The Local Paper. Mitchell Strathbogie Edition. Wed., May 14, 2025

MITCHELL BOOSTS McEWEN MARGIN

■ Labor’s Rob Mitchell has been returned to the Federal seat of McEwen, gaining a 1.06 per cent swing in a contest against the Coalition’s Jason McClintock.

Mr Mitchell has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since August 2010, representing the electorate of McEwen

He was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 2002 to 2006.

Mr Mitchell garnered a Two-Party Preferred votes of 44,784 (54.88 per cent) against Mr McClintock’s tally of 36,817.

In first preference votes, other candidates were:

■ Ali Antoniou, Gerard Rennick’s People First, 2713 (3.32 per cent)

■ Tom Forrest, Legalise Cannabis Partty, 2923 (3.58 per cent)

■ Julio Valencia, Family First, 1\867 (2.29 per cent)

■ Marley McRae-McLeod, The Greens, 9116 votes (11.17 per cent)

■ Jeremy Johnson, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, 5054 (6.19 per cent)

■ Erin McGrath, Fusion, 635 (0.78 per cent).

With initial counting, 40214 informal votes (4.69 per cent) were cast). A total of 85,616 votes had been counted.

SAM WINS NICHOLLS FOR THE NATIONALS

•

■ Nationals MHR for Nicholls, Sam Birrell, held onto the seat at the Federal Election.

After gaining 61,536 votes on a Two Candidate Preferred basis, Mr Birrell had a 65.54 per cent share, ahead of Kim Travers of the Australian Labor Party with 32,354.

In The Local Paper Mitchell-Strathbogie Edition area, the Nicholls electorate takes in Avenel, Broadford, Kilmore, Longwood, Nagambie, Puckapunyal, Seymour and Tallarook.

It also includes Ardmona, Bamawm, Bunbartha, Cobram, Colbinabbin, Congupna, Dhurringle, Dookiue, Echuca, Girgarre, Gowrie, Gunbower, Guythrie, Invergordon, Katandra West, Katunga, Kialla, Kyabram, Ky Valley, Lancaster, Lemnos, Lockington, Merrigum, Mooroopna, Murchison, Nanneella, Nathalia, Numurkah, Orrvale, Picola, Rushworth, St James, Shepparton, Stanhope, Strathmerton, Tatura, Tongala, Toolamba Torrtumbarry, Tungamah, Undera, Wanganui, Wilmot, Wunghru, Yarrawonga and Yarroweyah.

First preference votes were: Kim Travers, (ALP), 22,181; Paul Bachelor (Family First), 4166; G\len Floyd (Trumpet of Patriots), 4306; Aaron Tyrrell (One Nation), 10,520; Sam Birrell (Nationals), 45,057; Jeff Davy (Citizens), 917; Shelby Eade (The Greens), 6745.

● ● ● ● ● Rob Mitchell, McEwen MHR

The Local Paper

VOLUNTEERS VIE FOR AWARDS

Local Briefs

Award winners

■ Murrindinid Shire’s Community Volunteer Awards winners will be announced in a live streamed event at 5pm this Saturday (May 17). See main repoprt, at right.

Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher said that a panel of volunteers met in April to deliberate upon winners of the award.

“It was a privilege to support the panellists with their diligent consideration of 46 nominations for inspiring individuals, groups, and initiatives,” Cr Gallagher said.

Solar for Woods Pt

■ Woods Point will soon get additional energy infrastructure to keep the local community online during outages and emergencies.

Mansfield Council secured a $78,000 grant from Ausnet’s new Energy Resilience Community Fund to provide the new equipment, in addition to contributions from local community members.

Installation works are planned to finish this week.

The Woods Point Hall will receive a new diesel generator and the Woods Point Museum will be getting a 6.5kW solar array and 15kWh of battery storage.

Mansfield Council has engaged local company Solar Phase to deliver the system.

The new equipment means the Hall and the Museum will be able to offer a self-sufficient powered site during outages.

Local people will be able to charge their devices, access a kitchen and refrigerator and take a shower, and the Hall’s rooftop sprinkler system will be able to continue operating if needed.

Mansfield Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said Council had listened to locals to understand Woods Point's emergency needs.

“The generator and solar system we’re installing is a direct result of the feedback we received from Woods Point locals through our Resilience Benchmarking Project and through working together on the Local Emergency Action Plan,” he said. Contributed

■ Murrindindi Council has published the list of nominees to be considered at this week’s

Community Volunteer Awards.

Community Volunteer of The Year Nominees

■ Kim Travers, Flowerdale

■ Ron Litjens, Yea

■ Jess Kennedy, Yea

■ Tamara Fowkes, Kinglake

■ Lucy Collins, Alexandra

■ Sarah Hopkins, Flowerdale

■ Kate Rose Turner, Pheasant Creek

■ Paul Michael, Flowerdale

■ Kerrie Malley, Eildon

■ Michelle (Shelley) Stafford, Buxton

Senior Volunteer of The Year Award Nominees

■ Kath Hedger, Alexandra

■ Judith (Jude) Blakeney, Alexandra

■ Margaret O’Connell, Toolangi

■ Julie Hardy, Alexandra

■ Gail (Dolli) Dollimore, Marysville

■ Dawn Sundblom, Yea

■ Robert (Bob) Burns, Kinglake

■ Judith Hard, Yea

■ John Hughes, Eildon

■ Neil Guscott, Marysville

Community Group of the Year Award Nominees

■ Kinglake Market, Rotary Club of Kinglake Ranges

■ Christmas Tree Festival Committee, Alexandra

■ UGFM Radio Murrindindi Inc

■ Sacred Heart Parents and Friends Yea

■ Eildon Community Opportunity Shop Inc.

■ Kinglake Mumma’s Community Support Group

■ Murrindindi Carers’ Coffee Group, Alexandra

■ Tri Active Life (Registered as Tri Gym Inc), Marysville

■ Murrindindi East U3A

■ Goulburn Valley Suicide Awareness Group Inc. Flowerdale

■ Kinglake Wildlife Support

■ The Alexandra Community Visitor Information Centre

Young Volunteer of the Year Award Nominees

■ Ethan Hodge, Eildon

■ Thomas White, Yea

■ Layla Calder – Flowerdale

■ Danny Heal, Kinglake Central

Parking changes

■ Yarra Ranges Council is Council is encouraging feedback from local people on some proposed parking restriction changes in Olinda.

“The proposed changes aim to create more equitable parking outcomes, ensuring that residents, local businesses and visitors all benefit from improved accessibility and fairer access to parking within the town,” said a Council representativce.

Streeton Ward Councillor, Jeff Marriott, said that the proposed changes aligned with Council’s Draft Parking Management Framework. Proposed parking restriction changes include:

■ Introducing a two-hour parking restriction along Olinda-Monbulk Rd and on the north side of Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd

■ Two-hour parking on Monash Avenue

■ Introducing an accessible bay on the north side of Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd

■ Introducing a 4-hour parking restriction on the south side of Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd

““We’ve heard previously, particularly from local businesses, that the lack of restrictions has meant that some people were leaving their vehicles in the one park all day, hampering the ability for other community members to park closer to where they need to go,” Cr Marriott said. “We think these proposed changes will ultimately lead to fairer parking outcomes for the community.”

● ● ●

● Cr Damian Gallafgher, Mayor

MP: ‘ENFORCE STANDARDS’

■ Northern Metropolitan MLC Anasina Gray-Barberio has called on Lizzie Blandthorn, State Minister for Children, to advocate to federal colleagues to support the Federal Greens’ call for an independent early education and care commission o strictly enforce quality standards and keep children and babies safe.

“Tragically, discussions about harm to children have dominated the media and airwaves over the past few weeks,” Ms GrayBarberio said.

“The ABC’s Four Corners, with support from my fellow Greens colleague Abigail Boyd in the New South Wales Legislative Council, exposed horrific abuse in child care.

“Emily’s four-year-old son disclosed sexual abuse by a childcare worker. She reported it to the centre and the police, but crucial CCTV footage was erased and parents were never informed.

“This is not an isolated incident. Over 26,000 serious childcare breaches were reported in 2024. Missing children, injuries, abuse – this cannot be normal.

“The investigation revealed the consequences of childcare privatisation, with underpaid, overworked staff pressured to meet financial targets – unchecked abuse, putting profits over children’s safety.

“The Saturday Paper exposed another disturbing failure of accountability: Bird v. DP. This case involved a man sexually abused at age five by a priest.

“The High Court overturned previous court rulings and determined the Catholic Church is not responsible for clergy crimes because priests are not employees.

“Survivors deserve justice, not loopholes. As a result, thousands of survivors in Australia have no legal path to justice. Instead of taking responsibility, the church used the courts to shield its assets.

“Other countries – Canada, the UK and Ireland – have strengthened laws to hold institutions accountable.

“Australia’s High Court, however, is falling behind.

“Outrageously, the church are happy to claim whenever it suits them. The church took $627 million in JobKeeper payments during COVID by claiming clergy as employees but now denies responsibility for clergy abuse. The hypocrisy is staggering.

“The law states that organisations take ‘reasonable precautions’ to prevent child abuse under their care, but instead they are moving through loopholes that prevent victims from getting justice.

“It is devastating to see institutions dodge responsibility while victims suffer. This is wrong and it has to change. Institutions that fail to protect children must be held accountable – no exceptions, no excuse,” Msd GrayBarberio said.

SRL first choice

■ Richard Welch, North-Eastern Metropoltan MLC, says the State Government had the choice to fund local projects but instead selected to give money to the Suburban Rail loop.

“You had a choice for Donnybrook Road, Yan Yean Road and Mickleham Road, and you chose the SRL. Cancel the SRL,” Mr Welch said.

BUNDOORA: MURDER CHARGE

■ Missing Person Squad detectives have charged a 40-year-old man with murder after the body of a man was located in Bundoora.

The deceased was located at a McLeans Rd address about 9.45am on Thursday (May 8).

A 51-year-old Bundoora woman and a 40year-old Bundoora man were arrested at the scene.

The woman was interviewed by detectives and released.

The Bundoora man was charged with one count of murder.

He was to before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (May 10).

Election fraud found by VEC

● ● Judge Caitlin English

■ The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal says there were suspected fraudulently completed ballots in Lalor Ward at last October’s local government elections.

VCAT Vice-President Judge Caitlin English stated in her decision: ‘I am satisfied the electors were proven to have been prevented from recording their votes effectively according to their own preference.”

This supported the VEC’s position that “there [had] not been the free and fair opportunity of electing the candidate which the majority might prefer”.

Acting Electoral Commissioner Dana Fleming welcomed the decision and acknowledged the significant efforts of staff at the VEC who identified the irregularities and supported VCAT with its inquiry.

VEC staff were able to detect a high number of multiple returns in the Lalor Ward election and ultimately identified 81 suspicious returns. By law, the VEC was required to complete the counting and declare the result of that election.

The final margin between the successful candidate for the single-councillor ward and the runner up candidate was just 39 votes.

“To those who seek to subvert our electoral processes, there will be consequences to your actions. We will detect your efforts, and we will act,” Ms Fleming said.

The declaration causes an extraordinary vacancy in Lalor Ward. The effect is that the person previously elected as councillor, Stevan Kozmevski, no longer holds the office of councillor.

The VEC does not suggest Mr Kozmevski, or any other candidate, was involved in the fraud.

“This has demonstrated that our processes to protect democracy work and uphold electoral integrity. Victorians can be confident that their vote is safe and will not be undermined by those seeking to do wrong,” Ms Fleming said.

In addition to making its application to VCAT, the VEC also referred this matter to the Local Government Inspectorate and Victoria Police The VEC said it cannot comment on the investigation.

The VEC’s separate application to VCAT regarding potential fraud in the Knox City Council, Baird Ward election is still to be decided by VCAT

Graham St works

■ Construction on the play space upgrade at Seymour’s Graham Street Reserve were due to begin on Monday (May 12)..

The works, which are expected to be completed by June, will include demolition of the existing play space to make way for upgraded equipment and landscaping.

The new play space will feature a wing set, seesaw, ew seating and new concrete path. The play space will be closed for the duration of the work.

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.

Gorge Rd boost

■ A $1.2 million makeover has transformed the popular Gorge Rd shopping precinct in South Morang.

The extensive upgrades will help attract more people to the centre to shop and socialise in the relaxing surrounds, according to a Whittlesea Council representative.

“The project delivered an expanded outdoor dining area with seating, tables, bins and bike racks, making the precinct a more attractive place to spend time.

“A shift from angled to parallel parking at the front of the shops, as well as installation of a raised pedestrian crossing and new streetlights, has improved access and safety at the site.

“The project also had a strong focus on environmental sustainability, with the planting of new trees to provide shade and street water run-off used for irrigation.

“A family-friendly event to celebrate the completion of the streetscape upgrade will be held at the Gorge Road shops on Sunday (May 18).”

● Anasina Gray-Barberio MLC

(Back load Specialist. Conditions apply)

24 HOURS7 DAYS A WEEK

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Where

■

Court Lists

Seymour Magistrates’ Court Criminal Case Listings

Thursday, May 15

Local Briefs

Olive harvest time

■

■

■ 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.

Bajwa, Bassett,VinayCameron

■ The City of Whittlesea is partnering with environmental education centre CERES to bring local olive oil to the community.

■

■

■ ALEXANDRA. Endeavour

■

Alexandra (BP). 10 Downey St.

■

■ 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.

■

■

■ ALEXANDRA. Mount Pleasant Hotel. 90 Grant St.

■

■ ALEXANDRA. Nutrien Harcourts. 56 Grant St.

■

■ 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.

■

■ BUXTON. Buxton Hotel. 2192 Maroondah Hwy.

■

■

■ ■ 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.

■

■ EILDON. Foodworks. 18 Main St.

■

■

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

■

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

■ ■ EPPING. Epping RSL. Harvest Home Rd.

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■ 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.

■ ■ GLENBURN. Glenburn Roadhouse. 3883 Melba Hwy.

■ ■ 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.

■

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

■ ■ MANSFIELD. Foodworks. 119 High St.

■

■

■ ■ ■ MARYSVILLE. Foodworks. 40A Darwin St.

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

■

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

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

■

■

■ ■ 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.

■

■ 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.

■ ■ 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.

■

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

■

■

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

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

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

■

■ ■ ■ 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.

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

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

■ 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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■ ■ YEA. Country Club Hotel. 18 High St.

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

■ ■ YEA. Foodworks. 10 High St.

■

■ YEA. Giddy Coat Cafe. 94 High St.

■ BROADFORD. Broadford Newsagency. 67 High St.

■ BROADFORD. Broadford Post Office. 123 High St.

■ BROADFORD. Broadford Service Station. 165 High St.

■

■ 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.

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■

■ ■ YEA. Peppercorn Hotel. 21 Station St.

■

■ ■ ■ YEA. Provender Bakery. 56 High St.

■ ■ YEA. Rendezvous In Yea. 10

High St.

■ ■ YEA. Royal Mail Hotel. 88

High St.

■ ■ DONNYBROOK. Donnybrook Hotel. 825 Donnybrook Rd.

■ DONNYBROOK. Donnybrook Post Office. 810 Donnybrook Rd.

■ KILMORE. BP. 102 Sydney St.

■

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

The free event invites residents to collect olives from their properties or wherever they choose to harvest, so the fruit can be communally pressed into a blend of local olive oil.

Olives can be dropped off on Saturday (May 17) at May Road Senior Citizens’ Centre in Lalor, where a festival to celebrate the harvest is free for anyone to attend. The festival will include music, stalls and workshops, as well as fun activities for the kids.

Each year, olive trees across the City of Whittlesea grow full of fruit that often goes unpicked. Olives to Oil promotes the benefits of growing local produce and reducing food waste.

Residents wishing to have their olives pressed by CERES must book a drop-off time. Each booking permits up to 20kg of olives –which makes about 2L of olive oil – but multiple bookings can be made for people who have more.

Those who drop off olives at the festival can collect their olive oil from the May Road Senior Citizen Centre on June 14.

City of Whittlesea Mayor, Cr Martin Taylor, said: "We’re excited to bring Olives to Oil to the City of Whittlesea. This innovative event not only helps reduce food waste but also offers a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, take part in the age-old tradition of harvesting and create something truly special."

Manager of CERES Olives to Oil, Merrin Layden, said: "The program celebrates the multicultural heritage of Melbourne's suburbs with olive trees planted by migrant communities and now cherished by local people who harvest olives and share the oil. People of all ages enjoy participating in an ancient harvest tradition."

Neighbourhoods

■ Neighbourhood House Week is being held from May 12-18.

■

■

■ ■ 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.

■ 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.

■

■

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

■

■ ■ ■ HEALESVILLE. BP. 66 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ HEALESVILLE. Coles Express. 123 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ HEALESVILLE. Grand Hotel. 270 Maroondah Hwy.

■ ■ HEALESVILLE. Healesville Newsagency. 195 Maroondah Hwy.

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

■

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

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

■ 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.

■

■

■ ■ LILYDALE. Lilydale Newsagency. 237 Main St.

■

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

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

■ 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.

■

■

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

■ ■ SEVILLE. Wooworths Seville. 568 Warburton Hwy.

■

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

■

■

■ ■ WARBURTON. Bakery. 3415 Warburton Hwy.

■ ■ 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.

Binks-Brown, William Bond, Jason Bouwmeester,GlynMatthew Bratusa, Anthony Brown, David Ronald Bullard, Glenn Challis, Scott Doyle, Christopher Dunn, Morgan Ferri, Travis Gonelli, Henry Green, Warren Hamment, Jack Haynes, Scott Hughes, Kevin William Karajanov, James Kirkham, Jayden Lewis, Adam Newton, Sean Jeffrey Offermans, Daniel Sanchez, Andre Guy Shanahan, Daniel Simm, Darren Singh, Narinder Smith, Kadel Smith, Matthew John Stewart, Toby Leigh Tom, Ritto Warne, Joshua Micheal Waters, Sonya Felice Wilson, Bailey Wilson, Caleb Wilson, Harley Wright, Joanne Zerna, Michael Monday, May 19 Fleming, Kristine Osborne, Dean Mitchell Robinson, Raylene Sheridan, Matthew Wright, Allison Maree Tuesday, May 20 Baynes, John Wednesday, May 21 Bruton, Mark Edwards, Dylan Elmaaraoui, Ahmed Garde, Jake Kandasamy, Kisokumar Lisle, CoreyLoder, Glenn Macrae, Louise Mare, Jade Mclean, Benjamin O'neill, Chrisopher Patrick Paye, Yeaplay Pemberton, Andrew Ranjha, Ahmed Tarrant-Willis, Mary Elizabeth Thain, William Trott, Sherrie Turner, Lane Yee Yap, Tiffany Thursday, May 22 Amuso, Dylan Azzopardi, Josh Beecroft, Michael Bell, Alastair Berry, Jacob Bierman, Jade Binks-Brown, Nick Bugden, Scott Bulmer, Benjamin Stanley Collard, Travis Craig, Shannon Furse, Rohan William Georgiou, Anthony Glovicih, James Hall, Ben James Hancy, Paul Hanlon, Terrence Hopkins, Connah Jacobs, Ashley Jacobs, Jamie George Karian, Romy F Lampe, Jan Fred Magdic, Emma J Magdic, Jackson C Mathwin, Michael Mccabe-Jackson, Daniel Mccarter, Clayton Mitchell, Rodney Moore, Joanne O'connell, Billy John Petronio, Jaimie Dean Randall, Jack Corey Skinner, Heath Stojcevski, Jamie Swanwick, Belinda Trimboli, Justin Tweedie, Joel Wade, Matthew Wallace, Simon West, Riley Williamson, Ebony Wright, Jayden Wright, Yoannides,JaydenElana

Under this year’s theme, ‘Ripples of Change’, Nillumbik’s five unique Neighbourhood Houses will come together to deliver a week of free and low-cost activities.

Nillumbik’s Neighbourhood Houses include Allwood Neighbourhood House in Hurstbridge, Wadambuk St Andrews Community Centre, and the three Living & Learning hubs in Diamond Creek, Eltham and Panton Hill. Each day of Neighbourhood House Week , events will be hosted at a different Neighbourhood House, showcasing a variety of workshops and activities tailored to the interests of the community.

Nillumbik Mayor Cr John Dumaresq is calling on residents to get involved in Neighbourhood House Week, highlighting the pivotal role these centres play in building strong, resilient, and inclusive communities.

“Our Neighbourhood Houses are venues where people of all backgrounds come together to learn, connect and contribute,” Cr Dumaresq said.

“They offer lifelong learning opportunities, foster social connections and provide countless ways to volunteer and give back.

“These centres are at the heart of our community, creating positive change and supporting people through life’s challenges.

“I encourage everyone to visit their local Neighbourhood House during Neighbourhood House Week . Whether you’re interested in picking up a new skill, meeting new people, or lending a hand, your involvement helps strengthens our community for all.” he said

This year is one of significant celebrations for the Shire’s Neighbourhood Houses, with Wadambuk St Andrews Community Centre marking its 10th anniversary, Allwood Neighbourhood House celebrating 40 years, and Living & Learning Nillumbik celebrating 50 years.

Nillumbik Council encourages residents to take part in the celebrations and discover how their local Neighbourhood House can create “ripples of change” in their own lives.

Local Briefs

History out now

■ Yea district resident Ian Sichlau has published the History of the Homewood Rural Fire Brigade Copies have been printed and bound and they are available for $70 per copy. Contact Ian Sichlau on 0419 311 039. iansichlau@gmail.com

Reserve upgrade

■ Cr Jodi Adams says that Murrindindi Council has applied for grants for a Kinglake Memorial Reserve upgrade and recreation planning across the Shire

Private camping

Shire’s Aust. Day review

■ Strathbogie Shire Council is inviting the community to participate in an engagement process regarding Council’s support of community events that acknowledge Australia Day

The Council resolved last December to review its position on this matter, committing to engagement with the broader Strathbogie community, affected community groups, and First Nations representatives.

A detailed engagement approach was developed and presented at the April Council Meeting for consideration.

App training

■ Vic Emergency App Training will be held at the Kinglake Library between 2pm-3pm on Thursday (May 15) where representatives will show how easy it is to use the app to stay informed and safe during emergencies such as fires, floods, storms, and earthquakes. Lght refreshments will be provided. To RSVP and for more information call Council on 5772 0333 or drop in to the Kinglake Library.

Planning time

■

■

■ ■ Cr Sandice McAulay told the latest Murrindindi Council meeting that there are ongoing issues with camping illegally for profit on private land impacting neighbours and the environment .

“I ask that people be respectful of neighbours and the amenity of the surrounding area. I can assure you that all the complaints and issues raised are being followed up,” Cr McAulay said.

“Officers are not able to share the details of a compliance case with the person who raised it due to privacy.

“Some of the illegal activities have stopped when those responsible have been advised it was illegal, others have had fines and others are progressing their way to the Magistrates’ Court.”

Work on roads

■ Cr Eric Lording told the latest Murrindindi Council meeting that the roads and infrastructure programs are moving ahead as planned.

“The dry weather has been helpful in allowing crews to work without weather delays, with the temperatures being in a sweet spot for road sealing,” Cr Lording said.

Mayor Cr Claire Ewart-Kennedy said the engagement process is designed to ensure a broad and balanced conversation, welcoming diverse perspectives within the community.

“This is an important conversation for our community, and we are committed to an inclusive and respectful process,” Cr EwartKennedy said.

“We understand that Australia Day holds different meanings for different people, and we want to ensure all voices are heard as we consider Council’s future role in supporting these events.

“We acknowledge that Australia Day is the responsibility of the Federal Government, which determines its broader political implications.

As a result, our local poll will be focused solely on what Council can control – funding, representation and support of Australia Day events.”

Australia Day is a federally recognised public holiday. The Council is not engaging in discussions about changing the date or other political elements, as those remain matters for the Federal Government.

“Instead, we are focusing on understanding the sentiment of our community and implementing outcomes accordingly,” Cr Ewart-Kennedy said.

The engagement will include both a randomised telephone poll and an opt-in community poll, alongside other methods of com-

munity consultation. The Council will also invite presentations from the Taungurung Land and Waters Council and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, as well as from local Australia Day Committees and groups that organise events on Australia Day

A further report detailing the outcomes of these engagements—including individual reporting of each stream and the complete underlying data—will be presented to Council at a future meeting.

“Once engagement activities are complete, a full engagement report will be prepared and presented to Council for consideration before being made available to the public.

“We encourage everyone in the community to take part,” said Cr Ewart-Kennedy. “This is an opportunity to help shape how Council supports this day moving forward — guided by community sentiment, cultural sensitivity, and an inclusive transparent process for all.”

■ Cr Sandice McxAulay spoke at the latest Murrindindi Council meeting about local sessions on strategic planning.

Concept plans have been diuscussed for both Alexandra East Development Plan and the Yea Structure Plan.

“Alexandra East Development Plan discussion highlighted the focus on unlocking appropriately zoned land for sustainable growth to attract and retain services,” Cr McAulay said.

“Participants were keen to see a mix of densities across the area. With smaller and slightly larger blocks that are appropriate to attract a variety of families, singles and retirees.

“Land-Owners were able to self-nominate to participate in a community reference group and discussions were encouraged with broader community engagement and drop is sessions.

“Discussions also focused on the need for finding a balance between protecting biodiversity, drainage / water management, development areas as well as landscapes, etc.

“Yea Structure Plan discussion demonstrated that we have an adequate supply of residential zoned land to accommodate growth for a number of years to come.

“It was generally agreed to focus on increasing density within the town centre,” Cr McAulay told Councillors.

● ● ● ● Cr Claire Ewart-Kennedy

‘Away’ by MUST

● ● ● The MUST Away Ensemble (from back left): Marcus Leder, Will Goldman, Quinten van Dalen, Grace Jackson, Thimuthu Dassanayake, Sophie Reynolds, Felicity Barrow, Lucy Fraser, Will Beechey, Patrick Leong, Claire Piechocki and Ruby Parkin.

Local Business Profile

30 ARRESTS OVER DATING APP ASSAULTS

■ Victoria Police has arrested more than 30 people as part of an investigation into a series of concerning attacks on men linked to the use of dating apps and social media.

Police allege several groups of offenders –primarily young males aged between 13 and 20 – have been posing as legitimate users of the platforms to lure men into meeting them.

The victims are then allegedly assaulted, robbed, threatened and subjected to homophobic comments.

Some incidents have involved victims being filmed with the videos posted on social media accounts.

Police have seen incidents occur across the state, particularly in local government areas taking in Manningham, Casey, Hume, Moorabbin and Knox

The more than 30 arrests have been made since October last year.

The arrests include:

■ A 16-year-old boy for intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and possessing a prohibited weapon without lawful excuse. The boy has been charged.

Michelle Allen and team of Muddy Creek Health Hub, Yea

I have been working as a massage therapist in Yea, at my home for the last 15 years.

I have supported people's relaxation, remedial or correctional and palliative care treatments for this community and it's been an honor.. I have always been fascinated by the body and finding ways of helping people in pain and learning to see if we can push past our symptoms to heal on a deep or lasting level. It's always been a dream of mine to be part of a health hub that includes different types of therapists and modalities coming together.

Technology is happening in our health care industry and with so many amazing minds and by still using old fashioned foundations there is some seriously successful solutions for people's pain and healthcare needs. My clinic is lucky enough to have Rebecca Bullen join the team as a Remedial Therapist who brings the same values with a different touch to her care for clients.

I have also introduced a Telsa

Former which uses Functional Magnetic Stimulation machine that can change our body on a very deep physiological level. It supports problems around inflammation, pain, muscular atrophy and injury, stimulates the lymphatic system and supports drainage.

Weight loss or cellulite reduction or body sculpting. Pelvic floor issues and incontinence problems have had huge success and erectile dysfunction also has some.

We have an awesome team to begin with of Rebecca Bullen, Nicole Schryver, Grace Hamilton and myself who look forward to being part of Yea and districts healthcare solutions.

My telephone number is 0419 625 536 if you would like to talk more or even come in and have a look around at our facilities. The clinic's number is 0417 658 366 or email us at info@muddycreekhealthhub. com.au

Our address is 7 The Semi Circle, Yea. The old medical Centre and the old dentist.

■ A 17-year-old boy for intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and possessing a drug of dependence. The boy has been charged.

■ Two 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy for recklessly causing injury. All three boys were charged.

■ A 13-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy for kidnapping and armed robbery. Two of the boys were charged and bailed to face court. The other boy was released pending further enquiries.

■ Seven 17-year-old boys for armed robbery, violent disorder and false imprisonment. Two of the boys were charged and bailed at court. The remaining five have been charged on summons to appear at court at a later date.

■ Four 19-year-old males from Bayswater, Lyndhurst and Cranbourne East for armed robbery. Three of the males were charged and bailed to face court. The other male was released pending further enquiries.

Victoria Police treats incidents of this nature with the utmost seriousness and urges victims to come forward so police can investigate.

Concern

■ Priority and Safer Communities

Division Acting Superintendent

Carolyn Deer said:

“There is absolutely no place for this type of concerning behaviour in our society. It will not be tolerated. Everyone has a right to go about their lives, meet new people and start a relationship in safety.

“We know this has been a distressing situation for the victims involved .”

ADVERTORIAL ●

● Michelle Allen, Nicole Schryver, Bek Bullen and Grace Hamilton

Peter Kemp’s 90th Birthday Party

■ The Glen Waverley RSL was a splendid venue for Peter Kemp's 90th birthday celebration last week.

Hosted by Peter and his wife Tanya, 50 guests attended, including family, friends, members of the Ukrainian Association of Victoria and his colleagues from the National Boer War Memorial Association, the National Servicemens' Association, and radio and theatre.

Geoff Dare spoke of Peter's fine work for the Boer War Association, Robert McIvor paid tribute to Peter's involvement with the National Servicemen's Association, and Peter spoke about his family.

Cheryl Threadgold addressed guests about Peter's many years as a theatre reviewer and art writer, his involvement in productions with the local Scout group and then shows with Rovers, his work for the State Emergency Service as Officer in Charge of the Search and Rescue Division , his work as a professional Spanish Dancer and meeting his future wife Tanya in 1963.

To top it all off, in respect of Peter's community work for various organisations, he was Knighted by Prince Leonard of the Principality of Hutt River and now is 'Sir Peter Kemp KOWL'.

Photos: Malcolm Threadgold

● ● ● ● Peter and Tanya Kemp.

● ● Kevin Yates (96.5 Inner FM) and Pauline O'Brien (88.3 Southern FM).

Slaughter (President, Glen Waverley RSL), Robert McIvor (President, National Servicemen's Association) and Sam Cuce.

● ● Joe Toczynski, Richard Horban and Tony Dornyk (members of the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria).

● ● ● ● George Himmelreich (left) with Cheryl and Malcolm Threadgold.

● ● ● ● Back left: Irene Toczynski, Lena Himmelreich; Front left: Olga Radywyl, Anna Horban and Teresa Selemba.

● ● ● ● Marion Sander with Joan and Brian Amos (Radio Eastern FM)

● ● Trixie Huber (left), Robert Kemp, Peter Kemp, Tanya Kemp and Nadia Kemp.

■ Circa returns to Arts Centre Melbourne with their global acrobatic smash hit Humans 2.0 from May 14 – 24 in the Playhouse, fresh from celebrating their 20-year anniversary last year.

Circa’s reputation precedes itself for being at the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus, redefining the art form by showcasing how extreme physicality can forge powerful and emotive experiences.

They have performed in over 45 countries and reached more than two million people, pushing boundaries, blending movement, dance, theatre and circus.

Under the visionary leadership of Yaron Lifschitz, and in collaboration with their ensemble of circus artists, Humans 2.0 is the next chapter of Circa’s internationally acclaimed Humans – a work that explored the physical limits of the body by pushing it to its extremities.

Humans 2.0 is intimate, primal and deeply engaged with the challenge of being human. It poses the question: can we ever find a perfect balance, or is adapting to constant change the only way forward?

Performance Season: May 14 - 24

Venue: The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne

Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au Cheryl Threadgold

St Kilda Festival

■ Australia's longest-running film festival, the St Kilda Film Festival, returns to the big screen from June 5-15.

Presented by the City of Port Phillip, this year’s festival will screen over 150 films across 34 curated sessions, taking place at iconic venues including South Melbourne Market, the Astor Theatre, and for the first time since 2019, the St Kilda Town Hall

The Palais Theatre will roll out the red carpet for the Opening Night Gala for a starstudded evening on June 5.

In 2025, SKFF continues its commitment to platforming diverse voices and perspectives. The program features the festival’s largest First Nations line-up to date, including a dedicated strand curated by Fred Gesha, with a particular focus on stories of motherhood and birthing by First Nations female filmmakers.

This year also sees a strong embrace of analogue formats, with a resurgence in Super 8 and 16mm filmmaking evident by the 12 titles in the program shot on film, illustrating how the next generation of filmmakers are embracing the medium.

A reimagined St Kilda Town Hall will serve as the festival’s hub, transformed into a cabaret-style cinema with a bar, DJs, live music on Friday nights, and an open-access Filmmaker Lounge, bringing a new feel to the festival experience.

Short film highlights include: Unspoken, directed by Damian Walshe-Howling; See M: A Film About Redro Redriguez, directed by Nathan Woods; Fence, directed by Samantha Alexis Laughton; Re-Imagining Our Futures: Birthing , directed by Kimberley Benjamin;Born to Hustle, directed by Grace Anna Cardona ; Rage ,directed by Renee Kyprioti, Unstoppable,directed by Jack Byrnes and Marcus Porcaro and many more.

Richard Sowada, SKFF Director said, “What an absolutely ripping year for Australian short-form films.”

For more information on screenings and bookings, visit: stkildafilmfestival.com.au

Cheryl Threadgold

Talk is cheap, gossip is priceless

Beetlejuice the Musical

■ The Michael Cassel Group and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures present Beetlejuice the Musical, now playing in Melbourne at the Regent Theatre for a limited Australian premiere season.

Based on Tim Burton's horror comedy movie, Beetlejuice the Musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz (Karis Oka), a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes.

After earning a Tony Award nomination for the music and lyrics he wrote for Beetlejuice the Musical, Eddie Perfect stars in the title role as the most mischievous corpse in the history of musicals.

Under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact) Beetlejuice the Musical is not only described as “funny, irreverent, reckless and repellent', but also as being a touching show about family, love, and 'making the most of every DayO!”

Performance Details: Playing for a limited season.

Venue: Regent Theatre, 191 Collins St., Melbourne Bookings: Ticketek or beetlejuicethe musical.com.au

Cheryl Threadgold

Skills and Roles

■ At its inaugural Music Data and Insights Summit, the Victorian Music Development Office launched its new research commission, Skills and Roles – Support workers in Victorian music industries.

Following a long-term research partnership with RMIT University, these new insights provide the VMDO with a current evidence-based perspective and expands on the 2020 study, Career Path: The Victorian Music Business Career Life Cycle..

This new research points out the nuances of learning and skills development within the complex and precarious career paths of Victorian music professionals and offers recommendations to build healthy thriving businesses.

The insights reveal that 54 per cent of music workers embrace a portfolio career or are protean workers where they hold multiple concurrent roles to make ends meet and only one in five have a single full-time role.

It is no surprise to music professionals that they frequently work irregular and sporadic hours. Almost 50 per cent work more than 40+ hours per week across all their roles, including over 10 per cent who work 50+ hours per week.

The survey data indicates that skills are wideranging across music work. The research surveyed 212 workers and conducted 21 extended interviews representing 324 different paid music roles across Victoria.

There is a passion to work in the music industry, but it is not always financially rewarding. The increasing expectation for music professionals to be ‘all-rounders’ may be leading to skill dilution, increased stress and the potential long-term loss of industry specialists and experts.

A Support Act survey recently found that 62 per cent of creative workers are affected by increased financial stress.

Across all roles in the music sector, 61 per cent use business, financial and legal skills. While many music workers are often ‘all-rounders’, the research found that these areas require further attention to develop these skills.

Soft skills like communication, interpersonal abilities and problem-solving emerged as the most critical skill sets used by over 80 per cent of music professionals.

VMDO General Manager Kirsty Rivers said music workers play a central role and this research responds to the challenges faced by the Victorian music industry to sustain and develop its workforce.

“By building evidence-based research, we can better understand the skills and the gaps that exist. It helps us to develop bespoke industry

Benny Capp training and support opportunities that are needed to thrive in the complex global music industry,” said Ms Rivers.

RMIT University Associate Professor Catherine Strong said it is the first report to map the support roles and associated skills within the Victorian music industries.

“Skills shortages are often an industry concern and the research highlights areas requiring attention that could strengthen the workforce,” said Associate Professor Strong.

“The research shows that music workers often acquire skills on-the-job, which is valued by the industry. However, this means that professionals may not always acknowledge the skills or gaps they have. Finding ways to make formal training work better for this group is one way to counter these issues,” she explained.

Providing a more structured mentoring system could be an option to sustain music careers by developing the key skills and expertise required across the industry.

Interviewees with a mentor spoke highly of this experience and said they received valuable advice, training and guidance during their introduction to the music industry.

More than any other skill, the research highlighted that financial planning and management skills needed to be further developed by music workers.

Research interviewees also identified the other specific skills that required further attention and development related to finance, contracts and marketing.

The VMDO works closely with educational institutions, government and industry experts to develop music worker skills and experience by delivering programs that respond to the gaps revealed in this research.

Through its recent Leg Up program, the VMDO provided quick, easy and vital assistance. It supported 37 Victorian music professionals with access to grants for micro-investments, expert advice, professional development and capacity building.

Over the coming months, the VMDO will expand its popular Experts in Residence program and the long-term mentoring Fast Track Fellowships program will return to support music professionals build global networks, international experience and professional opportunities.

Cheryl Threadgold with Ben Starick

● ● ● ● Ruth Katerelos, June Collins, Rosie Rodiadis and Gabby Llewelyn in Femme Play (ungrateful slut).

■ Attitude Production and Cracked Actors Theatre present Femme Play [ungrateful slut], at The Butterfly Club from May 21-31 as part of the Drama Queen Festival 2025.

Written by feminist playwright Judy Doubas and directed by Susan Rundle, the play is described as a 'sharp, provocative production which blends humour and biting social commentary with an urgent call for change’.

Al and George are two women wrestling with modern pressures - careers, relationships, identity - only to realise their struggles are systemic.

As they awaken to the forces shaping their lives, their inner voices Red , a patriarchal mouth-piece, and Bling, embodying society’s Madonna/Whore paradox, push and pull them in opposing directions, leading them toward political action.

Doubas’s work evolved from personal observation into a wider, urgent conversation about feminism’s ongoing battles..

Director Rundle says the play is “In-yourface, hilarious, and unapologetic. It doesn’t preach, but it sure makes you think.”

With misogyny still a global issue, Femme Play arrives as a timely, unflinching response.

Unapologetically urgent, Femme Play [ungrateful slut] aims to demand attention.

Performance Season: May 21-24 at 7pm; May 26, 28 and 29 at 8.30pm, May 27, 30 and 31 at 5.30pm

Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place (off Lt Collins St), Melbourne (CBD)

Tickets: $45 Full | $40 Concession. $38 Member

Bookings: thebutterflyclub.com/show/ femme-play-ungrateful-slut or 9663 810 Cheryl Threadgold

Samson & Delilah

■ Melbourne Opera will stage Saint-Saëns' grand opera Samson & Delilah from June 1 at the Palais Theatre. One of the greatest French operas, Samson and Delilah powerfully tells the story of the seduction and downfall of Samson

Not performed in Australia since the 1980s, the iconic opera will star two of Australia’s most celebrated international singers. Deborah Humble (The Ring Cycle, Sydney Opera House solo) will make her debut in the role of Delilah, one of the greatest mezzo roles in the repertoire. Rosario la Spina (Opera Australia’s Die Walküre, Madama Butterfly - Belgium) will star as Samson. Melbourne’s visionary opera director Suzanne Chaundy will direct.

The French opera follows the extraordinary success of February’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Royal Exhibition Building, also directed by Suzanne Chaundy, with Deborah Humble in the cast.

Samson & Delilah is based on a violent and erotic story from the Old Testament, and features one of the most well known love duets in the repertoire.

“I am setting the opera in a psychological and abstract space. My vision is to focus on the characters of Samson and Delilah, examining the power of seduction, betrayal, obsession and faith. It is a fascinating study of the pressures that come from being the ‘chosen one’,” says director Suzanne Chaundy

“French composer Camille Saint-Saëns and librettist Ferdinand Lemaire made a clear choice to make this work about both characters by naming them both in the title,” Suzanne Chaundy said.

●

● ● ● Eddie Perfect (Beetlejuice) and Karis Oka (Lydia) star in Beetlejuice the Musical. Photo:

● ● Circa Ensemble present Humans 2.0. Photo: Yaya Stempler

CATO THE WISE

Maxwell Newton

★Creatives from Monash University, the official representatives of Australia at the 24th Triennale Milano International Exhibition, will use their exhibit to reveal how Melbourne’s focus on housing growth has led to environmental neglect. One of the world’s leading art, design and architecture exhibitions, it will take place in Italy, until November 9.

★The Gympie Music Muster has announced Canadian artist Dan Davidson as its first international ambassador, marking a milestone for the iconic Queensland event ahead of its 2025 festival, running August 28–31.

★The newly elected Executive Committee of the Victorian Council for Greek National Day comprises Chair Sophia Siachos, Secretary: Peter Stefanidis, Assistant Secretary Dean Kalymniou , Treasurer Arthur Andronas, Master of Ceremonies (Greek) Katerina Poutachidou, Master of Ceremonies (English) Leonidas Vlahakis, and Parade Marshal Jim Grivokostopoulos

★The the Cat Protection Society of Victoria’s workplace giving campaign looks to support more than 1200 vulnerable cats each year.

★Big Freeze Beanies are making a return to Coles to help raise important funds for FightMND, dedicated to finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease. Big Freeze 11 Beanie are available for $25.

★Shrine of Remembrance services this month include the annual Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service, the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with the Odd Bods Association and the weekly Last Post Service

★Ricky Martin has announced a second and final Melbourne performance for his tour. The newly added show will take place on Cup Weekend, Sunday November 2 at Rod Laver Arena.

★Olympic Gold winning legends of the ice Torvill and Dean are set to make their return to Australia for a final farewell tour in June. This global ice spectacular, ‘Torvill & Dean: Our Last Dance’, marks their first Australian tour since 1994 and features an international cast of icedancing skaters and champions. 7.30pm on Wednesdaty, June 18; 2pm and 7.30pm on Thursday, June 19, at Rod Laver Arena.

★Dirty Dancing in Concert will tour Melbourne on October 9. The timeless love story of Baby and Johnny will be brought back to life on a full-size cinema screen with a band and singers live on stage.

Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer

Rourke’s Reviews Entertainment

★The Melbourne Symphonic Orchestra will have a Symphonic Send-off and The Europe Tour Preview Concert : Elgar and Dvorák on Wednesday, August 13 at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne.

★ILANEL returns to the 2025 Melbourne Design Week with “Re:” - an innovative exhibition that celebrates the art of transformation, showcasing a curated collection of recycled and repurposed items gathered over 15 years.

★Kate Ceberano has announced new dates for her upcoming Australian Made Tour of 2025. The multi-ARIA-winning icon has added a Melbourne show at Hamer Hall on September 19.

★Black Dog Institute, in part nership with the Bupa Foundation, has launched Teens & Screens, a free evidence-informed classroom program designed to help Year 7-9 students develop healthy screen habits, manage their digital wellbeing, and enable them to make better decisions about their digital habits.

★NIDA has welcomed former television executive Hugh Baldwin as the new Director of Partnerships and Engagement, strengthening NIDA’s commitment to growth and industry collaboration.

★Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) has strengthened its leadership: Dr Kristin Diemer as Director of Research; Lucy Macmillan as Director of Evaluation and Impact; Anandini Mayuran as Director of Communications and Engagement.

★Historical fiction author Paul Rushworth-Brown returns with his rich novel: Outback Odyssey, a sweeping tale of hardship, friendship, and resilience set against the backdrop of 1950s post-war Australia

★State Library Victoria’s fam ily history collection holds the key to countless untold stories. Many of these records remain out of reach – trapped in fragile volumes and microfilm reels that can only be accessed in Melbourne

A drive to change that has a goal is to raise $200,000 by June 30 to digitise the most requested and delicate records, ensuring that anyone, anywhere, can uncover their family history.

★Sullivan+Strumpf have two exhibitions opening at their Melbourne gallery on Thursday (May 15) until Saturday June 15.

★ Normie Rowe stars in Normie – The Story So Far , at Memo Hall, St Kilda; Frankston Arts Centre; Bunjil Place, Narre Warren.

Green Room Award winners

CABARET:

OUTSTANDINGDIRECTION

Winner: Stephen Nicolazzo for Shrapnel presented by Kadimah Yiddish Theatre

OUTSTANDINGORIGINAL SONGS

Winner: Geraldine Quinn for The Passion of Saint Nicholas presented by Geraldine Quinn as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

OUTSTANDINGWRITING

\Winner: Geraldine Quinn for The Passion of Saint Nicholas presented by Geraldine Quinn as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

OUTSTANDINGPRODUCTION DESIGN

Winner: Joe Noonan (Production Design) for Apocalipstik presented by Liz Smith, Katie Rowe, Tom Downey as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

OUTSTANDINGENSEMBLE

Winner: Otto & Astrid – The Stages Tour presented by Salvador Dinosaur and Parrot Ox as part of Melbourne Fringe Clare Bartholomew and Daniel Tobias

OUTSTANDINGMUSICAL DIRECTION

Winner: Shanon D Whitelock for Apocalipstik presented by Liz Smith, Katie Rowe, Tom Downey as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

OUTSTANDINGPRODUCTION

Winner: The Passion of Saint Nicholas presented by Geraldine Quinn as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

OUTSTANDINGARTISTE

Winner: Geraldine Quinn for The Passion of Saint Nicholas presented by Geraldine Quinn as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival OUTSTANDINGCONTRIBUTION TO CABARET

Winner: Trevor Jones for Outstanding Contribution to Cabaret ★

CONTEMPORARYAND EXPERIMENTAL PERFORMANCE

OUTSTANDINGWORK

Winner: The Crying Room: Exhumed presented by The Substation and Club Greg International OUTSTANDINGPERFORMER

Winner: Marcus Ian McKenzie for The Crying Room: Exhumed OUTSTANDINGENSEMBLE (Two Awards)

Winner: Body of Knowledge presented by Melbourne Fringe Winner: In Place presented by Na Djinang Circus with Circa Cairns as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival OUTSTANDINGSOUND WORK (Two Awards)

\Winner: The Crying Room: Exhumed presented by The Substation and Club Greg International Winner: Desastres presented by Now or Never OUTSTANDINGDESIGN

Winner: Justin Talplacido Shoulder, Matthew Stegh, Anthony Aitch, Fausto Brusamolino and Corin Ileto for ANITO presented by Arts House and RISING

OUTSTANDINGTECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Winner: The team of Conduit Bodies presented by Arts House and Melbourne Fringe in association with Arts

The Surfer

■ (MA). 101 minutes. Opens in cinemas May 15.

Nicolas Cage, after churning out dozens of forgettable-to-bad movies over the last decade or so, is starting to make some interesting choices again as an actor.

From Mandy to Longlegs to Dream Scenario, Cage has once more begun to show what a genuinely great actor he can be, and although his latest release doesn’t quite hit the bullseye, the Oscar winning star delivers another excellent performance.

Cage plays the title character, an office worker who, after a number of decades in the US, returns to Lunar Bay, his home town located on the coast of Western Australia.

We first see the surfer arrive at the Lunar Bay beach with his teenage son (Finn Little), wanting to reconnect, but also to give the youngster the good news he is going to buy the house he lived in as a child.

The two are confronted by a group of young men known as the Bay Boys, who tell them that only locals can surf there.

The father is humiliated, and causes his son to return home embarrassed. The surfer, while waiting on his offer for the house to be accepted, stays at the beach car park to observe the intimidating group, which is lead by local entrepreneur Scally (a surprisingly effective Julian McMahon), who rules his minions like a cult leader.

The more he tries to defeat all the obstacles that surround him, the more the surfer’s mindset starts to fall apart, to the point where we wonder if what is happening is real or not.

Thomas Martin’s script sets up a number of interesting ideas, such as one’s sense of self and identity, debilitating attempts to deal with failure and trauma, an inability to deal with outsiders, and toxic masculinity.

Unfortunately, none of these themes are properly developed, so as the story goes on, a shallow nature begins to take over.

The more these elements lose their power, the more the main character’s humiliations fall into repetition.

Lorcan Finnigan, who directed the similarly initially intriguing but ultimately unsatisfying Vivarium (2019), cleverly employs a 70’s Drive-In style aesthetic to try and present a life (and mind) slowly disintegrating before our eyes, but while admittedly creating a vividly immersive space and atmosphere, never really gets under the surfer’s skin, and unfortunately accentuates the script’s repetitious nature.

This mutes the material’s potential power, and to get truly lost in the character’s fractured mind.

Also not helping matters is a running time which is at least 15 minutes too long. Praise definitely goes to cinematographer Radek Ladczuk (The Nightingale, The Babadook) and composer Francois Tetaz (Wolf Creek, The Square) , who fully, and wonderfully, embrace the project’s melodramatic, exploitation influence.

Cage dominates throughout, convincingly mixing his known craziness with something much more grounded, making for a memorable, engaging performance.

Reminiscent of Wake In Fright (1971), The Long Weekend (1978) and even Jacob’s Ladder (1990), The Surfer has its moments, but doesn’t fully focus on its multiple themes, resulting in a film that is both frustrating and mesmerising.

RATING - ***

The Eternaut

■ (MA). Six episodes. Now available on Netflix.

A combination of Snowpiercer, War Of The Worlds, 28 Days Later and Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, The Eternaut is a terrific scifi/drama series made on a grand scale, but is largely interested in the more intimate human factor, making for hugely engaging viewing.

Based on the serialised comic by Argentine author Hector German Oesterheld (who was kidnapped by the military dictatorship in 1977 and presumedly murdered) that ran from 1957 to 1959, the material takes still relevant subject matter and updates it to our modern times.

Set in Buenos Aires, Ricardo Darin (The Secret In Their Eyes, Wild Tales, Argentina 1985) stars as Juan Salvo , who along with a group of friends, are playing cards on a hot summer night.

Without warning, an snowstorm hits the city. When one of the group comes into contact with the falling snow, he drops dead immediately. Shocked, the rest seal off the apartment. We soon discover that these storms have killed millions. This group includes Favalli (Cesar Troncoso), Ana (Andrea Pietra), Lucas (Marcelo Subiotto), Omar (Ariel Staltari) and Inga (Orianna Cardenas) . Needing to come up with protective clothing, Juan leaves to search for his wife Elena (Carla Peterson) and daughter Clara (Mora Fisz), but he will reteam with these survivors again, to battle not only the elements, but also an intergalactic enemy that is intent on taking over the Earth.

What sets The Eternaut apart from other shows is in the way the film-makers are prepared to take their time setting up characters and the gradual world they are now having to deal with.

Co-writer/director Bruno Stagnaro handles the material with intelligence and extreme confidence, aided by a first-rate technical crew, presenting a TV series that could be experienced as big screen entertainment. The special effects are convincing, but Stagnaro never forgets to centre on the characters. The acting is superb. The ending, which begins to examine the radicalisation of vulnerable people who feel disillusioned or aggrieved, sets things up for Season Two. The Eternaut may make some viewers impatient, but those who tap into what Stagnaro and company are doing will be richly rewarded. I can’t wait for Season Two. RATING

In Memory of

■ We all have memories of the early days of Australian rock and roll and one of the all time greats was Col Joye.

Colin Frederick Jacobsen was born in Sydney in 1936 he was one of four children and the family lived at East Hills

When Colin was 14 he left school and went to work as a jewellery salesman.

He took guitar lessons at the age of 16 and formed a group under the name of The K J Quintet

He later joined a group with his brothers Kevin and Keith where Col became a guitarist and lead singer.

He began using the stage name of Col Joye as the group played at clubs and pubs before changing their name to Col Joye and The Joy Boys.

In 1958 they were signed to a recording contact by Ken Taylor of Festival Records. Their first single was Stagger Lee but their second recording of Bye Bye Baby went to number three in the hit parade in 1959.

I can remember being at a concert at Festival Hall for one of the Lee Gordon Big Shows when Col came onstage to make an announcement.

He held up a telegram saying that for the first time an Australian rock and roll song was number one on the hit parade - it was Oh Yeah, Uh Huh (with an old typewriter tapping out the beat) Col was one of the regular performers on

Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer

Whatever Happened To ... Col Joye

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

Brian Henderson's Bandstand television series for 14 years.

There is a DVD set of the Bandstand shows and it is wonderful to see Col singing in the series.

By 1963 Col Joye and The Joy Boys had released 20 singles, twenty four EPs and 23 albums.

In 1966 the Jacobsen family formed their own label ATA Records

In 1970 Col Joye married Dalys Dawson and they have two children Amber and Clayton. It was a double wedding as singer Sandy Scott married Col's sister Carol at the same time. In 1973 Col was back on top of the hit parade with his recording of Heaven Is My Woman's

including The Bee Gees

Col Joye is a very generous man - he was cutting a tree for a friend in 1990 when he slipped and fell several metres onto brick paving suffering extensive injuries.

I can remember producing a show for Ted Hamilton at a Sydney Leagues Club in 2002. When I got to the rehearsals in the afternoon Ted told me that Col had already called in to see how things were going and had driven home to pick up an amplifier in his utility for us to use onstage.

I had a great time chatting to Col at a book launch many years ago and have had the pleasure of doing several radio interviews with him.

In 1981 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his entertainment and philanthropic work.

In recent times Col Joye hosted a rock and roll radio show on 2CH in Sydney

What a great survivor Col Joye has been after almost 68 years in showbusiness, he remains one of Australia's Rock and Roll living legends.

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

PIA MURPHY’S EXHIBITION AT COLLINGWOOD

Look What I Found.

Inspired by the insatiable curiosity of childhood, Look What I Found is a series of nine oil paintings that navigate the space between abstraction and figuration – exploring colour, texture, and form.

Averse to rigid planning or predetermined outcomes, my process embraces uncertainty and engages with materials openly.

It is within this indeterminate space that new visual languages can emerge.

Pia Murphy is a graduate of the Victoria College of Arts and has held solo exhibitions in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney since 2010.

Pia Murphy has been awarded a Visual Arts Fellowship from the Edward F. Albee Foundation and received the National Gallery of Victoria Women’s Association Encouragement Award

Pia has been featured in Art Guide Australia, The Age, the Journal of Australian Ceramics and Broadsheet.

Murphy’s work is held in private collections in Australia, USA, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Germany. The exhibition closes May 24.

Nicholas Thompson Gallery 155 Langridge St, Collingwood.

Kinetics

The Kinetics of Thought – Tactile Sculpture and Contemporary Wood Design.

Wanda Gillespie creates tactile contemporary wood sculpture that explore systems of knowledge, measurement, and metaphysical inquiry.

The Kinetic of thought brings together Gillespie’s finely crafted abacus sculptures and a newly conceived Newton’s Cradle – developed during her residency at the Victorian Woodworkers Association – to examine how we quantify, categorise , and ascribe meaning.

Originally a scientific instrument later popularised as an executive toy. Newton’s Cradle is reimagined through a ceremonial and devotional lens, offering a meditation on the unseen ripples of personal and global actions.

The abacus sculptures while unravelling the environmental consequences of our pursuits.

Woven throughout is the presence

The Arts

of the prayer bead, shifting its function from numerical counter to vessel for contemplation and spiritual inquiry. These works act as poetic instruments, mapping the intersection of ritual, knowledge, and unseen forces shaping our world.

Exhibition opens May 24. Abbotsford Convent St. Heliers St, Abbotsford.

Maroondah

Gugubarra – Stacey Paten

Gugubarra is the Wiradjuri nation word for Kookaburra. Stacey Paten’s exhibition is a tribute to her beloved grandmother, Dixie, whose spirit lives on through the symbol of the Gugubarra.

“Before my grandmother passed, she told our family that she would come back as gugubarra and laugh at us all. The gugubarra has become an extremmel.ly important symbol of our family and all our households contain as many items with a gugubarra on the. Every time we hear the gugubarra’s call we all stop and cry ‘it’s Nans!’

My grandmother, known as Dixie (real name Iris ), was a talented and accomplished artist.

Her chosen mediums included pottery, glad painting. Folk art and quilling. He favourite was ceramic painting. At every birthday and Christmas engagement or wedding, each family

member was given one of her pieces and every time she would exclaim ‘sorry its not more”.

Every piece is now cherished and will be passed as an heirloom to our children and so on.

This exhibition pays homage to our family’s matriarch, Nana was spunky, colourful and vibrant, like all my works.

As an indigenous artist, this exhibition show my journey of discovery into family and culture.

It reflects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ adaptation of animals, lands and waters through painting, weaving and textiles.’

Exhibition closes July 13.

Arts in Maroondah 32 Greenwood Ave, Ringwood - Peter Kemp

Victorian Dance Festival

■ Victorian Dance Festival hosts the largest dance jobs fair in Australia from May 23 - 25, at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

VDF is the annual three-day gathering of 6000+ dancers, dance educators and enthusiasts.

This year’s festival features professional auditions, interviews and masterclasses with international entertainment giants RWS Global, Disney Live Entertainment and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Shows & Entertainment.

VDF encompasses Vitality Dance Teacher Conference to open the event, followed by two days of 70+ dance workshops with leading Australian and international instructors, Australia’s largest dance market and a showcase of thrilling performance from dance companies, groups and studios from across Australia

But it is the event’s ever-expanding Auditions program that is gaining much attention, as the largest ever dance jobs fair in the country.

Head to the VDF website www.vdf.com.au/auditions to register.

50th birthday bash

■ David Beckham celebrated his half century birthday with a no expenses spared dinner in London, May 3. Family and friends partied until the wee small hours but there was one exception, where was son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola? Showbiz media went into overdrive with gossip of a rift between Beckham seniors and their eldest sibling. Watch this space.

Welcome home

■ Julian McMahon rose to fame in the 90s in Home & Away. He then took off to California and continued as an actor in movies and sitcoms. His latest gig was to star in 'The Surfer' set in Australia, and more particularly the beautiful beaches of Yallingup, Western Australia where the waves are huge. McMahon plays alongside actor, Nicholas Cage. The Surfer begins in cinemas May 15, and streaming on Stan from June 15.

Back behind the mic.

■ After 37 years on Melbourne radio, Dee Dee Dunleavy is back in business with a podcast in conjunction with law enforcer, Charlie Bezzina Subject of podcast is 'Boy in the Goldmine', an unsolved1975 mystery .

Malcolm in the Middle

■ Frankie Mun\z played the boy next door in the sitcom that swept the world 2000-2006. Far cry from his prime occupation these days, Frankie races NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Frankie is no longer devoted to acting since the birth of his son, Mauz. “I want Mauz to see me achieve real, material success, not just another face on telly,” said Frankie. There is one exception, that is the forthcoming reboot of 'Malcom in the Middle' once production is finalised. 'Malcolm in the Middle' earned Frankie nominations for an Emmy, as well as two Golden Globes, not forgetting $10 million, mainly in residual fees.

Sound of Music

■ The Salvos Shop , Taylors Lakes, is trialing the idea of having a pianist in store playing melodic numbers to relax shoppers and hope they stay in store long enough to browse other merch. Could this marketing concept be rolled out nationally, provided space and pianos available?

with Peter Kemp

- John O’Keefe

OK. With John O’Keefe

● ● Col Joye

Love Col and his brother Kevin built Jacobsen

Entertainment which became a successful promotions company. They produced many stage shows and handled some very famous artists

● ● David Beckham

Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer

Across Across

1. Pony competition

6. Meddler

11. Large NZ city

15. Drinking glasses

20. Moose

21. Drizzles

22. Married title

23. Nudism

24. Armed conflict within nation (5,3)

25. Family favouritism

27. Segregated

28. Roman robe

29. Hungry

31. Slightly open

32. Skin eruptions

36. Staining

37. Room

38. Painter of The Queen's latest portrait, Rolf ...

41. Length unit

44. Hair dye

45. Touchy

48. Metal extraction plant

49. Cupboard

52. Banked (on)

56. Gets

57. Form of prayer

58. Futile

61. More affluent

62. Bring honour to

63. Gladden, ... up

64. Japan's capital

65. Shillyshallies

66. Greed

67. Withdraws from position (5,4)

71. Fertile desert spot

73. TV personality, ... McGuire

75. Aid financially

80. Pistols

82. Intervening time

83. Jog

85. Definitions

86. Old Spanish money unit

88. Split in church

90. Slays (5,3)

91. Biting insects

93. Wise biblical king

94. Tossing

95. Fragile & airy

96. Suit-makers

97. Jot

99. Charlotte Bronte novel, Jane ...

100. Concludes

104. Of kidneys

105. Taco sauce

106. Sing monotonously

107. Revolved

111. Deserve

113. Fah, soh, ...

114. Inflatable vest, ... west

115. Serving platters

117. Irrational fear

118. Kitchen strainer

121. Saturate (with colour)

122. The Hunchback Of ... Dame

125. Harpoon hunter

126. Formerly Persia

127. Garden of Creation

129. In place, in ...

131. Actress, ... Thompson

132. Stellar

135. Kuwaiti ruler

136. Eternal

139. Siamese

140. Up-to-date

144. Physicist, ... Newton

145. Excel

146. Castle water barriers

147. Elaborately

148. Cattle-farmers

149. Mad (dog)

150. Tied (shoes)

152. Surprise victory

154. Labelled

157. Chinese gooseberry, ... fruit

158. Of the side

162. Grieg opera, Peer ...

163. SOS

166. Wig material

167. Speaks

169. Kind

171. Door frame post 172. Resistant to disease

173. Start (of ailment)

175. Primp

176. Encouraged

179. Tutsi country

180. Ranted

182. Hawaiian garland

183. Belonging to us

184. Spindly

186. Took in (child)

189. Last Greek letter

190. Wallabies or Springboks sport

191. Synagogue scholar

192. Stimulating

196. Disable

197. Canadian province, ... Scotia

198. Kenya's capital

199. Exhilarating

201. Caught

202. Ridicule

203. Departing

204. Fibre-spinning rods

205. Writer, ... Hemingway

208. Journalist's credit (2-4)

210. Cheap ship fare

211. Fertiliser ingredient

212. Redder

213. Bobs head

215. Firebugs

219. Signalling flame

221. Cruel men

223. Searches out scandal

227. From Brussels

228. Mummifies (corpse)

230. Judge's hammer

231. Democratic Republic of Congo

232. Threatened

233. Slip by 234. Gist

238. Tennis ace, ... Edberg

239. Indianapolis state

240. Splatter

243. Arrival

246. Annulled

247. Dressy

250. Woodwind instruments

251. Fools

253. Paltry

256. Helicopter's landing place

257. More hefty

258. Grills

262. Labyrinth

263. Reverie

266. Honey liquor

268. Peacemaker

269. Central Asian republic

270. Lovely women

271. Miniature toy, ... car

272. Banned pesticide (1,1,1)

273. Downy duck

274. Naval exercises

275. Makes stable

276. Perceived wrongly

277. Aerobics outfits

278. Abbreviates

Down Down

1. Doomed person

2. Legends

3. Equine

4. Cosy home

5. Nearly

7. A few

8. Persecutes

9. Checkers game

10. Thread

11. Henry VIII's ... Boleyn

12. Second-hand vehicles (4,4)

13. Smart aleck (4-3)

14. Friendly

15. Tests

16. Former Soviet region (1,1,1,1)

17. Lightweight timber

18. Go in

19. Mixer drinks

24. Appeared

26. Trading centre

30. Last-minute

33. Pungent cleaning fluid

34. Small hill

35. Sniffed

38. Cross-breeds

39. Made contact with

40. Takes no notice of

42. Canadian lake

43. Bringing up

46. Stud (with jewels)

47. Conformed, ... the line

49. Hurricane

50. Follows orders

51. Europe/Asia

53. Regards highly

54. Riled

55. Aussie sheep herders

59. Very demanding

60. Settle overseas

67. Bewildered

68. Moved on hands & knees

69. Of earthquakes

70. Run (event)

72. Aplomb

74. Travelling worker

76. Gusty

77. Leave impression

78. Smooth over (4,3)

79. Gushed

81. Brash newcomers

84. Egg dish

87. Dried with cloth

89. Moon shape

91. Grinding (teeth)

92. British royal court, ... Palace (2,5'1)

98. Worldwide

101. Group value system

102. Shade of brown

103. Sends via Internet

108. Alleged assassin, Lee Harvey ...

109. Stop! (nautical)

110. Odds or ...

112. Emerging again from sleep

116. Protective shielding (6,5)

119. Act of dunking

120. Say

123. Canoe with attached float

124. Set out differently

128. Enthusiastically

130. From Tel Aviv

132. Allow inside

133. Banjo sound

134. Gangway

137. Cleopatra's land

138. Famous Swiss mountain

141. Main artery

142. Flowed away

143. Yesterday, ..., tomorrow

151. Cling (to)

153. Early fetus

155. Directed

156. Surly person

159. Hoping (to)

160. Vitality

161. Irritating

164. 365-day periods

165. Cosmetics boss, Elizabeth ...

168. Legendary Atlantic continent

170. Money

173. Car distance clock

174. Mideast waterway (4,5)

177. Raincoat fabric

178. Gradually diminished

181. Devotees

185. Thrilling

186. Loss of memory

187. Beginnings

188. Trampled

193. Obscure

194. Sports injury remedy (3,4)

195. Hot springs

200. Venetian boats

201. Conceive of

206. Havens

207. Increases threefold

208. Sun-tanned

209. Most inquisitive

211. Coup organiser

214. Cigarette users

216. Affair of the heart

217. Giving green light to

218. Huge

220. Blacksmith's block

222. German wine, ... Riesling

224. Most avid

225. US cotton state

226. Giant Himalayan peak

229. Criticise harshly

232. Lion's neck hair

235. Poorer quality

236. Wear down

237. Soft goat wool

241. Fence planks

242. Authorise

244. Bridge over gorge

245. Louder

248. Trophies

249. Those ones

251. Weaponry

252. Bogs

253. Office circulars

254. Grand Slam winner, ... Agassi

255. Writer, ... Dahl

259. Happen

260. Prized fur

261. Genders

262. Method

264. Sudden attack

265. Son of Adam & Eve

267. Sprint

By Rob Foenander

Phil and Warren

■ Original Chain founding members Phil Manning and Warren Morgan are joining forces with Mark Ferrie and Rob Dillon to create an historic evening.

It ios ajourney from the past to the present with a collection of the finest, most experienced musicians still performing is on offer.

Memo Music Hall. Saturday, July 5. Tickets at trybooking.com

Our kinda country

■ The annual Our Kinda Country Club Royal Children’s Hospital fundraiser collected an amount of $5000.

Whilst patron numbers were down this year, Dawn O’Connell from the club said the figure was still more than previously raised.

Their money was added to the events hosts, the Royal Exchange Hotel Cork Club Traralgon who collected $40.000.

It was a fantastic combined effort by all volunteer contributors once again for the Childrens Hospital.

Retro stars

■ Coming through a time portal direct from the 60s, the Retro Stars promise a stellar musical evening for all with their \acclaimed show.

Tour the universe and visit the Milky Way with classic hits from that era says their invitation.

Hampton RSL. Saturday, May 17. Bookings at trybooking.com - Rob Foenander

Melbourne Observer Melbourne Observer

GREEN ROOM AWARD WINNERS

OUTSTANDINGWORK BY OR FORYOUNGAUDIENCES

Winner: Body of Knowledge presented by Melbourne Fringe in association with Creative Brimbank ★

DANCE: OUTSTANDINGENSEMBLE

\Winner: Arkadia (Melanie Lane), presented by The Substation and RISING OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

Winner: Safehold (Sandra Parker), presented by Dancehouse OUTSTANDING DESIGNSOUND

Winner: Anna Whitaker for Fertile Ground, presented by Dancehouse OUTSTANDING DESIGNLIGHT

Winner: Damien Cooper for Momenta, by Sydney Dance Company and Arts Centre Melbourne OUTSTANDING DESIGNVISUAL

Winner: Eugyeene Teh (Set & Costume) for Arkadia, presented by The Substation and RISING OUTSTANDING PERFORMER(S) (TWO AWARDS)

Winner: Trevor Dunn for The Solos, presented by Weave Movement Theatre and Dancehouse Winner: Arabella Frahn-Starkie for Pictures & Ghosts, presented by Dancehouse BREAKINGGROUNDAWARD

Winner: Harrison Ritchie-Jones for

Crossword Solution No 1

2024 body of work OUTSTANDINGCREATION

Winner: Cuddle (Harrison RitchieJones), presented by Arts House ★

INDEPENDENTTHEATRE: OUTSTANDINGENSEMBLE

Winner: Spring Has Sprung or The Beautiful Show, presented by Pummel Squad

OUTSTANDINGPERFORMER (Two Awards)

Winner: Brigid Gallacher for Milk and Blood, presented by fortyfivedownstairs

Winner: Hayley Edwards for Shitbag, via Tiny Table Reads as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival

OUTSTANDINGLIGHTING DESIGN

Winner: Meg Wilson for The Exact Dimensions of Hell, presented by Mackey, Darling & Collaborators

OUTSTANDINGWRITING

Winner: Liv Satchell for Ballkids (or, scenes from a friendship), presented by VIMH with La Mama Theatre as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival

OUTSTANDINGDIRECTION

Winner: Kitan Petkovski for The Inheritance, presented by fortyfivedownstairs

OUTSTANDINGSOUND DESIGN

Winner: Yanto Shortis for Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Pummel Squad, presented as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival

C G EDDIE SUBSIDISE E R E R GUNS INTERIM TROT L M R F MEANINGS PESETA I A SCHISM BUMPSOFF U W S A S U O GNATS R N E S R N U SOLOMON THROWING ETHEREAL TAILORS

E E I IOTA A E A G J S R EYRE N U E DEDUCES RENAL SALSA CHANT ROTATED T M MERIT C LAH O MAE N TRAYS V V PHOBIA E SIEVE IMBUE NOTRE R WHALER O E IRAN M EDEN A SITU E EMMA S N ASTRAL W EMIR AGELESS THAI O LATEST

W ISAAC E B G G I R R R OUTDO B O MOATS K ORNATELY GRAZIERS

OUTSTANDINGPRODUCTION

DESIGN (Two Awards)

Winner: Alex Hines, Alex OrlandoSmith and Riley McCullagh (Set & Costume Design) for Putting On A Show, presented by Sons of Stratford as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Winner: Pummel Squad (Cooper Donald McDonald and Harry McGee) (AV / Production Design) for Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, presented by Pummel Squad

OUTSTANDINGPRODUCTION

Winner: Interior, presented by Rawcus with presenting venue The Substation

MUSIC THEATRE –INDEPENDENT/FRINGE: OUTSTANDINGARTIST –LEADING ROLE

Winner: Jude Perl for Share House – The Musical presented by Arts Centre Melbourne presents OUTSTANDINGARTISTSUPPORTING ROLE

Winner: Jennifer Vuletic for The Grinning Man presented by Salty Theatre and Vass Productions OUTSTANDINGENSEMBLE OR FEATURED ENSEMBLE

Winner: The Company for The Grinning Man presented by Salty Theatre and Vass Productions OUTSTANDINGNEW AUSTRALIAN MUSIC THEATRE WRITING

SWinner: Jude Perl, Desiree Munro, Brendan Tsui for Share House - The Musical presented by

Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson

Arts Centre Melbourne presents OUTSTANDINGDESIGN

Winner: Britni Leslie (Costume) for Ruthless! The Musical presented by Stagebugs Productions OUTSTANDING

CHOREOGRAPHY

Winner: Freya List for The Grinning Man presented by Salty Theatre and Vass Productions OUTSTANDING DIRECTION –

MUSIC

Winner: Brendan Tsui for Share House - The Musical presented by Arts Centre Melbourne presents OUTSTANDING DIRECTION –STAGE

Winner: Tyran Parke for Elegies: A Song Cycle presented by Clovelly Fox Productions OUTSTANDINGPRODUCTION

Winner: Share House - The Musical presented by Arts Centre Melbourne presents ★ MUSIC THEATRE –COMMERCIAL/FUNDED: OUTSTANDINGARTIST –LEADING ROLE

Winner: Ruva Ngwenya for TINA - The Tina Turner Musical presented by TEG/Dainty OUTSTANDINGARTISTSUPPORTING ROLE

Winner: Genevieve Lemon for Sister Act presented by Crossroads Live OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE/ FEATURED ENSEMBLE

Winner: The Company for My Brilliant Career presented by Melbourne Theatre Company

WEEKEND’S LOCAL FOOTBALL FINAL SCORES

Amateurs

■ Victorian Amateur Football Association. Premier Men’s. Old Brighton 8.28 (76) d Old Scotch 4.7 (31). Old Xaverians 13.15 (93) d St Bernard’s 8.10 (58). Old Haileybury 12.14 (86) d De La Salle 8.11 (59). St Kevin’s 17.10 (112) d University Blues 11.4 (70). Collegians 10.9 (69) d University Blacks 5.12 (42).

Premier Men’s Reserves. Oldr Birghton 12.15 (87) d Old Scotch 4.6 (30). Old Xaverians 19.9 (123) d St Bernard’s 10.5 (65). Old Haileybury 8.10 (58) d De La Salle 7.12 (54). St Kevin’s 13.8 (86) d University Blues 10.9 (69). University Blacks 12.10 (82) d Collegians 9l.7 (61).

Premier B Men’s. Old Camberwell 10.11 (71) d Old Ivanhoe 8.12 (60). Old Trinity 13.15 (93) d Old Csarey 14.8 (92). Williamstown 12.11 (83) d Old Geelong 11.13 (79). Fitzroy 17.17 (119) d Hampton Rovers 1.10 (16). Caulfield Grammaruians 12.8 (80) d Old Melburnians 10.16 (76).

Premier B Men’s Reserves. Old Ivanhoe 13.12 (90) d Old Camberwell 11.6 (72). Old Trinity 25.17 (167) d Old Carey 5.4 (34). Williamstown CYMS 9.12 (66) d Old Geelong 9.7 (621). Fitzroy 14.9 (93) d Hampton Rovers 7.6 (48). Caulfield Grammarians 17.8 (110) d Old Melburnians 10.9 (69).

Premier C Men’s. Mazenod 17.5 (207) d Parkside 10.6 (66). AJAX 15.14 (104) d PEGS 9.14 (68). Parkdale vultures 14.14 (98) d Glen Eira/Old McKinnon 10.10 (70). St Bedes/ Mentone 17.14 (116) d Marcellin 16.10 (106). Beaumaris 14.17 (101) d Prahran 8.5 (53).

Premier C Men’s Reserves. Mazenod 15.7 (97) d Parksiode 8.6 (54). AJAX 18.10 (118) d PEGS 3.7 (25). Parkdale Vultures 21.20 (146) d Glen Eira/Old McKinnon 4.2 (236). St Bedes/Mentomne 17.17 (119) d Marcellin 3.6 (24). Beaumaris 21.12 (138) d Prahran 3.3 (21).

Division 1 Men’s. Preston Bullants 15.12 (102) d Kew 10.9 (69). Oakleigh 15.12 (102) d UHS-VU 12.10 (82). Ormond 22.14 (146) d Monash blues 9.9 (63). Old Peninsula 21.15 (141) d Therry Penola 8.4 (52). Brunswick 22.16 (148) d Elsternwick 7.3 (45). Division 1 Men’s Reserves. Old Peninsula 13.12 (90) d Therry Penola 4.8 (32). Kew 15.11 (101) d Preston Bullants 8.7 (55). Oakleigh 16.14 (110) d UHS-VU 8.5 (53). Monash Blues 9.13 (67) d Ormond 6.9 (45). Brunswick 15.9 (99) d Elsternwick 10.12 (72).

Division 2 Men’s. Old Yarra Cobras 32 v Whitefriars 28, abandoned. West Brunswick 20.13 (133) d Canterbury 6.9 (45). St John’s 21.8 (134) d MHSOB 19.6 (120). St Mary’s 15.15 (105) d Aquinas 3.5 (23). South Melbourne 19.23 (137) d Hawthorn 8.7 (55). Division 2 Men’s Reserves. Whitefriars 15.12 (102) d Old Yarra Cobras 9.11 (65). West Brunswick 22.15 (147) d Canterbury 2.2 (14). MHSOB 19.15 (129) d St John’s 8.10 (58). South Melbourne 16.15 (111) df Hawthorn 9.8 (62). St Mary’s Salesian 14.15 (99) d Aquinas 4.5 (29).

Division 3 Men’s. Box Hill North 20.235 (145) d Eley Park 4.6 (30). Power House 17.8 (110) d Richmond Central 9.9 (63). Albert Park 8.12 (60) d La Trobe University 8.9 (57). Wattle Park 24.24 (168) d Chadstone 5.5 (35). North Brunswick 22.16 (148) d Swinburne University 2.4 (16).

Division 3 Men’s Reserves. Box Hill North 20.25 (145) d Eley Park 4.6 (30). Power House 17.8 (110) d Richmond Central 9.9 (63). Albert park 8.12 (60) d La Trobe University 8.9 (57). Wattle Park 24.24 (168) d Chadstone 5.5 (35). North Brunswick 22.16 (148) d Swinburne University 2.4 (16).

Eastern

■ Eastern Football League. Division 1 Seniors. Blackburn 11.15 (81) d Vermont 8.4 (52). Balwyn 6.13 (49) d Berwick 4.4 (28). Rowville 13.12 (90) d South Croydon 6.13 (49). Noble Park 11.12 (78) d Mitcham 6.12 (48). East Ringwood 14.10 (94) d Doncaster East 10.8 (68).

Division 2 Seniors. Beaconsfiled 12.13 (85) d Montrose 10.7 (67). Mooroolbark 12.20 (92) d Bayswater 5.3 (33). Boronia 15.126 (106) d North Ringwood 13.8 (86). Park Orchards 20.19 (139) d Norwood 12.3 (75). Bye: South Brelgrave.

Essendon

■ Premier Division Seniors. Strathmore 20.13 (133) d Deer Park 7.5 (47). Keilor 38.31 (247) d East Keilor 2.2 (14). Essendon Doutta Stars 14.16 (100) d Greenvale 7.10 (52). Airport West 16.15 (111) d Maribyrnong 13.15 (93). Aberfeldie 16.8 (104) d Paqscoe Vale 15.9 (99).

Division 1 Seniors. Avondale Heightsd 15.12 (102) d Moonee Valley 7.14 (56). Oak Park 20.8 (128) d Roxburgh Park 10.10 (70). Taylors Lakes 6,.19 (55) d Craigieburn 7.10 9523). Hillside 20.14 (134) d Tullamarine 7.6 (48). West Coburg 12.13 (85) d St Albans 11.9 (75).

Division 2 Seniors. Rupertswood 16.12 (108) d Coburg Districts 11.7 (73). Hadfield 25.13 (163) d East Sunbury 9.10 (64). Glenroy 16.16 (112) d Keilor Park 10.5 (65). Sunbury Kangaroos 8.7 (55) d Burnside Heights 7.7 (49). Northern Saints 13.8 (86) d Westmeadows 12.5 (77).

Premier Division Reserves. Strathmore 38.25 (253) d Deer Park 0.0 (0). Keilor 49.19 (313) d East Keilor 0.0 (0). Essendon Doutta Stars 9.134 (67) d Greenvale 2.1 (13). Maribyrnong Park 216.210 (106) d Airport West 9.12 (66). Aberfeldie 27.19 (181) d Pascoe Vale 7.1 (43).

Division 1 Reserves. Moonee Valley 21.18 (144) d Avondale Heights 2.2 (14). Oak Park 14.7 (91) d Roxburgh Park 6.7 (43). Craigieburn 10.8 (68) d Taylors Lakes 5.9 (39). Hillside 26.12 (168) d Tullamarine 3.2 (20). St Albans 11.7 (73) d West Coburg 10.12 (72).

Division 2 Reserves. Coburg Districts 18,.21 (129) d Rupertswood 3.3 (21). Hadfield 2.12 (144) d Easty Sunbury 5.5 (35). Glenroy 11,.20 (86) d Keilor Park 3.3 (21). Burnside Heights 11.8 (74) d Sunbury Kangaroos 5.6 (36). Westmeadows 8.8 (56) d Northern Saints 7.10 (52).

Mornington

■ Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football Netball League. Division 1 Seniors. Dromana 16.16 (112) d Red Hill 4.7 (31). Langwarrin 13.8 (86) d Edithvale-Aspendale 12.12 (84). Rosebud 15.11(101) d Sorrento 5.7 (37). Frankston YCW 13.9 (87) d Mt Eliza 9.12 (66). Pines 20.15 (135) d Mornington 14.12 (96)

Division 2 Seniors. Chelsea 13.7 (85) d Somerville 7.17 (59). Devon Meadows 20.16 (136) d Karingal 2.5 (17). Frabnkston Bombers 15.14 (104) d Pearcedale 8.20 (68). Crob Pioint 15.13 (103) d Hastings 8.6 (54). Bonbeach 19.11 (125) d Rye 14.2 (86). Seaford 20.19 (139) d Tyabb 7.7 (49).

Northern

■ Northern Football Netball League. Division 1 Seniors. Hurstbridge 15.10 (100) d Banyule 14.15 (99). Heidelberg 15.20 (110) d Montmorency 10.8 (68). Bundoora 15.10 (100) d South Morang 13.7 (85). Eltham 12.11 (83) d West Preston Lakeside 7.8 (50). Greensborough 12.8 (80) d North Heidelberg 9.10 (64).

Division 1 Reserves. Banyule 31.15 (201) d Hurstbridge 6.2 (38). Heidelberg 18.11 (119) d Montmorency 6.9 (45). South Morang 20.28 (148) d Bundoora 3.2 (20). West Preston Lakeside 10.13 (73) d Eltham 8.8 (56). Greensbortough 20.10 (130) d North Heidelberg 10.5 (65).

Division 1 Under 19.5. Eltham 9.12 (66) d Diamond Creek 5.6 (36). North Heidelberg 12.9 (81) d Greensborough 10.13 (73). Banyule 13.125 (93) d St Mary’s 10.10 (70). Heidelberg 28.17 (185) d Montmorency 4,.5 (29).

Division 2 Seniors. Diamond Creek 11.7 (73) d St Mary’s 4.4 (28). Macleod 12.17

13.6 (84) d Old Paradians 2.8 (20). Whittlesea 120.14 (74) d Thomastown 5.15 (45). Northcote Park 13.12 (90) d Watsonia 8.5 (41).

Division 2 Reserves. Diamond Creek 20.14 (134) d St Mary’s 3.5 (23). Macleod 214.16 (100) d Panton Hill 2.11 (23). Lower Plernty 11.5 (71) d Old Paradians 10.8 (68). Whittlesea 10.10 (70) d Thomastown 7.8 (50). Northcote Park 16.14 (110) d Watsonisa 8.8 (56).

Division 2 Under 19.5. Whittlesea 7.7 (49) d Laurimar 5.14 (44). South Morang 15.20 (110) d Bundoora 4.10 (34). Hurstbridge 123.17 (89) d Lower Plenty 1.2 (8). Bye: Macleod.

Division 3 Seniors. Reservoir 9.13 (67) d Kilmore 6.8 (44). Fitzroy Stars 18.15 (123) d Epping 9.10 (64). Laurimar 21.9 (135) d Kinglake 16.6 (102). Ivanhoe 21.13 (139) d Old Eltham Collegians 6.210 946). Heidelberg West 18.9 (117) d Lalor 3.6 (24). Division 3 Reserves. Lsaurimar 21.17 (143) d Kinglake 2.3 (15). Fitzroy Stars 20.13 (133) d Epping 4.7 (31). Kilmore 8.12 (60) d Reservoir 7.11 (53). Ivanhoe 209.17 (137) d Old Eltham Collegians 5.10 (40). Heidelberg West 16.19 (115) d Lalor 1.6 (12).

Division 3 Under 19.5. Eltham 10.14 (74) d Banyule 4.12 (36). Panton Hill 8.8 (56) d Heidelberg 4.7 (31). Kilmore 20.13 (73) d Old Paradians 5.10 (40). Mernda 11.10 (76) d Watsonia 1.8 (14).

Outer East

■ Outer East. Premier Division Seniors. Wandin 19.7 (121) d Olinda Ferny Creek 10.7 (67). Gembrook Cockatoo 8.10 (58) d Officer 7.9 (51). Woori Yallock 14.12 (96) d Upwey Tecoma 7.7 (49). Mt Evelyn 16.15 (111) d Emerald 3.3 (21). Healesville 11.11 (77) d Monbulk 7.10 (52).

Premier Division Reserves. Wandin 13.125 (93) d Olinda Ferny Creek 8.3 (51). Officer 11.13 (91) d Gembrook Cockatoo 6.5 (41). Upwey Tecoma 12.16 (88) d Woori Yallock 3.8 (26). Monbulk 10.19 (79) d Healesville 3.3 (21).

Division 1 Seniors. Yarra Glen 12.11 (83) d Alexandra 11.7 (73). Seville 25.28 (178) d Yarra Junction 2.6 (18). Warburton Millgrove 26.14 (170) d Powelltown 2.4 (16). Berlgrave 123.16 (88) d Yea 13.9 987). Bye: Pakenham. Division 1 Reserves. Alexandra 6.16 (52) d Yarra Glen 4.5 (29). Seville 27.15 (177) d Yarra Junction 2.0 (12). Warburton Millgrover 4.20 (104) d Powelltown 2.4 (16). Belgrave 15.12 (102) d Yea 5.6 (36). Bye: Pakenham.

Premier Division Under 18 Boys. Wandin 8,.15 (63) d Olinda Ferny Creek 8.5 (53). Officer 9.22 (76) d Gembrook Cockatoo 2.4 (16). Upwey Tecomsa 15.12 (102) d Woori Yallock 4.7 (31). Healesville 125.2 (92) d Monbulk 3.5 (23). Bye: Mt Evelyn.

Division 1 Under 18 Boys. Yarra Glen 11.9 975) d Alexandra 3.3 (21). Pakenham 16.12 (108) d Seville 3.3 (21). Bye: Warburton Millgrove, Yea.

Women’s Division 1. Upwey Tecoma 8.6 (54) d Woori Yallock 1.0 (6). Olinda Ferny Creek 87.7 (55) d Pakenham 2.1 (13). Mt Evelyn 14.215 (99) d Belgrave 1.12 (7). Bye: Healesville.

Women’s Division 2. Warburton Wesburn 9.18 972) d Officer 0.1 (1). Thornton Eildopn 5.4 (34) d Seville 2.6 (18). Emerald 8.13 (61) d Yea 1.0 (6). Bye: Wandin.

Southern

■ Division 1 Seniors. Bentleigh17.18 (120) d Cranbourne Eagles 7.8 (50). East Brighton 21.126 (142) d Cheltenham 7.126 (58). Springvale Districts 12.12 (84). St Paul’s McKinnomn 15.11 (101) d Port Melbourne Colts 11.7 (73). Dingley 13.125 (93) d Narre Warren 11.9 (75).

Division 2 Seniors. Caulfield Bearsd 19.6 (120) d Doveton Doves 8.6 (54). Hampton Park 12.5 (77) d East Malvern 9.12 (66). Highett 17.12 (114) d Keysvborough 6.3 (39). Mordialloc 14.8 (92) d Frankston Dolphins 13.7 (85). Chelsea Heights 19.14 (128) d Endeavour Hills 7.5 (47). Division 3 Seniors. Lyndhurst 9.10 (64) d Black Rock 6.13 (49). South Mornington

9.4 (58) d Carrum Patterson Lakes 5.12 (42). Heathertton 8.10 (58) d St Kilda city 6.17 (53). Berwick Springs 19.9 (123) d Ashwood 14.4 (88). Skye 8.12 (60) d Hampton 8.7 (55).

Division 4 Seniors. Clayton 14.7 (91) d Lyndale 7.11 (53). Hallam 20.19 (139) d Moorabbin Kangaroos 8.7 (55). Dandernong West 23.15 (153) d Narre South Saints 8.13 (61). South Yarra 21.121 (137) d Doveton Eagles 9.11 (65).

Western

■ Division 1 Seniors. Hoppers Crossing 17.16 (118) d Spotswood 7.7 (49). Parkside 18.15 (123) d Point Cook 10.5 (95). Werribee Districts 15.11 (101) d Altona 7.3 (45). Caroline Springs16.17 (113) d Albion 6.11 (47). Sunshine 10.7 (67) d Point Cook 10.5 (65). Yarraville Seddon Eagles 27.17 (179) d Newport 10.6 (66).

Division 2 Seniors. Braybrook 14.12 (96) d Laverton Magpiesd 8.12 (60). North Footscray 18.13 (121) d Albanvale 6.15 (512). Wyndhamvale 23.18 (156) d Western Rams 9.4 (58). West Footscray 15.10 9100) d Suns 9.6 (60). Sunshine Hrights 20.21 (141) d Tarneit 3.3 (21).

Goulburn Valley

■ Seniors. Mooroopna 14.6 (90) d Shepparton United 10.12 (72). Mansfield 10.14 (74) d Shepparton 8.9 (57). Rochester 15.14 (104) d Benalla 112.4 (70). Shepparton Swans 24.8 (152) d Euroa 9.5 (59). Seymour 21.19 (145) d Tatura 6.5 (41). Kyabram 17.17 (119) d Echuca 13.6 (84). ■ Reserves. Shepparton United 10.4 (64) d Mooroopna 7.8 (50). Shepparton 10.5 (65) d Mansfield 7.5 (47). Rochester 11.14 (80) d Benalla 4.3 (27). Shepparton Swans 19.19 (133) d Euroa 0.2 (2). Seymour 22.11(143) d Tatura 3.1 (19). Kyabram 14.,112 (95) d Echuca 4.1 (25).

■ Under 18. Kyabram 9.,5 (59) d Echuca 7.11 (53). Mooroopna 6.5 (41) d Shepparton United 5.6 (46). Shepparton 15.10 (100) d Mansfield 7.9 (51). Rochester 8.11 (59) d Benalla 6.5 (41). Shepparton Swans 9.8 (62) d Euroa 7.7 (49). Seymour 14.13 (97) d Tatura 2.2 (14).

Kyabram District

■ Seniors. Undera 9.12 (66) d Avenel 8.13 (61). Rushworth 17.20 (122) d Tallygaroopna 6.8 (45). Violet Town 15.8 998) d Merrigum 123.10 (88). Shepparton East 15.5 (95) d Lancaster 14.10 (94). Stranhope 11.18 (84) d Girggare 12.9 (84). Murchison Toolamba v Longwood. Bye: Nagambie. ■ Reserves. Avenel 12.10 (82) d Undera 1.2 (8). Tallygaroopna 27.24 (186) d Rushworth 0.5 (5). Merrigum 24.18 (162) d Violet Town 1.3 (9). Lancaster 10.9 (69) d Shepparton East 8.4 (52). Girgarre 7.11 (53) d Stanhope 7.10 (52). Murchison Toolamba v Longwood. Bye: Nagambie. ■ Under 18. Undera 9.18 (72) d Violet Town 4.3 (27). Shepparton East 18.125 (123) d Lancaster 2.0 (12). Tallygaroopna v Tigers. Murchison Toolamaba v Longwood. Bye: Nagambie.

Riddell District

■ Seniors. Riddell 11.19 (85) d WoodendHesket 7.4 (46). Romsey 14.4 (88) d Melton South 12.14 (86). Wallan 16.6 (102) d Macedon 12.17 (89). Gisborne Giants 16.7 (103) d Lancefield 13.10 (88). Kyneton 21.7 (133) d Melton Centrals 10.6 (66). Bye: Di\ggers Rest.

■ Reserves. Riddell 24.12 (156) d Woodend Hesket 6.4 (40). Melton South 11.9 (75) d Romsey 11.6 (72). Wallan 13.11 (89) d Macedon 3.4 (22). Gisborne Giants 6.7 (43) d Lancefield 5.11 (41). Kyneton 21.10 (136) d Melton Centrals 3.7 (25). Bye:Diggers Rest.

■ Under 19.5. Riddell 11.16 (82) d Woodend-Hesket 5.2 (32). Romsey 14.14 (98)

d Melton South 4.4 (28). Macedon 18.15 (123) d Wallan 1.1 (7). Gisborne Giants 12.18 (90) d Lancefield 12.4 (10). Bye: Diggers Rest, Kyneton.

Sport SELECTIONS FOR KINGSFORD SMITH CUP

n One of the most popular events on the Queensland racing calendar is the Kingsford Smith Cup to be run at Eagle Farm on May 31.

Before the nominations start-up, a number of top-class gallopers have been suggested as to who may contest the big event.

One such named had been listed by some of our leading bookmakers that being champion sprinter, Giga Kick, an Everest winner in great style, but unfortunately has been missing through injury for some time.

His last run dates back to November 9 last year, the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

That particular day, he wasn’t at his best, and missed the place contesting the Dalgety Champions Sprint over the straight 1200 metres.

Evidently, he may have been unlucky getting a knock or otherwise\ in the run at Moonee Valley before that.

Back on October 19 last year he ran a great second to the top mare, Bella Nipotina, in another Everest.

From his 14 starts up until then, he had won seven races with four placings,and without a doubt we miss him on the track.

On the second line is the good mare, Benedetta, who is contesting races all over Australia.

At Flemington she travels sweetly up the straight six and won the Goodwood in South Australia in style.

She appeared out of her class when missing the place in a strong field in the All Aged Stakes run at Randwick on April 19.

She has won eight of her 20 starts with six minors, and has accumulated over $1 million \in stakemoney.

Two of the best racing at present may go around here, Antino and Joliestar. They would have to be chances.

Next is another smart mare in Sunshine in Paris, prepared by the combination of leading Queensland trainers, Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald.

She too has won plenty for her connections making over $5 million winning six of her 16 starts, with four placings, and is consistent.

One that fires alright is the former New Zealander, now seven, in Here to Shock,now with the Hayes boys, Ben, Will and W.D.

He’s has been around 37 times, and has won 13 with eight minors.

He is smart being by the 2009 Melbourne Cup winner, Shocking

Another who always has a dip is the Gerald Ryan horse, General Salute, who had a good win back on April 4.

He is nicely bred being by the good sire, Russian Revolution.

He has been lightly raced, having had 10 starts for three wins and two placings, but is up there with them.

One down in the weights but extremely smart, is the three- year-old, colt, Angel Capital, who has already won a Group Two event.

That was with Clinton Mc Donald, now with Chris Waller, and is very talented, but meeting

Ted Ryan

Stallion changes

■ Harry Angel, Australia’s leading shuttle stallion will stand at $66,000.

A world champion sprinter and the leading third crop sire in the country.

Harry Angel is the youngest stallion in the top 10 of the General Sires Table,and one of the most sought-after stallions in the country right now.

Two of Exceed and Excel’s most accomplished sons, are Bivouac at $55,000, the fastest first-crop stallion to sire two Group winners since his sire, and the 2024 Group One Newmarket Handicap winner, Cylinder, at $44,000.

Both look set to carry on the legacy of their illustrious father.

Pinatubo, standing at $38,500, saw his first yearlings sell for up to $700,000 this season.

His paternal half-brother, Victor Ludorum ($11,000) was a Group One winner at both two and three.

They represent the phenomenally successful Shamardal sire line.

Brazen Beau ($33,000) has added the Group One Thousand Guineas winner, Another Prophet, to last season’s Group One Galaxy winner, Zapateo, reinforcing his status as I Am Invincible’s best sire son.

Native Trail, Europe’s unbeaten two- yearold, stands at $27,500, and hails from the same influential Green Desert line.

Paulele, a five-time Group winner and WFA Group One Performer, has had his fee reduced to $11,000

While Kermadec, at $13,750, continues to outperform his peers, boasting a strike rate of Group One winners that surpasses many of the most commercial names in the country.

“This is an outstanding group of Stallions-a World-Class line-up”, said Darley’s Head of Stallions, Alastair Pulford.

“The results that we have achieved this year, both in the yearling market and on the racetrack, have been incredibly encouraging.

“These fees reflect the success we’ve seen and have been set with Breeders firmly in mind” Ted Ryan

● ● ● ● Clayton Douglas. Racing Photos.

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ANGEL STATUE with adjustable wings. Approx. one metre tall. Solid moulde, EC. $475. Broadford. Owen, 0434 037 941. N-Q

BASSINET. Chrome frame and high chair. VGC. $25 for both. Thomastown. 0428 833 398. N-Q

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

BIKE. Ladies. Make: Friction Huffey. Purple. Plus helmet, basket and pump. VGC. $110. Pakenham. 5940 5018. R-U

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. Used once. Slide out kiychen plus extras. VGC. $4300. Dromana. 5981 4517. N-Q

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CLARE Circulation Stimulator. VGC. 150 ONO. Frankston. 9789 9634. N-Q

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

DOG KENNEL. Plastic. Grey colour. Very clean. never used as kennel. GC. $10. Purchaser to collect. Doreen. 9717 3465. N-Q

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

LAURA ASHLEY Cotton Queen Coverlet set. Size 220cm x 240cm, plus 2 pillowcases. Pale blue with thin white stripes. Never used. EC. $40. Ashburton. 9885 2203. R-U

MAGAZINES. Collectors. New Idea, Woman’s Day, Stellar, Body and Soul, House magazine and many others. GC. Price negotiable. West Preston. 0416 576 660. R-U

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PARTS for Ford AUIIV8. Secondhand. Struts. New parts: ball joints, 2 boxes of parts. VGC. $1000. Seymour 0419 881 573. N-Q

PICTURE FRAMES. 40 large to small. Various styles. VGC. All only $70. Keon Park. 9469 4558. N-Q

PORTABLE SAUNA. Top condition. $150. Alphington. 0401 226 114. F-M

PRAM. Old, child’s collectable. GC. $60. Wandong. 041`8 399 261. R-U

RIDE-ON Deutscher 280 Honda motor, runs fine, seal on shaft leaks, heaps of parts including new seat, new cutting plate, body part dismantled, everything is there. GC. $800. Yarck. 0414 718 812. R-U

SAWS. 5 vintage saws for woodwork. FC. $20. Also frame for manual sharpening, GC. $8. Ashburton. 9885 2203.F-M

SHEEP. 60 mixed breed ewes, been running with rams, have ear tags. Friendly, great lawnmowers, saves mowing the paddocks and helps reduce fire risk. Can deliver. GC. $130. Deanside. 0426 397 741N-Q

HOME-MADE Greeting cards. Colourful and variety and quantities. Top prices paid. Get well, thank you, plain. Genuine request. Victoria wide. Ararat. 0458 339 871. R-U

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

MOBILITY SCOOTER. Pre-owned. Sill under warranty with new batteries. Features headlights and tail lights, swivel seat, rear shopping bag, includes key and charger. max user 136kg, 35km range per cahrge. Free delivery. VGC. $1295. Moorabbin. 0401 980 969. R-U

TABLE. Large solid timber, dining room table, 2100mm x 1000mm. Plus six chairs. GC. $30. Yea. 0419 109 887. N-Q

TABLE. Round. Polished timber. 100cm diameter. Seats 4. VGC. $90. Mill Park. 9436 8935. N-Q

TELESCOPE. 76/700EG. Premium. 76 mirror diameter. 700mm focal length. 28x-233x magnification. Equatoirial mount. As new. $60 ONO. Cheltenham. 0438 533 123.F-M

TRAIN BOOKS. Wide variety of books and pamphlets to all types of trains. All prices negotiable. Re- search. 9437 1253. N-Q

TYRE CHANGERS. Manual. Little used, complete with instructions, purchaser to collect. GC. $90. Doreen. 9717 3465 N-Q

WALKERS. Two. One new, hardly used, $120. Second one: GC but some small marks. $80. Seymour. 0419 881 573. R-U

WELLNESS Circulation Stimulator. $20 or offer. VGC. Frankston. 9789 9634.F-M

WHEELCHAIR. Electric. Pride Go. Mobility chair. Only moths old. Paid $3700. Will sell $1800 ONO. Like brand new. Rosanna. 0418 583 120. R-U

WHEELCHAIR. Electric. Hubang HBLD2-B. Light- weight, easy to manoeu- ver, strong battery life. Per- fect for everyday use. Sellng due to owner pass- ing away. GC. $1000. Thomastown. 0421 819 286.F-M

WHEELCHAIR. Manual. Evoke 2 Aspire 450mm. new, never been used as too small for subject. Foldable and extremely light for easy transport. Well made, Top of the range. EC. $600. Diamond Creek. 0401 473 565.N-Q

WINDOW. Aluminium. 1600mm x 1600mm with windout window. GC. Free. Murrindindi. 0418 564 174. R-U

WOOD FIRE STOVE HEATER. Ozpig Traveller. Used twice. Comes with grill and hot plate, lifting handle, carry bag. heaps ofready cut fire lighters. Heavy duty grate and 45 quart camp oven. VGC. $3000. Montmorency. 0483 881 609. R-U

PUBLIC NOTICES

GOD’S CHURCH invites faithful followwees of Christ to attend the New Testament local Passover night service. Alfredton, Ballarat. To secure your seat, 0419 327 366. N-P

ANY or all amounts of used stamps to assist needy charities and world missions. Aust. and overseas used stamps. Keen collec- tor. Genuine. Top prices paid. Victoria wide. Ararat. 0458 339 871.R-U

RING PULLS off all aluminium cans and any quan- tity to assist towards people who need prosthetics and wheel chairs and walking frames. Genuine collector. Victoria wide. Ararat. 0458 339 871.

GARDENER’S

Royal Horticultural Society Victoria. Saturday, June 14. 9.30am. Deakin University, Burwood. Rusden Theatre. Free parking and entry to large plant and allied goods market. Inspiring speakers: James Wall, Heidi Martin, Vasili Kanidiadis, $25, All welcome. plantzia@bigpond.com N-Q

Wednesday, and Thurs. afternoon. Hourly rate as per market, nego- tiable. Yea. 0438 652 784.N-Q

ANZ BANK Money Boxes. GC. Negotiable. Mill Park. 9436 8935.

CHAINS Bible College Australia; In depth Bible study and online Biblical studies. 0447 515 450 N-Q