Mail - Mt Evelyn Star Mail - 5th March 2024

Suspicious death

By Mikayla van Loon

The Mooroolbark community has been left “saddened” after the body of a man was found behind the Brice Avenue community centre on Thursday. Police opened the investigation after the body was discovered in the reserve along the train line at around 8.30am on 29 February. The 38-year-old victim, who had no place of residence, was unconscious when police arrived but died despite efforts to revive him.

Gymbaroo owner Marion Stott, whose programs run out of the Mooroolbark Community Centre every week, said “it was dreadful” to hear of the news. Ms Stott said she and other users of the community centre have been attempting to help a small group of men who had set up camp in the bushy area for a number of months. Returning from the Christmas break to standard programming around five weeks ago, Ms Stott said she noticed they were still there and decided to call police and the council.

“[The death] perhaps could have been preventable,” she said.

“I think they came to do their bit and I’m sure everybody’s tried to do their best but nobody found an answer.

“We’re frustrated that we just couldn’t help although we kept on alerting people to the situation. It has been distressing watching them and not being able to help.”

who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the reserve, or who has CCTV or dashcam footage from the area,” they said.

“Investigators are keen to speak to anyone

Police had cordoned off a large area around the Mooroolbark Community Centre car park

on Thursday, as homicide detectives continued the investigation throughout the afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report at crimestoppers.com.au

A Victoria Police spokesperson said the circumstances surrounding the man’s death were yet to be established but a post mortem had led to the suspicious conclusion.

Homicide detectives spent much of the day in Mooroolbark. 392330

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Police cordoned off a large section of the car park and reserve on Brice Avenue on Thursday 29 February. 392330

Police closed the car park while investigators worked. 392330

Man dies following arrest in Kilsyth

Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a 39-year-old man on Sunday.

Officers were called to reports of a man armed with a wooden pole, who appeared to be substance-affected, causing a disturbance on Morrison Street in Kilsyth about 11pm on Saturday 2 March.

An off-duty police officer and a member

of the public restrained the Kilsyth man until emergency services arrived.

While with police, he became suddenly unresponsive.

The members commenced CPR on the man, including treating him with a defibrillator retrieved from the nearby police station, until paramedics arrived.

He was taken to hospital, however, died just

after 6.30am on Sunday 3 March.

Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the incident, with oversight by Professional Standards Command which is standard practice when a person dies while in police custody.

The investigation will include reviewing body-worn camera footage that captured the incident.

Two hospitalised after head on crash

By Dongyun Kwon

Two cars collided head-on on Maroondah Highway in Coldstream on Tuesday 27 February.

Emergency services responded to the collision at about 4.55pm.

When the services arrived on the scene, one occupant was out of their vehicle and the other was still in the vehicle, however, the person was not mechanically trapped.

Victoria State Emergency Service crews worked in conjunction with CFA crews to safely remove the doors and assist the in-

jured patient out and into the care of Ambulance Victoria.

An AmbulanceVictoria spokesperson said two people were taken to hospitals safely.

“A man in his 40s was transported by road to Maroondah Hospital in a stable condition with upper and lower body injuries,” they said.

“A woman in her 50s was transported by road to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition with upper and lower body injuries.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Four teens arrested over tobacco blazes

By Callum Godde, AAP

Children as young as 14 have allegedly been recruited into Victoria’s unrelenting tobacco war, with four teenagers arrested over a series of arson attacks and an aggravated burglary.

Police arrested a 15-year-old Springvale boy, 14-year-old Mulgrave boy, 16-year-old Mulgrave girl and 16-year-old Pakenham girl in simultaneous home raids early on Friday 1 March.

They will be interviewed over an aggravated burglary in Wonga Park, along with an attempted arson attack at a Mill Park restaurant and the torching of a tobacconist in Ballarat.

A white Isuzu D-Max and silver Ford Ranger were allegedly stolen from a home at Wonga Park in Melbourne’s outer northeast overnight between 19 and 20 February.

The Ford Ranger was then allegedly used in a firebombing on the Emerald Reception Centre in Thomastown on 22 February, causing millions of dollars in damage.

The car was found burnt out about 2.5km from the crime scene in Bundoora less than half an hour later.

A 20-year-old St Albans man faced court on Thursday after being charged over the attack.

Police allege the other ute was involved in an attempted arson at a Mill Park restaurant in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

It reversed towards the front door of the venue and several occupants exited, before one reached back in to remove a jerry can.

The would-be arsonists fled after a witness ran towards the scene.

The same vehicle was then used the following morning in an arson attack at a tobacconist on Sturt St in Ballarat, leaving it significantly damaged.

The ute was later discovered burnt out on Eureka St.

Taskforce Lunar is investigating more than 30 fires linked to a conflict between warring crime syndicates over illegal tobacco profits.

Detective Inspector Graham Banks from the taskforce said police hope the arrests would provide further avenues of inquiry.

“We’re seeing these syndicates recruit a range of people - including children - to commit incredibly serious and violent offences,” he said in a statement.

“This remains of significant concern for police, and we will do absolutely everything we can to target those involved in this offending at all levels.”

IN BRIEF

Montrose intersection upgrades

Commuters can expect to see works getting underway at the Montrose roundabout, as the project to change the intersection to traffic lights begins.

Early works started Monday 4 March and are expected to continue until late May with the project ramping up in the latter half of the year.

The works will see the potential replacement of power poles, trenches dug, some vegetation removal, the relocation of some overhead powerlines and a construction access point.

People using Leith Road, Montrose Road, Mount Dandenong Road and Mount DandenongTourist Road are advised to plan ahead for delays in traffic movement during the hours of 7am and 5pm from Monday to Friday and 7am and 1pm on selected Saturdays.

One lane on each side of the road will be closed but two-way traffic will be maintained throughout the project.

The speed will be reduced to 40km per hour, with traffic controllers and electronic boards in place.

Residents and businesses are advised that dust, vibrations and noise may be common with the movement of construction vehicles and machinery.

The long term plan will see signals added to the major intersection with pedestrian access, extra lanes along Mount Dandenong Road and Leith Road, emergency response activation of the traffic lights for the CFA, additional parking spaces at the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road shops and better pedestrian connectivity.

A new speed limit of 60km per hour will also be introduced at the completion of the intersection upgrade on Canterbury Road, Mt Dandenong Road, Leith Road and Swansea Road between Arlie Crescent and Ravenswood Court.

More information can be found at vicroads. vic.gov.au/planning-and-projects/melbourneroad-projects/montrose-roundabout-intersection-upgrade

To contact someone about the project, email DOTroadprojects@roads.vic.gov.au

The Montrose Township Group will also be posting updates to its Facebook page.

Coombe Cottage damaged

Unknown offenders entered Coombe Cottage in Coldstream between 4pm on Saturday 24 February and 9am Sunday 25 February.

Lilydale Police Station Sergeant Tim Stewart said the offenders picked up pumpkins, other vegetables and fruits that were growing on the grounds.

“The offenders have then thrown the pumpkins through glass greenhouse windows smashing the windows,” he said.

“The damage cost approximately $5000.”

Police are seeking witnesses.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Lilydale Police on 9739 2300.

Two cars collided head-on on Maroondah Highway in Coldstream on Tuesday 27 February. Picture: SUPPLIED

Four teenagers have been arrested after simultaneous home raids early on Friday 1 March. 301063

Pork barrelling under fire

By Callum Ludwig

Pork barrelling scandals have plagued Australian politics in recent years and one Independent MP has introduced a bill hoping to crack down on the shady practice.

Indi MP Helen Haines has introduced a Private Members’ Bill to the Federal Parliament to try and improve the fairness, transparency and accountability for where government funds are directed.

Dr Haines said taxpayer money should be spent on the needs of communities, not the wants of the major parties.

“Funding decisions should be evidencebased, with grants awarded on merit and need,” she said.

“At election time, the major parties use taxpayer money to shore up votes in marginal seats. Rorting grants programs wastes money and destroys public trust in government processes.”

Dr Haines has worked with the Centre for Public Integrity, including executive director Dr CatherineWilliams and director and lawyer Geoffrey Watson SC, to help draft the bill.

“When there are so many unmet areas of need in our community, the misuse of public money is a problem Australia simply can’t afford,” Dr Williams said.

“We are not talking about millions, we are talking about billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money allocated incorrectly, inadvisably and contrary to public interest. Why not bring the spending under control?” Mr Watson said.

Both major parties have come under scrutiny for potential pork barrelling in recent times, with the Coalition called out by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) for the ‘sports rorts’ and ‘car park rorts’ in 2020 and 2021 respectively, while the Auditor General has found the current Labor Government was only partly consistent with guidelines in awarding

funding through the Building Better Regions Fund, with the third and fifth rounds of funding deemed to be ‘not appropriately informed by departmental advice’ or ‘based on merit assessment results’.

Labor is also currently subject to an audit of the first round of the Community Batteries for Household Solar program.

Dr Haines said at its best, pork barrelling was maladministration, at its worst it was corruption.

“My Bill would require ministers to report to the Parliament when they have delivered

money to their own electorates or gone against the advice of their department when awarding grants,” she said.

“Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and by forcing Ministers to front up and explain themselves if they go against official advice, we are less likely to see dodgy decisions made on the eve of elections to win votes.”

The Casey electorate has featured among a few of the recent pork-barrelling scandals, with $500,000 awarded for a Belgrave reserve netball court development that didn’t meet the required merit score during the sports rorts,

featuring as one of the electorates promised a project in the car parks rorts and potentially being caught up in another withYarra Junction the recipient of a community battery.

Casey MP Aaron Violi said he’s got some concerns with the bill.

“The reality is that the role of a local member of parliament is to represent our community and to fight for the needs of our community, no one knows better than a local MP the challenges that a community faces and that’s our job,” he said.

“We should not be abdicating responsibility because a bureaucrat in Canberra looking at a spreadsheet or looking at black and white words cannot understand the intangible needs of our community.”

Mr Violi is on the Federal Government’s Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit which works with the Auditor General to review government spending.

MrVioli said he thinks the proposed bill is a bit of grandstanding and is quite disrespectful to the Audit Committee and the Auditor General.

“We need to continue to support the Auditor General to make sure that they’re independent and that they’re well funded, and we can’t let governments or executives of any side be able to limit the workload of the Auditor General,” he said.

“We also haven’t seen any cases come before the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), so this is a new body that will potentially, and in theory, and was argued by many, stamp out some of these practices,”

“I’ve got a lot of respect for the Member for Indi, I know her quite well, but I think given the processes we’ve got in place, let’s see how the new anti-corruption commission impacts this and we’ve already got an independent Auditor-General that needs to be fully supported and funded.”

A netball court upgrade at the Belgrave Recreation Reserve became entwined in a recent porkbarrelling scandal. Picture: ON FILE

Bulk billing is on the rise

By Callum Ludwig

The Casey electorate has featured as a surprising outlier among concerning statistics as the number of bulk-billing GPs plummets around the country again.

Data from healthcare comparison directory Cleanbill’s Blue Report released at the start of January identified that 132 out of the 151 Federal electorates recorded a decrease in bulk billing offerings between the 2024 report and Cleanbill’s Health of the Nation report in April 2023.

Not in Casey however, as the electorate recorded an increase of three bulk-billing practices, taking the total from a dire four to a still concerning seven.

Dr Dan’s Medical Clinic in Monbulk has continued to offer bulk billing since opening at the start of 2020, despite a tough period where the clinic couldn’t accept new patients, and principal practitioner Dr Dan Jeyaseelan said that won’t be changing anytime soon.

“Even though there is pressure on businesses, there’s so much pressure on families due to the cost of living crisis that maintaining equitable healthcare I think is a pillar of what a modern society should be, so that’s why we’ve kept it,” he said.

“I think it’s crucial because a lot of people are ending up in an emergency room and so on because they cannot get access to quality health care, so I’m glad to see that the numbers of bulk-billing clinics locally have increased.”

The increase in bulk billing clinics in Casey means 18.4 per cent of the clinics in the electorate now offer bulk billing, compared to 11.8 per cent in 2023. It was the third-largest increase recorded in the country.

Dr Jeyaseelan said people need access to quality care, otherwise they delay care.

“If they delay care, then what happens is they end up with delayed presentations which

are often much more significant,” he said.

“I really think maintaining bulk billing at least for standard consultations will reduce a lot of the pressure and improve total health outcomes because, through Covid, virtual medicine has sometimes meant that people have not been seen face-to-face at all.”

From November 2023, the Australian Government tripled the incentives for GPs to bulk bill children under 16, pensioners and other concession cardholders to help reduce the cost of a visit to the GP for these demographics.

Dr Jeyaseelan said this change was the one

Tributes for late Senator

By Andrew Brown, AAP

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rememberedVictorian Senator LindaWhite as a “beloved friend and valued colleague” following her death.

Senator White, who was elected to the upper house at the 2022 federal election and represented the outer east, died overnight after a health battle, although the exact cause of death is unknown.

In February, she announced she would take leave from the Senate due to health issues. Mr Albanese said the hearts of the Labor Party had broken following news of her death.

“Linda was formidable, a beloved friend, a valued colleague, a dedicated parliamentarian and through all her efforts in the wider Labor movement, a devout supporter of working Australians,” he said.

“As it has sadly turned out, Linda was not in the Senate for long, but she made powerful use of the brief time she had.”

Before entering federal politics, she worked for 10 years as a solicitor, while also serving as the assistant national secretary of the Australian Services Union from 1995 to 2020. She also spent a 10-year period as the vice president of the ACTU.

Foreign Minister and government Senate leader PennyWong said her life had been defined by integrity, persistence and skill.

“Linda fought the illness that has now claimed her life privately, but with all the tenacity and determination that has marked not just her short time in the Senate, but her decades of commitment to the labour movement and Australian workers,” she said.

Fellow Victorian Labor senator Raff Ciccone gave an emotional tribute to his colleague at the start of a parliamentary foreign affairs and defence committee on Friday, which SenatorWhite also served on.

“A formidable senator, I know that her loss will be mourned by many in this place,” he said.

The committee also rose for a moment of silence before the start of proceedings.

Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON

Opposition leader in the Senate Simon Birmingham said the coalition also extended sympathies following SenatorWhite’s death.

“In her first speech, Senator White made a promise that no one in the Senate would be left wondering what she thought; that people will always know where she stands and know that she is not afraid of saying what’s on her mind,” he said.

“SenatorWhite lived up to that promise.”

In a statement, the Australian Services Union said the organisation was grieving the loss of one of its “greatest warriors”.

“Linda’s influence extends to thousands, if not millions of Australians who never had the privilege of knowing her,” the union said.

“She was relentless, passionate, highly skilled and determined to win, not for herself but for others who deserved fairness and justice.”

Greens senator David Shoebridge also paid tribute, saying the upper house had lost a “fundamentally decent, honest, empathetic and intelligent force for good”.

“Right now, I’m remembering all the good she did, the principles she held and thinking of her family, friends and colleagues,” he said.

Senator White is survived by her brother Michael.

challenging time for general practice,”

“The key is Medicare and improving rebates to then improve access and then hopefully those clinics will follow suit, but I don’t think there’s a simple solution.”

The bulk billing incentive that kicked in back in November increases with the rurality of the practice, ranging between $6.85 to $20.65 in metro areas and from $13.15 to $39.70 in very remote areas, and is paid on top on top of the Medicare patient rebate for a GP consultation.

Casey MP Aaron Violi said the improvement in Casey is positive news and a step in the right direction.

“With an electorate that’s 2500 square kilometres, there’s a lot more that needs to be done, there’s no bulk billing in Lilydale for example, one of our larger suburban areas,” she said.

“I am planning to engage with local GPs around understanding the positive effect of the changes and discuss what more can be done because it is good for us, but we need to recognise, is around 1.2 million Australians avoided seeing a doctor last year due to due to the cost,”

they were waiting for.

“Interestingly, when you do bulk bill someone with a pension or healthcare card now, obviously we’re getting paid a little bit more for it but we can use that to offset bulk billing someone who doesn’t, though that’s not to say those people who don’t qualify don’t have their own financial concerns,” he said.

“These are all individual business choices, we’re passionate about maintaining bulk billing but some places, depending on their viewpoints, will be looking at different strategies to maintain the buoyancy of their practice, it is a

“When we have people not going to the doctor because they can’t afford it there are short-term, medium and long-term implications for their health which ultimately cost the system more, but more importantly, there is a significant impact on their quality of life, their family’s quality of life and it ultimately impacts our whole community.”

Mr Violi said he was also concerned about the Victorian Government’s changes to the payroll tax that will now impact GPs, which has also concerned the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, and the reduction of subsidised mental health sessions from 20 to 10, which he believes both would help to reduce the strain on the healthcare system.

Dr Dan Jeyaseelan is glad to see bulk billing options have increased in Casey, alongside his clinic in Monbulk continuing to do so.

Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG

Senator Linda White took leave from the Senate due to illness and sadly died on 29 February.

A rainbow of perspectives

By Callum Ludwig

The potential for a specific LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee was put to councillors at Tuesday 27 February Yarra Ranges Council meeting.

As reported by the Star Mail in January, the Victorian Pride Lobby’s Rainbow Local Government campaign is calling on councils across the state to establish LGBTIQA+ advisory committees or sub-committees similar to others that are comprised of community members who offer insight on other community concerns.

Co-lead of the Rainbow Local Government Campaign Dr Sean Mulcahy spoke at the meeting and said without an advisory committee, there’s a risk that the specific needs of local LGBTIQA+ people might be lost.

“According to the Victorian Population Health Survey, at least 6600 residents in the Yarra Ranges identify as LGBTIQA+, and an advisory committee is about giving those residents, alongside LGBTIQA+ people who work and recreate in the Yarra Ranges, a voice on issues that affect them,” he said.

“I know that Yarra Ranges Council has participated in the Victorian Pride March and also signed the Embracing Equality Pledge, which is a public commitment to making positive change as allies to LGBTIQA+ communities and our families.

“I also note the comments from Council’s Director of Corporate Services in the Star Mail that Council is committed to creating an inclusive community, valuing the strength of diversity and addressing and preventing any discriminatory or exclusionary practices and I again want to thank you for this commitment.”

Advisory committees to Council are made up of community members affected by or involved in the topic of interest such as dis-

Picture:ONFILE

ability, rural areas, health and wellbeing or sustainable environment practices, which are all examples of current advisory committees established in the Yarra Ranges. Occasionally, councillors will also be included among the committee members or may chair the committee.

Dr Mulcahy said neighbouring councils such as Casey and Manningham have established LGBTIQA+ advisory committees in their municipal districts, and he thinks it’s now time for Yarra Ranges to do the same.

“It’s important that LGBTIQA+ residents and ratepayers in Yarra Ranges have a direct engagement on council policy, major projects and other matters, and an LGBTIQA+ advisory committee that incorporates local community members and community organisations like Rural Rainbows is an important

way of providing direct engagement on that work,” he said.

“We ask that the appropriate officer speak with us to understand the terms of the petition and to allow us to understand council’s position on it, we stand ready to work with council and yourselves as councillors to advance LGBTIQA+ inclusion in Yarra Ranges.”

Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar spoke to the motion first and asked if Dr Mulcahy was aware there are some LGBTIQA+ representatives on the Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee to which Dr Mulcahy said he was, but the benefit of a specific committee would be having a particular purpose of LGTBIQA+ inclusion unlike the Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee.

Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton spoke next and said she is very enthusiastic about this and does see the benefit.

“I’m very strong on people who are most affected being the best advocates for their needs in the community and we certainly see that from all the advisory committees,” she said.

“I do have the concern that gender and sexuality is still something that in a general advisory committee people may not want to bring, especially if it’s something that is personal to them.

“I’m just wondering if you have a vision of what you found is an effective advisory committee form for councils.”

Yarra Ranges Council is currently developing the next iteration of its Equity, Access and Inclusion Strategy and is planning direct engagement with community groups such as Rural Rainbows to help advise on it.

Dr Mulcahy said what has been quite successful, particularly the Casey LGBTIQA+ advisory committee, is that it’s very clear that that committee is working with the purpose

of helping the council to develop an action plan.

“Often if it’s tied into a particular plan that the council’s developing, and I know the council is at the moment reviewing its Access, Equity and Inclusion policy, then that can be a really constructive way to frame the work of the advisory committee and make people feel as though they’re making a real difference in their contribution,” he said.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Sophie Todorov, who has been a member of the Q-East Alliance made up of community workers of seven eastern region areas to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIA+ locals, also asked Dr Mulcahy if it might be appropriate to have an advisory committee across an eastern region group of councils such as Yarra Ranges, Knox, Maroondah and Manningham.

Dr Mulcahy said that has been successfully used before.

“If you go a bit south to Frankston and Mornington Peninsula, they have a combined advisory committee, what they call a collaborative, and I think that works quite well because people move across council boundaries firstly,” he said.

“Secondly, I think the learnings that one council has can be shared with other councils as well too, particularly in areas where this might be a first, collaborating across different council areas can be a really effective way of supporting an LGBTIQA+ advisory committee.

“I would encourage, if this officer’s recommendation is supported today, for the appropriate officer to engage in consultation with neighbouring councils, particularly Casey and Manningham, that have already done some work within this space with a view to the potential of a regional LGBTIQA+ advisory committee.”

ApetitionforanLGBTIQA+AdvisoryCommittee wasdiscussedataYarraRangesCouncil meeting.

Pictures: DONGYUN KWON

Flushed with frustration

By Dongyun Kwon

Concerns regarding the state of cleanliness in Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) Facilities were raised through a question during the recent council meeting.

Resident Eric Adams asked a question to the Yarra Ranges councillors and introduced his experience on Tuesday 27 February.

“In September of last year, I asked for the ones [public toilets] at Brice Avenue to be cleaned properly,” he said.

“[After] I got a response that it had been done, I went back, checked and nothing had been done, they were still as bad as they were.”

Mr Adams said he had to contact the council several more times to get it cleaned.

“There had been a large clump of toilet paper thrown up onto the sensor for flushing urine and apparently it had been there for three months, so the urine hadn’t flushed for three months,” he said.

“[After the team cleaned it] the toilet paper remained and we had to get them to come back again to do another clean.

“That was not my issue, my issue is the goop that’s running down the wall that has been there for three or four months.”

According to the YRC’s annual report 20222023, the council allocated over $6 million to property and facility management.

Mr Adams said the services that the contractors provided should have been better for the amount of money the council paid for the contract.

“I understand that when you clean a toilet, half an hour later, someone’s used it and it’s not the same as when you cleaned it,” he said.

“But, It is just unacceptable [considering the amount the council paid]. It’s just not being done to any great standard.

“It [cleanliness of public toilets] is not the only part of the council that the checking needs to be done, the street sweeper is supposed to come around and sweep the streets every six weeks and I don’t think he comes up my street every six weeks.”

Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar said it’s a wake-up call for the council to work together to solve the issue.

“As Mr Adams pointed out, we’re a high

tourist area and it’s not just the tourists that use the toilets but it’s also our local residents who deserve better [public toilets],” he said.

“I’ve heard, time and time again, that the service is going to improve [with] different contractors but these problems persist.

“We really do need to take apart, get a new piece of paper and work on this together, community and the council.”

Built environment and infrastructure director Hjalmar Philipp responded to the question, stating that the team is looking at the current contract.

“Over the last three months, we’ve appointed more of a focus on an auditing role,” he said.

“There’s the whole back to basics on what are the specifications that are right for the council, particularly given the comments around tourism and that’s the part of what the team is looking at and they’ll come back with the specifications to the council for the next tender.

“As part of the draft budget discussions today, we’re looking at extra funding for upgrades of toilets as well, so there’ll be for the council’s consideration as part of the budget process.”

Mt Evelyn Community Bank

Supporting Budding Artists

The Bendigo Community Bank in Mt Evelyn is helping students at Birmingham Primary School immerse themselves in the arts by funding a wooden sculpture to mark the beginning of the school’s Art Trail.

Branch Manager, Ann Peters visited Birmingham and met with the school’s art captains, Sadie and Amelia, art teacher, Katie Knothe, and Principal, Trish Enzinger to hear about the school’s art program and to learn more about the sculpture’s progress.

“As a local community bank, we’re delighted to support the school students, staff and families through the project, as well as see the partnerships that are developing from this project between the school and local artist and sculptor Anton McMurray,” said Ann.

“Banking and art might seem an unlikely mix, but for us it’s all about building and strengthening our community through investing back into local projects like these.”

Over the past twenty years we have given over $4million back to the Mt Evelyn, Montrose and surrounding communities, making good things like this happen, through grants, donations and sponsorship.

When you think about the groups, clubs and services you have been part of locally over the years, chances are we’ve been right behind them. We consider ourselves part of the team.

By banking local, your money stays in the community. It’s local banking supporting local people – like the students of Birmingham Primary School and their families - making good things happen.

We look forward to the unveiling of the sculpture later this year.

If you’re keen to find out more about how your banking can do some good in your community, then give our branch a call, email or drop in for a visit. Let’s see how we can help you.

The hand dryer in the Healesville’s public toilet.

A public toilet in Healesville.

Uncorking Chinese market

By Callum Ludwig

China’s tariffs on wine look set to be lifted by the end of March in a move that should result in a huge boost to the Australian wine industry.

As reported by the ABC, China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell have met continuously over the last four months and the tariffs are expected to be removed by the conclusion of China’s review on 31 March.

In an interview for the ABC Afternoon Briefing with Greg Jennett, Mr Farrell said his latest meeting with Mr Wentao was his sixth in the last 18 months.

“He made it clear that their processes were on track, and we would get a result by the end of March,” he said.

“I’m very confident that the discussions I had yesterday with Wang Wentao will result in them carrying through on what they undertook to do, which was to expedite the review of the tariffs.”

The Australian Government suspended its dispute with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regarding the tariffs in October last year after China agreed to conduct a fivemonth review.

Mr Farrell said it’s not just bulk wine producers that have been affected.

“The loss of that largest trade market affected winemakers right around the country, including in my own town of the ClareValley. I’ve seen, very tragically, local winemakers simply leave their grapes on the vines,” he said.

“We have made it very clear that we want those bans lifted. We want them lifted in the time frame that we have discussed. If we don’t get them lifted, then we will resume our World Trade Organisation dispute.”

Handpicked Wines has vineyards in Yarra Glen and Gladysdale and has exported wines from its vineyards across the country to China.

Chief winemaker Peter Dillon said the impact of the tariffs was significant for them as China was a key market for their exports.

“Because of what wines were preferred by the market there, we probably saw the bulk of our South Australian ‘reds’ going into China, so when the tariffs came in, that pretty much dried up overnight,” he said.

“It obviously had a huge and significant impact on the business and where those wines go, just as it would have for so many other Australian producers.”

In March 2019, Handpicked Wines held its largest Chinese distributor visit after experi-

encing huge growth in markets across Asia in the years prior, inviting 120 of its top-performing distributors to Australia.

Mr Dillon said the timing of the tariffs was also absolutely huge.

“At the time the tariffs had come in, Australia had just got to the top position as the number one importer by country, we had just managed to overtake places like France and Chile to get to the pole position,” he said.

“If you consider the size of that market and the quantity of Australian wine that would have been going in, it would have affected a huge portion of the Australian industry, par-

ticularly for the producers in the southeast of Australia.”

Before the tariffs were introduced, Australia’s export of wine to China was raking in $1.3 billion annually, which tanked to only $10.1 million in 2023 according to Wine Australia’s Export report.

Mr Dillon said it would be fair to say there’s a lot of excitement out there about the prospect of the tariffs coming off.

“The boost is going to be twofold; in a mental sense, the relief that will come for a lot of people who probably have been doing it slightly tough will be significant,” he said.

“Once it opens there’s going to be a little bit of a delay because, like any relationship that you haven’t been engaged or active with for a number of years, people will have to find their way to a certain extent and rebuild those relationships in terms of importers and distribution.

“But I think that’s a challenge that everyone’s looking forward to embracing in reality.”

The tariffs were originally imposed in late 2020 after a diplomatic fallout between the two countries over investigations into the spread and origins of Covid-19, which then Prime Minister Scott Morrison endorsed an inquiry into. Tariffs were also applied to barley, beef, cotton, lamb, lobsters, timber and coal.

Mr Dillon said he hopes the Australian government will keep fighting on behalf of the industry should the tariffs not be lifted.

“We definitely would be hoping that the government would be mindful of the position that the Australian industries are in, especially given I think there’s so much promise there with industries like the barley industry, which has had some success there,” he said.

“In many ways, we’ve got a pretty positive outlook and are pretty hopeful, but we’re still holding our breath to a certain extent and won’t get too ahead of ourselves.”

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell is confident China will lift tariffs on Australian wine by the end of March.

Picture: ON FILE

Wildlife shelters

By Callum Ludwig

The United Nations’ World Wildlife Day was held on Sunday 3 March as animal lovers and conservationists around the world celebrated successes and shared concerns in the animal kingdom.

There’s a plethora of animal rescue and wildlife organisations in theYarra Ranges, and some of them shared their important messages to the Star Mail they want to highlight in the world of wildlife.

Owner and operator of Mt Evelyn’s Bungalook Creek Wildlife Shelter Emma Cash urged locals to look up their local wildlife shelter and offer them support.

“All registered wildlife shelters are run by volunteers, we don’t get paid to look after wildlife that are sick, injured or orphaned,” she said.

“Most need volunteers and if you can’t regularly volunteer, maybe you could donate to help with the feeding costs,”

“Australia has one of the highest extinction rates of fauna and flora in the world, over 50 per cent of all fauna found in Australia are only found in Australia, once gone, we cannot bring them back. As Australians, we should care about our wildlife, because if we don’t, no one else will.”

This year is the 11th annual World Wildlife Day, with the date of 3 March selected as it is the day the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973. CITES is an international treaty that was signed to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade, helping to crack down on illegal hunting, monitor imports and improve the welfare of the plants and animals.

Ms Cash said caring for wildlife starts in your own backyard.

“Fruit netting is one of the biggest killers of wildlife during the spring/summer months, if you can fit your finger through the netting spaces the net is now illegal and you could be

prosecuted. Consider using branch stockings to protect the fruit, or even better share it with your furry and feathery locals,” she said.

“Roaming cats (and dogs) are also a major threat to native wildlife, letting domestic animals roam at night not only increases the chance of native wildlife being attacked, but your furry friend also runs the increased risk of being hit by a car or picking up diseases such as FIV from cat fights,”

“Whether we like it or not, if you ask an overseas traveller what they know about Australia one of the first things they mention is our Australian wildlife, the koala (and no, it is not a bear!) and kangaroo and wouldn’t it be amazing if as Aussies we stopped thinking of these animals as pests and started to celebrate how unique our wildlife is.”

The theme of 2024’s World Wildlife Day is ‘Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation’, aiming to raise awareness of digital innovation in wildlife conservation, such as the implementation of electronic CITES permitting systems which are helping crack down on illegal wildlife trade,

ever-developing sustainable agricultural and fishing practices and new cameras and devices helping record all sorts of flora and fauna.

Owner of the Waratah Wildlife Shelter Raewyn Jeganathan said it saddens her to see how so many of us have little regard for our amazing wildlife.

“We need to work towards recognising the effect our lives have on theirs and find ways to live in a manner that respects both the environment and the wildlife. We have such a unique and diverse range of animals in Australia, they’re all so fascinating and yet the majority of people know so little about them,” she said.

“I started Waratah Wildlife Shelter because I became painfully aware of the impact humans are having on our wildlife and feel that we should be working towards rectifying that. For the most part, I can only help individual animals whose paths cross mine but I really hope that one day I can have a greater impact,”

“I hope I can help to change people’s mindsets, to encourage them to respect and appreciate the native wildlife and work together to improve the health and wellbeing of our envi-

ronment and its inhabitants.”

Carol Seeger runs the Emerald Monbulk Wildlife Shelter, looking after permanent and temporary residents who find themselves in need of care.

Fem Koenders is a foster carer for the shelter and said people need to be aware of the importance of looking out for our wildlife on the roads.

“Slow down at dusk and dawn, report injured animals and educate yourself so you have a better understanding,” she said.

“Carol takes in an enormous amount of animals on a daily basis. The cost and time it takes to nurse each and every one of them back to health is enormous, and that’s not counting dealing with the heartache for the ones that don’t make it. I think most people would be stunned at how hard she works, day and night, 24/7, 365 days a year.,”

“Ourwildlifeisunique,fragileandyetrobust, they need all the help they can get because our environment is a harsh one to survive in and on top of that we are encroaching on their home at an alarming rate.”

One happy resident recovering at Emerald Monbulk Wildlife Shelter. Pictures: SUPPLIED Having a munch.

Sparking nursery regrowth

By Mikayla van Loon

The term ‘dire straits’ has been used to describe the situation Candlebark Community Nursery in Mooroolbark faces to stay in operation and keep native habitat thriving.

With years of lockdown during the pandemic and the years that have followed losing volunteers, the compounding effects has left the nursery asking the community for help.

Launching a GoFundMe at the end of February, the aim is to raise $60,000 to continue operations, keep the paid staff employed and set the nursery back on a sustainable path.

Now nursery secretary Debbie Shaw, who was one of the founding members of Candlebark 30 years ago, returned to buy some plants in the middle of February having not visited for a number of years.

Hearing of the dismay volunteers and the committee were experiencing, Ms Shaw decided to help where she could, joining the committee on the spot.

“[Pre-Covid] we had funds in the bank. We had a nursery propagator who’s passionate as, he probably puts in twice as many hours as we can pay him for. We had thousands of plants and then all of a sudden, everything stopped. You can’t sell any more,” Ms Shaw said.

“You can’t go out, you can’t do anything really, other than trying to manage the stock you’ve got. We already had standing orders we couldn’t fill because we had no one to do all the work.”

Made up of mostly volunteers, Ms Shaw said during Covid many stepped away, others found different priorities or opportunities.

It was during this time too that the longstanding treasurer stepped down and Ms Shaw said that meant throughout Covid, as much as people tried, there was no one with financial experience monitoring the nursery’s incomings and outgoings.

Mostly supplying plants to local councils, schools, community groups and other organisations who want to establish indigenous gardens or reintroduce habitat, Ms Shaw said orders slowed during the pandemic to unsustainable rates.

“They had to throw out thousands of plants because they couldn’t give them away and they really struggled with during Covid to get the plant orders.

“[Right now] we’ve got 60,000 plants, 15,000 of them are actually ordered but that’s not even enough to cover what’s walking out the door. The biggest expenses are the water, the power and the lease from a public authority.

“We need to sell more than 15,000 plants. We need to sell all 60,000 plants to get back

in the black.”

But with a reduced number of volunteers to sell, propagate and maintain the property itself, everything has been falling behind, with the added challenge of malfunctioning watering systems and heatbeds.

“All the plants are weedy. There’s weeds everywhere. The weeds took over, blackberries, everything during Covid but no one can keep on top of it.

“If we can get the weeds down, that saves the weeds in the plants which saves the volunteers’ effort.”

Now looking for any help from the community who are willing to provide financial, technology, land maintenance, retail or propagation support, Ms Shaw said anyone and everyone would be welcome.

“We need a couple more enthusiastic people with some environmental knowledge background or the ability to learn,” she said.

“We’re about saving biodiversity assets. We’re here to give habitat back to animals, those pesky possums that have moved into our roofs because we’ve moved into the place where they live.

“It’s re-educating people about the fact we can live in harmony. It makes for a healthier environment and makes for healthier ecosystems.

“Farmers have learned that if you use indigenous plantings around your farm, you’ll get a more productive farm.You’ll get healthier soil.”

Ms Shaw said nurseries of this kind are more important than ever, watching the development of houses spread further and further.

“When you look at the development, the land use that’s going on and all the disappearing receding bush and habitat, it becomes more and more critical that we actually support the local environment,” she said.

But in order to achieve that, Ms Shaw said “all we know is that we need to get the heart back” into the nursery, with a really strong group of volunteers to ensure the work can continue.

To find out more about Candlebark Community Nursery, go to candlebark.org.au. The nursery is openWednesday to Friday and Sunday 10am to 2pm. Any queries can be directed via phone on 9727 0594 or email info@candlebark.org.au

The fundraiser can be found at gofundme. com/f/candlebark-community-nursery-survive-and-flourish

Plans for PJ Mould Community Park open for feedback

By Callum Ludwig

With theWandin North Masterplan approved by Yarra Ranges Council in July 2023, one of the first major projects is up for community engagement.

A proposed upgrade to the PJ Mould Community Park is the first cab off the rank, with residents asked to share their thoughts on plans to give the area an uplift.

Director of planning and sustainable futures at Yarra Ranges Council Kath McClusky said they’re seeking community member feedback on concept plans for PJ Mould Reserve.

“In July 2023, after extensive community consultation, we finalised the Wandin North Masterplan, a document outlining works and projects to improve the town centre over the coming 10 years,”

“In the Masterplan, we identified several opportunities to revitalise PJ Mould Reserve and the surrounding area, including improved gathering spaces, extended and upgraded paths, new landscaping and park furniture.”

An open invitation to talk to the planning team at the reserve on Wednesday 28 February was planned but had to be postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

“In addition, an opportunity to upgrade

the toilet facilities at the reserve, to increase safety, access and amenity at the same time has presented itself and this important upgrade has been brought forward to be delivered alongside the landscape improvements to PJ Mould reserve,” Ms McClusky said.

“We will continue to consult with stakeholders, including the RSL and Wandin Rotary Club – particularly on a proposal to relo-

cate the town’sWar Memorial into the reserve - and we encourage community members to share feedback at shaping.yarraranges.vic. gov.au before 24 March.”

The toilet facilities are one of the key upgrade opportunities, having been impacted by previous flooding incidents.

Residents can view identified issues and

opportunities for the space on a pair of interactive maps accessible on the Shaping Yarra Ranges webpage to find out more.

Yarra Ranges Council estimates the feedback will have been reviewed and relevant changes made by April 2024, an exhibition of the final design held in May 2024 and construction is anticipated to have commenced by July.

The nursery’s heat bed is only half functioning, while the sprinkler system is also faltering.

Liam and Connor have learnt indigenous horticulture by working at Candlebark.

The nursery grounds have been somewhat overrun by weeds.

Tristan has been volunteering at Candlebark since he was young, sanitising the pots so they can be reused.

Nursery manager Jamin and propagators Liam and Connor ensure the health of the plants.

Pictures: MIKAYLA VAN LOON

PJ Mould Community Park in Wandin North is set for an upgrade. Picture: CALLUM LUDWIGCommunity consultation is open until 24 March.

Vibrant retirement living

In the heart of Lilydale, where the lush Yarra Valley meets the Dandenong Ranges, stands Lilydale Valley Views – not just a retirement village, but a thriving community where residents relish every moment of their golden years. For the past 15 years, we have meticulously crafted an environment that goes beyond providing accommodation; it’s a place where the essence of retirement living is fully embraced.

Our village boasts an array of accommodation options, from stunning homes with valley views to cosy terrace living.With 139 homes, including semi-attached 2/3 bedroom units, each designed to ensure a family-like atmosphere, we prioritise creating a space that fits the unique preferences of every resident. What sets Lilydale Valley Views apart is the commitment to offering a comprehensive retirement experience. Picture a heated indoor swimming pool and spa, providing residents with an oasis for relaxation and exercise. Imagine weekly Tai Chi and dancersize sessions, tailored to keep both the body and mind active and engaged. Our village bus takes the hassle out of shopping, offering a convenient door-to-door service, freeing residents from the need to drive and park.

One of the key pillars of our community is the vibrant social committee. This dedicated group organises a plethora of indoor and outdoor activities, ensuring residents always have opportunities for connection and enjoyment. From outings to social events, our calendar is brimming with activities that cater to diverse interests, creating an enriching experience for everyone. Yet, the true magic lies in the residents themselves. A wonderful group of people with a wide range of interests, they form the beating heart of our community. The warmth and genuine sense of camaraderie that have flourished over the years are truly heartwarming. Newcomers quickly find themselves embraced by the community, invited to various

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Enjoy some quite time with a book from the extensive library collection.

Meet and mingle with friends in the community centre.

activities and social occasions, allowing them to tailor their level of engagement. At Lilydale ValleyViews, we recognise the importance of social connections for overall health and wellbeing as we age. Our environment is curated to facilitate an active and connected lifestyle, fostering a sense of community that extends beyond the physical boundaries of the village.

Centrally located near essential amenities, including medical practitioners, supermarkets, and the train station – all within walking distance – Lilydale Valley Views provides a seam-

less blend of convenience and tranquillity. The nearby Warburton Trail offers residents the opportunity for scenic walks or bike rides, while a thriving veggie/flower garden on-site adds to the communal spirit. As a testament to our commitment to excellence, we are proud to have built a retirement village that has evolved into a close-knit community. Lilydale Valley Views is not merely a place to live; it’s a place where people flourish, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and cherished moments.

In celebration of our journey and the joy of

vibrant retirement living, we invite you to explore Lilydale Valley Views. Come and witness firsthand the beauty of terrace living, stunning views, and the warm embrace of a community that defines the essence of retirement living. For more information, contact Lilydale Valley Views at 471 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale, email manager@lilydalevalleyviews.com.au, or call 03 9735 5944 to speak with Rosemary Seymour our manager. Our doors are open from 9am to 4.30pm, welcoming you to a new chapter of vibrant retirement living.

Breathtaking views await residents at Lilydale Valley Views.

A garden of independence

By Mikayla van Loon

The addition of wheelchair-friendly garden beds at an aged care home in Montrose has given residents back their independence.

After receiving a $7000 grant from the Andrews Foundation, Mercy Place sought to provide two garden beds designed specifically for residents using wheelchairs.

Lifestyle coordinator Dee Halligan said it took quite a bit of research to find the right planter boxes.

“It took me a long time to find them because the wooden ones aren’t waterproof. I’ve got nursery friends in Queensland and one of my friends had heard of these,” she said.

“They’re made in, I want to say, Germany and so we messaged the company and they told us who supplied them in Australia and they were in Sydney. So then we had them trucked down in a day because you couldn’t get them anywhere else.”

Well worth the effort, for resident Lyn Sykes who loved her garden before moving into Mercy Place, it brings comfort and conversation.

“I had a vegetable garden and that kept me going and it was terrific. It gave me something to do,” she said.

“I was growing potatoes and and because I’m a member of the RSL Ringwood, I was a volunteer, I used to pick potatoes and take them down there and any herbs, so that was great.”

Lyn said the courtyard where the garden beds were located draws people in who like to garden and so “it’s somewhere to just get out and talk” as much as it is about getting hands in the soil.

Although only three or four residents regularly tend to the garden beds, Dee said “that’s fine because it’s theirs and they’ve got to own it”.

Despite having a much larger vegetable gar-

den that the rest of the residents use, Dee said for those in a wheelchair, it’s just not accessible and these specialised, raised planters allow the chair to fit underneath for residents like Lyn to reach over comfortably.

“It gives her independence. Her home is

Fostering appreciation

By Mikayla van Loon

Gratitude and thanks filled the main dining room at Sky High last week as Anchor hosted an appreciation dinner for all the foster and kinship carers currently supporting young people.

Over 100 carers joined staff on the evening of Thursday 22 February, with Anchor chief executive officer Heidi Tucker acknowledging that“a lot of your hard work goes unseen”.

“You give your time, your resources, your space.You make room within your own families, and spend a great deal of emotional and physical energy doing what you do every day,” she said.

“It is our absolute honour as an organisation to support you in your carer work, because we know you do such an amazing job.”

Heidi said since she joined Anchor in 2015 she has seen the kinship offering “almost quadruple in size” particularly as child protection has required more foster opportunities for young people.

But so too while there have been positive changes, Heidi said the pandemic brought with it challenges as people reassessed their lives.

“The Covid pandemic and the lockdowns that followed created a seismic shift in how people prioritise their time and their home life,” she said.

“And in the years that have followed, the rising cost of living has impacted the way families make big decisions about their lives.

“For foster care, this has meant a lot of carers choosing to exit the system and a far lower rate of new carers coming into the system.”

This is especially true for younger foster carers, Heidi said, creating somewhat of a crisis, as young people struggle through living pressures of their own, making them unable to add the needs of a child to their lives.

For one young married couple, Liam and Sarah, growing up around Sarah’s parents who fostered children, Liam said helped them to understand “we didn’t need to be

able to commit to long term placements”.

“We became involved in foster care because we understood the need for support for young people in out of home care and saw emergency and respite foster care as a way we could offer this support,” Liam said.

Respite care, Liam said, goes a long way to “ease the pressure on families and carers and provide better support for young people”.

Knowing how much need is out there and hearing the stories of “young people facing such challenging circumstances” is saddening for Liam and Sarah.

Despite it sometimes being challenging, Liam and Sarah said it was “very fulfilling” and being able to share just some of the privileges they have been afforded in life to create such a difference is someone else’s future.

“We see that with sufficient support and care, young people are able to flourish, families are able to build resilience and strength and communities can come together for the best futures for our next generation.

“Being involved in the lives of young people is encouraging and joyful, although challenging at times. We find immense value in how small change to our life can offer such a meaningful contribution to the broader community and impact a young person in any small or big way.”

As foster care faces the obstacle of shortages, Heidi said the future is relatively uncertain but seeing everyone in the room on Thursday brought her great comfort.

just around the corner so she’s able to come out here and she can do her own thing because the hose is just behind her, she’s got access to everything,” Dee said.

“I like to be independent, I like to make my own bed and do little things around the place

so this is good,” Lyn said.

Although the heat and wind of the last few weeks has played havoc with the plants, crops of basil, sage, chives, parsley and oregano are growing, with a few floral touches to bring some colour.

“I am reminded of the incredible strength and dedication that you demonstrate day in, day out,” she said.

“I can’t help but feel confident that wherever the system lands, there will always be people like yourselves who are willing to stand up and say‘I care. I want to fight for our most vulnerable children to be safe’.”

For Liam and Sarah, were grateful to have been able to share space and conversation with other foster and kinship carers, to feel

the support of Anchor’s staff and know their contribution was being recognised.

“It was wonderful to see so many carers in one place and to see carers who have given so much time and investment being recognised for their efforts.

“We enjoyed seeing the wealth of experience in the care team behind the young people in foster care and feeling like we could contribute to that in some small way.”

Mercy Place Montrose residents Lyn Sykes, Shirley Van Veen and Dale Macalister enjoying the wheelchair friendly garden beds. 390514

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

The room saw over 100 carers join Anchor staff at Sky High on Thursday 22 February.

Anchor chief executive officer Heidi Tucker said she was filled with gratitude for the work of the foster and kinship carers who dedicate so much to young people. Pictures: SUPPLIED

Future of hearing

for individuals with hearing impairments. Genesis AI hearing aids are not just devices; they represent a fusion of cuttingedge technology and sophisticated design.

With advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, these hearing aids adapt and learn from the user’s preferences, ensuring a personalised and seamless listening experience. This innovation goes beyond conventional hearing aid functions, addressing the unique needs of each individual.

Shipra Ojha, the visionary founder and principal audiologist at Hearsmart Hearing Solutions, expresses her excitement about introducing Genesis AI to our valued patients.

“We are thrilled to offer Genesis AI hearing aids to our community.This is a game-changer in the world of hearing solutions, providing a level of personalisation and adaptability that was once unimaginable,” she said.

“Our commitment to delivering the best possible hearing care experience is now elevated with the inclusion of Genesis AI in our offerings.

Shipra further emphasizes the importance of embracing cutting-edge technology in addressing hearing challenges.

“As technology evolves, so should our ap-

proach to hearing care. Genesis AI hearing aids empower individuals to not only hear better but to engage more fully in their daily lives. It’ss a testament to our dedication to providing innovative solutions that enhance the overall well-being of our patients,” she said.

At Hearsmart Hearing Solutions, we believe that everyone deserves to experience the richness of sound, and the launch of Genesis AI hearing aids allows us to fulfil this mission.

Visit our clinic today to explore how this revolutionary technology can transform your hearing experience and reconnect you with the world of sound.

Hearsmart is excited to be able to offer Genesis AI hearing aids from Starkey.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Principal audiologist and HearSmart founder Shipra Ojha has championed the use of Genesis AI hearing aids. 265306

Picture: ROB CAREW

Portraits uplifting women

By Callum Ludwig

has returned with her 13th annual International Women’s Day (IWD) series, featuring portraits of 26 inspiring women.

Made up of raw black-and-white portraits of the women involved, the series asks each of them to share what IWD means to them.

Ms Phoenix said she was excited to bring together another 26 people into her IWD portrait series in 2024.

“We continue to live in a society where gender-based violence and oppression is ever present so I continue with this self-funded series and I hope this work contributes in some way to changing perceptions and challenges everyone to reach beyond the staid IWD breakfast events,” she said.

Among this year’s participants in the project are several residents of the Yarra Valley, including sisters Brooke and JacquiWandin, and artist and poet Belinda Rogers.

Ms Rogers said she was so glad to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of the project, mostly because it was an opportunity to pay her respects to an artist she has admired for years.

“I came across her work when I moved into the area years ago and was instantly intrigued. I thought to myself ‘This is an artist with something to say and a lot to give the world’, what I love most about her is the places she goes to find beauty,” she said.

“She isn’t at the seaside clicking pretty pictures. She wanders through ragged and forgotten streets with the grace of a street cat shimmering from shadow to shadow, she is diving into the very soul of modern culture and capturing the faces of the people experiencing it, she is looking for something, and yet it moves with her,”

“To the people coming across the project for the first time and wondering what it’s all about, Isay,takeagoodlookandthenlookagain,these are the faces of women owning their own sacred

mark on this day, behind each face is a clear and present voice, felt and shared for women everywhere, it is our voice, the voices of women we carry with us and the voices yet to be.”

Living in Warburton, Ms Rogers has exhibited her works, namely her large-scale oil paintings on cloth, near and far including featuring in YAVa exhibitions and having her own exhibit atYering Station in 2022.

For Jacqui Wandin, the IWD exhibition was an opportunity for her to acknowledge the lives and importance of the women who came before her, including her Nana Ollie.

Ms Wandin said her nana was one of the kindest women who went through so much heartache yet still carried her dignity so beautifully.

“She was always one of those people that you would never hear say a bad word about anyone and as well as her, I think of the women of Coranderrk who were so self-determined,” she said.

“It was nice to see back then there was almost equal standing for men and women when they were doing their deputations and writing letters to the government, the women were just as important,”

“At one stage they were making more money than the men, making their rugs, blankets, baskets and all sorts of things.”

Ms Wandin is a proud Wurundjeri Woiwurrung woman, elder and educator and is currently Executive Producer in the development of a Barak miniseries.

Ms Wandin said that there has been an incredible lack of their history told, so being involved in the project is great because it gives her people a platform.

“It also celebrates the women who are still here with us or have continued this with whatever it may be, whether it may be weaving, or language as with my sister whereas I’m more of a storyteller, we all carry those genes and we carry them with a lot of pride,” she said.

Empowering women with an exhibition of their own

By Callum Ludwig

An empowering exhibition has opened at the Warburton Waterwheel for the month of March.

Body of Empowerment will be on display in the gallery, coinciding with International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March.

Sponsored by Body of Wellbeing Ltd. (BOWL), the exhibition features new or existing artwork from Yarra Ranges-based women artists aged over 18.

Local mosaic artist Leonie Claire said when this exhibition was first mentioned to her it, resonated as she has battled with body image for many years and feels strongly about it.

“I believe that our body is a shell and it’s more important what’s on the inside: your heart and soul, being a kind, generous, supportive and uplifting person. Judging someone on how they look is so damaging not only to them but also the person doing the judging who is missing out on getting the whole picture,” she said.

“I’ve been enjoying mosaic for about 30 years and love the process of putting things together to create new works of art. For my mosaic piece I have used a full figure torso and she is a big, bold and beautiful Burlesque/ show girl.”

The exhibition grew from a body empowerment program that Executive Director of BOWL Louise Wigg and yoga teacher and video artist Cat McKay developed a few years ago called My Body’s Story. Michele Osterhoudt who coordinates exhibitions at theWarburton Wheel and who is also a BOWL director proposed the idea of sponsoring an exhibition to bring together the works of women around the Yarra Valley and the Body of Empowerment exhibition was locked in for March.

Ms Wigg said they hope they have created a space where women can come together and celebrate everything they are in the world.

“Throughout March we will offer a range of workshops related to self-nurturing and creativity to provide a space that women, and all genders, can enjoy and walk away feeling

nourished,” she said.

“Body of Wellbeing Limited, is a recentlyformed Not for Profit that has evolved to fill a gap within our local community to lead work focusing on the development, implementation and evaluation of a strategic approach to prevention of eating disorders, body image distress and weight stigma.”

Lucy Pierce and Crystal Tan are two artists who will host workshops, with Ms Pierce offering an Embodied Clay workshop on Tuesday 12 March and Ms Tan offering a watercolours workshop on Friday 15 March.

“For me, all creative expression is a grap-

pling with the body, with my body, with my sense of embodiment. To me the body is intrinsically beautiful, all bodies are. It is through the body we experience the beauty of life,” Ms Tan said.

“I usually paint flowers and sometimes landscapes. But painting myself, using myself as a reference, observing the shadows and curves and lines and textures in a non-judging way, was indeed quite a therapeutic and loving experience,” Ms Tan said.

Body of Empowerment runs from 10am4pm every day in March at the Waterwheel Gallery inWarburton

Ms McKay created a mesmerising video called ‘how do I feel, what do I need,’ depicting three women taking time to drop in and listen to and nourish their bodies through self massage for the exhibition.

She will also be running a stretch and selfmassage workshop on Sunday 17 March from 4pm to 6pm and said this practice has helped her through so many challenging times.

“I love to share this practice with my yoga students and hope to share it with more through this exhibition. I hope that we can all find a way to come home to our bodies and listen to her, honour her, and give her what she needs.”

The gallery was packed for the opening of the ‘Body of Empowerment’ exhibition at the Warburton Waterwheel.

Pictures: CHRISTINE JOHANNA PHOTOGRAPHY

Artists from across the Yarra Ranges came together for the exhibition.

L-R: BOWL Board of directors Melissa Grasso, Louise Wigg,Michele Osterhoudt and Cat McKay.

Millgrove photographer Suzanne Phoenix

Indigenous elder and educator Jacqui Wandin.

Picture: SUZANNE PHOENIX

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Immerse in photography

By Dongyun Kwon

The new exhibition, Thru The Lens My Place, My People, is now available at YAVA Gallery and Arts Hub in Healesville showcasing photographs of how photographers look at the world with a particular eye.

The photographers in the exhibition present their own interpretations of their place and their people.

Photographer Khoi Bui said his place is where he feels comfortable in his mind.

“I want the audience to feel intimacy, closeness and belonging through my photographs in this exhibition,” he said.

“I want them to feel comfortable looking at them and feel like they are the places that they want to be in for a few minutes.”

One of Mr Bui’s photographs in the exhibition The Winemaker was taken at Christmas lunch last year.

“The person, who is a winemaker, is opening his own wine,” Bui said.

“It [the photograph itself] is inviting people to come and have a glass with me.

“I want the audience to feel the way I felt at that particular time while I was playing violin. I felt like I was going to have amazing wine in this cosy place of this winemaker who is my brother-in-law.”

Another photographer Kate Baker showcases a series of ocean photographs called Great Ocean.

“They are not local but the reason I chose this subject is because I grew up by the ocean and for me, the ocean is a place for freedom,” she said.

“It’s a place where I feel like I completely belong and I am truly myself.

“I produced a paper negative which gives it a very textual field that feels old-fashioned.

“I tried to give it a sense of being timeless so that people will relate to a feeling that they’ve had that expansiveness, that sense of freedom or that sense of something almost in their dream that they remember, as a place of deep comfort.”

Both Mr Bui and Ms Baker have gotten into photography due to their families.

Mr Bui said his grandfather, father and uncle loved playing around with gadgets, old films and cameras.

“When I was young, I looked at their photos and I thought ‘That’s to be overexposed or that doesn’t look good.’ and I felt like I wanted to touch the camera and use it but I couldn’t because I wasn’t allowed to,” he said.

“After I got older and I was allowed to use a camera, I got into photography.”

Ms Baker said she and her brother started taking photographs together underneath the house when she was 16.

“I discovered the magic of putting a white piece of paper into chemicals and seeing a picture emerge,” she said.

“My dad was also into photography when I was young and he still has film cameras.”

The other photographer John Bodin exhibits only one artwork Vale Neville for this exhibition.

Neville was the colourful local identity of Warburton who was a former barrister from Lancashire UK arriving in Australia in 1965.

Mr Bodin said he wanted to show the colourful characters of Warburton.

“The theme of this exhibition is the people or places of the Yarra Valley,” he said.

“Neville was a very talented barrister in his professional life and an extremely good piano player. He was playing Rachmaninoff and also telegraphing him at his home in Warburton.

“Vale Neville is representative of lots of the eclectic group of characters and personalities in Warburton.”

Bodin has been a professional photographer for all his working career and he couldn’t think of himself without photography.

“I’ve always loved visual arts and the photographic medium,” he said.

“When my commercial professional photography career phased out, I concentrated on my personal work and exhibited through various galleries in the city.

L-R: Ms Baker, Mr Bui and Mr Bodin

Cook statues damaged

By Maria Millers

Ozymandias

Percy

Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveller from an antique land

Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert . . . Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:

And on the pedestal these words appear:

‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Not long after the British Museum acquired a fragment of a statue of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses11, known as Ozymandias in Greek, English Romantic poet Percy – Bryce Shelley wrote a sonnet about the crumbling statue found in the desert as a reminder that no amount of power can stave off inevitable fate and the passage of time.

Even the ‘king of kings’ is powerless and all that survived of him is the king’s ‘sneer of cold command’, captured so well by the sculptor.

Here is art surviving and preserving past history.

But history is not set in stone and our understanding of the past changes.

Our views on women’s suffrage, sexuality, medicine, education, child-rearing and masculinity are not the same as they were 50 years ago, and will be different again in another 50 years.

So even though a work of art survives, its

WOORILLA WORDS

significance and meaning may change.

Last week a bronze statue of Captain Cook was toppled off its plinth outside Captain Cooks Cottage, in the Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne.

The cottage had been the home of Cook’s parents in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire and there is no record whether he ever lived there.

Yet it has stood as a tourist attraction since 1934.

And it’s the third time a memorial to Captain Cook has been damaged in Melbourne this year.

A statue at St Kilda’s Jacka Boulevard was also sawn off at the ankles the day before Australia Day.

This follows a series of recent attacks on other statues and monuments elsewhere, bearing Cook’s name, particularly around the time of Australia Day.

But removing statues and monuments is not confined to Australia.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter it is a worldwide phenomenon, particularly when they are of individuals associated with divisive aspects of history.

Statues are symbolic and so is the act of tearing them down.

Australia is only just becoming ready to accept the truth of its history the good, the bad and the ugly. But for many brought up in the romantic narratives of the settler society and on selective history taught in schools there is often a reluctance to face the reality of our

past. There is a high incidence of toxic nostalgia at large.

Guardian journalist on indigenous affairs, Paul Daley believes that unless history strives for truth it is nothing more than propaganda.

There is nothing intrinsically educational about a statue, memorial or place name What is needed is context.

But there are of course differences of opinion.

ANU history professor Bruce Scales has said that removing statues altogether “removed that opportunity for discussion”, and suggested updating them with fuller historical accounts he calls ‘dialogical memorialisation’ rather than ripping down existing statues and monuments we should be adding plaques to explain their history from a modern perspective.

What then is achieved by vandalising statues of Cook?

Was he the ogre and instrument of dispossession that some paint him?

Or was he a man of his time?

To some Indigenous Australians Cook’s statues are symbols of the establishment of colonial Australia that resulted in the dispossession and destruction of thousands of indigenous communities.

Strangely statues of Cook appear in place he never visited.

Cook has many defenders who point out his voyages were prompted only by specific scientific goals.

A skilled navigator, surveyor, cartographer and captain he led three successful expeditions.

But there is no doubt that Cook sailed with orders to take possession of new territories in the name of the King of Great Britain “with the consent of the natives.”

And he certainly did not have the consent of indigenous people when he claimed New South Wales for the king, when he landed on what he called Possession Island at the tip of Cape York, on August 22, 1770.

However, it seems that Cook may have been made to shoulder the blame of our past mistakes unfairly.

There are many more (some we now recognize, others yet unnamed) who played a larger role in the wrongs against indigenous Australians.

The poetW H Auden once said: A dead man who never caused others to die seldom rates a statue.

Perhaps it’s time to erect statues to both men and women beyond the powerful, that we all might see ourselves in the figures that are represented.

Or do we need statues and monuments at all?

Could they be seen as outdated furnishings of civic space? A convenience for pigeons and a backdrop for tourist selfies.

Those in favour of statues argue that public art in cities offers a sense of meaning and identification for its residents whether in the form of murals, installations, sculptures and statue.

Ideally then, public art should inspire people to engage and encourage discussion.

Productive public discussions are however at a premium in our culture and would unlikely reach consensus.

But maybe it’s worth a try.

The last words should go to Spike Milligan’s short poem calling for a monument for that humble staple food, porridge.

Porridge

Why is there no monument

To Porridge in our land?

It it’s good enough to eat, It’s good enough to stand!

On a plinth in London

A statue we should see

Of Porridge made in Scotland

Signed, “Oatmeal, O. B. E.

“

(By a young dog of three)

Celtic culture returns with Melbourne Highland Games

The Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival invites you to join them for a day of fun, music, and culture on Sunday 24 March, from 9am to 4pm at Eastfield Park, Croydon.

The festival is a gathering in the tradition of the Highland games held in Scotland, around Australia and other countries to celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage. The festival will feature pipe bands, dancing, heavy events, clans, stalls, children’s activities and more.

The highlight of the festival will be the Victorian Pipe Band Championship, where the best pipe bands in the state will compete for the coveted title. You will also enjoy the spectacular massed bands display, where bands of pipers and drummers will perform together in perfect harmony. The festival will also showcase the talents and skills of:

· The Highland dancers, who will perform traditional dances such as the sword dance, the Highland fling, and the SeannTriubhas.

· Heavy Games: See the strength and agility of the athletes, who will participate in the heavy events such as the caber toss, the hammer throw, and the stone put.

· Scottish & Celtic Clans: This is your chance to learn more about your Scottish and Celtic ancestry, as you visit the clan tents and discover your family history.

· You will also find a variety of stalls selling Scottish and Celtic merchandise, such as kilts, tartans, jewellery, books, and more.

The festival is a truly family event, with activities and entertainment for all ages. You can join the children’s games, watch demonstrations, listen to the Celtic music, and sample the delicious food and drinks.

The festival is organised by the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival, a notfor-profit organisation that aims to promote and preserve Scottish and Celtic culture in Melbourne. The festival is supported by the City of Maroondah, and the Victorian Scot-

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience

tish Heritage Cultural Foundation. Tickets are available online at the festival website or at the gate on the day. Adults (16

and over) $25, concession $20, children under 16 – free.

the best of Scottish and Celtic culture at the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival.

See the varieties of dance from the Scottish to the Irish.

Hear the sounds of the pipe bands.

All the Highland Games action will return to Eastfield Park at the end of March. Pictures: MIKAYLA VAN LOON

Disaster legal help check

The extreme storms that swept across Melbourne in February 2024 caused significant damage for communities and community members in the east.

These storms caused severe damage to homes, businesses, roads and infrastructure, including disruption to services, with many homes still without power.

Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) remains very concerned for many communities hardest hit in the Knox andYarra Ranges areas.

The Centre has since engaged its Extreme Weather Event Response program to assist people to move from crisis to recovery, working in close collaboration with other local services and support providers.This includes the release of an updated Disaster Legal Help Check tool: eclc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Disaster-Recovery-Legal-Help.pdf

Legal matters

Anita Koochew Eastern Community Legal Centre

The Disaster Legal Help Check tool guides people through a list of common legal issues and how to access help.

It also aims to help people working with community members affected by the recent storm event to identify legal needs and related issues that may have arisen or been exacerbat-

CPP, Gemco productions

CPP Presents Little Women

Christmas Eve, 1862. With their father away on the frontline of the American Civil War, the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – journey into adulthood, each determined to pursue a life of their own terms.

But growing up means contending with love and loss, as well as the myriad twists of fortune that can shape a lifetime.

Season: Friday April 5 – Saturday April 13.

Venue: Performing Arts Centre Boronia K-12 College Albert Ave. Boronia.

Live in the Lyre: Festival of folk – Daoiri Farrell.

Dublin-born singer and bouzouki player, Daoiri Farrell is a product of Dublin’s famous club An G?ilin Traditional Singers since launching his own solo career at the 2016 Celtic Connections, Daoiri Farrell has gone from strength to strength.

On the verge of releasing his fourth solo album in early 2023, he can boast numerous honours from BBC, Radio 2, Folk Awards to ALSR Celtic Music Accolades.

Season: Thursday March 7. At 8pm.

Songs From the Bool of Life – Deborah Conway and Willie Zygier

In a work of musical theatre written by Deborah Conway and Willie Zygier based

Kemp’s curtain call

around her memoir Book of Life, a shimmering piece of autobiography told in eight scenes, around eight songs with Conway and Zygier exploring the nature of performing a musical life.

Season: Saturday March 23 at 8pm.

Gemco Players Community Theatre

Millies War

Based on historical events, MilliesWar is set in the 1980’s when a number of women attempted to join official Anzac Day marches across Canberra to commemorate women raped in war.

When the sleepy local branch of the local RSL met with the women in order to dissuade them from upsetting their sacred parade of remembrance, the crochety president of the RSL Club is appalled to find his own granddaughter is one if the feminists attempting to spoil their day.

Season: Friday April 12 - Sunday April 28.

Denis done delivered

Dune Part 2

Starring Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson

Rated M 5/5

The follow-up to writer-director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune from 2021, Dune Part 2 is one of the greatest science fiction epics ever made.

On the desert planet Arrakis, Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) grapples with his destiny as a messianic figure for the planet’s Fremen natives.

Dune Part 2 is an enthralling, majestic sci-fi war film with a rich texture of loyalty, prophecy and conspiracy, immersing you in both a bloody multi-world conflict and one man’s struggle against controlling forces and his darker nature.

Once again, the art direction is stunning, infusing every location and artefact with life and heritage; Giedi Prime stands out with its largely black-and-white colour scheme, which highlights the stark cruelty of the Harkonnen villains.

The action sequences are brutal, riveting spectacles, but much of the tension in Part 2 comes from Paul resisting the centuriesold prophecy he is hurtling toward.

Frank Herbert’s 1965 source novel is critical of imperialism, fundamentalism and chosen one narratives, and unlike David Lynch’s sanitised Dune from 1984, Villeneuve’s Dune lucidly explores these themes.

Played to perfection by Chalamet, Paul shifts from a humble young man willing to learn from and serve the oppressed Fremen to an imposing leader of almost frightening zeal.

Chani (Zendaya) and Paul form a touching relationship early on, which sours as Paul begins to embrace his power.

Rebecca Ferguson is manipulative and captivating as Paul’s mother Lady Jessica, and Austin Butler conveys an inhuman elegance and sadism as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

Dune Part 2 is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

It’s hard to imagine any upcoming blockbuster in 2024 surpassing this thrilling, resplendent, thematically-rich sci-fi triumph, and I eagerly look forward to Villeneuve’s planned adaptation of the sequel novel Dune Messiah.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

ed following the storms.

Since 2009, ECLC has been providing legal help in response to extreme weather including bushfires, storms and floods, which continue to increase in regularity and severity due to climate change.

ECLC recognises that communities already experiencing marginalisation or complex life challenges are often impacted the most and need additional support to recover.

ECLC legal services director Belinda Lo said many people don’t realise they have a legal problem until well after the extreme weather event has occurred.

“We are working with all our local councils and other services to support people on the ground,” she said.

“This legal help check is another tool that can save people additional problems down the

CARTOON

track.

“People who identify legal issues can come to us for assistance or referral.”

Belinda mentioned that a major concern for the centre is also the often observed increase in family violence after an extreme weather event. “We’ve seen that historically, ECLC unfortunately sees a surge in calls for help for family violence post severe weather events,” she said.

The Centre will continue to work closely with its partners to provide legal help, support and referrals to affected community members.

We urge community members living in the east to reach out for help because no one should have to go through this alone.

If you or someone you know needs free legal assistance due to family violence or the severe storms, please visit eclc.org.au/help or call 1300 32 53 00.

Reading for Odesa focus

February 24 marked the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On that day, the “Reading for Odesa” event took place simultaneously around the world “to refocus attention on the current situation in Odesa and across the whole of Ukraine”.

The ongoing war in Ukraine has led to the forced closure of Odesa Literary Museum, which, along with the city’s Archaeological Museum and Museum of Western and Oriental Art, was severely damaged by Russian missile attacks in July 2023.

Situated inside the World Heritage property “The Historic Centre of Odesa”, these buildings were marked by UNESCO with the Blue Shield, the distinctive emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

“Reading for Odesa” was an international project celebrating Ukrainian literature.

The 15 participating Cities of Literature organised public readings of literary works by Ukrainian authors, in the belief that “literature can always constitute an instrument of memory and collective conscience, even in times of war”.

These 15 cities were Milan, Wroclaw, Krakow, Edinburgh, Exeter, Lasi, Kuhmo, Lillehammer, Ljubljana, Manchester, Melbourne, Nottingham, Quebec City, Reykjavik, and Tukums.

Odesa joined the UNESCO Cities of Literature Network in 2019, which now encompasses 53 cities in 39 countries across 6 continents and a combined population of over 26 million.

In Melbourne, those wanting to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine can visit the Ukrainian Museum of Australia, which operates to “preserve, exhibit and collect artefacts, documents, books and Ukrainian folk art for exhibition, research and education which reflect the culture and history of Ukrainian immigration in Australia”.

You can also check out Ukrainian-JewishAustralian author Maria Tumarkin’s books.

Tumarkin was born and raised in Kharkiv

PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN

in northeastern Ukraine, which was recently attacked by Russian drones.

Her 2018 debut Axiomatic won the Melbourne Prize for Literature’s Best Writing Award and was shortlisted for the Stella Prize, the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, just to name a few.

As praised by The Saturday Paper: “Everyone is looking for the next Helen Garner and Maria Tumarkin shares with Garner a gimlet eye for the flaws in official systems, along with a fascination for the narratives nested in everyday lives. Axiomatic’s symphonic structure, however, recalls Svetlana Alexievich, the Belarusian journalist and Nobel Laureate.”

Talk about Alexievich, her 2013 oral history

Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets delivers a powerful probe into Vladimir Putin’s nationalistic lies.

To conclude this article, we want to share the last stanzas of renowned Ukrainian author Lesya Ukrainka’s most famous poem “Contra Spem Spero” (1890), translated as “Against All Hope I Hope” by British poet Vera Rich.

In the long dark ever-viewless night-time

Not one instant shall I close my eyes.

I’ll seek ever for the star to guide me, She that reigns bright mistress of dark skies.

Yes, I’ll smile, indeed, through tears and weeping Sing my songs where evil holds its sway, Hopeless, a steadfast hope forever keeping, I shall live! You thoughts of grief, away!

Billabong protection

By Dongyun Kwon

EcoWarriors Australia will receive a grant from the Victorian Government as part of the Green Links Grant Program.

It will collaborate with local schools to revegetate Yering Billabong in Yering for its project Planting the Seed while teaching the students the importance of the environment.

Eco Warriors Australia member Fiona Deppeler said five local schools,Yarra Glen Primary School, Lilydale Primary School, Coldstream Primary School, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Lilydale, and Yering Primary School are involved in the project forYering Billabong.

“As part of the program, we’ll teach students how to collect local native plant cuttings and they’ll get to propagate and take care of them,” she said.

“We’ll use the native plants that they’ll grow and we will also use some tubestock to revegetate part of the Yering Billabong.

“They’ll monitor their revegetation site, so we’ll give them a really simple digital app and they’ll go out and see how their plants have grown, what wildlife might be using the site.”

Students will revegetate about 10 ha of floodplain riparian woodland in Yering Billabong for two years.

Eco Warriors Australia started the Planting the Seed project last year and it has gone successfully with five different primary and high schools across Melbourne, revegetating seven different sites.

Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) is in partnership with Eco Warriors Australia for the Planting the Seed project in Yering Billabong.

“My understanding is that parts of the site [inYering Billabong] are in fairly bad condition from an environmental point of view, so it’s a good site to choose,” Ms Deppeler said.

“We really believe we’re going to be able to make a difference to the natural environment by doing the revegetation.”

YRC biodiversity grant program facilitator Isabel Ebsworth said the partnership with Eco Warriors Australia would help the council restore and protect the endangered habitat type.

“We have been working to restore the hydrology on the site so there is more water available throughout the year to support wetland habitat,” she said.

“Along Olinda Creek, we have floodplain riparian woodland habitat. There is not much of this left across the shire as it was historically cleared for agricultural use.

“Planting the Seed is such a great way to get kids involved in protecting their local patch, and we hope it helps highlight the importance of all kinds of habitat to the kids, from floodplain to forest, and the way it is all connected. Ultimately, we hope it inspires them to become stewards for the environment.”

YRC will keep on supporting all the ecofriendly projects to protect the environment of the shire.

“We’ll be supporting all the work the kids do with weed control and additional revegetation with help from our partners at Melbourne Water,” Ms Ebsworth said.

“In the future, the site will eventually become an extension of Spadoni’s Reserve and will be able to be enjoyed by all of the community.”

Olinda Creek floodplain.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Spadonis Yarra River.

PROPERTY

MEDITERRANEAN FLARE IN A MAGNIFICENT LOCATION

MEDITERRANEAN FLARE IN A GREAT LOCATION

MAGNIFICENT “Lugano“ boasts a touch of Mediterranean style paired with a topnotch location. Situated steps from Belgrave Outdoor Pool, train and bus transport, schools, and Belgrave’s bustling restaurant and entertainment precinct, this splendid property blends prestige and position to perfection.

Electric gates leading into the formal front garden that makes a stellar first impression. The columned portico leads into the wide foyer that introduces the rich timber flooring and sweeping high ceilings. Versatility is offered in abundance with a beautiful sitting room at the front of the home as well as an upper level flex-space suitable as a sizeable home office, bonus bedroom, or rumpus room. The central corridor flows past 3 more bright bedrooms with ample storage and a luxe family bathroom with soaking tub. The main bedroom is a highlight with walk-in robe, dual sink and spa tub ensuite with atrium, and courtyard views.

At the rear of the residence, formal and informal living and dining areas await. The lounge and dining area are enriched with vaulted ceilings. The rear open concept family room with wood fire and meals area with lush garden views lead into the gourmet kitchen with granite benchtops and Bosch appliances. With one step you can dine outdoors on the paved patio or relax on the private lawns.

With a long list of exceptional features including ducted heating and cooling, a large laundry, and a double garage with in-house access, this property is the best that soughtafter Best Street has on offer. This property promises to impress so plan your viewing today.

874sqm (approx.) property with landscaped front and rear gardens

· Beautifully rendered residence with double garage

Stylish formal and informal living and dining areas

Gourmet kitchen with granite benchtops and Bosch appliances

· 3 bright bedrooms including main with spa ensuite and walk-in robe

· Versatile 4th bedroom/rumpus room and relaxing sitting room ●

WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO - ON 13 ACRES

INDULGE in the epitome of quality, comfort, and style with this meticulously designed property, offering a lifestyle of sophistication and serenity.

Standing proudly on 13 acres, this custom designed and craftsman built stone home captures panoramic views and stunning sunrises over Kurth Kiln, Bunyip State Park and beyond, creating a picturesque backdrop for your everyday life. Ideally situated between Emerald and Monbulk townships, this home provides easy access to the award-winning wineries of the Yarra Valley.

Indulge with luxurious living throughout with 9 ft ceilings, Sydney Bluegum flooring, zoned refrigerated cooling/heating and four generous living/dining zones. Quality Axminster carpet, leadlight windows and doors, imported French stone tiling, double hung windows, French doors, open fireplace with antique mantle plus another log fire surrounded by Coldstream stone adding a touch of elegance. The master room is a sanctuary with stunning views, his and hers walk-in robes, and a relaxing large spa bath – a perfect retreat at the end of the day. The stylish Smith & Smith kitchen features granite benchtops, integrated Asko dishwasher and ilive oven and provides seamless integration to spacious family living zones and alfresco outdoor dining. The large wrap around verandahs set the scene for total relaxation plus absolute serenity is assured down by the fish stocked dam complete with wood fire barbecue, jetty and picnic area. The rose-lined driveway sets the stage for the picturesque journey to your dream home which is surrounded by 7 thoughtfully separated paddocks. There is also a huge 11 x 10m barn, expansive 4 car garage including workshop, separate hay and tractor storage, chook pen, dog run, wood storage and 2 top of the range horse stables, hot/cold wash bay, cattle yards and ramp. Catering to the equestrian enthusiast within you there is easy access to the Pony Club grounds and many riding trails begin at your doorstep.

For those seeking a relaxed lifestyle with sealed road access surrounded by an abundance of wildlife, a thriving veggie patch and fruit orchard – we welcome you to embark on a journey of timeless elegance & country charm. When only the best will do, inspect today. ●

Address: 510 Macclesfield Road, MACCLESFIELD

Contact: Lana Maher 0408 535 075

Jacqui Ryder

COMPLETELY RENOVATED YARRA GLEN HOME

WHETHER you are raising young children or downsizing at a later stage of life, this home is the perfect choice.

Providing 3 bedrooms with walk-through and walk-in robes, master bedroom with jack-and-jill bathroom, and 2 living spaces plus dining, 2 Miriam Drive combines a highly desired address with the show-stopping features that everyone wants. Located in the heart of the home is the large kitchen that features extra wide bench tops and 900 mm oven.

The home has been completely renovated – definitively turn-key – with extra attention given to a light, bright and spacious kitchen. The home is heated and cooled by 4 x split systems and ceiling fans, with a Coonara wood heater and companion exhaust system in addition. Renovations include new flooring, painting, laundry and bathroom, and dimmable LED lighting. Additionally, there is a 4.5kva solar system.

Another asset is the 8 m x 5 m covered entertaining pergola with cafe blinds, fully concreted with character trusses and Cyprus Gold posts. There is plenty of open car parking, along with a 2-car carport and fully concreted drive, as well as a courtyard with enough room for a 6 m x 6 m shed. In addition, there is a 3 m x 3 m lockable garden shed.

The outdoor area is easy to maintain, with level access and a flat backyard. A beautiful feature of this property is its ornamental vine which keeps the house cool in the summer and retains heat in the winter. There are established nectarines, lemons, figs, oranges, pears, mandarins, tomatoes, and strawberries.

This property is close by the best that Yarra Glen has to offer: Yarra Glen Primary School and McKenzie Reserve are a short walk away. Main street services are only a few hundred metres stroll. All this, and you can still enjoy the privacy of a court address, and views of the Great Dividing Range.

So if you are looking for the perfect combination location and design, 2 Miriam Drive is the property for you.

Text 2MIRIAM to 0448 820 022 for your exclusive opportunity to view. ●

Integrity Real Estate is a family-owned real estate agency servicing the Yarra Valley, Kinglake Ranges and surrounds. Our team draws on over 70 years real estate experience to provide premium property services, with unmatched personal service that only a family company can provide.

P 59662530

P 5967 1277

23MichaelCourt,WooriYallock

SensationalYarraValleyViews

$695,000-$740,000 DavidCarroll M 0419539320 Inspection:

80RosellaRoad,Wesburn

‘WARREEN’–ACraftsmanMasterpieceon47acres

Sitbackandadmiretheamazingviewsfromthisstunningproperty,overlookingpicturesque farmlandandeverchangingvalleyviews.Thehomeispresentedtoperfectioninsideandout, offeringcomfortablefamilylivingboasting3 bedroomsand afreshmainbathroom,spaciousliving/ loungeareaanda separatemealsarea.Thekitchenisfresh,modern,uptodateandwithample benchandcupboardspace.Ventureoutsidetoanentertainersdreamwith ahugecovered entertainingarea -it’stheidealspottositbackrelaxandadmirethecolorfulandpicturesquevalley vista.Loadsofcaraccommodationwith adoublecarport,hugelockupgarageandneatwell establishedlandscapedgardenscompletethepictureperfectproperty.Alljusta shortstrollordrive tolocalschools,shops,publictransportandthewalkingtrailit’stheidealplacetocallhome.

46HighfieldRoad,Warburton$740,000-$790,000

CharacterCottagewithGorgeousMountainViews

AtruetreasureofWarburton,a classic& classyhomein asunnynorthfacinglocationtakinginthe stunningMountainviews.Highceilings,decorativecornices,sashwindows,3 gorgeouslyfurnished bedroomsand aclawfootbathinthebathroomtocompletethatluxuryfeeling. Acharmingkitchen withupdatedappliances,and acosysittingarea!Theoutdoorentertainingis alovelyextensionto yourlivingspace.Allsetonjustunderhalfanacre,fullyfencedwithlushlawns, agardentoimmerse yourselfin,doublegaragewithpowerandconcreteflooring,andbeingtuckedawayfromtheroad youcanenjoyyourprivacyandindulgeinthenaturalbeautythatsurroundsyou.Somanyfeatures withthisproperty,a musttoinspectifyouareafter acharmingescapetothecountrywithinaneasy strolltotheYarrariver,coffeeshopsandwalkingtrail.

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M 0401832068

Inspection:

$1,700,000-$1,870,000

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SpaciousFamilyHomewithExceptionalPresentation

Beautifullypresentedinsideandoutthissuperbfamilyhomeissuretopleaseoffering 3bedroomsall withbuiltinrobesincluding asemiensuiteandwalkinrobeinthemainbedroom.Spaciouslounge/ livingareasboastplentyofspaceforthegrowingfamilyplus aseparatemeals/diningarea,well appointedkitchenwithplentyofbenchandcupboardspace.Stepoutsideto agardenersparadise withsunfilledfrontandrearyardsandbeautifulestablishedgardenswithanarrayofflowering shrubs,plants,gardenbedsandpathways.Extrasincludea gardenshedandbonusbungalow/ studio,plusa coveredentertainingarea- theidealspotforsummertimegatheringsandentertaining. Afantasticpropertyin aconvenientlocationofferinggreatmountainviewsandjusta shortwalkor drivetolocalschools,shops,transportandthewalkingtrail, agreatplacetocallhome.

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EMBRACE SERENITY AND LUXURY ON 8.5 ACRES

NESTLED amidst the picturesque beauty of Upper Beaconsfield, discover your dream home on a sprawling 33610m2 of lush land. This fully renovated four-bedroom haven combines designer style with the tranquillity of country living, offering the perfect blend of comfort and sophistication.

Step inside to find spacious living areas adorned with polished floorboards and a central warm and inviting solid fuel fire—a welcoming space for both relaxation and entertainment. The heart of the home, a gourmet granite kitchen, awaits with its walkin pantry, abundant storage, and impressive array of appliances, including two ovens, hotplates, dishwasher, and a captivating tepanyaki plate that adds the Wow factor to any meal ensuring a culinary delight for any occassion.

Indulge in the luxury of state-of-the-art bathrooms, featuring floor-to-ceiling tiles, double vanities, and the latest fittings and fixtures, including a mirror defroster. Experience year-round comfort with two 10kw reverse cycle systems, ensuring

optimal climate control no matter the season. Convenience is key with internal access to the double remote garage, providing all-weather accessibility.

Outside, the possibilities are endless, with ample space for your four-legged friends to roam, along with equestrian facilities including shelters, a tack room, stable, dam, and a 20x40 arena—a paradise for horse enthusiasts.

A separate shed offers versatility, perfect for a man cave, hobbyist retreat, or extra storage space. Situated just a short drive from Upper Beaconsfield shops and schools, and surrounded by highly regarded private and public educational institutions, this home offers the country lifestyle you desire with the convenience you need.

Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to own your slice of paradise in Upper Beaconsfield. Contact us today to arrange a viewing and make this stunning property your forever home. ●

45

4

4

3

115

4

WOW! VIEWS! GRAND 4 BEDROOM HOME, APPROXIMATELY 46 ACRES OF LAND

THIS PROPERTY is absolutely bursting with possibilities. The grand 1970’s build solid brick home is immaculate. Featuring 4 large bedrooms, each with built in wardrobes, and a large rumpus room or teenagers retreat. The master bedroom features BIRs, and an ensuite with a double shower and a toilet.

The further 3 bedrooms are serviced by a large family bathroom with a corner spa, shower and separate toilet. There are two lounge rooms, a formal dining room, and a vast kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a 1200mm Kleenmaid gas stove that is open plan with a dining space. The home is elegant with high ceilings, and unobstructed private garden and valley views. There is not even a glimpse of the neighbours! The home has reverse cycle air heating/cooling. There is also a free standing wood fire in the lounge room for cosy nights in.

Externally there is a covered entertaining area overlooking the yard. The property is currently a commercial blueberry farm, although being sold not as a going concern, the infrastructure including two cool rooms, extensive shedding, the blue berry plants and associated irrigation set up (approx. 12,000 plants of 12 different varieties), and significant netting system in great condition are all available, some via negotiation to continue this income stream. Or if you would prefer to use these gently undulating acres for another interest then the owners are happy to assist with the removal of some or all of the infrastructure.

There is also a large approx. 4 car garage with concrete floor, power and lights with a large storage and workshop area. There is also a great chicken coop and established rose garden. The whole property is beautifully maintained, and features an orchard with a variety of fruit trees.

This property has it all so don’t miss outCall to arrange a private inspection today. ●

Address: 90 Elvian Road, WOORI YALLOCK Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $2.2M Inspect: By appointment

Contact: Karen Peele 0419 430 950, BELL REAL ESTATE EMERALD

200SoldiersRoad,Beenak

$950,000 -$1,045,000

AnOutstandingApprox.9 Acres,withAbundantShedding &a2StoreyHome! Offeringapprox.9 acresofflattogentlyslopinglandwithanareaofbush& thenlargecleared& wellfencedpaddockswithelectricfencing.Thereis aroundyard,&ascenicdam.Thehomeis convenientlylaidout,with adoublecarportatthefrontentry& then acosywoodfireheaterinthe loungeroom.Thereis abuiltinbarintheloungeroom &theloungehasa vaultedceiling& isopen planwiththekitchen.Thereare2 bedroomsdownstairs, &thefamilybathroom.Upstairsdiscover alargemasterbedroomwithexposedrafters &Julietbalconyoverlookingthewellmaintained paddocks.Externallyis aDLUGwithglassslidingdoors&3internalrooms,onewitha woodfire heater.There’salsoanouthouse &numerousmiscellaneoussheds &fenceddogyards.Thishome hasmainselectricity& tankwater.

BethanySullivan M 0438844968

AaronDay M 0407365994

20ChurchStreet,Emerald

4VistaCourt,Gembrook

WalktoGembrookMainstreet &EnjoyTheGorgeousGarden!

Thisprivate& lowmaintenance 3bedroom,2 bathroomhomeis ashortstrollfromthemainstreet. Featuring2 separatedrivewayentries,thereareplentyofpossibilitieswiththishome.Thehomehas anopenplankitchen/lounge/diningroomthatenjoysviewsouttothebackgarden &has asplit systemAC.Thekitcheniswellequippedwitha gasstove &oven&abutlerspantry.Themaster bedroomenjoysitsownsplitsystemAC,BIRs& ensuite.Thereare 2furtherbedroomsbothwithBIRs. Thereisa lovelyfamilybathroomwith ashower&aseparatebath.Thereisalsoductedheating throughoutthehome &plentyofnaturallight.Outsideis adelightinthefullyfencedbackyard.The manicuredgarden& lawnistranquilwithanarrayoffruittrees.Thereisalso asecuritysystemwith alarm& cameras, &sensorlightingatthefrontofthehome.

$850,000 -$920,000 BrennanMileto M 0422996451

BethanySullivan M 0438844968

Sunnydeckforentertaining #Privatelylocatedontheblockina quietnothroughroad #Plentyofoffstreetparkingforcars& thevan/trailer

3 A 2 B

48aBeaconsfield-EmeraldRoad,Emerald$1,750,000

BeautifulHomeinEmeraldonapprox.23acreswithViews!

Thisoutstanding3 bedroom,3 bathroomhomesituatedonapprox.23Acresoffersgorgeousviews acrossclearedpaddockstoCardiniaReservoir.Thisstoneconstructedhomehas awoodfireheater, acousticstrawboardvaultedceiling,giantwindowssoakingintheview &plentyofnaturallight.The kitchenisvast,with agasstovetop &electricoven, &plentyofbenchspace.Unwindinthesecond loungeroomwithanopenfireplace&astunningstudyarea.Thereisa masterbedroomfeaturinga walkthroughwardrobetotheensuite.Thefurther 2bedroomshaveBIRs& areservicedbya family bathroom.Externallythereisa clearedpaddockwith acentraltreedgully.Thegroundscontaina pizzaoven,a highdoublecarportattachedtothehome, &inthebackyardareais adoublegarage withpower,lights &concretedfloor.Thispropertyhasmainspower,gas& water.

FAMILY OASIS WITH POOL AND TENNIS COURT

TREAT yourself to a tour of this stylish lifestyle property situated on one of Upwey’s finest residential roads, a stone’s throw from Upwey South Primary School, childcare, train station and bus transport. Boasting a landscaped 2,132sqm (approx.) block bursting with features including a swimming pool and tennis court, this property is what fabulous family living is all about.

The striking façade with rich timber and standing seam Colorbond cladding is enhanced with a family-friendly level garden and a single garage. Upon entry, engineered wideboard timber floors and hydronic heating add welcome warmth. At the front of the dwelling is the rumpus room/home office with ample storage and access to the large laundry with stone benchtops and guest WC. The hub of the home is the open concept living area featuring a custom timber accent wall and a chefs’ kitchen with expansive island, Siemens and Miele appliances, and walk-in pantry. From here you can step out through bifold doors to your own private oasis featuring covered and open decking

and views of the tennis court, pool, veggie garden, firepit area, and powered studio.

On the upper level with large balcony, there are 5 unique bedrooms with quality wool carpet and plenty of storage accompanied by a family bathroom with spa tub. Two of these rooms feature ensuites and walk-in robes, including the parents’ retreat with private balcony, dressing room, and luxurious ensuite with egg tub, dual sink vanity with stone benchtops, dual rain showers, and make-up station.

A feast for the senses, this property invites you to explore and make yourself at home. Plan your viewing today.

· 2,132sqm (approx.) property with landscaped gardens

· Tennis court, swimming pool, veggie beds, firepit area, and powered shed

· Timber and standing seam Colorbond exterior with single garage

· Versatile and stylish interior with engineered timber floors and hydronic heating

· Magnificent chefs’ kitchen with Siemens and Miele appliances ●

Tuckedawayontheforestsedge,surroundedby astunningarrayoflocalwildlife,this originalcottageisthecharming,quintessentialHillshome,youhavebeensearchingfor. Boastinghardwood floorboardsthroughout,thehomeisbothspaciousandwelldesigned withtwolargebedrooms,over-sizedbathroomandalongwiththemainliving room,thereis also aversatilesunroomthatcanactasahomeoffice,diningareaorplayroom.

SharynChandler

M 0439882442| E sharyn@chandlerandco.com.au

serene2,971sqm(approx.)landscape,recently

SuzieBrannelly

M 0490506910| E suzie@chandlerandco.com.au

BradConder

M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

/diningand bathroompluslaundrythatoffersplentyofroomforextrastorageifneeded,thishome, althoughneedingupdatingthroughout,willnodoubtmaketheperfecthomeforany family.

SharynChandler

M 0439882442| E sharyn@chandlerandco.com.au

No. 175

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

1, 19-down Author of Alice'sAdventuresin Wonderland (5,7)

4 Practical (9)

9 Controller of meeting (5)

10 Ship’s petty officer (9)

11 Birds of prey (6)

12 Severe or harmful (8)

14 Makes a good point (10)

15 – de toilette (3)

17 Extraterrestrial craft (1.1.1)

19 Black and white (10)

23 Period of instruction (8)

24 Protozoan (6)

26 Music-makers (9)

27 Soldier of Hebrew Bible (5)

28 Replicated (9)

29 Sham (5)

DOWN

1 Cabinet (6)

2 Argue noisily and angrily (7)

3 Waitstaff (7)

4 Bars (4)

5 Extremely greedy (10)

6 Govern incompetently (7)

7 Acrobatic apparatus (7)

8 Interpret (8)

13 Group of owls (10)

16 Rump (8)

18 Perfect (7)

19 See 1-across

20 Member of ancient Germanic tribe (7)

21 Breastbone (7)

22 Somewhat (6)

25 Utilised (4)

3 LETTERS

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once.

colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in

Today’s Aim:

19 words: Good

28 words: Very good

38 words: Excellent

No. 175

No. 175

No.

SPORT

Croquet comes up short

By John Thomson

On Monday 26 February both Lilydale Croquet Club division 1 and division 2 level play teams travelled to Monash Croquet Club to play the Monash teams on their, some might say, challenging courts.

In division 1, the first game was the doubles, Lilydale fielded the strong combination of Glenn Crook and Craig McCracken. Glenn and Craig ran the first hoop, but the Monash team answered straight back with a hoop of their own and this is how the game progressed going hoop for hoop. After 12 hoops had been played it was 6 all so they had to play the 13th hoop to get a winner.

Just like the other 12 hoops this was also a struggle but, in the end, Monash worked themselves into a scoring position and ran the hoop.

Final score Monash 7 hoops Lilydale 6 hoops.

In the first singles game Lilydale’s John Thomson played. Unfortunately, John let his opponent get the jump on him and Monash had 4 hoops up before John ran his first. John worked his way back into the game leveling the game at 5 all, but the Monash player ran the next 2 hoops to win 7 hoops to 5.

In the next singles, Glenn Crook played. Glenn has been in good form recently having some very good results in recent tournaments he has played in.

Glenn started well and did not let his opponent settle into the game, taking every opportunity to clear his opponent’s ball away from the hoop and then was able to run the hoop himself.

This saw a comfortable win to Lilydale 7 hoops to Monash 1 hoop.

The next single was Craig McCracken to play. Craig seems to thrive on close games and this was no exception. This was another game that went hoop for hoop and again after 12 hoops had been played it was 6 hoops a piece, they then had to play the 13th hoop for a result.

Both players set up well, but in the end, it was Craig who was able to capitalize on his opportunity and took out the game 7 hoops to Monash 6 hoops.

The score so far was 2 games a piece and Lilydale with 25 hoops and Monash 21 hoops, with one singles game to play.

JohnThomson played in the last singles and again let his opponent get a start, this time by only 2 hoops, and again John came back and levelled the score at 6 hoops a piece, and just like two previous games they had to play the 13th hoop as the decider.

Both players set up fairly well, John tried to run the hoop but missed which left the door open for his opponent who was able to run the hoop winning Monash 7 hoops Lilydale 6 hoops.

The final score for the day was Monash 3 games 28 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 31 hoops. It is not often that the losing team has more hoops than the winning team, this shows how close the day was.

Except for Lilydale’s division 2 captain Alan Jones, Lilydale has a relatively inexperienced side playing this season.

First up in the doubles was Lilydale’s Drew Pawley and Kerri McCracken. Drew and Kerri battled hard, but the more experienced Monash players were able to make the most

of their opportunities and took out the game 7 hoops to Lilydale’s 2 hoops.

In the first singles game Lilydale’s Alan Jones was first up. This was a very close game all the way with the Monash player just being able to edge ahead and win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.

In the next singles Drew Pawley played. Because of other commitments, Drew unfortunately, has not been playing very much of late and this showed with Monash winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.

The next singles saw Lilydale’s Kerri McCracken play. Kerri was playing one of Monash’s better players in this division. Kerri battled hard in a very close game only going down by 2 hoops. Monash 7 hoops Lilydale

5 hoops.

In the last game Alan Jones played. Alan was putting up the good fight but unfortunately right at a crucial time put one of the opposition balls through the hoop which enabled the Monash player to get a break. Monash 7 hoops Lilydale 2 hoops.

The final score for the day Monash 7 games 35 hoops to Lilydale 0 games 19 hoops.

Despite losing the day the Lilydale players battled each game out to the end and are sure to have come away learning something from the day to build on as the season progresses.

There is no report for Lilydale’s handicap team this week because of a bye.

Para Athletes bring home the medals at championships

By Jamie Strudley

The last two weekends have seen Yarra Ranges Athletics athletes competing at the Athletics Victoria State Track and Field Championships. Held at Lakeside Stadium. 12 club athletes were in action over the six days of championships with the medal haul consisting of two silver and two bronze medals.

Stand out performances’ came from our para athletes Joseph Johnston and Bradley McMeeken. Joseph secured a bronze medal in the Open Para 200m to go with his fourth place finish in the 100m. Bradley won silver in both the Para U17 800m and 1500m events. Ash Almond finished a solid third in the Open Men’s Javelin to earn another Bronze medal, emulating his efforts from the 2023 championships.

Full club results are;

Female OP

· 100m Shani Bullard 14.02 (-0.0) 16th

· Discus Hayley Wilkins 29.73m 11th

· Javelin Hayley Wilkins 34.12m 5th

· Hammer Sarah Ebbels 32.11m 11th

Female 20

· 100m Ashleigh Rooke 13.20 (1.6) 12th

· 200m Ashleigh Rooke 27.05 (1.7) 11th

· Discus Ashleigh Rooke 28.35m 8th

· Hammer Sarah Ebbels 33.04m 7th

Female 17

· 800m Kristina Nackovski 2.39.44 21st

Female 16

· 800m Zoe Clarke 2.25.20 6th

· 1500m Zoe Clarke 5.01.62 10th

Female 15

· 100m Emily Fiedler 13.72 (-1.4) 10th

· 200m Emily Fiedler 27.86 (-0.4) 9th

· 400m Emily Fiedler 61.70 5th

Male OP

· 100m Mitchell Mullens 11.42 (0.3) (S) 11.25 (1.0) 22nd

· Javelin Ash Almond 53.19m 3rd

Male 20

· 800m Hamish De Wit 2.18.21 25th

Male 16

· 1500m Mitchell Pointon 4.43.26 18th

Male Para Open

· 100m Joseph Johnston 13.53 (-1.0) 4th

· 200m Joseph Johnston 27.14 (-0.7) 3rd

Male P17

· 1500m Bradley McMeeken 6.41.72 2nd

· 800m Bradley McMeeken 3.20.91 2nd

This coming weekend it is the turn of our Little Athletics club members as they take on the best in Victoria at the Little Athletics Victoria State Track and Field Championships to be held at Knox on Saturday and Sunday.

YRA will still have some club athletics for the remainder of the little athletics members, this week a twilight round from 5.30pm on Friday. Check socials and the website for early events, group warm ups from 5.30pm.

Training for six-12yo continues on Tuesdays from 4pm. Seniors training (13yo plus) is on Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30pm at Morrison Reserve. Check the socials and website for more details and sessions available with our throws and jumps coaches. Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability.

If you, or someone you know, wants to join in the fun of track and field registration is now open. Go to www.lavic.com.au or www.athsvic.org.au or email info@yarrarangesathletics.org.au for information about events and registration.

For information on training, how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit the website at yarrarangesathletics.org. au or check us out on Facebook. Run, Jump, Throw…too easy!

Joseph Johnston with his Victorian 200m bronze medal next to the Peter Norman Statue at Lakeside Stadium.

The Lilydale team’s in division one and two were unable to get over the line.

MLMC partnership with Liverpool club

By Callum Ludwig

One of the biggest soccer clubs in the world has set up a base in theYarra Ranges, as Mount Lilydale Mercy College (MLMC) becomes a home for the Liverpool Football Club’s International Academy in Australia.

The partnership might one day help students step up from training at Quarry Road to celebrating in front of The Kop, working with local kids with the same coaching curriculum and techniques as those back in Merseyside.

MLMC Principal Phillip Morrison said the transformative partnership will bring together two institutions guided by principles that resonate deeply with the school’s community.

“The Liverpool International Football Academy, with its unwavering commitment to ambition, commitment, dignity and unity, echoes the spirit of resilience and excellence. Their phrase, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ encapsulates the ethos of solidarity and support that defines us as a community and also defines them as a community,” he said.

“The partnership is not merely a collaboration between institutions, it’s a promise. It’s a promise to nurture talent, to cultivate leadership and to foster a culture of inclusivity and belonging,”

It’s a commitment to provide unparalleled opportunities for growth and development both on and on the field and in the classrooms and beyond. So in the spirit of “You’ll Never Walk Alone’ let us stand together, to grow the potential of community, united in our pursuit of excellence and shared success.”

Originally a show tune from a 1945 musical, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ has become an anthem synonymous with the Liverpool Football Club, belted out by fans in their home ground at Anfield for over six decades.

Director of the Liverpool International Academy in Australia Kevin Kalinko, who also owns the Australian College of Physical Education, said it was a proud Australian day in the 113-year history of Liverpool Football Club.

“We’ve had many special days back home in the history of the club, like the Miracle of Istanbul, where Liverpool won the prestigious UEFA Champions League in 2005, coming back from 3-0 down at halftime, or the mo-

ment we were, after a 30-year wait, crowned English League Champions,” he said.

“But whilst those are special things for us, today is different, as you have heard, Mount Lilydale Mercy College will become the home of the Liverpool FC International Academy High-Performance Program here in the northeastern region of Melbourne,”

“Importantly, in addition to the Highperformance program, the partnership with Mount Lilydale Mercy College will see the school host a range of Liverpool FC community training and holiday programs available to all aspiring players in the broader community.”

Alongside MLMC staff and Year Seven, Eight and Nine students in attendance were the principals of some local primary schools and representatives from a range of local soccer clubs in the outer east, all to hear about

how the academy could go on develop their kids both as people and players.

At the time of writing, Liverpool sit atop the Premier League table and just picked up the latest piece of silverware in their illustrious trophy cabinet with a 1-0 win in the League (Carabao) Cup final.

The Liverpool Football Club has a solid reputation for promoting academy talent through their ranks; some of the club’s greatest-ever players such as Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler came through the youth ranks while a pair of the club’s current stars in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones are local lads.

A few Australians have also called the Merseyside club home, with winger Harry Kewell, goalkeeper Brad Jones and left back Brad Smith all having made senior appearances for the Reds.

Early birds get the win in Eastern 55s

By David Waters

These days seem to start earlier each week but it’s the end of daylight-saving closing in. The golfers have again enjoyed a dry and warm morning for round five of the Eastern Suburbs 55 Senior pennant season.

The competition has several teams vying for the top position. That is in both green and gold groups.

Heritage and Yering Meadows are snapping at the heels of Churchill/Waverley in gold. In the green group Churchill/Waverley hold on by percentage from Eastern and Yering Meadows who both have a game in hand.

There were no tied matches this week and

only three squared contests. That is surprising given the close games so far.

The greens were quick, and it was the hosting club (Eastwood) taking advantage of their local knowledge. Their teams had 7 to 1 and 6 ½ to 1 ½ wins. Heritage gold also did well with a 7 to 1 win.

Everyone returned to the clubrooms by 12.30pm and enjoyed lunches of lasagna or schnitzel. Eastwood caterers and bar staff provided excellent service and were applauded by the hungry, thirsty, golfers. During the result presentation everyone was invited to come and play at this very hospitable club.

Practice for the next game at Box Hill. Stay healthy and drive safely.

Lilydale and East Croydon Kilsyth players Adam, Rishabh, Alex, Josh, Hudson, Harry, Yuvraj and Phoenix had some incredible rallies in round 14.

Lilydale set for tennis semi finals

By Joanna Campe

Round 14 results for Lilydale Tennis Club in the Eastern Region Tennis Competition. This is the last week of standard competition with the semi-finals commencing Saturday 16 March after a week’s break for the long weekend.

Junior Open Doubles (JOD10) Lilydale v Heathmont

After round 13 Lilydale was sitting just outside the top four on the ladder.

Lilydale was represented by Nenuka Withanage, Ollie McDonald, Haady Aziz and Ivy Pieper.

Lilydale played at home this week against Heathmont. In a very competitive match, it was Heathmont that came away with the points taking 4 sets to 2 –winning 31 games to Lilydale 22.

· Result: 5-6, 3-6, 6-5, 2-6, 0-6, 6-2

Junior Open Singles Doubles Lilydale v East Croydon Kilsyth

After round 13 Lilydale was sitting on top of the ladder.

Lilydale was represented by Alex Paladino, Rishabh Chowdhury, Adam Paladino and Joshua Jamieson.

Lilydale played at home this week against fourth placed East Croydon Kilsyth. The two teams played some excellent rallies with net play a definite highlight! Lilydale eventually won the day 7 sets to 1 – winning 46 games to 20.

· Result: 7-5, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1

Open Rubbers 19 Lilydale Green v Seville

After round 13 Lilydale was in second place on the ladder.

Lilydale Green was represented by Noah Burow and David Halkidis.

Lilydale played away this week against Seville. In a very close match, it was Lilydale that won the day 4 sets to 3.

· Result: 4-6, 6-1, 6-7, 1-0 (super tiebreak), 4-6, 6-2, 0-1 (super tiebreak)

Open Rubbers 19 Lilydale Blue v Mt Evelyn

After round 13 Lilydale was sitting just outside the top four on the ladder.

Lilydale Blue was represented by Alex Jerin and Adam Johnson.

Lilydale played at home this week against top four team Mt Evelyn. In a very competitive match, it was Lilydale that won the day 3 sets to 2 – winning 26 games to 20. A great end to the season for this team who will not be playing in the finals this time around.

· Result: 7-5, 5-7, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2

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 enquiries (Juniors and Adults) please contact Andrew at Pro Touch Tennis Academy ptta.com. au/contact

Barry Mitchell (Churchill/Waverley) preparing to hit off watched by Gary Skelton and Paul Lewis (Gardners Run).

Graeme Miller playing out of a bunker to 50cm setting up a win.

Gardners Run player with a long putt to save the hole.

Eyes up when on the ball.

Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG