Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 17th December 2024

Strikes for change

Industrial action from police continues across Victoria with Belgrave Police Station holding their walk out this week.

Police members at the Belgrave police station walked off the job on Thursday 12 December for the first time in 25 years.

As cars drove past the station beeping in support members stood together for 30 minutes, holding a banner reading ‘Breaking Point’.

Members walked off the job united in a bid to get their employer back to the table and the walkouts have been occurring across Victoria, with Lilydale Police Station holding its walkout last week.

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On and off duty police officers from Belgrave Police Station took part in the work stoppages on Thursday 12 December. (Tanya Steele: 44989)

New solar details

By Tanya Steele

Residents from The Basin will have until Christmas Eve to weigh in on the proposal after an admin error left out a glint and glare report on the Engage website.

A scheme amendment allowing for the development of a solar farm at a property in The Basin has extended its engagement with the public until 24 December

Group commercial manager at the Salvation Army Robert Johnston said they are essentially

having the land rezoned.

“The solar farm isn’t going to take up all that piece of land that’s been identified as the rezoning. It’s just that the piece that we’ve isolated for that is a smaller piece of part of that,” he said.

The missed out flint and glare report has now been uploaded to the website in addition to a host of documents already there for plans for the solar farm.

The amendment applies to the land at 49 Basin-Olinda Road, the Basin and proposed Basin

solar farm aims to generate electricity to offset the Salvation Army’s current on-site operations and also contribute power to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

The plans detail an eight-hectare solar farm on the property, with approximately 11,000 solar panels on two to three-metre-high frames to allow the use of land underneath for sheep grazing and carbon farming.

Some residents are concerned about the negative impacts on building in the paddocks, potential view obstruction and how the change

will affect the area down the line.

In the long term, Mr Johnston said Salvation Army have no plans to extend the solar farm beyond the site they have selected but intends to apply to the distributed network service provider to install a battery.

“The solar farm and all our on-roof solar will be more than enough to power Salvo’s sites in Victoria for as far into the future as we can realistically forecast,” he said.

Read more on page 9

Cops walk off the job

By Tanya Steele

Industrial action from police continues across Victoria with Belgrave Police Station holding their walk out this week.

Police members at the Belgrave police station walked off the job on Thursday 12 December for the first time in 25 years.

As cars drove past the station beeping in support members stood together for 30 minutes, holding a banner reading ‘Breaking Point’.

Acting Senior Sergeant Luke Schroder has been with the Belgrave Police Station for a few months but was stationed in Monbulk before that.

“I’m in support of the action because I think members are just tired, some of that tiredness isn’t going to be resolved through an EBA, but it exacerbates the frustrations,” said Acting Snr Sgt Schroder.

Members walked off the job united in a bid to get their employer back to the table and the walkouts have been occurring across Victoria, with Lilydale Police Station holding its walkout last week.

Victoria Police has applied to the Fair Work Commission to have the EBA dispute declared intractable, and have the commission determine

the financial and working future of the police and PSOs.

Wayne Gatt, Secretary of The Police Association Victoria (TPAV) said they don’t want Victoria Police to wash its hands of their members’ future, they want it to return to the negotiating table and have some involvement in looking after its workforce.

“With over 1000 vacancies, 800 plus members off sick and more police leaving than entering the building that will host today’s walkout, Victoria Police needs to take ownership here and correct the ship that is currently sailing off-course,” he said.

“Don’t complain about your lack of resources and close 43 stations down to rationalise your troops and then throw your hands up and say this is a problem for someone else to fix.”

TPAV members are seeking a six per cent pay rise per annum over four years and an end to unpaid work and the current EBA expired in November 2023.

A police officer for over 30 years and stationed at Belgrave for 12 years, Leading Senior Constable Jason Fox said morale has been low and officers are at a breaking point.

“Morale is possibly the worst it’s ever been - we are short by thousands across stations,” he

said.

“We are understaffed, we need better conditions and support.”

LS Constable Fox said that whilst the pay increase would be welcome, improving conditions is vital as members on the ground are the first responders and often stay late without pay as their shift ends.

“You’ve got to come in to relieve your unit –so they don’t get jobs at the end of their shift,” he said.

Sergeant Vaughn Atherton said that the issues are long-reaching and there has always been an expectation that officers will do extra time.

“There’s no handover time, no bonuses,” he said.

“There’s never been anything more about the handover and the time that the officers spend on their own time doing that handover.”

“Members should get a decent pay rate for what they do for a job.”

Mr Gatt said their members want Victoria Police to stop being part of the problem.

“Instead, to return to the bargaining table and be part of the solution to this dispute,” he said.

More daily work stoppages will follow at police stations and work units across metropolitan Melbourne and the state.

Controlled burn spreads, jumps a road

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

A controlled burn got out of hand on Old Macclesfield Rd in Monbulk on Wednesday afternoon, 11 December.

The fire quickly spread across a nature strip, jumped a road, and rapidly advanced through surrounding trees.

Emergency services, including the Monbulk, Macclesfield and Silvan Fire Brigades (CFA), Victoria Police, and Forest Fire Management Victoria, responded swiftly, working tirelessly for several hours to bring the fire under control.

Monbulk CFA captain Glenn Hickingbotham said they received the call at 4.43pm on Wednesday when a landowner’s planned burn quickly got out of hand.

Initially contained to a small area, the fire spread across around an acre of scrub and grass, impacting around 50 trees - the fast-moving blaze raised concerns as it jumped a road and threatened local properties.

“The initial firefight lasted about 15 minutes, but it took several more hours of patrols and blacking out the fire to fully contain it,” Mr Hickingbotham said.

The landowner, who was conducting the burn in accordance with prescribed fire management regulations, was forced to watch as the fire spread beyond their control - fortunately, thanks to a coordinated effort from local brigades, the threat was mitigated.

Monbulk and Macclesfield fire brigades led the response, supported by Silvan CFA and several units from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

Firefighters worked tirelessly to prevent the

blaze from spreading further, with additional crews called in to remove burning trees that posed a significant risk.

“The fire was contained within 15 minutes, but because of the number of trees involved, crews remained on-site for several more hours, blacking out hot spots and making sure it was safe,” Mr Hickingbotham said.

“DELWP crews were called in to drop dangerous trees that couldn’t be accessed by the fire crews, ensuring the area was fully secured.”

Victoria Police were also present, assisting with managing the scene and ensuring public safety.

The incident has served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of bushfires, even

under relatively calm conditions. Despite a cool day with little wind, the fire spread rapidly and required significant intervention from emergency services.

Mr Hickingbotham is urging residents to start preparing their properties for the summer fire season.

“This incident shows how quickly a controlled burn can escape. We want to remind everyone to be vigilant and ensure they have a solid bushfire plan in place,” he said.

Fire restrictions for the region are set to come into effect on December 23 at 1am, with no further burning allowed once the fire ban is in place.

Landowners are reminded to register any burn-offs before this date and to follow the prescribed burn size limits.

Additionally,MrHickingbothamrecommends that all landowners ensure they have a reliable water supply and do not leave the fire unattended until it is fully extinguished and cold to the touch.

Ember attacks are a significant risk, especially following windy days, which can cause embers to spread beyond control.

“It’s critical that any burn-offs are monitored closely,” he said.

“If it’s safe to do so, never leave a fire until it is completely cold. If we can all take these simple precautions, we can reduce the risk of incidents like this getting out of hand.”

The CFA, local fire brigades, and emergency services will continue to monitor the situation in the coming weeks, as hotter weather and stronger winds pose an ongoing risk during the fire season.

For more information on fire safety and bushfire preparedness, contact your local CFA brigade or visit the Fire Danger Ratings website.

Two men stabbed, a third arrested in Cockatoo

A weekend altercation has landed two men in hospital with serious injuries and a Cockatoo man arrested, with police now investigating.

Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives are currently investigating a stabbing in Cockatoo on Saturday, 14 December.

Police media said that officers were told that an altercation occurred between three men at a residential address on Evans Road about 11.15pm.

“It’s believed two men were allegedly stabbed during the incident,” they said.

The two men fled the scene to a neighbouring property raising the alarm.

A 24-year-old Hazlewood North man was airlifted to hospital and a 38-year-old Morwell man was taken to hospital both with serious injuries.

“The 31-year-old man from Cockatoo was arrested at the scene and is expected to be interviewed on Monday 16 December,” said Police media.

“It is believed the parties are known to each other.”

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dash cam/CCTV footage, or any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

William in Upper Ferntree Gully missing Police are actively searching for 80-year-old William, who has been reported missing from Upper Ferntree Gully.

William was last seen early this morning at around 1am on Mount View Road.

His family, along with law enforcement, is extremely concerned for his wellbeing, particularly due to his medical condition and the fact that his disappearance is completely out of character.

William is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 155cm tall, with short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a black/blue jacket and grey tracksuit pants and it is believed he may be travelling on foot.

Investigators have released an image of William in the hope someone can provide information on his current whereabouts.

Anyone who has seen William or has any information regarding his whereabouts is strongly urged to contact the Knox Police Station immediately at (03) 9881 7000.

Worksafe urges all to keep safe

WorkSafe is urging employers and workers to slow down and think during the holiday rush.

The festive season can bring a sense of urgency across many industries, whether it’s looming deadlines on construction projects, meeting a surge in demand in retail, transport and warehousing and hospitality, or working through a demanding harvest season.

From 2021 to 2023 there have been 40 work-related deaths and more than 12,750 injury claims accepted by WorkSafe in the final two months of the year.

Tragically, another four workers have died since the start of November this year, leaving their families to enter the holiday season without a loved one.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said no industry was immune to the risks.

“For many workplaces, the approaching endof year can be a frantic time and the drive to complete projects or meet customer demand can unfortunately mean safety is not always at the forefront of people’s minds,” Mr Jenkin said.

A tree burns uncontrollably during a controlled burn gone awry, as crews from CFA and DELWP work to ensure the fire is safely extinguished. (Supplied)

Security measures remain

By Callum Ludwig

Once again the question has been asked of Yarra Ranges Council to consider cutting down on security spending, this time as a potential cost-saving measure.

Stan Giles put forward a question to the council at the final council meeting of the year on Tuesday 10 December as to whether the security, implemented after Council meetings were shut down in 2023.

Mr Giles said we mustn’t have a lot of unruly ratepayers out there and it’s the only council in Victoria that needs guards and pre-registration.

“Some time ago, over a year ago, we had a very rowdy group of people who were a bit hot-headed and very threatening and as a result the Chamber got cleared and we had this barrier in from this requirement to pre-register and guards,” he said.

“Since then, we often have more people in the Chamber and officers than we have in the gallery so we’re actually outnumbered, but having said all that, my major thing was Councillor Child’s first acceptance speech he said he was trying to cut the costs and I was just looking at the costs of the guards, the requirement of the guards and the requirement to register,”

“When exactly will the security guards at the council meeting be removed and the barrier in the chamber taken down and if this will not happen what is the business case to justify the continued drain on ratepayers and the return on investment… this is only a thing that affects councillors… the general public won’t be disadvantaged other than they might be able to attend without registering and you benefit from free input from your ratepayers, the people who are actually experiencing the results of your decisions.”

The gallery of Yarra Ranges Council meetings was closed for two and a half months between Thursday 20 April and Tuesday 11 July 2023 af-

ter two meetings were adjourned due to ‘verbal abuse, intimidation and anti-social behaviour’. Yarra Ranges Council introduced an atten-

dance registration and identification check due the day before any Council meeting, with options for attendees to fill out an attendance form on-

line, call the Council’s customer service team or speak with a customer service representative at one of the Community Links throughout the region.

Attendees must provide their first and last name, home address, phone number and email address to register, and upon arrival must present valid identification such as a driver’s license, passport or ID card which will be checked against their registration.

A physical barrier between the Council roundtable and the gallery seating was also implemented and security guards were hired for meetings from Tuesday 14 February 2023 onwards.

Acting Director of Corporate Services at Yarra Ranges Council Ben Waterhouse responded to Mr Giles and said Council takes the health and safety of staff, councillors and community members with the utmost seriousness.

“So the return on investment or the benefits are reflected in the safe and respectful environment of council meetings, which we all enjoy this evening, which is a fundamental responsibility of council,” he said.

“The engagement of external security and the installation of the security barrier as you pointed out for public meetings is a standard operating procedure to help ensure council meets its obligations to conduct an orderly and safe meeting,”

“I can confirm that there are no plans to remove the security guards or the barrier at this stage, the utilization of security in the barrier is approved within management and executive oversight, including business case consideration at the time of which it was implemented.”

At the Tuesday 27 April 2023 Yarra Ranges Council meeting, Yarra Ranges Council confirmed in a response to a question from the public that the Council had spent $12,600 on security costs in the time between that meeting and the 14 February 2023 meeting when security guards were first hired.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024

Police presence at the 31 January 2023 Yarra Ranges Council meeting. (File)

Councils under pressure

By Mikayla van Loon

Talk of ‘eroded’ fiscal climates for local governments have recently been aired in discussions within the council chamber, government inquiries and as major concerns during council elections.

Putting figures to these concerns, former Yarra Ranges Council mayor and economics degree holder Tony Stevenson presented the straining financial outlook for municipalities at the Tuesday 10 December council meeting.

Mr Stevenson said essentially the council is “financially strangled” meaning “our whole community suffers”.

Quantifying the declining financial support from the State and Federal Government, Mr Stevenson said “our community needs to understand the financial stress that council faces in serving our community’s future needs”.

“We are fortunate to live in a wealthy nation with a progressive taxation system…The federal government is very much progressing its tax take,” he said.

“In fact, they’re now commanding over 80 per cent of all taxes collected, and they’re growing them at 11.4 per cent per annum over the last four years up to the end of June 2023.

“State Government tax is doing something very similar, 11.1 per cent, but across Australia, local governments have been running at a much lower rate, 3.7 per cent and much, much lower than that in Victoria due to rate capping.”

Local governments typically provide over 100 services to its communities, from sport pavilions to road maintenance, libraries and parks, rubbish collection and environmental protection.

“The Federal Government is very good at collecting taxes but it doesn’t deliver many services. Instead, it shares revenue with state and local governments for local service delivery.”

Based on the council’s last budget, Mr Stevenson said it was predicted that operating grants

would only grow at 1.75 per cent per annum - a figure not even keeping pace with inflation.

“I realise that’s a projection from the council, but that’s based on learned history that there’s not very much money. 1.75 per cent is less than inflation. It means going backwards in real terms, which really is simply not acceptable,” he said.

Because of the 2.75 per cent rate cap, based on

projections of CPI Consumer Price Index, “costs are growing faster than the rate cap” making the council’s major projects and upkeep of infrastructure a harder task.

“So while the council income is throttled to CPI, the actual cost of capital works has been growing faster than CPI, the real cost of capital works has increased by an average of 4.5 per cent

over the past four years.

“And 64 per cent of council expenditure is affected by this. Capital works, roads, drains, footpaths, building and property maintenance are all being hit by that 4.5 per cent increase.

“So the facts demonstrate the council is expected to do more with less.”

Mr Stevenson said if you look at the most recent granting of $5.7 million to upgrade the Don Road sports pavilion in Healesville, it shows what could be achieved if higher levels of government worked with councils on funding arrangements.

Despite this, Mr Stevenson said “the federal government is simply giving us back a small fraction of their massive tax take”.

“Our community needs the Federal Government to provide more permanent funding indexed to real costs for local projects and infrastructure.”

With projects like the Snowy 2.0 project reaching a cost of $12 billion in August 2023, six times the original estimated value, as well as Federal funding being pulled for road resurfacing projects across the Yarra Ranges and Cardinia, Mr Stevenson said when councils can manage and execute projects, “local government actually spends money well, not perfectly, but well”.

“And the less tax the Federal Government returns to council, the more the burden falls on taxpayers.”

When asked what should or needs to be done, Mr Stevenson said even a return to the system of 2000, where “one per cent of federal tax collection was diverged to local government for local investment” would make a significant difference.

Mr Stevenson said with Federal elections ahead in 2025 it is up to all community members not just councils “to put pressure on those making the decisions in Canberra” and as candidates announce themselves to “politely seek a commitment that more of our tax dollars are reinvested back in our local community”.

The Yarra Ranges Council chamber will see just one woman represent the shire this term. (Supplied)

Platypus help on the way

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Monbulk Creek has been awarded $9.6 million in funding from the Federal Government to help protect the Platypus and other local wildlife - the funding, which was applied for by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), is part of a larger $200 million program aimed at improving urban rivers and creeks across Australia.

The money will be used for the ‘Urban Rivers Platypus Recovery Initiative’, locally known as ‘The Platy Patch’.

“The platypus is a cherished and threatened native species, and we’re taking action to ensure it has the habitat it needs to thrive for generations to come,” a DEECA spokesperson said.

“At Monbulk Creek, we’re installing smart rainwater tanks to manage stormwater and reduce its damaging effects on habitat - providing clean and flowing platypus rely on for healthy vegetation and stable banks for burrowing.”

“The Victorian Government done more than any previous government in the state to stop the decline of our native species - backed by a historic $609 million investment to protect the natural environment, native wildlife and the habitats they depend on to survive and thrive into the future.”

This project will focus on making the creek’s banks and waters healthier for Platypus and other endangered animals like the Growling Grass Frog, Southern Bent-wing Bat, and Yarra Pygmy Perch.

One of the key parts of the project is a new ‘Smart Water Network’, which will help control water flow in the creek, reducing the damage from storms and ensuring the creek has enough water during dry spells.

Flash floods are a big problem for Monbulk Creek, washing away the creek banks, destroying Platypus burrows, and muddying the water,

which makes it harder for Platypus to find food.

The new system will connect local lakes to the creek through pipes that will deliver water when it’s most needed - this will help keep the creek at a healthy water level, protecting the animals living there.

Melbourne Water is working with other groups like the University of Melbourne, South East Water, Yarra Ranges Council, and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to deliver the project.

The goal is to use new technology, such as smart rainwater tanks and storage lakes, to control the water flow and reduce flooding.

The local community will also play an important role in protecting the creek.

Melbourne Water acting executive general manager, Brett Andersonis is encouraging people in the area to join the ‘Tanks for Platypus’ program.

“Melbourne Water is working with partner agencies and all levels of government to save the only platypus population in the Dandenong

catchment, at Monbulk Creek,” Mr Andersonis said.

“Melbourne Water is connecting Belgrave Lake and two lakes within Birdsland Reserve to the Monbulk Creek Smart Water Network with a pipe network which will deliver water to the creek when the platypuses need it most.”

“The best part of this initiative is the community’s active involvement in platypus conservation and protecting the health of their creek.”

Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek has welcomed the investment, calling it an important step in protecting the Platypus and other local wildlife.

“We want to leave nature better off for our kids and grandkids – and that’s why we’re restoring rivers and waterways in our suburbs with a $200 million investment,” Ms Plibersek said.

“Nearly half of all nationally listed threatened animals and a quarter of our threatened plants are in urban areas, home to 96 per cent of Australia’s population.”

“And with so many native plants and animals

reliant on our rivers, creeks, wetlands, and estuaries, protecting and restoring the health of our waterways is essential - this critical funding is good news for native wildlife and the community – improving the quality of the urban spaces that we all share and love.”

Senator for Victoria Lisa Darmanin also praised the funding.

“This funding is crucial to the restoration of the Monbulk Creek and supporting our community’s efforts to protect the waterway’s habitat that native species dependent on healthy waterways like the Platypus and the Southern Bentwing Bat that depend on it,” Ms Darmanin said.

“The $9.6m in grant funding is a vital investment in the future of our local environment and its incredible biodiversity.”

“Protecting this significant waterway is critical to ensuring our kids and their kids can continue to enjoy this beautiful part of our local community for generations to come.”

The Platypus is a threatened species under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act - it needs stable banks to build burrows, healthy plants for food, and clean, flowing water to survive.

The ‘PlatyPatch’ project aims to improve these habitats by planting more vegetation, controlling weeds, and adding natural habitats like logs and branches to the waterways.

So far, $14 million has been invested in the ‘PlatyPatch’ project, which is taking place in 14 locations across Victoria.

The project is a four-year initiative led by DEECA’s Arthur Rylah Institute, with help from partners like Zoos Victoria and local Landcare groups.

The government is also investing $609 million to protect Victoria’s natural environment and wildlife.

As Monbulk Creek gets this funding, it’s a big step towards ensuring the Platypus and other native species have a safe and healthy future.

Monbulk Creek Birdsland Reserve Belgrave Heights (369605)

The platypus is a threatened species under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (391092).

Renovation boost for The Basin Primary School

The Basin Primary School is set to benefit from a significant renovation as part of the State Government’s ongoing efforts to improve educational facilities across the state.

The Victorian Government has announced The Basin is one of 58 schools to share in $25 million for much-needed upgrades through the 2024/25 round of the Capital Works Fund.

“Every student deserves world class facilities at their school. We will continue to invest in renovating school facilities, making sure we meet the needs of every child,” Education Minister Ben Carroll said.

“Every family wants the best for their kids –the best education in state-of-the-art facilities. Our record investment in school infrastructure is delivering for our hard-working school communities in the Education State.”

Monbulk Member Daniela De Martino and Bayswater Member Jackson Taylor, visited the school on Thursday 5 December to congratulate the community on being selected for a refurbishment package worth $499,768.

The funding will go towards refurbishing the school’s Block B toilets, a vital improvement to support students and staff in a more modern and comfortable learning environment.

“This investment is about ensuring our students have access to the best facilities, enabling

them to thrive in their education,” Ms De Martino said.

“We know that good infrastructure is key to better learning outcomes, and The Basin Primary School will now have the facilities it deserves.”

The $25 million in funding is part of the government’s broader commitment to modernising schools across Victoria.

Over the past decade, the state government has invested a staggering $16.9 billion to build new schools and upgrade over 2000 existing facilities, creating more than 26,000 jobs in construction and related industries.

Jackson Taylor said better schools mean better learning for kids.

“The Basin is a great local school and I’m stoked that kids will have the facilities they deserve,” he said.

The Victorian School Building Authority will oversee the delivery of these projects, with work scheduled to commence in early 2025.

All upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of May 2026, ensuring minimal disruption to the school community.

The Basin Primary School’s renovation is part of a broader statewide push to enhance school facilities and provide students with the best possible learning environments.

Remarkable success for Mater Christi College

Mater Christi College has proudly announced the outstanding achievements of its 2024 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) cohort - celebrating a year of academic excellence and personal growth.

This year, the College saw remarkable success, with twelve per cent of students achieving an ATAR over 90, and twenty per cent of students attaining an ATAR over 80.

A total of 22 per cent of students achieved study scores of 35 or higher, and two students earned perfect scores of 50 in individual subjects.

Additionally, 66 per cent of all subjects had a median score above the state average, with the overall median score across all subjects standing at 31.5.

VCE English saw an impressive median score of 33.6. In another achievement, all students enrolled in the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) program graduated, successfully completing their VET studies.

Among the standout students is Jen MacDonald, who earned an exceptional ATAR of 99.65, including two perfect scores of 50 in Business Management and Health and Human Development.

Jen’s achievements have earned her the title of College Dux for 2024 - setting a high bar for future students.

Other high-achieving students include Disha Adeshara, Sienna O’Connor, Alice Zhu, Sasha Neilson, Mitali De Zoysa, Natasha Kindler, Brianna Sinclair, Monique Enriquez, and Gemma Przychodzki, all of whom achieved ATARs above 90.

These students exemplify the benefits of an all-girls education at Mater Christi College, where academic excellence is supported by a nurturing environment.

While the ATAR is an important milestone for students aspiring to pursue higher education, Mater Christi College reminds all Year 12 students that success is not defined solely by a score.

The school principal Maria Haggett, is encouraging students whose ATARs didn’t meet expectations to explore the various pathways to success available to them.

“The personal and academic growth you’ve achieved this year will serve you well in the future,” Ms Haggett said.

In addition to the strong ATAR results, the College also celebrated the success of its VCE VM students, all of whom completed their VET studies and graduated.

These students demonstrated significant com-

Mater Christi College Dux 2024, Jen MacDonald celebrates her outstanding ATAR of 99.65.

(Supplied)

mitment to their studies and future goals, proving that there are many ways to achieve success beyond the traditional academic pathway.

Ms Haggett also took the opportunity to thank the families and teaching staff who have been integral to this year’s success.

“The strength and support of our Year 12 cohort is a true reflection of the Good Samaritan spirit that defines our College community,” she said.

Special recognition was given to Emma Costello, the VCE VM Dux, who showed exceptional dedication to her studies.

The College’s teaching staff were also acknowledged for their tireless commitment to providing the best learning opportunities for students, which is reflected in the impressive results achieved across the cohort.

As the Class of 2024 gets ready to take the next step in their educational journeys, Ms Haggett said she’s confident the students are well-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

“I’m proud to see them embarking on a range of tertiary pathways, ready to make their mark on the world,” she said.

‘Help

By Callum Ludwig

give laptops to youth’

A Yarra Ranges resident involved with the Les Twentyman Foundation has made a passionate plea to Yarra Ranges Council to help improve opportunities for local youth.

Lilydale resident Ray Cooper made a submission at the Tuesday 10 December council meeting to talk about his recycling laptops for schools initiative.

Mr Cooper said he has had a connection to the Les Twentyman Foundation for eight years, first with their Christmas toy appeals and later providing laptops for youngsters.

“We’re trying to get laptops now for the local schools, but the children can’t afford a laptop, there are lots of families here with parents who can’t work too much because it’s hard getting jobs in the country and they often get their food from food banks, but they have got children and they all need help,” he said.

“My first choice was the Upper Yarra Secondary School (sic College) where there are many students without a laptop, every student needs a laptop if they’re going to succeed and they should not feel second best in the classroom because they don’t have a laptop and they have to share it.”

Mr Cooper called on Yarra Ranges Council to donate their service laptops to local schools when they are replaced.

Mr Cooper said he is also inviting Yarra Ranges Council to become leaders by donating their service laptops when they replace them to local schools and show there are large businesses that can make a difference.

“This may be what is needed to get the attention of all companies to assign one person in their company to look where their old laptops are actually going because giving to a charity might seem good, they say to me ‘Oh we’re already giving to a charity’ but I get an email every few weeks offering me, as I’m involved in a charity with Wandin Seniors, they offer me laptops at $500 each for Windows and up to $1000 for Apple and these are the laptops that have come from donations from companies,” he said.

“For Upper Yarra Secondary College’s 700 students, the only requirement is to have a laptop with access to the web, all they want is a laptop with one icon, that’s all they need, they don’t want (Microsoft) Office or anything like that, no expense, they just want an icon so everyone can share the same data,”

“You make it simple and it’s simple to implement and run, they share laptops in

schools but some go home without laptops, you can share it in school but the boy who’s got the laptop and he’s sharing, he takes home his laptop and the other boy gets nothing.”

Mr Cooper has had donations of 50 Apple laptops from Live Nation and 22 laptops from the Civil Infrastructure Group (CIG) group already and he will be supplying a further 16 laptops to Upper Yarra Secondary College by the end of January next year.

Streeton Ward Councillor Jeff Marriot said he used to have a professional relationship with Les Twentyman and said what Mr Cooper is doing now is very honourable.

“I was privy to Les’s idea of supplying school books, textbooks to students that had no resources whatsoever and that was going back in 2003 to 2004 so I’m 100 per cent supportive of what you’re doing there,” he said.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child asked Yarra Ranges Council chief executive Tammi Rose to note the presentation and give some indication to Mr Cooper on ‘Council’s procurement and disposal of these types of items’ and what may benefit him, which Ms Rose confirmed they would.

Billanook Ward Councillor Tim Heenan said to Mr Cooper that there will be conversations about his submission, he has no doubt.

“I don’t like to see anything destroyed and I used to be in the business of making printed circuit boards many years ago, and I know that there’s a lot of valuable material in there, we do not ever want to see it in landfill if it can be it can be used in such a more special way in going back into the system, particularly for children,” he said.

“I know only too well there are families out there that cannot afford laptops, let alone school books that require or even all of the dress for their children so it’s a fantastic thing that you’re doing, I admire you and I wish you all the success in the future.”

The funding will go towards refurbishing the school’s Block B toilets. (384668)

Ray Cooper wants Yarra Ranges Council to consider how they can donate their used laptops to local students in need. (File)

Extra time for solar reply

By

A scheme amendment allowing for the development of a solar farm at a property in The Basin has extended its engagement with the public until 24 December.

Residents from The Basin will have until Christmas Eve to weigh in on the proposal after an admin error left out a glint and glare report on the Engage website.

The Salvation Army plans to build a solar farm on 49 Basin-Olinda Road. The property is currently utilised for an alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre with cattle grazing in the paddocks.

The missed out flint and glare report has now been uploaded to the website in addition to a host of documents already there, the plans detail an eight-hectare solar farm with approximately 11,000 solar panels on two to three-metre-high frames to allow the use of land underneath for sheep grazing and carbon farming.

Group commercial manager at the Salvation Army Robert Johnston said they are essentially having the land rezoned.

“The solar farm isn’t going to take up all that piece of land that’s been identified as the rezoning. It’s just that the piece that we’ve isolated for that is a smaller piece of part of that,” he said.

“They’ve got to do it to link it to a title, which is why it’s been identified as that rectangle piece of land.”

Major projects manager from ABS Australian Battery Solar and Energy Solutions Pty Ltd Colin Gillam said his company got involved in the planning around four years ago to look at a whole range of different things to potentially use the land for – with the Salvation Army wanting to gain some value from the property and also achieve carbon zero emissions.

“It (the land) has really limited development potential and it being in a flood plain area, housing and things like that are unlikely to ever be permitted there,” he said.

Mr Gillam said ABS has spent the last two years doing the financial modelling, connection applications, planning applications or amendments.

“We have also spent a considerable amount of time talking to local environment groups, community groups and various individual residents from time to time – although it’s difficult to get to everybody.”

The whole area falls within a special use zone, with a portion in the northern corner that is part of a green wedge zone.

“We’re using eight of the 120 hectares, the balance is not being touched by us at all and the green wedge is in that balance of 120,” said Mr Gillam.

Explanatory notes on the Victoria Engage website state that the amendment will provide environmental, economic and social benefits by realising the opportunity for renewable energy generation in this location in a manner that respects the green wedge.

“Notably, this policy includes a strategy to provide opportunities for renewable energy generation.” it reads.

Mr Gillam said the site selection was partly made at the southern end of the property because of a line of trees that runs along Dobson’s Creek,

which is what forms the southern boundary

“There is a row of pine trees and those pine trees are between 70 and 80 years old. They’ve reached the end of their life,” he said.

“About two-thirds of them have already died and fallen over and been removed. The rest of them are in really poor condition.”

Some residents have had concerns about the proposed changes that range from worries about the extent of the land use,interupted views of the Dandenong Ranges, the by passing of Knox Council, the future of the cattle that are currently grazing there and some of the changes proposed for areas of vegetation on the property.

Mr Johnston has walked the property himself and said a lot of people are assuming that that whole piece of land is going to be covered in solar panels.

“It’s not. It’s a small triangular piece,” he said.

Mr Gillam said that the whole area that’s being zoned for the potential solar farm is eight hectares, but effectively will only use around about four hectares of that.

Mr Johnston said the cattle that are on the site at the moment will be moved to other parts of the farm.

“This happens almost weekly - the number of cattle on the property is carefully managed to avoid overstocking,” he said.

“The size of the property provides the opportunity to carry far more stock numbers than we do, as we have never tried to maximise the carrying capacity of the site.

The site is capable of carrying at least 100 head of cattle all year, but Mr Johnston said they only ever have 20-30 head at any one time.

President of the Knox Environment Society

Farrager said that while KES is generally in favour of solar farms they have some concerns around the space.

“There is the importance of this landscape view to the community looking out across the rural landscape to the magnificent backdrop of the Dandenong Ranges,” he said.

“We have a concern that once the precedence has been set then more development on this site may take place.”

Resident Lynette Hayhurst said concerns by her and others also centre around the way the engagement has taken place and are asking for more constructive communication so that the community feel heard.

“Fellow residents have told me that this is a major change in this town, but they’re not letting everybody know about it,” she said.

“They feel like the government don’t care about environment and people – they only care about business and profit.”

The address of the property itself is not listed on the National Trust website but was listed in this way on older built form documents from 2016 on the Knox Council website as follows:

“The Basin paddocks are registered with the National Trust, a non-statutory body with an interest in preserving local and state cultural heritage. These views of the Dandenongs and basin paddocks (Salvation Army land) contribute significantly to a unique, semi-rural village,” read the 2016 document.

National Trust was contacted for comment.

Mr Farrager said there has been a lot of conjecture, speculation and concern about the future of this site and the drain on the Salvation Army in resources to upkeep it.

“The TSA needs to have a full and frank discussion with the community about its future and allay concerns about what might happen to the site,” he said.

In the long term, Mr Johnston said Salvation Army have no plans to extend the solar farm beyond the site they have selected but intends to apply to the distributed network service provider to install a battery.

“The solar farm and all our on-roof solar will be more than enough to power Salvo’s sites in Victoria for as far into the future as we can realistically forecast,” he said.

The battery is planned to provide power to TSA sites when the sun isn’t shining and increase the stability of power for the local region.

“The battery will be able to be accessed by the network operator when required, such as during times of high demand and in emergencies or where there are power outages that stop power from being supplied to that region.”

A spokesperson from Knox Council said the most recent planning strategy that considered The Basin paddocks area was the Knox Green Areas and Rural Strategy, which sets a vision that the precinct will be protected as an ecologically significant area with a distinct natural and rural landscape character, providing a scenic gateway to the Dandenong Ranges.

“Furthermore, the strategy prioritises the conservation and enhancement of the precinct’s biodiversity, waterways and landscape values, while supporting compatible land use such as sustainable agriculture, rural living, recreation and community uses that complement and enhance these values,” they said.

Knox Council have their draft amendment to the Knox planning scheme – c202 knox proposal on their agenda for the last council meeting of the year on Monday 16 December and it looks set to go over their submission to the engagement process.

“Community consultation has not been undertaken on council’s submission given the accessibility of the government’s consultation, the technical nature of the draft amendment and the timing of the consultation process,” read the agenda.

“The amendment is not expected to create significant social, economic or environmental risk to the community.”

Residents can get informed by reading the plans at the Engage website and make a submission by 24 December at the following web address: https://engage.vic.gov.au/draft-amendment-to-the-knox-planning-scheme-c202knox

Richard

A view at the order of the property from Mountain Highway at the Basin-Olinda Rd roundabout. (Stewart Chambers: 449529_02)

Tanya Steele

Some residents are concerned about how they have been consulted and longer term impacts. (Stewart Chambers: 449529_01)

Celebrating Kallista’s 100

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Kallista is getting ready to celebrate its 100th birthday on Saturday 29 March 2025, the town will mark 100 years since it officially changed its name from South Sassafras to Kallista.

Thanks to a generous $10,000 grants from Community Bank Monbulk and District and Yarra Ranges Council, the celebration is promising to be a memorable event that highlights the town’s history, culture, and strong sense of community.

The centenary event will include a mix of historical reenactments and a lively community festival.

A committee member for the celebration, Julie Athanasiou said the day will feature a reenactment of the original naming ceremony from 1925.

The reenactment will include actors dressed in costumes from the time, portraying historical figures such as the famous poet C.J. Dennis - visitors will also have the chance to interact with these characters, helping to bring Kallista’s history to life.

“We’re really excited to bring history back to life,” Ms Athanasiou, said.

“The original event in 1925 was important for the community, and now, 100 years later, we want people to be a part of the celebration and feel connected to that moment.”

The event will kick off with the cutting of the ribbon at the original site, followed by a parade through the streets of Kallista, led by the police brass band.

There will be plenty of entertainment for all ages, including live music, a youth stage, and a writer’s panel at the Kallista Mechanics Hall, which has been a centre for the town’s creative community for many years.

Kallista has long been a home to artists and writers who are drawn to the village’s natural beauty and to celebrate this, the centenary event will include a writer’s panel featuring local authors and storytellers.

There will also be a community bush dance and a jazz performance in the evening, adding to the excitement of the day.

One of the highlights of the celebration will be the stunning light show in the evening.

Ms Athanasiou said that buildings throughout the town will be illuminated with photographs from Kallista’s past and present - the trees and heritage-listed buildings will also be lit up, creating a beautiful atmosphere for the evening events.

Ms Athanasiou, who has lived in Kallista for more than 14 years, said the centenary is about more than just celebrating the past.

“The natural environment and the creative community are what make Kallista so unique,” she said.

“People live here because of the beautiful forest, the fresh air, and the sense of being close to nature. There’s also a strong sense of community among artists and writers, which has made Kallista such a creative place over the years.”

The name Kallista, which means “most beautiful” in Greek, was chosen because of the area’s stunning natural surroundings.

The village was renamed to avoid confusion with nearby South Sassafras, and it quickly became a distinct and celebrated community.

The $10,000 grant from Yarra Ranges Council will cover the event’s logistics, including shuttle buses, venue hire, and advertising.

This support is essential for making the event run smoothly and accessible to all. The $10,000 grant from Community Bank Monbulk and District will go toward entertainment costs, including the youth stage, live music, and other performances to keep the energy high throughout the day.

“We’re so grateful for the generous support from Yarra Ranges Council and Community Bank Monbulk and District,” she said.

“Their funding has made it possible to create an event that will be fun for the whole community and show what makes Kallista so special.”

Ms Athanasiou, who has been involved in planning the event from the start, said she is most excited about bringing the community together.

“We want to provide something fun for families and everyone who loves Kallista,” she said.

“This is a chance to celebrate who we are, where we come from, and to be proud of the special place we call home.”

As the village prepares for its centenary celebration, the local committee is eager to see the whole community come together for this special occasion. With lots of activities planned for all ages, Kallista’s 100th birthday will be a lively and inclusive event that highlights the town’s creativity and love for nature.

Further details about the event, including ways to get involved, will be shared in the coming months. For now, Kallista residents are encouraged to save the date for March 29 2025 - the day the town celebrates 100 years of history, culture, and community.

Plant at dire risk from more frequent and severe bushfires

By Callum Ludwig

New research published in the Australian Journal of Botany has identified a common plant of the Yarra Ranges that could be wiped from the landscape by more frequent and severe bushfires.

The Hairpin Banksia (Banksia cunninghamii), an upright shrub with rounded orange-yellow and black bottlebrush flowers, has been found to be at risk of extinction in parts of Victoria should it be subjected to bushfires impacting a region within a 12-year span.

Arthur Rylah Institute scientist Annette Muir said populations of Hairpin Banksia in Victoria are declining as climate change drives more frequent, severe and widespread fires.

“ARI has conducted research on the species in East Gippsland following the 2019-2020 wildfires,” she said.

“Results showed the Hairpin Banksia species faced significant challenges to regenerate if fires occur at intervals of less than 12 years apart or if fire severity is high - hindering plants from developing seeds or destroying the seeds.”

The banksia do have a natural regeneration process in the wake of fire, their woody fruits open up when heated by fire and release seeds, but these seeds need around 12 years to mature and produce their own fruit and seeds. Researchers looked at 25 sites burned during Black Summer and only found Hairpin Banksia at sites where the plants were 12 years or older at the time of the fires.

Ms Muir said this research will add to the body of knowledge that supports FFMVic’s approach to planned burning.

once were, as a positive example of active intervention.

Ms Muir said protecting plants like the hairpin banksia is about caring for more than just the species itself.

“They provide nectar for animals like sugar gliders and honeyeaters, and they flower in autumn so they provide that nectar when there’s not many other things flowering, which I think just points to the fact that keeping diversity in our forests is important,” she said.

“As individuals, fire managers and land managers, we can only have so much influence, as climate change is driving more fire. There are a few years ahead of us (in East Gippsland) before the banksia plants are mature, so another bushfire would cause a severe impact.”

According to Yarra Ranges Council’s Local Plant Directory, the Hairpin Banskia is ‘locally common within its preferred growing conditions’, preferring to grow in moist well-drained clay soils in open forests with full-sun or semi-shade exposure. They are also tolerant to frost.

Ms Muir said the banksia needs enough time between fires to produce seed but it does vary from site to site and some sites will produce seed earlier than that.

“When you do a survey, you look at many sites and individual sites can vary, and some times ar-

“Specialist staff in both fire ecology and threatened species assess each potential burn site for biodiversity values, impacts on ecosystems and develop plans on how to best protect, maintain and enhance their resilience - informing forest fire management activities across the state,” she said.

eas in the upper Yarra Valley may produce a little sooner than East Gippsland,”

“The important thing is to have a patchwork of different-aged banksias, so then not everything is at risk at once,”

“The East Gippsland fires were unfortunately spread across the whole region and in the Upper Yarra and east of Melbourne, there’s more of a patchwork of different ages which is helpful in maintaining the banksia here,”

Ms Muir also highlighted the positive work of the Montrose Environmental Group in the Yarra Ranges, who have been growing and restoring some Hairpin Banksia plants in areas where they

In the research paper, it is suggested that regenerating populations need to be protected from fire during their 12-year interval after a fire, conducting planned burns at appropriate intervals to optimise the levels of regeneration, testing the effects of five severity on the seed cones, a concerted effort to conserve the genetic diversity of the species and considering the possibility of seed banking and restoration planting.

To practically achieve this, the authors of the paper suggest incorporating the hairpin banksia into planned burning operations and taking steps such as locating and mapping the remaining populations, monitoring the maturity of the plants, conducting planned burns when most plants in a population have seed cones and when the weather is not hot and dry to promote germination and survival, increasing the ‘patchiness’ of burns so not all plants in a population are burned at once and ongoing monitoring.

To find out more or read the whole paper, visit: publish.csiro.au/BT/BT24048.

KA-034 South Sassafras changes its name to Kallista - table talk 09/04/1925. (Monbulk Historical Society)

More frequent bushfires are creating an increased risk of extinction for the Hairpin Banskia. (File)

A prickly challenge

By Tanya Steele

The summer months bring special moments to those living in the Yarra Ranges as the shortbeaked echidna goes about its day and can often be spotted clambering through backyards and trying to cross roads.

Citizen science can come into play with these special moments and a group of echidna researchers in South Australia have been collecting images, recordings, scat and more from people all over Australia.

Star Mail journalist Tanya Steele is an unabashed monotreme enthusiast and spoke with Professor Frank Grützner from the Echidna Conversation Science initiative (Echidna CSI) and Healesville Sanctuary Mammal Keeper Craig McQueen about the importance behind these incidental sightings.

Echidnas are very hard to find in the wild when you are deliberately looking for them and from his research office in South Australia, Professor Grützner said this makes it really hard to do any research on them.

“If you actually want to find one, you know, you’d be wandering around. It’s really hard to predict,” he said.

Professor Grützner is part of a team of researchers dedicated to echidna research in South Australia and the team of researchers have developed an app to connect with the general community to learn more about the unique creatures, which launched in August of 2017.

“Generally, echidnas can be found anywhere in Australia. And I think that’s really remarkable to reflect on,” he said.

“If you think about the diversity of habitats across Australia, echidnas have been able to adapt to all these different environments and are able to successfully make a living all across Australia.”

So far thousands of Australians have sent the team photos of echidnas through their Echidna CSI app, even collecting echidna poo for the University of Adelaide researchers to use for molecular analysis.

“We want to understand more about echidnas so they can be protected,” Professor Grützner said.

Healesville Sanctuary mammal keeper Craig McQueen said by late October and early November, the weather conditions are often perfect for echidnas (not too hot, not too cold), which is why you will likely start seeing them become more active.

“Once the weather starts warming up and food becomes a little easier to find, you will likely see (or perhaps hear) echidnas rustling around searching for ants and termites,” he said.

Professor Grützner said the best-studied population of echidnas is at his doorstep on Kangaroo Island.

“My colleague and collaborator, Doctor Peggy Rees Miller studied the echidnas for over 30 years on Kangaroo Island,” he said.

“She says it can take up to 200 hours to find one.”

The Kangaroo Island population of echidnas has been classed as endangered, while the rest of Australia class the short-beaked echidna population as stable with a status of ‘least concern.’

The localised research has shown how the rate of echidnas being killed by feral cats and cars is more than the numbers being born and so echidnas across Australia are likely under more threat than is currently recognised.

“For the rest of Australia, we still lack a lot of that information and we need to gather more,” Professor Grützner said.

The Kangaroo Island bushfires in the summer months of 2019 and 2020 meant the local echidna population dealt with a huge challenge to their environment.

“An echidna was spotted walking through the devastated area at that time and we then began looking at changes in their scat pre and post-bushfire,” Professor Grützner said.

Specialising in genetics Professor Grützner said the Echidna CSI project has delivered thousands of sightings and over 800 scat samples so far.

“It’s a huge resource that has been built over seven years,” he said.

The researchers have also studied the differences in gut bacteria between echidnas living in the wild versus in captivity as well as regional differences.

“We found a very high diversity of gut bacteria but also a dramatic difference between

echidnas that are captive and those that are wild,” Professor Grützner said.

“Prior to this, there was no genetic analysis of echidna scat and their gut bacteria.”

Professor Grützner said the scat itself is not disgusting as it isn’t smelly, and looks sort of a cylindrical and is around the the thickness of a finger.

“It’s probably a bit thicker than you’d expect and it’s basically compacted soil,” he said.

“Generally because of their sticky tongues, echidnas absorb enormous amounts of soil, which is interesting to think about – of course, they have insects and invertebrates sticking on there as well.”

The all-important echidna scat can sometimes give a glittery effect due to the presence of the bugs, securing their place as a fun fact animal if there ever was one.

Their back feet face backwards, they have no teeth and their tongues are roughly 18cm long.

Echidnas blow snot bubbles to keep cool and they are great swimmers and use their beaks as a snorkel.

“It can be very difficult to tell male echidnas from females,” keeper Mr McQueen said.

“Males grow slightly larger than females, but they otherwise look pretty much identical.”

“They can vary in size but can grow upwards of seven kilograms – which is a very big echidna.”

The echidnas at Healesville Sanctuary are always on the go and Mr McQueen said they provide them with plenty of enrichment oppor-

Upgrades slated for the New Year

By Tanya Steele

Upcoming infrastructure works on Station Street in Ferntree Gully are expected to start in early 2025 and have been welcomed by the local village township group who are eager for more details.

The road renewal program will see several repairs and replacements, along with drainage upgrades and surfacing along Station Street.

The Ferntree Gully village township group members have been in discussion with local traders and Knox Council about the proposed works and the final details about the project’s scope and potential impacts on local businesses and parking have yet to be announced.

President of the Village Township group for Ferntree Gully Seamus Smith said the group welcomes the investment into the area and looks forward to getting more details on the project in the new year.

“We believe that the council will work with the shop owners and traders to reduce the impacts for their businesses and the access or car parking and for pedestrian access, for their shops - so that they’re not too heavily impacted by the works that council is proposing to do,” he said.

The works are anticipated to take around ten weeks depending on the weather.

Knox Mayor, Cr Lisa Cooper said they are improving the road condition in Station Street, Ferntree Gully, to make it safer for our residents, traders and visitors.

tunities to use all their natural behaviours.

“During the cooler months, echidnas go into an inactive state called torpor,” he said.

“This helps them to conserve energy in low temperatures, and they can go for days or even weeks at a time without needing to feed.”

Australia is also nearing the time of year when puggles (baby echidnas) from this year’s breeding season start emerging from their burrows.

“Like much of our native wildlife echidnas have been affected by human developmentincluding roads in their natural habitat,” Mr McQueen said.

As they are moving from place to place, echidnas will inevitably need to cross roads and unfortunately, they don’t have the best road sense.

“They rarely look to be in a hurry to avoid cars,“ Mr McQueen said.

“It is extra important to slow down if you see an echidna crossing the road, as they may need extra time to cross safely compared to many other animals.

“Avoid trying to physically move them on, as they are more likely to bunker down if they feel threatened.”

Professor Grützner said if people keep an eye out for echidnas and get recordings of them, Australia-wide it will help researchers to record the distribution and patterns of movements of the echidnas.

“People can take a photo and then it has a GPS location on it,” he said.

“The works will cost $790,000 and we have received $650,000 from the Australian government’s roads to recovery program,” she said.

“Council’s budget includes $10.8 million for resurfacing and reconstructing local roads and renewing our drainage,” she said.

Initial advice was sent to surrounding residents and traders in mid-November and Knox Council is expected to provide further communication as the start date approaches.

Mr Smith said that the council has been sending out notices of pending works to residents and traders that are slated to start in early 2025.

“It is for some re-surfacing and new curb and channel and some drainage works around the Wyuna street down to Alpine street,” he said.

The project will include the replacement of concrete kerbs, channels, and vehicle crossings (driveway entries), as well as concrete infills where necessary.

Road pavement patching and full asphalt resurfacing, stormwater drainage upgrades and other associated minor works are planned along Station Street.

Mr Smith said future projects around the village could include some of the parking allocations in Alpine Street and a structure on Forest Road that was built as a temporary measure for outdoor dining after the pandemic.

“It’s in a bit of a state of disrepair with weed stuff growing out through the gutters and broken plastic,” he said.

Mr Smith said it was assured to the group that the council will do what it can to reduce impacts on the businesses and the people for the upgrades planned.

The echidnas at Healesville Sanctuary are always on the go and Keeper McQueen said they provide them with plenty of enrichment opportunities to use all their natural behaviours. (Zoos Victoria)

Knox Mayor, Cr Lisa Cooper said they are improving the road condition in Station Street, Ferntree Gully, to make it safer for residents, traders and visitors. (File: 163680_01)

Help to guide the way

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

As Christmas approaches, Ferntree Gully resident and passionate advocate for Guide Dogs Victoria, Veronica Levey is urging the community to support this year’s Christmas Appeal - offering the gift of independence, confidence, and hope.

While the season of joy and togetherness is a time for celebration, it also brings unique challenges for many Australians living with vision loss - Ms Levey knows these challenges firsthand, having faced her own incredible obstacles in life.

The 29-year-old was born three months premature - weighing no more than 560grams, the size of your average margarine container.

This holiday season, Guide Dogs Victoria is asking the community to help make a meaningful difference in the lives of people like Ms Levey, providing the essential support that enables individuals to live more independent and fulfilling lives.

Ms Levey’s early life was marked by health complications. The oxygen used to save her life caused retinal detachment, and she was later affected by glaucoma, leading to complete blindness - despite corrective surgeries, her vision could not be restored.

However, she has embraced her blindness and now proudly states, “I am blind, and I don’t mind.”

She sees her journey as one of strength and resilience, and she is an active advocate for better representation of people with low vision in mainstream media.

Ms Levey actively participates in a variety of social activities, regularly attending events organised by the Young Adults Program (YAP) at Guide Dogs Victoria. She is also an engaged member of a women’s social group called The Diva’s.

In addition, Ms Levey has worked on building her independent living skills, including staying at the Guide Dogs Kew Facility as part of an Occupational Therapy program.

Traveling independently as a person with blindness requires significant skill, she receives support from a sighted guide and uses a white cane, both of which are integral to her mobility.

Guide Dogs Victoria also provides specialised Orientation and Mobility training to both Ms Levey and her support workers to help enhance her independence.

In her daily life, Ms Levey relies on support workers and taxis for mobility - this support is essential for her to fulfil her volunteer role at a special school for students with disabilities.

During an interview with Guide Dogs Victoria, Ms Levey shared her perspective on the importance of inclusivity and accessibility, especially during times like this.

She said people with vision impairments deserve to “feel” Christmas, even if they can’t see it.

“I can’t see the decorations or the lights, but at least I should be able to feel it,” Ms Levey said.

“The holiday season should be about sensory experiences that everyone can enjoy, regardless of ability.”

She also highlighted the broader issue of representation in the media, calling for more visibility of people with disabilities in reality TV and advertising.

“We don’t have enough mainstream programs that showcase our lives as they are, beyond the idea that we need to be ‘fixed,’” she said.

“It’s important for society to see that people who are blind or have low vision can live fulfilling, active lives.”

One of Ms Levey’s key points was the need for better accessibility in media and public spaces.

“We need audio descriptions in all media, whether it’s TV shows, movies, or ads. Without audio descriptions, people like me are left out of the conversation,” she said.

She also advocated for more inclusive spaces, particularly during festive events, where sensory experiences like the smell of food or the sounds of Christmas music should be accessible to all.

Chief executive officer of Guide Dogs Victoria Nicky Long said the need for assistance is on the rise, noting that by 2030, one in every 29 Australians is expected to be living with blindness or low vision.

“As we approach the end of 2024, we are reminded of the growing number of Australians facing vision loss,” Ms Long said.

“The cost to breed, raise, and train a Guide Dog is rising, but so is the impact your donations can make.”

The charity’s Christmas Appeal aims to raise vital funds to provide life-changing services to those living with low vision or blindness.

These services are crucial, helping individuals regain independence and navigate their environments, particularly during a time when festive gatherings and outdoor activities are at the forefront of many people’s minds.

Guide Dogs Victoria is calling on Australians to help make a tangible difference this holiday season. Donations to the Christmas Appeal will directly fund the breeding, training, and ongoing support of Guide Dogs, enabling more individuals to experience the freedom and empowerment that people like Veronica, and others have found.

“Our mission is to ensure that every Australian living with vision loss has the opportunity to lead an independent and fulfilling life,” Ms Long said.

“With your support, we can make this possible, especially at a time of year when the joy of family and community is so important.”

Ms Levey said supporting Guide Dogs Victoria this Christmas is not just about offering help to the organisation, but also raising awareness of the broader challenges faced by those living with vision impairments.

“We need more awareness campaigns, and for people to understand the challenges we face, especially when it comes to accessibility in both media and public spaces,” she said.

For more information on how to donate or to learn more about the work Guide Dogs Victoria is doing, visit donation.guidedogs.com.au

Tree of Souls brings together people who have lost a child

By Tanya Steele

This Christmas the Tree of Souls continues to bring together parents of bereaved children, offering an annual tribute, solace and community for their children who have passed away.

A vigil was held at the Tree of Souls on Saturday 14 of November from at the Tecoma Uniting Church, bringing together those who have experienced the pain of losing a child.

Christmas brings a surge of emotions with it, often highlighting love between families with moments that can be treasured forever.

The vigil will offer saw a crowd gather as a community, for people to support each other and to remember and honour their children and Upwey local and co-founder of the tree project Rineke Leigh said around 50 people attended this year.

“Feedback has been one of heartfelt gratitude for the tree,” she said.

“Parents feel their kids are being honouredpeople made new connections and new friends.”

At the vigil strangers were hugging and crying with each other as well as being able to freely talk about their children, their grief and the sense of isolation they felt before coming together with others who Ms Leigh said ‘just get it’.

“It’s a beautiful thing to be able to give something to bereaved parents. The project has expanded across Australia this year and organisers are inviting others to host their own tree,” she said.

“It creates a conversation and connection.”

The Tree of Souls project involves parents giving an image of their child which is then turned into a bauble and placed on the tree, an act of remembrance and solace.

Not everyone can be with the people they love at this time of year and Ms Leigh said the project has grown from being held in her own garden in 2022 to a much larger endeavour at the tree at Tecoma Uniting Church gardens in Tecoma.

“The church, the church community and the community gardens have been so supportive,” said Ms Leigh.

Ms Leigh lost her eldest son Chris to a skateboarding accident in Monbulk when he was 24 in

2021.

“The second Christmas after he passed, I wasn’t looking forward to Christmas and was wanting, and needed to give him something for Christmas – that was part of my grief,” she said.

“It’s very cathartic for me and it is my way of giving Chris a gift,” she said.

Ms Leigh said a major part of the project enables parents, family and friends to gather, hold vigil and remember a child who they have lost.

“One of our biggest things is people forget and we want to be able to remember our children,” she said.

The project has taken off there is a Tree of Souls in Perth for the first time, which held their own vigil on Sunday 15 November.

Ms Leigh said she attended a grief conference in the US earlier this year and met a person named Merle from Bassendean in Perth.

“She stepped up and started a tree in Perth,” said Ms Leigh.

Ms Leigh said Tree of Souls has expanded from a social media presence to a dedicated website and also has a board on display in the garden and a dedicated list of resources for people who happen to walk by the tree.

“We have been kindly donated a frame board and now also have one with a QR code that people can scan and it’ll take them directly to the resource page,” she said.

“If people do feel challenged or triggered they can use that, it can be a bit overwhelming to just walk around and see all these images and then recognise that none of them are earthside anymore.”

This year the Melbourne Tree helf over 350 baubles on it and the Perth one around 70.

Ms Leigh said some goals for 2025 include developing relationships with hospitals, paediatric palliative care, and organisations offering grief support so they can make Tree Of Souls available to the parents they work with.

“There is also a goal to do some fundraising to help with ongoing cost so the baubles can remain free to parents and to have trees available in more states next year,” she said.

Veronica Levey petting a koala at a zoo. (Supplied)

The Saturday night vigil around the tree allows parents to remember their children at this time of year and be with others who understand. (Pop Pics Photography)

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.

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.

HOW THE YARRA VALLEY CAN BETTER PREVENT FRUIT FLY...

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”

MANAGE

BLACKBERRIES & OTHER QFF HOST WEEDS

Queensland Fruit Fly can lay their eggs in blackberry fruits! Not as many larvae grow inside a blackberry compared to a peach, but there are millions of wild blackberries in the Yarra Valley each Summer. Most QFF detections have been linked with weedy blackberries with fruit in January February and March. Now is the time to control the plant and prevent fruiting. Slashing them (pictured) is a great start to reduce the plant bulk. More targeted controls can then be directed later at the new growth. Controlling blackberries also a good way to reduce bush fire risk. Other fruiting weeds that need control feral cherry plums and feral apple trees.

PRUNE your fruit trees

Keep fruit trees small and easy to manage. Smaller trees are easier to protect with netting and they’re much easier to pick! Smaller fruit trees mean better control over fruit quantity and quality.

PICK your fruit

Harvested fruit can be examined, stored safely and used. If the fruit is suspiciously looking like fruit fly damage has occurred, once it is picked, it can be easily treated with boiling or freezing. Fruit left on the tree or fallen fruit is much harder to treat, and there is an increased chance that QFF larvae can survive to live another day.

Pick all fruit before it falls and take it inside.

Process your fruit as soon as possible. Sort it into “use now” and “use soon” according to ripeness. Select the damaged fruit for cooking and start as soon as possible! Remember to also treat the fruit scraps, just in case there are hidden fruit fly eggs or larvae.

PROTECT your fruit trees

Netting helps to protect fruit from the female QFF laying her eggs in it. If she can’t reach it, she can’t infest it. Netting is chemical free, reusable and is the best option or home gardens where neighbouring QFF can reinfest your garden easily. Use 2mm x 2mm insect mesh netting, and put nets on after pollination, before the fruit sizes. Make sure the netting does not touch the fruit.

Plan your garden in readiness for netting and picking. A well planned garden will grow only the fruit that you can use, and it will have space around the production areas for netting and easy access.

Check out our revamped website at www.fruitflyfreeyv.com.au

Coranderrk history ongoing

By Dongyun Kwon

“The history of Coranderrk did not end in 1924.

“The stories of Coranderrk continue today through descendants and also by Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation (WEAC) caring for the Country at Coranderrk.

“The history of Coranderrk is powerful in speaking to the realities and injustices of the past and has an important role in truth-telling both locally and nationally.”

This is what a descendant of the Coranderrk residents Brooke Wandin said when Star Mail interviewed her about Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation’s art exhibition ‘yalingbuth yalingbu yirramboi yesterday today tomorrow’ in September.

2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the closure of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Station.

Coranderrk was central to the history of Victorian First Nations communities as it was one of the six aboriginal reserves that were established in Victoria to save First Nations people from extinction.

The establishment of Coranderrk affected other Aboriginal communities in Victoria and five more reserves were set up across the state.

After getting through a hard period, Coranderrk Aboriginal Station was officially closed down in 1924.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the closure of the Aboriginal Station, Star Mail decided to delve into the history of Coranderrk.

Star Mail interviewed three Coranderrk residents’ descendants, David Wandin and Brooke Wandin who are the great-grandchildren of Robert Wandin, one of the leaders of the Coranderrk community as well as Healesville grown man Andrew Peters, who is an associate professor of Indigenous Studies at Swinburne University.

Assoc Prof Peters said he is a descendant of the Yarra Yarra, Yorta Yorta and Ngurai illum Wurrung peoples.

“Yarra Yarra is a name that is used to refer to some former Coranderrk residents and their descendants, who are not traditional owners, but are recognised as having strong links to Coranderrk and surrounding areas,” he said.

“My great-grandmother, Lizzie Davis, was one of the last residents of Coranderrk.

“As it is to all descendants, Coranderrk is a place of great pride and connection to me. I feel blessed to have grown up in Healesville and with this connection to Coranderrk, and love sharing this with my sons now.”

Before the emergence of Coranderrk

After 30 years of the first wave of British settlers arriving in Victoria, the white population grew rapidly and it reached about a half million in the 1860s.

Over the same period, the population of the First Nations reduced dramatically from 60,000 people to just 2000 due to several factors including diseases which the newcomers brought into the land and the conflicts between the new settlers and the Aboriginal people.

Before the arrival of the newcomers, Victoria was a patchwork of 36 clans, each with their own language and territory, and was the most populated region in Australia.

The Kulin Nation consists of five language groups who are the traditional owners and lived in what is known as the Port Phillip region; Boonwurrung (Boon-wur-rung), Dja Dja Wurrung (JarJar-Wur-rung), Taungurung (Tung-ger-rung), Wathaurung (Wath-er-rung) and Woiwurrung (Woy-wur-rung), commonly known as Wurundjeri.

Woiwurrung clans leader Billibellary appealed to assistant protector William Thomas for a grant of land, proposing that his people could make a place for themselves in the new colonial order by living sedentary lifestyles and farming the land.

Although it didn’t go successfully, the relationship the clans leader built with the assistant protector would take a big role in establishing the Coranderrk Aboriginal Station later when Billibellary’s son Simon Wonga approached William Thomas to request land for his clans in 1859.

The new ngurungaeta (leader) of the Woiwurrung clans, Wonga, explained Aboriginal people were enthusiastic about being successful and actively accepted the culture of the white community.

Thomas was persuaded by Wonga’s argument and helped Wonga and his clans obtain land.

The Victorian Government convened the Aboriginal Protection Board to address the plight of

First Nations people.

In the same year, Wonga and the Taungerong people established the Acheron station in the north of the Cathedral Range.

However, in the following year, after they put an effort to plant and grow vegetables and wheat, they were ordered to relocate by the government, to the Mohican station located south of Acheron, where it was cold, inhospitable and unfit for farming.

They explained it to Thomas and he pleaded for the government’s help but it wasn’t accepted and they were forced to leave Acheron.

Establishment of Coranderrk

While the Woiwurrung clans were struggling to get a safe place, Scottish Presbyterian lay preacher John Green and his wife Mary Green became good friends of the First Nations people.

The two Greens arrived in Victoria in 1857 and started to preach for First Nations adults along with opening up a school for their children in Yering.

In 1861, taking a job with the newly formed Central Board Appointed to Watch Over the Interests of the Aborigines in the position of General Inspector, John Green attempted to establish another station like Acheron where both the Woiwurrung and Taungerong clans might settle.

In March 1862, the Woiwurrung clans and the Green family walked from Yering to Acheron but they couldn’t settle there because of the local squatters’ disturbance.

In the next year, Green applied to the Central Board for permission to return to Woiwurrung Country in order to establish a new reserve on the Yarra.

They created a new path, now known as Black Spur, while walking back to the Yarra Ranges.

In March 1863, they finally arrived at the site they had chosen in an area at the confluence of the Yarra River and the Badger Creek.

They set up camp and named the site Coranderrk which is the Woiwurrung name of Christmas Bush (Prostanthera lasianthos), the native plant of the area.

Assoc Prof Peters said the reserve was part of the protection era in Australia, where the primary aim seemed to be allowing colonial expansion.

“Reserves and missions were established to get Aboriginal out of the way of that (colonial expansion), and to not impede it,” he said.

“On face value, their establishment was quite a negative thing – our people were displaced, and culture effectively outlawed.”

Although they settled in the new place, Green and Coranderrk residents were aware an official

confirmation of the land’s reservation needed to be published in the government’s gazette.

In May, Wonga and his younger cousin William Barak noticed Governor Sir Henry Barkly would hold a public reception in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday.

Wonga with a deputation of 15 Woiwurrung, Taungerong and Boonwurrung people walked to Melbourne and gave handcrafted rugs and blankets for the Queen and traditional weapons for Prince Albert.

Being touched by the surprising presents, in the following month, a notice appeared in the Victorian Government Gazette announcing the Governor had ‘temporarily reserved’ 2300 acres, thereby formally establishing Coranderrk as an Aboriginal reserve (extended to 4850 acres in 1866).

Copies of a letter from the Queen’s secretary were sent to the Kulin later that year, conveying the Queen’s thanks for Wonga’s address and her promise of protection.

This led the Kulin to understand that their request for land had been granted by the highest authority, the Queen herself, via her regent, Governor Barkly.

This event not only acted as proof of the Kulin Nation’s entitlement to the land but also demonstrated the effectiveness of deputations’ handwritten appeals.

Ms Wandin said Wonga had great communication skills not just with immediate family but also with neighbouring Aboriginal tribes as a leader.

“He would have been relying on all of the old ways that he was taught as a child growing up,” she said.

“The Aboriginal way is about being respectful to each other including all elements of country.”

Mr Wandin said First Nations leaders including Wonga, Barak and Billibellary had already been trade ministers and foreign policy ministers between mobs.

“All the government systems we’ve got in today, First Nations people already had that system in the past,’ he said.

“There was always negotiation going on between mobs regarding planning, gathering, conferences, several disputes and arranged marriages.

“Collective groups of elders were our ministers.”

Impacts of Coranderrk across Victoria Coranderrk residents wanted to prove to the white community they could live like the white people did.

Through the management of superintendent John Green and First Nations leader Simon Wonga, Coranderrk was becoming a productive and profitable village in its early years, with selfsufficiency.

“What’s interesting and inspirational about the Coranderrk is lots of different Aboriginal families were all working together,” Ms Wandin said. Green’s management supported the Kulin peoples’ autonomy in developing the station and was respectful of Indigenous traditions.

Residents’ literacy increased and a better diet led to improved health.

Coranderrk became a popular tourist destination and the sale of baskets, bags, boomerangs and skin rugs, made by women and elderly men, contributed significantly to the station’s income.

Inspired by the success of the Coranderrk, other clans and missionaries requested land from the Aboriginal Protection Board and five other reserves across Victoria were built by 1865; in the west, Framlingham, Lake Condah, in the north, Ebeneezer and Cummeragunja and in the South, Lake Tyrers and Ramahyuck.

Assoc Prof Peters said in his view, while the intentions of missionaries may have been honourable at the time, which is debatable, he doesn’t think they had a positive influence overall.

“There are some Aboriginal people who embraced Christianity from the outset, and this may in part be due to their existing belief systems –spirituality plays a vital role here,” he said.

“However, in broader terms, the imposition of Christianity meant that Aboriginal spirituality was downgraded to almost ‘child-like’ which was in line with the broader British/European thinking of Aboriginal Australians as sub-human.”

In Ramanhyuck run by a German missionary reverend Friedrich August Hagenauer, all forms of Aboriginal religious ceremony were banned.

Ms Wandin said Green was one of the kinder missionaries who was in a tough situation to keep both the government and the Coranderrk community happy.

“What’s interesting is that even though Aboriginal people learnt how to read and write and learnt about Christian prayer, this site (Coranderrk) was still able to maintain culture,” Ms Wandin said.

“For example, a lot of the people continued to make traditional objects and gift them to people but they also sold them to create income for themselves.

“Whilst there’s not a lot of language that’s been recorded, some language has been recorded, so we know that traditional practices were surviving.”

The historical moment of trekking to search for a permanent home by Wurundjeri ancestors in 1863 was commemorated by their descendants in 2015. (Greg Carrick)

(left) and Jacqui Wandin on behalf of Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation received the Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award for 2018, recognising Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation’s work on restoring Coranderrk as a working farm, a habitat for native fauna and a place to bring Wurundjeri people together on country. (File: 186604)

Beginning of crisis

Even though the Aboriginal Protection Board supported Wonga’s initiative in establishing Coranderrk, the Board insisted on controlling their activities.

In 1872, the board invested in a new venture of Coranderrk to create a lucrative industry of harvesting hops to make beer.

The residents built kilns and filled their fields with hops plantations.

The board promised Green and the Coranderrk residents that the profits would fund a new hospital.

During Green’s tenure, the station was becoming more and more stable with the success of its hops plantation.

As the hops crops were going successfully and the board found the value of it, the board wanted to take control of Coranderrk.

The board employed a white overseer who took control from Wonga and Green and brought in white labour and then paid wages only to the white workers.

In the mid-1870s, along with the pressure from the local squatters who wanted the land of Coranderrk and insisted on the closure of it and the Board’s greed for taking more control, the board started to think about Green’s managing position.

In 1874, two major changes occurred in Coranderrk.

John Green resigned as superintendent and Simon Wonga died of tuberculosis and his cousin William Barak became the next ngurungaeta as he didn’t have any sons.

Ms Wandin said Barak’s leadership was similar to that of Wonga’s as they were born at a similar time.

“They were both born around the 1820s when there would have been very few European people in Australia,” she said.

“When they were little boys, all they saw was the Aboriginal world.

“They learnt the old traditional ways and they carried that with them as they got older.”

Even after his resignation, Green still lived near the Coranderrk and tried to help the Coranderrk community.

The new superintendent was a lot more strict and harsh on the residents, who followed the advice of the Board and focused on punishing the residents and directing their everyday lives.

Food and clothing supplies were cut, houses became run-down and the residents could not access proper medical treatment.

The board sold the entire hops plantation and the government kept the profit, not investing the

medical facilities for the Coranderrk residents.

Peaceful campaign

In response to these worsening conditions, the Coranderrk community decided to protest peacefully with the memory of the success of Wonga managing to persuade the Queen.

On 7 July 1875, William Barak, Thomas Bamfield, Robert Wandin and others led a delegation of Coranderrk residents on the 67-kilometre walk from Coranderrk to Melbourne seeking Green’s reinstatement.

It was the beginning of the two-year campaign of petitions, strikes, deputations and lobbying with politicians and the press.

Barak and Bamfield also worked with concerned European settlers to make the public aware of their demands, including Anne Bon who wrote an impassioned letter to the premier of Victoria.

Despite the campaign, the board’s decision to shut down Coranderrk became more certain.

However, the government could no longer just ignore the campaign as it became so effective and even found allies from the white community.

In 1881, Chief Secretary Graham Berry appointed a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the Board’s management of Coranderrk and to decide upon its future.

The inquiry lasted for two and a half months, from late September to early December 1881.

Taungerong clan head Thomas Bamfield, who was also the chief aide of Barak, became heavily involved in disputes against the Board.

He was the first Aboriginal witness to speak at the 1881 Parliamentary Coranderrk Inquiry.

Bamfield focused on explaining the station’s ability to be self-supporting and the expectation of proper maintenance and protection in return for the loss of their ancestral lands and cultural autonomy.

The nine commissioners, including eight prominent men and the redoubtable wealthy widow Anne Bon, held 10 hearings, three of which were held at Coranderrk.

They examined 69 witnesses, both Aboriginal and European and asked 5349 questions.

The inquiry had significant influence as its findings had the potential to trigger a reform of colonial policies, not just towards the management of Coranderrk but all of Victoria’s Aboriginal population.

Six months after the inquiry, Bamfield was sentenced to be imprisoned for 30 days with hard labour.

However, Anne Bon helped him by writing

a letter to the chief secretary with a petition including the signs of seven prominent parliament members, which embarrassed the board as well as the three senior magistrates who had sentenced Bamfield’s imprisonment.

Bamfield was released after three days of imprisonment.

Half-Caste Act

In 1886, the Aboriginal Protection Board came up with a final solution to sell off Coranderrk and other reserve lands.

German missionary reverend Friedrich August Hagenauer, the missionary for the Ramanhyuck Aboriginal Mission, was employed by the board.

He drafted a new law, the Half-Caste Act, which stated any of the First Nations people who had any white ancestry and were under the age of 34 were considered not Aboriginal and were therefore exiled from any mission or reserve.

Both Premier Berry and Anne Bon agreed that this policy was progressive.

Assoc Prof Peters said ‘progressive’ is one word that colonialists use to justify expansion and cultural damage, and is tied closely to the goals of capitalism, money before culture.

“I can’t assume to know what Anne Bon was thinking, or what changed her thinking,” he said.

“To me, her actions indicated that the political system – Woiwod’s ‘Black Hats’ – had too much power to fight.

“The Half-Caste Acts to me is one of the greatest examples of colonial power exerted on Aboriginal peoples, and however, I look at it I cannot see any positives of it for our people.”

The result was the ultimate destruction of Coranderrk as well as many other Aboriginal communities including Framlingham, Lake Condah and Lake Tyers.

Barak and his people had no one to turn to, and they were forcibly moved to Lake Tyers.

After the issuing of the Half-Caste Act, the number of Coranderrk population kept decreasing, and the Coranderrk Aboriginal Station was eventually shut down in 1924.

Shut down and the next stages

After leaving Coranderrk, John Green established his own hop garden on the banks of the Graceburn in Healesville.

He was also a Justice of the Peace sitting regularly in the Healesville Magistrates Court.

John Green led the deputation to the public works minister to present a petition for the formation of a Healesville Shire and when it was granted, he became an inaugural member of the Healesville Shire Council in 1887.

Green Street in Healesville was named after

John Green.

Assoc Prof Peters said John Green had a remarkable record at Coranderrk, and was held in very high esteem by the Aboriginal people at the time and their descendants.

“Mum (Aunty Dorothy ‘Dot’ Peters AM) always used to talk to me about the respect he had for and received from the residents of Coranderrk,” he said.

“My guess is that history may have been very different if he was allowed to stay in charge.”

In the 1990s, Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation purchased the property of the part of Coranderrk and handed it over to WEAC, which was set up to manage the property run by the Wandin family, the descendants of Robert Wandin who was one of the leaders of the Coranderrk residents as well as the nephew of Willam Barak. WEAC has managed the Coranderrk since then.

Brooke Wandin and David Wandin are both directors of the WEAC.

“It’s a big responsibility to care for this property, not only for my family but also for many different other Aboriginal families whose ancestors lived here,” Ms Wandin said.

Coranderrk ancestors’ legacy: peaceful reconciliation

Ms Wandin said WEAC aims to keep the legacy of the ancestors of the Coranderrk in the reconciliation movement.

“For example, when we’re thinking about planning for the future here at Coranderrk, we always think about what our ancestors have done in the past, and we try to be guided by those same values,” she said.

“The Coranderrk residents were pretty clever, they wrote letters and walked into Melbourne, went straight to the government to talk to them, which was highly unusual for the time.

“So we try to follow in their footsteps as best as we can.”

David Wandin said it’s important to adjust the modern methods with traditional methods to get a better outcome in managing the land.

“I challenge everybody to try and think about it because the chemical company says this will do the job but that’s not the way we manage country,” he said.

“We didn’t have chemicals, our main farming tool was fire but the right fire.

“Our other farm tools were the animals but because of lots of things that happen today, it’s very hard to get it back to its natural state. We don’t have the small digging animals, most of them are very rare or extinct.”

Brooke

William Barak’s artwork Corroboree (Women in possum skin cloaks). (Sotheby’s New York)

William Barak’s cemetery located at the end of Barak Lane, Healesville. (Dongyun Kwon: 450115)

A little piece of Christmas

By Tanya Steele

A sweet little piece of Christmas born from a cross-continental collaboration screened at this year’s Knox Christmas Carols on Saturday 14 December.

Accordion player James Hampton wrote the sweet piece of music with author and lyricist Conor Bowman from Ireland.

“I met Conor on a songwriting forum during the 2020 lockdowns. Conor is an author and lyricist and was looking for someone who could write music for his lyrics,” Mr Hampton said.

Barrister by day and lyricist by night, Mr Bowman has been writing songs since he was a teenager and said Mr Hampton he is the most incredible composer he’s ever worked with.

“James and I have never met, although we’ve spoken by Zoom a few times and I phone him occasionally. So, the relationship is long-distance and yet we share a common interest in music and

creativity,” he said.

Over the course of the year, the duo wrote about 50 songs together and by Christmas time, the song A piece of Christmas Tree was born.

“In December 2020, Conor sent me the lyrics for Piece of Christmas Tree,” Mr Hampton said.

“The lyrics struck me as meaningful, they are about two people who are apart at Christmas time and planning to reunite the following year – they seemed especially fitting because of the lockdowns.”

Mr Bowman said he lyrics were inspired by visiting a Christmas tree farm in County Meath where he lives.

“The idea struck me that instead of sending a card you could send a piece of the tree in the mail and see what happens,” he said.

The song itself came about quite quickly and Mr Hampton said he wrote the whole thing in

about 15 minutes.

“It doesn’t always happen that easily for me,” he said.

The artist recorded the song the following year and began looking into options for a music video.

“I really wanted to pay for an animation company to make something, but it was out of my budget,” said Mr Hampton.

He then decided to make a very basic animation himself.

“It was fun learning about animation, and I put a lot of time and effort into it.”

“It gave me a new appreciation for graphic design and animation. I’m amazed at what people can do.”

The animation is fun and colourful and features an all-star Christmas movie cast with nods to Macaulay Culkin, Will Ferrell, Keira Knightley and Andrew Lincoln in the clip.

Mr Bowman said when James made the video

he was absolutely floored at his dedication and ingenuity and skill and patience to do it all himself. I couldn’t draw a straight line to save my life,.

“I’m useless with technology -I don’t have a cellphone,” he said.

“The magic he worked to make that video absolutely amazed me. I think the video makes the song even better than it is, if that’s possible.”

The song screened at this year’s Knox carols alongside a bevy of free entertainment with community choirs, dance schools, the Royal Australian Navy band and more performing.

The talented duo continue to work together and Mr Bowman said they have now hit around 70 songs.

“My hope is that someday we’ll both bring our families on holidays to somewhere halfway between Ireland and Australia and spend a couple of weeks writing songs at a grand piano and drinking cheap wine,” he said.

Generous gifting gives joy and hope this Christmas

By Mikayla van Loon

Another year, another Rotary Club of Lilydale Wishing Tree project has come to an end with an overwhelming amount of generosity and kindness from community and businesses.

Hundreds of presents gathered through the promotion and encouragement of businesses across the Yarra Ranges and beyond has again ensured smiles will grace the faces of young people who might have otherwise gone without this Christmas.

Despite demand increasing, project organiser Gerry Van Horick said the Rotary Club continues to be “blown away by the support” and giving only seems to increase alongside the need.

This year people were extra charitable, with presents exceeding expectations.

Not only did gifts for all ages come in in droves, so too did vouchers for those in their teenage years.

A major supporter of this was Lilydale Library which hosted its annual book sale, donating the money to the Wishing Tree.

“Everyone is just so generous and we’re happy to help because Rotary does such wonderful things for the community,” branch manager Robin Barden said.

Selling the books for a dollar an item, Robin said they were able to sell over 300 books this year.

While the bulk of the gifts went to Anchor Community Care and the Proactive Policing Unit, Gerry and Anne Van Horick have made deliveries to Anglicare and the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service.

“They were a bit overwhelmed, and they said this will make such a difference, because the people are struggling to eat and to pay rent, and can’t even think about Christmas,” Gerry said.

“They specifically asked that we say a big thank you to all the people who supported the Wishing Tree.”

Leading Senior Constable Luke Egginton said over the next week he would be delivering the gifts to Uniting in Ringwood, the Lilydale Motor Inn, some caravan parks, Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service and individual families the unit might come across.

Anchor’s youth and homelessness services executive manager Leanne Nicholson said the whole team was so grateful for the ongoing support and kindness of Rotary and the community.

“Anchorisincrediblygratefulfortheamazing support from the local community in providing donations and to the Lilydale Rotary Club, in particular Anne and Gerry for their generous time and energy, ensuring all members of our community have a Merry Christmas,” she said.

“The ongoing support and donations make a significant impact to the young people, families and people experiencing homelessness that are connected with Anchor.

“Christmas is an important part of our year and the ability to celebrate it and enjoy the day is important for everyone and without this support this wouldn’t happen. It is fantastic we can create this opportunity together.”

An extra special donation from Heritage and Heritage Funerals this year has already brought smiles and joy to the adults involved in this project.

A large white fluffy toy dog named Peggy was the cherished companion of a lady who lived with dementia. When she passed, the family asked that Peggy be given to the right home.

Through the Wishing Tree, Peggy now sits in pride of place at Anchor, with the aim of providing comfort to children and adults who enter the space.

Anchor’s staff receiving the gifts and vouchers donated by the community. (Mikayla van Loon: 450101)

Rotary members Judith Shiel, Des Shiel, Gerry Van Horick, Anne Van Horick and Anchor’s Leanne Nicholson. (Mikayla van Loon: 450101)

Lilydale Library branch manager Robin Barden, Anchor’s Leanne Nicholson and Lilydale Rotary president Des Shiel passing on the vouchers provided from the library and community. Anne Van Horick, Anchor’s Lauren Gordon and Gerry Van Horick.

Rotary Club treasurer Judith Shiel, president Des Shiel and Proactive Policing Unit Leading Senior Constable Luke Egginton doing a hand over the gift cards. (Stewart Chambers: 449518)

Rotary Club of Lilydale members handed over the gifts to Victoria Police on Thursday 12 December. (Stewart Chambers: 449518)

Crafting gifts for charity

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Knox and District Woodworkers Club held a special meeting to celebrate another successful year of giving back to the community last Wednesday night, 4 December.

The event, which took place at the club’s headquarters in Ferntree Gully, marked the culmination of months of hard work by the club’s dedicated members, who crafted 550 handmade toys and gifts to be distributed to a range of local charities this Christmas.

A long-time member of the Knox and District Woodworkers Club, Harry Deschepper said the club’s toy-making group meets twice a week throughout the year, with around 30 active members dedicating their time and skills to creating wooden toys that will bring joy to children in need.

“It gives us a real sense of satisfaction knowing that what we do is so appreciated,” Mr Deschepper said.

“The charity representatives tell us how much joy these toys bring to families and kids, and that’s

what makes it all worthwhile.”

The club’s toy-making efforts, which have been a fixture of the group for years, are made possible thanks to the support of the Ferntree Gully branch of the Bendigo Bank, which provides a financial grant to purchase timber for the program - the toys are then distributed to local charities that provide vital support to vulnerable families and individuals, particularly during the festive season.

Representatives from a number of charities were present at the meeting, where they shared their appreciation for the club’s contributions.

Among the groups benefiting from this year’s donation were the St Vincent de Paul Society, Foothills Community Care, Soupee of Upwey, Impact for Women, Knox Infolink, Find a Penny Foundation, Hills Church Op Shop, Champion Foodbank and Community Hub, and the FTG Angliss Hospital.

While many members of the club are retired, Mr Deschepper emphasised the social aspect of the group, which provides an important outlet for people to stay connected and engaged in their community.

Merry festive season to all!

Well this brings us to the end of another full year - one with everything from environmental challenges, community initiatives and unfortunately, some tragic news too.

But each story we tell, we hope enriches the community and leads to a better informed Yarra Ranges.

None of this would be possible, however, without the ongoing support for our six newspapers, from the readers who pick up a paper copy every week, to the subscribers, advertisers and contributors - local news wouldn’t be able to exist as it does in our communities without you.

As another year draws to a close, the team at Star Mail wish everyone a very happy and safe

holiday season with family and friends.

We will be taking a break over the Christmas period and so this will be the last edition of 2024 until our return in early January.

The office will also be closed from Thursday 19 December until Thursday 2 January.

We look forward to bringing you the heartwarming community stories and hard hitting news from Tuesday 7 January with the return of our print editions. Take care of each other, stay safe if travelling over the New Year period and best wishes for 2025.

The team can’t wait to hear from you when we come back!

- Mikayla van Loon, News Editor

“It’s a great outlet for most of us who no longer have workplaces to go to,” he said.

“We get together not only to do woodworking but to socialise. It’s just as much about the people as it is about the work.”

Over the years, the club has expanded its efforts beyond just toy making, offering a range of activities designed to engage both the young and old.

One of the highlights of the year is the “Kids Corner” project, where the club provides toy kits for children to assemble at local festivals and schools, giving kids the opportunity to create something with their own hands.

“It’s great seeing the kids get involved,” he said.

“It’s a fun way for them to learn about woodworking and feel proud of what they’ve made.”

Despite the challenges of running a large club, including the ongoing need to recruit and engage new members, Mr Deschepper said the community spirit within the group remains strong.

“We always welcome new members, whether they’re experienced woodworkers or just inter-

ested in learning,” he said.

“It’s all about sharing skills and having fun.”

The club has over 160 members, with about 70 to 80 members actively involved in projects throughout the year.

While it is predominantly a woodworking group, but both men and women are encouraged to join.

“We’re open to anyone who wants to get involved,” he said.

As for the future, Mr Deschepper said he’s optimistic about the club’s ongoing role in supporting the community.

“We’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and the need for our help seems to grow every year,” Mr Deschepper said.

“It’s rewarding knowing that our work is making a difference, and we look forward to continuing our efforts for many more years to come.”

For those interested in learning more about the Knox and District Woodworkers Club or becoming a member, more information can be found on their website at www.knoxwoodies.org. au

Where to see Christmas lights in the Outer East

By Callum Ludwig

One of the most magical parts of the festive season is the wonderful array of homes lit up and decorated as the days count down to Christmas.

For those out hunting for homes with lights on display this year, here are some confirmed locations throughout the Outer East where you won’t be disappointed.

Out in the Valley, you can definitely find light displays on Celia Court and Forest Street in Yarra Glen, while in previous years there have also been lights on Ellis Road, Amalia Close and King Street that may have returned. Healesville has lights on Mount Riddell Road, and may also be lights on Roma Avenue and Don Road (near Roma Avenue) in Badger Creek. Mercer Court, Coldstream is the place to go in Coldstream with lights on at three homes.

In the Upper Yarra, there are definitely lights to see at Patricia Street, Millgrove and Eileen Grove, Woori Yallock and there may be more on Patrick Street in Millgrove, Tarhilla Drive in Launching Place and Glenwright Avenue in Woori Yallock.

Over in the Dandenongs, you can find lights on Falls Road in Mount Dandenong, Wicks Road in The Basin, Forest Park Road and Glenfern Road in Upwey, Moxhams Road in Monbulk and Bayview Road in Emerald. There may also be lights at Amphlett Avenue in Cockatoo, Fernglade Drive in Emerald and Harrison Street and Verbena Avenue in The Basin.

Venturing into the foothills and out towards the suburbs and you start to become even more spoilt for choice:

Ferntree Gully alone has lights on Hope Court, multiple houses on Blucher Street, Salina Rise, Paringa Drive, multiple on Blackwood Court Road, Cutler Close, Rona Street, Chestnut Avenue, Hutton Avenue, Pearl Place, Kelvin Drive,

Clyde Street, Richborough Grove and multiple on Cinerea Avenue.

In Boronia, the places to be are Gertonia Avenue, Rathmullen Road, Medway Crescent, Denby Court, Army Road, Rawdon Court, Beresford Drive and Torresdale Drive.

Watermoor Avenue in Kilsyth South also isn’t far away with four houses alone on that road.

Timms Avenue, Garden Street and Church Street in Kilsyth could be your next stops as well as Ravenswood Avenue in Montrose.

In Mooroolbark, you can visit all of Woodrow Lane, Saint James Park Rise, Shakespeare Avenue, Collings Court, Chevalier Crescent, Heyson Court, Boyd Close and two homes on Bellara Drive while the four Croydons (Croydon, Croydon North, Croydon South and Croydon Hills) can boast displays on Sabato Street, Nuraylia Avenue, Vernon Street, Saint Georges Avenue, two on Lemnos Street, Long View Road, two on Homer Avenue, Maroondah Highway Service Road, Mulgrave Way, Dargo Close, Merrill Crescent, Bemboka Road and Lakeside Avenue.

In Chirnside Park, you can visit Regency Rise, Old Melbourne Road, Kimberley Drive, Veronica Avenue, Vista Drive, Parkvalley Drive, Kingswood Drive and Rolling Hills Road.

In Lilydale, you can go to Morokai Grove, Nelson Road, Lakeview Drive, David Road and Beaulieu Avenue.

For those willing to venture a little further out you can also find multiple displays in Wonga Park, Bayswater and Bayswater North, Wantirna and Wantirna South, Knoxfield and Lysterfield.

To find out more places you can go to see Christmas lights in Victoria, visit christmaslightsearch.com.au/victoria/search.

To stay up to date with local lights displays, you can also request to join the ‘Yarra Valley Christmas Lights’ group on Facebook.

Members of the Knox and District Woodworkers Club proudly displayed the handmade toys they crafted for local charities last Christmas. (Supplied)

Local charity representatives selected toys for children, with 550 items donated this festive season. (Supplied)

The club’s active toy-making group meet twice a week to create handcrafted gifts, bringing joy to families in need. (Supplied)

Star Mail’s team Tanya Steele, Andrew Kwon, Kerrie Hollis, Stewart Chambers, Callum Ludwig, Gabriella Vukman, Shamsiya Hussainpoor, Tracey Aitken and Mikayla van Loon.

Workshop brings cheer

From those draped in snow to create a winter wonderland to those using colour to bring festive cheer, the Yarra Ranges Council Christmas Window Competition was tightly contested in 2024.

But winners had to be crowned for each of the four regions based on the community’s votes and the final tally was released on Friday 13 December.

For the Hills, Geppetto’s Workshop in Sassafras received an incredible 598 likes for its window display.

This year, it was “loaded…with a beautiful scene of winter snow, fur tree, rabbits and a dream doll house” adding to the ambience found in the store.

“Elmo’s there too trying to pinch a present from Santa’s sack,” a description of the display read.

“We’ve got Christmas tunes playing, and we’re bursting with new toys, new brands and new ideas from all over the world.”

From voters, they were amazed by the window, naming it early as “the pick to win”.

“Magical. I feel the Christmas spirit from this one,” a commenter wrote.

“This Christmas window is truly magical! It’s so cosy and enchanting, creating a beautiful winter wonderland,” another person said.

“A special window into a Christmas world. So pretty and imaginative, it draws you in to explore the enchanting possibilities inside,” someone else commented.

In the Valley, Novel Nook in Yarra Glen was named the winner, receiving 34 likes from the community.

Inspired by an Icelandic tradition, the book shop owner Naomi Gibson created Yarra Glen’s very own pre-loved book Christmas tree.

“If the idea of settling in for the night with a good book and a drink – a hot chocolate if it’s cold, a glass of something chilled if it’s hot –sounds like heaven, then Iceland’s Christmas Eve Jólabókaflóðið (roughly, ‘flood of books’) tra-

dition is for you,” she wrote for the competition submission.

“We believe everyone should experience the joy of books this Christmas season and create their own special traditions! We have created a fun

Local support group goes international

A global circle of support is forming for men impacted by prostate cancer thanks to a new initiative by the Ringwood Prostate Cancer Support Group.

The Ringwood PCSG has created a formal affiliation with the Burton-on-Trent Prostate Cancer Support Group in the United Kingdom.

Ringwood Prostate Cancer Support Group leader Andrew Blackwell said the new partnership has been a fantastic way to share fresh ideas on raising prostate cancer awareness and support.

“It’s just been fantastic to be able to communicate with another support group from another part of the world,” Andrew said.

Andrew, whose dad and three uncles are prostate cancer survivors, said he wanted to gain knowledge from other sources at a support group level.

“Burton-on-Trent, the borough of East Staffordshire, and their county, Staffordshire, support the group much more than our local councils and state governments do so we’ve still got some work to do here locally,” he said.

Andrew said the entire town of Burton-onTrent supported the group in March for Prostate

Ringwood Prostate Cancer Support group leader Andrew Blackwell encourages other groups to make connections not just locally but internationally as well. (Mikayla van Loon: 429919)

Cancer Awareness Month (in the UK) by providing funds to advertise the group’s presence at local festivals and community events.

The borough and county also helped provide stalls and a support team for the awareness month.

“Many local sporting groups help by spread-

ing the prostate cancer message, and professional football teams like Burton-on-Albion also support them with awareness and fundraising,” Andrew said.

“There is a massive connection with cricket. The Staffordshire County Cricket Club supports the Burton-on-Trent PCSG by raising awareness and fundraising activities.

“So we now have some great new ideas. I have also been able to share some ideas with them, including our Light Up the Night in Blue when we lit up our local council in blue. He thought it was a brilliant idea and will try to do it for their next awareness month.”

Andrew encourages all Prostate Cancer Support Groups to reach out to other groups around the world and share ideas on how to grow their groups and awareness.

“If anything, it helps us learn and grow as a group. It’s always good to form new relationships with other like-minded people around the world,” Andrew added.

Andrew encourages anyone to contact him at ablackwell2@bigpond.com to discuss forming an international partnership to fight prostate cancer.

Ultimate experience of play and colour

Much-loved Melbourne artist, Beci Orpin, has brought her interactive and tactile creative approach to Yarra Ranges Regional Museum with dream room. This new exhibition celebrates the absurdity, joy and wonder of children’s rooms and the wildness of their imaginations, making it the perfect school holiday’s day out.

Kids’ rooms are filled with stuff that ultimately signifies their growing interests, identity and learnings from the world around them. This interactive exhibition pays homage to the chaotic and messy nature of (most) kids’ rooms.

Orpin invites kids of all ages, as well as adults with a child-like sensibility to play, learn and explore dream room. Speaking with Broadsheet about wanting art to be widely accessible, Orpin said “Galleries are commonly like ‘Don’t touch, don’t speak, don’t interact’. Whereas I want these spaces to be the opposite of that. ‘Like, yes, you can touch. Yes, you can make a small amount of noise’. It’s about experiencing things, but also hopefully educating at the same time.”

dream room extends on Yarra Ranges Region-

al Museum’s relationship with Orpin, established through the development of an exciting new early years Creative Learning Program which has just

display with a tree made entirely out of pre-loved books to create a bit of magic this Christmas!”

It was Yarra Valley Deli and Cafe in Wandin North who captured the votes for the Upper Yarra, gaining 41 likes for its rustic and natural themed window.

Commenters said the window tied in with the entire shop’s atmosphere and was a warm, inviting display for passersby.

“Looks gorgeous…The whole shop looks amazing, not just the window. A must visit and enjoy a coffee or purchase some local crafts for Christmas presents while you are there,” one person said.

“Simplicity and class, a delight to bestow. Well done for such an elegant display of Christmas joy,” someone else said.

“Absolutely magical, makes me smile everyday when I pass.”

And from the Urban region, Shapers Hair and Beauty in Mooroolbark was crowned the winner for owner Leeanne Thomson’s bright, fun and festive window.

“Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I love to create a Christmas window each year,” she said.

“I try to create a Christmas window that makes everyone smile and forget about the negative things in the world and smile about the positive and happy things we have and love.”

Donning giant candy canes, Mr and Mrs Claus, upside down elves and coloured lights, this display was glorious at all hours of the day.

In total, the Christmas Window Competition saw 1580 likes and 63 comments come through, sharing some thoughts on these festive creations.

The competition is a nod to all the incredible businesses in the Yarra Ranges who provide unique gifts and services perfect for shopping locally.

Learn and discover

Yarra Ranges Regional Museum is thrilled to have launched Learn and Discover – a new, creative offering for primary schools, early learning, kids and families, and other curious-minded people.

The offering includes two new programs, ‘I-Connect Museum Education’ and the ‘Creative Learning Program’, with teachers invited to attend professional development events in October in Lilydale and Warburton to experience and learn more about the new programs.

“We are delighted to offer engaging digital and in-person learning experiences for young people across Yarra Ranges and beyond,” Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child said. “Teachers and families, our heritage community and Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee have all expressed a strong desire to educate young people about our shared histories.”

officially launched. Available online, the program shares four distinct and significant stories of the Yarra Ranges region and invites primary school aged children, families and the community to partake in writing, drawing and making activities led by Orpin and other Victorian based creatives.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child, encouraged families to get along to see and enjoy the exhibition.

“We are thrilled to make Beci Orpin’s art available to families of Yarra Ranges and Melbourne’s Eastern region. Ensuring our communities have access to the highest quality creative and cultural experiences is part of what makes Yarra Ranges a great place to live. We look forward to the Museum being full of play, creativity and inspiring the dreams of the next generation,” he said.

Oprin’s career has spanned 25 years, seeing the multidisciplinary artist, designer and illustrator become known as the ‘Queen of colour and play’. dream room will be on show at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum until 2 February. Entry to the exhibition is free.

The I-Connect Program is funded through the Victorian State Government’s Strategic Partnerships Program, enabling the Museum to offer primary schools lowcost and even subsidised visits and support with bus costs, where schools are eligible.

To further support teachers and students across our large geographic region, the Creative Learning Program has been designed to provide online, creative learning opportunities that are available 24/7 and can be facilitated easily by a teacher or parent, at school or at home.

Earlier this year the Museum piloted one of these programs, ‘Caring for Coranderrk with Brooke Wandin’ in partnership with Council’s Early Years Team. We were blown away by the feedback, with kindergarten and primary school teachers, librarians and even parents giving glowing feedback and eagerly anticipating the official release of the program. Further details about each of the programs can be found at yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/TheArts-and-Our-Creative Community/Cultural-venues/Yarra-Ranges-Regional-Museum/Learn-Discover

Hills winner Geppetto’s Workshop employee Simone Peterson. (Supplied)

Artist Beci Orpin has brought her exhibition dream room to Yarra Ranges Regional Museum. (Supplied)

Hills truly are alive

By Kevin Jones

When I saw the beautiful picture spread by Yarra Valley resident Tracey Frazer in last week’s Ranges Trader Mail, I thought: “So it is not just me, then?“

Like Ms Frazer, I am frequently inspired by my incredible Dandenongs surroundings while walking my mad boxer dog (Is there another kind?), Ernie.

My challenge each time has been to take a photograph worth keeping - using only my mobile phone - frequently while walking in Kallista.

I am a journalist but no trained cameraman. I have no great technical skills but I suppose I have a decent eye for crops and angles from decades in production journalism.

I also have a sufficiently steady hand while taking pictures on our walks. This is of the utmost importance if you want to take a good picture on a phone.

I also quickly realised that zooming in on a phone is one quick way of ruining a good shot because you increase your chances of camerashake immensely.

If you see a scene and can imagine the crop you fancy in advance, just steady yourself and fire. The clever bit comes in how you crop it.

I take no part in the tech wars between Apple and Samsung. My phone is a simple Samsung S24, with no bells or whistles.

I hope you enjoy my snaps.... and Ernie’s goofy face!

The sun starts to dip over John’s Hill, casting a warm light across the landscape. (Kevin Jones)

The sun slides below the clouds, bathing John’s Hill in golden light.

A horse has a late-afternoon nibble with a hillside all to himself.

Ernie, looking like he always does!

The view through the William Road trees towards Monbulk and Silvan Dam.

One of the coves of Cardinia Reservoir is seen through the gums from John’s Hill. Colour contrasts along Ti-Tree Creek.

The sun starts to turn John’s Hill trees into delightful silhoettes.

Climbing high in memory

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Montrose Primary School community has come together to honour the memory of Isabella “Bella” Chalmers, a spirited and beloved student who tragically passed away on 22 September 2024, following a courageous 65-day battle with illness.

To celebrate her spirit and legacy, the school has unveiled a special tribute in the form of a new set of monkey bars — a fitting memorial that reflects Bella’s passion for adventure and play.

Bella’s battle with illness ended after a brave fight, leaving her family and the school community heartbroken.

In the wake of her passing, the school decided to create a lasting tribute that would not only honour Bella’s memory but also highlight the joy and determination she brought to Montrose Primary during her three and a half-years there.

Kylie Fisher, the school’s principal, shared the sentiment behind the decision.

“Bella was our monkey bar queen,” Ms Fisher said.

“She spent countless hours perfecting her skills, and her hands bore the blisters of dedication. The monkey bars are a perfect reflection of her spirit — her sense of adventure, her resilience, and her love for life.”

The creation of the memorial was a collaborative effort between the school and Bella’s family.

Principal Fisher said the school worked closely with Bella’s parents, Jaclyn and Daniel, as well as her sister Madi, to ensure the tribute captured Bella’s essence.

“We approached the family about the idea and sought their input on everything, from the design of the playground to the colours and the memorial plaque,” Ms Fisher said.

Madi, Bella’s older sister, played an important role in bringing the project to life.

“Madi came up with the beautiful idea for everyone to wear bright rainbow colours on the day of the official opening,” the principal said.

The family chose Bella’s favourite colours — pink and purple — for the monkey bars, which were designed to reflect her love of adventure and creativity.

The opening ceremony was held with an outpouring of support from the school community, including Bella’s Grade 3 classmates, Madi’s Grade 6 friends, school staff, and many families.

It was a deeply emotional event, with Bella’s extended family, including her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin, in attendance.

Bella was known for her infectious personality and her ability to bring joy to everyone she met.

Ms Fisher described her as a “fun-loving and friendly student with a big heart.”

Bella’s resilience and determination were evident in everything she did, and these qualities made her a standout at school.

“She would often say things like, ‘so cute… just like me,’” Ms Fisher said, remembering Bella’s sense of humour and her love for life.

The monkey bars are not just a physical structure but a symbol of Bella’s zest for life and her adventurous spirit.

The school’s aim was to create a space that would inspire future generations of students to

embrace their own passions and challenges.

The funding for the playground was made possible through school funds, with local company Activity Playgrounds in Wandin East responsible for constructing the play area.

In a generous gesture, the company also donated a beautiful butterfly seat to complement the monkey bars, adding an extra touch of beauty and symbolism to the memorial.

Ms Fisher expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to the project.

“It has been a true community effort, Bella’s legacy will live on through this playground, and it will be a place where her spirit can continue to inspire us all,” she said.

The school also plans to hold a formal ceremony to officially dedicate the playground in the coming weeks, marking an important milestone in remembering Bella’s life and the joy she brought to Montrose Primary.

The new monkey bars stand as a poignant tribute to Bella’s adventurous spirit, and to the many lives she touched during her time at the school.

For the Montrose Primary community, the memory of Bella will forever live on, not just in their hearts, but through the playground that so beautifully reflects her personality and passions.

Supporting kids’ mental health amid challenging times

Proper nutrition plays a critical role in brain function, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. In fact, certain nutrients have been shown to help manage stress and anxiety by supporting the body’s natural response to stress.

For example:

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fatty fish like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds, omega-3s are essential for brain health. Studies have shown they can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, helping to stabilize mood.

2. B Vitamins: B vitamins, particularly B6, B12, and folate, are crucial for regulating mood and energy levels. Deficiencies in these vitamins can lead to increased irritability and

Healthy living

Tim Howden Paediatric Naturopath – Healesville

feelings of anxiety. Sources = include leafy greens, whole grains, and fortified cereals.

3. Magnesium: Known for its calming effects, magnesium helps regulate the body’s stress

response and can improve sleep. Foods rich in magnesium include nuts, seeds, legumes, and leafy greens.

4. Vitamin D: Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to mood disorders, including anxiety. Sunshine is the best source, but foods like fortified milk, eggs, and fatty fish can help maintain adequate levels.

5. Probiotics: The gut-brain connection is powerful, and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can have a significant impact on mental health. Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables can support emotional regulation and reduce anxiety.

6. Complex Carbohydrates: Unlike sugary snacks that cause blood sugar spikes and

crashes, complex carbs found in whole grains, vegetables, and legumes release energy slowly, helping to stabilize mood and prevent irritability.

In addition to these nutrients, it’s important to encourage a balanced, whole-foods-based diet, limit processed foods, and create an eating routine that promotes regular meals and snacks. By addressing these dietary factors, we can help children build resilience against the stressors they face and improve their mental health over time.

Have you noticed any specific areas where you think nutrition might be helping, or would you like more detailed suggestions for meals or meal plans?

Isabella Chalmer’s family.

Principal Kylie Fisher and Grade 3 students viewing the plaque.

L-R: Alyssa, Madi, Ruby, Zoe, Erin, Eloise, Julian.

Isabella’s immediate family (L-R): Daniel (dad), Madi (sister) and Jaclyn Chalmers (mum). (Supplied)

Summer fruit is the focus

By Maria Millers

Sitting on my kitchen table is a bowl of peaches and nectarines bought a few days before: round plush peaches with their velvety skin and the sleek and the smooth burnished nectarines, perfect and unblemished. Beautiful to look at like some Still Life painting, but stone hard and nowhere near ready to eat.

Time and time again the perfect looking fruit we buy unblemished and uniformly shaped and sized as if off a precision production line fails to deliver the juicy, fragrant qualities of stone fruit.

Nor is there a guarantee that the fruit as it ripens will not become a mealy, inedible mush.

So what has happened to peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and mangoes?

Where is the flavour and aroma we used to associate with these fruits?

Over the last several decades the focus has been on colour, size, and presentation, and indeed the fruit appears so perfectly uniform and so visually attractive, sitting in my fruit bowl as I wait for it to ripen.

Some readers may remember weekend car trips into the countryside and stopping at orchards with roadside stalls selling fruit; and the pleasure of sinking your teeth into a freshly picked fragrant peach, nectarine, cherry or apricot. Today many young people have never had the taste experience of a sun ripened fruit grown locally but settle for a perfect looking fruit yet one short on sweetness and flavour.

Because stone fruit can be deeply symbolic, representing the celebration of nature, summer, pleasure, but also impermanence, it’s often the subject for artists through the ages from Still Life paintings to poetry.

American poet Dorianne Laux’s Peach, is a sensual poem that captures the tactile beauty and fleeting nature of the fruit. Here’s an excerpt: I bite into the peach, its juice running down my chin like a child’s face licked clean by a mother’s hand. The fruit is warm and thick with sun, a softness I carry in my mouth.

WOORILLA

WORDS

Sadly the poem does not reflect the experience of many today.

Stone fruits have always been part of our Christmas celebrations.

The trend has long been of moving away from the heavy traditional Xmas dinner of turkey and pudding to one more suited to our climate and season.

Seafood is now often replacing the turkey and instead of rich dried fruit based puddings we are turning to lighter desserts such as pavlovas, fruit salads and fresh fruit trifles. Integral to these is of course fresh fruit.

A bowl of cherries can be a great way to contribute to a Christmas meal or as a gift.

The cherry season is only 100 days long and DH Lawrence’s poem reminds us of the sensual beauty of cherries, and the fleeting nature of the fruit.

The poem invites readers to embrace the beauty and sensuality of the present, knowing that, like the cherries, the perfect moments of life are brief but precious.

Excerpt from Cherries I like the way cherries look

In the darkness, small, round,

Suspended in a gold bowl

Like drops of red blood,

Like tiny jewels of love

The scent of ripe mangoes, with their tropical sweetness has been a hallmark of the Australian summer.

In Mangoes David Campbell captures the lush, tropical allure of the fruit.

Excerpt from Mangoes

The mangoes glow in the twilight sun, Their sweetness fills the air, And the soft flesh drips down my chin.

Perhaps we should all take responsibility for the way the flavour of fruit has been degraded as we tend to choose fruit on appearance above all else.

Many fruits today are bred for qualities other than flavour and sweetness such as shelf life, and resistance to disease.

So some varieties of fruits may look perfect but lack the robust flavours that older, traditional varieties offered.

Fruits are picked before they are fully ripe to extend their shelf life and make them easier to transport in refrigerated vehicles which slows the ripening process and affects their taste and some are even treated with chemicals to stop premature

ripening.

Walk into the highly temperature controlled environments of any supermarket and you will no longer be greeted with the heady aromas of summer fruits.

In the past, most fruit was grown and sold locally, meaning it could ripen naturally and reach consumers at its peak flavour.

The orchards that used to fringe Melbourne are mostly long gone and with the rise of global food systems, many fruits are grown far from where they are consumed and may not reach their full flavour potential before they arrive at the market.

Despite our obsession with the appearance of fruit yet in Still Life paintings fruit often appears less than perfect.

In Caravaggio’s Basket of Fruit(1599), one of the earliest examples of Still Life, ripening fruit is shown with all its blemishes: ‘worm eaten, insect predated and generally less than perfect’ that could among other things symbolize the fleeting nature of life.

Many other artists from Cezanne to our own Margaret Olley have followed in a similar vein.

Sourcing fruit that is ripened naturally and grown with flavour and nutrition in mind can be difficultformostpeoplewhorelyonsupermarkets.

Perhaps we should start voicing our concerns and preferences for the qualities we look for in the fruit we want to eat.

I’m still hopeful that the fruit in my bowl will ripen to their natural sweetness but I’m not sure. William Carlos Williams I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast

Forgive me they were delicious so sweet

With Christmas fast approaching, it is time to reflect on the progress we made in 2024 while planning new projects and fresh goals for 2025.

Looking back: Top 5 books reviewed in 2024 PASSION FOR PROSE

At the start of this year, I set out to increase the number of arts, cultural and literary events featured in the ‘Passion for Prose’ column, focusing on topics about literature and literacy that are relevant to communities across Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges.

Consequently, only 19 book reviews were published in my column this year.

The top 5 books featured here are selected from this list.

(As I continue to read for pleasure, the remainder of my 40 plus book reviews this year were published elsewhere, mainly online. But the print media is and will always be my favourite.)

Below are my top 5 books reviewed in 2024. These titles have mesmerised me with their ingenuity, complexity and imaginativeness.

1. Babel by American author R.F. Kuang: A fantasy novel on language, friendship and revolution, tackling issues of translation between words and worlds, with passion and compassion.

2. Runt by Australian author Craig Silvey: A magical, delightful book. The cleverly written story is all about being true to yourself and respecting other people’s rights to walk their own paths.

3. What I Would Do to You by Australian author Georgia Harper: An intense, confronting novel delving into “things that may never happen, and sometimes should never happen”.

4. A Hunger of Thorns by Australian author Lili Wilkinson: A vivid, wild and captivating

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

fantasy tale about missing girls who don’t need handsome princes to rescue them.

5. The Silence Factory by British author Bridget Collins: A fascinating story exploring the nature and significance of silence, exquisitely written and highly intriguing. And, finally, there are three honourable mentions.

These titles have surprised me with their breadth, depth and innovativeness.

• The Ledge by Australian author Christian White

• The Desert Knows Her Name by Australian author Lia Hills

• Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise by Taiwanese author Lin Yi-Han

So, here is a heartfelt thank you to all our readers who have been supporting the ‘Passion for Prose’ column since February 2021. Would y’all please also give a round of applause to The Star Mail’s hardworking editors, page layers and designers!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I shall return in January 2025 with more reviews and recommendations of interesting books and literary events across Australia and over-

Boots but specifically for our female firefighters

Thousands of firefighters will soon be sporting new boots as CFA goes to market to find the perfect fit for our females.

In an Australian fire service first, CFA is currently sourcing a new supplier to make fire-rated safety boots designed specifically for the unique needs of women.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said we recognised more options can be offered to ensure personal protective clothing (PPC) is designed for women as part of our uniform offering.

“This ensures we provide a conducive environment for an increased number of women to join our ranks as operational firefighters,” Jason said.

“Unisex products may be suitable for some of our female members, but with nearly 5000 operational firefighters who are women, there is more CFA can do to ensure all our members have a

greater selection of PPC that fits appropriately, is safe and fit-for-purpose.”

“We are committed to providing a great place for females to work and volunteer and we look forward to working with the successful suppliers to enable this.”

“CFA’s highest priority is its members’ safety, so it’s important to equip our firefighters with modern and comfortable fire gear.”

CFA kicked off the project following feedback there may be a lack of ‘designed for women’ firefighting garments currently in the market.

CFA has also worked with members on improving other uniforms and PPC fit and size including gloves, pants and shirts.

CFA expect procurement to conclude mid2025. Delivery timelines will be known once a supplier is selected and the contractual arrangements are finalised.

New boots fit for female firefighters will be coming to brigades. (Supplied)

Are you enjoying the sweetness of summer fruits?

(Unsplash)

Let’s all get fire-ready

The CFA’s declared Fire Danger Period will begin in the Yarra Ranges on 23 December.

We all know that this formally starts the fire season in the Yarra Ranges, but we also know that bushfires don’t wait for ideal timing, and often take us by surprise.

If you haven’t already, now is the best time to prepare your property for summer.

Pruning back vegetation near your home, making sure your grass is cut, and that tree debris like bark and twigs are disposed of in your FOGO bin will go a long way to making sure your property is as safe as possible for hot, dry weather.

Clearing roof spouting, around and under decks, and having a tidy up are also great ways to keep your home safe.

But being safe isn’t just about reducing fuel loads. It’s about checking the CFA’s Fire Danger Ratings regularly, being familiar with what the ratings mean for you and, crucially, what they mean for your family’s fire plan.

Will you leave on a day of Extreme Fire Danger? Or the day before a Catastrophic forecast? What is your plan for your pets, where would you go out of the region?

It’s essential to have these conversations now, because if the worst happens, it can be difficult to think straight or plan, and there is often not much time to do it.

In all likelihood, many of us won’t need to enact our fire plans this year. But it’s much better to have one ready than to need one urgently and

Jim Child From my From my desk

not have it.

We’re working through our regularly-programmed works ahead of the fire season, with 357 hazard inspections undertaken and 221 fire prevention notices issued to property owners.

We’re also working to reduce fuel loads by roadsides, in parks and reserves – a program that will run for much of the warmer months.

If you’re going to burn off in the very few days before the Fire Danger Period, check conditions and whether you’re able to burn off at your property, and always register burns with Fire Permits Victoria online or by calling ESTA on 1800 668 511.

Check the CFA website regularly for conditions over summer and total fire ban announcements and make sure to install the Emergency Victoria app for local notifications.

On behalf of all of Council, have a safe and merry Christmas, a great holiday season and remember to shop local for your gifts, support local businesses on your travels and be safe on the roads.

More entertainment is coming to our theatres

Alex theatre St. Kilda

A Very Naughty Christmas.

Australia’s favourite adults only Christmas show makes its way to London and returns to Brisbane, Gold Coast and Melbourne.

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, Brisbane’s sexiest carollers are ready to help you get into the holiday ‘spirits’.

Avoid those awkward family gatherings and come have a gin this Christmas Santa’s favourite little helpers.

Your reviewer was invited to opening night and must say, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Definitely an adult show with near nudity and full nudity.

A wonderful display of dancing, singing, and with perfect timing.

The stage had the band on top, two flights of stairs each side, two Christmas trees also each side of the stage.

All these sets were out to good use by the cast of eight.

Also plenty of audience participation.

In fact one scene was reading a Christmas story where audience members were “volunteered” to come on stage and acted out the various roles as Santa Claus read them out.

This went over very well and created a few laughs.

The choreography was superb, and the presentation was that one would expect from the company.

The artists also were up and down the isles so one did not know where the next scene was coming from.

All in all a wonderful evening of entertainment.

The 1812 Theatre

Spider’s Web by Agatha Christie Clarissa, the second wife of Henry HailshamBrown is adept at spinning tales of adventure for their bored diplomatic circle.

When a murder takes lace in her drawing room, she finds live drama much harder to cope with, especially she suspects the murder-

Kemp’s curtain call

er might be her young step-daughter, Pippa.

Worse still, the victim is the man who broke p Henry’s first marriage.

Clarissa’s fast talking places her in some hair-raiding situations, as she comes to learn the facts are much more terrifying than fiction.

• Season: 20 February – 15 March. Venue: Lowe Auditorium.

The Housekeeper

• Season: 22 May – 14 June. Venue: Lowe Auditorium

Home, I’m darling

• Season: 7 August – 30 August. Venue: Lowe Auditorium.

Rhinestone Rex and Miss Monica

• Season: 13 November – 16 December. Venue: Lowe Auditorium, Short Shorts

• Season: 28 January – 1 February. Venue: bakery@1812, The Thrill of Love

• Season: 3 April – 3 May. Venue: bakery@1812.

Sweeney Todd and the razor’s Edge

• Season: 1 July – 12 July. Venue: bakery@1812

Short Play Festival

• Board Shorts

• Season: 24 – 26 July. Venue: bakery@1812

The Thrill of Love

• Season: 3 April – 3 May. Venue: bakery@1812

Speaking in Tongues

• Season: 2 October – 25 October. Venue: bakery@1812

CARTOON

Best films of 2024 list

The fact that I couldn’t compile a full top ten of bad movies last week already shows what a good year 2024 was for cinema, but my best list is full of extraordinary films and required many painful cuts.

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is charming, nuanced and tightlywritten.

Humane is a tense, witty blend of family drama and slasher tropes. Trap is an ingenious thriller with an amazing central performance from Josh Hartnett.

Despite its unoriginality and resurrected actor, Alien: Romulus is still a taut, well-produced sci-fi horror film.

Drive-Away Dolls and Love Lies Bleeding are two great lesbian crime capers: one light and kinky, the other oppressive and Lynchian.

Spaceman is a touching sci-fi drama that made me cry, and that’s no small feat when the main characters are Adam Sandler and a giant spider.

The Killer is a fun John Woo rollercoaster full of stylish action and personality.

Kalki 2898 AD isn’t the best movie of the year, but it is the most movie: three-plus actionpacked, visually-stunning hours of world-shaking gravitas and goofy fun.

The most painful cut was Kinds of Kindness: not all of the shorts are equal, but it’s a confronting, confidently-crafted film that stuck with me for the rest of the year.

Here are my picks for the ten best films of 2024

10. Kill

A bone-crushingly intense Indian action movie.

9. Rumours

An endlessly-witty farce about incompetent world leaders and Iron Age zombies from Canadian surrealist Guy Maddin, with resplendent cinematography and a ridiculous but bloody inspiring speech about democracy.

8. Monkey Man

A great directorial debut for star Dev Patel, Monkey Man is a gripping, superbly-choreographed martial arts movie about justice, devotion, corruption and gaining strength from a supportive community, but doesn’t shy away from the savagery vengeance can entail.

7. Speak No Evil

Featuring a gorgeous but claustrophobic setting and a riveting villain performance from James McAvoy, this psychological thriller rises smoothly from creeping unease to baseunder-siege terror, with well-woven commentary on toxic masculinity and microaggressions.

6. The First Omen

A profoundly-unsettling, extremely well-paced and beautifully-shot horror film with a transcendent lead performance from Nell Tiger Free.

Moreover, this Omen prequel is not slavishly beholden to the original, changing certain details in interesting ways. While less subtle, this film’s twin Immaculate is also very good.

5. Civil War

One of the most stressful, concussively exciting war movies in years, told through a scenic road-trip movie with engaging characters.

4. Late Night With The Devil

This Australian coproduction (with some scenes shot in Warburton) channels the heightened energy of seventies late-night TV into a disquieting but very fun horror film, with David Dastmalchian throwing himself into the role of the hapless host.

3. Longlegs

Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage bring their

A-game for a chilling, deliberately slow, supremely atmospheric horror film that balances the satisfaction of discovery with a clenching helplessness as the demonic plot unfolds.

2. The Substance

With Oscar-worthy performances from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, The Substance is a lurid body horror film equal parts sexy, glamorous and gross, suffused with smart satire on youth-obsessed culture, body image and the objectification of women in media.

Director Coralie Fargeat conveys Cronenbergian sensibilities but with a unique hip, feminist vision.

1. Dune, Part 2

Just as grand and intimate as its predecessor, Dune Part 2 is an enthralling journey of romance, war, culture shock and poisonous destiny in an immersive universe.

Denis Villeneuve’s two Dune films may be the perfect execution of Frank Herbert’s classic novel.

RESORT STYLE LIVING

RESORT STYLE LIVING

‘***CLOSING DATE FOR OFFERS 4pm

WEDNESDAY 18th December 2024

(unless sold prior)***

Nestled in an exclusive gated community on a sprawling 1063m2 (approx.) block, this exceptional residence defines luxury, elegance, and modern design. Offering approximately 720 square metres of premium living space, this home has been meticulously crafted to cater to every conceivable need of a large or growing family.

From the moment you step inside, you’ll be captivated by the wow factor at every turn. Every detail, from the cutting-edge CBUS integrated electronics to the opulent finishes, reflects sophistication and quality.

Multiple living areas offer you and the family an opportunity to spread your wings, with a lounge room, family room, dining and rumpus/ games room offering ample space. More like a resort than simply a home, the property comes with a spa room, pool and sauna.

The kitchen features induction cooktop, coffee machine, microwave and steam oven plus dishwasher and butlers’ pantry. Entertaining is a breeze with alfresco dining, outdoor cabana and an upstairs balcony for a more private gathering.

Outside offers an oversized double garage, with room to park your golf cart (just in case you might like a round on the course!), with rear access to the yard, sandstone paving throughout, landscaped gardens, decking, all located in a secure private court with rear gate access to all the walking trails and the golf course. Features You’ll Love:

• 6 expansive bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, offering privacy and comfort.

• Huge office giving you plenty of space to work from home.

• Separate study

• 5 luxurious bathrooms plus powder room, beautifully appointed with designer fixtures. A stunning chef-grade kitchen with premium appliances, a walk-in pantry, and ample workspace for culinary enthusiasts. Solid full-height doors to every room, adding a touch of grandeur.

• Feature lighting that enhances the ambiance throughout the home.

An abundance of natural light with superb glass walls, complemented by striking stack stone and granite finishes.

• A dedicated home theatre, perfect for entertaining family and friends.

• In-ground pool with a poolside bar (incomplete), designed for the ultimate leisure experience.

Hot spa and sauna room for relaxation and rejuvenation.

• Red gum feature steps leading up to the second level.

The Ultimate in Leisure and Style:

Whether you’re hosting lavish gatherings, enjoying quiet family time, or indulging in personal relaxation, this home offers unparalleled spaces for every occasion. The thoughtful design ensures both functionality and luxury, creating a living experience that is truly second to none.

This home is a rare gem that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Offering a lifestyle wanted my many but secured by few, schedule your private viewing today to experience the height of luxury living.

FABULOUS FIRST HOME RIPE FOR RENOVATIONS

THE possibilities are endless at this charming weatherboard home in prime position between lush parkland and lively Tecoma township. Ideal as a comfortable first home with scope to update to your own style in future, this is a splendid investment in a superb lifestyle location.

The 1,281sqm (approx.) landscape that frames this home features a sealed drive with single carport, terraced garden areas, and recreational vehicle parking. For entertaining, dine outdoors under the alfresco with cafe blinds overlooking the leafy surrounds.

Inside, the split-level layout is enriched with floor to ceiling windows, timber floors, vaulted ceilings, and a warm wood fire in the bright

lounge and dining area. With works needed to the flooring and kitchen this property is ripe for renovation. The original kitchen boasts slate floors and modern appliances including a gas cooktop and stainless steel wall oven and dishwasher.

Three spacious bedrooms, including the main bedroom with huge walk-in robe which could later be converted into an ensuite (STCA), provide ample accommodation and the classic bathroom is enhanced with a sunny skylight. With a bounty of appealing features, a lovely landscape, and a convenient position near transport, schools, shopping, and parks, this is the perfect place to start or supplement your property portfolio. Plan your viewing today.

DREAM RETREAT WITH MODERN COMFORTS

THIS charming 3-bedroom unit on a generous 403 sq. metre block, is the perfect combination of style, comfort, and sustainability, offering a peaceful haven in a private yet very convenient location.

The home features beautiful timber floorboards, high ceilings, light-filled living spaces, and a cast iron Heat Charm wood fire set into a beautiful wooden mantelpiece, while GDH and split-system heating and cooling provide effortless comfort year-round.

The modern kitchen is a true highlight, designed for convenience and style, with ample storage and functionality that flows onto the balcony, the perfect place for alfresco dining. But what truly sets this home apart is its energy-efficient design, equipped with 15 solar panels and a 6.6 kilowatt battery backup, you will enjoy lower energy bills and the satisfaction of sustainable living.

The thoughtful layout includes three generously sized bedrooms, a study nook, European laundry, and bright open living spaces that seamlessly connects to the outdoors.

Relax and unwind on the verandah, surrounded by greenery and the peaceful sounds of nature, or bask in the light-filled interiors that make every corner of this home feel welcoming.

Outside you will discover a gardener’s paradise, from the 15 fruit trees which include Olives, avocadoes, pomegranate, peach, pear, and citrus trees, to the Camomile and Tyme lawn producing incredible fragrances when walked on, to the raised garden beds made from recycled plastic. There is a rear courtyard and a large carport with storage for additional convenience.

Located just moments from local amenities, including shops, schools, and public transport, this property offers the perfect balance of convenience and tranquillity. With its stunning outlook, modern amenities, and eco-friendly features, this home truly has it all.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to secure a property that offers charm, comfort, and sustainability in one perfect package!

HOME ESSENTIALS

1/2ACREOFBEAUTIFULESTABLISHEDGARDENS

SituatedinoneofmostpicturesqueplacesintheDandenongRanges,isthismoveinready3 bedroom +studyhome.Featuresincludegleamingpolished floors,ornate cornicesandceilings,quirkypinkstairs,architecturallydesignedmasterbedroom/study extension,openplanspaciouskitchenwitha 900mmS/Sstove.Outdoorsisjustunder ½ anacreofbeautifulold-growthtrees &establishedgardenswithfruittrees,a chicken coop,veggiepatch,underhousestorageanda coveredentertainingdeck.

MickDolphin 0429684522

3 A 2 B 3 C

Thisfabulouslowmaintenancebrickveneerhomeismove-inready,ona usablefenced allotmentof918m2withsideaccess,alsogaragingfor3 cars &a cellar.Ina ruralsetting withlovelyseasonalviews,itistheidealhome.Otherfeaturesinclude aluxuriousfamily bathroomwithcustomcabinetry,bathtub& walk-inshower,modernkitchenwithstone benches& 900mmstove,sunroom,wood fire,splitsystem,rear& sidedeck,fullyfenced rearyard,establishedfruittreesanda studio.Convenientlylocatedon asealedroad.

MickDolphin 0429684522

ErinDavies 0493136937 ECO-FRIENDLYLIVING

Thischarmingunitistheperfectcombinationofstyle,comfort &sustainability,featuring beautifultimberfloorboards,highceilings,light-filledlivingspaces, acastironHeat Charmwood firesetintoa beautifulwoodenmantelpiece,GDH,split-systemheating &cooling, amodernkitchenwith Eurolaundry openingontobalcony,energy-efficient design,equippedwith15solarpanelsanda 6.6kilowattbattery backup, astudy nook & veranda. Outsideoffers agardener’sparadisewith15fruittrees,andraisedgardenbeds

JanBrewster 0409558805

AnthonyIorlano 0494142438

Thislight &spaciousbrickveneerhomehastheperfectblendofspace,comfortand moderntouches.Entrancetothehomeisthrough afabulousenclosedsunroomandthen stepinsidetodiscovertheopen-planlayout,galley-stylekitchen,mealsarea,downstairs rumpusroomwithitsownpowderroom,spaciousunder-housestorageandampleoffstreetparkingforcars &caravansetc.Thelocationdirectlyacrossfrom aNationalPark offersscenicviewsandeasyaccesstowalkingtrails,perfectforoutdoorenthusiasts.

MickDolphin 0429684522 FULLYFENCEDWITHGREATVIEWS

JanBrewster 0409558805

TIMELESS QUALITY IN TIGHTLY HELD LOCATION

THIS classic tumbled brick home presents an incredible opportunity secure complete comfort in a prestigious pocket position. Boasting a stunning north-facing allotment with circular drive, solar-heated swimming pool, double garage, and beautiful terraced lawns that capture leafy outlooks, this idyllic slice of this tightly held neighbourhood could now be yours.

The interior of this original residence was designed with family living in mind. At the front of the home, the rumpus room and flexible dining/study area feature large windows and modern wideboard flooring. The original dine-in kitchen with quality timber cabinetry, wall oven, stainless steel dishwasher, and breakfast bar steps out to the deck with pool views. With a bonus living area with floor to ceiling windows, generous guest bedroom, full bathroom, and large laundry also on this level, this residence is bursting with space and versatility.

Upstairs, further family bedrooms await

including the main bedroom with large walk-in robe and shower ensuite. Each room is kept comfortable with a split system heating/ cooling unit and the shared family bathroom features a soaking tub and separate WC for convenience.

Whether you choose to move straight in or make aesthetic updates, new owners will be thrilled to now call this esteemed location home. An opportunity awaits, so don’t delay, plan your viewing today.

Beautiful 1,739sqm (approx.) landscape with circular drive and terraced lawns

• Tumbled brick residence with swimming pool and double garage

• Meticulously maintained interior with 2 generous living and dining areas

Spacious bedrooms and bathrooms on both levels including main with walk-in robe and shower ensuite

• Gas ducted heating, air conditioning units, and split system heating/cooling for yearround comfort.

LOW MAINTENANCE HOME IN COCKATOO

THIS delightful, light filled home offers a convenient lifestyle, just a short walk to Cockatoo’s town centre, IGA, the cafes, post office, bakery and local primary school.

The property is accessed via a sealed driveway with 2 dedicated parking spaces, offering room for a carport if you need. Step onto the undercover front verandah and into the newly carpeted lounge, complete with a split system for year-round comfort. The open-plan kitchen and dining area features durable tiled flooring, an integrated oven, dishwasher, ample storage and direct access to the rear deck. The home comprises of 3 robed bedrooms, and the central bathroom with a separate toilet adds to the home’s functionality. Recently painted and with new carpets throughout, this home is move in ready. The fully and securely fenced back yard offers a private outdoor area, perfect for kids and pets to play safely and there is under house storage.

Ideal for first home buyers, downsizers or investors with an estimated rental return of $500+ per week, this low maintenance property combines convenience, comfort and location in the heart of Cockatoo.

This property has it all so don’t miss outcall to arrange a private inspection today.

Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office.

1/5BoroniaCrescentCockatoo $580,000 -$635,000

LowMaintenanceHomeintheHeartofCockatoo!

Positionedon a325sqmblock,just ashortwalktoCockatoo’stowncentre& localprimaryschool. Thepropertyisaccessedvia asealed,shareddrivewaywith adedicatedparkingspace.Steponto theundercoverfrontverandah &intothecarpetedlounge,completewitha splitsystemforyear roundcomfort.Theopen-plankitchen &diningareafeaturesdurabletiledflooring,anintegrated oven,dishwasher,amplestorage &directaccesstooutside.Thehomecomprisesof3 carpeted bedrooms,allfittedwithbuiltinrobes.A centralbathroomwith aseparatetoiletaddstothehome’s functionality.Recentlypainted& newcarpetsthroughout,thishomeismoveinready.Thefully fencedbackgardenoffers aprivateoutdoorarea,perfectforkids& petstoplay. Idealforfirsthomebuyers,downsizersorinvestors.

SamanthaScott M 0438680032

DoubleStorey 3BedHome,EntertainersDream!

ThisCharmingdoublestoreyhomeinOlinda,seton aspacious1124sqmblock,combinescomfort withelegance.Thepropertyfeaturesaninvitingundercoververandahthatleadstotheentryway. Inside,thereare3 carpetedbedroomswithBIR,themasterwithensuite.Themainleveloffersan expansiveopen-planlounge,dining,kitchenarea.Solidtimberflooring,largewindows&awood heater,complementedbyGDHthroughoutaswellasductedS/Stothebedrooms.Theentertainer’s kitchenincludesbeautifultimberbenchtops,abundanceofstorage &qualitystainlesssteeloven& dishwasher.Stepdirectlyfromthekitchenontothedeck.A staircaseleadsdownto alargerumpus/ theatreroomwithstylishfloatingtimberflooring,gaslogfire.Largebi-foldglassdoorsopenouttoan additionaloutdoorarea.Thehomealsoofferspracticalunder-housestorage.

“ROSEDALE”

Setamidstalmost2 acresofsprawlinggardens.This5BRresidence,is ahomeofoutstandingquality. Traditionalloungewherea grandfireplaceisthecentrepiece,adjoinsthediningroom.Expansive kitchencraftedinsolidMyrtledoors,Stonebenchtops &Europeanappliances,witha generousWI cornerpantry.Themainbedroomfeaturingdoublemirroredwalk-throughrobethatleadstoan ensuite,inadditionto ahugeWIrobe.Thecentralbathroom,withitsclawfootbath.Informalfamily diningopensontothelivingroomwarmedby aslowcombustionheatersetin alimestonefireplace. TasmanianOakflooring,doubleglazedwindows& reversecycleairconditioner.Thepaved courtyardfeaturesa remote-controlawning.Expansivelawns,outdoorentertainingareas,cascading stream &stonefeaturewalls.GDH,doublegarage& shedarejusta fewofthenumerousfeatures.

AaronDay M 0407365994

BethanySullivan M 0438844968 5 A 2

AnExquisiteHavenofLuxury,EleganceandPotential. Stepinto aworldofgrandeurwiththisspectacularmasterpiece,setona 3060sqmestate,withthe optiontosubdivide(STCA).Enterthroughelectricgates,tolandscapedgardens,adornedwith lighting.Theentryway,featuring11ftceilingswelcomesyouintoanarchitecturaltriumphofluxury. Theheartofthehomeistheopen-plankitchen,showcasing aCaesarstoneislandbench, &butler’s pantry.Theformallivingarea,featuringplushcarpeting, agasfireplace& dazzlingchandelier. Astudy &theatreroomalsoonthislevel.Ascendthecarpetedstaircase,where9ftceilings& expansivespacesevoke asenseofelegance.Themasterretreat,withhis-&-hersWIR,ensuitewitha spa, &outdoorterrace.Threeadditionalbedrooms,withWIR’s& ensuites,while arumpusroomwith balconyaccesscompletesthislevel.Outsideisfullyfenced,a doublegarage,& securitysystem.

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 Rule (3)

3 Request form (11)

9 Determination (7)

10 Bestowed (7)

11 Negatively charged subatomic particle (8)

12 Reddish metal (6)

14 Tavern (3)

15 Means (11)

17 Regions (11)

19 Possess (3)

20 Eight-legged animal (6)

21 Resonant (8)

24 Realm of an independent Islamic chieftain (7)

25 Grain from cassava (7)

26 Leader of a cause (11)

27 Prosecute (3)

DOWN

1 Thief (9)

2 Cowboy literary genre (7)

3 Assign (5)

4 Extraordinary thing (10)

5 Formerly Persia (4)

6 Comparative conclusions (9)

7 Thoroughgoing, exhaustive (2,5)

8 Lowest point (5)

13 Rotorcraft (10)

15 Suppress (9)

16 Painting of the countryside (9)

18 Wetter in terms of weather (7)

19 Redolent (7)

20 Sugary (5)

22 Of equal value (2,3)

23 To dispense, to – out (4)

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list?

DECLARATION Fire Restrictions

CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria will be introducing fire restrictions (Fire Danger Period and Prohibited Period, respectively) for all private land within the municipalities listed below.

The Fire Restriction Period will commence at 0100 hours on the date shown and unless varied by a subsequent declaration, will end at 0100 hours on 01/05/2025

Municipality DateofCommencement

Yarra Ranges Council23/12/2024

Knox City Council23/12/2024

Manningham Council23/12/2024

Maroondah Council23/12/2024

(Parts not within the FRV Fire District)

Certain restrictions on the lighting of fires are in force during the Fire Restriction Period. Information about fire restrictions within the Country Area of Victoria can be obtained from www.cfa.vic.gov.au, your local CFA District Office or Municipal Fire Prevention Officer Information about fire restrictions within the Fire Protected Area can be obtained from www.ffm.vic.gov.au, or your local Forest Fire Management Victoria Fire District Officer

JasonHeffernan Chief Officer

ChrisHardman Chief Fire Officer

SPORT

Monbulk bowlers dominate

By Jack Rollings

Saturday pennant. Temperature mid-twenties. Not much breeze. Close enough to perfect conditions for bowling.

Monbulk 1 played at home against Mitcham 2.

Tony French’s team dropped a four shot clanger on the second end but regrouped immediately to score their own four shotter on the next end. After that, Monbulk dominated the scoreboard, only dropping five more ends for the day, all for minor scores.

Monbulk won the rink 29 shots to 10.

Jim Bras’ team played with confidence for most of the day, dropping only five ends. Unfortunately, two of those ends were clangers that put Mitcham back into the game. But Monbulk managed to pick up a couple of 3s and a 4, and with sixteen ends won, they took the rink assuredly 26 shots to 13.

Brian Smith’s team had the close one. 9 shots all going into the ninth end and 13 shots all going into the fourteenth end. Then disaster struck and Monbulk dropped a 5-shot clanger to give Mitcham a sizeable lead. Monbulk steadied and recouped that clanger over the next four ends, with only a single shot separating them with two ends to go.

Then, in a tight battle, it was Mitcham to finish the stronger.

Monbulk lost the rink 20 shots to 22.

Eric Markham’s team had a close front half with level scores on five occasions. But in the back half, and especially in the run home, Monbulk took the game on with a couple of big scores. They built a margin that Mitcham could only nibble at.

Monbulk won the rink 24 shots to 16.

Overall Monbulk won 99 shots to 61 with three rinks up.

It was a confidence booster when they needed it. They now have recorded four wins and five losses and are in sixth spot on the ladder. After the summer break Monbulk will face Upwey-Tecoma on the away ground.

With only five more matches for the season, it will be important to grab every chance and every rink win.

Monbulk 2 travelled down to Berwick to play their fifth side.

Peter Lee’s team won ten ends and fought off the opposition whenever they drew close. A couple of big 4 shotters built a comfortable margin and they won the rink 21 shots to 16.

Mike Harris’ team won nine ends but gave away five 4s and two 3s, and those clangers totalled more than the losing margin.

Monbulk lost the rink 12 shots to 34.

Peter Koomen’s team had a close front half. Then they were up by 5 shots going into the seventeenth end. Then Berwick claimed the mat in the run home, including three 3s in a row.

Monbulk lost the rink 15 shots to 22.

Andy Smith’s team struggled in the front half, scoring only two singles and trailing by 10 shots.

After the break they dropped four more ends in a row to trail by 18 shots. In the run home Monbulk fought back strongly and reduced the margin but it was not enough to frighten

Local sports clubs share in million dollar funding boost

Hundreds of sports clubs across the state are set to share in $1.2 million after funding was announced last week.

Community Sport minister Ros Spence announced on Wednesday 11 December that 875 grants will go to more than 740 clubs from the Sporting Club Grants Program.

“This is a major boost for clubs across the state - we’re making sure clubs have the skills and equipment they need to thrive, and get more people involved,” she said.

“We want our local sporting clubs to be backing the next generation of local champions – and these grants provide them the chance to do just that.” These grants support clubs to purchase uniforms and equipment, upskill volunteers, coaches and officials, and improve their accessibility and engagement with local communities.

Successful clubs include Monbulk Cricket Club, Olinda Ferny Creek Junior Football Club, Doongala Adult Riding Club, Geocaching Victoria, Boronia Hawks Football Netball Club, Eastern All Abilities Netball, Golden Cobra Martial Arts, Special Olympics Melbourne Eastern Ranges, The Basin Cricket Club, Upper Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club, Boronia Calisthenics College, Indoor Sports Victoria, Knox Boronia Cricket Club and Emerald Tennis Club.

Emerald Tennis Club will receive part of $1.2 million as one of the 740 clubs. (Supplied)

Clubs from across the Yarra Ranges were also successful with Healesville District Soccer Club, Upper Yarra Pony Club, Lilydale Rats Inline Hockey Club, Chirnside Park Football Club and Powelltown Cricket Club just some of the recipients. The Sporting Club Grants Program has provided more than $18 million to thousands of community sport and recreation clubs across

over the past decade.

Berwick.

Monbulk lost the rink 10 shots to 21.

Overall Monbulk lost the round 58 shots to 93 with one rink up. They are now sixth on the ladder

with four wins and five losses. A top four spot is looking difficult to achieve but there are five more rounds in the season after the summer break and those rounds could make all the difference.

Brendon Griffiths and company on the weekend. (Supplied)

the state