands.

We must be vigilant that these small but disappointing examples don’t normalize heavier uses

of AI with more and more cut corners and less and less humanity.

I have two sad dishonourable mentions: Empire Queen: The Age of Magic and The Beast.

Empire Queen is an earnest, endearing fantasy romp, but proves that camp becomes tedium when it outstays its welcome.

The Beast, an Alphaville-like film about the suppressive effect of fear across multiple lifetimes, isn’t bad at all – it has beautiful art direction, many neat parallels across its three time

Entertainment for next year

Burrinja Theatre

Ash Grunwald

Renowned for his electrifying show, Ash Grunwald has inspired a generation to hit the road in an old van “to surf by day jam by night”.

The festival favourite brings a high energy vibrant live show with stacks of foot stamping blues.

After attending an Ash shoe, you will soon realise why he is also known as The Happiest Blues Man on Earth.

• Season: Sunday 1 February, at 7.30pm.

• Venue: Burrinja Theatre

Live on the Lawn Immerse yourself in a vibrant cultural celebration at Burrinja’s Live in the Lawn 2025.

Live on the Lawn is more than just an event, it’s a vibrant celebration for the whole family.

The Event invites you enjoy a perfect summer day filled with fun for all ages.

Soak in the lovely festival atmosphere with engaging kif’s activities, unique art markets, lawn

Kemp’s curtain call

games, delicious food trucks and so much mire.

• Season: Saturday 22 February, at 12pm.

• Venue: the Park at Burrinja.

The Round Theatre

Soweto Gospel choir – Hope

Hope is an all-new concert by the Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel choir – celebrating songs and anthems from the Freedom movement of Nelson Mandela’s South Africa, back to the Civil Rights Movement of Martin Luther King’s 1950s America. Hope opens with a rousing program of South African freedom songs, before the repertoire

periods and a tense subplot in 2014 – but I just can’t vibe with these staid, extremely talky sci-fi dramas with barely-there world-building.

4. Megalopolis.

A decades-long passion project by Francis Ford Coppola, Megalopolis is a pompous, disjointed, waffling mess with hardly any tension and a flaky sense of irony.

Not only does Megalopolis have little worthwhile to say about utopia through its awkward dialogue, but shows clear disdain for workingclass protest and activism, with its privileged protagonist Cesar Catalini and easily-swayed masses.

3. Borderlands.

With a squandered ensemble cast, awful action and terrible pacing, Borderlands is a pale imitation of the source video games.

2. The Crow.

A morose, redundant reboot with none of the heart of the original.

The action is cool, but not worth slogging through the tepid romantic chemistry and slack pacing.

Alex Proyas, director of the original The Crow, commented that the reboot was a ‘cynical cash-grab’, but there was ‘not much cash to grab, it seems.’

1. Madame Web.

While I liked the unsettling vision effects, and Cassie running the villain over with her car after two visions in which she fails to stop him was genuinely and intentionally funny, Madame Web is flat, dull and incredibly contrived, with an unlikeable heroine and an unmemorable villain.

However, Madame Web is not, contrary to popular belief, worse than Morbius: we’re talking a 4/10 vs a 2/10, but Madame Web at least has some life to the performances and the action is bland and scarce rather than incoherent.

Not having enough bad films to fill a top ten is a very good problem to have, but check back next week for my ten best films of 2024.

This best list was also difficult to fill, but rather because there were so many great movies vying for spots.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

Beyond horror and terror

Book review of You Like It Darker by Stephen King.

Horror stories don’t need murder, mayhem and madness to create a sense of dread, despair and doom.

The best stories in this genre both disturb and inspire.

While monsters do and often appear in the broad daylight, one can still seek and find hope on dark and stormy nights.

The 12 stories collected in Stephen King’s latest book You Like It Darker “delve into the darker part of life – both metaphorical and literal”.

Some of these tales share the themes of old age and death, and are perhaps informed by the author’s reflections on the myriad ways in which our twilight years can and should be lived meaningfully.

“Define ‘meaningful’,” one might ask.

In the case of “Laurie”, it’s to never give up fighting even when all hopes are lost.

In the case of “The Answer Man”, it’s to accept that life’s triumphs and tragedies may or may not be your doing – and, either way, it doesn’t matter.

What remains important is doing the decent thing to the best of your abilities.

Other stories showcase the kind of brilliance that King is known for, the seemingly natural ability to lure the reader into an alternative reality where anything is possible and everything has its cause and consequence.

Take “The Turbulence Expert”, a reminder of Richard Matheson’s “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”. Or “The Dreamers”, a Lovecraftian cosmic horror tale that echoes “Jerusalem’s Lot”.

Or even “Two Talented Bastids”, a very subtle story that somehow brings back memories of the character David Drayton in “The Mist”.

echoes down through time to the USA.

Experience beautiful renditions of the protest movement on the Civil Rights Movement including works by legendary artists James Brown, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and the one-and-only Aretta Franklin.

Formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African gospel music, Soweto Gospel choir draws on the best talent from many churches in and around Soweto.

• Season: Tuesday 11 February, At 7.30pm. Handa Opera on the Harbour Guys and Dolls

A Musical fable of Broadway

Based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon.

One of the finest Broadway musicals ever written explodes to life in a brand-new production made for Handa’s spectacular harbour-side Stage!

Escape to Manhattan the 1950s: a colourful larger-than-life world of showgirls and gangsters,

PASSION FOR PROSE

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

Meanwhile, “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream” seems to have won over most of the readers out there.

While King admits that Inspector Franklin Jalbert is “sort of like Inspector Javert in Les Miserables”, the character reminds this reviewer of the paper-ripping Craig Toomy in “The Langoliers”. As in the case of “Finn”, the horror in this story is how everything is possible in this reality, if someone in the right place at the right time is determined to make it so. An equally welcomed story is “Rattlesnakes”, which is as much a sequel toCujoasDoctorSleepisafollow-uptoTheShining.

The story could work if the first-person narrator were another man grieving the loss of his family, but Vic Trenton’s sense of guilt over what happened to his wife Donna and their son Tad enriches the plot while adding another dimension to the already impressive tale of haunting monstersandthemanyunknownsoftheafterlife.

It’ll be interesting to see if King plans to bring closure to some of his other fictional characters in the years to come. For starters, this reviewer would like to know what happens to Dinah Bellman after “The Langoliers”, and what happens to David Carver after Desperation.

We just have to wait and see.

set against the backdrop of Sydney’s glittering Harbour.

High roller Sky Masterson is looking to win big, but everything changes when he takes a gamble n Sister Sarah Brown, a missionary whose quest to save New York isn’t going to plan.

At the same time, Miss Adelaide is hoping her engagement of 14 years might finally result in a wedding, but her fiancee Nathan, has half the city’s gamblers breathing sown his neck. This is musical theatre at its show-stopping best. The score is packed with huge hits, including Luck be a Lady, Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat, Adelaide’s Lament and I’ve Never Been in Love Before.

Expect big laughs and even bigger song and dance numbers in this energetic new staging by Opera Australia’s Artistic Director, Jo Davies.

• Season: 21 March – 20 April.

• Venue: Mrs MacQuarrie’s Point Sydney.

• Bookings go to google Handa Opera and follow the instructions.

STUNNING ACREAGE AND A RELAXED LIFESTYLE

STUNNING ACREAGE AND A RELAXED RURAL LIFESTYLE

A dream lifestyle awaits you at this stunning property, set on a glorious 11 acres of beautiful rolling pasture it’s the ideal place to start to rural lifestyle. The large ranch style family home has been cared for and loved for over 40 years and offers 4 bedrooms including an ensuite in the main bedroom. Separate family/lounge and living areas give the growing family plenty of space.

The fresh modern kitchen has plenty of bench and cupboard space with quality appliances and fittings. Venture outside and your spoilt for space with acres and acres to explore and enjoy.

Ample car accommodation with a large carport, double lock up garage, plus open machinery sheds with high clearance to suit caravans, boats and floats.

A picture perfect setting with beautiful established gardens with a colourful array of flowering shrubs and roses.

A beautifully presented property, meticulously maintained in every aspect and conveniently located just a short walk to Wesburn’s main street, local schools, transport and with the walking trail close by the position is superb.

BRAND NEW DESIGNER TOWNHOUSE

BRAND new designer townhouse in a prmier location - Unit 3.

• Central Emerald location just 500m from shops, cafes and all facilities.

Renowned local building company.

• Quality fittings and fixtures throughout with the ability to customise (additional cost).

• 3 bedrooms plus study with master suite downstairs including full ensuite and walk-in robe.

Ducted heating and cooling throughout (up to 10 vents).

• Double glazed windows.

• Garage with internal access plus space for additional vehical.

• 3 phase power.

Situated in a wonderful community with a variety of artistic, creative and lifestyle groups.

HOME FOCUS

HILLSIDE HAVEN: MODERN LIVING

NESTLED on over three-quarters of an acre, this stunning 5-year-young home is a masterpiece of modern design and hills living. Positioned perfectly to capture breathtaking natural backdrops, this residence seamlessly combines style, comfort, and practicality for families and entertainers alike.

Step inside to discover a home crafted with the highest standards. The expansive kitchen is a true showstopper, boasting quality stainless steel appliances, ample cabinetry, and generous island bench that will delight any home chef. Large windows frame the serene views, bringing the beauty of the outdoors inside.

Adjoining the kitchen, the dining area and spacious lounge are warmed by a crackling solid fuel fireplace, creating a cozy ambiance perfect for those chilly nights, while ducted heating and split system heating and cooling provide year-round comfort.

The home features four generously sized bedrooms, each thoughtfully designed for comfort. The master suite offers a luxurious retreat with a walk-in robe and an ensuite that feels as though it belongs in a five-star hotel. The remaining bedrooms all include built-in

robes and are serviced by an equally stunning family bathroom, complete with a deep soaking bath and double vanity for ultimate relaxation.

Step outside, and the magic continues.

An elevated verandah leads to an expansive Merbau deck with built-in seating, making it the perfect setting for hosting gatherings of any size. Overlooking a secure playground and sprawling yard space, this area is a haven for children, pets, and anyone seeking a peaceful escape. For those with big plans, the sealed driveway provides abundant parking and access to the backyard—ideal for building the shed you’ve always dreamed of (STCA).

With low-maintenance gardens, a private outlook, and thoughtfully designed spaces for every member of the family, this property is a true standout. Adding to its appeal is its convenient location, just a short drive to the vibrant township of Cockatoo, public transport, supermarkets, and parks.

This exceptional home is not just a place to live—it’s a lifestyle. Don’t miss your chance to call it yours. Contact us today to arrange your inspection and experience the magic for yourself.

5

HOME FOCUS

LIFESTYLE, LOCATION AND DUAL OCCUPANCY

PRIVATELY positioned on over 10 glorious acres in a unique and picturesque location, this lifestyle property offers outstanding views across The Patch valley and mountain tops of the nearby Yarra Ranges. The property is ideal for those seeking a peaceful, self-sustaining lifestyle whilst remaining close enough to nearby townships of Emerald, Belgrave and Monbulk for ease and convenience. Also boasting self-contained bungalow and studio areas with separate entrances providing dual occupancy living and potential for extra rental income from Air BnB. Gently sloping, the land is fully useable and perfect for gardening, raising animals, or simply enjoying the serenity of the beautiful Dandenong Ranges.

THE PROPERTY:

• 10.7 acres (approx.)

Four fenced paddocks, large garden area Spring fed dam with 5meg pumping rights Horse arena (currently used as parking bay)

• Sealed driveway

• Solar system approx. 8kw plus 10kw battery back up

• Tank water (multiple tanks)

• Excellent parking along with a single carport Extra shedding Greenhouse as well as mature fruit trees inc: 4 avocado, fig, nashi, multiple citrus and a covered orchard with berries, kiwi, plums, apples, peaches, MAIN HOUSE:

• Circa 1930 original with character updates throughout Three bedrooms, two bathrooms plus office/ sitting area

Large, open plan living area and galley style kitchen with Falcon upright stove

• Gas ducted heating split system heating/ cooling and a Nectre wood fire

• Wide verandah taking in mesmerising views

STUDIO 1:

Open plan design - ideal for artists studio, work from home options and more split system heating/cooling

Wide patio area

STUDIO 2:

• Original cottage containing one bedroom

• Lounge room, kitchen/meals, laundry and bathroom

Lovely verandah, split system heating cooling plus wood heater

STUDIO 3:

Single bedroom with kitchenette

• Split system heating and cooling

This is an absolute must see property for those who are looking for a lifestyle change or for those just searching for more space to raise their family in this wonderful Hills community. Within walking distance to The Patch Primary School and the much loved The Patch General Store, this location is as incredible as its views!

$1,700,000

SMALL ACREAGE PARADISE IN GREAT LOCATION

POSITIONED to please this beautiful small acreage hobby farm is the ideal place to start the relaxed country lifestyle, situated on approx. 4.5 acres of rolling pastures, there is loads of space for the growing family to spread out and enjoy.

Currently set up to suit the horse enthusiast with multiple paddocks and shelters plus 3 stables and holding yards plus a large barn with mezzanine floor. The country style home is warm, homely and inviting offering 2 good sized bedrooms plus a family/lounge area with gas heating and multiple split systems throughout the home. The kitchen is well appointed and has plenty of bench and cupboard space including a separate meals/dining area. Venture outside and enjoy family gatherings all year round with covered verandahs and entertaining it’s the perfect spot to sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning views and picturesque back drop.

A sensational property in an exceptional location backing onto the Warburton trail and just a short walk to local schools, shops and transport it’s a great place for the family to call home.

RiverturnLane,Warburton

Aspectacularpropertysteepedinlocalhistory, atrueclassicWarburtonpropertyandsetona picturesque10acresdatingbacktoaroundtheearly1900’s.Boasting 6to7 bedroomsplusan office/studyarea,2 bathroomsandmultipleliving/familyroomsideallyzonedtoalloweveryonetheir ownspaceandprivacy.Thekitchenareaissuretoimpresswithqualityappliancesandfixtureswith amplebenchandcupboardspaceplus awalkinpantryandbeautifulsplashbacks.Theoutside areaisequallyimpressivewithapprox.10acrestoexplore.Entertaininstyleallyearroundwitha coveredentertainingareaplusopenairentertainingwith ahugedeckoffthemainfamilyroomwith stunningviewsoverlookingtheYarraRiver.Animpressiveview,animpressiveproperty,fresh,modern anduptodatethroughoutbutretainingallthewarmthandatmosphereoftheearlydays.

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.

M 0401832068

PicturesqueAcreagewithGloriousViews

EnjoytheglorioussurroundsandfantasticYarraValleyviewsatthisbeautifulproperty,situatedon justover10picturesqueacreswith amixtureofundulatingpastureandscatteredbush.Thehome issuperbandjusta fewyearsoldoffersthegrowingfamily afantasticsemirurallifestylewithself sustainableoffgridlivingwithalternativesolarpower.Beautifullypresentedandoffering 3bedrooms with aluxuriousmainbathroomandensuiteinthemainbedroom.Thekitchenisstunning,lightand brightwithqualityappliancesandfixturesthroughoutwithamplebenchandcupboardspace. Immerseyourselfintheoutdoorswithestablishedgardensandloadsofspaceforthekidsandpetsto exploreandenjoy, afantasticsmallacreagepropertyin abeautifullocationwithacresofspaceto createyourownhobbyfarm.

withenergyefficiencyinmind,noexpensehasbeensparedfromstarttocompletionandmeticulous attentiontodetailineverypartofthehomeby askilledandfastidiousbuilder.Boasting 4oversized bedroomsincluding afeaturemainbedroomandstylishensuite,youwillbeimpressedwiththethree expansiveliving/loungeandfamilyroomsofferinggreatspaceforthegrowingfamilytorelaxand enjoy.Thekitchenareaisallclassandstyle,withtopqualityappliancesandfinishingsthroughout anda separatedining/mealsareaoutside.Withjustover 1acreoflandtoexploreandenjoy,there isloadsofroomforthekidsandpetstorunaroundallyearround,wideverandahsanddeckingoffer greatoutdoorentertaining.It’sjusttheidealspot!

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 Sending to press (8)

5 Bank order (6)

10 Disconnected (5)

11 Speed of pulse (5,4)

12 Downhill ski race (6)

13 Repeating (7)

14 Large Australian spider (8)

15 Former prime minister of Sweden, – Löfven (6)

18 Knife (6)

20 Gleefully (8)

21 Against the law (7)

24 Comic character, – the Menace (6)

27 Pathological self-admirer (9)

28 Watercrafts (5)

29 English county (6)

30 Appraised (8)

Show sullenness (4)

Laziness (9)

Of the tide (5)

Book of the Hebrew Bible (8)

Small axe (8)

Resembling (5)

Crisis (9)

Sham (4)

Pleasure (9)

Carnivals (9) 17 Leads an orchestra (8) 19 Related (7) 22 Fierce animals (5)

23 Den (4)

25 Illustrious (5)

26 Accustomed (to) (4)

Top results at Warburton golf

By Ron Hottes

The V.V.V’s:

When eight Ladies went out to tackle the front nine, under sunny skies, and with perfect conditions to deal with, the top scorer was Your Loyal Scribe’s very excited ‘better-half’ Vicki-Hottes who hit her straps this day and collected 19 points to win the top prize by 3 shots, well done (Grr, bragging rights). The runner-up voucher was taken home by the ultra-consistent Suzanne Barratt, because she posted a 16-point score. There were no NTPs this time, so we wait another week to see that (hopefully) occur.

Wednesday 4 December, Stroke and M. McGrann Bag playoff:

Although it was just another Bag-day qualifier for most of the healthy field, there were nine 2024 qualifiers playing off for the ultimate prize, a topline Titleist bag. These nine qualifiers included Your Loyal Scribe, who somehow fluked it to win. But the big story of the day was that the daily winner, and first qualifier for next year’s bag, was none other than Peter Whitehead, with a stunning Nett 67. And when congratulated, his comment was ‘About bloody time’. Yes, it has been a bit up-and-down for Mr. Whitehead recently, but this was a stark return to form. Well done, Pete. The daily runner-up was another who showed good form leading up to this excellent round, and a Nett 68 was nearly good enough to take home the chokkies for Mick Eldridge. Well done, Father Michael. The balls extended all the way down to Nett 75 so you scraped in for a ball, Angus. The NTP winners were: Mr. Hendy (3rd), Steuart Hawke (5th), Angus Hall (9th), Neil Leckenby (12th) and Barry Maltman (15th).

Twilight:

Under cloudless skies, but with hot and steamy conditions the order of the day, those who could cope with that would always shoot great scores. And the greatest result this day, with a superb 20 points, was Rod Kempton. Well done, Rod (I so hope that big brother Shaggy is reading this). But, little brother only just won, after a tight countback, because it needs to be noted that Matt Maloney also posted a 20-point result. A pleasing result, M.M. Balls reached 18 only. In an unusual occurrence, there was only one NTP recorded, that coming from the talented hands of Sean ‘Bruno’ Kennedy, who hit a superb tee shot on the 9th.

Saturday 7 December, Stroke and Medal of Medallist’s playoff:

To win a Monthly Medal is pretty special to any golfer to win the yearly M.M. playoff is special enough to be a Club board event. This year, the achievement has been won by Tim Jones, with a stunning Nett 66. and added to his haul is the top B-Grade prize. Congrats to you, Tim.

But, the actual winner of the December Medal, and winner overall on the day, was Sean Kennedy, who followed on from his consistent Twilight form, to post a superb Nett 65. Bruno won the A-Grade voucher easily because Joel Coombs grabbed the runner-up voucher with a solid Nett 69. Balls went down to 71. In B-Grade, the runner-up to Tim was Darryl Ward, with a very solid Nett 67. Good work, Dazza. Balls reached 72 here. The 5 NTPs went home with Neil ‘Mr. Scotland’ Leckenby (3rd), Roger Mataele (5th), Dave Hatt (9th), Danny Fox (12th) and Matt Wappett (15th).

The final of Yarra Glen ARC’s

Warburton Golf Club results. (File)

A special visit from Santa. (Supplied)

By Anita Prowse

Busy week for Healesville

By Ian Milgate

Healesville’s side 1 played our old rivals Yarra Glen and Healesville knew they had their work cut out as Yarra Glen always field a strong side.

It was a very humid day, hot, rain and wind.

Steve bulled’s team got off to a flyer with some great bowls being put down by all four players.

The other two rinks were just hanging in there and by the half time break, Healesville were up by seven shots, 34/27.

After the break, Bob’s rink and Effie’s rink started to win a few ends to keep Healesville in front but Yarra Glen weren’t done with yet as they closed the gap.

On the last end, Healesville were one shot down overall and Effie had two bowls to come.

Yarra glen were holding two shots on that end before Effie put his first bowl down and split the centre giving Healesville one shot.

Peter Leonard could not improve on his last shot, then Effie Laban had his last shot, which was a cracker giving Healesville two shots and winning overall by one shot 57/56.

Healesville bowlers gave huge applause for the hero, Effie.

Overall everyone played exceptionally well.

Gerda Otto, Col Jarvis, John Fitzpatrick, Effie Laban 19/19

Ian Milgate, Hilda Gurney, Rob Broadhurst, Bob Brown 20/22

Rita Featherstone, Mick Featherstone, Robyn

Turville, Steve Bulled 18/15

Healesville’s side 2 played away at Croydon and although they tried their heart out Croydon were far too strong for them on the day and finished up beating Healesville by 48 shots 39/87.

Jim Viggers, Jodi Ward, Damian Key, Russell Smith 13/28

Barry Parker, Anne Knibbs, Leonie Fitzpatrick, Judy Veermann 18/21

John Allen, Karl Tok, Glenda Graham, Mike Adams 8/38

After another cracking night of the Barefoot Community Challenge, six teams have been decided to play off in the Final next week.

Finishing on first place is Advanced on 88, second on 79 Total Shutters, equal third McDonald Maintenance and the Laneway on 78, fourth Codeart on 77 and in fifth place Tuck Inn on 73.

Therefore next week, the equal thirds play fourth and fifth with the losers going out, leaving the final four to compete for the grand final.

All of these teams have some excellent bowlers so do yourself a favour, come on down, have a snag or two and a light refreshment and watch some entertaining bowls.

Good luck to all the contenders who are playing for The Charles Hort Memorial Trophy.

After the game, there will be a formal presentation in the club rooms to present the trophy to the winners, including food and a raffle for six great prizes.

Healesville’s second summer series of the Fam-

ily Barefoot Bowls was held on Friday night under slightly wet conditions, although the rain cleared and it didn’t stop the many families from coming along and having a great night.

It was fabulous to see the happy faces on the parents and the children as they had some great family time, (rather than technology).

Everybody said the food was great, the kids loved the free icy poles and the give a ways, along with the raffles and prizes, for the runners up and the winners who were all very happy.

A big thank you to Mick and Rita for all the hard work they put into organising the night, and also all the volunteers who helped out during the night.

The Healesville Bowling Club will have another night early in the new year so the club will keep you posted.

To all the families who came along, a big thank you and look forward to seeing you again.

Saturday’s side 1 played away at Ferntree Gully, which is renowned for one of the quickest greens in the competition, so Healesville had to get the feel of the green very quickly if they were too create an upset. Unfortunately, the team struggled in the first half and were down by 30 odd shots at the break. After the break, Healesville started to pull back the defaces but left their run too late going down by 22 shots 65/87.

Ian Milgate, Robert Ayres, Colin Jarvis, Mark Ward 22/14

John Howard, Barry Parker, Robert Brown, , John Fitzpatrick 16/21

Ken Gallacher, Steve Bulled, Chris Hawting, Rita Featherstone, 16/23

Gerda Otto, Mick Featherstone, Robyn Turville, Adrian Beale 11/29

Healesville’s side 2 were to play away at Mooroolbark, and Healesville needed to win to stay in the top three or possibly finish up second on the ladder.

Once again, it was going to be a big ask as the team were short of players, making it difficult for the others.

But surprise, surprise Mooroolbark phoned us and forfeited the match, so another week of non play for Healesville Bowling Club members?

Two high standard wins for Warburton bowls

By Garry Lewis

Two high-standard victories out of three Pennant games against quality oppositions this week highlighted the steady improvement all Warburton sides are making during the season.

Warburton’s Number 1 side continued their resurgence with an impressive win at home over Monbulk 1, 94 shots to 62, to start the second half of the season and avenge the first-round loss. The standard of play continues to rise, and two rinks had dominant wins. The Burras now sit fifth on the ladder after this and face an important match away this week against Lilydale 2. Rink scores were T. Appleton 14/ 21, C. Neale 29/ 15, P. McConachy 20/ 18 and S. Lord 31/ 8.

Warburton 2 journeyed to Boronia to play on their grass green and start the second half of the season, hoping to avenge the home green defeat at the start of the season. But, alas, this was not to be against the second team on the ladder. Once again, with several players unavailable across both Saturday Pennant sides, the team was unsettled leading into the game. In the first few ends, Boronia 2 got the jump early on all rinks as the Burras

seemed to play catch up for the rest of the game. Strong play from everyone on Matt Van Meurs’ team saw a well-deserved win. Graham Wynd’s rink also fought back well to end with a draw. The Burras certainly tried their best overall and are determined to keep improving, going down 83 shots to 67. Rink scores were D. McConachy 17/ 23, D. Fahy 13/ 24, M. Van Meurs 18/ 17 and G. Wynd 19/ 19. The Burras now play Bennettswood 1 at home this week with several regular players returning to add some strength to the seconds.

The Tuesday Midweek side played Heathmont 2 at home in windy and humid conditions. Heathmont are the team to beat this season sitting on top of the ladder. The day saw fluctuating results for our teams. First time skipper this season, Chris Boland, dominated with his rink winning 31 shots to 9. Terry Heyward’s team played very good consistent bowling to win their rink, 21 shots to 13. Rod McKail’s team played one of the best teams in the competition before going down, 13 shots to 26. Warburton 1 won overall 65 shots to 48.

The Burras are now sitting comfortably in second position on the ladder. With the season halfway through, they are looking a good chance to

Half way mark of the season

By Rodney Bates

As the season passes the half way mark, ladder positions are starting to become clearer, as is the path to finals for most teams.

Yarra Glen’s Div 1 side played Vermont South at home, a solid result with three rink wins and a draw to start the second half, a 42 shot overall win 101/59 (17 points).

C. Carswell 33/13; S. Manifold 28/9; Beau Simmons 20/17; Ben Simmons 20/20.

The team is currently fifth , just six points from third place.

Division 4 Side 2 played away against Heatherdale, and after a bright start to the year, have had a couple of losses to balance our top four place.

Yarra glen holds onto top spot with Heatherdale only nine points away in second.

Heatherdale were too strong on their home turf, and took all 18 points on offer 86/53.

S. Smith 17/18; A. James 13/25; R. Thurkle 14/16; A. Thurkle 9/27.

Division 6 Side 3 had a spirit lifting win against Vermont South 85/79 (12 points).

L. Baker 19/20; D. Skillern 23/26; D. McMenaman 25/10; T. Dickson 18/23.

The win lifts the team to sixth spot, only 11 points adrift of fourth.

Midweek pennant

Division 2 Side is in a five way race for finals

with only eight points separating fourth from seventh. The local derby against Healesville came down to the last bowl, with Healesville getting over the line by one shot 56/57 (three points).

P. Leonard 19/19; P. Tirant 22/20; A. James 15/18. Division 3 have a tough battle for the balance of the season, currently eighth. Mooroolbark took all 16 points with the final score 38/64.

L. Baker 11/25; T. Dickson 14/17; Di Skillern 13/22.

The Wednesday night

make the finals. They play Healesville 1 at home this week.

Pennant Training continues Thursdays from 4pm at the club. It is always great to have new and beginning players coming along and joining in the fun. Coaching is available.

The Wednesday Night Barefoot Bowls Jack Attack Competition continued last week in superb

conditions for bowling. A Double Header was held for Rounds 4 and 5 of eight ends each. There were several extremely close games throughout the evening with Belinda Nicolandos from the La La’s Team winning the prize for being the first person to touch the jack. This week will be another Double Header (Rounds 6 and 7) before the Christmas Holiday Break. A Christmas Theme will be held, and participants are encouraged to dress up in Christmas gear.

During the holiday break, the club will be holding the Tradge Woods Triples Tournament on Saturday 11 January 2025, in memory of the highly esteemed past member of the club. All 16 Team positions are filled.

The Annual Pink Ribbon Day Triples Tournament, sponsored by Professionals Real Estate, will be held on Sunday 9 February 2025, with all funds raised going towards Breast Cancer research. Food, refreshments, raffles and prizes available during the day. Female and Male Entries accepted of all abilities, including Beginners. Entries in by January 30. Interested people or teams of 3 are encouraged to contact Michelle 0437 566 238 for further details.

YJBC Eagles continue to soar

By Elly Byrne

Round Seven of the midweek competition saw YJBC playing Mooroolbark at home, usually an advantage on the faster green. The heavier-than-usual conditions due to the recent rains resulted in a slow start for the Eagles while re-adapting, and only one rink managed to take an early lead. Alice’s team continued to build after the break setting the standard and the others followed by lifting their game gradually to finally take control of the game overall with a 60/47 win. One step up the ladder was a pleasing result. The next round against Croydon second on the ladder away will be an interesting game with only 2 points separating them.

The weekend team went into Round Eight at the top of the table and hoped to maintain their position. Playing on the grass green at Eastwood Golf always poses a challenge and Saturday’s game was again proof of the skill required in bowling to be able to adapt to different greens. There was an early battle for overall lead with one rink struggling to get on the board, but after the midway point the Eagles slowly moved ahead. Three rink wins and one loss resulted in an overall win of 78/64 and a sigh of relief that retaining top position had been achieved. The next challenge is against Croydon in round 9, the last round before the Xmas break. Statistically the Eagles will go into the break still top of the ladder, a

YJBC is open to the community, including for private events. (Supplied)

good place to be. YJBC continues to thrive with new members, great pennant results so far this season, upgraded facilities and wonderful support from the community having functions at the clubrooms. Barefoot Bowls preparation continues for Friday nights, starting January 10. Booking are not required generally but for large groups, it’s suggested you make contact through their Facebook page.

Families enjoying a great night of bowls at Family Barefoot Bowls. (Supplied)

Jack Attack competition continues to prove popular. (Supplied)

Yarra Glen Division 1 Side are playing a night pennant fixture at home against Bundoora on Friday 22 November. (Unsplash)

SPORT

Historic weekend for Wandin

By David Marshall

This past weekend was nothing short of extraordinary for Wandin Cricket Club, with all four senior teams securing victories—a feat that hasn’t happened in years. It was a weekend filled with standout performances, gritty determination, and plenty of moments to celebrate. Here’s how the matches unfolded:

1st XI: A Comfortable Win on the Road

The 1st XI travelled to Warranwood, eager to continue their strong form. Winning the toss, Wandin elected to bat first, and the dynamic opening duo of Bryce Edwards and Jamie Atkinson once again showed why they are quickly becoming the club’s version of Langer and Hayden. The pair put on a brilliant 117-run stand, with Bryce scoring 57 and Jamie contributing 52, setting a solid platform for the innings.

However, the middle order struggled to capitalize, with wickets falling regularly every 10 runs or so. Despite the hiccups, Jarrod Dobson provided the late-innings firepower, smashing an unbeaten 33 off just 24 balls to push the total to a competitive 220. Taking the field, Wandin’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance. The Warranwood batters found it tough to score freely as the run rate required climbed steadily. Taylan Hall was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/21 from his 8 overs. Although Dan, Rory, and Koges didn’t claim wickets, they bowled tight lines, piling on the pressure. Dobby chipped in at the death, finishing with 2/44, though a few dropped catches denied him an even better return. Warranwood was restricted to 169, giving Wandin a relatively comfortable win. Improvements in middle-order batting and catching could make this side even tougher to beat.

Women’s 1st XI: A Dominant Performance

The Women’s 1st XI played at home against Chirnside Park in what proved to be a lopsided affair. Facing a side short on numbers, Wandin seized the opportunity to experiment and rotate the squad. The bowling unit was in fine form, with all bowlers delivering impressive spells. Kirwan Peluso (1/8), Lisa Vanderzee (1/4), and Natalie Lowe (1/3) kept things tight, but it was Kate “Hurricane” Johnstone who stole the show. After her batting heroics last week, Kate shone with the ball, claiming a stunning 3/1.

There were highlights beyond the bowling figures. Lexi Marshall, bowling for the first time in a game of cricket, landed her very first delivery on target, sparking a fantastic run-out with Tilly’s sharp throw to Lexi’s end. The team’s catching and fielding was exceptional, and they have now been booked in to show the men a thing or two about fielding. Chirnside Park was dismissed for just 27 runs.

In reply, Wandin faced an early setback when Natalie Lowe was run out without facing a ball—a cruel moment in cricket. This brought Lexi to the crease for her first-ever innings. While she didn’t score any runs, every one of her eight balls she

faced was cheered on by her teammates as if she smashed it to the boundary. Lisa Vanderzee (4*) and Kerry Peet (10*) calmly guided Wandin to victory in the sixth over. It was a dominant win and a great confidence booster for the team.

2nd XI: A Hard-Fought Victory

The 2nd XI hosted Yarra Glen and was sent into the field after losing the toss. A disciplined bowling effort saw regular wickets fall throughout the innings. Jason Kneebone (2/39) and Hamish Lamont (3/24) led the charge with early breakthroughs. Returning from injury, Ethan Alderman bowled exceptionally well, conceding just 8 runs from his 4 overs and picking up a crucial wicket. Junior player Manny Vallence, a late replacement, impressed with figures of 1/11. The standout, however, was Dave Thorne, with 3/18 from 5 overs. Yarra Glen was bowled out for 135—a total that seemed within reach.

However, the chase wasn’t smooth sailing. The top order faltered early, and at 4/66, the game hung in the balance. Ben Galante was the early anchor in the top order making a well-crafted 34, but his dismissal left Wandin at a precarious 6/87. Jack Dowthwaite dug in for well-made 21, but went out to a blinder of a catch leaving us still nervous on 6/87. Captain Julian Polido then stepped up to release the pressure, smashing 25 off just 15 balls in a crucial partnership with Ethan Alderman (22*), who batter with excellent temperament got us to 123 before Julian went out. Their efforts brought the team to the brink of victory, and Wandin eventually crossed the line, eight wickets down, to secure a hard-fought win.

3rd XI: Toppling the Ladder Leaders

The highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly the 3rd XI’s thrilling match against ladder leaders Croydon North. Bowling first, Wandin faced a fast-scoring opposition. Tim Thorne struck early, triggering a flurry of wickets to leave Croydon North at 4/66. The game remained evenly poised as the opposition rebuilt with small partnerships. Tom Day (2/36), Gordo Gosland (1/44), and young gun Jed Leckie (1/38) all chipped in, but it was Tim Thorne’s exceptional 4/32 that stood out. Croydon North posted a challenging total of 222.

The chase required resilience and teamwork, and Wandin delivered. Archie Brown (20) and Pete Vaughan (50*) provided a solid start with a 34-run opening stand. Pete’s first half-century for the club was a pivotal moment. Tim Thorne, batting at No. 3, retired on 50 to keep the momentum going. Despite a few stumbles in the middle order, Ralph Peet (22) and Sam Loly (19) added a crucial 36-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

As the game came down to the wire, Wandin found themselves at 8/207. With Tim Thorne returning to the crease, the experienced batter held his nerve and guided the team home in the final over, finishing with a match-winning 67. It was Wandin’s first win of the season and a monumental result against the top side.

A Weekend to Remember

This weekend was a celebration of everything great about Wandin Cricket. From domi-

nant bowling performances to gritty run chases, each team contributed to a historic weekend at the kennel. The 1st XI continued their strong form, the Women’s XI put on a clinic, the 2nd XI showed resilience under pressure, and the 3rd XI

pulled off a stunning upset.Congratulations to all players, and supporters who made this weekend so special. The club is buzzing with momentum, and with performances like these, the future looks incredibly bright.

Lusatia Park are looking to strike back after losses

Looking to bounce back after two losses, the Lusatia Park 1st XI played Eastfield at home and got back on the winners list. Lusatia Park got off to a solid start before losing their first wicket for 44 after 8 overs, Chris Reynolds going for 26 but lost their next wicket without adding to the score. Tim Diggins and Jordan Birnie steadied and put on a partnership of 74 when Jordy went for a well-compiled 39 to be 3/124 after 20. Unfortunately, Tim went straight after the drinks break for 30 and Lusatia Park were in a bit of trouble to be 5/130 after 23 overs. Needing to bat out the remaining 17 overs but looking to build a respectable total, they finished at 9/239 thanks to a 9th wicket partnership of 48, Kieran Cantwell with 23 n.o. and Matt McConnell 23. The visitors went in after the break and due to some great bowling and holding their catches, Lusatia Park was never seriously challenged and got Eastfield all out for 194. Adam Dunn finished with outstanding figures of 5/42. The 2nd XI also played Eastfield on their home ground, winning the toss and sending their opposition in. Due to some exceptional bowling and fielding the home side never looked like posting a decent score to be all out for 109 in only 28 overs. A great job from Lusatia Park’ bowlers with Lucas Parker taking 3/21, Paul Broussard 2/3 and Bhavin Movaliya 2/15. A relatively small target

is always hard to get but Andy Vandervlugt and Mick Dwyer did it in a canter reaching the target in only 18 overs, Andy making 54 n.o. and Mick 43 n.o. great job fellas. Not forgetting special mention to young U/14 Flynn Pritchard playing his 1st game at that level and also taking a wicket 1/16, well done.

The 3rd XI played Heatherdale away and after Heatherdale batted first they finished with a respectable total of 8/183 off their 36 overs, J.Box was their main contributor with 50 retired. The picks of Lusatia Park’s bowlers were Matt Holland 3/23 and Tayte Hubbard 2/11. Even though they tried their hardest the target was just beyond them falling short by only 36 runs, Holland the best of Lusatia Park’s batters with 51 and Colin Voigt 28. The 4ths this week had a bye. For the ladies this week, Mountain Gate ventured up to take them on at home and Lusatia Park won the toss and elected to bowl. The day couldn’t have started any better with Stacey getting a wicket first ball. From then on wickets fell fairly regularly. Stacey Mercuri taking 4/13, Ella Amore taking 2/ 4 and Amelia taking 2/13 and by far it was the team’s best effort in the field too, catching and ground fielding was on point as they rolled Mountain Gate for 86.

Lusatia Park started off ok with the bat but did

see themselves struggling at 7/46. Up steps Ella Amore and Amelia English to steady the side and get us within 10. The win came with a cracking

Four wins for Wandin’s four senior teams this weekend. (Supplied)

shot by Melissa Page over mid-wicket for 4. Ella Amore with the top score of 16 not out and a great win by the girls.

The Lusatia Ladies in action during their win. (Supplied)

SPORT

Hamer and Handasyde on fire

U12-3 Healesville 4/99 drew with Eastfield (abandoned due to rain)

Louis Keath 18, Ryder Hudson 14*, Angus Morcombe 8*, Joshua Braden 7*

U12-7 Healesville 0/81 drew with Lusatia Park (abandoned due to rain)

Angus Holmes 34*, Rory Jackson-Ward 8*, Otis Rowland 5*

U14-3 Healesville 5/117 defeated Wantirna Sth 94

In the revised 1 day fixture after the first week got washed out. Versing a strong Wantirna South Lineup.

Healesville looked to cement their place as a premier team in the comp.

Being sent in to bat, Henry Harding faced his full allotment of balls finishing on 25* with a perfect openers knock. Summer Caldicott, Raff Morcombe and Aeden Senti would all also face their balls and help Healesville to the competitive total of 5/117.

With a fielder short, tight bowling and good fielding was required and Raff Morcombe, Harry Thomas and Summer Caldicott all provided early jagging early wickets and keeping the run rate low.

Through the middle overs, the bowling dropped off with extras proving a killer as well as sub par fielding.

At 5/80 off 17. Wantirna south were right in the game before 2 Ryder Hudson wickets, and wickets to Harry thomas, Kael Senti and Raff Morcombe in consecutive overs saw Healesville to the 23 run victory bowling Wantirna out for 94.

U14-7 Healesville 9/126 defeated by Lusatia Park / Hoddles Creek 6/146

U16-4 Healesville 4/100 defeated Yarra Glen 2/97

Denzel Parsons 36*, Sam Keath 12 & 1/17, Tyler Braden 12, Will Watson 10*, Cooper Bell 1/5 1st XI Healesville 2/142 defeated East Ringwood 141

At home against East Ringwood looking to beat them after losing early in the year.

Fielding first a disciplined effort saw run restriction before Luke Chandler sparked up removing both openers off Caught and bowled dismissals.

Spinner Josh Handasyde would continue his fine form with the ball, jagging two wickets whilst keeping the run rate low.

Great bowling in the middle overs from Darcy English and Tarkyn Nicolandos saw Nick Zinghini and Darren Edwards reap the rewards at the end of the innings with East Ringwood trying to push the rate along and losing five quick wickets with Zing ending 2/8 and Daz 3/22 to be all out for 141.

The chase started terribly with form openers Josh Handasyde and Nick Zinghini both in the sheds with the score 2/9.

Tom Handasdye and Ash Hamer would get together and run excellently between the wickets putting away the bad ball from an all round tight bowling unit from East Ringwood with Ash finishing 74* and Tom 55* seeing Healesville over the line in an important win.

2nd XI Healesville 189 defeated by Kilsyth 233 The 2XI took on Kilsyth on a windy day away from home, losing the toss we were bowling first. Beau Hawkins (0/37 off 8) and Max Wallace (1/36 off 7) started us off to a Kilsyth team going hard at the ball, neither were able to secure a wicket in their opening spell even though there was quite a few close chances.

Young Sam Keith (1/19 off 3) had a crack with

the ball next and got the first break through for us in the eighth over.

While Healesville tried their best to get another wicket, the batters formed another partnership until Ben Wallace (1/16 off 1) came on to bowl getting a wicket on his third ball bringing the score to 2/92 in the 17th over.

After taking a wicket, Ben decided his one over was enough and gave the ball back to Max to have a crack at a second spell, bowling well in partnership with Riley Cameron (2/38 off 5), Max took a wicket and Riley taking two from the other end brought the score back to 5/154 in the 24th over.

With Riley bowling well and Max needing another spell, Healesville turned to the janitor Dylan Edwards (3/40 off 6) who with Riley started to slow the run rate back down. Grant Braden (2/19 off 5) replaced Riley and followed suit with some tight bowling continuing to restrict the runs with Dylan later in the innings until the pressure got too much for the batsmen with Dylan breaking through taking two wickets in an over and a third wicket shortly after slowing Kilsyth down to 7/219 after 37, Grant took his turn in the next over getting two wickets in consecutive balls bowling Kilsyth all out for 233.

With a large total set to chase on a lovely quick ground we believed we have a good chance of chasing down these runs but unfortunately things started to look grim losing a few top order batsmen quickly we didn’t have a good start at 3/35 after eight overs.

Grant Braden (60) came out to bat and started turn the game back into our favour starting to put quick runs on the board but another collapse

Yarra Glen Cricket results

around him brought us to 6/76 in the 15th over.

With the day looking like it could be over early Ben Wallace (50*) joined Grant in the middle, while Grant was continuing to pogo balls all around the ground Ben batted himself in patiently turning the strike over until he felt comfortable then he also shifted gears and started to pile on quick runs also, tipping the game back in our favour.

Grant miss hit a ball and was caught after a good knock putting us into a better position of 7/121 after 27. The job wasn’t done yet and after losing another quick wicket Sam Keith (31) came out to join Ben, who was now seeing them like a beach ball, took no time at all to get comfortable and started playing shots and running up the score with Ben. Needing nine an over for the last five overs, Healesville looked like they could make the come back and get over the line Ben and Sam carried on scoring runs going for the win until Sam was caught on the boundary.

Dylan came out to bat wanting to turn the strike over to Ben and see us over the line unfortunately chopped one on and finishing us all out for 44 runs short at 189.

3rd XI Healesville 7/175 defeated St Andrews 9/172

Round 7 saw Healesville host St. Andrews at Margaret Lewis reserve in a one day match.

Healesville won the toss and elected to bowl and both Gary “Barra” Mundi (1/28) and Brenton Damrow (1/25) took an early wicket to leave St. Andrews reeling at 2/0. Due largely to a fantastic century from Ethan Albiston they were able to recover their innings and post a defendable total of

9/172. The main wicket takers for the Bloods were Prem Singh (3/18) and Raff Morcombe (2/42).

Early wickets again set the tone for Healesville’s innings and at drinks the required run rate had crept up to six an over and the game was anyone’s for the taking.

Thankfully for the Bloods the middle order of Raff Morcombe (41), Brenton Damrow (28*) and Aman Singh (26) came to the rescue and all batted superbly to control the tempo and bring the game right down to the wire, with veteran Alan Pearce hitting the winning runs with a boundary in the final over. A fantastic team victory in a very competitive match now has Healesville sitting in second place on the ladder. 4th XI - Healesville 4/125 defeated by Mooroolbark 4/125

Mooroolbark 5th XI hosted Healesville 4th XI at Kiloran park. Healesville won the toss and elected to bat making a total of 6/124 (Curtis Adamson 50*, Scott Fawdry 27).

A man short in the field Healesville bowled well and worked hard to protect their total but Mooroolbark would pass the required score with just three overs remaining (S Fawdry 2/30, C Bell 1/19, R Hudson 1/32).

Congratulations to Ryder Hudson, boweld very well and took his first senior wicket 5th XI - Healesville 119 defeated by East Ringwood 166

Danny Hyndman 20 & 2/14, Simon Caldicott 17 & 4/14, Taylor Caldicott 16, Lee Caldicott 15*, Summer Caldicott 2/34

An important win for Healesville 1st XI(File: 440799)

By Josh Handasyde, Michael Davern, Matt Wilkinson, Pete Nolan and Chris Handasyde

By Travis Gloury

Sad losses for Yarra Glen Cricket Seniors. (File: 201707)