Ranges
Trader
SOCIALLY SPEAKING...
Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
Kids love it
The editor’s desk Australia Day is a great opportunity to celebrate those who've made outstanding contributions to our communities. And this year there was no shortage of Yarra Ranges award-winners acknowledged on the local and national stage. Former Mayor Len Cox was among several Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recipients in the shire. The Patch's Raoul Picot, Gruyere's Pat Bigham and former Yarra Ranges Citizen of the Year Doseena Fergie were the other local names to receive the honour. Gruyere's Richard Gower was made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. Yarra Ranges Council named Chum Creek's Lesley Porter as Citizen of the Year. Lilydale students Amelie, Keely and Jean-Pascal shared the Young Citizen of the Year title, and Mount Evelyn's Robyn Speering was named Environmentalist of the Year. The Mayor's Lifetime Achievement Award went to Monbulk's Trevor Ricketts, the Ian De La Rue Award for Community Leadership to Warburton's Suyin Chan, and the Community Group of the Year to Plastic Bag Free Groups in Healesville, Warburton and the Dandenong Ranges. Belgrave-based Platypus Ambassadors shared the Ken McIntosh Memorial Award for Young Environmental Achiever of the year. Certificates of Recognition went to Betty Crittenden from Montrose, Belinda Grooby from Monbulk, Jasper from Sassafras, Badger Creek Community Planning Group, Patrick Boucher and Belgrave's Emma Taylor. You can read about the awardees at mailcommunity.com.au. - Casey Neill
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LETTERS
INSTA-PIC
It was interesting to hear reports of Victorian kids that were holidaying in Echuca enthusiastically crossing the border to Moama to put cans and bottles in the Reverse Cycle Vending Machine installed as part of the New South Wales container deposit system. This was yet more evidence that young Victorians will embrace a container deposit system and help keep cans and bottles out of both our landfills and our waterways. Let's hope Victoria soon follows the example of South Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Queensland so that all our young budding entrepreneurs have the same financial incentive to help keep Victoria beautiful. This is important because litter is not good look, especially in tourist hot spots like the Dandenongs and the Yarra Valley. P Cook, Clematis
Fishing isn't "fun" Daniel Phillips took this photo of a wallaby that regularly hops through Mail photographer Greg Carrick''s Mount Evelyn property. "We have noticed an increase in wallabies, kangaroos, wombats and echidnas around Mount Evelyn, and drivers need to be aware they frequently cross roads around the town," Greg said. Follow @MailCommunity on Instagram for snaps from the Mail team from across the Yarra Ranges, and tag us in your local shots for a chance to see them in print.
CARTOON
It's highly commendable to want to help people with special needs by providing activities for them (Fishing is therapy, 18 December) but fishing should not be one of those activities. Think what fishing entails. It entails tricking an inoffensive animal into swallowing a sharp barbed hook cunningly disguised as food. It involves dragging the terrified animal from its watery home - via the hook cutting ever deeper into its sensitive throat - into an atmosphere in which it cannot breathe. This is not a "wholesome" or "fun" activity. It's blatant animal cruelty! Jenny Moxham, Monbulk
Community values shine What an inspiring story 'Honk for humanity' (22 January). This local protest against our government's ongoing treatment of refugees and asylum seekers shows the importance of the old adage 'think global, act local'. The issue of security of our borders is not new. The issue of justice for people fleeing persecution in their country of origin is, unfortunately, also not new. These issues are shared by all nations and it is for all nations to address them with humanity and compassion. Our response to these issues can be nuanced, to achieve justice for people fleeing persecution and also to ensure the safety of our community here in Australia. The recent result of the state election in Victoria shows that the electorate overwhelmingly rejected the fear-mongering and outright lies ("people in Melbourne are too afraid to go out at night") of politicians desperate to retain power at any cost. Well the "cost" is our humanity and our community values. As your article implied, the community values of this community are to embrace diversity (wizard), creativity (music), multiculturalism (unique cafes) and international tourism (Puffing Billy). Long may we celebrate these values. Judith Taylor, Emerald
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Tuesday, 29 January, 2019
mailcommunity.com.au