fined after a
Survival Day in focus
On Sunday 2 March, Belgrave and the surrounding community gathered in large numbers at Borthwick Park for Belgrave Survival Day 2025.
Showcasing an epic range of First Nations musicians, artists and businesses, the cool weather change did not deter crowds.
Belgrave Survival Day provides community with an opportunity to celebrate by recognising and celebrating the survival of Indigenous culture locally and nationally.
Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin alliance in Victoria hosted a Welcome to Country and Smoking ceremony to kick off the day.
“I’m glad to be here,” she said.
After Welcome to Country crowds were invited to participate in a traditional smoking ceremony and then enjoy dancing by the Djirri Djirri Dancers and live music by First Nations Artists.
Turn to page 11 to see some pictures from the day
Tiny homes push
By Tanya Steele
A couple from Belgrave South who have been living out of their caravan recently started an online petition asking Yarra Ranges Council to implement a Tiny House on Wheels and/or caravan living policy in the municipality.
The local council has been urged to adopt a Tiny House on Wheels (THOWs) policy in the petition posted on 6 February this year after months of back and forth with Yarra Ranges Council.
Evrim has lived with her partner in Belgrave South for two and a half years – the duo moved to the Yarra Ranges after fitting out their caravan to be roadworthy beforehand.
“We’re both community workers, arts workers, and we know that we couldn’t afford to buy a traditional house because work is not always stable,” she said.
The two also both have chronic issues and knew a mortgage would be out of reach.
“When we first moved here, we called the council and chatted to them and talked about the laws to understand,” said Evrim.
With over 650 signatures since 6 February, the petition is gaining traction online and the couple are asking the council to work with its community to develop laws to ensure safe, affordable housing options without evictions.
“We received a building order to vacate our Tiny House on Wheels, which is a roadworthy caravan, meets the Transport Victoria Standards and is on a chassis.” read the petition. Tiny houses can often be considered as caravans, and this is why, in turn, they don’t require a building permit.
They do tend to have requirements around how long one can live in them on private land – with utilities and land use issues like bushfire management overlay and green wedge coming into play for the Yarra Ranges. Read more on page 4
Belgrave Survival Day saw a lot of younger Djirri Djirri dancers perform this year, even with a bit of rain .(Tanya Steele: 462879)
Bipartisan Medicare help
Each of the two major political parties has backed a major boost to Medicare following the upcoming federal election, with Labor pledging $8.5 billion in Medicare funding over four years and the Coalition vowing to match it ‘dollar for dollar’.
Labor’s announcement included extending their bulk-billing incentive which they had tripled for pensioners, concession card holders and children to all Australians from 1 November, providing 400 nursing scholarships, fund the training of 2000 new GPs a year by 2028 and install a new Bulk Billing Incentive program which will provide 12.5 loading payment on Medicare rebates for fully bulk-billing practices.
“I want every Australian to know they only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to receive the healthcare they need,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“Australia’s doctors voted Peter Dutton the worst Health Minister in Medicare history for a reason, Peter Dutton tried to end bulk billing with a GP tax and then started a six-year freeze to Medicare rebates that froze GP incomes and stripped billions out of Medicare,” Health Minister Mark Butler said.
On the same day Labor announced their pledge, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston matched it, while also pledging an additional $500 million to restore funding for mental health services. Labor reduced the number of subsidised mental health sessions available per year from 20 to 10 in 2023.
“Under Labor’s bulk billing crisis, it has never been harder and more expensive to see a doctor. Australians are now paying 45 per cent more to see their GP, as bulk billing has collapsed from 88 per cent under the Coalition, to 77 per cent under Anthony Albanese,” the joint media release reads.
“This crisis has forced 1.5 million Australians to avoid seeing a doctor in 2023-24, adding further demand to already under-pressure hospitals across the country.”
The Coalition media release welcomed the investment in the bulk billing incentive, training for GPs and nurses and the additional $1.7 billion in funding for the public hospital system.
Australian Medical Association President Dr Danielle McMullen said the announcement shows that the government understands the quantum of funding that’s needed to reverse decades of underinvestment and to start to shift the dial on accessible and affordable general practice care.
“This will make a difference to the sustainability of bulk billing, general practices and in areas where practices and GPs have recently had to introduce small out-of-pocket charges, this will improve things for their situation and potentially
mean that they can reverse those out-of-pocket charges for patients,” she said.
“Excitingly, today we’ve seen some excellent announcements about workforce support for general practice. We’re seeing more training places, a sign-on bonus for doctors who choose to become GPs, and paid parental leave and study leave for general practice trainees.”
While welcoming the funding, the AMA still expressed concerns that in some areas, particularly metropolitan areas, patients may still not be able to access full bulk billing as the rebate may
still fall short of the cost of care and also called for a restructuring of medicare that helps cover longer appointments for patients with chronic and complex ailments.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) echoed the AMA’s support of the funding for training, the bipartisan commitment of funding and concerns regarding the impact in metropolitan areas while also warning the focus on bulk-billing rates may not suit all general practice business models.
“The additional investment into general prac-
tice is a positive thing but we’ve got to make sure that it’s targeted to the people who need it and the GPs who need that funding as well,’ RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said to newsGP.
“Just because these bulk-billing incentives are available to everyone doesn’t mean everyone’s going to have access to bulk billing, because GPs are still able to set their fees and the college will completely support that going forward,”
“The Medicare rebate still may not cover the cost of care and that’s really important for government to make clear and for patients to know.”
Aquatic centre to slash energy bills with new upgrade
The Monbulk Aquatic Centre is about to get a major upgrade thanks to a $1.97 million grant from the Federal Government - the funding will help turn the centre into a more sustainable and affordable facility for the local community.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Councillor Jim Child said they’re delighted to have been successful in securing this $1.9 million grant through the Australian Government’s Community Energy Upgrade Fund.
“These funds will mean that we can now start to upgrade and improve the energy usage at the very popular Monbulk Aquatic Centre which sees more than 118,000 visits per year. Gas consumption at our aquatic centres remains one of Council’s largest sources of emissions and these funds will be used to implement gas transition works at the Centre,“ Cr Child said.
“Transitioning our aquatic centres to allelectric systems is a crucial step towards achieving Council’s target of net zero emissions by 2040.“
The funding is part of a $100 million initiative to help local councils across Victoria make their community facilities more energy-efficient. Yarra Ranges Shire is one of 15 councils in the state to benefit from this first round of funding.
By making these energy upgrades, the aquatic centre will not only save money but also contribute to a cleaner environment - it’s a win
for both the local community and the planet.
“Local councils run many of the sport and public facilities that keep our communities and clubs thriving. We want facilities that Australians know and love, like cricket grounds and local pools, to be able to save on their energy bills and spend more on the things they do best,“ Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said.
“The Albanese Government is not just providing short term relief on power bills - with our Community Energy Upgrades Fund and Energy Savings Package, we’re helping communities bring down bills for good.”
The project is just one of many funded by the Community Energy Upgrades Fund, with other councils also receiving money for things like electric vehicle charging stations and upgrades to local sporting facilities.
The government received 165 applications for the first round of funding, and with the success of this program, local councils are encouraged to apply again when the second round opens soon.
“This investment is a game-changer for the Monbulk community. These Community Energy Upgrades will help the council bring down bills for good. Lower energy costs mean more money can go towards programs, services, and
keeping local facilities open and accessible for everyone,” Victoria Senator Lisa Darmanin said.
“Labor is delivering real, long-term savings for local councils, helping them cut costs and emissions at the same time.“
“By electrifying Monbulk Aquatic Centre, we’re future-proofing this important community asset and ensuring it remains a place for locals to swim, exercise, and connect for years to come.”
With the Monbulk Aquatic Centre set for these important upgrades, the local community can look forward to a greener, more affordable facility for years to come.
A bipartisan boost to Medicare will come following this year’s federal election. (File)
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Yarra Ranges Shire receives funding to electrify the Monbulk Aquatic Centre, cutting energy costs and emissions for the future. (Supplied)
Nursery fined $65k
A Monbulk nursery and horticulture supplier has been fined $65,000 after a worker fell through a shed roof onto a concrete floor, suffering a fatal head injury.
Van Berkel Distributors Pty Ltd was sentenced, without conviction, in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after earlier pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to reduce the risk associated with a fall by using a fall arrest system.
The company was also ordered to pay $8000 in costs.
In June 2022, a 66-year-old maintenance manager was working alone on the roof of a shed at the workplace without any fall protection, attempting to replace polycarbonate roofing sheets.
He fell through one of the sheets, 3.3 metres to the floor below, and was taken to hospital where he underwent brain surgery, but died a few days later.
A WorkSafe investigation found the maintenance manager did not have any qualification in roofing and a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) had not been prepared for the task.
The court heard that it was reasonably practi-
A Monbulk nursery was fined $65,000 after a worker fell through a shed roof, fatally injuring his head. (Unsplash)
cable for the company to reduce the risk of a fall by using a fall arrest system, such as a safety harness.
WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said the risk of serious injury or death from a fall increased significantly when working at heights of more than two metres.
“The steps to reduce the risks of falls are well known, so it’s heartbreaking that we continue to
see tragic and preventable loss of life such as this,”
Mr Jenkin said.
“It only takes a second to fall – and yet the consequences can be devastating – so there’s no excuse for failing to take every reasonable precaution when working at heights.”
WorkSafe provides comprehensive guidance to duty holders on falls prevention as well as an information sheet on how to control risks during the removal of fragile roofing.
To prevent falls from height employers should:
• Eliminate the risk by, where practicable, doing all or some of the work on the ground or from a solid construction.
• Use a passive fall prevention device such as scaffolds, perimeter screens, guardrails, safety mesh or elevating work platforms.
• Use a positioning system, such as a travel-restraint system, to ensure employees work within a safe area.
• Use a fall arrest system, such as a harness, catch platform or safety nets, to limit the risk of injuries in the event of a fall.
• Use a fixed or portable ladder, or implement administrative controls.
Emerald SES responds to dozens of calls
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Between midnight on Saturday 22 February and 11am on 24 February, VIC SES Emerald Unit volunteers were the busiest in the state, responding to more than 30 requests for assistance (RFAs), with all callouts related to fallen trees.
The relentless storms and strong winds across the Dandenong Ranges caused widespread disruption, leading emergency crews to spring into action.
The Emerald SES crews were particularly active, responding to calls from a variety of locations including Upwey, Mount Dandenong, Kallista, Monbulk, Cockatoo, Gembrook, Emerald, Ferny Creek, and Belgrave South.
Unit Controller of the Emerald Unit, Ben Owen spoke with Star Mail reporter, Shamsiya Hussainpoor about the chaos that unfolded over the weekend.
He described how the strong winds started picking up in the early hours of Sunday morning, and by around 3am, the requests for assistance began to pour in.
These continued through to late Sunday afternoon, with crews focused on clearing fallen trees from driveways and roads.
“We had over 30 calls for assistance, and at times we had multiple crews out responding,” Mr Owen said.
Monbulk Road, Olinda, was the hardest-hit area in the region, with the clean-up taking eight-hours to clear the road and restore power lines.
The high winds, combined with hot weather, caused widespread tree damage.
According to Mr Owen, gum trees are partic-
Road near Kalista was closed for eight hours after a
powerlines in the process. (Supplied)
ularly vulnerable to dropping branches in hot weather, but the primary cause of the damage was the intense winds – this also resulted in a major power outage across the area.
Mr Owen also took the opportunity to remind the public about safety precautions during power outages.
“If you’re blocked in by fallen trees, or you come across a tree that needs clearing, please call 132 500 for assistance. If it’s life-threatening, call Triple-Zero.”
Emerald’s SES teams were stretched thin, with over a dozen people actively responding on the road at any one time, and close to 20
more members helping out throughout the day –despite the chaos, he confirmed there were no injuries reported.
The Emerald Unit continues to seek new volunteers to join their ranks.
“We’re looking for people to assist with both operational and non-operational roles. Anyone interested can come along on a Monday night to chat with our members about what it involves,” Mr Owen said.
For further information or to volunteer, the public is encouraged to get in touch with the Emerald SES Unit.
IN BRIEF
Car theft surge
Victoria Police is issuing a warning to vehicle owners, as intelligence reveals tech savvy thieves are behind a surge in car thefts across the state.
Increasing numbers of cars are being stolen from residential streets, driveways, and other community locations, where no associated burglary, robbery, or carjacking takes place.
While there are instances where people leave their keys in their car, most commonly in these thefts, the owner reported to police they retained the keys and their car had simply vanished.
Police intelligence suggests as many as one in five Victorian cars are stolen in these circumstances.
This trend has coincided with third party electronic devices, which are capable of programming or mimicking keys, becoming increasingly available for purchase.
Once inside a vehicle, this device can be plugged into the cars on board diagnostic port to override the security system and start the engine. Car thefts using third party electronic devices have been occurring in other countries such as the United States and United Kingdom for several years and are now becoming more prevalent locally.
Police believe this methodology is well known among criminal circles and being used extensively, hence today’s public warning.
Police intelligence suggests certain makes and models with electronic push start technology are being targeted, given no ignition key is required.
Victoria Police’s Vehicle Crime Squad has been working with impacted manufacturers on this issue, given the devices are being used to exploit car electronic security systems. Insurance companies have also been engaged as part of these discussions.
The intelligence reveals the car brands most stolen using key reprogramming devices include Subaru, Toyota and Holden.
Police are urging owners of these vehicles to look at a range of preventative measures to help deter thieves, including an on board diagnostic port lock which prevents an offender connecting a reprogramming device to your vehicle.
Garage Fire in Tecoma
Tecoma was the site of a garage fire on late afternoon, last week, seeing a ten truck response from local CFA, who got the situation under control quickly.
A residential garage in Tecoma caught alight around 4.46pm on Thursday 27 February, seeing a ten truck response from local brigades.
The relevant power company was also contacted on the day. The incident was declared under control at 5.10pm, however crews remained on scene for some time and declared safe by 7.15pm that evening.
A message was issued by Vicemergency warning nearby residents they might be able to see smoke from the structure fire and that emergency services may remain in the area.
Fire restrictions remains in force
While Summer has ended on the calendar, there remains an increased risk of fire for the Dandenongs and Hills area throughout Autumn.
Fire restrictions remain in force until 1 May 2025 - which means that there is no burning off without a permit, and other restrictions apply on what fires can be.
Please remain vigilant as the area has seen a good deal of drying over the past month and high temperatures are forecasted.
Monbulk
large tree fell, taking down
Call for tiny house policy
By Tanya Steele
A couple from Belgrave South who have been living out of their caravan recently started an online petition asking Yarra Ranges Council to implement a Tiny House on Wheels and/or caravan living policy in the municipality.
The local council has been urged to adopt a Tiny House on Wheels (THOWs) policy in the petition posted on 6 February this year after months of back and forth with Yarra Ranges Council.
Evrim has lived with her partner Benny in Belgrave South for two and a half years – the duo moved to the Yarra Ranges after fitting out their caravan to be roadworthy beforehand.
“We’re both community workers, arts workers, and we know that we couldn’t afford to buy a traditional house because work is not always stable,” she said.
The two both have chronic health issues and knew a mortgage would be out of reach.
“When we first moved here, we called the council and chatted to them and talked about the laws to understand,” Evrim said.
Evrim said they love living in the Yarra Ranges and with the elderly couple whose land they occupy.
“The Yarra Ranges local laws are super friendly, and in theory, they were made that way to allow for people to have flexible housing options,” she said.
“I don’t know who passed those local laws, who agreed to it, but basically the law here is that it states you can live in a caravan on private property, which is considered camping on private property - it is what we believed we were doing without causing a nuisance for no specified time limit.”
With over 650 signatures since 6 February, the petition is gaining traction online and the couple are asking the council to work with its community to develop laws to ensure safe, affordable housing options without evictions.
“We received a building order to vacate our Tiny House on Wheels, which is a roadworthy caravan, meets the Transport Victoria Standards and is on a chassis,“ the petition reads.
“We have been in communication with the Planning and Building teams over the past six months, as we believed that we were within our rights to ‘camp on private property without causing a nuisance’, as per the local laws,”
Tiny houses can often be considered caravans, and this is why, in turn, they don’t require a building permit. They do tend to have requirements around how long one can live in them on private land – with utilities and land use issues like bushfire management overlay and green wedge planning provisions coming into play for the Yarra Ranges. Legislation in most states limits stays to two consecutive days, and less than 60 days per year.
In the Yarra Ranges, a THOW is not considered a ’building’, due to it being a registered vehicle - a THOW may not be permitted - according to the website.
The crux of the issue revolves around the Yarra Ranges council asking for the couple’s caravan - a registered vehicle, to be classed as a building.
“We see tiny houses as an amazing solution to the housing crisis,” said Evrim.
“We understand if we were unmovable, if we weren’t on wheels – we are literally a vehicle,” she said.
Yarra Ranges Director Planning and Sustainable Futures Kath McClusky said that council’s municipal building surveyor is responsible for ensuring buildings are compliant with the Building Act 1993.
“Under building regulations, there are specific definitions for each class of building and how it can be used,” they said.
“If a Tiny Home on Wheels is a place of residence, then it is deemed to be a ’classifiable’ structure under the Building Act and Regulations and a building permit is required by law.”
When it comes to approving where people live, McClusky said council is involved in ensuring that the location is safe for all.
“This includes considering issues such as bushfire, flood or landslip risk, health matters and links to septic tanks and water supply, impacts on local neighbours or the local environment,” she said.
“The difficulty of providing appropriate housing is something that council takes seriously.”
“Council has recently released the 15-Year Housing Strategy that was approved in June last year – As identified within Council’s Housing Strategy, there is a need for State level policy guidance on how Tiny Houses on Wheels should be defined and considered by all local governments.“
Evrim said the couple have worked very hard to come to a reasonable solution with council, there has been months of back and forth over the situation, with the duo getting in touch with local Yarra Ranges councillors and MP for Monbulk Daniela De Martino to advance their cause.
“I have spoken with Evrim and Benny about their situation,” said Ms De Martino.
“I have referred their concerns and queries to the Minister’s office for further advice.”
The Department of Planning and Transport referred the Star Mail back to Yarra Ranges Council for comment.
Ms McClusky said that in December 2023, the Victoria Government introduced new planning legislation to allow property owners to establish a small second dwelling on their land in a Green Wedge Zone, however planning and building permits are required for this.
“A Tiny House on Wheels may be considered under a planning permit process as a small second dwelling provided specific planning requirements are met,” they said.
“If the Tiny House on Wheels does not meet the requirements of a small second dwelling, then the Tiny House would be considered as an ’accommodation use’ on the land.”
“There are strict planning controls on the use of land for all forms of accommodation and dwelling use in our Green Wedge Zones.”
Other councils in Victoria have faced similar issues, with Mount Alexander Shire Councillors unanimously voting in June 2023 to remove permit requirements for people wishing to camp or occupy a caravan or tiny home on wheels on private property where there is an existing dwelling.
Across state lines in Queensland, one council in the shire of Gympie is using THOWs to help with housing shortages, while over in the Sunshine Coast, a resident has been negotiating for several years to allow residents impacted by the housing crisis to stay on their property.
According to the Australian Tiny Houses Association, there is currently no national definition in Australia of what a THOW is, where they can be located, who can live in them and for how long.
Ms McClusky said that Council is aware of various legal interpretations by councils across Victoria regarding how THOW should be considered under the planning and building regulatory systems.
“Council has obtained legal advice on this issue and is working on providing clear pathways for tiny homes development for the community,” she said.
“Council will continue advocating to the State Government for a formal Planning Scheme definition for Tiny Homes on Wheels as well seeking clarity and guidance on their assessment and regulation in the Victorian planning system.”
Evrim said the couple are now in this situation where they have to keep asking for extensions and continue their petition directly to council.
“This seems really counter to how they would want to operate, and how they would want to function in their community,“ she said.
No more promoter updates since live music event postponed
By Dongyun Kwon
A live music event, which was going to be held at different venues in Australia and New Zealand, was announced to be postponed, with a few days left to the event in December 2024.
Since the announcement, there have been no more updates or refunds by the event promoter.
The inaugural Timeless Summer Tour was scheduled to take place in January in Australia and New Zealand including one at a Yarra Valley winery.
Emerald resident Wendy was going to attend the Yarra Valley event with her friends.
They purchased the tickets in August last year, which cost over $200 per person.
Wendy said she and her friends were excited about the Timeless Summer Tour which had a great line-up at a great outdoor venue.
“The event organiser has cancelled the concert for whatever reason and we’ve been strung along since before Christmas with many promises of new events later in the year,” she said.
“However, most people appear to want a refund and still nothing has happened.
“We were given a glimmer of hope that things would start happening on 20 February, and all we got was an email which asked for a few more days.
“These people are holding onto our money and not communicating. They don’t respond to emails and delete Facebook posts.”
Wendy’s friend Tanya said she had been looking forward to the day out with friends and the shonky communication has been frustrating.
“I don’t commit to many big music festival tickets usually, so I would like my money back at the very least,” she said.
In a lengthy statement posted on the Timeless
Summer Tour website, explaining the reasons for postponing the festival.
The statement said the Timeless Summer Tour was impacted by the financial climate, which many live events were struggling with, and the last-minute loss of two New Zealand venues.
“Please know we are now working through this process, including working with the artists’ teams, to confirm new dates for this tour. We will be working diligently in coming weeks to finalise new dates and venues,” it reads.
“We’d like to humbly request your patience with this process as there are a number of businesses, groups and officials we need to communicate with and given some are in a shutdown period during the festive season we are expecting to be able to announce new dates for Timeless Summer Tour in February… To combat these issues, we will be moving Timeless Summer Tour
to indoor venues later in 2025 and we will be putting in all of our efforts to confirm all of the details and the new dates from now…
“Rest assured your tickets will be automatically transferred for use at the new event and you won’t need to do anything. If the new dates and venues are no longer suitable and you are unable to attend any longer, we will provide you with information about the refund process.”
The venue for the Yarra Valley event, Rochford Winery, was also notified through a media release by the promoter which was exactly the same as the announcement on their website.
Rochford Wines music events operations manager Catherine said they were also disappointed they were not able to bring the show to the Yarra Valley.
“Although it was not our decision to cancel the concert, we are sorry this happened so close
to the concert date and for any inconvenience it may have caused,’ she said.
“The promoter has advised they have decided to hold the future tours at indoor venues. As we only hold outdoor events at this size, we cannot be part of that tour.
“Rochford has refunded all tickets that were purchased from Rochford, any remaining tickets were purchased from Ticket Fairy and therefore the promoter’s responsibility.”
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) explains consumer rights on its website at accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-services/buying-tickets-to-events
“This means that where an event is cancelled or significantly changed, consumers may have a right to a refund. This will depend on: the reason for the cancellation or change, the nature of the change, and the terms and conditions of the ticket,” it reads.
“Where the event organiser chooses to cancel or makes a major change to an event, consumers are entitled to a refund under their consumer rights.
“Examples of a major change might be where the headline act at a festival is changed, or where the location of a show is changed from one city to another. Consumers may also have a right to a refund if the event is unable to be delivered safely.”
ACCC also articulates how to claim compensation for losses related to the cancellation of, or significant change to, the event, such as travel or accommodation expenses for the event.
Please visit accc.gov.au/consumers/problemwith-a-product-or-service-you-bought/claiming-compensation for more information regarding the compensation-claiming process.
Star Mail contacted the Timeless Summer Tour promoter.
The couple have been living on private land in with an elderly couple happy to have them for two and a half years. (Supplied)
The tiny home on wheels is a registered vehicle.
The inaugural Timeless Summer Tour, scheduled to take place in January in Australia and New Zealand, was announced to be postponed out of the blue. (File)
Liberals’ pledge welcomed
By Tanya Steele
A historical society left in funding limbo has been offered a lifeline in the form of a 2.5 million dollar promise by Liberal candidate for Aston on Thursday 27 February.
After years of the group operating from substandard temporary facilities, the funding for the provision of a purpose-built resource and visitor for the Knox Historical Society (KHS) was officially pledged to the group by Liberal candidate for Aston Manny Cicchiello.
“I’m delighted today to announce that a Dutton coalition government will fund a multipurpose Resource Center to the tune of two and a half million dollars for this precinct,” Mr Cicchiello said.
“Our community deserves the resource centre it was promised,” he said.
KHS said it was thrilled by the news as the committee have been advocating to all levels of government for funding over several years now.
“This will mean that our amazing volunteers will finally have a building that is first for purpose and we can continue our work in a space that will foster and promote camaraderie and community,” said KHS President Ray Peace.
Mr Cicchiello delivered the Coalition announcement to members of the KHS in a ceremony hosted by society secretary Karin Orpen.
The proposed plans for a temperature controlled space were revealed in Ambleside with local council and state officials in attendance, along with volunteers and community members over speeches and morning tea.
“The centre will support our schools, volunteers and service clubs, fostering local knowledge, community spirit, and an appreciation of history.” Mr Cicchiello said.
Also present was MP for Casey Aaron Violi who said supporting local projects was part of the Coalition’s plan to get the country back on track.
“It’s run by volunteers who put in their time
to share more about our past, to make sure as we move forward as a society and as a community,” he said.
Knox Historical Society celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, so the timing for this announcement is positive for the long-time community group, which has made many attempts over several years to get funding for a much needed building upgrade.
The society moved into Ambleside homestead, which was gifted to the City of Knox in 1975 following the death of Oliver David, in 1977.
The aging resource centre site at Ambleside Park was demolished by Knox City Council over 14 years ago and was supposed to make way for a
new space that would give the property a proper working hub and enable it to both grow and provide an accessible space for the volunteers.
The homestead and museum at Ambleside receives over one thousand visitors a year, including tour groups, hundreds of school children, and residents of local retirement homes.
With limited working space, including a windowless shipping container, the society volunteers currently still operate from temporary facilities that are inadequate for their needs.
“The generous gift of Oliver David, who donated his property for the preservation of our history, must be honoured,” said Mr Cicchello.
Knox Council Deputy Mayor Cr Glen Atwell said at the gathering that there is an acknowledgement that council can get more bang for their buck and get more done when council partners with the state and federal government.
“We are very grateful for the commitment –we acknowledge it, we look forward to partnering should have come to fruition,” he said.
The funding is dependent on if the Coalition regains power and Mr Peace said the announcement recognises the need for preserving our history for future generations.
“The winners are the Knox community – It’s a great day,” said Mr Peace.
Celebrating the proposed funding to build new and much needed facilitates for the volunteers. (Stewart Chambers: 461880).
From left: Manny Cicchiello Liberal candidate for Aston, Aaron Violi MP, Knox Historical Society President Ray Peace, Knox Council Cr Glen Atwell Deputy Mayor and Knox Cr Robert Williams. (Stewart Chambers: 461880_03).
Knox Historical Society President Ray Peace and Manny Cicchiello Liberal candidate for Aston unveil the plans. (Stewart Chambers: 461880_07).
More time for feedback
By Oliver Winn
A renewed version of Yarra Ranges Council’s Disability Action Plan (DAP) will undertake another four weeks of community consultation in March before being finalised for the 2025-2029 period.
The council will consult members of the community, stakeholders and the Disability Advisory Committee using e-newsletters, radio, social media and in-person interviews.
“I go back a long way with the council and council hasn’t always taken a lot of interest in people with a disability,” Cr Len Cox said.
With the establishment of the Disability Advisory Committee 12 years ago, Cr Cox said the council’s approach to disability has “improved enormously”.
“They [the Disability Advisory Committee] established the first Disability Action Plan, which ran out in 2023, and this is the one to replace it.”
The motion to have the DAP undergo another four weeks of consultation was carried unanimously.
The draft DAP aims to improve access to council information, services and facilities while eliminating barriers preventing inclusion across council as a whole.
To improve access to information, the council will begin disability awareness campaigns and mandatory disability awareness training for staff.
Creating a more walkable Yarra Ranges through accessible footpaths is just one of many initiatives which will fulfil the council’s pledge for more inclusive infrastructure.
Some key areas highlighted by previous community feedback included more inclusive emergency management, accessible public transport and accessible housing affordability.
The Yarra Ranges has a higher rate of disability at 26 per cent when compared to the rest of
to
and
to
be
Victoria, which sits at 19 per cent.
Deputy Mayor Cr Richard Higgins said the range of difficulties people living with disabili-
ties face is “quite immense”.
“I look forward
everybody that may
impacted by a disability to have a look at the
document
research it
let us know if we’ve missed anything, because it’s really important we get it right,” Cr Higgins said.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Disability Action Plan will replace the existing document to reflect today’s standards. (Unsplash)
Council eyes federal funds
By Callum Ludwig
With the Australian Government set to deliver its budget on 25 March and a federal election due by May, Yarra Ranges Council put forward a pre-budget submission for federal funding at the Tuesday 25 February council meeting.
The submission will be presented to candidates for the electorate of Casey and sent to relevant government and shadow ministers to help influence their decision-making for the electorate, and specifically in the Yarra Ranges.
Yarra Ranges Council called for funding to address issues across five specific subjects: Resilience and Sustainability, Vibrant Townships: Tourism and Sustainable Economic Growth, Community and Recreation Infrastructure, Roads and Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Health and Wellbeing.
Deputy Mayor and Chirnside Ward Councillor Richard Higgins said the document took some time to put together as it sought to cover a good, wide spread across the municipality.
“Some of the things that we can’t deal with ourselves due to the extensive costs involved, which obviously ur state and federal government have a little bit more money to spend and hopefully within our municipality,” he said.
“It’s very timely at this time with the looming federal election, and I’m not going to go through the whole document, but having read it a couple of times, it covers off on everything that we can possibly hope to cover off on.”
The first requests put forward in the submission are for the federal government to restore Financial Assistance Grants to at least 1 per cent and ideally 2 per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue via a phased approach, having reduced to about 0.55 per cent in the last three decades.
Secondly, Yarra Ranges called for telecommunications improvements including;
Identifying telecommunications as an essential service.
Improve mobile connectivity in the Dandenong Ranges, Hoddles Creek, East Warburton, Steels Creek and Fernshaw.
Upgrade NBN services to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) in areas with slow broadband service
Strengthen network resilience against power outages and emergencies
Consider crucial sites for funding through the Mobile Network Hardening Program (Warburton, East Warburton, McMahon’s Creek, Kalorama, The Patch, Macclesfield, Silvan and Belgrave)
Expand peri-urban eligibility for the PeriUrban Mobile Program, the Mobile Network Hardening Program and the Mobile Black Spot program to be within 4km of a Major Urban Boundary to ensure high-risk areas in the Dandenong Ranges aren’t excluded
Billanook Ward Councillor Tim Heenan said the need for funding in the shire is great and it’s getting even greater.
“We have such a diversity of things that exist in the Yarra Ranges, and I know that looking at the document and in particular, obviously, my eyes go straight to the stormwater offset program, implementation of $120,000 and the flood mapping and mitigation projects of $3.72 million, not to mention all the other very, very worthy recommendations that have been made in this document,” he said.
“But the important thing to understand is in this day and age, local government can’t just act by continually charging ratepayers larger rates and even if we did that, we still would not have enough money because of the diversity, the complexity and how big our shire is.”
For Resilience and Sustainability, Yarra Ranges Council has asked for a total of $32.01 million (including funding which would be spread over multiple years) to help fund projects including but not limited to:
• Place-based resilience in planning in key localities
• Establishing a Regional Resilience Hub
• Enhancing the Cultural Burning Program
• Supporting the Greening the Suburbs program
• Supporting the Biolink and Invasive Species program
• Supporting the Zero Emissions Facilities transition, Fleet and Plant
• Establishing a Community Climate Adaptation Program
• Implementing a Stormwater Offset Program and do Flood Mapping and Mitigation projects
Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister said not a single thing on the list is unworthy.
“Every single piece that is mentioned, from black spot funding to the flood mapping and mitigation, and something very close to my heart, advocacy for urgent care,” she said.
“All of these are important, and if we were in a different funding scenario, than some of these we wouldn’t need to be asking for, but they’re all critical for our community.”
Under Vibrant Townships, Yarra Ranges Council is seeking a total of $84.415 million for projects including but not limited to:
• The Warburton Mountain Bike Destination, Yarra Valley Trail and ngurrak barring projects
• Wandin North Pedestrian and Streetscape improvements
• Upgrades to Community and Recreation Infrastructure, including sports, aquatics and early years education facilities.
• Melba Ward Councillor Mitch Mazzarella said hopefully bringing this document to the election and the budget will see these worthy causes get funding.
“There’s a few things I’m disappointed to see didn’t make the cut, particularly with the McDermott Avenue reserve, it would have been nice to just have a little bit in there, considering we’ve got an election announcement this morning from (Casey MP Aaron) Mr Violi for about $375,000 for that,” he said.
“Very happy to see stormwater is on there,
it’s so important and such a crucial issue in our local communities and of course the sealing of roads has been a big issue across the shire…and the other thing. I’m quite surprised is in here for a good reason is the duplication of the Lilydale to Mooroolbark train line.”
Under Roads and Integrated Transport Infrastructure, Council is advocating for:
• $23 million to help Yarra Ranges Council seal their top 12 identified roads to support emergency access or egress
• Improvements to the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail to enhance cyclist and pedestrian safety
• The duplication of the Lilydale Line between Lilydale and Mooroolbark
• Under Health and Wellbeing, Council is advocating for projects regarding Housing and Homelessness, Mental Health and Urgent Care including:
• Identifying and releasing suitable Commonwealth land for social and affordable housing, as well as funding and delivery pathways to help deliver it when Councils contribute suitable land
• Undertake a comprehensive review and increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance
• Provide targeted funding to the Victorian Government to urgently increase social housing and crisis accommodation
Collaborate with the council to design and fund a homelessness outreach case management service and a drop-in service in Yarra Ranges Expanded resourcing for mental health services, including headspaceLilydale and support to integrate mental health services with general health service provision
Allocate funding for either a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic or a Rural Urgent Care Centre to be developed in Healesville.
Free smoke alarm checks
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
The CFA’s District 13 Command is continuing its vital community safety initiative by providing free smoke alarm installations to residents in the Kallista area.
This service is especially beneficial for vulnerable individuals who may have difficulty installing or maintaining smoke detectors themselves, such as the elderly, those with disabilities, and individuals facing financial or social challenges.
Kallista CFA first lieutenant and training officer, Richard O’Brien said the program is aimed at ensuring that every home has a working smoke alarm as part of an ongoing effort to improve fire safety within the community.
“We want to make sure that people are aware of the importance of smoke alarms and that everyone in our community has access to them,” Mr O’Brien said.
Under Victorian building regulations, all residential properties must have at least one working smoke alarm installed on each level. For properties built before 1 August 1997, either batterypowered or hard-wired alarms are required.
For homes built after this date, smoke alarms must be hard-wired to mains power, with a backup battery. Additionally, any properties undergoing major renovations must comply with these smoke alarm requirements.
This initiative specifically focuses on assisting individuals who are elderly, have mobility is-
sues, live with a disability, or experience financial hardship.
The program ensures these individuals are not left without vital protection in case of a fire.
“We’ve already completed two installations in Kallista, and we have more planned in the coming weeks - we’re working hard to reach those who need this support most,” Mr O’Brien said.
The CFA not only provides the installation of smoke alarms but also takes the opportunity to educate homeowners about fire safety practices.
“One important recommendation we make is to have smoke alarms in every bedroom,” he said.
“Many people have alarms outside sleeping areas, but a fire can spread quickly, and having alarms inside sleeping areas provides an extra level of safety.”
Mr O’Brien also highlighted the growing fire risks associated with lithium batteries, which are commonly used in devices like mobile phones.
“There have been increasing cases of fires caused by lithium batteries, especially when they overheat or are left charging unattended,” he said.
“Having smoke alarms in bedrooms can provide early warning if anything goes wrong.”
This ongoing program is available to anyone who may need assistance.
To find out more or to book an installation, residents can contact the CFA District 13 office at 8739 1300 or email d13commed@cfa.vic.gov. au
For those unable to install their own smoke alarms, this free service ensures no one is left unprotected.
Clean slate for Tecoma Primary School amid day of action
By Tanya Steele
Tecoma Primary School was a hive of action this week as the whole school got together to clean up in the community for Clean Up Australia Day.
Without wasting any time, the primary school kids got together on Thursday 27 February to join in for Clean up Australia Day for 2025.
The clean up initiative was instigated by the grade six 2025 Sustainability Leaders, Lachlan, Aryo, Hunter, Marlie, Scarlett, Chloe, Zara and Amber, who are full of ideas and enthusiasm for sustainability in the school.
“Clean up Australia day is important because the turtles will be saved, and we are stopping the pollution from flowing into the ocean,” said Aryo.
“It means that we are helping to clean up the world and therefore we are saving the animals too,” said Zara.
Hunter said cleaning up our local area impacts our environment, and they have helped to clean up the world.
On the sunny day, foundation to grade two students, teachers, and helpers cleaned up inside the school yard while the grade three to six students, along with their teachers, parents and community members, took on the rail trail from
Glenfern Road, Tecoma through to Blacksmiths Lane, Belgrave.
This is the second year the school has participated in the event in recent years and students, teachers and parents banded together on the
day, led by the school’s Sustainability Leaders.
Teacher and Sustainable Schools Leader Deb Langford said this year’s leaders are more determined than ever.
“After achieving our second Resource Smart Schools star in January, this dynamic group of young leaders have their sights set on achieving at least one more star this year,”she said.
ResourceSmart Schools program is a program run by the Victorian Government, which helps schools add sustainability across all their activities.
It offers practical guidance to reduce resource
consumption, save costs, and integrate sustainability into daily school life.
After a big effort , the sustainability leaders all reported back on the clean up and student Amber said Clean up Australia day means that everyone is helping the community and saving the environment.
“This is a lot of rubbish that we have collected from around Tecoma, but if I’m being honest, I was expecting a lot more,” said Chloe.
Marlie said her favourite thing about being a sustainability leader at Tecoma is that they get to do fun things with younger kids.
“We love looking after the chickens,” she said. Scarlett said part of their leadership role is spending time each week with the younger kids at the school.
“We do things like plant seeds and seedlings, water and weed and I’m hoping we can add a kitchen garden programme soon,” she said.
The sustainability leaders have more projects and plans in mind and are aiming to get their third Resource Smart Star later this year.
“I would like to see a frog pond/frog bog, which will help increase the different types of wildlife,” said Lachlan.
A new chapter for King Henry’s restaurant celebrated
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Sassafras’s King Henry restaurant has long been a beloved spot for both locals and visitors, renowned for its cozy English-style charm and inviting atmosphere - this historic venue has been a cornerstone of the community for many years and, under new management, will continue to offer its warm welcome and cherished dining experience.
A few months ago, there was a wave of disappointment and concern when many customers and locals feared the beloved restaurant would close for good - but to their relief and excitement, King Henry’s has been saved and is now under new ownership of Judy Cheung-Wood and Jagdeep Singh - ready to continue its legacy.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have taken over King Henry’s in Sassafras, a place with so much history and meaning to this community. It’s been a beloved establishment for decades, known for its traditional English charm and inviting vibe,” Mr Singh said.
“Our goal is to preserve the things people love about King Henry’s, while introducing some new and exciting elements, like a mix of Indian dishes alongside the classic British fare.”
“We believe by combining these two vibrant culinary traditions, we can offer something truly unique and fresh. It’s a way to honour the restaurant’s legacy while bringing something new to the table. We can’t wait to welcome both our regulars and new visitors to experience this new chapter of King Henry’s.”
Judy Cheung-Wood, who has lived in the Dandenong Ranges since 2010, adds her personal connection to the restaurant.
“I’ve always had a strong attachment to this
area, and with my husband being from Sassafras, it feels really special to be involved with King Henry’s,” Ms Cheung-Wood said.
“We’ve seen how important this place is to the local community, and when the previous owner decided to retire, we knew we wanted to take on the challenge of continuing the restaurant’s legacy. We’re here to keep the heart of King Henry’s alive while breathing new life into it.”
Since taking ownership, Ms Cheung-Wood and Mr Singh have been working hard to enhance the property.
“We’ve already made a lot of changes to the restaurant, like updating the landscaping, polishing the deck, and adding more lighting to brighten things up,” Ms Cheung-Wood said.
“These improvements are just the beginning, and they show how committed we are to preserving King Henry’s history while making it a welcoming place for everyone. We want people to see that we’re investing in the future of this place, and we’re here for the long haul.”
For both of the owners, it’s not just about serving great food - it’s about creating a space where people can make meaningful memories.
“At King Henry’s, we want to be part of life’s
important moments,” Mr Singh said.
“Whether it’s a wedding, a birthday party, a special day out for seniors, or even a business networking event, we want to help people create those memorable experiences. We’re not just a restaurant - we want to be a place where guests feel at home and can enjoy the company of friends and family in a beautiful setting.”
The restaurant’s beautiful garden, which has long been a favourite for small weddings and events, is also getting some attention.
“People love the peaceful, serene atmosphere here, surrounded by the forest and birds,” Ms Cheung-Wood said.
“It’s a place where you can truly relax. We want to enhance that experience and create a space where people can enjoy a meal, connect with others, and make lasting memories. The garden has so much potential, and we’re excited to continue improving it so that it can be enjoyed by everyone - whether it’s for an event or simply a quiet afternoon out.”
With their new vision and a deep respect for King Henry’s history, Ms Cheung-Wood and Mr Singh are excited to continue to make it a cherished place in Sassafras for years to come.
Both the school grounds and the rail trail in Tecoma got a spruce up.
The sustainability leaders in grade six led the event. (Supplied)
The team at King Henry’s restaurant (L-R): Lem, Chris, Jagdeep, Judy, Nitin, Ella and Amelia. (Stewart Chambers: 462154)
CFA volunteers are happy to help with installations, ensuring that all homes in the Kallista area are better equipped for fire safety.
CFA volunteers ensuring safety by installing smoke alarms in local homes as part of a free service for vulnerable residents in Kallista. (Supplied)
Intrusive questions, intimidation, suggestive jokes...
Gendered violence comes in many forms. All are OHS issues. All are unacceptable.
WorkSafe Gendered Violence
Belgrave Survival Day
By Tanya Steele
On Sunday 2 March, Belgrave and the surrounding community gathered in large numbers at Borthwick Park for Belgrave Survival Day 2025.
Showcasing an epic range of First Nations musicians, artists and businesses, the cool weather change did not deter crowds.
Belgrave Survival Day provides the community with an opportunity to celebrate by recognising and celebrating the survival of Indigenous culture locally and nationally.
Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin alliance in Victoria hosted a Welcome to Country and Smoking ceremony to kick off the day.
“I’m glad to be here,” she said.
“This event has been sustaining itself for over 20 years.”
“It was held on January 26 and there’s a lot of controversy about January 26, but more importantly, everyone at that stage believed that we should have a day where we can celebrate First Nations people, their arts, their music, their culture, their heritage, and have our friends along.”
“For me, Belgrave survival day is exactly what it said is about survival. It’s about being happy, and it’s about enjoying each other and our cultures. And with that, I’d like to begin by saying I’m very proud to be here on my father’s country, grandfather’s country, and we have many other Wurundjeri with us today.”
After Welcome to Country crowds were invited to participate in a traditional smoking ceremony and then enjoy dancing by the Djirri Djirri Dancers - who are the only Wurundjeri female dance group and are Traditional Custodians of Naarm and surrounds.
The dancers took the crowd through several traditional dances and community members were pulled from the crowd to to come up and join in the fun, despite a bit of rain.
Musicians took over from there with Gumbaynggirr and Barkindji singer/songwriter Manduway, Melbourne based First Nations artist Canisha and Jalgany - who is fronted by Nola Lauch, a Kirrae-wurrung/Bundjalung woman who lives on the Mornington Peninsula taking the stage.
The free and all ages community event was coordinated by the Belgrave Survival Day Committee and was presented in partnership with Burrinja Cultural Centre, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place and Yarra Ranges Council.
The crowd go to participate in the Smoking Ceremony. (Tanya Steele: 462879)
Live music, good food and good company made it an easy going day in Belgrace. (3MDR)
The rain did not deter crowds. (Tanya Steele: 462879)
Aunty Joy welcomes the crowd. (Tanya Steele: 462879)
The Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place were serving up paella and churro that went down a treat. (Daniela De Martino, MP Monbulk)
First Nations people, music, food and art were celebrated on Belgrave Survival Day for 2025 as community gathered from all over the Dandenong Ranges. (Tanya Steele: 462879)
FEDERALELECTIONSURVEY
What issues matter most this Federal Election in suburban Australia?
As one of the largest publishers of independent community news in Victoria, Star News Group is conducting this simple survey to gauge community sentiment around the forthcoming federal election.
Please take 5 minutes to have your say and be part of this important conversation. The results of the survey will help us gauge the appetite of readers toward the forthcoming Federal Election and we will share results with our readers.
1. What do you see as the single most important issue in the upcoming federal election?
2. Please select the top 5 of the following issues that are "Extremely Important" to you:
Electricity Prices
Climate Change Policies
Inflation (Cost of Living)
Health Services
Immigration and border control
National roads and rail infrastructure
Water infrastructure
Broadband interenet access
Please specify:
3. Please select the top 5 of the following issues that are "Least Important" to you:
Electricity Prices Climate Change Policies
Inflation (Cost of Living)
Health Services
Immigration and border control
National roads and rail infrastructure
Water infrastructure
Broadband interenet access
Please specify:
4. Which is more important to you? Cheapest electricity possible Reducing carbon emissions
5. Do you support nuclear energy in Australia?
Yes No
6. Would you support a nuclear plant in your local area? Yes No
7. Where would you most like to see a local increase in federal funding, and why?
Local hospitals Local national highways
Local infrastructure project Defence
Other
You can either fill in the survey below and email in or complete the survey online (Simply scan the QR code below) First Name: Last Name: Daytime Contact Phone No:
Once completed, please scan or photograph your completed survey and email to:
8. Regarding immigration policy, do you believe the next government should:
Increase immigration
Reduce Immigration
Keep it about the same
9. At this point are you more likely to vote for:
A major party (Labor or Coalition)
A minor party
An independent
10. On a scale of 1 to 5, (5 the highest), how significant do you think the influence of social media is on public discourse and political decisionmaking in Australia?
1 2 3 4 5 Why?
11. On a scale of 1 to 5, (5 the highest), how concerned are you about global security currently? 1 2 3 4 5 Why?
12. On a scale of 1 to 5, (5 the highest), how concerned are you about housing affordability in your region?
1 2 3 4 5
13. In your opinion, how important is improved national road and transport infrastructure in your region?
1 2 3 4 5
14. What specific infrastructure projects do you believe should be prioritised in your region?
15. Are there any other local or regional issues that you feel are not getting enough attention in the federal election campaign? Please share your thoughts.
16. What age group do you fall into?
CAPTURING THE YARRA RANGES
Cameras key for police work
By Mikayla van Loon
CCTV can be a critical tool for police whether investigating a criminal incident, locating a missing person or piecing together a timeline.
That’s why the Yarra Ranges Safety Camera Network was initiated.
Last week, Star Mail presented the background on the who, what, when, where and why when it came to funding, the purpose of the cameras and which towns had them installed.
This week, the editorial team compiled the many incidents that have been reported on in the last few years where the CCTV networks were funded.
Star Mail journalist Mikayla van Loon also sat down with Mooroolbark Police Sergeant Cal Cunningham to better understand the use, benefit and need of CCTV in the Yarra Ranges.
To begin, Sgt Cunningham explained that cameras are hosted by businesses across the townships with signal boxes also installed to carry the footage back to the police station.
These can be spread not just along main streets but throughout the town centres and typically capture large sections of the immediate vicinity.
“The way the system works, it’s like Wi-Fi sig-
nals or almost like any phone tower. It then relays back to the police station,” he said.
Unfortunately, things like tree branches, signage and anything else that may block or obstruct the signal box has an impact on how well the signal carries.
“We’ve got some systems that seem to be working quite well. There’s others that are needing maintenance. One of the big issue ones is Lilydale because, one, it’s dated but also when they redid the train station it interrupted the signal.
“Because of the rail line and when it was getting built, it’s taken out a lot of the senses, causing a lot of problems.”
When maintained and fully operational Sgt Cunningham said the camera network is invaluable to both live police investigations and accessing footage after the fact.
“It’s done a lot of good work, especially for the detectives at Yarra Ranges CIU and a lot of their investigations have had good results because there’s a camera,” he said.
“So if an incident occurred overnight, the detectives could access the system and actually review it without having to go up and do a canvas.
“One thing we do is look at local businesses and homeowners that might have cameras but
if we’ve got the community cameras up and running properly, it saves detectives time and travel to those remote areas if we’ve got footage we can directly access back at the station.”
Sgt Cunningham said it has also been especially useful in live tracking incidents, sometimes overnight when a unit is stationed elsewhere, to view an incident playing out in real time.
“It’s a rarity to have a police unit based in say Healesville overnight. The closest police station is Lilydale,” he said.
“So again, that’s another reason having these cameras available, when they’re working properly, if there’s an incident in Healesville, we can hook in at a police station and see what’s going on because of the time it takes for a police unit to get up there.”
This may mean the officer in the watch house can give updates on a situation as a unit attends or track the direction an offender may flee in.
Even post investigation, CCTV footage can be vital for evidence in court and limiting the trauma victims may face.
“CCTV can also save victims additional trauma of having to go to court because that can be scary and traumatic, for witnesses too, even though they’re not directly involved, but they’ve
seen it happening,” Sgt Cunningham said.
“If there’s footage and it’s clear what’s happened, that can lead to early pleas of the court, so it doesn’t tie up the court system. It’s a good result for victims because the offender understands the camera shows the incident and will plead guilty rather than putting people through the pain.”
Given the age of some of the cameras, Sgt Cunningham said while some systems like the one in Monbulk, which has been well maintained by the township group, are probably not in need of replacing, others have reached the end of life.
“Upgrading the newer systems is probably not necessary but if we think of it as a bit of a rolling project, starting with the older areas, start where we need the cameras the most so that would be Lilydale, Healesville and Mooroolbark, which are some of the older systems as well as the larger ones.
“Obviously, where we have more issues is where we want to target.”
The advancement in technology since the installation of the initial cameras, Sgt Cunningham said, would most likely have improved exponentially, providing higher quality images with better clarity, which is also a foundational reason for wanting to see upgrades to the systems.
Crime on the rise around the Dandenong Ranges
By Tanya Steele
Across the Dandenong Ranges, CCTV could have been handy in the last few years with crime rises across the outer east flowing out to the hills.
While Belgrave and Upwey have installed systems dating back to 2018, other towns in the Ranges do not, relying on local businesses instead.
Some of the crime across the area in the last few years has been related to rises in the cost of living after Covid and substantial rises in vehicle theft in particular, with arson, theft and robberies topping the list.
Transit Crime Investigation Unit detectives were still investigating the circumstances surrounding a stalking incident that occurred on the Belgrave train line on the 3 December 2024 and the Ranges was the tragic site of a homicide Belgrave in March 2024 after a man died on a Sunday afternoon. It was believed two men got into an argument at a property on BelgraveGembrook Road about 4.30 pm, with a 35-yearold man dying at the scene.
In the same month, an IGA supermarket in Ferntree Gully was the site of an attempted burglary, with teens allegedly attempting to steal items from the business before one of the teenagers threatened a worker with a weapon - not a new situation to the staff there, who often deal with theft in the store.
A series of alleged fast-paced ram raids and
462957)
aggravated burglaries saw three males charge in the eastern suburbs on Saturday 18 Maywith several service stations including ones in Tecoma and an IGA Belgrave South being hit overnight.
The alleged crimes saw several service stations and stores hit – with two underage males allegedly part of the spree.
The trend continued in June, when two teenage males were arrested in Ferntree Gully and Ringwood following a series of alleged burglaries
and aggravated crimes in Upwey, the duo allegedly attempted to enter a premises in Glenfern Road overnight, where they left after being disturbed by the occupant. Afterwards on the same night they allegedly stole two sets of car keys in Mahoney St from inside the premises and two vehicles from the property. Police apprehended one offender on Glenfern Road, Upper Ferntree Gully after he had collided with a roundabout and the second was arrested after crashing in the Mullum Mullum Tunnel, Ringwood.
The Kallista township saw Yarra Ranges Eyewatch release security footage online of a man appearing to vigorously smash a number of windows and doors at a well-known cafe in the town in early July 2024, while later that month as a young woman in her 20s drove home from Knox, she had a terrifying experience on her regular commute home coming up the ‘Devil’s elbow’ of the Mount Dandenong Tourist road when a car stopped across the road and two man emerged allegedly acting suspiciously, one holding a baseball bat.
Policehavebeenregularlyaskingforresidents and business owners who have CCTV fitted to their property to register with them for the last few years, suggesting a growing need for the current network to get upgrades and perhaps even expansions into townships with no coverage.
Police apprehended one offender on Glenfern Rd, Upper Ferntree Gully after he had collided with a roundabout. (Eyewatch)
The shopfront in Belgrave South after ram raids across the outer east carried up into the hills. (File:
The use and access to community-based CCTV footage can be instrumental in police investigations and live tracking of incidents. (File)
CAPTURING THE YARRA RANGES
Thefts, vandalism, more...
By Mikayla van Loon
From the smaller incidents of theft to ram raids, fires and vandalism that have plagued urban town centres over recent years, each could have been limited or at least easily investigated with active CCTV.
While a timeline of incidents would no doubt date back further, Star Mail has drawn upon its own archives since 2021 to piece together criminal incidents across Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Mount Evelyn and Montrose.
An incident that triggered community outcry was the suspicious blaze that sent the old Lilydale fire station up in flames in late May 2021.
The abandoned building on Main Street was destroyed by the fire and had to be demolished after finding it structurally unsound.
It had been known for smaller fires in the past, having been a location used by squatters in winter to keep warm.
In the lead up to Remembrance Day in November 2021, Lilydale RSL had three Poppy Appeal donation tins stolen from different locations across the township.
“The thefts occurred at a business on Castella Street on 26 October, and at two separate businesses on Hutchinson Street on 3 November and 5 November,” a police spokesperson said at the time.
Come 2022, vandalism was rife throughout Lilydale, seeing an increase in antisocial behaviour mostly from young people, attributed to boredom during the winter months.
While incidents of graffiti and bus stops being smashed occurred, a donation bin fire at the Lilydale Marketplace on Saturday 30 July sparked concern among many of the town’s groups and organisations.
Lilydale Township Action Group (LTAG) president Neal Taylor said at the time, there certainly had been a rise in frequency of events like this happening in Lilydale.
“We believe it’s something that’s happening more frequently now. We’ve had a couple of our committee members catch younger people doing vandalism and also graffiti,” he said.
“So it appears that there is a group of youths that seems to be causing a lot of problems.”
Although Lilydale does have a number of security cameras placed along Main Street, Mr Taylor said perhaps advocacy for more cameras in different locations would help deter these youth as well.
“There needs to be some cameras in the ‘behind the scenes’ areas like the football club, it needs to have one there. Stuff like that needs to be taken into account as well.
“It is very frustrating, particularly around the bus shelters and it seemed like it was a late night thing where they’ve come along and smashed it thinking it was fun. It’s incredibly annoying that people can’t respect those sorts of things.”
Speaking to Star Mail in 2022, Mr Taylor didn’t want to draw attention to the lack of CCTV efficiency, given the increase in vandalism incidents but even then he was aware of the need to repair and replace the systems.
“There are security cameras in place but not
all of them are working. A number of them have broken down, and there’s no money to fix them,” he said.
“They were put in place by all the businesses getting together and raising funds…they were set up, and they were maintained and all of the footage was fed to the police.
“But what we understand at LTAG is that a number of them aren’t working anymore. They’re obsolete and they need lots of repairs or replacements.”
In mid August, a Silver Navara 4WD ute was driven through the window of the Montrose IGA on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road.
The businesses own CCTV footage showed the vehicle being reversed between traffic bollards before crashing into the building, causing a smoke-based security system to be set off.
Montrose IGA owner Brad Munro said the security system was installed after another burglary incident in May 2021 and it was the first time it had been activated.
The following day, a man allegedly forced entry into the IGA around 7.30pm and grabbed the content of the till within the cash register before fleeing the scene.
“Our CCTV footage was enough to identify the type of car and the actual people. Once again that’s another system we’ve just upgraded,” Mr Munro said.
“We’ve got 34 cameras around the building and within it, along with the council’s CCTV they’re in the process of installing makes it hopefully a lot more secure.”
Victoria Police said a 33-year-old man was arrested after a carjacking in Bayswater on Tuesday 9 August, where it was “ascertained the man was involved in a burglary at a supermarket in Mt Dandenong Tourist Road early Tuesday morning” and the two incidents weren’t linked.
Mr Munro said it was the third time his business had been targeted, not to mention other incidents along the street.
“There have been some car thefts, there’s been a lot of graffiti, damage to buildings, damage to property, damage to council assets and hopefully with all these upgraded security measures we can curtail it a bit.”
Just days later on Thursday 9 August a Nissan Navara that was set alight on Castella Street, near Gardiner Street, with Yarra Ranges Criminal Investigation Unit detective senior constable Robert Plaucs saying police “believe it is the same vehicle from a burglary at Montrose IGA.”
It was the second car fire in the same week with firefighters responding to a similar call on Sunday 7 August on Bellbird Drive.
Det SC Plaucs confirmed the car fire on Sunday was connected to a burglary that occurred in Silvan not long before the incident.
“We’ve responded to five suspicious fires within the township in just over a week,” Lilydale CFA then executive manager Ron Haines said.
Mr Haines said at the time he wrote to Yarra Ranges Council to enquire about upgrading CCTV cameras around the town.
“Something needs to be done, the cameras need upgrading,” he said.
“It’s very concerning and we need the local community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or behaviour to the local police station or Crime Stoppers.”
A few weeks later Victoria Road Primary School became the target of further vandalism, with windows smashed and graffiti tags plastered across the school campus.
In a continuing and disappointing occurrence, war memorials were again a target of vandals in 2023, with Montrose and Seville bearing the brunt of the attacks.
The “mindless” act of scratching what appeared to be in the shape of a love heart into the Montrose War Memorial in February was just the first requiring quick repair.
Montrose was again targeted in two separate attacks of vandalism and a break in in November
2023, leaving the community outraged by the behaviour.
Members of the community awoke early on Saturday 11 November to find the war memorial had been vandalised with red spray paint in the lead up to the Remembrance Day service.
The historic cottage in the Town Centre, home of the Montrose Township Group, also had items stolen.
Just months prior in September, the Seville War Memorial had the glass panels smashed, leaving a costly replacement for the community, which was only fixed earlier this year.
The most recent incident to occur was the suspicious fire at the Lilydale Recreation Reserve grandstand on Wednesday 12 February this year.
“For weeks now, it’s been coming. They’ve been breaking the seats, leaving a stack of debris up there, having copious amounts of drugs, and with no real consequence, because there’s not much we can do but talk to the police,” Lilydale Cricket Club president Steve Oxley said.
A place noted by Mr Taylor three years earlier as a behind the scenes area, Mr Oxley said in February “we have no real surveillance” also under the impression that “the cameras have all been shut off”.
Mooroolbark Police Sergeant Cal Cunningham said when CCTV works, it is effective.
“There was an incident recently where an offender targeted a male on Brice Avenue, and some of the cameras captured that. That’s invaluable to have that kind of evidence,” he said.
“There’s been countless incidents. I can’t recall the specifics but where we hear over the radio that there’s an issue going on.
“We can give live updates to a police unit going out there that ‘yes, we can see the people and this is where they’re headed’. If we didn’t have that, they could just slip away, because it takes time for a police unit to get to a location where the cameras are live in an instant, so we can actually see what’s going on right away.”
Chairs in the grandstand, the adjoining back walls and the floorboards were damaged in the fire on Wednesday 12 February. (Lilydale CFA)
A Nissan Navara was dumped in Lilydale two days before being set on fire. (Ron Haines)
CAPTURING THE YARRA RANGES
Criminal incidents and CCTV
By Dongyun Kwon
As part of the CCTV campaign, Star Mail looked back at the significant incidents in each township after the CCTV network was not maintained properly due to the lack of funding.
After crime peaked across Yarra Ranges in 2016, there was a correlation between CCTV cameras being installed and the reduction in crime over the next three years but it cannot be confirmed if one impacted the other directly.
The number of total crime incidents peaked in 2016 with a total number of 6308.
The number reduced by 7.3 per cent in 2017 and dropped again by 5.7 per cent in the following year.
After the final funding was distributed, the incident number soared dramatically by 10.8 per cent in 2019 and increased by 3.8 per cent again in the following year.
What criminal incidents happened in Yarra Glen and Healesville after the CCTV network was not maintained properly?
2019
In April, the Healesville Jewellers was targeted by thieves who stole a wooden puzzle box.
Police told the Star Mail that a male and female offender entered the store, and left without paying for the item.
2021
Shorelec Electrical Wholesaler was targeted by thieves who set off with thousands of dollars worth of stock in a robbery in early May.
A few weeks later, his home was burgled again.
A group of youths comprising four females and three males attempted to break into the Yarra Glen Railway Station on Saturday 13 November.
2023
In March, Healesville Jewellers, the Sloppy Seconds clothing shop and Payten and Jones Winery were targeted for burglaries, leaving owners devastated.
The front window of over 30 years operated local jewellery shop was smashed in two places. The store was mostly secure due to the alarm
system and security shutters but a few items were stolen through the front window.
The shop owner was shaken up by the incident.
Sloppy Seconds lost about $300 worth of identifiable men’s designer clothing.
The clothing shop closed down in the following month.
It was the second time Payten and Jones Winery had been targeted.
The offenders tried to enter through the rear of the building, before smashing through a glass door on the side of the building, entering and then setting off the alarm.
Yarra Glen Primary School was targeted for a break-in in July.
The offenders broke into the Yarra Glen Primary School’s chicken coop, letting the chickens out in the process, and used the school’s own eggs in the offence, heading around to the front of the school from the back where the coop was located and threw the eggs to the windows.
2024
When the severe storms hit the Yarra Valley in February, Healesville’s Monroe’s Burger and Beers found the impact of the storms even harsher due to an unexpected incident.
The team found someone had deliberately turned off their generator right before they reopened the shop after the severe weather event.
Everything in the fridges went off due to this incident, and the team lost $3000 worth of stock as well as three days of sales opportunity.
Overnight on a weekend in March, motor vehicles were broken into on Furmston Lane in Healesville.
Saint Paul’s Anglican Church Yarra Glen was attacked by vandals in October.
The offenders broke the windows with stones and smashed a downpipe.
In November, rubbish bins on Healesville main street were set on fire.
Healesville CFA captain Brian Earl told the Star Mail someone had set two rubbish bins alight and had tried to set two more bins alight.
Terminus Hotel in Healesville was targeted for a burglary just after midnight on 18 December.
2025
9News reported a staff member of the Village Grocer was allegedly punched several times by a gang of teenagers.
On 2 January, the Healesville grocery store worker tried to stop the three teenagers who allegedly stole bottles of alcohol before attempting to run from the scene.
The store worker was allegedly punched in the head and kicked several times by the teenage girls.
On 28 February, the Star Mail confirmed with the Victoria Police the investigation for this incident remained ongoing.
The latest incident happened on Sunday 23 February in Healesville.
Cherry Tree Cafe owner Stephen Tuohy was shocked when he opened the cafe around 7.30am as he found the back garden was messed up.
Mr Tuohy’s partner Petra Buest who runs the cafe with him said Mr Tuohy saw plants turned over and a trolley, which was normally in the storeroom, in the middle of the garden.
“Our back gate was broken open and then (Stephen) went in and saw that the storeroom door was open as well, which (the offenders) had broken open,” she said.
“We had certain items in the storage, which
were taken.
“One of them was an antique coffee machine. We had five fans that we were going to put into the shop that were taken and an electric bike that was taken as well.
“A wine fridge and some beverages were taken too.”
On that night, people were staying in the Airbnb accommodation located upstairs in the same building.
Ms Buest said they assumed the break-in happened around 1.30am.
“The Airbnb users woke up and they saw a person entering the door (around 1.30am),” she said.
“They thought it might have been us, cleaner or someone else, and they didn’t think anything more of it.
“They were able to leave a statement with the police, confirming that there had been a person in and confirming the time as well.”
The cafe owners had planned to install a CCTV camera in the back garden before the incident happened, originally to check whether the tables were empty or not through their mobile phones.
“(The offenders) didn’t come from the front of the cafe. The whole cafe hasn’t been disturbed at all. They came from the backside,” Ms Buest said.
“We were surprised by it because we thought (if someone broke into our cafe,) they were going to enter from the front and maybe try and look for money.
“We didn’t think that someone would know what’s in that storeroom. It’s so unusual that they would just target the storeroom.”
The cafe owner raised concerns regarding the increased criminal incidents in the town.
“It’s frustrating because there are others who have been targeted,” Ms Buest said.
“The next door was targeted as well but they didn’t get through.
“The Terminus (Hotel Healesville) was targeted as well. I’ve read it in the newspaper.”
Suspicious incidents rife through Upper Yarra townships
By Callum Ludwig
In recent years, a number of incidents have occurred in and near the town centres of the Upper Yarra impacting businesses and community facilities.
Active and operational CCTV could have played an important role in identifying offenders or helping uncover what happened but cameras pledged and installed have been shut off.
One of the most costly criminal incidents to hit the Upper Yarra community in recent years was the damage done to the Seville War Memorial in September 2023.
It took until February 2025 for the memorial to be restored to its former glory, requiring government and community bank grants to remove the damaged panels and recreate and install replacements.
President of the Seville Township Group Graeme Black said in March 2024 that they hoped to increase the security of the memorial when it was restored.
“We’re imminently expecting CCTV cameras which will capture this area and then along the highway, these have all been passed and funded by the Federal Government and so we expect that to happen fairly soon,” he said.
Another major incident in Seville was the firebombing of the tobacconist in February 2024 which not only destroyed the shopfront but damaged the nearby dentist and Branded Burgers and Bar restaurant.
An individual was later arrested, interviewed and released pending further enquiries in relation to the incident, which was linked to crossborder illicit tobacco trafficking conducted by an organised crime group.
In Wandin North, a police investigation into an alleged armed robbery of a business in the shopping precinct took several months and required multiple digital images to be developed to release to the public.
The incident occurred on 4 September 2024 and police released their first digital image, believed to be of a 60 per cent likeness to the offender and depicting a blue-eyed man in a hoodie and with his mouth covered, at the start of December. The following week, a further digital image of ‘excellent’ likeness was released with the man now uncovered with mediumlength blonde hair and a long beard. An arrest was made on 17 December after police executed a search warrant at a Monbulk address.
Another incident in the Wandin North business precinct in June 2024 caused thousands of dollars of damage.
CCTV in the TerryWhite Chemmart in Wandin North captured two individuals attempting to break in with a sledgehammer or other large tool just before 4am on Sunday 2 June, heading straight to the dispensary once inside before resorting to stealing some stock, believed to have fled in the direction of Lilydale having come from Seville.
Owner of the TerryWhite Chemmart Nabih Barsoum said at the time he thought some upgrades to security on the strip of shops could help.
“If we had more cameras in that strip, we could capture them from all different directions, which would help identify them more, we need fixed cameras, not just by the shop owners, because you cannot force them to do it,” he said.
“More light as well, I’ve got my own light out the front of the pharmacy but everywhere else is so dark as well,”
“We need to come up with a plan for the whole strip because it’s attractive for criminals and they will keep coming back.”
In September 2024, Yarra Junction man Jason Wong was killed following a potential road rage incident. Witnesses said Mr Wong was being tailgated by a driver in a green Holden Commodore on the Warburton Highway before both drivers came to a stop near the intersec-
tion with Elvian Road, just down from the Woori Yallock township. Mr Wong stopped to assess some damage to his vehicle, potentially from the other driver hitting his car, while the other driver drove off. Mr Wong’s vehicle then rolled back into a ditch, pinning him underneath and he later died at the scene. Police called for the driver of the other vehicle to come forward.
In Yarra Junction, a couple of violent incidents in the township in recent years could have been caught on CCTV.
In April 2022, a 15-year-old boy was charged after glassing a 16-year-old victim with a broken glass bottle on the corner of Hoddle Street and Warburton Highway.
Just up the road in July 2023, police investigated an assault in the vicinity of a supermarket in Yarra Junction, likely the Woolworths, where a male and female were involved in an altercation.
Back on the roads, a number of hoon incidents in March 2022 in the Upper Yarra prompted a crackdown from police where they sought to find multiple offenders who encouraged and competed with each other throughout the region.
This wasn’t the first time hoon drivers hit the Upper Yarra either, with the Wesburn-Millgrove Fire Station left with skid marks in August 2021 after a driver did burnouts out the front. This incident was caught on CCTV footage of the scene, though the black and white footage and the bright headlights of the vehicle made gathering evidence from it tricky.
Millgrove facilities were also targeted by vandals twice in as many weeks in January-February 2023, damaging the River Valley Church van and ripping out a fence gate and smashing a lock at the Millgrove Preschool.
An alleged arsonist from McMahon’s Creek who struck late at night in the Upper Yarra in August 2024 before handing themselves in in Wangaratta the next day could have been
caught on CCTV when travelling the Warburton Highway between Don Valley, Warburton and McMahons Creek where he struck.
There have been a number of incidents in Warburton in recent years where CCTV could have helped in investigations.
Police arrested a 23-year-old Warburton man at a venue on the Warburton Highway in Warburton in August 2022 following a stabbing that resulted in another man being airlifted to hospital. Investigations were ongoing the following day while police continued to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Glenn Usher-Clarke tragically murdered Warburton man Martin Sheahan in his home in January 2022 before fleeing the scene to take his own life in the toilets at Wesburn Park while emergency services attended the Sheahan household. While it was not necessary in the end, CCTV could have captured Usher-Clarke as he fled the scene if he continued to try to escape.
Police released a digital image of man of an alleged pervert in Warburton who exposed himself to a 17-year-old girl by the Yarra River near the Redwood Centre before leaving the scene.
CCTV footage was used in the investigation of a suspicious fire in the old IGA building in Warburton in June 2022 where a male and female were caught on camera near the scene close to the time of the fire overnight. Further CCTV footage could have helped capture their movements around the time of the blaze.
Warburton Police asked the public for assistance to help catch vandals who ‘egged’ and defaced the shopfront of the Charlie Horse Vintage Clothing store in Warburton overnight between 31 October and 1 November 2024.
Saint Paul’s Anglican Church Yarra Glen was attacked by vandals in 2024. (Dongyun Kwon: 440742)
Free career support
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
For anyone in need of career advice, job search tips, or resume assistance, Belgrave Library hosted valuable support sessions on the first Monday of each month.
Swinburne Skills and Job Centre careers support advisor, Olivia McDougall, was on hand to offer free one-on-one career services to the community, having run the first session on Monday 3 March.
As a qualified career practitioner, Ms McDougall and her team were committed to helping individuals of all backgrounds navigate their career paths.
“Our goal is to make our services accessible to the local community, and libraries provide the perfect environment to meet people where they are comfortable,“ Ms McDougall said.
The Belgrave Library sessions were part of a wider initiative to bring career support into local community spaces across the Dandenong Ranges and beyond.
No one too young or too old for career support:
The Swinburne Skills and Job Centre offers free and impartial services for everyone, no matter their age or stage in life.
“We saw clients ranging from school leavers to mature-age individuals looking for a career change,” she said.
“Our clients came from all walks of life - some were looking for a job after returning to work as parents, while others were long-term unemployed or in need of a fresh direction.”
These career support sessions are available to anyone in the community, and there is no charge.
“The beauty of our service was that it was flexible and tailored to meet each person’s individual needs - whether it was one session or several, we helped clients at their own pace,“ Ms McDougall said.
Tips for students seeking their career path:
For students looking to find their ideal career, Ms McDougall offered three key pieces of advice:
• Explore and gain experience – try different activities like volunteering, internships, or parttime jobs. Exposure to various industries can help you discover what you enjoy and what suits you.
• Develop transferable skills – employers value teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Build these skills through school projects, extracurriculars, and casual work.
• Be open to change – stay flexible, embrace learning, and don’t be afraid to try new things. Your interests and opportunities may evolve over time, so it’s important to be adaptable.
A Community-Focused Service: Ms McDougall’s role at the Swinburne Skills and Job Centre is to offer support to those in the Maroondah, Knox, and Yarra Ranges areas, but the program is accessible to all Victorians.
“Swinburne’s Skills and Jobs Centres are a fully funded initiative of the Victorian State Government, offering career advice, training information, and job search strategies to anyone who needs it,“ she said.
The Belgrave Library sessions has been running regularly for over two years, and with no fees or eligibility requirements, they are an excellent resource for anyone looking to take the next step in their career.
Whether you are just starting out or making a change, Ms McDougall and the team are available on the first Monday of each month to provide the advice and support you need.
Booking was essential. To reserve a spot, you could call Belgrave Library at (03) 9800 6489.
Swinburne Skills and Job Centre advisor Olivia McDougall will be providing free one-on-one career support to the community at Belgrave Library. (Supplied)
THE SPOTLIGHT
Hope and encouragement
By Tanya Steele
Underneath my Umbrella has launched ‘Black and White’ an exhibition series bringing family violence, the lived experiences of survivors and the journey they go on to heal themselves into the spotlight.
Sitting quietly in Coonara Community House in Upper Ferntree Gully, the exhibition features ten stories of hope and encouragement from woman who have been through both intense trauma and recovery.
“This is a real woman, this is her and her truth,” said founder of Underneath my Umbrella, artist and exhibit curator Julie.
“The artworks have balanced out and brought elements of beauty, of hope and healing – it’s an interpretation of what recovery does look like and how recovery is actually possible,” she said.
Bringing together women with lived experience of family violence, Julie said she began the project last July in 2024.
“Women who were ready and willing to share their story of family violence recovery, and so they’ve come from all around Melbourne,” she said.
Julie brought them together with a few photographers and artists from around Melbourne and interstate.
“The idea was to draw out the narrated, handwritten stories from the women with lived experience and partner them with an artist that could capture and reflect what recovery looked and sounded like from an artist’s perspective,” said Julie.
“So the stories were always going to be deidentified, to protect the identity of the women and to personalize the story,” she said.
Coming into the realm of art and trauma recovery also began with community art for Julie, who is a survivor with lived experience and an artist herself. She participated in a governmentfunded art project around six years ago.
“It helped me to tell my story digitally through visual communication,” she said.
“The impact that it made a difference that it made for me to express my story in my voice, with my creativity.”
“It was a really, really powerful tool.”
Julie went on to found Underneath my Umbrella, which started off doing creative arts dropin spaces in Rowville and Monbulk.
Coming down into the Foothills more recently
in the last 18 months, Julie has been working with Knox Council and Volunteer for Knox and said she has established a couple of drop-in spaces in the area.
“Women can just come they’re safe spaces –we’re a free service, although non-funded.” Julie said.
“The recovery space is where the passion is,” she said.
People can attend the free sessions at the Church hall at Uniting Church Ferntree Gully on the first Wednesday of each month and every second Monday at The Knox Library to participate in a variety of creative activities that assist women to restore value, find their voice and share their stories.
“Creative arts help to express things to help navigate the mental health journey and the heart health journey,” said Julie.
“It seems to work, not for everyone, but there are women that just find it so encouraging and so helpful,” she said.
“The drop-in spaces themselves are a framework for women to determine their own recovery journey – so being able to sit there with people who understand you is a big thing.”
Julie will continue her work with Underneath my Umbrella, launching for the second year running a ‘Share your story project that is taking registrations
“I’m doing that again this year in a different context. So I’m going through the process of looking at locations and getting funding for that,” she said.
“I’m trying to build more awareness.”
“The exhibition itself is encouragement and empowerment and awareness, but also it will. It provides information that can help with prevention policies for local governments.”
Julie hopes to feature this current Black and White exhibit throughout Melbourne with plans already underway for it to show at Forest Hill in May and Miller’s Homestead at The Basin later in the year.
“Getting someone else within the greater region of Melbourne to host the exhibition, to take it on - that would be awesome,” she said.
Black and White opened on 17 February and will be at Coonara Community House in Upper Ferntree Gully at 22 Willow Rd, Upper Ferntree Gully until 4 April and is a free exhibit.
‘Beautifully gothic’ vamp rocks IWD 2025 showcase
By Tanya Steele
The ‘beautifully gothic’ fashionista of the streets, the Tecoma Veteran Vamp has taken in some studio time recently, being featured as part of a regular portrait series for by a renowned Melbourne artist.
Beloved Hills icon Michelle Trebilco aka the Veteran Vamp – A Thriftalicious Fashionista was photographed as part of Warburton photographer Suzanne Phoenix’s 2025 International Women’s Day portrait series this year.
“I’m very honoured,” Ms Trebilco said.
“There are some very amazing sounding people who are also participants in it, musos, activists and other entertainers,” she said.
Photographer Suzanne Phoenix said Michelle is simply iconic and a joy to photograph.
Amongst Ms Phoenix’s list this year was an array of Melbourne personalities including activists, actors, artists, authors, DJs, fashionistas, journalists, models, musicians, performers and producers.
Ms Phoenix said she is excited to bring together another 23 people into her IWD portrait series for 2025.
“I continue to collaborate with cis and trans women and gender diverse people, predominantly in Melbourne’s music and queer performance scenes, as a place to document and provide an uncensored voice,” she said.
Ms Phoenix has plans to release a self-pub-
lished book which will include both the portraits and each person’s uncensored written response to the question – ‘What Does Interna-
tional Women’s Day Mean to me?’
The photographer has worked with Michelle a number of times before this series with her Celebrate Ageing projects, firstly for her Old is Beautiful campaign and then for the Cardigan Pride launch.
The fashionista is known to Hills locals for her head-turning looks created from opshopped goods and over the years has created outfits and accessories from nearly everything you can imagine and maybe some things you couldn’t.
Ms Trebilco attended Ms Phoenix’s shoot late last year and said knowing ahead that it was going to be black and white, she aimed to wear items with interesting shapes and textures.
Her portrait sees her sporting a pair of sunglasses which had blood droplets, a necklace along a similar vein and a tentacle ring.
“I wasn’t nervous at all, Suzanne was very encouraging and supportive,” said Ms Trebilco.
“Michelle looked spectacular for the IWD2025 shoot in a completely red ensemble,” said Ms Phoenix.
“The IWD series is always in black and white because I love the medium and it helps you focus just on the person in these portraits.”
“I think Michelle looks just so beautifully gothic in her portrait.”
Continuing her catwalks through Tecoma and her volunteer work at the local op shop Ms Trebilco often catches portraits of her own,
photographing other locals who catch her eye.
“I do like to post pictures of people,” she said.
“I see my customers, or anyone I see out and about that looks interesting and I like to get photos of them and post them on my Facebook page because I think people enjoy seeing normal people,” she said.
Tecoma local Cat was featured by the Vamp on Facebook recently, sporting a completely matching mushroom outfit, dress, tights and bag to boot.
“My fashion philosophy is when I wake up I go through my dresses and work out what makes me smile the most that day then accessorise around it,” Cat said.
“My earrings are cute and quirky and my clothes and tights are colourful and sometimes whimsical – I just like to wear clothes that make me happy,” she said in the comments in the Vamp’s comment section.
Planning her outfits a week in advance, Ms Trebilco loves accessorising her looks and continues to grow her presence on social media with over 22 thousand followers.
“I do have a lot of locals who follow me and they tried to pick out the locations of my nature walks,” she said.
“A lady saw me in front of Ferntree Gully Vinnies on Sunday, but she didn’t say hello. She said she was star-struck.”
“Come and say hello, I’m an ordinary person.”
Michelle Trebilco aka the Veteran Vamp – A Thriftalicious Fashionista was photographed as part of Warburton photographer Suzanne Phoenix’s 2025 International Women’s Day portrait series this year.(Suzanne Phoenix)
The project combines multiple works to present a story, lived experience, art and heart healing.
Sitting quietly in Coonara Community House in Upper Ferntree Gully the exhibition features ten stories of hope and encouragement on the family violence recovery journey.
‘Stories of the hearts reflected through diamonds’ reads the flyer for Black and White - a series featuring ten stories of hope and encouragement on the family violence recovery journey. (Supplied)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Festival win strikes a chord
A Healesville-based musician is looking forward to performing at The Basin Music Festival with his new guitar.
Robbie Greig won a songwriting contest held by The Basin Music Festival last year.
As a prize, he received a customised guitar made by renowned The Basin-based luthier Sachar Amos, who has contributed his talents to the music festival over the years.
The custom-made process took 11 months, and Greig recently received his prize, which he described as a “fine, beautiful instrument.”
“(Amos) asked me what kind of guitar I’d like, and he made it according to his specifications. He told me what woods there were and what sorts of styles there were,” he said.
“I chose to have a classical guitar with a pickup inside so that I can plug in it. He didn’t use any factory-built moulds, templates or anything. He did it all from scratch.
“I’ve visited his studio a number of times during that 11 months, and I’ve seen it in different stages of development, which has been really educational.”
He was stoked when he won the songwriting contest with his ballad song The Moon In The Man (For JR) written upon the death of his friend.
“It’s a fairly mellow song, given the theme. It’s about him as a songwriter and a musician,” Greig said.
“He expressed his feelings, and a lot of them were the beauty of the world and love, so I kind of think he was influenced by the moon.”
The musician and his guitar are now taking time to get to know each other more.
The Basin Music Festival marks its 20th anniversary held between 21 and 23 March.
Greig’s gig will start at 11am on Sunday 23 March at the Acorn Bar on 375 Forest Road, The Basin.
Sachar Amos (left) handed Robbie Greig the prize. (Supplied)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Young artist scores grant
By Tanya Steele
A little support from the community goes a long way and advice from local artists, social media and a council grant have made it possible for a young artist to attend a major wearable art festival in Queensland.
Young Yarra Ranges origami artist April will be able to head off to experience wearable art later this year after successfully securing a Youth Pathways Grant from the Yarra Ranges Council this month.
“I am stoked to have been invited backstage at the upcoming Australian Wearable Art Festival up in Queensland in August!” read April’s post on social media on 19 February.
“And thanks to Yarra Ranges Council, I have just been awarded a Youth Pathways grant to help me get there,” it said.
On the weekend of 9 to 11 August, The Australian Wearable Art Festival will see April and her mother Rachael travel to Queensland for an exciting opportunity to see a range of wearable art up close and behind the scenes.
The festival is in its fifth year and celebrates artists and designers to create and wear unusual and unique materials.
April has been crafting in the origami space for several years and has recently branched into creating wearable pieces.
Support from her community has led to the exciting invitation to Queensland and the young artist said after she made an origami skirt and her mum posted it on socials, a local artist reached out to suggest that she enter it into some competitions.
After discovering the wearable arts festival in Queensland, April said she then found out that she was too young to enter.
“When we emailed the Australian Wearable Art Festival, Wendy (from AWAF) suggested that I seek sponsorship to attend and tour backstage,” she said.
“I’m loving making origami outfits so would love to enter one when I am old enough.”
With the help of her family April then began the process of applying for a grant through Yarra Ranges Council to help cover some of the cost.
No stranger to grant applications, Mum Rachel spotted that there was a ‘Youth Pathways’ category available.
“The grant will cover entry to the festival for us both which is awesome as well have lots of other expenses to get there too,” said Rachel.
Yarra Ranges Director of Communities, Leanne Hurst said that the Youth Pathway grants are designed to help support the development of young people, which in turn helps build strong
and inclusive communities.
“The grants help our younger people build their potential while developing skills that align closely to whatever their passion or career aspirations are,” she said.
April said making a skirt out of origami was a process of experimentation that began in 2023.
“I started experimenting with making origami fabric – I managed to do it but then couldn’t make it work as a skirt,” she said.
“I took a break from that project, then revisited the next year with new ideas – just in time for my homeschool formal.”
“I made it work and wore it to my formalalong with the rest of the outfit I made.”
April said she began learning origami when she was five and started selling it when she was seven, moving on to online sales and paid workshops by the time she turned 11.
“I started asking Mum for a lemonade-type stall out the front of our house and she suggested origami,” she said.
“Since then, I moved on to selling at markets, in shops and building a website.”
April said she loves building her business and loves creating products that people want to buy.
“I love creating new origami art,” she said.
The young artist is currently working on running workshops in the hills and on her next outfit and said she has about half of it ready.
“I’ll post it on my socials when it is ready,” she said.
“I am so excited to be teaching my first origami fabric/pleating workshop in a few weeks.”
If you are or know of a younger person who would benefit from the Youth Pathway Grants, please visit the Yarra Ranges council website for more information or to apply at https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Community/Grants/Applyfor-Monthly-Grants. “
Monbulk muralist shortlisted for People’s Choice Award
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Monbulk’s talented muralist and fine artist has recently made waves in the Australian art scene by being shortlisted for the People’s Choice Award at the prestigious Frankston Street Art Festival.
This nomination has placed Elizabeth Gleeson alongside eight other incredible artists from across Australia, all vying for a spot on the 2026 mural festival line-up.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for the People’s Choice Award,” Gleeson said, brimming with excitement and gratitude.
“It’s such an honour to be considered among such amazing artists, and if I win, it would mean a dream come true to be on the line-up for 2026.”
One of the standout projects that contributed to Gleeson’s nomination was a massive mural she completed in Japan last year.
Over the course of two weeks, the Monbulk artist and three assistants transformed an eightand-a-half-meter-high building in Hokkaido, Japan, using four levels of scaffolding.
“It was an incredible experience, we faced many challenges, but it was so rewarding to see it all come together,” she said.
TheFrankstonStreetArtFestivalisrenowned for its global reach, with over 60 massive murals now adorning the streets of Frankston - being a part of the official 2026 line-up would be a significant milestone in Gleeson’s career.
“The festival has become a hub for incredible street art from both local and international artists and to be a part of that, to see my work on such a huge scale, would be a dream come true,” she said.
The People’s Choice Award voting is open until March 12, with the winner announced at the launch party on March 18.
Gleeson hopes her supporters will cast their votes in her favour.
“It would mean so much to me if people voted for me, it would be such an honour to have my art displayed on such a grand scale,” she said.
When asked what winning the award would
mean for her career, Gleeson reflected thoughtfully: “Winning this award would elevate my career to the next level – it would place me among Australia’s top artists, and that’s something I’ve worked really hard for.”
Being an artist is more than just a profession for Gleeson; it’s a calling.
“Being an artist feels like a privilege, it’s an honour to be able to share what comes through me with the world, to add beauty and joy in the way that I know best. It’s really vulnerable to share your work with the world, but doing it on a large scale, publicly, is both daunting and incredibly rewarding,” she said.
While the fine artist’s career is about creating, she also faces the reality of being a full-time
artist and entrepreneur.
“It’s not just about creating art. There’s a huge amount of admin work that comes with it, and it can be really challenging to juggle everything,” she said.
“But at the end of the day, the joy of creating something beautiful makes it all worth it.”
She finds much of her inspiration in the world around her, particularly from patterns, Art Nouveau, and folk art.
“I love bringing those influences together to create something new – and combined with my fascination with symmetry, history, and worldbuilding, I’m able to bring those elements into my work in a way that feels fresh and contem-
porary,” Gleeson said.
In addition to her mural work, Ms Gleeson’s art has been featured in an international publication.
She was recently recognised in the British Vogue Pages for her fine art piece, Held: A Self Portrait of Sorts.
“When I received the email from them, I was in disbelief, it took me a little while to realise it was real, but it was an absolute honour to be featured alongside such wonderful artists,” she said.
As a female artist in a traditionally maledominated field, Gleeson is passionate about breaking down barriers and paving the way for more women in the mural art world.
“For so long, male artists were the face of street art, but I’m proud to be part of a change that’s starting to take place,” she said.
“My work is niche, and it’s wonderful to see it resonate with so many people – being shortlisted for the People’s Choice Award is a reflection of that shift.”
Gleeson also spoke about a recent donation mural she created at the SSU Studio and Gallery in Ferny Creek.
“It was such a joy to kick off the year with this bright, cheerful mural,” she said.
“The mural was a donation, and the wall was generously provided by Sammy Edney, a wellrespected tattoo artist – the mural brightens up the area and adds some sunshine to the hills, which was the perfect way to start 2025.”
For Gleeson, the satisfaction of her work goes beyond creating murals; it’s about making a difference in the community.
“It’s been so rewarding to see the positive responses to my art, especially in Monbulk, the mural I created in the centre of town has brought so much colour and vibrancy, and it’s wonderful to know that people feel connected to it,” she said.
To cast your vote for Elizabeth Gleeson and support her on her journey, visit the Imagine Frankston website before March 12.
Partners in art: Elizabeth Gleeson with fiance, Gerard Russo. (Supplied)
The young artist has already created wearable origami clothing and worn it to her homeschool formal. (Folded by Me)
April is excited to attend the Wearable Arts Festival in part thanks to the Yarra Ranges Youth Pathways Grant.
By Maria Millers
Next Saturday will be International Women’s Day which celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
NEWS All things female feted WOORILLA WORDS
Last Thursday on a beautiful day when it felt good to be alive, a group of over 30 people, predominantly women, gathered in the Rotunda of the Emerald Cemetery to hear reflections on and memories of the lives of two remarkable women: poet Stella Turner and artist Jenny Saulwick.
The event was part of U3A’s Our Women’s Lives Well Lived class initiated and led by Dorothy Scott.
It emphasized the importance of keeping alive the memories of those gone and cherishing the moments we had shared with them.
I spoke about Stella Turner who had been a member of the Woorilla Writers and involved in our publications, performances and literary festivals.
Environmentalist Karen Alexander spoke of Jenny Saulwick’s incredible life of art and design and the recognition she received.
Among personal reflections shared with Jenny’s children and friends who were present Karen drew our attention to the incredible volume of Jenny’s art and design as outlined in the Awards Ceremony of the Lifetime Achievement Yarra Ranges 1916.
Jenny has also been a leader on environmental and arts issues since she first moved to the Dandenong Ranges in 1968.
As well as bringing up a family and running an arts business she has been involved in many organisations and campaigns.
These campaigns have sought to build and maintain local community spirit and awareness.
This has contributed in no small part of making the Dandenong Ranges a unique and highly valued district famous for the arts and environment.
Stella’s son Peter and family of her close friend, nature artistSusieWardle were there to hear me speak about when Stella Turner joined Woorilla Writers.
She was already a published poet, and regular contributor to many literary magazines and a long
-time member of the Society of Women Writers.
Her other passions were music and nature in all its forms, from tiny birds that filled her garden to rugged outback vistas and native plants.
Her long time friendships and association with Suzie Wardle and naturalist Jean Galbraith translated into beautifully illustrated books of poetry: Season of Gold, Fuscias at Six, Descant of Birds and the 25 Wild Flowers of the Dandenongs.
An accomplished cellist, after her marriage she turned to Chamber Music, teaching and writing lyrics. In 1985 together with Wendy Morrisey they won the Henry Lawson Award for classical songs and she continued collaborating in bringing music to children. Such was her collaboration with Bob Graham in the delightful Sounds and Music.
Outback Woman by Stella Turner Woman, you belong to the red earth
And stunted mallee gums
Where a hot ball of sun Rolls across the sky shrinking reluctant grass to spikes… where water is the enemy to be fought, outwitted, taken prisoner.
Tap the tank rings
Wash in a cup of water, then Carry any dregs to your dream a rose bush near your back door. It has flowered for you in good years Yet your eyes have a far-away look.
Emerald U3A thriving: Check out what they have on offer
Emerald U3A is kicking off another successful year, continuing to grow and adapt despite the challenges faced in recent years - from fewer than 300 members in 2017, the organisation has now surpassed 400 members — a remarkable achievement, particularly considering the disruptions caused by COVID-19 and multiple lockdowns.
While there was understandable hesitation about returning, especially among older individuals more vulnerable to illness, the U3A has bounced back stronger than ever.
The secret to their success lies in a simple yet effective formula: keeping minds active, bodies moving, and fostering social connections.
These three pillars are the foundation of Emerald U3A, and research consistently shows that they are crucial for thriving in later years.
Today, Emerald U3A offers over 60 courses and activities, ranging from philosophy and Scrabble to pickleball, music jamming, Australian history, German language, felting, and even medieval music.
This diverse array of offerings ensures that members can keep their minds sharp, stay physically active, and nurture their creativity.
Each course exists because a member of the community stepped forward to share their passion. While some tutors are retired university professors, the vast majority are simply enthusiastic volunteers eager to pass on their knowledge. Emerald is fortunate to be home to a community of informed and generous individuals, and the U3A benefits from a beautiful venue where most classes are held.
Some of the groups are particularly adventurous, enjoying activities like bushwalking, exploring local gardens, and playing sports designed for older bodies. No matter the activity, one thing is clear: the members truly enjoy each other’s company.
Social connection is a key element of the U3A’s success. For many of the Hub-based groups, the tea break during class is considered just as important as the session itself.
Do you yearn for more than one rose bush?
The Emerald Cemetery is a peaceful well -tended bush fringed oasis, a short drive from Emerald with graves going back in time to the late eighteen hundreds.
Cemeteries have long been places of contemplation, where the living came to remember the dead and perhaps reflect on how short our lives really are.
How many times on road trips around the country or overseas have you been drawn to an old cemetery?
Often visibly neglected, yet you can’t help but be captivated by the moss-covered tombstones, the weathered crosses, or the crumbling headstones.
Some, like famous war cemeteries, are tourist attractions.
Cemeteries are interesting.
They’re worth visiting and they’re worth studying.
But today people are finding it hard even to visit their living loved ones, so regularly visiting a cemetery may be relegated to only special anniversaries.
To read the gravestones on the hill;
The graveyard draws the living still,
But never anymore the dead.
The verses in it say and say:
“The ones who living come today
To read the stones and go away
Tomorrow dead will come to stay.”
Excerpt from In a Disused Graveyard by Robert Frost.
There is a growing change of sentiment towards how we bury our dead.
For some, burial is dictated by religious and cultural norms but many in a predominantly secular society hold different views.
With urbanization and population on the increase, as well as a scarcity of land, there is growing interest in green burials, moving away from using materials like wood, metal, stone etc. all of which contribute to deforestation and carbon emissions.
Some cemeteries have been built on land with
contested histories, including Indigenous. Green burials, cremation, and digital memorials are gaining popularity as more people reconsider how they want to be remembered while minimizing environmental and financial burdens.
There is also now a generation who may prefer online memorials and virtual tributes instead of traditional grave site visits.
Every grave tells a unique story, hinting at the trials, victories, and tribulations that the deceased experienced during their time on Earth.
Each tombstone bears witness to a life lived, filled with joys and sorrows, love and loss.
Could not the same be achieved with alternative means of ‘burial’ that acknowledges the changing society and the need to protect our environment.
We can surely still reflect on mortality, fragility of existence and the legacies left to us.
In the case of both Stella Turner and Jenny Saulwick they were gifted artists who have left us public examples of their work.
We should not forget but make sure we keep them alive but also remember that there are of course many more private treasured legacies left by less prominent women and families will hopefully make sure these legacies are passed on to future generations.
And as I opened my talk with a quote from 18th century woman writer, George Eliot, I will finish this piece with the same quote:
Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them.
Similarly the ancient Egyptians believed that only when your name vanished from people’s memories, you were truly dead.
On International Women’s Day remember not just the women who have left public legacies like Stella and Jenny but also all those who have in some way touched your lives.
The groups organiser Peter Maloney said conversations are lively, and the group hosts at least one event each quarter, offering good food and hospitality.
“All of this is covered by a very reasonable annual subscription, to ensure it’s accessible for all members on fixed retirement incomes,” he said.
Behind the scenes, the management committee plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of the organisation.
The committee meets once a month, but communication continues through phone calls, texts, and emails between meetings to keep things running smoothly.
The committee members are self-starters, always willing to step up and help out with everything from setting up rooms for special events to rearranging furniture, troubleshooting technology, baking scones, or preparing mulled wine.
Many committee members are also tutors, further enhancing the sense of community.
Emerald U3A places great value on gratitude. They recognise the importance of acknowledging the efforts of volunteers, and regularly express appreciation through thank-you notes, cards for those who are unwell, and small gifts at the end of the year. It’s a simple but meaningful way of showing members they’re valued.
So, what’s behind Emerald U3A’s continued success? It’s the sense of purpose, connection, and community that keeps members engaged. Rather than falling into the stereotype of older people being too set in their ways, the U3A proves that age is no barrier to learning or having fun.
Members celebrate what they can do, what they’ve achieved, and, above all, they laugh and interact together. This combination of social connection, learning, and community spirit is what has helped Emerald U3A not just survive, but thrive.
Honouring a community
By Eve John
A community is only as strong as the people who hold it together, and at the heart of ours are the volunteers, people who give their time, energy and kindness to help others, asking for nothing in return - their work isn’t always visible, but their impact is undeniable.
They are the ones who show up, again and again, ensuring that no one feels alone, that a warm meal is always available, and that a listening ear is never too far away.
Last week, the incredible individuals at the Foothills Community Care Volunteer Celebration were honoured at an event, hosted by Community Bank Ferntree Gully at the Boronia Bowls Club.
More than 140 people gathered to recognise the volunteers who dedicate themselves to making life better for others. It was an evening filled with laughter, connection and heartfelt gratitude, a small way to thank those who give so much of themselves to the community.
Volunteers don’t just donate their time, they bring compassion, warmth and unwav-
ering commitment. They wake up early to prepare meals for strangers, spend late nights comforting those in crisis and show up in moments when hope feels lost.
They carry the weight of other people’s burdens and never turn away from those who need help. Their generosity isn’t measured in hours or tasks but in the lives they touch, the families who feel supported, the individuals who find strength and the countless moments of kindness that ripple through the community.
For over 23 years, Community Bank Ferntree Gully has proudly supported these volunteers, recognising that the true strength of a community lies in its people.
Chair of the community bank, Des Higginbotham said, “their work goes beyond filling immediate needs, they create a culture of care, a reminder that no matter how difficult life gets, someone is always there to help.”
To every volunteer, thank you. Your kindness, your passion and your selflessness inspire us all. You are the heart of our community, and we are beyond grateful for everything you do.
Monbulk Member Daniela with volunteers Laura, Amber and Alice. (Supplied)
You, me and MPs, a toolkit
With news of a Federal Election approaching, now is an ideal time for community members to strengthen their understanding of Australia’s parliamentary system.
The You, Me and MPs Toolkit is a resource developed by Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) in collaboration with the Parliament of Victoria, and is a valuable resource designed to empower community members to engage with the democratic process.
Co-created with community members, local Members of Parliament and Electorate Officers, the toolkit aims to empower individuals to navigate the parliamentary system and confidently
CARTOON
Legal matters
Anita Koochew Eastern Community Legal Centre
engage with their local MPs, fostering a more inclusive and participatory democracy.
Key features include animated videos ex-
plaining government roles, interviews with community members and parliamentary staff, and practical tools for engaging effectively with government representatives.
Designed in close collaboration with multicultural and multifaith communities to bridge information gaps and encourage active participation, the toolkit is a valuable resource for all Australians to engage more meaningfully in democracy.
To ensure accessibility, the Toolkit is also available in multiple languages, including Burmese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Falam Chin, Farsi, Hakka Chin, Karen,
Vietnamese and Zomi.
The Toolkit can be accessed here: engagingcommunities.eclc.org.au
You Me and MPs fosters inclusion and equality by equipping community members with knowledge and practical tools to address systemic barriers and promote meaningful democratic engagement, reflecting ECLC’s commitment to inclusive and empowered communities.
If you or someone you know requires free legal help, please contact ECLC at 1300 32 52 00, request an appointment at eclc.org.au/help or email at eclc@eclc.org.au
The redemption of The TCU
Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare Starring Martin Portlock, Megan Placito and Peter DeSouza-Feighoney MA15+ 4/5
Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare is the third and best film in the Twisted Childhood Universe franchise, which began with the Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood And Honey movies.
Wendy (Megan Placito) must rescue her brother Michael (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney) from Peter Pan (Martin Portlock), a serial killer who abducts young boys with the promise of sending them to Neverland.
Portlock is chilling as Peter, Placito is an engaging heroine as Wendy, and DeSouzaFeighoney conveys both terror and perseverance as Michael.
its influences on its sleeve, from It and The Black Phone to The Shining and even the Joker.
Australia Reads is a collaborative initiative supported by educators, publishers, booksellers, librarians, authors and illustrators.
Each year, the organisation publishes important research findings from across Australia and overseas to provide insights into the benefits of reading as well as reader behaviours and trends.
New findings on reading PASSION FOR PROSE
The “Understanding Australian readers: Behavioural insights into recreational reading” research report was recently released by Australia Reads and Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia. It tackles three questions: “How do we get more people reading? What are the best ways to reach those who rarely read? And what can we practically do to influence reading habits?”
A survey of 1622 Australians aged 16 and above reveals the drivers and barriers to their reading behaviours.
The research focuses on “reading done for pleasure and relaxation, rather than for educational or professional purposes”.
It covers print and digital books as well as audiobooks.
Using a behavioural science approach, reading is defined as “a sequence of six specific behaviours in a reading journey” – from finding, choosing and getting books that one wants to read, to starting and continuing to read, and, finally, to reflecting and sharing.
Based on survey results, four segments of Readers are identified, including “Avid Readers” (22.4 per cent), “Engaged Readers” (30.6 per cent), “Ambivalent Readers” (14.8 per cent) and “Aspirational Readers” (14.7 per cent). There are also two segments of Non-Readers, “Lapsed Readers” (7.1 per cent) and “Uninterested Non-Readers” (10.4 per cent).
The demographics of these six reader segments and their reading habits, intentions, challenges and barriers are presented.
These are analysed using the COM-B model, which suggests behaviour (B) is influenced by three interconnected factors – capability (C), opportunity (O) and motivation (M). Specifically: “For a behaviour to happen, people need to have the skills and knowledge (capability), the right resources and environ-
WITH CHRISTINE SUN
ment (opportunity), and the desire to do that behaviour(motivation).”
Particularly noteworthy is “social norms” as a social component of “opportunity”, which sheds light on the role of peers and communities in encouraging reading.
The research finds almost half of Australians wish they could read more, with 54.9 per cent of Readers and 49.8 per cent of Non-Readers saying they read less than they intend to do.
Overall, feeling comforted (37.6 per cent) is the most common emotion associated with reading, followed by feeling inspired (24.2 per cent), joyful (22.6 per cent), enlightened (22.4 per cent) and curious (22.1 per cent).
However, reading (49.9 per cent) is less popular than other leisure activities such as watching TV/movies (80.9 per cent), social media and Internet browsing (61.2 per cent) and eating/drinking out (55.1 per cent).
This is concerning, with the 2023 National Arts Participation Survey finding almost 30 per cent of Australians have not read or listened to a single book in a year.
Yet, there is no “one size fits all” model to shifting reader behaviours, because each Reader and Non-Reader segment holds distinct attitudes and behaviours around reading.
Nevertheless, by exploring what drives people to read, what stops them, and how they feel about books, we can better understand the sorts of reading barriers and opportunities that Readers and Non-Readers are facing in their daily lives.
This, in turn, will benefit our development and evaluation of strategies that can help more people read books, more often.
The swiftly-paced narrative features a heavy atmosphere of dread and helplessness, with richly disturbing sound design, some stunning cinematography and excellent gore and practical effects in the gnarly kills.
There is some awkward dialogue and abrupt editing here and there, and the film doesn’t do much to establish Peter’s coughing illness, but overall Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare is a lean, nasty and well-crafted slasher movie.
Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare wears
While it’s mostly a surface-level spin on a sinister Peter Pan story (and the inclusion of Hook is a bizarre stretch), Kit Green stands out as a tragic addict take on Tinker Bell.
I once called Blood-And-Honey 1 ‘a Halloween movie if Winnie-The-Pooh were Michael Myers’, and Neverland Nightmare executes the above pitch better, and especially in the nerve-shredding climax, than either Blood-And-Honey movie.
A solid indie horror film and a huge filmmaking improvement for the TCU, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare has a very limited cinema release in Victoria, so catch it before it disappears to Neverland.
Web of intrigue on the stage
The 1812 theatre Spider’s Web by Agatha Christie
The curtains opened to a magnificent set of an English country mansion lounge room.
Complete with 12 paintings, antique desk, double doors which were put to full use, mystery cupboards and something that 1812 specialises in, off stage are still sets that one can see through the doors.
Sir Rowland Delahaye was portrayed by Roger Paul who caught the essence of a Knight of England, a wonderful portrayal.
Hugo Birch and the Doctor was played by Tim Byron.
Another great performance as one of three visitors to the Hailsham-Brown home.
The third of the three was Jeremy Warrender played by Jonathon Simpson.
Jonathon kept up the standard set by the cast giving a good portrayal of the man who was not quite what he seemed.
Nicola Taylor was the main character, Clarissa Hailsham-Brown.
A wonderful character who occasionally mixed the truth with her own interpretation so when she told the truth nobody believed her.
A good portrayal but one felt the outfit did not fit the period.
Her stepdaughter Pippa was given an excellent performance by Sophie Watson who played as a 12 year old girl. A good interpretation of the character.
The lady gardener Mildred Peake was given a great interpretation by Michelle Zintschenko a surprising role and well done by
Michelle.
The butler Elgin, was played by Gaurav Saxena.
Gaurav handled the role as envisaged but one feels his outfit could have been a little better.
The Police Inspector Lord was given a good interpretation by Andrew McAliece, a dominant character who did not quite believe the stories he was told.
The so-called blackmailer, Oliver Costello was played by Mitchell Sholer.
An evil man who frightened Pippa.
A good portrayal.
Henry Hailsham-Brown, the husband of Clarissa and father to Pippa was played by Miller Shettoch.
He was a member of the Diplomatic Corps and had a mysterious meeting that night and missed the goings on.
A nice portrayal Constable Jones was portrayed by Tim L. Chellerhos.
A good portrayal.
The 1812 Theatre gave its opening play for 2025 an interesting and wonderful evening of theatre.
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PANORAMIC VIEWS AND LUXURY LIVING
PANORAMIC VIEWS AND LUXURY LIVING ON 2.5 ACRES
IMAGINE waking up each morning to breathtaking mountain and rolling hill vistas, where nature’s beauty stretches as far as the eye can see. This extraordinary 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home is a sanctuary of elegance and comfort, perfectly positioned on 2.5 picturesque acres behind a remote electric gated circular driveway.
Designed to celebrate its stunning surroundings, the expansive open-plan living and dining area is warmed by a central fireplace, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the ever-changing landscape.
The stylish kitchen is a chef’s dream, featuring stone benchtops, a 900mm induction cooktop, and cafe windows that open seamlessly to the north-facing alfresco deck—perfect for relaxed entertaining. Stacker doors invite the outdoors in, leading to a hydrotherapy swim spa where you can unwind while soaking in the sweeping countryside views.
Beyond the home, this property is thoughtfully designed for both lifestyle and practicality. The impressive 8.1m x 8.9m garage is a dream space, complete with a car hoist, mezzanine level, office, kitchen, bathroom, and additional storage. A 3-phase power barn provides even more versatility. The fully fenced acreage is ideal for those seeking a blend of country charm and modern convenience, featuring three paddocks, an animal shelter, a chook house, and a dedicated kids’ playground—offering something for every member of the family. With attic storage, zoned reverse-cycle heating and cooling, and a setting that feels like a private retreat, this home offers a lifestyle unlike any other. Come and experience the magic of country living with every modern luxury at your fingertips. Your dream home awaits—schedule a private viewing today.
YOUR OWN PRIVATE OASIS –MOVE-IN READY AND FULL OF CHARM
NESTLED in a fantastic location close to local schools, shops, and set on a sealed road, this delightful property offers the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and a stunning view. With plenty of off-street parking for family and friends, this home is move-in ready and designed for effortless living.
Step inside to discover three generously sized bedrooms, a light-filled lounge warmed by a cozy wood heater, and an open-plan kitchen and dining area—ideal for everyday living and entertaining. The modernized kitchen offers ample bench and storage space, making meal preparation and hosting a breeze. Flowing seamlessly from the kitchen, the expansive undercover deck is perfect for year-round entertaining and featuring its own space for an outdoor kitchen.
The backyard is truly something special—a private oasis that has been thoughtfully
landscaped to create a serene and inviting space. Sun-drenched and filled with lush green lawns, vibrant mature gardens, and secluded sitting areas, it’s the perfect retreat to relax and unwind. Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue, watching the kids play, or simply enjoying the peaceful ambiance, this outdoor haven is sure to impress.
Additional highlights include gas ducted heating, split system heating and cooling, beautiful timber floors, and ceiling fans for year-round comfort. A shed/workshop with concrete flooring and power provides excellent storage, while side access offers space for a caravan, trailer, or additional vehicles—perfect for tradespeople or outdoor enthusiasts.
This is an incredible opportunity to secure a well-presented home with a truly spectacular yard. Don’t miss out—book your private inspection today!
HOME FOCUS
IMMACULATE FAMILY RETREAT WITH VIEWS
SET on an expansive 1895sqm block in picturesque Menzies Creek, this versatile 4 Bedroom, 3-bathroom home offers the perfect blend of comfort, style and space.
A wraparound, tiled verandah welcomes you, providing a scenic spot to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and distant views over the Cardinia Reservoir year-round.
Inside, step into a spacious entryway leading to the formal lounge with an abundance of windows and an ambient open fire, perfect for those chilly nights in. There is also a further sun lit family room with large windows that frame the lush outdoors and fill the room with natural light and a toasty wood heater, whilst the home is complemented by gas ducted heating and electric reverse cycle heating and refrigerative cooling for comfort and convenience in all seasons.
The open plan kitchen and dining area is a chef’s delight, featuring slate flooring, an ILVE 1000mm free standing stove/oven, ample bench space and plenty of storage. A picturesque bay window invites the beauty of the outdoors inside. Down the hall, the Master Suite offers double built in robes and a private ensuite, while 2 additional carpeted bedrooms also include built in robes, adjacent to the family bathroom featuring a spa bath, with separate toilet and a spacious laundry with abundant storage found nearby.
For those looking for entertaining options or multigenerational living there is a versatile games/lounge room with a kitchenette that can be closed off to the remainder of the home. This versatile space features a home office/study that provides a quiet workspace or even a 5th bedroom if required, a 3rd bathroom for convenience and up a few stairs a spacious 4th bedroom or 5th living space that offers views over the property and stunning gardens
All this flows seamlessly onto an enclosed deck where a swim spa awaits, making it a wonderful space for year-round relaxation or catching up with family and friends. Outside, the private, fully fenced grounds are also designed for relaxation and entertaining, with a designated fire pit area, perfect for evenings under the stars, while the private, established gardens, create a serene and secluded atmosphere.
A garden shed offers extra storage, and an outdoor entertaining area is enhanced by a pizza oven, perfect for al-fresco dining. Completing this exceptional property is a double car garage, ensuring ample storage and additional off-street parking.
This remarkable home is a must-see for those seeking a move in ready, tranquil, family friendly retreat with all the amenities you could need. Don’t miss out - call 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.
HOME ESSENTIALS
LOCAL BRIGADES STAY CONNECTED THANKS TO COMMUNITY BANK
COMMUNITY Bank Dandenong Ranges Group Chair, Deb Weber, is pleased to announce that seven local volunteer fire brigades have taken up the offer of Starlink technology to assist in maintaining communications in black-spots and times of telephone service disruption.
“The offer was put out to brigades in our catchment, and we are pleased to say that seven have taken up the opportunity. This funding enable brigades to stay in touch and potentially also provide locals with the ability to communicate with family and friends when there is no internet or phone service.
“This new service is vital for the communities across our area as there have been many instances where a storm or fire has interrupted telecommunications. We live in a beautiful area which is sometimes very dangerous, due to the type of natural environment, and we need to be prepared.
“One of the ways to be prepared in an emergency, is by keeping communication lines open. It is wonderful that this technology exists and that our local brigades have embraced this opportunity. Some, of course, have already invested in the technology and we congratulate them on their foresight,” Ms Weber said.
Captain of Kalorama-Mt Dandenong Fire Brigade, Bill Robinson said “During the devastating storms of June 9, 2021, access into the Kalorama/Mt Dandenong area was completely cut off for approximately 14 hours due to numerous large trees blocking roads. CFA responders had to reach callouts on foot, while power, NBN, mobile networks, landlines, and radio communications were severely disrupted. Full restoration of power, mobile coverage and NBN took weeks.
“The addition of the Starlink system will significantly enhance the Kalorama/ Mt Dandenong Fire Brigade’s ability to communicate with other emergency services including Police, Ambulance, SES, and DEECA
during major storms or bushfire events.
“The new service will also provide the local community with a reliable means of contacting friends and family in times of crisis.
On behalf of the members of the Kalorama/ Mt Dandenong Fire Brigade, I would like to
express our sincere gratitude to Community Bank Dandenong Ranges Group for supplying us with access to Starlink.”
A presentation of the new Starlink units was made to the brigades on Wednesday 26 February, where the units were gratefully received.
A presentation of the new Starlink units was made to the brigades on Wednesday 26 February, where the units were gratefully received.
TRANQUIL HILL RETREAT WITH ESTABLISHED GARDENS
NESTLED within minutes from Emerald and Monbulk townships, this charming four-bedroom home offers a rare blend of privacy, space, and natural beauty. Set on approximately 1,580m², the property is framed by lush gardens, mature trees, and a peaceful ambiance that welcomes you from the moment you arrive.
A tree-lined driveway leads to the beautifully maintained residence, where a wrap-around veranda invites you to unwind and take in the tranquil surroundings. Inside, the home is warm and inviting, featuring lightfilled interiors, polished timber floors, and a seamless connection to the outdoors.
The master suite is a private retreat, complete with an ensuite, while the additional three bedrooms are serviced by a full main bathroom, ensuring comfort and convenience for the whole family. The gardens are wellestablished and provide a picturesque setting
with towering trees and lush greenery. Raised garden beds offer the perfect space to grow fresh produce, while a dedicated dog run provides a secure area for pets. There are also storage sheds for trailers, tools and equipment, while the expansive yard is ideal for entertaining, gardening, or simply enjoying the serenity of nature. Under-house storage adds an extra layer of practicality, ensuring plenty of space for seasonal items, tools, or workshop needs.
Conveniently located just moments from Emerald village, this home offers easy access to cafes, shops, parks, and walking trails, all while providing a private retreat from the everyday. Offering the perfect balance of tranquility and practicality, this residence is a rare opportunity to embrace the hills lifestyle in a setting of undeniable charm. For more information or to arrange an inspection, please contact us today.
HOME FOCUS
SPACIOUS FAMILY RETREAT WITH DUAL LIVING
SET privately on nearly ¾ of an acre, at the end of a no through road, in the peaceful suburb of Clematis, this exceptional property offers space, comfort, and versatility for the whole family. Consisting of a 3 bedroom + study/4th bedroom character home, a 2 bedroom Dependant Person’s Unit and a spacious 2 room studio with bathroom, this property has endless options for the extended family, working from home or B&B options(STCA).
A charming boardwalk leads to the undercover front deck of the main home, inviting you into the open-plan lounge, kitchen, and dining area.
Featuring warm wood flooring, exposed beams, and a woodfire heater, this space seamlessly connects to an outdoor entertaining area, perfect for relaxing or hosting guests.
The well-appointed kitchen features tiled flooring, large bench for meal prep, a fridge recess, a dishwasher, two integrated ovens, a spacious pantry, and ample storage, all while offering beautiful garden views.
The ground floor also features a bright and airy carpeted bedroom with double built-in robes and large windows, filling the room with natural light. Nearby, the updated family bathroom includes a separate toilet for convenience.
Upstairs, the master suite impresses with a large walk-in robe, a private ensuite, split-system heating and cooling, and soaring ceilings. Opposite there is a third bedroom with built-in robes and a split system, and a versatile playroom or office, which completes the upper level.
Adding to the appeal, a second fully selfcontained home sits privately on the property, featuring an undercover front verandah leading into an open-plan kitchen, dining, and lounge area with split-system heating and cooling. The kitchen is equipped with a large island bench, a fridge recess, an integrated oven, a gas cooktop, and abundant storage. Two well-sized bedrooms with built-in robes, a central bathroom with a separate toilet, and a dedicated laundry complete the package.
For those needing extra space, a generous shed with concrete floor and power provides a fantastic teenage retreat or guest accommodation. It includes a theatre room wired for sound, a bedroom with large sliding doors, a bathroom, and a kitchenette.
Outside, the expansive yard features a charming cubby house, a garden shed, and plenty of room for children and pets to play and explore. Offering multiple living options and a tranquil lifestyle, this unique property is a rare find in a sought-after location.
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.
HOME ESSENTIALS
“WhisperingGums” –A RareDual-OccupancyEstateon12AcresofTranquil MacclesfieldLand
Thisstunning12-acrepropertyblendsluxurylivingwithequestrianfacilitiesinMacclesfield.The mainresidencefeaturesa spaciousopen-planlounge,dining,andkitchenwitha chef’sdream kitchenandstunningWarburtonRangesviews.Itincludes6 bedrooms,a mastersuitewitha walk-in wardrobeandensuite,and aheatedin-groundpool.Thesecondresidenceoffers alounge,open kitchen/dining,3 bedrooms,anda conservatory.Bothhomeshavesolarpanels,blockoutblinds, andsecurepet-friendlyareas.Equestrianamenitiesincludestables,a floodlitarena,paddocks,a dam,andpoultryfacilities.Thepropertyalsooffers astudio,garage,veggiegarden,orchard,and extensivewaterstorage.Perfectforfamilies,hobbyfarmers,andhorseenthusiasts.
KarenPeele M 0419430950
CharmingFamilyRetreatona Spacious847sqmBlock
TuckedawayinCockatoo,thisbeautifullyupdated3-bedroomhomeoffersspace,style& comfort. Stepinsidetothelight-filledopen-planliving/dining/kitchenarea,wherefloatingfloorscreatea seamless &stylishflow.Thekitchen,featuringa largeislandbenchwithstonecountertops,dishwasher &freestanding900mmovenwithgascooktop.Thedoublefarmhousesinkoverlooksthedeck& backyard,makingiteasytokeepaneyeonthekids.Theloungeoffersyear-roundcomfortwitha woodfireheater &s/s,whiledoorsopenontothebackdeck.Downthehall,themasterbedroom withBIR,ceilingfan &a brand-newelectricfireplace.Twoadditionalbedrooms& themodernfamily bathroomcompletetheinterior.Outside,thespaciousdeckstepsdownto afullyfencedbackyard, perfectforkids &pets. Awoodshed,2 gardensheds& singlecarport.
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.Thehomecomprisesof 3carpeted bedrooms,allfittedwithbuiltinrobes. Acentralbathroomwith aseparatetoiletaddstothehome’s functionality.Recentlypainted& newcarpetsthroughout,thishomeismoveinready.Thefully fencedbackgardenoffers aprivateoutdoorarea,perfectforkids& petstoplay. Idealforfirsthomebuyers,downsizersorinvestors.
14ChurchStreetEmerald$930,000 -$1,020,000
SpaciousCedarHomeon3,889sqm,WalktoTown& PrimarySchool. Nestledina peacefullocation,thisspaciouscedarhomesitsonnearlyanacre,offeringtheperfect balanceofcomfort &lifestyle.A sealeddrivewayleadstotheundercoverentrance,welcomingyou into awell-equippedkitchenfeaturinggenerousbenchspace,integratedovenwith agascooktop &largepantry.Overlookingtheopen-planlounge/diningarea,thisinvitingspaceiswarmedbya strikingopenfireplacewitha stonesurround,a splitsystem &GDHthroughout.Slidingdoorsopen to alargereardeck.ThemasterbedroomwithdoubleBIR,while 3additionalwell-sizedbedrooms, eachwithBIR. Acentrallylocatedfamilybathroomincludes aseparateshower& toilet. Aspacious deckextendsalongtherearofthehomeoverlookingthefullyfencedbackyard,idealforchildren& pets.A doublecarport& smallgardenshedcompletestheoutdoorspace.
AaronDay M 0407365994
BrennanMileto M 0422996451 4 A 1 B 2 C
YOUR PERFECT TREE CHANGE ADVENTURE AWAITS
PERFECT for all growing families, and anyone wanting to be close to the picturesque trails of Sherbrooke Forest, this perfectly presented, split level home has had a modern transformation that will no doubt impress!
Well designed both inside and out, the home has an open floorplan and boasts a spacious living / dining area that overlooks a tiered, useable and fully fenced front yard where children and your animals can play safely. The oversized kitchen is a dream for anyone who loves to cook and create and is positioned perfectly with servery to the verandah and outdoor entertaining area, perfect for times when you are having great nights in with family and friends!
Three bedrooms and two bathrooms will satisfy anyone needing extra space and there is no need to worry about keeping warm and cosy as your heating and cooling is well taken care of with a wood fire, gas ducted heating and an efficient split system.
Outside, although you are surrounded by the best that the Dandenong Ranges National Park has to offer, you are only a short walk and an easy car ride to Belgrave main street, public transport and schools, making this property a dream come true for those who are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Sitting on a 974m2 block, this property also contains a fantastic double garage / workshop at the rear and extra parking for a caravan, trailer or other vehicles.
SharynChandler
Growing Victoria’s gardens
Botanic gardens across the state have been revitalised thanks to the State Government Botanic Gardens Grants,
and
and
Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos announced on Thursday 27 February the successful completion of the Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens Grants (GVBGG) which has delivered $3.9 million in grants to 42 projects across 29 gardens.
“We are growing Victoria’s botanic gardens to make sure they continue to thrive as hubs for conservation, education and continue to be a bustling tourism destination for our regional and rural communities,” Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said.
The funding supported diverse, innovative projects across the state that advance botanic gardens’ contributions to the environment, community and local tourism.
Botanic Gardens are essential to conserving plant biodiversity, creating safe havens for threatened and rare plants and helping endangered species to recover.
“Botanical gardens provide free accessible spaces for communities and tourists to enjoy and reconnect with nature while helping to preserve our unique native plants,” Southern Metropolitan Member John Berger said.
The Bendigo Botanic Gardens received a grant of $200,475 for the installation of new garden beds with a with a water feature in the new visitor centre, the new feature will have an emphasis on local indigenous plants.
A grant of $150,000 was awarded to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden to supply and install a reliable irrigation system that will support and irrigate a new ‘Conservation Garden’ precinct that focus on a collection of rare and threatened native and exotic plants.
“These grants have been a game-changer for Victorian botanic gardens supporting new
projects and essential upgrades. Growing and maintaining our gardens so they boost visitation and community connection to nature is essential. BGANZ is proud to see these gardens flourish, thanks to this incredible investment,” CEO Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand
The Camperdown Botanical Gardens and Arboretum used it’s $83,000 grant to install protective fencing around the arboretum to protect them from grazing sheep and cattle, replacement of pathways and work to improve the health of
the heritage trees.
The GVBGG Program’s goals supports Victoria’s biodiversity strategy, transforming botanic gardens into vibrant spaces that support research, education, experiences in nature, community wellbeing.
(BGANZ), Cassandra Nichols said.
The Growing Victoria’s Botanic Gardens Grants (GVBGG) has allocated $3.9 million to 42 projects across 29 gardens. (451417)
Impressive season ends
By Jack Rollings
Saturday Pennant – The weather was warm with no wind, perfect for playing bowls. Monbulk 1 played in the semifinal after a week’s delay due to the two total fire bans on the previous weekend.
The semifinal was against Lilydale on their home ground, which is a woven carpet, similar to Monbulk’s, not quite as wide, and with some wayward runs that threw up some surprising results. A sizeable crowd from both sides attended, with Lilydale’s supporters being the loudest.
The first half of the match was closely contested. After the break, the game could have gone either way.
Jim Bras’ team jumped early to take the lead and win most of the mat. They dropped a 4 shot clanger on the sixth end but were able to make that up on the next two ends. Lilydale ran home strongly and levelled the scores going into the last end.
In a nail-biter, Monbulk managed to grab a 3 shooter to win the rink 18 shots to 15. Eric Markham’s team struggled against a very strong Lilydale combination. Even though Monbulk won only five ends, they trailed by only 3 shots going into the fifteenth end.
That was when Lilydale put the foot down and piled on 10 shots in the run home. Monbulk lost the rink 10 shots to 23.
Tony French’s team started strongly and led
by 8 shots going into the ninth end. After the break Lilydale chose short ends and the tactic proved successful. Monbulk won only three more ends for the match. Lilydale levelled the scores after the sixteenth end.
With two ends to go Monbulk trailed by a single shot. Lilydale dominated the final two ends, picking up a 3 and a 4. Monbulk lost the rink 19 shots to 27.
Brian Smith’s team won eight ends including a 3 shooter, but their losses included five 3s and a 4. The opposition Lilydale team had some big names, including the legendary John Snell who put in his usual impressive game. From trailing by just 3 shots at the break, Monbulk slipped back in the run home and lost the rink 13 shots to 29.
Overall Monbulk lost to Lilydale 60 shots to 94. Lilydale will play against Ferntree Gully in the preliminary final. Monbulk’s season has finished. Saturday’s loss to Lilydale in the semifinals stings right now but Monbulk players can be reminded how incredibly far they’ve come this season.
After Christmas, they really hit their stride, surprising everyone—including themselves—by taking down some of the top sides. That turnaround showed just how much Monbulk improved as a team, and making it to the semifinals was a testament to their hard work, determination, and team spirit. They will come back even stronger next season!
Club hosts round five of Eastern Suburbs 55 Senior Pennant
By David Waters
A fantastic day for golf welcomed guest golfers to the Heritage golf course. The temperature started in the mild mid-teens and eventually achieved 27. The rise was steady and manageable.
As the sun rose higher the picturesque views became brighter. The kangaroos watching proceedings didn’t mind the warmth, extra people traffic or stray balls. They didn’t understand the English language or the descriptions of bad shots, but they did understand the accompanying body language. Unfortunately, they moved away too quickly for a photo to be taken.
The Heritage course was in fabulous condition. The fairways were green but provided plenty of run for worm burner shots and good shots were also rewarded with extra length. The large greens should have been easy targets. Unfortunately for many senior golfers, the sandy bunkers in the surrounds defended them doggedly. Many a high lob fell just short to be swallowed by the sand. Some players escaped the sandy clutches with ease to be close to the flag
while others had two or three swings/swipes/ slashes and then conceded the hole.
Greens as mentioned were large. Once on them speed, according to some, varied. The old stories came out, ‘Gee it’s a fast green’ as the ball went past by ten feet, or ‘Why didn’t I hit it’ as the ball pulled up inches from the hole. A few or more adjectives were used to describe the putts rolling gently over the edge of the cup. An opportunity to win or halve a hole missed.
One John Wilson, took his chance on the par three eleventh, tapping in a two-footer for one of the few birdies of the day and winning the hole. Some great shots were on played during the competition. Dave Matin from Heritage pitched to three feet on the ninth on the third shot two-putted for 5 Peter Godwin (Eastwood) was certain to halve but missed a short one. Herb Trobbiani (Box Hill) unsighted behind a hill and a tree plunked a majestic shot to six feet only to miss his putt and halve the hole. On the first hole four terrific drives well past the bunkers on the fairway. Unusual for a group. One player still in a puffer jacket. John Wilson (Yer-
ing) easily made his birdie as stated above while Alan Patterson and Adrian Giffin both splashed in the pond on the signature hole eleven. Kent Davey (Gardiners Run) had a tough day playing Eddy Goodsir and John Mc Carthy (Eastern going down in both games. Fatigue took hold with three holes left. For the second time only for the season a tied match was recorded, this time between Heritage and Eastwood Gold.
All play finished at 12.30pm and weary golfers climbed the stairs to drink, eat, grumble and share stories of their day. Announcements were made and scores read out. Enough said players departed to miss school traffic. Next week Eastwood is the host club. Enjoy reading the results below. Try to better next time.
• Green group. Heritage 6 ½ def Eastwood 1 ½ Yering 6 ½ def Box Hill 1 ½ Eastern 5 def Gardiners Run 3.
• Gold group. Gardiners Run 5 def Eastern 3 Yering 4 ½ def Box Hill 3 ½ Heritage 4 tied with Eastwood 4.
Stay cool and play well.
Jim Bras - skip on the only winning rink. (Supplied)
Graeme Luxford wins a hole for Eastwood.
‘I’m gonna get this one’. (Supplied)
Alan Patterson was not too pleased with this photo.
Heritage players win this pretty 10th hole.
SPORT Season draws to a close
By Christopher Anderson
So, within a blink of an eye, the home and away portion of the 2024/25 season has disappeared for the cricketers of Mt Evelyn. Through a season of cutthroat cricket, the Mounters have emerged with four Senior teams in finals to join the four Junior teams who began their finals campaigns this weekend.
The Community Bank - Mt Evelyn 1st XI finished their home and away season with a disappointing loss on the road to South Warrandyte. The home team batted first and amassed an impressive total of 7/282 on the back of considerable contributions from Morgan Persson-Clark (78) and Thomas Peter-Budge (66). The Mounters bowlers simply had no answers to the onslaught, and despite the small ground, the total was going to prove too great. Bohdie Jones (3/57) and Darcy Fraser (3/82) would take a handful of wickets, but they couldn’t stem the flow of runs.
The disappointment of the game would be the visitors inability to muster some fight with the bat. Despite a long batting line up, they would be bundled out for a mediocre score of 166. Mike Mawson would continue his excellent season contributing a top score of 42, whilst Campbell Mole and Darcy Fraser would show fight towards the end, but all in all it was a disappointing outing for the Mounters.
Hopefully the loss will spur on the team for an improved effort as they face a road trip to Seville for their do-or-die Elimination Final clash with the Burras. The teams have split the points over their two games this season so this promises to be another epic contest.
The Professionals Outer East 2nd XI also missed an opportunity to chalk up a win against a good opponent and in the process almost relinquished their position in the top four. Their conquerors, Bayswater Park, came prepared to give the finals a shake and almost pulled off the perfect heist.
The Sharks elected to bat and immediately had the hosts’ bowlers. Two early wickets wouldn’t stymy the visitors’ run rate in pursuit of a big total to blow the contest wide open. Billie Laird would defy his age to lead the Mt Evelyn attack, taking four wickets, whilst Kynan Yates and Luke Shepherd would keep scoring tight, but the Sharks would feast on the rest of the bowling attack, reaching a total of 9/260. A glimpse of finals if they could bowl well.
With a significant chase at hand, the Mounters had to tread the tightrope of chasing the total with gusto and preserving wickets as a collapse would hand the Sharks their position in the top four. The Mounters would cautiously chip away at the total ensuring they wouldn’t suffer a catastrophic collapse and eliminating the threat on their finals position. The Mounters’ experienced top order would put the team in a position to attack the total if good enough, but the required run rate and pressure bowling strangled the hosts and they eventually bowled out for 199.
After holding on desperately to their place in the top four, the 2nd XI now travel to Heathwood to take on the top of the ladder Lions. Both teams had dominant wins against each other during the season, both one-day clashes, so there is an air of
anticipation as to what this two-day contest will bring.
The Rhead Group 3rd XI were the hard luck story of the weekend. A win against Heathwood, and Coldstream faltering to a rampant Mooroolbark outfit, would be enough to surpass at least one of the teams to replace them in the finals.
The Mounters would tick the first box by completely dominating Heathwood. The Mounters would grind away at a disciplined Lions batting lineup to restrict the hosts to 7/95 off their allotted overs. Alex Whiting’s speed proved too great for batsmen as he recorded useful figures of 3/11, whilst the rest of the attack would be miserly.
Sensing a quick chase of the small total would enhance their finals chances, the Mounters blasted their way to victory within 16 overs. Whiting would complete a great all-round game scoring an unbeaten 34, whilst captain Graeme Foster would blast a quick-fire 33.
Unfortunately for the 3rd XI, the victory wouldn’t be enough to surpass Heathwood on the ladder, whilst an upset victory to Coldstream left the Mounters desperately short of the finals. A bitterly disappointing finish to their season.
The Hop Hen Brewing 4th XI had the task ahead of them in the final round of the season up against a dominant Ainslie Park. The Mounters would bat first and soon found themselves under the pump against an experienced Ainslie outfit. The visitors couldn’t muster any form of resistance and found themselves in a desperate position at 6/52. The Mounters lower order would grit their teeth and an unbeaten half-century from Glen Rigg, with some good support from captain Chris Doyle (34), would not only see the team to the end of their allotted overs, but to a respectable total of 9/159.
The Mounters would make the Parkers earn their victory, but they couldn’t maintain the restriction of runs as tight overs would inevitably be undone by a loose one where the runs would flow. Add to that the lack of wickets falling, and the home side would ease themselves to victory without any great problems despite the Mt Evelyn attack being far from disgraced.
The result leaves the 4th XI with a return date with the Parkers, their third clash in the space of four games. Ainslie has proven too tough for the Mounters to overcome in their previous outings, but with some firepower with the ball and some timely wickets the 4th XI could be well on this contest, but it will take their very best.
The Lilydale Tyres 5th XI have been nestled in the top end of the table for the majority of the season with finals a formality from a long way out. Their only hiccups were against top of the ladder Kilsyth. The team hosted Templeton in their final home and away game in a perfect tune-up for finals with the Taipans keen to remain in finals calculations.
The Mounters would bat first in a quest to establish dominance with a large total, and Jason Dunstone (31) and Craig Kenins (52) would ensure the hosts would make the best possible start. Unperturbed, the Taipans would keep their cool, and once the wickets started to fall, the visitors would capitalise. The innings would grind to a halt and the innings would be quickly wrapped up for 158. On the outside, a total that would appear defendable with good bowling, but in reality a fair way short considering the size of ‘The Postage Stamp’.
Short of the mark is what it would prove to be.
The Mounters would take their share of wickets to keep things interesting, but Templeton had the
luxury of not being pressured by run rates and they would nurse their way to an impressive four-wicket victory.
In a twist of fate, the teams will meet in the first week of the finals. With one win each in their previous two contests, both teams claim to have an advantage in this game, but reality says that this is anyone’s game, and the step up in venue may play an intriguing part to this battle. Either way, the victor will be made to earn their place in the Grand Final.
The Flowtec 6th XI would suffer a heart breaking loss in their final game of the season as they were outlasted by Mooroolbark. The Mounters would bat first, and in their most complete performance with the bat, they would blast their way to an impressive total of 4/257. Jett Hartman and Chase Missen would combine for a quick scoring partnership that would give the innings some serious momentum. Hartman would blast his way to an unbeaten half century, whilst Chris Graham and Bruce Smith would capitalise on the spritely start to also record half-centuries.
After a tough season where wins have been hard to come by, the 6th XI were in a great position to close out their season on a high. The bowling and fielding would back up the batting efforts and for the majority of the Mooroolbark innings, the visitors had their noses in front of the contest, so much so that the contest was virtually over as the Barkers required 74 runs for victory off the last five overs. Down to eight fielders, the gaps began to appear, and with the cool head of Mooroolbark captain Steve Hall, the gaps became chasms. The tidal wave of momentum would overrun the visitors on the final ball of the chase condemning them to gutwrenching end to the season.
Lilydale take on Mount Evelyn in last week of regular season
By Joanna Campe
Round 14 results for Lilydale Tennis Club in the Eastern Region Tennis Competition. This is the final week of the regular season, and Lilydale faced local rival Mount Evelyn, with the home side too strong for the hills based club.
Junior Open Singles Doubles 3 v Mt Evelyn
After round 13 Lilydale was sitting on top of the ladder. Lilydale was represented by Adam Paladino, Ari Marappan and Alex Paladino. Lilydale played at home this week against Mt Evelyn. It was a convincing win on the day for Lilydale, taking the points 6 sets to 0 – winning 36 games to Mt Evelyn 7. With this result Lilydale has secured top spot on the ladder and a home final.
Result: 6-1, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 Lilydale Tennis club welcomes all players of any age and ability. For information on how to join Lilydale Tennis Club please visit play. tennis.com.au/lilydaletennisclub.
For all coaching enquires (Juniors and Adults) please contact Andrew at Pro Touch Tennis Academy at ptta.com.au/contact.
L-R:
Adam, Ari, Alex, Finlay, Marlowe and Josh
Alex Whiting’s all-round efforts led the 3rd XI to victory over Heathwood. (Supplied)
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