The Local Paper. Lilydale and Yarra Valley Express Edition. Wed., July 16, 2025

SHIRE DISAPPOINTED WITH ROO ‘HARVESTING’

■ Yarra Ranges Council has expressed its disappointment with the State Government’s decision to retain the municipality within the Gippsland Harvesting Zone of the Kangaroo Harvesting Program, despite its request for exclusion.

“We know that this decision will cause distress and concern among members of our community, particularly those who have voiced strong opposition to the inclusion of Yarra Ranges in the program,” said a Council representative.

“We share our community’s concerns about the implications of this decision as we recognise the unique environmental and cultural significance of our region and the importance kangaroos have in our municipality.”

Yarra Ranges Council formally requested that the municipality be excluded from the Gippsland Harvesting Zone in May.

“However, the Minister for Environment [Steve Dimopoulos] has advised that analysis indicates a higher level of kangaroo harvesting activity in Yarra Ranges compared to neighbouring councils, and therefore the area will remain within the program,” the Shire representative said.

WELLBEING PLAN OPEN FOR FEEDBACK

■ Yarra Ranges Council is calling on the community to help finalise its Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2029.

The Council has endorsed a draft version of the Strategy that it says has been informed by previous input from residents, service providers and community groups.

“It is now out for further community feedback until August 10,” said a Council representative.

“Residents are encouraged to provide feedback to Council on the draft Strategy to ensure it accurately reflects their health and wellbeing priorities, as well as the broader community’s.”

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Jim Child, thanked the community for their input so far into the draft Strategy.

“We received some great feedback from the community through the previous consultation phase to hear what they think are the most important health and wellbeing priorities for us to focus on,” Cr Child said.

“They told us that the focus should be on things like improving mental wellbeing, supporting them to be able to adapt to health

● ● Cr Jim Child, Mayor impacts of climate change and natural hazards, and creating safer, more inclusive communities. We feel like we have accurately incorporated this into the draft Strategy, but now it’s over to the community to let us know of anything they think we need to change or add, to ensure that we’ve captured for them what matters most.”

Residents can get involved by providing feedback to Council online via Shaping Yarra Ranges , by visiting in person at one of the Community Engagement Roadshows, or by written submission, emailing mail@yarra ranges.vic.gov.au

Local people have until Sunday, August 10, to have their say.

The Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 recognises the key role of councils in improving the health and wellbeing of local people.

■ The State Government is restoring the historic Dee Slip Bridge i n the Yarra Ranges National Park making it easier for walkers, cyclists and emergency vehicles to access the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail near Warburton

Lily D’Amborsio, Acting Minister for the Environment, nnounced plans to repair and reopen the bridge with work will start this spring and the bridge expected to reopen in early 2026.

The repairs will preserve the heritage of the bridge by following the same design and retaining as much of the existing timber as possible.

A new timber deck and handrail will be installed along with new horizontal steel beams to ensure the structure is durable and safe for visitors to cross.

The bridge was constructed in 1947 after the aqueduct collapsed and the force of the water flow created a large hole in the side of the embankment.

For many years it has been used to access the O’Shannassy Aqueduct and the 30km-long walking trail alongside it, which runs from East Warburton to the Don Valley.

In 2021, the bridge was damaged when a large pine tree collapsed onto it. To keep the community safe, access to the bridge was closed and a new temporary bypass track on the low side of the bridge was created for public use in the interim.

The repair of the Dee Slip Bridge is part of the Asset Regeneration Program, a $24.76 million investment by the State Government to remove unsafe infrastructure and repair or replace assets across Victorian parks.

“The Dee Slip Bridge and the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail are popular with the local community and visitors from all across Victoria, repairing the bridge and restoring access along the trail is a great outcome,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“We’ll continue to invest in our national parks and their visitor facilities because we know how important they are to regional communities and our visitor economy.”

Northern Victoria MLC Jac Symes said:

“The repairs of the Dee Slip Bridge will restore the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail for all visitors to walk along and enjoy the local heritage of Warburton

“Parks Victoria explored all the possible options for the bridge, and I’m thrilled they will be able to keep the trail open and protect the heritage of the bridge so future generations can enjoy the trail.”

● ● Steve Dimopoulos

The Local Paper

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2025

WORST DROUGHT IN DECADES

Local Briefs

This Saturday

■ Outer East. Premier Division. Round 14. Saturday, July 19. Wandin v Olinda Ferny Creek. Gembrook Cockatoo v Officer. Upwey Tecoma v Woori Yallock. Mt Evelyn v Emerald. Monbulk v Healesville.

Division 1. Yarra Glen v Alexandra. Sdeville v Yarra Junction. Powelltown v Warburton Millgrove. Yea v belgrave. Pakenham: Bye.

■ Goulburn Valley Football League. Round 14. Saturday, July 19. Shepparton v Shepparton United. Mooroopna v Shepparton Swans. Seymour v Mansfield. Euroa v Rochester. Benalla v Kyabram. Tatura v Echuca.

■ Kyabram District Football League. Round 14. Saturday, July 19. Rushworth v Nagambie. Violet Town v Tallygaroopna. Shepparton East v Murchison Toolamba. Stanhope v Merrigum. Girgarre v Lancaster. Sunday, July 20: Longwood v Undera. Bye: Avenel.

■ Riddell District Football Ledague. Round 14. Saturday, July 19. Riddell v Diggers Rest. Romsey v Melton South. Lancefield v Wallan. Macedon v Kyneton. Bye: Melton Centrals.

■ Northern Football League. Division 1. Round 13. Saturday, July 19. South Morang v VBundoora. West Preston Lakeside v Eltham. North Heidelberg v Greens-borough. Banyule v Hurstbridge. Bye: Heidelberg, Montmorency.

Division 2. Round 14. Saturday, July 19. Old Paradians v Panton Hill. Watsonia v Thomastown. Macleod v Northcote Park. St Mary’s v Lower Plenty. Diamond Creek v Whittlesea.

Division 3. Round 15. Saturday, July 19. Old Eltham Collegians v Ivanhoe. Mernda v Laurimar. Heidelberg West v Reservoir. Kilmore v Epping. Kinglake v Fitzroy Stars. Bye: Lalor.

Action Workshop

■ The Community Bystander Action Workshop is for anyone, including volunteers, sporting clubs and peer educators who want to know what they can do when they see something that doesn't promote a just and safe world. 5pm-7.30pm, Tuesday, July 22. Kilmore Customer and Library Service Centre.

■ Northern Victoria is experiencing the worst drought in decades, according to local MLC, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell.

Mrs Tyrrell quoted the Victorian Farmers Federation, with some areas having their lowest rainfall totals on record.

She said farmers are bearing the brunt with:

■ high feed and water costs;

■ high fuel and energy costs;

■ high freight costs;

■ ever-increasing costs of day-to-day life;

“Farmers are concerned with the proposed increases to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy for the 2026–27 financial year and beyond,” Mrs Tyrrell said.

“Agricultural production in Victoria in 2021–22 was valued at $20.2 billion and employed over 153,000 Victorians

“The announcement of the expansion of the Allan Labor Government’s drought support package on May 30 is commendable but more needs to be done.

“In October 2019, the then Andrews Labor Government announced the farmers drought fund, providing payments of up to $3000 to farming families;

“Farmers and councils have been pleading for this kind of targeted help to ease the strain of the ongoing drought; and calls on the Allan Labor Government to implement hardship funding for farming households to help with the pressures of the ongoing drought.”

Mrs Tyrrell told Patliament: “I rise to seek support for my motion, which quite frankly should not need convincing.

“This is not a partisan issue. It is not about politics; it is about people, about families, about the backbone of our state – our farmers, who are staring down one of the worst droughts in living memory.

“According to the Victorian Farmers Federation, Victoria is currently enduring the worst drought conditions in decades.

“Some areas have had their lowest rainfall totals on record – not in five years, not in 10, on record. That is how bad things are.

“And who is carrying the weight of this crisis? It is our farmers, the men and women who put food on our tables, who fuel our economy, who keep regional communities alive.

“They are battling not only a lack of rain but the crushing burden of high feed and water costs, skyrocketing fuel and energy bills, unaffordable freight costs and the proposed increase to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy in the 2026–27 financial year.

“On top of that, they are struggling with the same rising cost of living that every Victorian faces.

“It is relentless, it is unsustainable and it is

●

● ● Rikkie Lee Tyrrell MLC unacceptable that more has not been done by this government to provide real targeted relief.

“Let us be clear: Victorian agriculture is not a niche sector. In 2021–22 it was valued at $20.2 billion. It directly employed over 153,000 Victorians.

“These are real jobs, real livelihoods, not just in the bush but in our regional towns, our supply chains and our export markets.

“When farming suffers, Victoria suffers. Now, I do acknowledge that on May 30 the Allan Labor Government expanded its drought support package.

“That is commendable, but let us be honest, there is more to be done. Our farmers have been pleading for help for months. Councils have been calling for targeted support and they are right to do so because they remember what real help looks like, such as the $3000 payments made to farming families back in 2019 under the farmers drought fund.

“What I am calling for in this motion is not radical. It is not excessive; it is reasonable, it is needed and it is overdue.

“This house must send a clear message to our farmers, to regional Victorians, to every person working in agriculture, that we see them, we hear them and we will back them. I urge all of my colleagues to support this motion.

“Let us come together, not as political opponents but as representatives of the people, and call on the Allan Labor Government to implement genuine hardship funding for farming households now, because if we fail to act, we are failing the very people who feed us.”

Winding up bid

■ An application has been made to wind up Yea Land Developments Pty Ltd. T.J. Sheahan Holdings Pty Ltd made the application. The matter is due to be heard at the Supreme Court of Victoria at 10.30am on Wednesday, July 16. The matter is being handled for the applicabnt by K. & L. Gates.

Shire Strategy

■ Mitchell Shire Council is developing a strategy to help to improve and plan for BMX, mountain bike and skate parks. There is an in-person workshop from 6.30pm - 8pm on Wednesday, July 23, at Kilmore Library

A virtual workshop will be held online from 6.30pm-9pm on Wednesday, July 30. Drop-in sessions will be held at local skate/bike parks.

Decision varied

■ A Yarra Ranges Shire decision to require more information about a permit application has been varied by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Nicole Lambden applied to the Tribunal to alter the requirement relating to 18 Wynette Avenue, Upper Ferntree Gully. Senior VCAT Member Geoffrey Code altered a number of information requirements. Ms Lambden asked to demolish an existing deck at the rear of the house and build a replacement deck.

The Local Paper

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Published in localised editions in 40 areas across Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and some country areas.

ABOUT US

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The Local Paper is published weekly online and printed fortnightly and circulates in local editions:

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Ash on Wednesday Exemplary citizens

■ Whittlesea City Mayor Cr Martin Taylor has congratulated three local residents on their being awarded OAM honours.

“Mrs Lynne Harris from Bundoora f or service to the community through social welfare organisations.

“Mrs Harris is the Director at Mill Park Community House, the treasurer at North East Neighbourhood House Network and a volunteer with the Whittlesea Disability Network

“ Mr Ian Shanks from Mill Park for service to the community through charitable organisations.

“ Mr Shanks was the co-founder of the Fulllife Foundation and served as its director and Chief Executive Officer, working with a number of foundation partners including World Vision Australia, Barefoot Initiative and International Needs Australia.

“ Mr Geoffrey McIlvenna from South Morang for service to the community through charitable organisations.

“Mr McIlvenna has been involved in many charities, including the Rotary Club of Preston, the Children's First Foundation , the Whittlesea City Basketball Association, and also served as a City of Whittlesea/Shire of Whittlesea Councillor for 11 years, and as Mayor in 1993-94.

“Mr Mcllvenna was a former Senior Sergeent of Police in the Thomastown, Reservoir and Mill Park stations. “As a long-term resident and former Councillor who served with me ( Cr Cox ) in the Shire and his service in the basketball community, Mr McIlvenna has been exemplary.”

Long Shots

Deer hunters slammed

■ The Victorian National Parks Association, Invasive Species Council and Environment East Gippsland have slammed the Allan Government's decision to open 130,000 hectares of Victoria's Errinundra and Snowy River National Parks to seasonal deer hunting.

"The government is shooting themselves in the foot. People visit national parks to walk, camp, birdwatch and immerse themselves in nature – not share the bush with amateur shooters with high-powered weapons," said Victorian National Parks Association Executive Director Matt Ruchel

“State Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos claims hunting will ‘reduce the impact of deer on our national parks’, but the government's 2021 Statewide Deer Control Strategy states that "... recreational hunting on its own is not an effective means of controlling deer numbers.”

Jack Gough, CEO Invasive Species Council , said: "Let's be clear, this is not a serious response to the serious issue of out-of-control feral deer populations trashing, trampling and polluting our forests and rivers.

“Opening up national parks to recreational hunting is not going to make a difference to numbers on the ground."

“National parks receive 50 million visits annually – three times more than state forests,” Mr Gough said.

● ● Darebin Council’s budget includes an allocation of $30,000 to fund the Preston Market Feasibility Study, which may include potential purchase options.

The Local Paper

with the Established September 14, 1969

in localised editions in 40 areas across Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and some country areas. MANSFIELD

Mansfield readership is in the township of Mansfield. The Mansfield Shire comprises Ancona, Barjarg, Barwite, Bonnie Doon, Boorolite, Bridge Creek, Delatite, Gaffneys Creek, Goughs Bay, Howes Creek, Howqua, Howqua Hills, Howqua Inlet, Jamieson, Kevington, Lake Eildon, Nillahcootie, Piries, Sawmill Settlement, Tolmie, Woodfield and Woods Point. Mansfield Shire is home to 10,546 people, living in approximately 6612 homes.

MITCHELL

Incorporating the traditions of the Seymour Express (Est. 1872) Mitchell Shire comprises Beveridge, Broadford, Kilmore, Puckapunyal, Seymour, Tallarook, Tooborac, Trawool, Wallan, Wandong and Heathcote Junction. Mitchell Shire is home to more than 49,216 people, living in approximately 16,321 homes.

MURRINDINDI

Incorporating the traditions of the Yea Advertiser (Est. 1995). Murrindindi comprises Acheron, Alexandra, Buxton, Cathkin, Castella, Caveat, Devils River, Dropmore, Eildon, Fawcett, Flowerdale, Ghin Ghin, Glenburn, Gobur, Granton, Highlands, Homewood, Kanumbra, Kerrisdale, Killingworth, Kinglake, Kinglake Central, Kinglake West, Koriella, Limestone, Maintongoon, Marysville, Molesworth, Murrindindi, Narbethong, Pheasant Creek, Rubicon, Strath Creek, Taggerty, Taylor Bay, Terip Terip, Thornton, Toolangi, Whanregarwen, Yarck, Yea. Murrindindi Shire is home to more than 14,478 people, living in approximately 6293 homes.

NILLUMBIK (RURAL)

Incorporating the traditions of the Diamond Valley Advertiser (Est. 1995) and The Advertiser (earlier Evelyn Observer) (Est. Oct. 31, 1873)

Nillumbik Shire (rural) comprises Arthurs Creek, Bend of Islands, Christmas Hills, Cottles Bridge, Diamond Creek, Doreen, Eltham, Eltham North, Hurstbridge, Kangaroo Ground, Kinglake, Kinglake Central, Kinglake West, Nutfield, Panton Hill, Plenty, Research, Smiths Gully, St Andrews, Strathewen, Warrandyte North, Watsons Creek. Nillumbik Shire is home to more than 64,659 people, living in approximately 21,753 homes.

STRATHBOGIE (PART)

Starthbogie readership area comprises Avenel, Euroa, Nagambie, Violet Town. Strathbogie Shire is home to more than 11,578 people, living in approximately 5768 homes.

WHITTLESEA (RURAL)

Incorporating the traditions of the Whittlesea Advertiser (Est. 1995) Whittlesea Post (Est. 1924), and The Advertiser (earlier Evelyn Observer) (Est. Oct. 31, 1873)

Whittlesea Post readership area comprises Arthurs Creek, Beveridge, Donnybrook, Doreen, Eden Park, Hazel Glen, Humevale, Kinglake West, Mernda, South Morang, Whittlesea, Wollert, Woodstock, Yan Yean. The City of Whittlesea is home to more than 197,491 people, living in approximately 71,014 homes.

YARRA RANGES

Incorporating the traditions of the Lilydale and Yarra valley Express (Est. June 30, 1886) Yarra Ranges readership area comprises Badger Creek, Chirnside Park, Chum Creek, Coldstream, Dixons Creek, Don Valley, East Warburton, Fernshaw, Gilderoy, Gladysdale, Gruyere, Healesville, Hoddles Creek, Launching Place, Lilydale, Millgrove, Mooroolbark, Mount Evelyn, Powelltown, Seville, Seville East, Steels Creek, Wandin East, Wandin North, Warburton, Wesburn, Wonga Park (part), Woori Yallock, Yarra Glen, Yarra Junction, Yellingbo and Yering. Yarra Ranges Shire is home to more than 158,831 people, living in approximately 58,509 homes.

Cheryl Threadgold, Local Theatre

Julie Houghton, The Arts Kevin Trask, Entertainment Aaron Rourke, Film Ted Ryan, Horse Racing Len Baker, Harness Racing

Regional Round-Up

Dog park petition

■ Nillumbik Council has received a 34-signature petition requesting seating and a shelter for the small dog park in Wattletree Rd, Eltham North

“There are many older residents/ ratepayers who would appreciate both shade and seating availability In this area to allow them to stay more comfortably within the confines of the safety of the ‘Small Dog Park’ while their dogs enjoy their freedom to play and socialise,” the petition said.

Pet friendly

■ Murrindindi Council is updating its Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-29 to improve services for cats and dogs.

“During this process Council is seeking feedback on a range of animal management issues within the Shire including:

■ Animal management services

■ Cat and dog behaviours

■ Dog off-lead areas

■ Cat confinement and mandatory desexing.

“Have your say by visiting the online engagement platform The Loop website to fill out a survey or drop a pin on a map for a dog off-lead area, meeting a Council officer in person at Alexandra, Kinglake or Yea, or requesting a phone interview,” said a Shire representative.

Bridge: next steps

■ Strathbogie Shire Council is moving forward with the next stage of works at Chinaman’s Bridge, following formal heritage approval for the demolition and restoration of the flood-damaged structure.

“Following extensive advocacy and close collaboration with Heritage Victoria, Council received formal approval for the demolition and restoration works at Chinaman’s Bridge in February 2025,” said a Shire representative.

“This approval recognises both the significant safety risks the bridge presents and the need to preserve and honour its heritage value.

“In June 2025, Council appointed a specialist Heritage Consultant and Structural Engineer to guide the technical planning and ensure full compliance with heritage conditions.

“The next stage involves developing detailed demolition staging plans and supporting documentation, including technical studies, site surveys and environmental assessments.

“These documents will be submitted to Heritage Victoria for review and endorsement over the coming months.

“Once the necessary approvals are in place, demolition works are expected to start in early 2026 and be finished by midyear. A full project timeline will be shared once it’s been finalised with our consultants.”

Digital safety

■ Mansfield Shire took what it describes as a strong step toward digital safety, with over 1100 local residents participating in the SayIT program’s cyber safety education sessions.

Cyber safety expert Susan McLean led the sessions, covering vital topics including online grooming, cyberbullying, problematic gaming and the impacts of sharing explicit content.

Hosted at various locations across Mansfield Shire, the sessions were tailored to young people, families, and educators, aiming to build a safer and more informed digital community.

“The program received outstanding participation from community members. Over 24 per cent of Mansfield’s population aged 8 to 49 is now better equipped to navigate online spaces safely after attending one of the sessions,” a Councoil representative said.

Mansfield Mayor Cr Steve Rabie praised the program’s reach and community-wide support.

“This initiative has empowered more than 1100 Mansfield residents to make informed choices online,” he said.

“Digital safety is a shared responsibility, and this week shows just how committed our community is to looking after one another.”

More than 100 educators from schools across the region took part in a specific professional learning session.

DONNYBROOK RD ‘SHAM’

■ Northern Metropolitan MLC Evan Mulholland has condemned the Allan Labor Government for its limited community consultation regarding the long-overdue upgrades to Donnybrook Rd

“Despite years of worsening congestion, safety concerns, and rapid population growth in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, the Labor Government has continued to delay meaningful improvements to Donnybrook Rd,” said Mr Mulholland.

“Instead, it has launched a superficial “consultation” process that fails to address the core issues faced by local residents and attempts to predetermine the outcomes.

“This so-called consultation is nothing more than a box-ticking exercise designed to give the illusion of community input,” Mr Mulholland said.

“Locals who have sat in gridlock on Donnybrook Rd day in and day out know exactly what’s needed, duplication and proper longterm planning to support the booming population.

“Instead, they’ve been given a multiple choice survey that doesn’t offer practical solutions.”

Mr Mulholland highlighted the Government's plan to replace a recently installed roundabout and slip lane with traffic lights, calling it a patchwork decision that ignores the real bottleneck: the bridge over the Hume Freeway

“A roundabout they have just installed and a slip lane they just installed a couple of years ago – they have now decided they are going to spend millions to blow it up and put in traffic lights rather than tackling the actual issue, which is the bridge over the Hume,” he said.

“We’ve seen it time and time again from this Labor Government — announce a project, delay the funding, and then run a sham consultation to stall progress even further,” Mr Mulholland said.

“Residents in Donnybrook, Mickleham, Kalkallo, and beyond are sick of the spin. They want action, not another online form that goes straight into the bin.

“The traffic chaos on Donnybrook Rd isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a safety issue and a major drag on the daily lives of hardworking families.”

Mr Mulholland called on the Government to release the full results of the consultation and commit to a timeline for genuine upgrades.

“If Labor is serious about supporting growth in Melbourne’s north, they need to stop the charade and start delivering. That means proper engagement with residents, transparent planning, and a clear funding commitment to fixing Donnybrook Rd — not more spin.”,” Mr Mulholland said.

By-elections on August 1

■ Ballot papers will be mailed this week in the Darebin Council North-West Ward by-election, following the death of Gaetano Greco.

Postal voting remains open until 6pm, Friday, August 1.

The seven nominees are: ZEMBEKIS, Leon ROSE, Cat (Victorian Socialists) VILLELLA, Angela KANJERE, George LAURENCE, Tim THEWLIS, Melanie (Greens) SCOULLAR, Daniel (Labor)

★ ★

There are 11 nominees for the Lalor Ward by-election in the City of Whittlesea: NICHOLSON, Rex EDGE, Victoria LABRADOR, Michael KRASSOS, Mary STOJCEVSKI, Belinda

SHARP , William HASSAN, Omar (Victorian Socialists) UPRETY, Samu McNAUGHT, Ellen MOHAMMED, Burhanuddin KOZMEVSKI, Stevan

The Council is holding a by-election in Lalor Ward after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal declared this election result void on Thursday, May 8. Stevan Kozmevski is re-standing.

Emissions down by 60 per cent

■ Banyule Council has rteduced its total emissions by 60 per cent from baseline levels. Initiatives that have led to this reduction include:

■ Eliminating all electricity emissions by purchasing 100% green power

■ Electrifying most Council-owned public facilities

■ Transitioning passenger fleet vehicles to electric.

3-day turnaround ■ Darebin Council usually responds within three business days to parking complaints, Councillors have been told.

“Parking complaints are usually actioned within three business days, and customers are then updated with the outcome. Urgent safety concerns, such as vehicles obstructing the flow of or blocking driveways, are triaged and attended to as soon as practicable,” a Council officer reported.

The Local Paper is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you believe the Standards may have been breached, you may approach The Local Paper or make a complaint to the Australian Press Council in writing at: www.presscouncil.org.au The Council may also be contacted on 1800 025 712.

● ● Evan Mulholland MLC

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■ ■ ALEXANDRA. Alexandra Newsagency. 82-84 Grant St.

■ ■ ALEXANDRA. Corner Hotel.

65 Grant St.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ THORNTON. Thornton General Store. 1365 TaggertyThornton Rd.

■ ■ WATTLE GLEN. Peppers

■ ■ WARRANDYTE. Warrandyte Newsagency/Post Office. 100 Melbourne Hill Rd.

Court Lists

Seymour Magistrates’ Court

Criminal Case Listings

Thursday, July 17

Local News

Hate slogans on cars

■ Banyule-Nillumbik Crime Investigation Unit detectives continue to investigate an arson and criminal damage incident at a business in Greensborough on Saturday, july 5. (July 5).

■

■

■

■ ALEXANDRA. Endeavour

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Alexandra (BP). 10 Downey St.

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■ ALEXANDRA. Foodworks. 102 Grant St.

■

Paddock General Store. 13 Kangaroo Ground-Wattle Glen Rd.

■ ■ WHITTLESEA. Champions IGA Supermarket. 2/16 Church St.

■ WESBURN. Hotel. 2882 Warburton Hwy.

■ WONGA PARK. IGA Xpress.

70 Jumping Creek Rd.

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■

■ ALEXANDRA. Mount Pleasant Hotel. 90 Grant St.

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■ ALEXANDRA. Nutrien Harcourts. 56 Grant St.

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■ ■ WHITTLESEA. El Azar Milk Bar. 13 Church St.

■ ■ WHITTLESEA. Royal Mail Hotel. 29 Beech St.

■ ■ ■ WOORI YALLOCK. Hillcrest Little Store. 1745 Warburton Hwy.

■ WOORI YALLOCK. Woori Yallock Newsagency. Shop 4,1585 Warburton Hwy.

■

■

■ ■ ALEXANDRA. Shamrock Hotel. 80 Grant St.

■ ■ ALEXANDRA. Simpson’s Fuel (Caltex). 25 Aitken St.

■ ■ ALEXANDRA. Totally Trout. 42 Downey St.

■ ■ BUXTON. Blue Igloo Roadhouse. 2200 Maroondah Hwy.

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■ BUXTON. Buxton Hotel. 2192 Maroondah Hwy.

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■ BUXTON. Shell Buxton. 2093 Maroondah Hwy.

■

■ DIAMOND CREEK. Diamond Creek Newsagency. Shop 62a Main Rd, Diamond Creek Plaza.

■ ■ DOREEN. Doreen General Store. 920 Yan Yean Rd.

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■ EILDON. Foodworks. 18 Main St.

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■ ELTHAM. Eltham Newsagency. 2/963 Main Rd.

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■ EPPING. APCO Service Station. Cnr McDonalds Rd and High St.

■ ■ EPPING. Epping RSL. Harvest Home Rd.

■ ■ FLOWERDALE. Flowerdale Community House. 36 Silver Creek Rd.

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■ FLOWERDALE. Flowerdale Hotel. 3325 Whittlesea-Yea Rd.

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■ ■ ■ ■ FLOWERDALE. Hazeldene General Store. 6 Curlings Rd.

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■ GLENBURN. Glenburn Roadhouse. 3883 Melba Hwy.

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■ ■ ■ HURSTBRIDGE. Hurstbridge Newsagency. 900 Main Hustbridge Rd.

■ ■ KANGAROO GROUND. Kangaroo Ground General Store. 280 Eltham-Yarra Glen Rd.

■ ■ KINGLAKE. Cafe. WhittleseaKinglake Rd.

■ ■ KINGLAKE. Foodworks. 12 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd.

■ ■ KINGLAKE. Kinglake Pub. 28 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd.

■ ■ KINGLAKE. United Service Station. 2 Glenburn-Kinglake Rd.

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■ ■ ■ LAURIMAR. Laurimar Newsagency. 95 Hazel Glen Dr.

■ ■ MANSFIELD. Foodworks. 119 High St.

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■ ■ MARYSVILLE. Foodworks. 40A Darwin St.

■ ■ MERNDA. Mernda Villages Post Office. 50 Mernda Village Dr.

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■ ■ ■ MOLESWORTH. Molesworth Store. 4353 Goulburn Valley Hwy.

■ ■ NARBETHONG. Black Spur Inn. 436 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ WHITTLESEA. Whittlesea Bowls Club. 101 Church St.

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■ ■ ■ WHITTLESEA. Whittlesea Court House. 74 Church St.

■ ■ WHITTLESEA. Whittlesea NewsXpress. 45 Church St.

■ ■ WOLLERT. Wollert General Store. 491 Epping Rd.

■ ■ YARCK. Buck’s Country Bakehouse. 6585 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ YARCK. Giddy Goat Cafe. 6606 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ YARCK. Yarck Hotel. Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ YEA. Amble Inn Cafe. 24 High St.

■ YARRA GLEN. IGA Supermarket. 1/38 Bell St.

■

■ YARRA GLEN. Yarra Glen Newsagency. 32 Bell St.

■ YARRA JUNCTION. Yarra Junction Newsagency. 2454 Warburton Hwy.

Mitchell Shire Edition

■ BEVERIDGE. Beveridge Post Office. Lot 1 Old Hume Hwy.

■ BROADFORD. Broadford Corner Store. 89 High St.

■

■ BROADFORD. Broadford Hotel. 100 High St.

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■

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■ YEA. Country Club Hotel. 18 High St.

■ ■ YEA. Endeavour Petroleum (BP). 31 High St.

■ BROADFORD. Broadford Newsagency. 67 High St.

■ BROADFORD. Broadford Post Office. 123 High St.

Allsop, Thomas Bell, James Binks-Brown, Nick Bulger, Coebii Chee, Barry Peter Cleveland, Brady Cleveland, Trevor Collard, Travis Damarda, Mustafa Dickinson, Daniel Robert Eastman, Justin Fleming, Kathryn Glazebrook, Corey Greenova Pty Ltd Hamment, Jack Harvey, Bianca Hore, Andrew Jennings, Olivia Keamy-Quirk, Caleb Mcdonald, Toby James Mocenigo, Adam Mudd, Eric Nally, Lachlan Newton, Sean O'toole, Nick Pitts, Melissa Joyce Richardson, Mark Rizzo, Nando Scicluna, Brandon Searle, James Smith, Bruce Graham Trimboli, Justin Wood, Ryan

Friday, July 18

It is understood that five people attended the business on Para Rd about 3.55am. The offenders gained entry to the business before setting fire to three cars.

The group also used red spray paint to write various slogans on the cars and on a building wall.

One of the vehicles was destroyed, while the other two sustained moderate damage.

Detectives believe the group left the business via a back fence and were last seen travelling in a south-westerly direction along Plenty River on e-bikes.

Each person was dressed in black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves.

Local detectives are investigating the incident, with the support of specialists from Crime Command Arson and Explosives Squad

While investigators continue to liaise with Counter Terrorism Command to establish if there are any connections to the arson on the synagogue in East Melbourne and a public order incident on Hardware Lane; at this time no links have been identified.

Vale Brian Harvey

■ YEA. Foodworks. 10 High St.

■

■ ■ YEA. Giddy Coat Cafe. 94

High St.

■ ■ BROADFORD. Broadford Service Station. 165 High St.

Osborne, Dean Peters, Katie Younan, Michael

■ The Diamond Valley Basketball Association has paid tribute to Life Member Brian Harvey, described as “an amazing, kind, funny and generous man”.

■

■

■ ■ NARBETHONG. Black Spur Roadhouse. 264 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ PANTON HILL. Panton Hill General Store. 586 Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Rd.

■

■ PANTON HILL. Panton Hill Hotel. 633 Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Rd.

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■ PHEASANT CREEK. Flying Tarts Cafe. 888 WhittleseaKinglake Rd.

■ ■ PHEASANT CREEK. Pheasant Creek Store. 884 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd.

■ ■ RESEARCH. Research Post Office. 1546 Main Rd.

■ ■ SMITHS GULLY. Smiths Gully General Store. 914 Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Rd.

■ ■ SOUTH MORANG. Milk Bar.

15 Gorge Rd.

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■

■ ■ ST ANDREWS. St Andrews General Store. 10 Caledonia St.

■ ■ ST ANDREWS. St Andrews Hotel. 79 Burns St.

■ ■ STRATH CREEK. Strath Creek Post Office. 8 Glover Rd.

■

■ ■ ■ TAGGERTY. Taggerty General Store. 26 Taggerty-Thornton Rd.

■ ■ THORNTON. 4 Ways Diner.

1369 Taggerty-Thornton Rd.

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■ ■ ■ THORNTON. Rubicon Hotel. 1362 Taggerty-Thornton Rd.

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■ ■ YEA. Grand Central Hotel. 64

High St.

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■ YEA. Marmalades. 20 High St.

■ ■ YEA. Mint and Jam. 46 High St.

■ ■ YEA. Nutrien Harcourts. 52

High St.

■

■ BROADFORD. Commercial Hotel. 31 High St.

■ BROADFORD. High Street Bakery. 67A High St.

■ BROADFORD. IGA Supermarket. 65 High St.

■

■ ■ BROADFORD. Stuty’s Bakehouse. 91-93 High St.

Mansfield Magistrates’ Court Criminal Case Listings

Wednesday, July 23

Mr Harvey was the long-time Manager of the Diamond Valley Sports and Fitbness Centre.

“Brian was the founder of the renowned Civoic League, which for many years was regarded as the best senior domestic competition in the state.

■

■

■ ■ YEA. Peppercorn Hotel. 21 Station St.

■ ■ YEA. Provender Bakery. 56 High St.

■ DONNYBROOK. Donnybrook Hotel. 825 Donnybrook Rd.

■ DONNYBROOK. Donnybrook Post Office. 810 Donnybrook Rd.

■ KILMORE. BP. 102 Sydney St.

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■ YEA. Rendezvous In Yea. 10

High St.

■ ■ YEA. Royal Mail Hotel. 88

High St.

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■ KILMORE. Kemp’s Bakery. 65 Sydney St.

“He was also the ceartor of the Great Australian Shootout, an elite U20 tournament that ran for over a decade and attracted international teams.

“Brian was part of the committee that helped the Eagles join the CVIBL competition and worked with Eltham to establish the North East Melbourne Arrows.”

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■ ■ YEA. Yea Bakery. 44 High St.

■

■ ■ YEA. Yea Newsagency. 74

High St.

■ ■ YEA. Yea Take-Away. 68 High St.

Lilydale and Yarra Valley Express Edition

■ ■ COLDSTREAM. Coldstream Post Office/Newsagency. The Lodge Shopping Centre. 670-672 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ CROYDON NORTH. Croydon North Newsagency. 5 Exeter Rd.

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■ ■ ■ HEALESVILLE. BP. 66 Maroondah Hwy.

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■ ■ ■ HEALESVILLE. Coles Express. 123 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ HEALESVILLE. Grand Hotel. 270 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ HEALESVILLE. Healesville Newsagency. 195 Maroondah Hwy.

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■ ■ ■ HEALESVILLE. Tobacco Station/Tatts. Shop 11, Healesville Walk.

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■ ■ LAUNCHING PLACE. Launching Place General Store. 2200 Warburton Hwy.

■ ■ LAUNCHING PLACE. Home Hotel. 2170 Warburton Hwy.

■ ■ LILYDALE. Lilydale Newsagency. 237 Main St.

■

■ ■ ■ MILLGROVE. Licensed Grocery. 3043 Warburton Hwy.

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■ ■ ■ MOUNT EVELYN. Mount Evelyn Newsagency. 1A Wray Cres.

■ ■ RINGWOOD. Burnt Bridge Newsagency. 434 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ SEVILLE. Wooworths Seville. 568 Warburton Hwy.

■ ■ WANDIN. Wandin Newsagency. 18/2 Union Rd.

■

■ ■ ■ WARBURTON. Bakery. 3415 Warburton Hwy.

■ KILMORE. Kilmore Bakery. 54 Sydney St.

■ KILMORE. Kilmore Newsagency. 41 Sydney St.

■ ■ KILMORE. Red Lion Hotel. 29-31 Sydney St.

■ ■ KILMORE. Royal Oak Hotel. 29-31 Sydney St.

■ KILMORE. United Service Station. 127-145 Powlett St.

■ SEYMOUR. IGA O’Keefe’s. 10/115 Anzac Ave.

■ ■ SEYMOUR. Liberty Seymour. 37-39 Emily St.

■ SEYMOUR. Seymour NewsXpress. 66 Station St.

■ SEYMOUR. Seymour South Post and Lotto. 75 Anzac Ave.

■ SEYMOUR. Prince of Wales Hotel. 48 Emily St.

■ ■ SEYMOUR. Royal Hotel. 26 Emily St.

■ SEYMOUR. Terminus Hotel. 26 Station St.

■ SEYMOUR. Top Shop. Cnr Anzac Ave and Delatite Rd.

■ ■ TALLAROOK. Tallarook General Store. 36 Main Rd.

■ ■ TALLAROOK. Tallarook Hotel. 15 Main Rd.

■ TRAWOOL. Trawool Estate/ Hotel. 8150 Goulburn Valley Hwy.

■ WALLAN. United Service Station. 11-14 High St.

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■ WALLAN. Wallan News and Lotto. Shop 6, 55 High St.

■ WALLAN EAST. New Rattlers Inn. Station St.

■ WANDONG. Caltex Star Mart. 3272 Epping-Kilmore Rd.

■ WANDONG. Dundee’s Fish and Cips. 3272 Epping-Kilmore Rd.

■ WANDONG. IGA Supermarket. 3272 Epping-Kilmore Rd.

■ WANDONG. Wandong Post News and Tatts. 3272 EppingKilmore Rd.

Al Enazi, Saleh Ali, Syed Balcombe, Jayson Kyle Bennett, Adrienne Bradley, Paul Gregory Breier, Jessica Dib, Andrew Fowler, Brook Fraser, William Hota, Amel Houli, Ali Josephson, Tim Kouvelis, Nicholas Lia, Lynda Macdougall, Max Pojatic, Edin Reeve, Bradley Santori, Robert Seifeddine, Seideddine Steward, Richard Tinsley, James A Walker, Nicole Whitfield, Matthew Benziger Wylie, Tom Xu, Lisha

Ride High Summit

■ Aday of cycle tourism in Victoria’s High Country will be held at Wangaratta on Wedmnesday, September 10.

The Ride High Country Summit brings together visitor economy experts, cycle tourism professionals, marketing specialists, and industry leaders for a focused day of ideas, insight, and connection.

With keynote speakers, fresh research, and real-world strategies on the table, the Summit.

At Graham St

■ The upgraded play space at Graham Street Reserve in Seymour opened from Saturday July 5.

Mitchell Shire Council has added:

■ A swing set

■ A seesaw

■ New seating

■ Concrete path upgrades

■ Fresh landscaping

Tracks and trails

■ Mansfield Council is calling for community input to help develop a new Tracks and Trails Strategy “aimed at enhancing recreational opportunities and connectivity across the region”.

Probus speaker

■ Johannes Wenzel, Chair, Victorian Deer Control Community Network, was guest speaker at the Combined Probus Club of Whittlesea.

At Flowerdale, Plenty Valley Produce that farms there suffered a total loss of organic vegetables when feral deer invaded the property. Over three nights, deer ventured from public land onto the arm, stripping paddocks of valuable crops to the value of $100,000.

“Feral deer are emerging as one of Australia’s most serious environmental and agricultural threats and Victoria has possibly the largest deer population in Australia, estimated at more than a million animals,” Mr Wenzel said.

The deer population is expanding rapidly and invading new areas. With a lack of predators, occurrence in vast and remote areas and great habitat flexibility, deer are set to become one of Victoria’s, and ultimately Australia’s , most damaging pest animal invaders.

The Victorian Deer Control Community Network encourages people and organisations to join and contribute to the network, and the only prerequisite is being interested in reducing the impact of feral deer.

At Cardinia, Melbourne Water independently became aware of the impact and risk to water contamination of feral deer. The management policy was changed to eradication. The Reservoir was re-fenced and over the next two years professional deer controllers removed 675 feral deer from the 13 square kilometres around the reservoir.

Estimations are that by 2051 the costs of loss and damage attributable to Feral Deer will rise to $2.1billion.

Instanced was the high cost that pine plantations incur due to deer destroying young saplings. Some 40 per cent of new plantings get destroyed.

■

■ ■ ■ ■ WARRANDYTE. Grand Hotel.

140 Yarra St.

■ ■ WARRANDYTE. Quinton’s Supa IGA Supermarket. 1/402 Warrandyte Rd.

■ WANDONG. Kemp’s Wandong Bakery. 372 EppingKilmore Rd.

■ WANDONG. Magpie and Stump Hotel. 3313 EppingKilmore Rd.

The strategy will cover Mansfield Shire and the Mt Buller – Mt Stirling Alpine Resorts. It will assess gaps in the existing trail network and ensure the region’s tracks and trails offer a range of fun and accessible experiences for all.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie emphasised the importance of community participation in shaping the strategy.

Mr Wenzel was applauded by the members and given a small token of appreciation by Speaker Co-ordinator Teresa Carlin Tents of Probus are fun and friendship in retirement.

Contact whittleseaprobus@hotmail.com or phone 0427 021 592. Michael Halley

Statewide

BRUNSWICK WEST

Apartment fire

■ Fire Rescue Victoria responded to a building fire in Brunswick West on Wednesday evening (July 9).

Firefighters arrived within six minutes to find a residential unit on the third floor of an apartment building fully ablaze.

FRV crews evacuated an occupant from the apartment to safety. The occupant will be assessed by Ambulance Victoria

Firefighters contained the fire to the apartment and stopped it spreading to adjoining units.

The fire was declared under control at 5.42pm, 25 minutes after FRV arrived on scene.

The apartment sustained significant damage with the cause of the fire to be investigated.

SUNSHINE

Factory fire

■ Fire Rescue Victoria crews responded to a building fire on Judge St, Sunshine, at 1.22pm Wedndesday (July 9).

Firefighters arrived on scene within six minutes to find smoke and flames issuing from a 10 x 20 metre brick factory housing an auto repair business.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the building and discovered multiple vehicles and mechanical parts on fire.

Firefighters assisted with evacuations from nearby businesses.

FRV crews were able to quell the flames and bring the fire under control at 1.53pm, 25 minutes after arriving on scene.

The building sustained significant damage in the blaze and will be assessed by the local municipal building surveyor for structural integrity.

No injuries have been reported.

A community advice message was issued due to the large amount of smoke in the area.

Cause of the fire is yet to be determined and was to be investigated by FRV fire investigators.

Across Victoria MAN CHARGED AFTER GLENROY ARSON ATTACK

■ Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad have charged a man following an alleged arson attack in Glenroy.

The charges follow an incident where it will be alleged the man threw a flammable substance over a woman before igniting it at outside a property on View St about 6.40am on Thursday, July 3.

A 35-year-old Glenroy woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she remains in a critical but stable condition.

The parties are known to each other.

A 41-year-old Glenroy man was arrested at the scene.

He has since been charged with attempted murder and has been remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 7.

WANTIRNA

Fatal crash

■ Police are investigating a fatal collision in Wantirna on Monday morning, July 7..

It is understood a motorcycle and car collided on Mountain Highway about 6am.

The motorcyclist, a 32-yearold Croydon man, died at the scene.

The driver of the car, a 30year-old Heathmont woman, stopped at the scene and was uninjured.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision remains ongoing.

Statewide

WEST MELBOURNE

Trains disrupted

■ Fire Rescue Victoria crews responded to a building fire on Rosslyn St in West Melbourne shortly after 3pm on Wednesday afternoon (July 9).

Firefighters arrived in six minutes to find smoke and flames issuing from a 30 x 10 metre storage building underneath the Dudley St railway bridge.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the building and found various equipment and contents on fire.

A search confirmed no persons inside the structure.

Trains were halted while firefighters fought the fire and later inspected the rail line for fire extension.

The fire was contained to the contents of the building.

FRV crews were able to quell the flames and bring the fire under control at 03.33pm, 28 minutes after arriving on scene.

No injuries have been reported.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined but will be investigated.

NEERIM EAST

Unsafe riders

■ State Highway Patrol Solo Unit officers have impounded three all-terrain motorcycles and issued several infringement and defect notices across Victoria.

Officers were on patrol when they intercepted three motorcycles on Beards Track in Neerim East about 3pm on Sunday, July 6.

After inspecting the bikes, it became apparent that all three were unregistered and failed to comply with the standards for registration.

The three bikes were impounded at a cost of $1291 each, while the riders, a 22year-old Traralgon man, a 22-year-old Yarragon man, and a 23-year-old Moe man, are expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences.

Officers also intercepted an allegedly unlicensed solo rider on an all-terrain motorcycle on La Trobe River Rd, Neerim East, about 1.30pm.

Council Rounds

Working as a team

■ Strathbogie Council Mayor Cr Claire Ewart-Kennedy has spoken of the teamwork of Councillors in their governance of the municipality.

“As a new council I’m proud to say that along with Council staff, we have invested a lot of time, and effort in listening to your feedback and identifying the key needs of our community which can only be achieved with long term financial sustainability,” Cr Ewart-Kennedy said.

“This council has committed to delivering on the outcomes highlighted in these plans in a financially responsible manner.

“I want to thank my fellow Councillors, Community Working Group Participants and our CEO Rachelle Quattrocchi and her team who have all been on this journey together.

“Our communities are facing some significant challenges right now—from ongoing drought conditions to cost-of-living pressures—and as Councillors, we are united in our commitment to advocate for better outcomes across every platform available to us,” Cr Ewart-Kennedy said

At Gough’s Bay

■ Mansfield Council has adopted the Goughs Bay Plan, and will inform the preparation of a planning scheme amendment to develop local policies in accordance with the recommendations of the plan.

On the motion of Crs James Tehan and Mandy Treasure, the Council agreed to commence preparation of a planning scheme amendment to implement the recommendations of the plan.

Beveridge lights

■ The Department of Transport and Planning instaledinterim traffic lights at the eastern intersection of Lithgow St and the Hume Fwy interchange in Beveridge last weekend.

The traffic lights will be in place to improve traffic flow on Lithgow St until developers upgrade the intersections on either side of the Hume Fwy interchange.

“These will improve traffic flow on Lithgow St, supporting increasing growth and traffic volumes,” said a Mitchell Shire representative.

Business Awards

■ City of Whittlesea Business Awards winners have been named:

Congratulations to all the nominees, and the following award recipients:

■ Start-Up Award: Joanne's Temple Colonics and Wellness Centre

■ Customer Service Award: Fastflex Heating and Cooling Supplies

■ Innovation and Enterprise Award: Iconyx

■ Sustainability and Environment Award: Eriez Magnetics

■ Community Contribution Award: DPV Health

■ Workplace Diversity Award: NLA Logistics

■ Small Business Award: Lashes On Point Salon

■ City of Whittlesea Business of the Year: DPV Health

Social media use

■ Nillumbik Shire Councillors have been reminded that “to avoid breaching the Model Code of Conduct, Councillors should act consistently with any social media or communications policies or protocols that their Council has developed to guide the responsible use of social media by Councillors”.

A Councillor Use of Social Media policy has been developed to support Councillors in their use of social media to engage with the community while undertaking their role as Councillor.

It was moved by Cr Naomi Joiner , and seconded by Cr Kate McKay. Voting for: Crs Kim Cope, John Dumaresq, Naomi Joiner, Kelly Joy, Kate McKay and Peter Perkins. Against: Cr Grant Brooker

Vale Leanne Murnane

■ Whittlesea Council paused to remember the life of Leanne Murnane. Shde volunteered her time and supported the community in various capacities, including the Whittlesea Country Music Festival, where she served as the Secretary for 10 years.

On The Land

Drought help: ‘The Allan Labor Government will continue to assess conditions in

THE REQUEST

the coming months’

THE REPLY

● ● Cindy McLeish, Eildon MLA

■ Eildon MLA Cindy McLeish, on May 28, asked for drought support for local farmers. Forty days later on July , Agriculture Minister Ros Spence replied.’

Ms McLeish’s question in State Parliament: “I have a question for the Minister for Agriculture. The Murrindindi and Mansfield Shires are suffering from drought conditions.

“There has been hardly any rain, which means paddocks are bare, dams are empty and hay supplies are diminished.

“Record numbers of cattle are being sold through the Yea Saleyards as farmers are forced to sell their stock as drought conditions worsen.

“Our farmers need help, but so far all they have received from the Labor Government is the news that they are not included in the government’s drought support package.

“Can the minister explain why the State Government excluded farmers in Mansfield and Murrindindi Shires from the recently announced expansion of their drought support program despite being in worse drought conditions than other locations receiving it?

“Funding assistance is urgently needed for farmers in my district, and as you can appreciate, these terrible conditions take an enormous toll on their mental health,” Ms McLeish said.

THE REPLY

■ Agriculture Minister Ros Spence replied on July 7: “I share the member’s concern and wish to acknowledge the very challenging conditions facing our farmers across the state, with some areas of Victoria now recording significant rainfall deficiencies extending back to winter 2023.

“The lack of rainfall this autumn has compounded the hardship faced by farm businesses, with many facing significant and difficult decisions around destocking, securing fodder and managing depleted on-farm water supplies.

“Agriculture Victoria staff are engaging farmers across the state to understand issues and connect farmers to available support options.

“The Premier’s Drought Response Taskforce has also listened directly to farmers and regional communities across Victoria to ensure they receive the support they need through these tough times.

“The Allan Labor Government is providing practical support for impacted farmers across Victoria, with recent announcements investing an additional $75 million to help farmers through the drought, bringing the Government’s total support package to $144

million.

“Following these recent Government announcements the total package of support now includes:

■ “Primary Producer Support Payments, equivalent to a 40 per cent council rate reduction, to provide cash flow relief to primary producers in the 12 Local Government Areas (LGA) in south-west Victoria , including Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, City of Greater Geelong and southern parts of West Wimmera

■ “Support for household expenses delivered through the Country Women’s Association with payments of up to $1000 available to struggling families in eligible south west LGAs.

■ “Investments in water infrastructure upgrades with further funding to support water supply from the East Grampians Pipeline to landholders in the southern Grampians region, expanding Victoria’s Emergency Supply Point Water Network, leveraging private groundwater bores for additional domestic and stock access, along with developing the Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy and delivering a Catchment Management Authority-led Drought Employment Program in south west Victoria.

■ Targeted waivers of biosecurity duties and relief from regulatory fees and charges.

■ Technical and decision-making support for Victorian farm businesses right across the state. These services will be delivered in partnership with a range of technical specialists and tailored to the individual business needs and circumstances.

■ The statewide rollout of the ‘ Look Over the Farm Gate’ mental health and wellbeing program to help communities come together and support farmers and farming families under stress.

■ The retitled Farm Drought Support Grants (formerly the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants) program providing every primary producer in the state with access to $5000 to support on-farm drought management improvements. For farmers in south west Victoria, the package provides an additional $5000 for OnFarm Drought Infrastructure Grants taking the total grant on offer to $10,000 for farmers. This increase is available to farmers in the 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the lower half of West Wimmera LGA who have had access to this program since September 2024. Eligible activities under the grant program now include water carting and pasture re-establishment.

■ Additional funding to support small businesses in south west Victoria through the appointment of a Small Business Financial Counsellor

■ The extension of the South West Regional Drought Coordinator role to enable collaboration across agencies and organisations, and to ensure that necessary support reaches those in need.

■ The release of the Victorian Drought Freight Network to allow freight road trains of up to 84 tonnes to transport the critical grain and fodder to Victorian farms in need in the south west. Permit fees have been waived and applications could be processed in a timeframe as fast as 24 hours.

■ An investment of $1.8 million to fast-track the assessment of lethal and non-lethal control permits for kangaroos and support farmers with a rebate to engage a commercial shooter. Farmers can apply for a rebate of up to $450 three times with a 25 per cent co-contribution requirement.

■ Streamlined processes and waived fees through Agriculture Victoria to ensure fodder can enter Victoria more efficiently without compromising our strict biosecurity controls.

“The Allan Labor Government will continue to assess conditions in the coming months and provide appropriate support to Victorian farmers through this difficult drought,” Ms Spence said.

Bin inspections

■ Mitchell Shire Council is rolling out a bin inspection program to help reduce contamination in its four-bin kerbside service.

“A ‘happy’ tag means your bin looks great – thank you. A ‘sad’ tag means we’ve spotted something that doesn’t belong – with a quick note to help you sort it next time,” said a Mitchell Shire representative.

“When the wrong things go in the wrong bin, whole loads can end up in landfill, costing Council – and ratepayers – more.

“This program is about education, not enforcement. It’s a quick check to help everyone recycle better.”

Members endorsed

■ Mansfield Council has endorsed three members to be part of the Station Precinct Stakeholder Group:

■ Emma Wiking – Bendigo Bank (Community Bank Mansfield District)

■ Samantha Orb – Mansfield Parkrun, and member of North-East Triathlon Club and Open Water Swim Group

■ Matthew Empey – Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club

Grants program

■ Nutrien Ag Solutions, in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, invites eligible not-for-profit organisations to apply for a grant of up to $5000 to support local community projects across remote, rural and regional Australia

Since its launch in 2021, the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program has provided over $1 million in funding to grassroots initiatives that support regional communities.

Jacqueline Webb, Community Investment Manager at Nutrien Ag Solutions, said the program reflects Nutrien’s long-standing commitment to investing in the communities where their people and customers live and work.

“This program is about supporting the heart of our regional communities – the local projects and initiatives that make these towns great places to live and work,” Ms Webb said.

“Over the past four years, we’ve backed more than 200 community-led projects, helping to upgrade facilities, deliver services and create opportunities that directly benefit rural and regional Australians.”

Jill Karena, FRRR’s Head of Granting, said the Foundation knows how important it is to support and empower communities to identify and deliver the services and activities that are most needed by locals.

“Thanks to partners like Nutrien Ag Solutions, who have people on the ground in the community, we can ensure local priorities are heard and supported,” Ms Karena said.

“In the past four years, we’ve seen the big impact that these small grants can have. It’s also supported events that foster community wellbeing, like the Dimboola Steampunk Festival in Victoria , where a grant helped fund the festival entranceway and street decorations.

“Rural and regional communities are wonderful places to live, work and play and these grants offer a great opportunity to foster community wellbeing and the ongoing success and vibrancy of regional Australia. I’m excited to see what comes forward this year,” Ms Karena said.

Applications for the 2025 Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program close on Thursday, August 7, with successful recipients announced in October.

Vale Brian Dixon

■ Mansfield district Brian Dixon has died at the age of 89.

He was an Australian Rules footballer and politician.

He played 252 games for Melbourn e in the Victorian Football League between 1954 and 1968, playing mostly on the wing. He played in five premierships, winning Melbourne's best and fairest in 1960.

He entered Parliament in 1964, as the member for the now abolished seat of St Kilda, representing the Liberal Party After Rupert Hamer took over as Liberal Party leader and Premier, Mr Dixon was promoted to the ministry. He variously served in several portfolios including Youth, Sport and Recreation, Housing and Aboriginal affairs. He introduced the iconic Life. Be in it. program. He had a deep interest in local affairs and tourism.

Local Briefs

Warm caravans

■ The suggestion of a warm caravan at Warburton during winter has been made to Yarra Ranges Council.

Ivor Wolstencroft of Warburton told the June 24 meeting: “Our nights are cold. We have a housing crisis. A warm caravan option has been proposed by barrister Arnold Dix. Does the Shire of Yarra Ranges Council want to draft and pass this resolution?

“If there is a will, there will be a way, I think is central to some of Arnold Dix's approach to life.

“I believe Arnold Dix has proposed a solution that could potentially benefit thousands of those ‘on the edge’ in our shire,”

Mr Wolstencroft said.

Kath McClusky, Yarra Ranges Shire Director Planning and Sustainable Futures, replied: “Council recognises the severity of the housing crisis and the growing interest in alternative housing options such as tiny homes, caravans, and mobile dwellings.

“We understand their potential to provide more affordable accommodation in Yarra Ranges and beyond.

“The YarraRangesNeighbourhoodAmenityLocalLaw2020 does not prohibit the occupation of caravans on private property.

“It does prohibit occupants of caravans on private land from being a nuisance. However, it is subordinate legislation to planning and building legislation.

“Simply put that means the planning and building legislation overrides the amenity of local law.

“Current Victorian planning and building legislation does not allow these structures to be used as permanent dwellings unless they meet strict requirements - typically needing both a building permit and, in many cases, a planning permit.

“There is no legal definition of ‘temporary’ use in either the planning or building regulations, meaning any structure used as a home is subject to these laws.

“This is a challenge across Victoria. Council has been actively advocating for the State Government to take the lead to address this. We recently submitted and passed Motion 30 at the MAV State Conference, calling for the State Government to clarify legislation around tiny homes and similar options as legal alternate solutions in the right areas with the appropriate services.

“We’ve also written to the State Building Surveyor and Minister for Planning, urging each department to consider changes that would allow these housing types to be legally used as permanent dwellings in appropriate circumstances.

“Whilst we will continue this advocacy, we are also exploring whether there is any other option in the absence of the State changing the planning and building controls.

“Until State legislation changes, Council is unable to permit these structures as homes unless they comply with current legislation and regulations, and there is no immediate alternative to legislative reform.

“We remain committed to advocating for more flexible and affordable housing solutions,” Ms McLusky said.

Yarck permit bid

■ A planning permit application has been made to Murrindindi Shire Council for an extension to existing Emergency Services Facilityat 6589 Maroondah wy, Yarck.

The application requests bBuildings and works associated with a Section 2 Use (Emergency Services Facility), and refers to a clause about buildings and works associated with a non-contributory property where the side setback of an extension is less than the existing building

Wallan childcare

■ An application for a planning permit for use and development of a childcare centre at 2 Stanley St , Wallan, is due to be heard at the Mitchell Shire Council meeting scheduled to be held on Monday (July 21).

Alaso due to be discussed are:

■ Old Goulburn River Bridge – Future Management

■ Harley Hammond Reserve Netball Courts and lighting Upgrade (Broadford).

Interest-free loans needed

■ Euroa MLA Annabelle Cleeland has called for the return of interest-freeloans gto help farmers.

“Many farmers in our region are doing it tough, and the current support just isn’t enough,” Ms Cleeland said.

“That’s why I’m calling for the return of interest-free loans to help farmers manage the pressures of drought, rising costs, and uncertainty.

“A similar loan program in the past offered up to $2 million, with two years interest-free, followed by three years interest-only, then five years to repay.

“It helped many farms stay afloat by easing cash flow pressure and allowing time to recover.

“This isn’t about handouts. It’s about giving farmers a fair go and the breathing space they need to rebuild and move forward.

“I’ve launched a petition calling for the return of this proven support.”

The petition for Interest-Free Drought Loans for Victorian Farmers Survey is online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ FarmerLoanPetition

The website says: “Farmers across Victoria are battling one of the most severe droughts in living memory. For many, this isn’t just a tough season – it’s breaking point.

“The existing government support on offer is simply not enough.”

Men in Action Day

■ Alexandra Football Netball Club has hosted its Men In Action function, a special event dedicated to raising awareness around men’s mental health.

“The Men In Action Day tackles the issue head-on, encouraging open and honest conversations to help break the stigma,” said a Rebels representative.

“We’re thrilled to welcome AFL premiership player and Western Bulldogs legend Tom Boyd as our guest speaker.

“Tom will share his personal journey and insights into mental wellbeing in sport and everyday life.

Tickets included entry into the exclusive marquee, beef and gravy roll and nibble table, goody bag, front-row viewing of the senior’s match.

A bar was provided inside the marquee.

Farmer fined for helping mate

■ Western Victoria MLC Bev McArthur has blasted the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator over an “absurd and unjustifiable” fine issued to a farmer who was simply trying to help his neighbour during the drought.

Graham Thomson, a respected farmer from Condah, was issued a $398 fine for transporting just two bales of hay a distance of 600 metres.

Mrs McArthur explained to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety [Melissa Horne] in Parliament: “He used his tractor forks, checked for traffic and posed no safety risk, yet was penalised for not restraining the load.

“This happened during one of Victoria’s worst droughts, on the same day as a farmer mental health day at the local pub.

“The idea every bale must be put on a truck to be transported any distance whatsoever is ridiculous.”

Road safety

■ Cr Fiona Stevens spoke at the latest Strathbogie Council meeting about road safety: “We got all the statistics in relation to accidents and cause of accidents and unfortunately the thing that is still sitting very high is distraction.

“It is very concerning, and the statistics are very concerning throughout our region and the state.

“Distraction regarding mobile phones, fiddling with radios etc and just fiddling in general while you're driving the car so there are some projects that are in the mix to move forward with a bit of education in the area and I'm hoping that our Shire can get on the list to get some sort of participation in that.”

For Edgars Creek

■ A draft Edgars Creek Corridor Landscape Improvement Plan, being considered by Whittlesea City Couincil, outlines a vision for the creek's future, focusing on infrastructure development, native vegetation restoration, ecological enhancement, and creating a resilient corridor.

Edgars Creek , a tributary of the Merri Creek, flows through Wollert, Epping, Lalor and Thomastown in the City of Whittlesea

“Managed by state authorities, Council and private entities, the creek's design and community interaction have evolved over time,” said a report to Councillors.

“While older sections reflect a primarily engineered approach, newer areas emphasise on conservation and accessibility for the community.”

Contract let

■ Strathbogie Shire Council has voted to approve a one-year contract extension for Belgravia Health Leisure Group Pty Ltd to operate the municpality’s four seasonal aquatic facilities.

The fifth and final single year contract extension for 2025-26 has been approved with the contract price negotiated at $453,597 (excluding GST) and is based on the same operating hours as season 2024-25.

David to be Chair

■ Yarra Ranges Council has endorsed the appointment of David Ashmore as the Chair of the Yarra Ranges Council Audit and Risk Management Committee for the period July 1, 2025, to August 1, 2027. The motion was carried unanimously.

Kinder. at Stables

■ Whittlesea councillors have voted award a contract to Izza Group Pty Ltd for the provision of The Stables Kindergarten construction for a lump sum cost of $4,175,871.89 (excluding GST).

Any price variations will be in accordance with the provisions as set out in the conditions of contract.

City of Whittlesea Chief Executive Officer Craig Lloyd has been authorised to sign and execute the contract on behalf of the Council.

Full-time Mayor

■ Cr Martin Taylor has told his Whittlesea Council colleagues that the top municipal position is a full-time job.

“‘This is a full-time position and as such works very closely with this Council which is demonstrating excellent good governance which you would see by tonight’s meeting.

“It is an honour to work with a Council as dedicated to the municipality as what this Council is, and I will continue working hard in that nature to achieve what we are achieving, and that is maximum coverage of our municipality and interaction with our municipality,” Cr Taylor said.

Bus stop worry

● ●

●

● This edition of The Local Paper covers the municipalities of Mansfield, Mitchell, Murrindinid, Nillumbik (rural), Strathbogie (part), Whittlesea (rural) and Yarra Ranges. Digital issues are weekly, February-December. Print issues are fortnightly.

Mrs McArthur said the situation demanded urgent attention and a return to practical decision-making, saying, “Minister, you oversee the NHVR

“Will you lobby your federal counterpart to have this case reviewed and push for more flexible, commonsense enforcement, especially in times of drought, so we can support our farmers rather than punishing them for helping their neighbours?”

■ Yarra Ranges Council has noted the ongoing public safety concern regarding pedestrian movement near the intersection of Warburton Hwy and Don Rd, Launching Place. It has voted to write to Melissa Horne, Minister for Transport and Planning, and Cindy McLeish, Eildon MLA, advocating on behalf of the community for the Department of Transport and Planning to modify and/or upgrade their asset and address this safety issue as a priority.

● Graham Thomson

● ● Annabelle Cleeland, Euroa MLA

● ● Tom Boyd. File Photo: Western Bulldogs.

Police Rounds

Stolen car crash

■ Police have charged a woman after an allegedly stolen Mazda crashed in Brunswick West early hours of Friday morning (July 11).

It is alleged that a stolen blue Mazda sedan crashed into an unoccupied parked car and a power pole on Brunswick Rd about 12.30am.

The crash caused the engine block of the Mazda to ignite on fire.

Investigators allege the driver of the vehicle took off from the crash on foot.

The car fire was successfully extinguished and officers seized a substantial amount of cash from the abandoned vehicle.

Officers arrested a woman, alleged to be the driver, at a nearby property on Brunswick Rd

Investigators allege that the Mazda was stolen from a Coburg address on Thursday (July 10).

A 42-year-old woman of no fixed address has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, handle proceeds of crime and various driving offences.

She was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Driver blew .18

■ Altona Highway Patrol officers expect to charge a rider after a Harley Davidson uturned straight into a police vehicle, early hours this morning.

A motorcycle was spotted travelling at a fast rate of speed near the corner of Derrimut and Hogans Rds about 1am.

The Harley Davidson was seen reaching alleged speeds of up to 140-kmh.

Officers attempted to intercept the vehicle before it’s alleged the rider attempted to perform a u-turn and collided with a police vehicle. No one was injured.

It is alleged that the rider retuned an evidentiary breath test for alcohol of 0.18 and a positive oral fluid test for methamphetamine.

A 49-year-old Hoppers Crossing man is expected to be charged with drug driving, drink driving and other driving offences.

The Harley was impounded at a cost of $1225.

Crop house raid

■ Police have dismantled a large cannabis crop house at a home in Chelsea, following an investigation into an alleged organised crime syndicate.

The Caulfield Divisional Response Unit executed a search warrant at the home on Newington Parade at 7.30am on Wednesday (July 8).

It will be alleged the sophisticated set up spanned the entirety of the property – eight rooms in total – with investigators seizing more than 200 cannabis plants of varying maturity.

The commercial quantity of the plants has an estimated potential street value of approximately $1.5 million.

A 22-year-old man from Caroline Springs was arrested at the property and charged with cultivating a drug of dependence.

Pending further analysis of the seized plant material, he could face additional charges.

The man was granted bail to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on August 1.

Caulfield Divisional Response Unit Sergeant Stuart Burnham said: “Crop houses can often go undetected for long periods of time, which is evident due to the maturity and number of plants seized.

“It’s for this reason that we ask residents to let us know if they suspect anything unusual at a neighbouring property.

“This can sometimes – but not always –include windows blacked out, lights always on in certain rooms at all hours, [AND] excessive external wiring or cables.”

TEENS ARRESTED AFTER CARJACKING Sport

■ Brimbank Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged five teenagers as part of an ongoing investigation into a series of offences.

It is understood a rideshare driver picked three males up from Kings Park Reserve and dropped them off near Neil St in Sunshine about 10.30pm Friday (July 11).

They allegedly attempted to steal his car but were unsuccessful.

The victim, a 28-year-old Keilor East man, was allegedly stabbed during the incident but managed to drive to a nearby police station.

He was taken to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.

A short time later, police were called to reports of an aggravated carjacking on Kinnane Crescent in Sunshine about 10.50pm.

It is alleged that three males, armed with machetes, approached a rideshare vehicle, made demands for the silver Toyota Camry and assaulted the driver.

The rideshare driver, a 28-year-old Craigieburn man, was not physically injured.

The three males allegedly stole the Camry and fled the scene.

The vehicle was located by police at a fastfood restaurant drive-thru on St Albans Rd in St Albans

Police approached the Toyota before the driver allegedly attempted to drive away.

It is alleged the Toyota collided with an unmarked police vehicle and bollards at the drive-thru.

With the assistance of a K9 unit, six teenagers were arrested at the scene.

One of the males allegedly resisted arrest and sustained a dog bite.

He was taken to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.

All six males were taken into custody and interviewed by detectives.

A 16-year-old boy from the Brimbank area was charged with aggravated reckless exposure of police officer to risk by driving (x2), damage emergency services vehicle, criminal damage, theft of motor vehicle, unlicensed driving, being disguised with unlawful intent.

He will appear at a children’s court at a later date.

A 15-year-old boy from the Melton area was charged with theft of motor vehicle and possess prohibited weapon.

A 16-year-old boy from the Brimbank area, a 15-year-old boy from the Footscray area an a 15-year-old boy from the Brimbank area were charged with theft of motor vehicle.

They were all bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

A 16-year-old boy from the Brimbank area was cautioned in relation to theft of motor vehicle.

Investigations are ongoing into the attempted carjacking, stabbing and aggravated carjacking.

WARNING ON STOLEN PLATES

■ With numberplate theft at record highs, Victoria Police is urging owners to fit anti-theft screws to their vehicles.

Across the state, numberplate thefts have surged by 50 per cent to the highest number recorded in the state, with 29,790 recorded over the last year, equivalent to 83 a day or one every 17 minutes.

Thefts of numberplates account for over a third of all items stolen from cars across the state, which continues to be the most common and fastest growing crime in Victoria. Not only is it an inconvenience to car owners, numberplate theft is often at the centre of more serious offending.

Stolen numberplates are often used by offenders to hide the identity of a vehicle when committing other crimes such as burglaries, ram raids, petrol drive offs and to evade police. In June, an alleged stolen Toyota Landcruiser drove through a shopping centre in

Preston while allegedly bearing stolen numberplates.

It is also believed stolen and cloned numberplates, along with stolen vehicles, have been used in incidents linked to several arsons at tobacco shops and associated businesses being investigated by the Lunar Taskforce.

The Crime Statistics Agency data indicates the top five areas for numberplate thefts over the year ending March 2025 are:

■ Casey (2139 numberplate thefts)

■ Hume (1966 numberplate thefts)

■ Greater Dandenong (1581 numberplate thefts)

■ Wyndham (1449 numberplate thefts)

■ Brimbank (1414 numberplate thefts)

Inter Dominion

■ The second round heats of the Albion Park Inter Dominion over 2860 metres was held last Saturday (july 12)with most winners well supported.

PACERS HEAT ONE

Queenslander Shannon Price and Adam Sanderson were victorious with first night winner 5Y0 Captain Treacherous-Musical Delight gelding Sure Thing Captain leading virtually throughout to record a 4 metre margin from Max Delight which had gone forward from the extreme draw to race uncovered when trying his heart out.

Tims A Trooper (gate two) off a three wide trail last lap was third 3.1 metres away, with Petes Said So (gate five) death – one/ one – one/two fourth 1.4 metres back. The mile rate 1-56.3.

HEAT TWO Grant Dixon’s phenomenal champion6Y0 entire Leap To Fame (Bettors DelightLettucereason) continued on his winning way, cruising to a 10.1 metre victory over Nyack (gate two second line – four wide home turn) in 1-53.7.

Kanena Provlima (gate three) after leading out and taking a trail on Aroda (gate four) ran on late when extricated into the clear to be a head away third, with Better Eclipse (one/two) fourth 5.8 metres back.

Second elect Don Hugo (three pegs from the pole) before coming off the inside to race in the open gave ground badly in the last lap to finish 28.4 metres back in eighth place.

HEAT THREE Shannon Price and Adam Sanderson made it a double after 6Y0 Bettors DelightPrivate Bronski gelding Speak The Truth scored in 1-56.1.

Able to cross Jorge Street (gate two) from gate three, Speak The Truth was rated to perfection, holding too many guns for a game Captains Knock ( three wide to outside the leader from outside the front line before easing to be one/one before again going forward three wide in the last lap).

Perennial placegetter Cya Art (four pegs) ran on late for third and Rakero Rebel (gate six) off a three wide trail from last fourth. The margins 3.1 by a neck by 3.5 metres. TROTTERS HEAT ONE West Melton (Christchurch) co-trainers David and Stacey White’s 5Y0 What The Hill-Factor The Odds gelding Bet N Win was an easy victor making it two from two. With Bob Butt in the sulky, Bet N Wil led from gate two before electing to hand over to London To A Brick from outside the front line which virtually took no part in last weeks heat after galloping wildly.

Although pocketed approaching the home turn, Bobby wasn’t perturbed and Bet N Win strode clear along the sprint lane to greet the judge by 3.5 metres in a rate of 1-57.8.

Police are regularly seizing stolen numberplates, particularly during operations utilising Automatic Numberplate Recognition Technology. ANPR technology allows police to rapidly scan vehicles and immediately identify any cars bearing false or stolen numberplates.

Six stolen numberplates were seized in an operation conducted in Brimbank , which is the fifth highest area for numberplate thefts across the state.

There were 1414 thefts of numberplates over the last year, which has increased by 40 per cent

All vehicle owners are urged to install anti-theft screws, which are also available from hardware stores, automotive parts stores and petrol stations.

Police are also urging the community to blur number plate details when advertising vehicles online, or when sharing photos on social media to avoid cloning.

Local hope Gus after making a three wide surge from the tail in the last lap before momentarily dropping into the one/one running into the final bend, was third 4.6 metres away 8 metres ahead of Not As Promised which raced exposed from the bell.

HEAT TWO

It was a Victorian quinella when honest 7Y0 Love You-Schleck gelding Parisian Artiste (gate four) trained by Alby Ashwood assisted by reinswoman partner Tayla French was successful. Stepping cleanly from gate four, Tayla seized the opportunity to challenge the leader Constantinople (gate five) and strode clear without spending any petrol.

Given a sweet trip, Parisian Artiste was untroubled to register a 6.7 metre margin over Arcee Phoenix which was quickly away from inside the second line to go forward and race exposed.

Roughie Love Gun (three pegs from gate two) was third 7.4 metres back with Victorian Harry Stamper (gate four second line –one/one last lap) fourth 4.3 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.6. The well fancied Kiwi Oscar Bonavena missed the start hopelessly from the pole making plenty of ground to finish sixth just scraping into the final.

Leap To Fame will be an unbackable favourite wherever he draws in Saturday’s Grand Final, while Bet N Win, Arcee Phoenix and Parisian Artiste look the main chances in the final. Should Leap To Fame win and there’s no reason why he should’nt he will become the richest standardbred in Australasian history. Len Baker

Your Stars

with Kerry Kulkens

Presented by Sarah

Kulkens,

Australia’s

Trusted Psychic Family

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)

Lucky Colour: White

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 3, 3, 2, 1

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 26, 30, 33

This week, it’s time to reassess your spending habits. Avoid unnecessary purchases and focus on financial planning. A project you’ve been trying to start may finally gain momentum. Romance is set to flourish.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 20)

Lucky Colour: Peach

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Racing Numbers: 3, 2, 6, 5

Lotto Numbers: 2, 13, 25, 40, 44, 45

Better prospects are on the horizon, and you’ll feel renewed happiness. Unexpected support may come from new friends, helping you achieve more than anticipated.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Racing Numbers: 2, 3, 5, 6

Lotto Numbers: 2, 13, 25, 36, 39, 3

Take some time to relax and avoid overthinking. If you’ve neglected someone special, now is the time to reconnect. Family support will strengthen your resolve during this period.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 2, 3, 2, 1

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 45, 8, 33

Support may not come from the expected sources, but this shouldn’t deter you from giving your best effort. Your loved ones will play a pivotal role in helping you make progress.

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

Lucky Colour: Mauve

Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 2, 3, 2, 3

Lotto Numbers: 2, 13, 3, 36, 39, 5

Trying something new will bring a refreshing change. You’ll see improvements in areas where you’ve invested effort, and financial luck may follow.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 23)

Lucky Colour: White

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 2, 1, 3, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 45, 40, 22

If you’ve done your best, luck will naturally follow. A busy social calendar promises happiness, and someone special may soon enter your life.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)

Lucky Colour: Peach

Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 2, 6, 9, 8

Lotto Numbers: 8, 12, 5, 16, 20, 33

Expect a bustling social life and an exciting encounter with someone from your past. A person born in May may prove particularly lucky for you.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Thursday

Racing Numbers: 2, 1, 3, 6

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 45, 40, 33

Double-check your business dealings, as unwritten agreements may lead to misunderstandings. A pleasant surprise in your love life will brighten the week.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 20)

Lucky Colour: Pink

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 1, 5, 9, 6

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 4, 20, 29

Keep business and pleasure separate this week to avoid complications. Positive changes in your love life are likely, as someone interesting looks closely at your personality.

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19)

Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Day: Saturday Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 9, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 45, 40, 33

Take care of your health to fully enjoy this period. Avoid overcommitting your time, as something important may require your attention.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 19)

Lucky Colour: Orange

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 6, 9

Lotto Numbers: 1, 15, 26, 29, 8, 7

This week is ideal for strengthening bonds with loved ones. You may finally meet the person you’ve been looking for, and financial improvements are also on the way.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Racing Numbers: 1, 3, 6, 5

Lotto Numbers: 1, 12, 15, 45, 40, 22

Ensure you eat and sleep well to be prepared for extra tasks. Someone unexpected could play a key role in helping you achieve your goals.

Kerry Kulkens™ Magic Shop

1693 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave

Visit us online at: www.kerrykulkens.com.au

Follow us on Facebook for the latest updates and offerings.

By Beverley Pinder

Vale Peter Russell-Clarke

■ Australia’s pioneering TV chef, Peter Russell-Clarke has died peacefully, aged 89.

With Jan, his faithful, English-born wife of 65 years by his side and his two children, Peter and Wendy, and their families - the cook, the artist, the writer, the illustrator, the author, and the television icon passed Friday July 3 from complications following a stroke.

We know him best as one of Australia’s first TV cooks. But Peter Russell-Clarke was a phenomenon – years ahead of his time.

Born in 1935 in Ballarat - a city recovering from the Great Depression, but still retaining its Victorian-era charm and history, particularly its gold rush heritage – Peter grew accustomed to living a simple life in between homes, following the divorce of his father and mother.

Peter’s father was an excommunicated Anglican minister and his mother a dressmaker – possibly where he gained his Bohemian-style of dress: neckerchief and artist’s smock - his signature de rigueur in daywear.

Peter was a political cartoonist for the Melbourne Herald; appeared in the 1983 film At Last…Bullamakanka: the motion picture alongside fellow ‘bearded bookend’ Derryn Hinch; worked as a creative director in the top advertising agency of the 70s; ran an unnamed pop-up restaurant in Carlton decades before they were a thing; wrote nearly 40 recipe books; and, was even named a food ambassador for the UN

The mischievous Aussie larrikin with a full beard and eyes that twinkled, found his happy place in television in the 70s and 80s.

His distinctive expressions: Come and Get It, on his fiveminute cookery show on the ABC lasted 900 performances before the ABC replaced it.

On the same nights if you were to switch channels there would be Peter scrambling across the countryside for the Australian Dairy Corporation with a backpack full of cheddar as onlookers shouted, “Where’s the Cheese?”

Decades later, strangers would still ask him that question. His lexicon, while teaching generations of Aussies how to cook, was peppered with “g’days”, “rippers” and “you beauts” – such was the relaxed manner in which he conveyed his secret to cooking as it was with painting: colour, form, texture and shape - the critical elements to think about. “Whether you are cooking or painting, follow your imagination,” was an oft revealed hint.

Peter spent stints in foster homes including living with a Chinese family who helped him discover Asian cuisine. They taught him how to work with Eastern -style flavours and cook banquetstyle meals, which he continued to prepare up until a couple of years ago when his health started to fail.

For a time, Peter lived on the streets of Melbourne , fossicking for discarded food behind Florentino on Bourke Street Half-jokingly, he would say, “that’s where I developed my love of fine food and I remember writing to the chef com-

plaining that his fish had freezer burn ...”

From the ABC TV show: “Come and get it, come and get it, with Peter RussellClarke . In the city or the outback he's Australia's brightest spark.

“Come and get it, come and

Pay up 3/-

■ Pay envelopes of 350,000 Victorian workers half the labor force-will be fatter by 3/ from the first pay day next month.

But cigarette and tobacco prices are up from Monday 1 d. on a packet, of 20 smokes and lld. on 2oz. of tobacco.

The cost-of-living rise of 3/, announced in Canberra yesterday, will apply to Victorian State Award workers, giving them a basic wage of £12.

Need an army

■ Án army pf inspectors would be needed to stop children seeing "unsuitable" films, Mr. Rylah, Chief Secretary told a deputation yesterday.

Mrs G. W. Paton, pre-sident of the Victorian Council for Children's Films and Television and leader of the deputation, brushed with Mr. Rylah during the meeting.

Mrs. Paton: stop children from seeing films branded by the censor as unsuitable.

Mr. Rylah: An army of inspectors would be needed to do this. My Government has recently been under fire for employing too many civil servants.

Scouts’ home

■ The Boy Scouts' Association has exchanged its present headquarters building at 516 Collins st., near King st., for the old Bank of Australasia branch building at 384 Elizabeth st., opposite TheArgusoffice.

Hidden threat

■ Health men are worried about the outbreak of dysentery and other diseases in Melbourne suburbs, writes Mr. T. R. Robertson, of Box Hill ...

But if they like to take a walk around the suburbs they will find the answer to the problem.

Every new road has an open, filthy drain, thick with slime and full of germs, where children play all day long and parents work to try to keep them free of weeds.

Best statement

get it, good food you like to eat; come and get it, come and get it and there's people you can meet …”

Adieu, Peter RussellClarke - the lovable, larrikin artist and gentleman of the art of relaxed cooking. ‘Til we all meet again.

■ Soviet Premier Bulganin today made the most welcome statement to come out pf the Kremlin since thei war - "Force is no answer to the problems to be discussed at Geneva." At an historic Press conference - the first ever held in the Kremlin, the first ever given by a Russian Premier - he told correspondents the dispute between Communism and Capitalism could not be solved by war. The Argus

● ● ● ● Peter Russell-Clarke

● At home with the microphone.

● ● ● ● The Argus. July 16, 1955.

Mary, Lady Montagu

■ Mary, Lady Montagu , daughter of Geelong car dealer Walter McClure, has died at age 87. As a rather inventive journalist, she had graced the pages of the Toorak Timesand SundayObserverwith her Lady M' social columns. She had married Lord Angus Montagu in 1961, produced son Alexander (13th Duke of Manchester) and daughter Lady Emma.

Kipling’s India

■ Murrindindi Film society will present John Huston’s colourful 1975 production of TheManWhoWouldbeKing. Doors open at 6.45pm for a 7pmstart on friday (July 18) at the Yea Butter Factory.

Based on a novella by Rudyard Kipling, the film had been a pet projecct of director Huston for many years.

The story follows the adventures of two rogue ex British Army sergeants in far off Kafiristan in the 1890s.

After briefly making the acquaintance of Kipling in India they set off through the Khyber Pass to aquire ill-gotten gains.

However various occurrences lead to one of them being created King by a local tribe which eventually leads to mayhem.

The adventurers are played by Michael Caine (Peachy Carnehan) and Sean Connery (Daniel Dravot), while Christopher Plummer appears as Kipling. Michael Caine’s wife Shakira plays Roxane, a beautiful local maiden.

The film has been described as “an escapist entertainment, quite unabashed and thrilling and fun” but also as “a genuinely witty and literate adventure story”.

It is hoped that as many members as possible will be able to attend this entertaining screening. Prospective members and first time guests will be made welcome free of charge.

All enquiries to Jill Dwyer, Secretary, 5797 2480 or jill.dwyer@bigpond.com

Jill Dwyer

Glass Menagerie

■ TheGlassMenagerieby Tennessee Williams will be presented by Running With Scissors Theatre and Victory People Productions from July 24 to August 2 at the Meat Market Stables, North Melbourne.

Co-directed and produced by Nicholas Reynolds and Nadia Sirninger Rankin, the play is narrated by Tom Wingfield. The story unfolds as he recalls life with his mother, Amanda and sister, Laura, in their cramped tenement apartment during the midst of the Great Depression.

The play explores family tensions and the struggle between illusion and reality in a world that feels increasingly confining.

This boutique production of The Glass Menagerieseeks to present a nuanced and resonant interpretation of Tennessee Williams’ classic, honoring its dreamlike essence while embracing fresh perspectives.

The cast includes Oliver Gorringe (Tom Wingfield), Linda Cookson (Amanda Wingfield), Caitlin McCallig (Laura Wingfield) and Columbus Lane (Jim O’Connor) Venue: Meat Market Stables, North Melbourne.

Dates: July 24, 25, 26, 31, August 1 at 7.30pm; July 27, August 2 at 2pm.

Ticket Prices: $55 General Admission, $34 Concession, $24 - MobTix, $76 - Support the Show, $100 - Patron of the Arts Link: events.humanitix.com/the-glassmenagerie-wqqg7rve/tickets Cheryl Threadgold

Ray Chen tours

■ Globally renowned Taiwanese-Australian violinist and social media sensation Ray Chen is touring Australia this September. Promoters say Chen redefines what it means to be a classical musician, with his viral reels and YouTube videos captivating millions of people around the world.

“His content highlights music’s ability to inspire joy, connection and healing in humans and animals.

“Joined by the gifted Julio Elizalde on piano, the virtuosic violinist will perform recitals at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on September 8.

“Ray’s new Australian tour follows a huge 2024, with the release of his album Player1 and the growth of Tonic, the artist’s independent startup that is building a global community via a free platform for musicians and learners to practice their craft together.”

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

LOVING THE ALIEN

■ The enigmatic rockstar David Bowie was the focus of Loving The Alien, an Arts Centre Melbourne show that sought to find out the truth behind the legend.

However, while certainly having its moments in portraying Bowie’s life, it ultimately disappointed as it felt under-rehearsed and underdeveloped.

Going from his secondary school years up until his death in 2016, the show’s two singers, Karlis Zaid and Aurora Kurth, told stories about Bowie’s personal and professional lives.

They also sang a selection of his songs, with live music from a pianist and a guitarist supplemented with recorded music.

Zaid is credited as the creator of the show. It had an appealing simple structure of anecdote followed by song followed by anecdote.

Together, anecdotes and songs gave the audience something of an insight into Bowie . However, the anecdotes, while informative, were often poorly written with attempts at humour that were simply not funny.

The four performers, Zaid and Kurth singing and story-telling, with Andrew Patterson playing pianoforte and Aaron Syrjanen playing guitars, were all clearly professionals with solid stage experience.

Patterson and Syrjanen in particular stood out for their impressive display of musical talent. Unfortunately, apart from one or two instances, Zaid and Kurth’s voices didn’t feel right for many of the songs while their delivery of the anecdotes tended to be flat and uninspiring.

There was no credit for directing, other than Patterson for musical direction, and this was part of the problem; both Zaid and Kurth could have done with an outside eye to help improve their performances, of both text and song, as well as improve the writing.

Zaid, in particular, seemed lost for words at times and dependent on an autocue to get through the text.

The idea of honouring Bowie’s work in a show like this has its merits, but LovingThe Alienfelt like a first draft that needed a strong director to develop and grow it.

Venue: The Show Room, Arts Centre Melbourne.

Review by Peter Murphy

The Talented Mr Ripley

■ Acclaimed Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith's adaptation of American novelist Patricia Highsmith's 20th century iconic psychological thriller, TheTalentedMrRipley, will be presented at Arts Centre Melbourne from October 28 - November 23.

The Sydney Theatre Company production will make its Melbourne debut at the Playhouse direct from the world premiere Sydney season.

Murray-Smith will reunite with director Sarah Goodes to transform The Talented Mr. Ripley into 'an electrifying stage experience'.

The Melbourne season will star Will McDonald (Netflix’s HeartbreakHigh), Claude ScottMitchell (Binge’s TheLastAnniversary), Faisal Hamza ( ABC’s House of Gods), Andrew

● ● Karlis Zaid, creator/performer.

McFarlane ( ABC’s The Newsreader) and Johnny Nasser (HeartbreakHigh). The role of Dickie Greenleaf for the Melbourne season is still to be announced.

McDonald plays Tom Ripley, an orphan and a hustler, barely scraping by in 1950s New York. Beneath his woebegone exterior, Tom cultivates certain talents that set him apart: an extraordinary capacity for mimicry and deception.

He is a man with a face no-one remembers. Whereas no one could forget Dickie Greenleaf, a confident, stylish heir to a large fortune who introduces Ripley into the glittering world of luxury, beauty and hedonism on the Italian Riviera

Intoxicated with this new social scene, Tom begins to fashion himself after Greenleaf and imagine for himself a life, a life he’d kill for.

Joanna Murray-Smith says that reuniting with director Sarah Goodes to bring literature’s most alluring confidence man to life was a 'job sent from heaven': ''I have long been invested in The Talented Ms Highsmith and her wildly strange and brilliant mind. The world’s most famous serial killer has been waiting for his moment in the spotlight and it’s now."

For 70 years, the character Tom Ripley has captivated readers and cinephiles alike. Various film and television adaptations have been made of Highsmith’s 1955 novel, including the 1999 cult film starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett.

"It’s remarkable how enduring the appeal of TheTalentedMrRipley remains, 70 years after Patricia Highsmith first published her novel.

“There’s something perennially intriguing about Tom Ripley, a character on the fringes, whose need for acceptance outweighs any moral code. The stage is the perfect setting for such rich psychological material, his slippery identity, his shame and his cunning talent for impersonation," said Goodes

Performance Season: October 28 - November 23

Venue: The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne

Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au

Cheryl Threadgold

Jackson Aces

■ Duet Productions presents illusionist Jackson Aces' show Beyond Possible ... Live on Saturday, July 26 at 7.30pm at The Palms at Crown, Melbourne. From $60. Ticketmaster. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of modern magic, Jackson Aces fuses sleight-ofhand wizardry, psychological illusion, cheeky humour and a dash of dark arts to 'create an unforgettable theatrical experience'.

Jackson Aces has over sixmillion TikTok followers and fans across the globe, and his signature card artistry, captivating storytelling, and genre-defying illusions are said to 'stun even the most sceptical audiences'.

● ● Anna Snoekstra

■ Sisters in Crime will meet on Friday, July 18 at 8pm at the Rising Sun Hotel, South Melbourne, to present DesperateTimes, DesperateMeasures

Homelessness, financial crises, bad decisions, and family secrets can make for desperate times requiring desperate measures – even murder.

Authors Michelle Prak (BarrenCape), Samantha Byres (Dead Ends) and Anna Snoekstra (The Ones We Love) will chew over the issues with fellow author, Ilsa Evans

Date: Friday, July 18 at 8pm,. 6.30pm for dinner.

Venue: Rising Sun Hotel, 2 Raglan St., South Melbourne.

Bookings: eventbrite.com.au/e/desperate-times-desperate-measures-tickets1370500516939?aff=oddtdtcreator

Cheryl Threadgold

Windsor High Tea

● ● ● ●

Tenor Stephen Coutts, who appeared in the TV mini-series Fake playing the character Ade, is appearing at the CWA’s High Tea and Opera on August 25 at the Hotel Windsor.

■ The second annual Winter Soiree by the Country Women’s Association of Victoria’s Umina Branch is again shaping up to be loads of fun.

Melbourne’s The Hotel Windsor will host the High Tea and Opera on Monday, August 25. Last year saw a combination of opera and charity go hand in hand to raise funds for the CWA’s support for vulnerable women, children and families.

Not-for-profit Ready Set will be on hand to help celebrate National Secondhand Wardrobe Day with CEO Cynthia Kralik speaking on the value of providing jobseekers who are experiencing disadvantage, high quality work-appropriate clothing, shoes and accessories to take them through from interview to a workday.

Tickets are $94 per head for High Tea and Opera with a glass of champagne. A raffle with generous prizes from The Hotel Windsor and other supporters will add to the fundraising efforts.

Date: Monday, August 25. Time: 12 noon for 12:30 pm. Venue: The Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring St, Melbourne. Tickets: Try Booking https://www.trybooking.com/events/ landing/1410875

● ● Will McDonald stars in The Talented Mr Ripley

Photo: Derek Henderson

Local Theatre Observations

Shows

■ Peoples Playhouse Theatre Company: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (based on Roald Dahl’s novel) Until July 19 at the Cranbourne Community Theatre. Bookings: Trybooking.

■ MLOC Productions: The Pirate Queen (Boublil and Schönberg) Until July 19 at the Frankston Arts Centre, Davey St., Frankston. Director: Chris Ryan; Musical Director: Matthew Pines.

■ Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company: The Diary of Anne Frank (by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett) Until July 19 at the Lilydale Mechanics’ Institute, Castella St., Lilydale. Director: Kellie Tweeddale. Bookings: lilydaleatc.com

■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: Love, Love, Love (by Mike Bartlett) Until July 19 (2pm matinees on weekends) at 36 Turnham Ave., Rosanna. Director: George Werther. Bookings: htc.org.au

■ Off the Leash Theatre: Things I Know to be True (by Andrew Bovell) July 17 – 20 at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, 1 Civic Place, Warragul. Director: Amy Moss. Bookings: offtheleashtheatre.com.au

■ Theatrical: Legally Blonde Until July 27 at the National Theatre, St Kilda. Director: Aimee F orrest; Musical Director: Kent Ross; Choreographer: Maggie Lynch, Bookings: booktickets.com.au

■ Fab Nobs Theatre: Zombie Prom - The Atomic Edition. Until July 20 at Fab Nobs Theatre, 33 Industry Place, Bayswater. Director: Maeghan McKenzie; Choreographer: Dean Robinson; Musical Director: Sally McKenzie. fabnobstheatre.com.au

■ CPP Community Theatre: Seussical Jr. July 17, 18 at 7.30pm; July 19 2pm; at Boronia K-12 College, Performing Arts Centre, Albert Ave., Boronia (park at Rangeview Rd. end). Director/Musical Director: Helen Taylor; Associate Director: Fiona Rosel. Bookings: cppcommunitytheatre.com.au/

■ Darebin Arts Speakeasy: Garçon with Wani Toaishara, July 16 – 20 at the Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, 189 High St, Northcote. Bookings: arts.darebin. vic.gov.au/Programs-and-opportunities/ Programs/Speakeasy-presentations/garconby-wani-toaishara

■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: Lord Savile’s Crime (by Constance Cox) July 24

– August 2 at the Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Rd., Parkdale. Director: Deborah Fabbro. Bookings: mordialloctheatre. com.au

■ Encore Theatre: Agatha Crispie (by Cenarth Fox) July 18 – 27 at the Clayton Theatrette, Cooke St., Clayton. Director: David Dodd. Bookings: Trybooking.

■ Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria (GSOV): The Mikado July 17 – 20 at The Alexander Theatre, Monash University, Clayton.. Queenscliff Town Hall, July 26, Stawell Town Hall, August 2; Berninneit Theatre at Cowes, August 9. Bookings: gsov.org.au

■ PLOS Musical Productions: We Will Rock You. July 25 – August 2 at the Frankston Arts Centre, Davey St., Frankston. Director: Paul Watson. Bookings: plos.asn.au or 9784 1060.

■ The Basin Theatre Company: Educating Rita (by Willy Russell) August 7 – 17 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Sharon Maine. Bookings: thebasintheatre.au

■ Williamstown Musical Theatre Company: Disney’s Dare to Dream Jr. August 1 – 10 at Altona Theatre, 115 Civic Pde., Altona. Director: Stuart Dodge; Musical Director: Ang Cuy; Choreographer: Gabriele Pagano. Bookings: wmtc.org.au

■ The 1812 Theatre: Home, I’m Darling (by Laura Wade) August 7 – 30 at 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Amy Calvert. Bookings: 1812theatre.com.au

■ Beaumaris Theatre: The Witches (based on the book by Roald Dahl. Adapted by David Wood) August 8 – 23 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd., Beaumaris. Director: Leah Osburn. Bookings: beaumaristheatre. com.au

■ Brighton Theatre Company: Fallen Angels (Noel Coward) August 15 – 30 at Brighton Theatre. Director: Joe Dias. Bookings: brightontheatre.com.au

Entertainment

TROPHY BOYS

■ The acclaimed queer black comedy Trophy Boys is returning to Arts Centre Melbourne from August 12 - 24.

Set on the night of the Grand Final of the Year 12 Interschool Debating Tournament –TrophyBoysfollows the all-boys debate team from an elite private school as they are tasked with arguing that ‘feminism has failed women’.

Written by Emmanuelle Mattana (ABC’s Mustangs FC) and directed by Marni Mount (POTUS:Or,BehindEveryGreatDumbassare SevenWomenTryingtoKeepHimAlive) and performed by a female and non-binary cast in masculine drag, the play unfolds in real time during the debate’s one-hour prep window as the riotously funny satire turns into a sharp exploration of power and privilege.

TrophyBoysdebuted to sold-out crowds at La Mama Theatre in 2022, followed by sold-out seasons at fortyfivedownstairs in 2023 and Arts Centre Melbourne last year.

Off the back of TrophyBoys’success in Australia, a US production premiered this year, directed by Tony Award -winning Danya Taymor and Mattana as a member of the cast.

For the Arts Centre Melbourne season, Leigh Lule returns as the nerdy enigma David, along with Gaby Seow as the dopey lawyer’s son Scott and Fran Sweeney-Nash as the soft-boy-jock Jared. Myfanwy Hocking will debut as the brainiac scholarship kid Owen. Performance Season: August 12 - 24

Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio

Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au

Cheryl Threadgold

Forgotten Songbook

■ A new Australian musical, TheForgotten Songbook, opens at Chapel off Chapel, Prahran, from July 25 - 27.

The ambitious project is led by two talented young theatre makers - 23-year-old historian and composer Emerson Hurley and producer Dylan McBurney.

Under the direction of Mikey Halcrow, the cast features versatile Melbourne musical theatre performers Karla Hillam and Jonathan Guthrie-Jones, with Emerson Hurley on the piano.

Presented as the songs of a forgotten GoldenAge composer, the show comprises original songs written in the AmericanSongbookstyle.

When Hurley first encountered the music of Broadway composer Wilbur Weissman, he was astonished to find that almost no information about this once-famous songsmith was publicly available.

More Shows

■ The Mount Players: A Skull in Connemara (by Martin McDonagh) August 15 – 31 at the Mountview Theatre, Murphy St., Macedon. Director: Travis Handcock. Bookings: 0419 329 052

■ Peridot Theatre: Frankenstein (by Nick Dear) August 15 – 24 at the Clayton Community Centre Theatrette, Cooke St., Clayton. Director: George Benca. Bookings: tickets@peridot.com.au

■ Warrandyte Theatre Company: Grey Nomad (written and directed by Dan Lee) August 22 – September 6 at the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute, 180 Yarra St., Warrandyte. Bookings: Trybooking.

■ Malvern Theatre: The Humans (by Stephen Karam) August 22 – September 6 at 29a Burke Rd., Malvern. Director: Nicky Neville-Jones. Bookings: malvern theatrecompany.com.au

Cheryl Threadgold

Once at the heart of Tin Pan Alley in the thirties and forties, it seemed that Weissman, like many of his contemporaries, had fallen into complete obscurity.

Leading a passion project combining his love of music and history, Hurley is thrilled to be bringing Weissman's work to the stage for the first time in decades.

Alongside Hurley's new book, the product of painstaking research, and presented with humour and sensitivity, the music of TheForgottenSongbookis said to 'make a heart- warming case for one overlooked artist’s reintegration into the musical theatre canon.'

Audiences will experience the swinging music of Broadway's most iconic era 'as never heard before', and are invited to decide whether Weissman's name should join the ranks of Broadway legends or be relegated to history.

Producer Dylan McBurney says: "With themes of authenticity and imitation, the show explores the anxieties that artists face in their professional lives, and asks the difficult question: what if our own art is forgotten?"

Performance Season: July 25 7.30pm (opening night), July 26 7.30pm, July 27 at 5pm.

Venue: Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St., Prahran.

Bookings: chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/ the-forgotten-songbook/ Cheryl Threadgold

Aust. Music Vault

■ The Australian Music Vault has announced a new display, KylieMinogue:TheMusicVideosfeaturing six iconic costumes including the white jumpsuit worn in the video clip for Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ and, a Jean-Paul Gaultier outfit worn in the video for fan anthem All The Lovers . The Gaultier costume will be on display to the public for the first time in honour of the 15th anniversary of the hit.

The new display features costumes from Kylie’s video clips including Hand on Your Heart, Did It Again, On A Night Like This, Can't Get You Out of My Head, I Believe In You and All the Lovers

Australian Music Vault curator Olivia Jackson said: “The format of music videos – with special effects, lighting and editing – allowed Minogue to experiment with more adventurous costumes, themes and narratives that would be otherwise difficult to convey in live performance.”

Jackson said her videos have helped define her status as a global pop star with her back catalogue of videos revealing a journey through the world of pop culture, an evolution of aesthetics, personas and creativity.

“The display explores select moments from Kylie’s artistic evolution over the years. It is comprised of six costumes spanning three decades of Kylie’s career, beginning with Hand OnYourHeart(1989) and ending with AllThe Lovers(2010).

“Kylie’s music videos have left an indelible mark on her legions of fans over the years, and this display provides an opportunity to have a close interaction with iconic costumes from these videos.”

The Australian Performing Arts Collection is the proud custodian of the Kylie Minogue Collection. Starting from a single costume donation in 1991, today it includes more than 300 costumes and accessories, alongside other material related to her concert tours.

The Australian Music Vault is a free exhibition developed by Arts Centre Melbourne in collaboration with the music industry and was a key initiative of the Victorian Government's Music Works strategy.

■ While some brothers grow up niggling each other and striving to outdo one another, Slava and Leonard Grigoryan were usually in harmony. Literally.

The now-adult brothers have become a musical force to be reckoned with, carving out international names separately and together as classical guitarists.

Returning to their hometown of Melbourne, they are performing at Hawthorn Arts Centre on August 1.

The multi–Aria Award winning duo will perform a collection of numbers from their 2024 album entitled Amistad, which is s a collection of arrangements given to them by composers they have met on their musical journeys over the last 20 years.

Those composers include Cuban guitarist Leo Brouwer, jazz guitarist Ralph Towner, pop idol Sting’s guitarist Dominic Miller, and acclaimed Australian pianists Nat Bartsch and Sally Whitwell

The concert will also include popular works from the brothers’ earlier albums.

The brothers never confine themselves to one narrow genre, as they enjoy playing music spanning different centuries and styles.

The brothers Grigoryan promise a fine night of music in a lovely venue in this Melbourne winter, and it’s a must for everyone who enjoys classical guitar. It’s all happening at 7.30 pm on Friday August 1 at Hawthorn Town Hall. Book tickets at brooondara.vic.gov.au/events/ grigoryan-brothers-amistad Julie Houghton

Dare To Dream Jr

■ Williamstown Musical Theatre Company presents Disney'sDaretoDreamJr from August 1 to 10 at Altona Theatre

Disney’s DaretoDreamJrfollows an eager group of trainees on their first day at a fictional Walt Disney Imagineering Studio

As the group sets out to help each other discover their dreams, they work together to explore the power of dreams to unite, inspire, and make anything possible.

Drawing from a century of beloved Disney films, Dare to Dream Jr features songs appearing for the first time ever in a Disney stage musical, including songs from The PrincessandtheFrog,Coco,Encantoand FrozenII

This musical revue is described as "a thrilling mix of contemporary songs, timeless classics, and brand-new medleys that are sure to surprise and delight Disney lovers of all ages".

Performance Dates: August 1, 7 at 7.30pm; August 2, 3, 9, 10 at 1pm; August 2, 9 at 5pm

Venue: Altona Theatre, 115 Civic Pde., Altona

Bookings: 1300 881 545 or wmtc.org.au Cheryl Threadgold

● ● Leigh Lule, Gaby Seow, Fran Sweeney-Nash and Myfanwy Hocking star in Trophy Boys.

● ● ● ● Leonard and Slava Grigoryan

● ● Jonathan Guthrie-Jones (left), Emerson Hurley and Karla Hillam in The Forgotten Songbook. Photo: Kris Wardhana.

● ● Cast of Disney's Dare to Dream Jr.

CATO THE WISE

Maxwell Newton

★Warragul will host this year’s Rural Press Club of Victoria awards. The event will be held on Friday, October 31 at the West Gippsland Arts Centre Successful events have been held in Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong in the past three years.

★The premiere of Stories of Bradmill, a short film delving into the legacy of the iconic Bradmill denim factory and the vibrant community it fostered, was held last Wednesday (July 9) at The Sun Theatre, Yarraville

★The Maylene Yinarr TrioEchoes of the Earth will perform at 8pm on Wednesday, August 20, at Clocktower, Moonee Ponds. Yinarr is described as the next generation of Australian singer songwriter music, from Melbourne. She will appear with special guests Phoebe Elsworth and James Seymour.

★Andy Jackson and Gayelene Carbis will be judges for the Woorilla International Poetry Prize. Entries close at midnight on September 30.

★Ultimate Backroads & Detours: Australia is the latest guide from bestselling author and travel writer Lee Atkinson, exploring 35 of the best backroad trips and detours the country has to offer.

★Chilliest municipalities in Melbourne have been ranked by Alliance Climate Control: Kingston, Maroondah, Knox, Manningham, Moonee Valley, Whitehorse, Brimbank, Monash, Boroondara and Banyule.

★John McKechnie’s new book is described as a compelling reflection on justice, power and the human stories behind the law. He was a barrister, prosecutor, judge ancd corruption commissioner.

★Environmentalist, scientist, writer and researcher Professor Tim Flannery has joined RMIT in the College of Design and Social Context.

★Comedian Sheng Wang is performing at the National Theatre, St Kilda, in a second show at 4.30pm on Saturday, August 16.

★Kew author Anne Vines has published Flight, a novel about love, war and forbidden desire in wartime Melbourne

★Jack Braddy, actor/producer, lives in Preston. His company Weird Neighbour put a callout for a new social media intern, and had a response from a 60+ year old man named Malcolm Daniher. He says the community has got around him.

★Cinnabon opened at Melbourne Central last Saturday.

Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer

Rourke’s Reviews Entertainment

★Dancing Story provides an interactive dance and storytelling session for children aged 3-5. Hosted by the Australian Ballet Education and Outreach team at Clocktower, Moonee Ponds, participants will explore the story of Wonderland, an adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s famous storybook. Event date is Wednesday, September 17.

★Truffles , the modern fable from Italy’s truffle region, is set to screen across Australia on Sunday (July 20) as part of the Espresso Cinema Italian film series.

★A free, family-friendly event, planting 3000 native trees, shrubs, and ground covers, will be held on Sunday, July 27, at Koolamara Waters Reserve, Ferntree Gully , a hotspot for waterbirds in Knox

★Banyule Council is discontinuing its free community bus. The The final day of service was June 30. The community bus was introduced in April last year on a trial basis.

★Platypus artworks are on display at the Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh, until further notice. The cardboard sculptures are by artist Taro Iiayama. The Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance has loaned the artworks, as large as five metres long, to Moorabool Council

★Hume City Council is once again offering a free confidential Tax Help service to help residents who earned less than $70,000 in the last financial year to complete and lodge their tax returns. The Tax Help program is delivered in Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Westmeadows. The program is run by the Australian Taxation Office and supported by trained and accredited volunteers from the Hume Volunteer Gateway.

★Soft plastic recycling is back in Manningham thanks to a new trial at Woolworths supermarkets. Items must be clean and dry. Eligible soft plastics include: plastic bags, zip lock bags, cling wrap, bread bags, chip packets, cereal liners, yoghurt pouches, baby food pouches and pet food pouches. These materials will be transported to local recycling facilities to be processed into products like shopping trolleys, park furniture and road additives. In Manningham, locations include: Devon Plaza, Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre and Macedon Square.

★Nominations are now open for the Cardinia Shire Council's annual Good Choice Awards Nominees are to be aged 12-24.

Chamber Made

■ Chamber Made will transform Melbourne Recital Centre into a sonic playground with ListeningActs – a bold takeover of its public and hidden spaces for the Now or Never festival, from August 22 - 24.

ListeningActsisn’t a typical concert or exhibition – it’s a portal into the unheard and unexpected, featuring three live performances and six sound installations that intersect sound, technology, memory and identity.

Grounded in the artists’ lived experiences, personal histories and cultural perspectives, the works create sensory encounters that are both solitary and shared, blurring the boundaries between hearing and feeling.

Chamber Made Artistic Director, Tamara Saulwick, invites audiences to experience this multi-artform sonic inquiry – one that reframes how sound is perceived and encourages listening in entirely new ways.

“ListeningActstransforms everyday sounds into something profound, strange and moving. How do we hear ourselves and each other through the layers of technology, trauma and time?” asks Saulwick

The intimate live performance features three acoustic works:

SongtotheCellby Biddy Connor is a haunting duet between a live vocalist and a hospital IV machine. Featuring hums, beeps and mechanical rhythms, it’s a transhumanist song cycle exploring healing, dependence and human–machine connection.

TactilePieceforHumanEarsby Aviva Endean offers a subtly communal binaural experience. Audiences wear headphones to enter a surreal soundscape shaped by wind currents, pipe tones and underwater vibrations – altering their sense of acoustic reality.

Soundingforms/formingsounds by Alexandra Spence begins as a solo and evolves into a trio with Connor and Endean. Using resonating sinewaves, custom-built perspex instruments and drum skins, the work reveals the physical presence of sound in space and the body.

Six free installations guide audiences on a sonic journey throughout the venue:

Accordion Without Organs by Rebecca Bracewell is an unfolding work of sonic archaeology centred on a single accordion recording.

Cathedral Reverb by Hannah de Feyter invites one listener at a time into a sculpted sound space.

WithGhosts:AChoreographyof Presence by Anna Liebzeit centres on a 13-foot plait of hair suspended on a wall, paired with an educational video.

Chit and Chat by Monica Lim eavesdrops on the uncanny, AI-generated conversation of two water coolers.

Myself in That Moment by Tamara Saulwick with Peter Knight is a 39-channel audio-visual installation.

InSilenceby Thembi Soddell is a deeply personal, one-on-one audiovisual experience that grapples with family history and the intergenerational impacts of war.

Event Dates: August 22 - 24

Venue: Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt St, Southbank

Free installations. Fri. Aug. 22 –Sat. Aug. 23 11am – 8pm; Sun. Aug. 24 2.30pm – 6pm Live performances. Fri. Aug 22 6pm and 8.30pm; Sat. Aug. 23 2pm and 6pm

Artist talk: Sat. Aug. 23 at 4pm

Tickets: $25 – $50 (plus booking fee)

Booking: melbournerecital.com. au or 9699 3333

Cheryl Threadgold with Ben Starick

28 Years Later

■ (MA). 115 minutes. Now showing in cinemas.

Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland return to their influential 2002 virus horror/thriller 28DaysLater with this meaty, doggedly different follow-up which will disappoint many who want more of the same, or crave a nostalgic hit in the vein of TopGun:Maverickor other belated sequels.

Focusing on a quasi-religious community who live on an isolated island, the story centres on 12 yearold Spike (an extraordinary Alfie Williams ), who is now at an age where he questions everything around him, including the behaviour of his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who decides what is true with impunity, while his mother Isla (Jodie Comer), who is so unwell due to unknown health issues, is bedridden and dismissed.

When Spike is exposed to the world outside their bubble, having to confront hordes of the infected, he will decide to undertake a dangerous journey that will open his eyes in unexpected ways.

Knowing audiences will have certain expectations, Boyle and Garland deliberately shake and kick those expectations out the door, wanting to concentrate on something new, and while the opening scenes are admittedly confusing, the fresh story does engage and involve, building to an emotional finale.

Along with Williams, there are terrific performances from Comer and Ralph Fiennes, while the normally dull Taylor-Johnson leaves a bigger impact.

The film is stunningly shot on state-of-the-art iPhones. The changes in tone will be off-putting to some, who will find the emergence of absurdist humour (especially during its bizarre non-ending) distracting and misguided.

28 Years Later is a thoughtful, refreshing sequel, one that wants to take its story in a new direction, and will feel relevant to what is going on in the world today.

The next instalment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is due out in January.

RATING - ****

F1: The Movie

■ (M). 155 minutes. Now showing in cinemas.

For all those millions of people who loved TopGun:Maverick(I am definitely not one of them), then they should love F1, which is basically TopGunwith cars.

Brad Pitt plays the seasoned veteran who has a troubled past, while Damson Idris is the cocky young contender who is trying to hit the big time.

The two have to team up for the new Formula One season, and of course they don’t get along at first. Javier Bardem is the old friend who gives Pitt a second chance, and Kerry Condon might as well wear a T-shirt with ‘Love Interest’ printed on it.

The script is full of cliches, the characters are paper thin, and the simple plot is utterly predictable (and yet it goes an astoundingly overlong 155 minutes).

The racing footage is impressive, but as the film is nothing more than a series of set-pieces, it all eventually becomes tiresome and repetitive.

The 1990 Tom Cruise film Days OfThunderwas a bad, bad movie, so it’s not a positive to say F1 would make an appropriate double bill with it.

RATING - **

Megan 2.0

■ (MA). 119 minutes. Now showing in cinemas.

This sequel to the surprise 2022 box-office hit decides to go down a different path, moving from horror/comedy to action/comedy, but the result is anything but satisfying.

A murderous villain in the first film, the title A.I. intelligent doll is now a murderous hero in the vein of Arnie in Terminator2, protecting a child while trying to defeat an improved version of itself.

Returning director Gerard Johnstone, working from a script by Akela Cooper, could have been a goofy, fun 90 minute B movie, but the material is stretched to a ridiculous two hours.

This flattens the humour, and dulls the edge on the action scenes.

Characters are one-note, with performances to match.

Megan 2.0 is completely wrongheaded in its execution, bringing an obviously intended franchise to possibly a very quick end.

RATING - **

Aaron Rourke

In Memory of

● ● ● ● Aaron Rourke

Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer

Observer

Lovatts Crossword No 11

Across Across Down Down

1. More droopy

6. Dig

11. Legendary gold city (2,6)

15. Having a poor ear for pitch (4-4)

20. Relations

21. Undue speed

22. Pen name, ... de plume

23. Gleefully chuckles

24. Tent supports (3,5)

25. Jesus' home town

27. Singing with trills

28. Prima donna

29. Writer, ... Thomas

31. The O of PTO

32. A wolf in ... clothing (5'1)

36. ANC hero, Nelson ...

37. Within house

38. Lovely

41. Dutch centre of govt, The ...

44. Fishing-line fibre

45. Sample

48. Way of life

49. Very busy

52. Goose & ...

56. Out-of-vogue star (3-4)

57. Small stone

58. Most uptight

61. Arduous experience

62. Foretold

63. West African nation, Sierra ...

64. Warms

65. Fools

66. Cleaver

67. Without artifice

71. Toadstools

73. Silly

75. Catastrophes

80. Ignore

82. Ice-cream desserts

83. Globes

85. Acting as go-between

86. Treat cruelly (3-3)

88. African disease fly

90. Nourishing drinks (3,5)

91. Bible song

93. Current flow rating

94. Interjectors

95. Ski headwear accessory

96. Military flying facility (3,4)

97. No part

99. Burial vault

100. Removed from power

104. Hoist (flag)

105. Cat cry

106. Of sheep

107. Leaseholders

111. Slightly wet

113. Crab's pinch

114. Have

115. Wrath

117. Pitch tent

118. Should, ... to

121. Tribal post, ... pole

122. Moved slowly

125. Field

126. Jump high

127. The ... of Capri

129. Assistant

131. Opposed to

132. Releases grip (4,2)

135. Among

136. Emerald Isle

139. Hordes

140. Scolded

144. Eagle's nest

145. Chick's call

146. Aimed

147. Disengage (train carriages)

148. Splendid (mansion)

149. Public square

150. Lacking originality

152. Customary

154. Baton races

157. Flying saucers (1,1,2)

158. Blabs

162. Matching outfit

163. Meagre

166. Flag down (cab)

167. Speech defect

169. Butterfly catchers

171. Biblical you

172. US moon rocket

173. Composer, Andrew ... Webber

175. Cloth fold

176. Chock

179. Culminate in (4,2)

180. Wash lightly

182. Recline, ... down

183. Repetitive strain injury (1,1,1)

184. Grind (meat)

186. Powder, ... of Paris

189. Thread

190. Peace pact

191. Sense receptor

192. Said

196. Tenant's payment

197. Bellow

198. Vermouth cocktail

199. Remnants

201. Playing for time

202. Harvesters

203. Roof overhangs

204. Last Russian tsar

205. Entangle

208. To the rear

210. Bridge designer

211. Sector

212. Outdoors (4-3)

213. Sinks in middle

215. Unfavoured horses

219. Lead-in

221. Sunday joint

223. Not perfumed

227. Juvenile

228. Ambassador's office

230. Move with effort

231. Cut wildly

232. Pillages

233. Mutilate

234. Admire

238. Delighted

239. First

240. Meal

243. Approval

246. Loosen

247. Dough ingredient

250. Corn husks

251. Out of style

253. Laughing scavengers

256. Frequent visitor

257. Female betrothed

258. Cease

262. Spy, ... Hari

263. Steak cut (1-4)

266. Ark builder

268. WA wine-growing region, ... River

269. Business income

270. Artist's medium (3,5)

271. Sewer coverings

272. Born as

273. Man-made fabric

274. Raises (the ante)

275. Climbs down

276. London/Edinburgh express, Flying ...

277. Lacy robe

278. Roomy

1. Confronts

2. Holed atmosphere layer

3. Erect (3,2)

4. ... out a living

5. Coming up (of sun)

7. Red pepper spice

8. Brutal

9. Michael Flatley's Lord of ... (3,5)

10. Simple

11. Famous volcano

12. Inclinations

13. Continually (2,3,2)

14. Phenomenal

15. Turrets

16. Actor, ... Sharif

17. Fire fragment

18. Remove from home

19. Misty

24. Pastime

26. Multitude

30. Lounges about

33. Barn dance

34. Distinguished

35. Actor, Sam ...

38. Ringing (of bell)

39. Nudged

40. Drama venue

42. Afresh

43. Unties

46. Junkies

47. Compared to

49. Cooperative

50. Top of head

51. List down

53. Non-believer in God

54. Roman moon goddess

55. Staff schedules

59. Proximity

60. Able to be rubbed out

67. Uncared-for

68. Traffic jam (5-2)

69. Undoes (envelope)

70. Sly suggestion

72. Opening

74. Telling

76. Debatable

77. Energies

78. Copy

79. Siblings

81. Until now

84. Mattress frame

87. Paint thinners

89. Called

91. Autocue

92. Insane lady

98. Fireplace shelf

101. TV host, ... Dingo

102. Egg shapes

103. Give work to 108. Stoat

109. Colloquial language

110. Inspire

112. Inventiveness

116. Feared Mongolian ruler (7,4)

119. Inattentive

120. Grotesquely

123. Small coffee cup

124. Welcoming

128. Clinging gastropods

130. Hero-worship

132. Feebler

133. Fish commercially

134. Survive (3,2)

137. Turn out

138. Disgust

141. Granny Smith fruit

142. Cogwheel set

143. Personal memoirs

151. On dry land

153. Lucky charm

155. Dismiss (from college)

156. Map book

159. Desire for food

160. Tethered (4,2)

161. Pleads

164. Swiftly

165. Fluid unit

168. Laziness

170. Glimmers

173. Unused portion

174. Public referee

177. Filth

178. Coming into view

181. Water (pasture)

185. River flows

186. Allspice

187. Orange/pink shade

188. Libya's capital

193. Afternoon break

194. Vote back into office (2-5)

195. Wanted

200. Uniformity

201. Divide

206. Not either

207. Car horns

208. Takes into custody

209. Type of spanner

211. Appoints

214. Sultan's wife

216. Sissy

217. Austere

218. Disappoints

220. Hobo

222. Conscious (of fact)

224. Held tenderly

225. Subtleties of meaning

226. Infinite

229. Famous US university

232. Army dining room

235. And so forth (2,6)

236. Greek philosopher

237. Coffee drug

241. Legal trade ban

242. Lawsuits

244. Surgical blade

245. Kissing & cuddling

248. Eases off

249. Which

251. Repressed, ... up

252. Postage stickers

253. Hot & damp

254. Gains

255. Proverb

259. Moral principle

260. Eskimo hut

261. Cricket matches

262. Fix

264. Roughage

265. Midday

267. Padlock clasp

Foenander

Piano Wizard

■ Songs, Stories and 88 Notes is the new show for the piano wizard Andrew Farrell

This one-of-a-kind gig blends iconic songs, wild piano wizardry, and engaging storytelling from the master pianist. Sunday, July 28. 3pm- 5pm.

The Shed Theatre at The Pig & Whistle Main Ridge. Tickets at trybooking.com

Hold Me Now

■ Gippsland based Alt-Country duo Ally Row are riding high. After achieving ABC Country high rotation, CMT Airplay, Apple Music editorial playlisting as well as Double and Triple J success, their new single indie folk anthem Hold Me Now is out everywhere.

This sweet, spirited single takes a step back from the duo’s moody upbeat catalogue, exploring a slower heartfelt meditation on love, vulnerability and the need for human connection, says their media release.

Bobby Valentine

■ We’re Riding with The Kings is back by popular demand at the Memo Music Hall, St Kilda, on Saturday, September 20. It’s a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Riding with the King iconic blues crossover album and the collaboration of two giants of the blues world, Eric Clapton and BB King.

Bobby Valentine will channel the spirit of BB King, Andy McGarvie is Clapton, and an A-list of musicians will relive the albums timeless songs. Tickets at Trybooking. com - Rob Foenander

Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer

Bloomshed’s Pride and Prejudice

■ Bloomshed returns to Darebin with a bold new take on Jane Austen’s classic PrideandPrejudice from July 30 to August 10 at the Darebin Arts Centre, Preston. Bringing their signature wit to the depths of the housing crisis, this raucous production flips the table on the Bennet sisters’ quest for love and security through a mercenary marriage.

In the plush ballrooms of high society, Mrs Bennet sees too well the value of a strategic union.

But her five daughters all have ambitions of their own. With the cost of living rising, and Mr Bennet played by a potted monstera, how will the Bennet family hold onto their precarious position on the property ladder?

Bloomshed are one of Melbourne's leading independent theatre companies, known for vibrant adaptations that both celebrate and reframe the stories we think we know – from AnimalFarm to Paradise Lost, A Streetcar Named Desire and The ImportanceofBeingEarnest

With big design gestures and a powerhouse ensemble, Bloomshed shows are joyous experiences - hilarious, fast-paced and invigorating for audiences.

In PrideandPrejudice, they’re challenging themselves to tell one of the most iconic love stories of the Western canon, turning their critical eye to the politics of love, marriage and the property ladder.

After sell out seasons across Melbourne and countless Green Room Awards, Bloomshed are stepping up to the epic stage of Darebin Arts Centre for this large-

Crossword Solution No 11

scale production, highlighting the company’s growing reputation and offering wider audiences a chance to experience their work.

Co-creator James Jackson says:

"Playing with Austen’s original, with the Romantic Comedy, and with the form of reality television, we’re looking at the decay of 'Love' as a political category.

“How the institution of marriage emerges not as an artful expression of human passion, but as a calculated ritual of ownership.

“Can we redeem actual, radical, really existing 'love'? Can we separate property and marriage? And can the romantic comedy save us from social bankruptcy?’"

Performed by: Laura Aldous, Elizabeth Brennan, Syd Brisbane, James Jackson, James Malcher, Anna Louey and Lauren Swain Bloomshed is an award-winning group of Australian artists who create cutting edge political satire, energising classic texts with physical comedy and outrageous dance breaks.

Their radical re-imaginings mix big political ideas with entertaining and accessible storytelling.

Performance Details: July 30August 10 Wed - Sat 7.30pm; Sun 5pm

Venue: Darebin Arts Centre, 401 Bell Street, Preston arts.darebin.vic.gov.au/Programs-and-opportunities/Programs/Speakeasy-presentations/ Pride-and-Prejudice

Cabaret de Paris

■ In a tribute to the French caba-

ret scene Cabaret De Paris, created by Michael Boyd Productions, entertained an enthusiastic crowd at The Palms at Crown with the wonderful Rhonda Burchmore providing star power.

Promoted as a burlesque extravaganza, the show was a series of songs with Parisian or French themes, all either sung live by Burchmore or played from recordings, and which had dance routines set to them involving seven showgirls and two male dancers.

In addition, illusionist Michael Boyd (whose company produced the show) and the contortionist Veronica Waite each had two sets where they performed some amazing feats.

With Paris being the theme, the show impressed on a number of levels.

Front and centre was the powerful voice and stage presence of Burchmore . Every inch the professional, she delighted with her boldness and good-natured cheek when interacting with the audience who lapped it up.

Similarly, Waite was fascinating to watch as she got into some astonishing positions, weaving her body snake-like around a pole. Less so was Boyd as it was too easy to see how several of the illusions were created.

Of course, critical to the whole enterprise and dazzling with their display of movement and colour were the dancers.

Often the unsung heroes of cabaret, the nine of them ll displayed great skill and flair with a highlght being their performance of the Can Can.

The dancers were not listed individually in the programme, but collectively added a wow factor to the show.

The production team behind Cabaret De Paris did a great job of realising Boyd’s vision for the show. In particular, Matt Browning, the show’s rehearsal director, choreographer and dance captain, successfully fulfilled his central role in pulling it all together. Cabaret can be an acquired taste and not always to everyone’s liking. However, if it is to your liking then this is a show that will entertain and delight you. cabaretdeparis.com.au

Review by Peter Murphy

Lady Is A Tramp

■ LadyisaTrampwill be staged at Brighton Yacht Club at 8.30pm on Saturday, August 2.

Two of Australia’s most powerful voices join forces to pay homage to groundbreaking artists like Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, James Brown, Janis Joplin, Prince, Tina Turner and the Queen of Jazz - Ella Fitzgerald.

Join Karise and Greg as they put their own unique, tasty spins on theseunforgettable timeless classics.

Karise Eden - vocals, Greg Gould - vocals, Ben Cripps - bass, Jonathan Skovron- guitar / vocals, Marcus Ryan - drums, Jonathan Holmes - keys / vocals. www.ellasmusicclub.com

Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

■ In the mid 1950s Dorothy Baker had left school and was working as a secretary in the city when she entered and won a talent quest.

This led to singing engagements at the various dance venues such as Ziegfeld's Ballroom in Hawthorn, the Orama in Footscray, and the Moonee Ponds Town Hall.

The Federal Hotel Association, which managed a group of hotels including The Menzies, The Federal and The Savoy Plaza, hired Dorothy to sing at their venues.

The Managing Director, Oliver Shawl, said to the young Dorothy : "Go home and learn some Vera Lynn songs."

Dorothy replied "Who's Vera Lynn?"

But she soon found out and had been singing the songs of Vera Lynn for over 50 years.

In those days, prior to television, Dorothy was singing at five different venues each night, seven days a week. It is remarkable, Dorothy has never had a singing lesson in her life - it has been a God given gift.

In 1957 Channel Seven were looking for television singers and Dorothy began singing on TheLateShow

In 1959, she was contracted to Channel Nine to appear on Graham Kennedy's InMelbourne Tonight

During her career, Dorothy performed in television shows such as TheDelo&DalyShow, TheBertNewtonShow,TheDonLaneShow and many more.

Dorothy appeared on CarolsbyCandelight on 3KZ in 1962 and the audience response to her signing White Christmas was so over-

Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer

Whatever Happened To ... Dorothy Baker

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

whelming that she agreed on the spot to sing an encore song - which was IBelieve. Has that ever happened before at Carols by Candlelight?

Dorothy had a hit song with I'm The Girl FromWolvertonMountainin 1962. In 1963 Dorothy went overseas for two years and worked in England, Germany, France and Italy

She toured with David Frost, Frankie Vaughan, Adam Faith and Gerry and The Pacemakers - to name a few. Her first single recording TryBeingNicetoMe was released in the UK on the Parlophone Label.

In the eighties, Dorothy was working on cruise liners for Sitmar and Flotta Lauro. She sang on many ships including the CastelFelice, Fairsky,FairSea,AchelleLauroand Angelina

"Go home and learn some Vera Lynn songs." Dorothy replied "Who's Vera Lynn?"

Lauro. Her husband Ron Webb, who played trumpet in the original Channel Nine orchestra, passed away in 1998.

Dorothy was the mother of two daughters Kerri and Lisa I just adored Dorothy Baker, she was a real professional and I loved hearing her sing the Vera Lynn songs. Sadly, Doorthy Baker passed away on March 13, 2020, at the start of the COVID epidemic and many of her friends and family could not attend the funeral.

Dorothy Baker was a wonderful singer and a dear friend. We miss her so much.

Kevin Trask Kevin can be heard on 3AWThe Time Tunnel - Remember WhenSundays at 10.10pm with Simon Owens and Andrew McLaren. And on 96.5 FM

That's Entertainment - Sundays at 12 Noon.

www.innerfm.org.au

SMOKESCREEN AT FORTYFIVEDOWNSTAIRS

■ Set some 50 years ago, Smokescreenis actually a contemporary play written by Christopher Samuel Carroll about the dissonance between human capacity for rationalisation and the resulting destructive outcomes.

Oil executive, Glen (Carroll) and advertising guru, Bud (Damon Baudin) meet in an airport lounge to discuss ways around the impending crisis facing the oil industry – global warming.

Bud’s experience in the tobacco industry makes him the perfect foil justifying, as he has, the continued marketing of what can only be described as a symbol of success, the cigarette, given it serves no other purpose but remains cancerous.

Can the oil industry justify its own existence given the cataclysmic potential of climate change?

The work is dialectic in nature pursuing arguments rather than following the arc of a character’s development or the narrative of a story.

Set with the two at either end of a table, the emphasis is on substance and the reasoning behind the justification of their respective industries.

Both performers sustain their characters amidst the weight of the dialogue, there being little relief dramatically but for the changing of positions by the end of the play. The power dynamic has altered.

Whilst Carroll has identified the fatal flaw in both industries and within the human condition that leads to denial, the play’s initial overture in addressing the tobacco industry is familiar.

The sense that the oil industry knew of the impending crisis correlates well with how tobacco executives behaved.

There is, perhaps, a coda possible, however. The emphasis placed on individual freedoms and choice speaks to a crisis in current day politics where short term decisions compromise the collective good.

One only has to think of the threat Covid posed and how selfishly many behaved because it was their individual right – an attitude that Carroll identified in how the tobacco and oil industries have justified themselves.

The Kraken of their logic has been lost on the world.

Performed at fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane.

Review by David McLean

Love, Love, Love

■ Families are rarely without drama, but in English playwright Mike Bartlett’s Love, Love, Love, the drama runs so deep it borders on tragic.

The play explores, among other things, whether adult children can reasonably blame their parents for their lack of direction or unfulfilled potential.

The story follows two idealistic Oxford students who meet in 1967, charting the disintegration of their youthful ideals and relationships. Across two subsequent acts, set in 1990 and 2011, those once-hopeful visions unravel into a fractured, selfserving version of adulthood that leaves a bitter legacy for their children.

Genya Mik is outstanding as Sandra. While she is never likeable— and nor are any of the characters really—Mik brings compelling energy and precision to the role.

In 1967, Sandra’s wide-eyed idealism is almost charming. By 1990, she’s become a whirlwind of wineinfused selfishness and dysfunction, by 2011, her indifference to the consequences of her choices is genuinely unsettling.

Blake Stringer is steady as Kenneth, who remains somewhat subdued next to Sandra’s volatility. He successfully anchors Kenneth

through each chapter—from charismatic youth to disengaged middle age.

Julie Ahearne is superb as the teenage Rose, capturing adolescent disdain through tone, posture, and perfectly timed eyerolls. As the blame-shifting adult in 2011, she delivers a compelling and unsettling portrayal of entitlement.

Jerome Pollard’s performance as Jamie brings nuance to a scarred character.

Director George Werther has orchestrated a cohesive and engaging production, with set design (Mary Werther) and lighting ( Tamsin Mackie), working together to create a strong sense of time and place.

Love,Love,Loveis sharp and uncomfortable—challenging audiences to consider the long shadow cast by a generation once intent on changing the world, but who may have only rearranged it to suit themselves.

Presented by Heidelberg Theatre Company.

Performance dates: until July 19

Venue: Heidelberg Theatre , 36 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna Cost: $23 - $28 Bookings: https://auhtc.sales. ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/ 142820 Review by Beth Klein

■ Connie Francis, now aged 87, has been described as the quintessential American singer during the 1950s. One of her many chart toppers was PrettyLittleBaby which more recently made a comeback on Tik Tok , some 75 years later. Connie still performs but had to cancel a July 4 guest appearance because of a re-occurring medical condition. Get well, Connie

Over and out

■ David Charvet , now 53, was once the hot young lifeguard in Baywatch who went onto bigger things in Hollywood, starring in MelrosePlace. In 2013, he turned his back on Tinsel Town to concentrate on a niche building company he founded constructing luxury homes and gymnasiums. Apart from his business interests David has time to spend with his two children and we're told a return to movies is not on.

Gig guide

■ For readers who plan which gigs to attend we have news on forthcoming Victorian dates featuring electronic rock musicians Boom, Crash Opera and The Models. Concerts commence late October, then various dates November and December. For details check gig guides. A t 79 years of age, Leo Sayer is still going strong. He has just announced a leg of his StillFeelLikeDancingtour includes Geelong. Details for his August 29 performance from Geelong Arts Centre.

Daylight robbery

■ Thieves broke into the home of Joe Camilleri of Black Sorrows, and stole nine of his prized, and very expensive guitars, as well as his passport, computers and household items. This is second time Joe has been robbed over recent years. The current theft is being investigated. Scheduled gigs for Joe and his band will still be performed.

Wimbledon winner

■ Strawberries are the outright winner at Wimbledon. First of all, strawbs are grown locally, sufficient for180,000 bowls. Each bowl costs two pounds seventy pence with cream (vegan free) and sugar optional extras. John O’Keefe

Dorothy Baker

● Connie Francis

● ● ● ● Damon Baudin and Christopher Samuel Carroll in Smokescreen. Photo: Nicholas Robertson

Tapas Bar Home-Made Desserts

Great Range of Cocktails and Mocktails Available.

Teas and Coffees

Don’t

WEEKEND’S LOCAL FOOTBALL FINAL SCORES

Eastern

■ Eastern Football League. Division 1

Seniors. South Croydon 28.8 (116) d Doncaster East 14.10 (94). Balwyn 21.18 (144) d Mitcham 6.12 (48). Berwick 11.7 (73) d East Ringwood 8.19 (67). Blackburn 21.12 (138) d Noble Park 6.9 (45). Sunday, July 13: Vermont v Rowville.

Division 1 Seniors. Boronia 9.15 (69) d Beaconsfield 9.12 (66). Park Orchards 19.7 (121) d Mooroolbark 6.10 (46). Bayswater 14.11 (95) d Norwood 6.10 (46). North Ringwood 13.9 (87) d South Belgrave 11.10 (76). Bye: Montorse.

Division 2 Seniors. Heathmont 17.12 (114) d East Burwoosd 7.5 (47). Mulgrave 15.13 (103) d Surrey Park 9.11 (65). Wantirna South 15.9 (99) d Ringwood 11.5 (71). Templestowe 13.16 (94) d Lilydale 4.12 (36). Waverley Blues 12.9 981) d Croydon 4.10 (34).

Division 3 Seniors. Donvale 12.11 (83) d Fairpark 7.7 (49). Coldstream 14.9 (93) d Ferntree Gully 8.8 (56). Knox 10.12 (72) d Oakleigh District 9.16 (70). Scoresby 14.9 (93) d The Basin 7.6 (48). Silvan 12.9 (81) d

Upper Ferntree Gully 12.8 (80).

Division 4 Seniors. Croydon North MLOC 10.16 (76) d Warrandyte 7.7 (49). Bulleen Templestowe 26.18 (174) d Forest Hill 9.4 (58). Whitehorse Pioneers 13.9 (87) d Kilsyth 10.9 (69). Bye: Chirinside Park.

Essendon

■ Premier Division. Keilor 19.8 (122) d Aberfeldie 11.4 (70). Airport West 19.9 (123) d Greenvale 15.7 (97).

Division 1. Avondale Heights 13.19 987) d Moonee Valley 8.7 (55). Craigieburn 13.12 (90) d Taylors Lakes 8.11 (59). Hillside 13.12 (90) d Tullamarine 12.l7 (79). Oak Park 9.20 (134) d Roxburgh Park 4.7 (31). West Coburg 29.14 (188) d St Albans 6.6 (42).

Division 2. Coburg Districts 23.18 9156) d Burnside Heights 6.8 (44). Hadfield 10.14 (74) d Keilor Park 7.6 (48). Glenory 17.14 (116) d Northern Saints 5.10 (40). Rupertswood 15.16 (106) d Sunbury Kangaroos 9.10 (64). Westmeadows 16.15 (111) d East Sunbury 8.8 (56).

Latest News

210 arrested

■ Police have made 210 arrests in a threemonth long drug detection operation encompassing Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale CBDs. Among those arrested include alleged drug dealers who police will allege were trafficking substances including heroin and methylamphetamine.

Local police have a strong focus on those peddling drugs on local streets, with the latest crime data showing drug trafficking offences rose by almost 110 per cent in Springvale in the year to end of March. This crackdown has continued in recent months, with police from the Greater Dandenong Neighbourhood Policing Unit, officers from Springvale, Dandenong and the Greater Dandenong Divisional Response Unit, Transit Safety Division – with assistance from the Dog Squad, the Public Order Response Team, and Mounted Branch – targeting those trafficking, dealing and possessing illicit substances.

Arrests of note include:

■ On April 23, a 22-year-old man was allegedly found with heroin in Springvale. He was charged with possessing a drug of dependence and was granted bail.

■ On May 9, a 39-year-old man was arrested in Dandenong and charged with trafficking Methylamphetamine. He was granted bail.

■ On May 15, a 21-year-old woman was spoken to by police in Noble Park, before they uncovered quantities of methylamphetamine, GHB and cannabis, as well as a knife in her pocket/handbag. She was charged with possessing a drug of dependence and possessing a controlled weapon, and was granted bail.

■ On May 23, a 34-year-old man from Caulfield was arrested in Springvale, and was allegedly found in possession of cocaine. He was charged with trafficking a drug of dependence, and remanded in custody.

■ On 1 June 217, police arrested a 44-yearold man over the alleged possession of heroin in Springvale. He was charged and bailed.

One man was arrested 11 times during the three-month operation. The 54-year-old has been charged with possessing methyl-amphetamine, failing to answer bail, and eight counts of contravening bail conditions. He was remanded in custody.

All will face Dandenong Magistrates’ Court at later dates.

Some 114 penalty infringement notices and 45 cautions were issued to people for possessing small quantities of drugs, as well as contravening their bail conditions.

Police also provided referrals to local outreach services to support those experiencing homelessness, mental health or drug related issues.

While the focus of the operation cantered around drug offending, police also made several arrests relating to other crimes, including car theft, burglary, theft, assault, possess prohibited weapon, drive whilst suspended, criminal damage and handling stolen goods.

Similar operations will be undertaken in the future.

Greater Dandenong Neighbourhood Policing Unit Sergeant James Frost said: “In Springvale alone in the past 12 months, we have seen double the amount of drug trafficking offences detected compared to the previous year.

“That is due to the tireless work of our members who are targeting those who choose to prey on vulnerable members of the community with a drug addiction.

“The number of alleged drug offenders who we came into contact with police declined towards the end of this operation, purely because they were aware of our ongoing presence in the area.

“It was enough to deter a lot of people from making the wrong decision twice.

“We will continue to be relentless in our efforts to reduce harm in our community that is caused directly and indirectly by illicit drugs.”

Trio charged

■ Police have charged three people after tracking an allegedly stolen vehicle across north-eastern Victoria and New South Wales on Wednesday (July 9).

Officers first spotted the Nissan Pulsar on Yale Court in North Shepparton about 8.30am.

With assistance from the Police Air Wing, the vehicle was followed through Shepparton, Echuca, Moama and Barma in New South Wales

.

The Air Wing located the vehicle in Nathalia and it is alleged several attempts to stop the vehicle were made in Shepparton and Mooroopna

The vehicle allegedly continued to drive erratically through Shepparton before it was dumped on McCracken St

Police located and arrested a 19-year-old Mooroopna man, 20-year-old Shepparton man and 18-year-old Shepparton woman following a short foot pursuit on Wilmot Rd.

The Shepparton woman has been charged with theft of motor vehicle and drug related offences and bailed to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on October 27.

The 19-year-old Mooroopna man was charged with:

■ Contravene bail conditions (6)

■ Aggravated intentionally exposure of police to risk by driving (2)

■ Theft of motor vehicle (2)

■ Commit indictable offence whilst on bail

■ Drive whilst disqualified

■ Reckless conduct endangering life

■ Refuse oral fluid test

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court at a date to be determined.

The 20-year-old Shepparton man was charged with:

■ Obtain property by deception (13)

■ Theft of motor vehicle (7)

■ Commit indictable offence on bail (4)

■ Unlicensed driving (4)

■ Burglary (2)

■ Contravene bail conditions

■ Aggravated burglary (person present)

■ Reckless conduct endangering serious injury

■ Dangerous driving whilst pursued

Mornington

■ Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football Netball League. Division 2 Seniors. Chelsea 14.12 (96) d Bonbeach 9.9 963).

Somerville 11./11 (77) d Devon Meadows 10.10 (70). Frankston Bombers 18.13 (121) d Karingal 6.1 (37). Pearcedale 16.10 (106) d Hastings 7.23 (65). Rye 12.7 (79) d Crib Point 9.11 (65). Seaford 19.7 (131) d Tyabb 16.6 (104).

Division 2 Reserves. Bonbeach 9.14 (68) d Chelsea 5.3 (33). Somerville 22.18 (150) d Devon Meadows 2.0 (12). Frankston Bombers 26.19 (175) d Karingal 0.1 (1). Pearcedale 13.13 (91) d Hastings 09.2 (2). Rye 9.8 (62) d crib Point 7.7 (49). Seaford 20.14 (134) d Tyabb 2.4 (16).

Division 2 Under 19. Chelsea Editbvale 9.8 962) d Bonbeach 6.13 (49). Devon Meadows 8.5 (53) d Somerville 5.11 (41). Pearcedale 5.11 (41) d Langwarrin 2.5 (17). Rye 5.10 (40) d Crib Point 5.9 939). Seaford v Mornington Tyabb

Northern

■ Northern Football Netball League. Division 1 Seniors. Heidelberg 18.16 (124) d Montmorency 11.4 (70).

Division 1 Reserves. Heidelberg 15.13 (103) d Montmorency 5.6 (36).

Division 1 Under 19.5. Heidelberg 8.9 (57) d Montmorency 5.6 (36).

Division 2 Seniors. Northcote Park 9.7 (61) d Lower Plenty 7.11 (53). Whittlesea 13.11 (89) d Macelod 12.6 (78). Panton Hill 13.14 (92) d Watsonia 2.2 (14). Diamond Creek 16.14 (110) d Old Paradians 6.6 (42). St Mary’s 16.10 (106) d Thomastown 12.13 (85).

Division 2 Reserves. Northcote Park 13.9 (87) d Lower Plenty 9.5 (59). Diamond Creek 12.16 (88) d Old Paradians 2.3 (15). Panton Hill 13.7 (85) d Watsonia 5.11 (41). Whittlesea 8.10 (58) d Macleod 8.9 (57). St Mary’s 8.12 (60) d Thomastown 8.8 (56).

Division 2 Under 19.5. Lower Plenty 10.17 (77) d Heidelberg 6.6 (42). Whittlesea 26.11 (167) d Macleod 4.4 (28). North Heidelberg 12.10 (82) d Laurimar 6.6 (42). South Morang 14.16 (100) d Mernda 6.8 (44).

Division 3 Seniors. Laurimar 16.12 (108) d Epping 9.8 (62). Kilmore 10.9 (69) d Reservoir 8.6 (54). Kinglake 17.18 (120) d Old Eltham Collegians 7.2 (44). Ivanhoe 14.15 (99) d Mernda 15.3 (93). Heidelberg West 14.15 (99) d Lalor 8.14 (62).

Division 3 Reserves. Old Eltham Collegians 8.18 (66) d Kinglake 6.5 (41). Kilmore 18.19 (127) d Reservoir 2.0 (12). Laurimar 20.18 (138) d Epping 3.4 (22). Ivanhone 11.10 (76) d Mernda 9.7 (61). Heidelberg West 12.14 (86) d Lalor 1.5 (11).

Division 3 Under 19.5. Bundoora 17.18 (120) d Old Paradians 4.5 (29). Watsonia 11.12 (78) d Panton Hill 6.13 (49). Banyule 8.11 (59) d Kilmore 7.4 (46). Bye: Eltham.

Outer East

■ Outer East. Premier Division Seniors. Woori Yallock 13.13 (91) d Healesville 6.6 (42). Offoicer 12.12 (84) d Mt Evelyn 10.6 (66). Monbulk 9.9 (63) d Upwey Tecoma 9.8 (62). Wandin 18.19 (127) d Emerald 6.7 (43). Olinda Ferny Creek 19.17 (131) d Gembrook Cockatoo 9.4 (58). Premier Division Reserves. Woori Yallock 15.11 (101) d Healesville 6.6 (42). Upwey Tecoma 8.7 (55) d Monbulk 5.7 (37). Officer 8.6 (54) d Mt Evelyn 7.7 (49). Wandin 10.11 (71) d Emerald 7.4 (46). Gembrook Cockatoo 12.8 (80) d Olinda Ferny Creek 3.3 (21).

Division 1 Seniors. Yarra Glen 13.11 (89) d Yarra Junction 6.7 43). Belgrave 13.15 (93) d Pakenham 14.7 (91). Alexandra 24.11 (155) d Powelltown 6.3 (39). Warburton Millgrove 17.9 (111) d Seville 16.8 (104). Bye: Yea.

Division 1 Reserves. Pakenham 11.8 974) d Belgrave 4.11 (35). Seville 13.5 (83) d Warburton Millgrove 2.6 (18). Yarra Glen 12.5 (77) d Yarra Junction 4.6 (30). Alexandra 13.12 (90) d Powelltown 1.4 (10). Bye: Yea.

Premier Division Under 18 Boys. Healesvillde 10.12 (72) d Woori Yallock 4.2 (26). Upwey Tecoma 12.20 (92) d Monbulk 6.8 (44). Mt Evelyn 11.13 (79) d Officer 3.4 (22). Olinda Ferny Creek 12.18 (90) d Gembrook Cockatoo 1.8 (14). Bye: Wandin. Division 1 Under 18 Boys. Seville 24.22 (166) d Warburton Millgrove 0.3 (3). Alexandra 6.9 (45) d Yarra Glen 3.5 (23). Bye: Pakenham, Yea.

Women’s Division 1. Healesville 6.12 (48) d Woori Yallock 1.2 (8). Pakenham 6.3 (39) d Belgrave 3.6 (24). Mt Evelyn 16.15 (111) d Olinda Ferny Creek 1.0 (6). Bye: Upwey Tecoma.

Women’s Division 2. Warburtonj Wesburn 19.17 (131) d Seville 0.0 (0). Wandin 13.8 (86) d Emerald 0.0 (0). Yea 6.7 (43) d Thornton Eildon 3.4 (22).

Western

■ Division 1 Seniors. Spotswood 16.22 (118) d Newport 5.5 (35). Parkside 15.11 (101) d Sunshine 12.4 (76) Werribee Districts 21.14 (140) d Point Cook 3.7 (25). Hoppers Crossing 12.19 (91) d Altona 6.12 (48). Albion 25.15 (165) d Point Cook 8.5 (53). Yarraville Seddon Eagles 14.14 (98) d Caroline Springs 11.12 (78).

Division 2 Seniors. North Footscray 12.7 (79) d West Footscray 10.12 (72). Wyndhamvale 26.17 (173) d Sunshine Heights 7.4 (46). Braybrook 219.13 (127) d Albanvale 11.12 (78). Laverton Magpies 2.0 (12) d tarneit 0.0 (0). Suns 18.25 (133) d Western Rams 6.12 (48).

Goulburn Valley

■ Seniors. Mansfield 23.15 (153) d Shepparton United 10.10 (70). Seymour 14.10 (94) d Shepparton Swans 10.10 (70). Kyabram 25.27 (177) d Tatura 2.1 (13). Shepparton 19.15 (129) d Euroa 3.6 (24). Reserves. Mansfield 9.9 (63) d Tatura 3.3 (21). Seymour 6.9 945) d Shepparton Swans 3.10 (28). Kyabram 26.12 (168) d Tatura 0.0 (0). Shepparton 27.15 (177) d Euroa 0.3 (3). Under 18. Mansfield 9.10 (64) d Shepparton United 3.2 (20). Seymour 6.11 -41) d Shepparton Swans 5.5 (35). Kyabram d Tatura, by forfeit. Shepparton 9.9 (63) d Euroa 2.3 (15).

Kyabram District

■ Seniors. Lancaster 11.13 (79) d Murchison Toolamba 10.2 (62). Girgarre 17.13 (115) d Tallygaroopna 6.6 (42). Stanhope 16.12 (108) d Undera 9.13 (67). Shepparton East 21.11 (137) d Nagambie 8.8 956). Longwood 12.12 (84) d Rushworth 6.7 (43). Reserves. Murchison Toolamaba 15.16 (106) d Lancaste5r4 2.2 (14). Girgarre 8.8 (56) d Tallygaroopna 4.5 (29). Stamnhope 26.13 (169) d Undera 2.4 (16). Shepparton East 18.13 (121) d Nagambie 2.4 (16). Longwood 14.5 (89) d Rushworth 6.15 (51)./ Sunday: July 13: Violet Town v Avenel. Under 18. Murchison Toolamaba 15.6 (96) d Lancaster 4.4 (28). Nagambie 23.10 (148) d Shepparton East 2.4 (16). Tigers 18.25 (133) d Longwood 3.6 (24). Sunday, July 13: Violet Town v Tallygaroopna. Bye: Girgarre, Undera.

Riddell District

■ Seniors. Lancefield 14.15 (99) d Gisborne Giants 9.12 (66). Riddell 16.6 (102) d Kyneton 7.9 (51). Macedon 12.22 (94) d Melton South 9.6 (60). Woodend Hesket 18.13 (121) d Melton Centrals 7.6 (48). Wallan 18.12 (120) d Romsey 9.16 (70). Bye: Diggers Rest. Reserves. Gisborne Giants 6.4 (40) d Lancefield 3.4 (22). Riddell 13.8 (86) d Kyneton 4.5 (29). Macedon 6.6 (42) d Melton South 4.5 (29). Woodend Hesket 17.14 (116) d Melton Centrals 1.3 (9). Wallan 8.10 (58) d Romsey 6.5 (41).

REVISED SCHEDULE FOR 2025-26

■ The season will comprise 530 meetings made up of 106 metropolitan, 368 country, 17 country non-TAB and 33 picnic meetings.

Racing will occur on 348 days with 17 free race days-the same as the current season.

This includes a strategic reduction of 18 race meetings from December 2025 to May 2026 to improve field sizes and wagering outcomes during a contested period with more night and event meeting prevalent.

Decisions on the reallocation of prizemoney from these meetings will be made in consultation with theabove shareholders apart of the annual prizemoney process.

A total of 51 night meetings are scheduled one less that 2024-25, with Thursday night racing to conclude a month earlier, at the end of April 20226, to assist participant workloads, Friday night racing will continue through May 2026 prior to its Winter recess; and a total of 26 synthetic meetings are scheduled, one less than 2024-25, while the number of twilight fixtures increases by one to 17 with the addition of New Years’ Eve at Flemington

Relocated meetings

■ With the Valley closed for over 18 months for its redevelopment , the MVRC’s meetings from November 2025 to July 2026 will be run at the following venues as a mix of metropolitan and country fixtures.

Southside Racing will host 11 meetings and assume the mantle as the home of night racing.

Cranbourne - eight Friday meetingd and the Saturday metropolitan meeting on December 27, 2025, and Sportsbet Pakenham - two Friday night meetings (Derby Eve and Champions Stakes Eve).

Geelong - two Wednesday twilights and two Friday afternoon meetings, Caulfield - the Group One William Reid Stakes meeting on Saturday March 21, 2026

A decision on the location of the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate – which falls within the 2026-27 race dates – is expected to be made soon

The allocation of MVRC’s Saturday metropolitan meeting to Cranbourne means the track will host one less Saturday night other than 2024-25 with meetings programmed on January 3,10, and 17, 2026.

Subject to final approvals, Bendigo will undergo a major tack upgrade following their October 29 Cup meeting.

They will return to racing to March 27, 2026, with a five month hiatus.

Subject to final approvals, Benalla will undergo a major track upgrade following their September 26 Cup meeting and will be offline for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Golden Rose

■ I felt it was time to have a relook at the Golden Rose to be run and won in Sydney coming up in a while.

Punters are taking a good look at the young gallopers as they venture on.

Punters are sticking with the smart youngster, Nepotism, who backin April looked good winning good style in the Champagne Stakes, over 1600 metres at his second outing.

He’s a nice type of horse, being by Brutal winning his second race in three starts for the

Ted Ryan

Hawkes team. The next we will have a look at it another nice type is Autumn Boy, by Autumn Sun, a smart one in his day. He only had a few starts and was all class. He won the Caulfield Guineas in great fash-

ion. There is another smart youngster in Beadman, named after the champion jockey, Darren, who took all before him.

He won the Ken Russell Memorial Classic over 1200 metres at the Gold Coast in easy fashion.

Then we had the early Golden Slipper favoUrite, Wodeton, but who was found wanting in the run there.

But he is in a strong camp with Waller and you can’t leave him out.

Then we have the Golden Slipper winner, Marhoona, who won the big one in style, back in March.

Prepared by former Melbourne trainer, Michael Freedman, Marhoona won well and will be right in this but, like a few of the others will need the run.

Next is the Kris Lees trained colt,Rivellino, who put three together inwinning the Skyline Stakes at Randwick, on April 19.

is by the

Another

Having his third start in

won in terrific fashion to make it three on end.

He is by the top stallion, I Am nvincible , and could go right on from here.

Another that impressed was the Hawkes team, right on the ball with their charge, Devil Night, when it won the coveted Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 22.

One of the Ciaron Maher team has ability and was a bit unlucky not to have run a place in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick back on April 19.

It is another of the Wootton Bassett team to grace the turf and has ability.

Ciaron is quite happy with the way the colt is racing at present.

Tempted is nicely bred being by the top sire, Street Boss,who has bred many a top class winner.

Last but not least is another smart youngster,with plenty of zip in Within The Law.

Trained by Bjorn Baker, he is spot on at present.

Ted Ryan

● ● Wayne Hawkes. Racing Photos.

He

leading sire, Too Darn Hot,and is smart.

that is top shelf is Vin Rock, the galloper, trained in Victoria by Matt Laurie

the Inglis Sires, he

(Back load Specialist. Conditions apply)

24 HOURS7 DAYS A WEEK

(Scrap bin available)

VICTORY TO STAWELL’S AINSWORTH

■ Charlton’s long standing affiliation with the USA continued on Monday celebrating American Independence Day with a neat eight event card.

The We Salute Aussies Racing In America Pace over 1609 metres commenced the day with victory going to Stawell trainer/driver Jason Ainsworth with aptly sired 5Y0 American IdealRed Hot Rita gelding Optimal.

Raced by partner Natasha Raven, Optimal starting solo on the second line possied beautifully one/one as Coral Cays led from gate two. Easing three wide approaching the final bend as Better Blue Boys after racing parked from outside the front line strode past the pacemaker, Optimal raced clear in the straight to record a 3.2 metre margin in a 1-57.4 mile rate over Vincent Grange (gate three) which trailed the leader, with Better Blue Boys holding down third 1.9 metres back.

■ Birchip owner/trainer Gary Living loves his harness racing and 9Y0 Art Major-Stylish Jasper mare Stylish Gem notched up her 12th success when taking the 2100 metre Stars And Strips Pace.

With Jackie Barker in the sulky, Stylish Gem (gate two) settled three back in the moving line after James Garner went forward from near last to race exposed outside the local front runner Jilliby Tidalwave (gate three).

Gaining a three wide trail home in the last lap on the back of Resurgent Warrior (one/ three), Stylish Gem after angling five wide on straightening rushed home to prevail by 1.3 metres from James Garner which fought on bravely with Jilliby Tidalwave holding third a head away. The mile rate 1-58.1.

■ There would have been an extra spoonful of sugar in Smythes Creek part-owner/trainer Nathan Cahir’s coffee following the victory of 6Y0 Sweet Lou-Almihata mare Nothing Sweeter in the Thank You Ames Australasia Pace over 2100 metres.

With the state’s number one driver James Herbertson in the sulky, Nothing Sweeter unbackable at $1.10 led throughout from gate five to defy all challengers when accounting for Fair Chance (gate four) and Nevs Dream (one/two from gate six) in a mile rate of 1-59.4. The margins 4.2 by 5.8 metres.

■ The Thank You Dale McGrath CFO Ames Australasia Pace saw Kooreh co-trainers Shaun and Jason McNaulty successful with 4Y0 Restrepo-Begoodorbegoodatit mare Into The Harkness which greeted the judge giving ‘Herbie’ another winner on the program.

Raced by a large syndicate headed by the McNaulty Family Trust, along with HRV’s Tim O’Connor and form guru Darren Carroll plus a cast of many, Into The Harkness (gate four) quickly crossed stablemate Redbank Molly (gate three) to take up the running and rated well, coasted to the wire defeating a deathseating Presidentialchange by 5.7 metres which switched down to the sprint lane on turning. Local Hungry Hogarth was third 10.9 metres away off a three wide trail from four back in the running line. The mile rate 1-56.2.

■ Ninety year old Huntly Nonagenarian Bill White provided Pastor Stephen-Modern Pegasus filly Modern Hope raced by himself and 66-year-old son Ian to blow most punters out of the quaddie when paying odds of $45.00 (Fixed) and $26.00 (parimutual) when winning the USA Charlton Partnership Maiden Trotters Mobile over 1609 metres.

Driven by Ian, Modern Hope unplaced in 12 outings going into the race began safely from the extreme draw to slot into a one/one position outside polemarker Taken By Wine having her 43rd start.

Going forward in the last lap to join the leader when Littler (gate six) ahead of her galloped, Modern Hope showed plenty of tenacity from the home turn to register a 2.7 metre victory over Nedza Thriller (gate three second line - three wide home turn). Taken By Wine was third a half head away. The mile rate 2-03.5.

■ It was ‘Herbie’ again when Kyabram trainer Mark Watson’s She Is Lovely scored in the 2100 metre All American Maiden Pace and she certainly was as Mark is one of the mares owners. Beginning swiftly from gate five to park momentarily outside the poleline leader Sonora Sunset before gaining one/one cover at the expense of Theroux (gate two on the second line, She Is Lovely travelled sweetly before angling three wide into the home turn and finished her race off well to prevail by 4.2 metres from Sheez Slashing (one/two from gate five) recording a mile rate of 2-00.9. Sonora Sunset held third 1.2 metres back.

■ The Land Of The Free Trotters Handicap over 2100 metres went the way of Marong trainer David Van Ryn’s Yankee Spider-Ima

Harness Racing

len-baker@ bigpond.com

with Len Baker

Thrill Seeker 6Y0 gelding Alfie Always in a rate of 2-03.2. Starting from 20 metres, Alfie Always driven by Ellen Tormey began fast to go forward and take over the front running within a lap from 12Y0 mare Tension Seeker (barrier two) and after bowling along at his leisure, held too many guns for one of three 20 metre markers Knight Whisperer which had followed him forward only to be left exposed.

Although Knight Whisperer tried valiantly on turning, Alfie Always driven with supreme confidence held him at bay to register a neck margin. Romantic Nina (30 metres) ran on late from well back for third 7.8 metres back. The mile rate 2-03.2.

■ It’s very rare to see outstanding reinswoman Kerryn Manning successful on a long shot as most of her drives are normally in the betting, however 8Y0 Sportswriter-Molly Pitcher gelding The Sportz Star bred in the Goulburn Valley by Dean and Blanch Poole snared the 1609 metre Celebrating Independence Day Pace at bolters odds of $31.00 fixed and $35.80 on the parimutuel tote.

Raced by Kerryn, The Sportz Star after being trapped wide from outside the front line as local Yapper led from gate six for Mark Boyle, had no option but to go forward and race exposed before gaining a short breather prior to the bell after Dance Away (also wide from gate five) went forward to race in the open.

Easing wide in the home straight, The Sportz Star ran home stylishly showing a good turn of speed to score by Ruby Wingate (four pegs from gate five second line) which came from knowhere, with Yapper hanging on for third a neck away after looking the winner on turning. The mile rate 1-54.4.

■ On a day of several upsets, the quaddie was declared as a massive $14,738.70, however with percentage discounts the dividend paid $7215.86 from a pool of $9211.72.

The winners being Modern Hope, She Is Lovely, Alfie Always and The Sportz Star which on an all-up basis would have returned a dividend in excess of $108,181 keeping in mind that the dividends would have changed rapidly and the divvy would have been nothing like this.

7 races at Echuca

■ It was Echuca on Tuesday with seven races on the program and both James Harbertson and Kerryn Manning followed on from their Charlton wins the day before – Herbie with a double and Kez with a single victory.

Herbie’s double came courtesy of local partowner trainer Matthew Beecroft’s 8Y0 Four Starzzz Shark-Atalanta Jewel mare Four Starzzz Ruby in the Byfords Equipment Pace over 1755 metres and Arcadia trainer John McLean’s 4Y0 Ultimate Machete-Alleluia mare Princess Arna in the 2160 metre Super Clean Linen Service Maiden Pace with both horses leading throughout.

Four Starzzz Ruby (gate two) had little difficulty in crossing polemarker Stellar Queen before coasting to a 12.2 metre victory in a 200.7 mile rate over Stellar Queen, with Murial switching to the sprint lane from mid-field on turning for third a head away, while Princess Arna bred and raced by Julie Duffy after going forward three wide from gate three was able to cross Ima Tiggy Tiger (gate two) to take over running into the first turn and defeat Krakey (restrained from gate six) before going forward to race in the open before dropping to the back of the leader and receive an easy passage.

Angling outside the winner on the home turn, Krakey tried hard and was slightly in-

convenienced when Princess Arna shifted out in the straight going down by 1.5 metres firing in an unsuccessful protest. Red Robber (gate four came from midfield for third 15.1 metres back) The mile rate 2-01.2.

■ Kerryn had an armchair drive aboard father Peter’s Sweet Lou-Torque Of Life 3Y0 gelding Torque Power in the Moama Bowling Club Pace Final over 1755 metres.

Spearing away from gate four to lead, Torque Power was never in any danger, scoring by 3.2 metres in advance of Karuma Kev which trailed from the pole and High Flux which was strong after racing three wide solo from the bell finishing 3 metres back. The mile rate 158.8.

■ Former Diamond/Yarra Valley and Sunraysia trainer Brian Crossland now based at Kialla provided a shock result in the 1755 metre Alabar Bloodstock Pace when 9Y0 Bgs FollySuffolk Star stallion Bee Gee Cee at odds of $41.00 greeted the judge.

With Cameron Maggs in the sulky, Bee Gee Cee was given a sweet passage three back in the running line from gate three as polemarker With In Reason led before being crossed at the bell by Dieing Fear which had raced outside him enabling Bee Gee Cee to work a spot closer now one/one.

Angling wide on turning, Bee Gee Cee ran on best to gain the day by a neck in a mile rate of 1-58.3 from Fear The Power which had trailed With In Reason from inside the second line and using the sprint lane, with With In Reason third 2.3 metres away, It was Bee Gee Cee’s seventh success in 77 outings.

■ Cobram trainer Adam Rudd combined with Tasmyn Potter to land the Llowalong Farms Pace over 2160 metres with Hes Watching-Bliss 6Y0 gelding Elated who was another to lead all of the way, accounting for Interpretation which trailed after an unsuccessful crack for the lead from outside the front line, going down by 2.9 metres in a 1-58.9 mile rate. Owen The Saints (one/one) was third 18.1 metres away.

■ Local Echuca part-owner/trainer Wayne Lear went home on a happy note after 8Y0 Mach Three-Vertigal mare Wheres Wood Wood driven by Abbey Turnbull led throughout from gate four in the 2160 metre Kyabram Tyre & Battery Pace, easily accounting for a deathseating Cobalt Blues which raced outside her from outside the front line. Beryls Boots (one/ one from gate two) used the sprint lane for third 10.8 metres away.

At Bendigo

■ The regular Bendigo fixture was Wednesday’s fixture and a good night was had by Henty (NSW) owner/trainer Brooke McPherson after landing a stable double – 3Y0 Always B Miki-Shadesoff gelding Shades Of Miki taking the 1650 metre Stonemans Village IGA & Liquor Strathdale Pace and Art MajorTact Hayleys Delight filly Major Hayley the Alabar Bloodstock 3Y0 Maiden Pace over the same trip, both handled to perfection by Murchison East reinsman Ryan Sanderson.

Shades Om Miki (gate two second line) ran home from four back in the moving line to register a 2.5 metre margin in 1-54.1 over local hope Mister Jimaringle (three wide to outside the pacemaker Muselet (gate five) from the extreme draw).

Celestial Zodiac (one/four) from inside the second line was third 6.1 metres back. Major Hayley led out from the pole before taking a trail behind Stay Alpha (gate three). Using the sprint lane, Major Hayley dashed home to record a 1.6 metre margin in advance of Kutani which raced uncovered from gate two, with Catherine (gate five one/one) third a head away. The mile rate 1-57.3.

■ Daylesford’s Mick Barby (trainer) and AnneMaree Conroy (driver) landed the 1650 metre Prydes Easifeed Trotters Mobile with more than handy 7Y0 Love You-Valerie mare Amour Maternal.

Raced by the pair, Amour Maternal was restrained at the start from gate five to settle four back in the running line as Myheartbeatstrue (gate six) led. Going forward in the last lap, Amour Maternal sustained a long run to gain the day by 4.3 metres from Ox Knox which went forward from the extreme draw to race exposed at the bell. Mielicki (three pegs from inside the second line) was third 1.6 metres back. The mile rate 1-59.5.

■ Eighty two year old Havelock (Maryborough) owner/trainer Derick Kraft has enjoyed a great season with his 5Y0 Betting Line-The Majors Daughter gelding Kimchi who notched up his 7th success in 80 outings

Sulky Snippets Sulky Snippets

This Week

■ Wednesday – Bendigo, Thursday –Kilmore, Friday – Mildura/Geelong, Saturday – Melton, Monday – Stawell, Tuesday –Shepparton.

when taking the Vale Stephenie Moody Pace over 1650 metres. Driven by Kerryn Manning, Kimchi was given an easy time one/one from inside the second line by Kerryn Manning as speedy mare Noble Julia led from gate four. Angling three wide approaching the final bend to follow Alcatraz Girl one/two, Kimchi ran on best to prevail by a half neck from The Majors Girl (one/three from inside the second line), with Alcatraz Girl third a neck away in a fighting finish. The mile rate 1-59.

Thursday call

■ Ballarat was Thursday’s fixture with some rough results throughout the night. Dunnstown trainer/driver David Murphy snared the Ballarattrottingclub.com.au Pace over 2200 metres with 4Y0 Always B Miki-Young Jane mare Janiebquick paying odds of $32.70. fixed and $26.00 parimutual.

Driving through from inside the second line to trail the poleline leader Bon Viveur, Janiebquick gained an inside passage halfway up the running to score by 3 metres from Shotinthedark off a three wide trail home from five back in the moving line. Where Is Woody (gate 3 – outside the leader – one/one – four wide home turn) was third 10.4 metres away. The rate 1-58.8.

■ Kolora owner/trainer Barry Beasley combined with Mick Bellman aboard 4Y0 Always B Miki-Lady Blanchet gelding Pretty Basic in the Interpath 4Y0 & Older Maiden Pace over 2200 metres.

Raced by former HRV Board member Geoff Senior and son John, Pretty Basic at odds of $33.90 parimutual but only $23 fixed settled three pegs from gate four, angling three wide on the final bend to defeat the first start pacemaker Jilliby Moon (gate five) which led by 2.3 metres in a mile rate of two minutes even. Im The Wild One after trailing the winner from gate two and easing off the markers on the home turn was third a half neck away.

■ Arcadia South trainer Jamie Egan’s 6Y0 Majestic Son-Aldebaran Etta mare Faith Full was a deserved victor of the Radio Ballarat Trotters Mobile over 1710 metres.

Raced by Jamie and partner Bec Dudley, Faith Full driven by James Herbertson had to spend petrol from outside the front line to move outside the leader Double Dot (gate four) before taking over with a circuit to travel. Travelling kindly, Faith Full won easily by 12.9 metres in a rate of 2-00.3. from Double Dot and Aldebaran Maverick (three pegs from gate two) was third 3.3 metres away.

■ Cranbourne part-owner/trainer/driver Phillip Ellery was successful with Kiwi bred 6Y0 Skyvalley-Hiona Mountain gelding Rarity Rock in the 2200 metre Coca Cola Trotters Mobile. Lobbing one/one from gate two on the second line as Ikara (gate six) led, Rarity Rock enjoyed a charmed passage and after joining a death-seating Scar on the home turn which had taken care of the leader, ran on best to gain the day by 3 metres. Scar galloped at the finish and was relegated to third with Noble Count promoted to second after trailing the leader from gate two 1.5 metres back. The rate 2-02.9.

Phillip drives the mobile gate at most Cranbourne meetings and Melton and other tracks at times.

■ Bolinda’s Alison and Chris Alford landed the VSTA Trotters Cup (3rd Heat) over 2200 metres with Link In Bio, a four year old Slyvalley-Starcus mare.

Beginning swiftly from 10 metres to lead, Link In Bio rated a treat greeted the judge 3.3 metres clear of a death-seating Buslin Brody (barrier three). Above The Law (10m) was 2.4 metres back after trailing the winner. The mile rate 2-04.1.

Len Baker

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ONLINE EDITION DATES - 2025

Go directly to www.LocalPaper.com.au or www.MelbourneObserver.com.au to read digital editions (exact replicas of print editions), free. Online edition dates in 2025 are: Feb. 5, Feb. 12, Feb. 19, Feb. 26, Mar. 5, Mar. 12, Mar. 19, Mar. 26, Apr. 2, Apr. 9, Apr. 16, Apr. 30, May 7, May 14, May 21, May 28, Jun. 4, Jun. 11, Jun. 28, Jun. 25, Jul. 2, Jul. 9, Jul. 16, Jul. 23, Jul., 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 13, Aug. 10, Aug. 27, Sep. 3, Sep. 10, Sep. 17, Sep. 24, Oct. 1, Oct. 8, Oct. 15, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, Nov. 12, Nov. 19, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 10. Lodge ads by 4pm Friday prior to publication.

PRINT EDITION DATES - 2025

‘Hard copies’ available free through a network of outlets across Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and selected country areas. Print edition dates in 2025 are: Feb. 5, Feb. 19, Mar. 5, Mar. 19, Apr. 2, Apr. 16, Apr. 30, May 14, May 28, Jun. 11, Jun. 25, Jul. 9, Jul. 23, Aug. 6, Aug. 20, Sep. 3, Sep. 17, Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Oct. 29, Nov. 12, Nov. 26, Dec. 10. Lodge your ads by 4pm Friday prior to publication.

PRINT EDITION AREAS

Eastern Suburbs Edition. Boroondara (north), Knox-Sherbrooke, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse. Lilydale and Yarra Valley Edition. Healesville, Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Warburton. Mitchell Strathbogie Edition. Avenel, Beveridge, Broadford, Euroa, Kilmore, Nagambie, Seymour, Wallan, Wandong-Heathcote Junction. North-West Edition. Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melton, Merri-bek, Moonee Valley. Moorabool, Wyndham Northern Suburbs Edition. Banyule, Darebin (north - Preston-Reservoir), Darebin (southNorthcote, Thornbury), Nillumbik (urban), Whittlesea (urban). Regional Edition. Mansfield, Murrindindi (Alexandra, Kinglake, Yea), Nilllumbik (rural), Whittlesea (rural). Southern Cross Weekly Edition. Bayside, Boroondara (south), Glen Eira, Kingston, Melbourne, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Yarra. South-East. Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Mornington Peninsula.

FREE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Free non-commercial classified advertising is available for individual readers, selling iitems. Your ad can be up to 40 words. This service is available at the sole discretion of the Editor. Ads will appear for up to 4 weeks. Free ads are not available to businesses or organisations. Deadline: 4pm Fridays prior to Print Edition. You can lodge your Free Ad by:

• WEB: www.AdvertiseFree.com.au

• EMAIL: editor@LocalPaper.com.au

• POST: Mail the form (available in this newspaper) to PO Box 1278, Research, Vic 3095. Free Ads will not be accepted by phone.

SOME ADVERTISING RULES

• All car advertisers must supply registration or Vehicle Identification Numbers. By law, we are unable to publish listings without those details.

• Any person or business advertising to sell or give away a dog, cat, puppy or kitten in Victoria must be enrolled on the Pet Exchange Register to obtain a source number, and must include this source number along with each animal's microchip number in all advertisements.

• Advertisers should be honest in their dealings. Claims should be true, accurate and based on reasonable grounds.

FREE non-commercial classified advertising is available for individual readers, selling iitems. Your ad can be up to 40 words. This service is available at the sole discretion of the Editor. Ads will appear for up to 4 weeks. Free ads are not available to businesses or organisations. Deadline: 4pm Fridays prior to Print Edition. You can lodge your Free Ad by:

• WEB: www.Advertise Free.com.au

• EMAIL: editor@Local Paper.com.au

• POST: Mail the form (available in this newspaper) to PO Box 1278, Research, Vic 3095. Free Ads will not be accepted by phone.

ANTIQUE DRSSING TABLE. 3 mirrors, size: wdith 1.23m, depth 55cm, height 1.82m. Delivery arranged. VGC. $250. Coburg. 0428 130 049. Z-CC

BAR STOOLS. x2. $2 0 each. Whittlesea. 0494 380 264. Z-CC

BED. Single. Electric folable with massage and remote control. Adjustable back, legs and height. New Aspire mattress. German motor. EC. $500. Diamond Creek. 0401 473 565.N-Q

BED HEAD. Wooden. And base. With slats. As new. $80. Whittlesea. 0494 380 264. Z-CC

BIKE. Ladies. Make: Friction Huffey. Purple. Plus helmet, basket and pump. VGC. $110. Pakenham. 5940 5018. R-U

BIRD CAGE. Green. 52cm square. as new. $40. Whittlesea. 0494 380 264. Z-CC

BOAT. Savage 12’. 15HP Johnson OB. Trailer. All Safety EQ. Bow canopy. Storm cover. VGC. $1800. Alexandra. 0419 329 264. Z-CC

BOAT. Aluminium. 3.8 motor. Evenrude motor. 6HP . Free winch and trailer and accessories. GC. $1000. Wandong. 0418 399 261. R-U

BRICKS. 100 clean, red. Plus halves. $50. Keon Park. 9469 4558.N-Q

BUILDER’S Electrical Pole, steel box and timber pole. GC. Free. Murrindindi. 0418 564 174. R-U

CAMPER TRAILER. Tru Blu heavy duty all terrain 12V accessory outlet plus slide out kitchen and extras. VGC. $4300. Frakston. 9789 9634. Z-CC

CANE BASKETS. Two, Large. GC. $30. Keon Park. 9469 4558. N-Q

CANE CHAIRS. Two, Cush- ions. $50. Keon Park. 9469 4558. N-Q

CARAVAN. E20½ ft reegal 2009 Aussie Tourer Caravan. Full ensuite with separate shower, queen bed and AC/heater, TV, stereo, gas cooktop, microwave, comes with cover and large outdoor mat. EC. $32,000. Taggerty. 0438 782 112. R-U

CARAVAN. 21’6” 2014 Crusader. Reg till Feb. 2026. Full ensuite, separate shower/toilet, queen bed, a/c heater, TV radio, Gas/Elec. cooktop, micro washing machine, solar panel, large fridge, freezer, new tyres and batteries. many extras. EC. $40,000 ONO. Mount Eliza. 0429 877 964. Z-CC

CIRCULATION STIMULATOR. Clare. VGC. $20. Frankston. 9789 9634 Z-CC

COLLECTORS Melway Nos 9, 20, 33. Wax matches (234) in book, 17 loose. VFL Records, finals, mainly Richmond. Small and large. Phone cards. Vatious prices. Box Hill South., 9890 7904.N-Q

CRIME FICTION

BOOKS. Various authors. Harlen Coben, James Patterson plus others. GC. $2, or 3 for $5. Mill Park. 052 665 276. H-O

DOG KENNEL. Plastic. Grey colour. Very clean. never used as kennel. GC. $10. Purchaser to collect. Doreen. 9717 3465. N-Q

EDISON STANDARD PHONOGRAM Serial Nuimber 638427. October 1905 with five Edison goldmoulded records complete with reproducing trumpet model C. Rare antqiue, working well. VGC. $1850. Glen Iris. 0407 276 973. Z-CC

ENCYCLOPEDIA. Complete set A-Z. GC. $50. Frankston. 9789 9634. Z-CC

FOLDING BIKE. Suit adult. Everything works. Gears. GC. $120. Seymour. 0419 881 573. R-U

FORD AUII Fairport V8 Sedan. Original.Runs well. No rust. Good tyres, new screen, bring your mechanic or RACV test, RWC. Reg 7/27. 2AN3XE. VCG. $8000. Seymour. 0419 881 573. N-Q

GARDEN ROCKS. Approx. 200mm-150mm for landscaping. Approx. 260. Free. Nunawading, 0407 696 343. N-Q

GARDEN ROCKS. Small and medium. All sizes. All free. Also 12 blue stone pitches. All free. Bulleen. 9850 5128.

N-Q

HORSE RUG. Tartan. Never used. VGC. $65. Macleod. 9459 6714. R-U

INVERTER-GENERATOR. 2200-watt. 91 octane 4-stroke petrol motor, single phase, 240 volts, 50 hertz output, little used. GC. $95. Doreen. 9717 3465. R-U

COMMUNITY GROUPS can advertise their upcoming events in The Local Paper, without advertising charges. Go to the What’s On - Free Ad Form section at the www.Local Paper.com.au website WHAT’S ON

PUBLIC NOTICES

Divorce Notice

I, Chunbin Wang, filed for divorce from Xiaomin Hu on 12 March 2025.

Hearing details: File No.: BRC3073/2025

Filed at: Brisbane Presiding Officer: Deputy Registrar Moore

Hearing Type: No Attendance (In Absence)

Date: Wednesday, 23 July 2025

Time: 8:30 AM

If Ms. Hu sees this notice, please contact my lawyer Sylvia (LMP Immigration)

Email: sh@lmpi.com.au Phone: +61 02 9086 9186

JAYCO 2004 Freedom Caravan, single beds, RC/ AC, new tyres, unused porta potti, m’wave, 3 way bridge, gas & elec. cooktop and grill, 240/12 volt TV. Aerial. Reg till Jan. 26. Everything in working order. 1150kg. Tows great. VGTC. Hastings. 0409 645 059. Z-CC

LAURA ASHLEY Cotton Queen Coverlet set. Size 220cm x 240cm, plus 2 pillowcases. Pale blue with thin white stripes. Never used. EC. $30. Ashburton. 9885 2203. Z-CC

MAGAZINES. Collectors. New Idea, Woman’s Day, Stellar, Body and Soul, House magazine and many others. GC. Price nego- tiable. West Preston. 0416 576 660. R-U

MAGAZINES. Purnells History of WWII, Australian Geographic, Choice, Burke’s Backyard, Organic Gardener, Gardening Australia, Vegi Patch and some odd ones. GC. 50c each. Reservoir. 0421 131 681. Z-CC

PUBLIC NOTICES

Packaged Liquor Licence Application

We YUYAN PTY LTD applied to Liquor Control Victoria on 24th June 2025 for the grant of a packaged liquor licence at Fortune Asian Supermarket, Shop W041, Northland Shopping Centre, 2 - 50 Murray Road, Preston, VIC 3072.

Any person may object to the grant of this application on the grounds that:

• It would detract from, or be detrimental to, the amenity of the area in which the premises are situated, and/or

• It would be conducive to or encourage the misuse or abuse of alcohol.

An objection must state the reasons for the objection.

All objections are treated as public documents.

Objections must be made in writing to: Liquor Control Victoria PO Box 1019 Richmond VIC 3121

Objections must be made no later than 30 days after the date of this notice.

PRESSURE WASHER. Karcher. Good working order. little used. Complete with operating instructions. Purchaser to collect. GC. $55. Doreen. 9717 3465 Z-CC

NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING PERMIT APPLICATION DETAILS

Application reference number: P25/0803

Applicant name: NEPEAN PLANNING CONSULTANTS

The Land affected by this application is located at:

1 MARVIN AVENUE RYE Lot 32 on Plan of Subdivision 030579 VOL 10852 FOL 565

The application is for a permit to: VARY RESTRICTIVE COVENANT CREATED IN TRANSFER NO. A208723 AFFECTING CERTIFICATE OF TITLE VOLUME 10852 FOLIO 565 BY VARYING THE RESTRICTION WORDING FROM: “ANY BUILDING WHICH SHALL NOT BE SET BACK AT LEAST FORTY FEET FROM THE STREET ALIGNMENT OF SUCH LAND” TO: “ANY BUILDING WHICH SHALL NOT BE SET BACK AT LEAST 7.5 METRES FROM THE FRONT TITLE BOUNDARY”

A permit is required under the following clauses of the planning scheme: MATTER FOR WHICH A PERMIT IS REQUIRED PLANNING SCHEME CLAUSE

Clause 52.02 (Easements, Restrictions and Reserves)

Under section 23 of the Subdivision Act 1988, to vary a restriction.

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before: 9 JULY 2025

How can I find out more?

You may look at the application and any documents that support the application free of charge at: www.mornpen.vic.gov.au

You may also call (03) 5950 1010 to arrange a time to look at the application and any documents that support the application at the office of the responsible authority, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Privacy Notification: The personal information provided in an objection is collected for planning purposes in accordance with the Planning & Environment Act 1987 (the Act). The public may view an objection in accordance with Section 57 of the Act whilst the planning application is current

SAWS. 5 vintage saws for woodwork. FC. $15. Also frame for manual sharpening, GC. $8. Ashburton. 9885 2203.Z-CC

WOOD HEATER. Cast iron. GC. $500. Seymour. 0422 204 977. Z-CC

WORKSHOP MANU-

ALS. Holden VR Commodore. Vol 8, 4 and 5,. $220. Kangaroo Groundf. 9712 0337. Z-CC

REAR SPOILER for VE Holden Commodore Sedan. EC. Best Offer. Mornington. 5975 3609. Z-CC

WHEELS IN VICTORIA Rare 528 page volume, registered 1518 by Harold H. Paynting. History of Wheelecd Transport 1824 to 1984, mint condition in hard cover sleeve. EC. $400. Glen Iris. 0407 276 973. Z-CC

PLUMBING FITTINGS. 1 box PVC 100m Sew/SW, Elbows 45°. As new. $35. Z-CC