Mail - Mountain Views Mail - 05th February 2019

Mountain Views

Mail Covering the foothills of the Yarra Ranges & Murrindindi Shires

Black Saturday 26

XXX

5

XXX

23-24 10 years on

Special commemorative edition

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

A Mail News Group publication

Best in local sport

Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

It’s time to heal

By Casey Neill

Lesley Porter on the farm.

Her horses were drinking at a lake a couple of kilometres towards Healesville.

"One was third generation - I had her mum and her grandma - and the other was my daughter's mare in foal," she said.

She reached them, "I turned around and there were 100-foot flames at the top of the hill."

Her instinct was to run, but the horses kept her feet planted.

"I turned around, unlocked the gate and dragged the horses home, my hand out the car window," she said.

"As I was dragging them home, every man and his dog in Chum Creek was leaving.

The horses were fighting against the lead

YARRA RANGES

OPEN: MON-FRI 6.30am-5.00pm฀•฀SAT 8.00am-12.00noon

9737 6833

24d John St., LILYDALE

Healesville

12339093-LB07-17

•฀Split฀Systems฀ •฀Ducted฀Heating ฀฀฀and฀Cooling฀ •฀Gas฀Appliance฀Sales ฀฀฀and฀Installation

AU36010

0419 150 009 david.mckee@atrealty.com.au www.atrealty.com.au

SPECIALISTS IN

Ph: 5966 9999

25 Hunter Road Healesville AUTOMATIC 5962 3900 CAR AND DOG WASH

1179343-HM14-15

Thinking of selling?

David McKee Computer Colour Matching

rope, but Lesley got them back home and into a paddock.

Her daughter's friend Monique had arrived and started up the property's water pump and sprinklers on the roof.

Together they fought back the flames from opposite ends of the house.

Continued on page 22

GAS HEAT & COOL

12407878-LB51-18

12401370-CG42-18

Lesley Porter fought back the flames that threatened her Chum Creek property on Black Saturday, saving her home and her treasured animals.

"I sometimes question whether I'd have the guts to do it again, to stay and defend," she said.

"I always said that I'd never leave the animals and I was true to my own word.

"I did find the strength to stay and fight it.

"There was a sense of pride that I walked my talk.

"Sometimes you get to situations and you don't.

"I wouldn't go as far as to say I'd do it again."

Lesley appeared on the front page of our first edition of the Mail after the fires, on 10 February 2009.

Reporter Jade Lawton, now Jade Glen, was one of our team members out on the ground in the aftermath.

She was met with a shocked and bewildered Lesley, who'd been up all night putting out spot fires at The Good Life Farm, and asked if she could photograph her.

Lesley agreed. The striking image summed up how so many people in fire-devastated areas felt once the flames had passed.

"It was a bit of a day," she said.

In fact, much of the state and beyond was struggling to grasp that tragedy that had unfolded.

Reflecting on her experience on Black Saturday and the following decade, Lesley told the Mail that she'd felt anxious in the days leading up to 7 February 2009.

"Chum Creek had been dry for the last three years in February," she said.

"It was just - you knew something was on the cards."

A young girl who'd been taking part in Lesley's mentoring program at the farm called her from Healesville, screaming 'get out, get out, there's a fire'.

"I said 'no, it's fine here'," Lesley said.

Black Saturday 10 years on Special commemorative edition

The editor’s desk This special edition to mark 10 years since Black Saturday has come from the heart.

It's been a painstaking process, from poring over our coverage from the days, weeks and years after the fires, to deciding who to call this time around, to recording their sometimes-tearful accounts.

I'm not ashamed to say I've shed a few tears myself along the way.

The stories people have shared with me have been overwhelming.

"We don't want to unnecessarily open old wounds," guided the entire process.

But so did a sense of duty to share stories from as many perspectives as possible.

I'm not saying we've captured everyone's experience, but I hope we've presented an honest and accurate snapshot.

Not every story is positive, because not every experience was a positive one. Many weren't.

But overall I hope we've shown that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

It's not about recovery - life will never be the same for anyone impacted by this inferno - but about finding a way to carry on.

What that looks like is different for every person we spoke to.

The disaster claimed the lives of 173

people and destroyed thousands of homes across the state.

We can't forget those who lost their lives, loved ones and property.

We can't forget those who fought to save lives and property.

We must remember those who supported communities when they needed it most.

We must remember those who helped to rebuild the shattered towns.

Some people we've spoken to have questioned the value in covering the anniversary.

I've asked myself that same question. But imagine if we ignored it.

Anyone who needs support can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

- Casey Neill

CARTOON

Chum Creek cartoonist Danny Zemp reflects on the Black Saturday 10th anniversary.

The GAP Mobile is back

By Michael Doran One of the first visible signs of bushfire recovery is often a green shoot on a burnt trunk or new fronds on a tree fern. Around Chum Creek one of the first signs that things were on the way back came with the appearance of Russell Clements' cream 1953 FX Holden, affectionately known to locals as the GAP Mobile.

Sighted regularly around Healesville and throughout the Yarra Valley, the original GAP Mobile was destroyed on Black Saturday, along with two other FX Holden Utes, when fire ravaged the family's Chum Creek property.

"The car had been in my family for a long time," he said. "I brought it from my brother in 1956 and Faye and I courted in it before we got married."

"With the number plate being GAP 692 it was the GAP Mobile around town when I drove it to Healesville High, where I was a teacher for 31 years. It was so well known and meant so much to us that I knew we had to rebuild another one to replace it."

Russell says that ten years on things are often referred to as being either "before the fires or after the fires. It seems like it was a long time time ago and then it doesn't.

"We were lucky because we didn't lose anything that was critical to our existence, just a shed, a few cars and a lot of trees. All around us were people who had lost everything.

"The house next door was gone and lots of others around us were lost. After the fires we did a lot of tidying up and just wanted to get everything looking the way they used to as quick as we could.

"Apart from registering we were okay, we stayed away from town for a fortnight or so. I slept out on the verandah for days because I was wanted to be there in case the fires took off again."

Faye says, "We were totally in our own little bubble. We had a young family here and we were not going to leave the house and didn't know a

Russell Clements with his new car beside the original lost on Black Saturday. 189794 lot about what was happening out there."

Russell said he is a bit puzzled there is a radio aerial on the new version. "The original car had a radio but this car doesn't. For some

reason I put an aerial on it anyway, it was just something I had to do."

In February 2009 Russell told The Mail that the community would see the GAP Mobile

again and despite all of the issues he and Faye have had to deal with since then he has made good on that promise, a great piece of re-generation on his part.

William Matthews Funerals 12409411-HM07-19

45 Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale 24 HOUR SERVICE - ALL AREAS Pre Paid Funerals Available Large Chapel with refreshment facilities

CHARTERS & TOURS LOCAL & INTERSTATE Luxurious Air Conditioned Comfort Seats up to 57 Passengers with Seat Belts

Contact Cindy‌

13 Lilydale Road, Healesville 3777

Shop 10, 38-40 Bell Street, Yarra Glen

A/H: 0429 139 899 Fax: 5962 3338

Telephone: 5962 5088

PO Box 128, Yarra Glen VIC 3775

9739 6868 www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED

2 MAIL

|

N.F.D.A Member

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

03 9730 1066 12410395-LB06-19

Before you decide call Bill, Narelle, or Melanie Matthews Scott or Micah

1213536-PB03-16

Schools | Clubs | Corporate Charters Winery Tours | Weddings & Functions Airport Transfers

Cindy.McLeish@parliament.vic.gov.au

www.CindyMcLeish.com.au Authorised by Cindy McLeish MP, Shop 10, 38-40 Bell Street, Yarra Glen. Funded from Parliament Electorate Office & Communications Budget.

www.mckenzies.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

IN BRIEF Vale, Ray

New eyes on YCA Two new groups will form to help to implement the Yellingbo Conservation Area draft 10-year plan.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) Port Phillip acting regional director Deb Brown said Yellingbo Conservation Area Coordinating Committee (YCACC) was independently reviewed every three years the process started in July last year.

"It recommended a change in governance arrangements given the Yellingbo Conservation Area (YCA) draft 10-year plan is in the pro-

cess of shifting from planning to implementation," she said.

So the State Government will restructure the management model to include a co-ordinating committee of land managers and a broader-based community reference group.

"It's important that we adapt the management model to continue to work with land managers and the community," Ms Brown said.

YCACC was created in October 2015 to implement the recommendations detailed

in the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council's (VEAC) Yellingbo Investigation Final Report.

Since then, DELWP has been engaging with the public on plans to establish the YCA. The YCA will conserve biodiversity, improve water quality, improve public land management across the landscape, and provide a recreation space for future generations to enjoy.

The area is home to two of Victoria's faunal emblems; the helmeted honeyeater and the lowland Leadbeater's possum.

Badger Creek Fire Brigade’s longest serving captain has died.

Raymond Ernest Frogley, known as Ray, passed away peacefully on Saturday 26 January at Bairnsdale, aged 73.

In a tribute, the captain, officers and firefighters of Badger Creek Fire Brigade said they were saddened Mr Frogley’s passing and that he’d served as captain for more than 30 years.

“He was also a respected firefighter, mentor and friend to all who knew him,” the tribute said.

“He will always be remembered at Badger Creek CFA.” Mr Frogley was a husband to Jan, father and father-in-law to Kyle, Trina, Shane and Karen, and pop to Alex, Rhys (deceased), Jarrod, Matt and Luke.

A funeral service to celebrate his life was to be held at the Heritage Pioneers Chapel, 1416 Healesville-Kooweerup Road, Woori Yallock, on Monday 4 February at 10.30am. A private cremation will follow.

Australia Day collision A motorcyclist was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following a collision on the Warburton Highway, Launching Place on Australia Day. About 1.40pm on 26 January a motorcycle collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Glenview Road.

Traffic was built up as a result of another incident and the motorcyclist was filtering through traffic at the time. Highway Patrol reminded road users to remain patient at an incident and wait for traffic management services to arrive.

Turning truck Warburton Highway was closed for an hour on 4 February following a collision between a truck and four-wheel drive at 6.40am.

Police said a truck travelling through Launching Place towards Yarra Junction was turning left into a driveway and clipped a Nissan Navara that failed to stop in time, tipping the vehicle onto its side.

Both drivers were uninjured.

Emergency services crews took an hour to remove debris and oil from the road.

Beware of scammers Picture: ROB CAREW

Yellow ribbons adorn trees in Marysville's town centre. 189781

Flag’s symbolic return to Marysville

By Casey Neill "It's symbolic of what's gone on here in the last 10 years and that's a resilient community rebuilding, rising out of the ashes."

The Australian flag that was flying at Marysville Police Station during the 2009 bushfires was returned to the rebuilt site on Friday 1 February.

"It's a celebration that the flag's coming back here," Benalla Senior Sergeant Mark Hesse said.

"I've got a couple of boys working here that were here on Black Saturday and they're over the moon, they're just rapt to have it back."

Then-Officer in Charge Sergeant Kevin Graham found the burnt flag after fire tore through the station and handed it to the Victoria Police Museum in Melbourne.

The team there used special techniques to remove ash and foreign particles from the

flag and preserve it.

"Sunday morning, the place is in ruins so much devastation, so much heartache, so much grief, and Kevin's lost the police residence and the police station," Sen Sgt Hesse said.

"Everything he owns is gone.

"The only thing he finds in the ashes is the flag."

He said other events to mark the fires around the 7 February anniversary wouldn't be celebrations like that for the flag's return.

"There's a hell of a hot of heartache," he said.

"There's a lot of people who don't want to know about it and don't want a bar of it.

"That's human nature."

Sen Sgt Hesse urged people to mark the milestone in the way they wanted to.

"People have a lot to reflect on and a lot to remember," he said.

"Similar to like an Anzac Day, you've got to strike it up, you've got to remember.

"Lest we forget, no greater words were ever spoken."

The flag is now in a custom-made case on display to the public in the Marysville Police Station foyer.

The event to mark the flag's return included a formal ceremony with a full police escort, police horses and shrine guards.

A lone piper played Amazing Grace and a formal march off officially retired the former Marysville flag.

"As part of our rebuilding process, Marysville police officers have requested the flag be returned to its original home," Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said "Today's event is a time for everyone present to reflect on how the fires changed the lives of so many and how our communities have rebuilt."

Remain wary Yarra Glen police are reminding parents to have a discussion about safety with their children before letting them walk to school.

The call came after an 11-year-old girl in Yarra Glen was followed and waved to by a man in a white van whom she did not know.

While no offence was committed, police said it was timely reminder for parents to talk with their children and to remain vigilant.

Collision between a truck and car on Warburton highway.

BRAZZEN R U R A L

How would this yard look at your place

?

Healesville Police issued a warning to residents following reports of unwanted tree loppers trying to score a quick buck.

They said the group approached homeowners, offering to cut down trees and remove the stump and debris for full payment upfront.

Once payment is made, they leave and walk away with the cash.

P R O D U C T S

Yarra Valley

Stockists of a wide range of horse yards and panels

T| 1300 87 87 25 E| W|

yarravalley@brazzen.com.au yarravalleybrazzen.com.au 12395472-SN35-18

mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 3

NEWS

Bushfires trauma still raw Like all momentous tragedies, Black Saturday still seems like yesterday.

The steadily soaring heat, the mushroom cloud of black and grey smoke, the change in the direction of the wind, followed by the sickening realisation that a catastrophe was unfolding as the deadly symphony of fires spread.

Many of us instinctively thought of Ash Wednesday; our only reference point to comprehend what was happening.

I could see what turned out to be the Steels Creek fire from our back family room window late in the afternoon.

I followed the news intensely throughout the afternoon and evening.

On the Sunday morning I awoke early to hear of the devastation at Marysville and elsewhere.

A decade on we remember, we reflect, and

From my

desk Tony Smith MP

Federal Member for Casey we rededicate ourselves to the memory of those who lost their lives, those who were injured and those whose lives were changed forever by the loss of loved ones.

I know so many are still struggling with the aftermath.

For so many families this anniversary will be traumatic.

COMMUNITY DIARY Castella Commemoration The Toolangi and Castella community will be having a Black Saturday memorial event for past and present residents on Thursday 7 February at Castella Central Park. The night starts with coffee and pizza at 5.30pm, the commemoration at 6.30pm and then a community get together from 7.15pm. Details from the Community House on 5962 9060.

Toolangi Photos Toolangi Castella District Community House are holding a Black Saturday 10 Year Anniversary photographic exhibition on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10 February from 10am to 4pm.

The photos have been taken by Toolangi and Castella residents and will be on display at the CJ Dennis Hall, 1717 Healesville-Kinglake Road Toolangi.

Healesville Probus The Healesville Ladies Probus Club meets every third Friday of the month at 10.00 am in the Senior Citizens Hall, with the first meeting for 2019 on 15 February. Enjoy making new friends who will enrich your life in retirement.

No fundraising involved and new members will be made very welcome. Contact secretary Nancy Closter on 5962 3713.

Film Society Croydon Film Society will screen 22 art house and selected films during 2019 on Monday nights at Croydon Cinemas. Membership costs are $105 or $85 conc. Shared memberships are available. To join please ring the membership secretary on 0490663159 or visit the website www.croydonfilms.org.au

U3A in 2019 Learn, share and enjoy with U3A in 2019. U3A Upper Yarra is for everyone who is retired or semi-retired and offers many opportunities for social, creative or recreational activities. As we grow older we need to keep our minds and

bodies active and U3A is the answer! For more information phone 5967 1702, website www. upperyarrau3a.org.au

Talking Teens Talking Teens, a free Anglicare program to help parents talk to their teenagers, will commence on Monday 18 February at Cire Community House Yarra Junction. Ways to learn how to talk so they will listen, help them problem solve, resolve conflict and stay connected are part of what is covered. The program runs for five weeks from 7-9pm and bookings, which are essential, can be made with Anglicare Parentzone on 9735 6134.

The kindness of strangers Last Thursday morning, 24 January (a very hot day) I was driven in the wonderful HICCI bus to do my usual weekly shop in Healesville.

That was the start of a day filled with caring and kindness.

I will be 90 this year and I had so many people asking me if I was OK and assisting me with lifting my groceries onto my walker, that the thought came to me how lucky I was to have chosen to live here.

In the afternoon I had an appointment with my hairdresser and my thoughtful neighbour offered to drive me there, or I would have to

The Writers and Rhythm original music nights are returning for 2019, starting on the 22nd February at 7 for 7:30pm start. Writers and Rhythm is co hosted by Healesville Uniting Church in association with the Healesville Music Festival. Tickets are $15 at the door and get you two and a half hours of original music performed by local Healesville artists and friends, including supper.

INSTA-PIC

Wandin speaker Wandin Seville Uniting Church has a special guest speaker for its Sunday 24 February Worship Service. Paul Linossier is the CEO of Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania), an organisation focussed on the needs of marginalised and vulnerable people. Uniting has 3800 staff and a similar number of volunteers providing community services. The service is at 9.30am at the church on Beenak Road, Wandin.

Keenagers 10th Yarra Junction Table Tennis Club, aka the Keenagers, are holding an open house to celebrate their 10th birthday on Tuesday 5 March at the Yarra Centre from 9am to 2pm. All are welcome and refreshments will be provided.

More information from Egon Fink on 5966 9772 or at www.yarracentre.com.au

Val Rees is a keen amateur photographer who loves to capture the beauty of nature and the seasons in the Dandenong Ranges. She recently shared this image of a lily field in Selby.

"The farm also has lovely views over looking the Cardinia Reservoir," she said.

Follow @MailCommunity for our photos from across the Yarra Ranges and tag us in your local shots for a chance to see them in print.

build Victoria wide 12376285-DJ03-18

Customised Woolamai 4

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

Blue Gum Cottage 1

Extensive experience in high Bushfire zones.

Over 40 YEARS building throughout Victoria to LOCK UP or COMPLETION. Your design or ours. Also available relocatable plans and lock-up kits.

Administration & DISPLAY CENTRE: 7 Buxton - Marysville Road Buxton 3711 12410893-HM07-19

Ph: (03) 5774 7066 Fax: 5774 7582 Sales Mobile: 0447 462 844 Open weekdays 9am - 5pm Weekends 12 noon - 5pm

For your free brochure Please call 5774 7066

Mobile: 0447 462 844 Master Builder No. 1492 DB-U28406 Visit: swenrick.com.au Email: sales@swenrick.com.au

General Enquiries Tel: 5957 3700 Fax: 5957 3777 Email: enquiries@mailnewsgroup.com.au Distribution Enquiries Tel: 1300 654 910 Advertising Group Advertising Manager – Tracey Aitken Editorial Editor – Casey Neill Email: editor@mailnewsgroup.com.au Classifieds Advertising Phone: 1300 666 808 Email: sales@networkclassifieds.com.au Deadlines: Display Advertising: 4PM Wednesday Trades: 4PM Thursday Classifieds: 4PM Friday Sports Results: 9AM Monday Managing Director: Paul Thomas

12393103-CB28-18

244 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville, 3777

“Christ is Coming”

|

PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN OWNED & INDEPENDENT

Prices start from $37,360* (Montana built to lock-up)

“I will come again” he promised.

Events tell us his return is near.

What do we have to do to be ready?

Learn more – send for free booklet

4 MAIL

have walked.

My extremely kind hairdresser always drives me home but she was very busy and asked if I would mind waiting.

At that point another client who was waiting with her two young daughters came over and said she would drive me home - she had no idea where I lived!

What a wonderful day I had, full of love and kindness showered on me in by beautiful Healesville on a day when I hadn't really wanted to leave my home.

Barbara Woodroofe, Healesville

Rhythmic writers

Jesus said that before his second coming the world would be like it was in Noah’s day when “the earth was corrupt and filled with violence” Genesis 6:11

Yarra Valley Christadelphians PO Box 516 Yarra Glen 3775 Email – yvc@iprimus.com.au

in Yarra Glen ringing to ask for Australian flags to meet the request of those whose houses were damaged or destroyed.

They wanted to fly the flag at their properties to signify their determination to rebuild.

This Saturday we'll pause, reflect and remember as a community and as a nation.

The annual Black Saturday Remembrance Cruise initiated by Stacey Bennett in honour of her friend Kate Ansett, who lost her life in the fires, continues to be a wonderfully reflective event.

The drive, along with the commemorative service that follows at Healesville, always allows us a tranquil moment of reflection.

And it raises significant funds for the CFA. For those going, I'll see you on Saturday afternoon.

LETTERS

Swenrick

ARE YOU WORRIED WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD?

It is right and proper that at this time, while respectfully remembering and supporting those affected, we also give people and communities the space and peace to reflect in their own way.

As we remember the loss, we also remember the heroic efforts of all of our emergency service workers, both volunteer and paid, who risked their lives to save others.

As well as being a time of enormous grief and sorrow, it was also a time of magnificent community spirit and humanity.

Instantly people came forward to volunteer their time, money, food, clothing and accommodation to those in need.

We'll never forget the iconic image of the CFA volunteer giving the disoriented koala a drink of water from his bottle.

I remember volunteers at the relief centre

The Mail is published by Hartley Higgins for Mail News Group Pty Ltd ABN 99 006 310 498. All material is copyright to Mail News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible. Distribution numbers, areas and coverage are estimates only. For terms and conditions please visit www.starcommunity.com.au Print Post Number PP33445700014.

mailcommunity.com.au

Black Saturday 10 years on Dixons Creek Fortitude of locals spread word Special commemorative edition

By Derek Schlennstedt

The Steels Creek Community Centre is colloquially known as the heart of Steels Creek, and it’s actually the only ‘town’ building in Steels Creek.

When the Black Saturday bushfires threatened the town, the community came very close to losing its heart.

If it wasn’t for the efforts of Ivan Filsell and his family it very well might have.

On 7 February 2009, Ivan was living in Steels Creek on a 50 acre site backing onto Kinglake National Park.

The area was on high fire alert and Ivan had already taken precautions by filling his gutters with water and laying out a hose at each corner of his house.

“You just knew it was coming, you could just feel it,” he said.

“We had gutter plugs in and gutters full of water and we just waited...and then it came.”

Despite being prepared, Ivan had to use four hoses to fight flames surrounding his home after a change of wind caught residents unaware.

“We were watching it behind the hills over Mount Everard, and we watched it go past and thought it missed us,” he said.

“It went down all the way to the hills behind Yarra Glen, and then the wind changed and it swung it around in a big arc and came back towards us across the Yarra Flats.

“The spot fires were just starting everywhere; we were just watching them start all around us.”

Although the Filsell family managed to save their home, their fences, animals and shed were all destroyed.

It wasn’t until the fire had passed that they ventured out to see the changed and charred landscape.

By Michael Doran

Ivan Fislsell with group members at the Steels Creek Community Centre.

On both sides, their neighbours' houses had been razed to the ground but it was Ivan’s son, Mark, who suggested that they check on the smouldering community centre.

"All we could see of the centre was just a glow in the smoke at that time," he said.

“We came down to check and the gutters were all just starting to smoke.

“There was a water tank which had fallen down and was burning, but there was a broken pipe with hot water coming out.

“Mark had a plastic bowl in his car so we had a little bucket chain going from the tank.

“We had Mark on the roof, I stood on the tank

stand and my grandson Jake collected the water and passed it to me, and I passed it to Mark.“ The historic building has since become an important and enduring part of the community.

Today, the centre is more popular than ever and Secretary Christine Tomlins told the Mail that various groups catered to all ages.

“It's been a great gathering place for everyone and for 20-odd years we’ve been meeting there," she said.

“There’s an art group, sewing group, garden club, film group and there’s quite a few other things too.

“It really would’ve been a shame to see it go.”

In the aftermath of Black Saturday, a project was germinated at Dixons Creek Primary School that has helped school children across the Yarra Valley and beyond come to a better understanding of what fire is all about.

The Firestick Project, as it was known, was presented by students to the Resilient Australia National School Awards and took out both the state and national first prizes for their work.

A film of their work will be shown at the Victorian State Event Commemoration on Monday 4 February and the book will be read at the Yarra Glen 10 Year Remembrance on Thursday 7 February.

The 2009 fires affected around half of the families at the school, with some children losing their homes. Two parents made the trip to the Northern Territory to learn about indigenous burning practices and news from that trip found its way into the broader school community.

A Wurundjeri Elder, Uncle Dave Wandin talked with students from years 3 to 6 about indigenous burning programs to keep the bush under control through planned burning.

The students were asked to write and draw about their learnings whilst walking on country with Uncle Dave Wandin and their work became the book, 'Parent Trees are Talking'.

In the book are the stories and drawings of the students, which above all else speak of the need to respect and nurture the land.

Teacher Kylie Schabel siad, "Our focus for 2019 is to get the book and its message out to a much wider audience beyond the school community. A lot of the Dixons Creek families have taken it onboard and we hope to reach others so they can do the same."

AURRUM HEALESVILLE AGED CARE • Clinical care excellence • Modern facilities & superior amenities • Dietitian-approved seasonal menus & home-cooked meals • Extensive wellness & lifestyle programs

OUR AURRUM FAMILY CARING FOR YOUR FAMILY

12407414-RA50-18

AURRUM HEALESVILLE

FOR ENQUIRIES CALL 1800 287 786 OR VISIT AURRUM.COM.AU AURRUM HEALESVILLE - 27 SMITH STREET, HEALESVILLE VIC 3777

mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 5

Black Saturday 10 years on Special commemorative edition

Local lives lost in the Black Saturday Bushfires MARYSVILLE Jamie Bowker Nicole Jefferson Kevin Bradwell Melissa Bunning Glenis Delmenico Lesleigh Webb Dalton Fiske Elizabeth Fiske James Gormley Julie Wallace-Mitchell Aileen Hoskin

Geoff Grady Patrick Jennings Dean Lesmana Rudi The Laurel Lewis Elizabeth Liesfield James Liesfield Matthew Liesfield Coralie Lynch David Lynch Alen Mawson Errol Morgan

Harley Morgan Isak Nilsson Kirstie Nilsson Colin Paul Len Postlethwaite Ken Rowe David Sebald Marlene Sebald Suat Bian Tan Marie Walsh David Whittington Kate Whittington

Grace Mundovna Fay Walker Bill Walker Geoff Walker

Greg Leonard Gail Leonard Greg Lloyd Melanee Hermocilla Jaeson Hermocilla

STEELS CREEK

TOOLANGI

Leigh Ahern Charmian Ahern John Barnett Jenny Barnett Lynne James

Kate Ansett Steve Fisher

NARBETHONG

YARRA GLEN Gareth JonesRoberts Jr

The heroes at the end of the line

By Derek Schlennstedt

We’re helping businesses grow

It’s a call you hope you never have to make and the decision to dial triple-zero is usually one done out of desperation for help.

Every day, thousands of Victorians make that call and on Black Saturday that number sky-rocketed to more than 10,000 and continued at high levels for several days afterwards.

Those phone calls came in from people in desperate - and sometimes fatal - situations.

It’s a day that former call taker and dispatcher at ESTA Michelle Lannen will never forget.

“As you can imagine it was a very intense day...we prepared as much as we could,” she said.

“Not knowing what was coming and I guess the calls on that day were quite different from the normal run-of-the-mill calls.

“I’ve dealt with every type of disaster, train crash, car accident, but definitely Black Saturday stands out as the most intense period of workload in my nearly 15 years of being with ESTA.” Keeping callers composed amid the chaos of an incident is at the heart of being a triple-zero operator and while saving lives and influencing others is a regular part of their workdays, the calls that Michelle took during Black Saturday have impacted her and her colleagues.

She might be the last person that some callers were able to speak to.

“I spoke to people who passed away and talked to them through their last moment of their life,” she said.

“It has a massive toll and I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for the team and heroes in ESTA that enable you to work through it.

“We’re all in this together, especially during that period as it wasn’t just one day, but we all just banded together as best we could.”

She said that as the scale of the emergency became clear, ESTA’s employee assistance program counsellors were called in to help call takers and dispatchers cope, but noted that camaraderie during the days following Black Saturday helped too.

Australian businesses helped to create over 300,000 new jobs in the last financial year. If you’re a small to medium business owner, there are Australian Government incentives of up to $10,000 to help you hire an eligible young person or mature age worker.

“Caroline not only brought her experience to my business, she brought her recipes as well. ”

"The way the land is used in Steels Creek will be changed forever. I would say 50 per cent of people have moved away which means new people will come in, and not necessarily use the land for farming."

Lucinda - Owner Moon Lily Kitchen and Cakes, Beaconsfield

jobs.gov.au

To get your business growing go to jobs.gov.au

- Steels Creek resident Carolyn Kelmar 12410852-CB6-19

6 MAIL

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

mailcommunity.com.au

Black Saturday 10 years on Chevy fell to fire tsunami Special commemorative edition

By Casey Neill Terry Ross spent three decades rebuilding a 1946 Chevy ute.

"My dad was a Chevrolet fan. It was always Chevs in our family," he said.

"I just wanted an old car to do up. I found this one.

"Over the next 30 years, as I had some money and time I rebuilt it.

"I'd just about got it right."

Then on 7 February 2009, a bushfire tore through his home, located 3 kilometres out of Marysville.

He normally kept the car in the garage, but had moved it to a shed on the property's north to replace the radiator.

"When the fire came, the first thing that got hit was the shed," he said.

"It hit it with such force that it hit the walls and diverted it around the house.

"While I lost the shed and the ute, it saved the house.

"I was the only house left on my side of the street.

"Luckily I didn't lose my life."

Terry was armed with a fire hose, a pump and 26,000 litres of water when the fire front arrived.

"You had to be there to feel the full force of Mother Nature," he said.

"It was like a tsunami of fire.

"If you were in its way it took you with it.

"I was in the driveway when it came. It nearly blew me off my feet.

"Daylight turned to pitch black.

"I couldn't see the hose in my hand, it was that dark."

Terry took shelter on the south side of his home, where his tank and pump were also located.

"A lot of pumps failed because they didn't have any oxygen but mine kept going," he said.

He said the fire sounded like an aeroplane landing in his driveway.

"It felt like my back was on fire. The radiant heat was just unbelievable," he said.

"With all the smoke I was having trouble breathing.

"In a moment of desperation I called out for divine intervention, and with that the light came back on, the front passed and the sun came back out.

"Everything I could see was burning.

"The shed, all the walls were blown out.

"Every tree I could see was on fire, just like candles."

He spent the next four hours putting out spot fires. The wind was blowing so strongly he had to point the hose away from the flames and let the water blow back.

His wife, Grace, had gone into town earlier

in the day to warn the guests staying at their holiday cottages to head to Alexandra.

"She didn't want to be there. That was our plan. I didn't want her there either," he said.

"It was someone else I had to worry about.

"I didn't know if she'd got to Alexandra, and she didn't know if I'd made it.

"For three days both of us didn't know if the other had survived."

Terry heard that people were getting phone reception to Melbourne on top of Mt Gordon so took a trip and managed to reach his daughter in Warrnambool, who'd also been in touch with Grace.

That first night, Terry heard radio reports that Marysville had survived.

"I went to bed with that in my mind," he said.

"When I woke up in the morning, I thought perhaps I'd better go for a drive in, just to see if our holiday cottages were OK. "I just couldn't believe what I saw. The whole town was just wiped out, including our cottages.

"I saw bodies in the street.

"It was almost surreal.

"In one part of my mind I remembered that radio report saying that Marysville had survived, and I get in there and it's wiped out with bodies here and there ... " His cottages were "just a bit of white ash" and there was no one else around.

"It seemed like the whole world had been wiped out," he said.

Guest house Terry is a third-generation Marysville resident.

"My grandparents had a guest house there in the 1920s," he said.

"My father was born there. Marysville runs through my blood."

He heard the Narbethong pub had survived and, sceptical after his shock trip into Marysville that Sunday morning, was pleased to find it untouched that night.

"There was greenery. There was no sign of a fire. It was a little piece of paradise," he said.

The owners put on meals for everyone, and the diners shared their stories of survival.

"I was going down there every night," he said.

"It was just like a home away from home."

The fires were still burning and Grace was stuck in Alexandra.

"All she wanted to do was get back home," he said.

"Where I was was the safest place in Victoria because there was nothing left to burn."

Terry had been driving around in an old farm four-wheel drive, so borrowed the neighbour's car and set off on a midnight raid to bring Grace home.

Terry Ross with photos of his Chevy after and before the fire.

"She was in a private address with six or seven others from Marysville," he said.

Close to town he noticed headlights behind him from heavy earthmoving machinery, let the vehicle pass and "got up his backside" to sneak through the roadblock.

He took a back road home, confident the officer at the one roadblock would be asleep.

"At Acheron she saw the police car parked there in the dark. She slid down in her seat so she wouldn't be seen," he said.

"We got away scot free."

A new normal Picking up the pieces and finding a new normal wasn't easy for Terry and Grace.

Terry was disappointed he and locals didn't land work in the town's reconstruction.

"I couldn't get a job," he said.

"That was the most stressful time for me, the aftermath.

"That was more stressful than the fire itself.

"We had a business and we lost our business. We got no assistance whatsoever.

"We had holiday houses, rental houses. The people in our rental houses got 15,000 to relocate.

"Us as owners got nothing other than our insurance.

"Most businesses in Marysville are the same.

"The Vibe Hotel is one positive that I like.

"The government put money into that to get it up and going.

"It brings work and people to the town.

"The other positive of the town is that wherever you stay now, you're guaranteed brand new premises.

"You know you're going to get top-class accommodation."

Not worth repairing The fire burnt the tyres from Terry's Chevy.

"The metal got so hot that it's very soft and it's really not worth repairing," he said.

"I've still got the wreck.

"Everybody lost something up there, I was lucky I only lost that and not my life."

For a long time he had no interest in getting another car.

"After some years I got the urge back again," he said.

"I went with a friend over to Strathewan one day.

"On this property was this car, a 1937 Ford just sitting in the paddock."

On the same day that fire destroyed his Chevy, embers had burnt the Ford's back seat.

"I thought 'here's a project'. After a few phone calls I was able to purchase it," Terry said.

"I've stripped it all down and I've done the chassis and the running gear - the motor and the transmission and the diff.

"Now I'm doing the panels and rust on the body itself."

Acknowledging that a bad day could have been worse

By Casey Neill Yarra Glen Fire Brigade Captain Bill Boyd described 7 February 2009 as "a bad day".

"We lost 70 houses and 11 members of the community perished," he said.

As he fights back tears, it's clear that he still grieves for the people he couldn't save.

But Bill says it could have been worse, at least as far as his patch was concerned.

"I very rarely call it Black Saturday. It's such a negative term," he said.

"I stay positive.

"I could have lost hundreds of people."

One of his trucks was deployed to Drouin early on that fateful day, and several members were away for the weekend.

"We knew that Kilmore had started and we were sitting around at my place and I started getting big bits of ash landing in my back yard," he said.

They headed to the station about 3.30pm in preparation.

A local alerted them to a fire at Zonzo Estate and they turned out. Part-way through that fight he turned around and saw smoke everywhere.

"We could pretty much determine that we mailcommunity.com.au

were surrounded by fire at that point," he said.

They finished putting out the Zonzo fire and went back into town, which resembled a scene from a disaster movie.

"There were cars going over garden beds, beeping horns, people trying to get out," he said.

The crew set up a command centre. He put in a request for more strike teams.

"It was just game on," he said.

"Most of us were able to get our head down about 3am.

"We were back into it again about 6am."

Bill's wife and eldest daughter were among the volunteers making food at the station.

"The community certainly banded together and did what they could do to help each other out," he said.

"IGA basically threw their door open. That was the official opening of their store.

"My wife and one of the members ... they made a little rule that no firefighter would have to make a cup of coffee.

"Those little one-percenters just meant so much to so many people."

Bill slept on the floor in the fire station on the night of 7 February.

He went home for a shower and still remembers the feeling of putting on a fresh pair of socks after 24 hours.

The brigade spent the next few days heading down as many roads as possible, putting out spot fires and seeing how they could help.

A support crew from New South Wales arrived - armed with a box of Crispy Cream donuts - and Bill asked them what the date was.

He had no idea it was 27 February and he'd been on the go for 20 days.

He showed the NSW strike team leader around the patch. He'd fought the devastating Canberra fires in 2003.

"He said 'mate, you've been smashed' and I said 'yeah it's been a big few days'," he said.

Bill's 16-year-old daughter was out on a truck that day.

He chuckles as he remembers her falling asleep while eating a meal in the staging area at Yarra Glen Racecourse, her elbow resting on the table and her chin in her hand.

"She'd kicked the boots off and her feet had been bleeding from blisters," Bill said.

"She said 'Dad I'll put some Band-Aids on and I'll be right'.

"I told her she couldn't go back out.

"All the crew were the same but they didn't tell me because they knew I'd stand them down.

"The brigade members that were here have bonded together.

"We knew that everyone had each other's back.

"We've got ownership in the town. It's our town."

At brigade fire forums for businesses and homeowners this summer, Bill was surprised at how many had moved to the area post-2009.

"We gave them a fair bit of information to go away and start thinking about," he said.

"We have a whole new generation of people in here who weren't around."

What worries him is the "survivor mentality" in some residents who survived the 2009 fires, who told him they'd made it through once and they'd be fine if another fire hit.

"The only reason they're here is good luck, not good management," he said.

"I like to think that by and large people have learnt their lesson.

"It's not if it's going to happen again, it's when."

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 7

Black Saturday 10 years on The worst of conditions Special commemorative edition

By Casey Neill Yarra Ranges Councillor Len Cox has served his community for 30 years, including six terms as mayor.

"This was the time that has most been imprinted on my memory," he said of Black Saturday.

"It's certainly the most important time that I've ever served as mayor and a time I will never forget.

"The 10th anniversary is something that we need to remember, we need to talk about, because we need to try to make sure that it doesn't happen again."

Cr Cox had been appointed in November and spent January holidaying in Antarctica, where the temperature was negative three degrees.

"My first day back it was 46 degrees," he said.

"That was about five days before the fires started.

"I had a sat (satellite) phone with me over in Antarctica because I wanted to keep tabs on what was going on in Melbourne.

"What concerned me was that the friend I was talking to told me that there were three days in a row in Melbourne where it was 46 or 47 degrees."

Cr Cox lives on about six acres of bush in Montrose.

"The day the fires started, I can remember walking around my place ... and I was feeling very concerned as to what might happen.

"It was 47 and a hot northerly, the worst conditions you could possibly get."

That afternoon he received a call from council staff about a fire on the edge of Ryrie Ward, which includes Toolangi, Steels Creek, Dixons Cree, Chum Creek and Yarra Glen.

"That's when it all started," he said.

The council set up a control centre at its Lilydale headquarters.

"There was a lot of people here, a lot of experienced firefighters, a lot of experienced police," he said.

"I stayed nearly all night that night.

"The fire was moving so quickly and so erratically that they just couldn't follow where it was going to go next.

"Without doubt it was the worst bushfire we've ever had.

"They talk about Black Friday and Ash Wednesday but it was nothing like this one."

Then-Mayor Len Cox in the days after Black Saturday.

Cr Cox drove out to Steels Creek the next day.

"We lost 12 people out of Steels Creek," he said.

"Going down Steels Creek Road it was just absolute devastation.

"There was nothing left there that wasn't burnt.

"There was bits of fire all over the place.

There were stumps that were still burning."

He spotted an echidna trying to cross the road, a sight that has stuck with him.

"He must have dug himself into the ground for the fire to go over him," he said.

Another memory that sticks with him is how the fire stopped almost at the community centre's front door.

"It hadn't even been singed," he said.

"A lot of the locals were there.

"You'd have to say they just had a dazed look on their faces.

"They hadn't come to terms with what had happened and they were still shocked with what had happened.

"The stories from them, the fire just came out of nowhere."

Asked how he went about leading the com-

munity, Cr Cox said he didn't think much about it.

"I just felt I had to be out meeting people, letting them talk to me rather than me talk to them," he said.

He praised council staff for their work alongside emergency services.

"While the fires were going on there was a real worry that the fire wold blow across the Warburton Highway.

"We were very concerned about Warburton.

"We were concerned about the other towns up the highway, too, from Woori Yallock up."

Cr Cox said Healesville was under fire threat, too.

"The whole of Healesville wouldn't have gone up but a lot of the outlying areas of it could have been damaged.

"That whole area was really at risk.

"A couple of days later, after the fires started, there were two or three outbreaks in the Dandenongs, too.

"The wind was still blowing really strongly.

"If they had of got going I don't know what would have happened."

The council set up camps in Lilydale for those evacuated from the fire-ravaged and

threatened towns, and helped residents to find alternative accommodation or settle back in their homes where possible.

"There was a group of volunteers that set up a shop in Yarra Glen and they were collecting donations of food, clothing, furniture - anything that people wanted to donate to them.

"They operated there for some months after the fires. They distributed a lot."

He said some land burnt in the fires was still vacant.

"A lot of people rebuilt, but there were a lot of people that never did," he said.

Cr Cox said conditions at the time were perfect for a serious fire.

"The bush was tinder-dry, the grass was very, very dry," he said.

"We hadn't had those conditions for a long while before that and we haven't had those conditions since.

"I believe we are suffering climate change.

In our area, climate change means less rainfall and higher temperatures.

"It's one of the most fire-risk areas in the world, so we must always be aware of that and be cautious.

"Have a fire plan so that if a fire does occur near you, you know what you're going to do."

Isolation served to bring our communities closer

By Steve Meacher Toolangi community leader Steve Meacher reflects on how Black Saturday brought people closer together.

During the Black Saturday fires and for several days afterwards, the communities of Toolangi and Castella were largely isolated from the outside world.

The power had gone off on Saturday afternoon, mobile phones stopped working as the networks went down or batteries ran out.

Roads in and out were closed and officers on the roadblocks weren't saying much.

Taking matters into our own hands, we arranged our first community meeting on the Tuesday.

People preferred to remain outside so the meeting took place on the steps of the local hall.

The police and CFA came and provided information on what had happened and was still happening all around us.

For the first time the enormity of the situation began to emerge.

During the meeting a van arrived from Healesville delivering egg and bacon rolls and fresh milk.

These were eagerly devoured by grateful residents who had had no electricity or fresh supplies for almost three days.

A truck full of goods then arrived, sent on from Kinglake, and everybody joined in unloading and sorting the donations and laying 8 MAIL

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

Steve Meacher outside the CJ Dennis Hall in Toolangi, reflecting on Black Saturday. 189792 Picture: ROB CAREW out tables in the hall.

Before we knew it, the hall had been transformed into a community relief centre.

Over the next few days it became an information and logistics centre, co-ordinating cleaning of ash-tainted water tanks and delivery of fresh water supplies, removal of dangerous trees and other essential services.

It remained open for the next six weeks,

providing fresh supplies for residents who were unable to get to the shops.

A generator was soon installed, enabling charging of mobile phones.

It also powered a portable cool room for shared storage of perishables.

Telstra installed an antenna for internet access so locals could contact friends and family.

Internet connection also allowed access to

information on road closures and progress of fires.

Mail was delivered to the hall and a system was developed for prescriptions to be filled.

Being cut off from the outside world, the people of Toolangi and Castella became closer to each other.

They shared what they had and gave what they could spare to neighbours who needed it.

Community meals were provided at the Toolangi Tavern and the Singing Gardens and sandwiches and refreshments were also provided to support the ongoing fire-fighting effort in the surrounding forests.

When the Community Recovery Committee was set up it was determined that the spirit of closeness and co-operation that had flourished during the fires should be maintained and encouraged.

A number of projects were proposed that now provide community assets including the Castella Central Park and the Tall Trees Trail.

The hall and community house that were such important centres in our response during the fires have been upgraded.

Community dinners have been reintroduced with great success.

The fires of February 2009 were a great tragedy but they also brought out the best in our communities.

Toolangi and Castella are now stronger and more connected than ever.

We know we are there for each other when really needed. mailcommunity.com.au

Black Saturday 10 years on Thanks of new Marysville Special commemorative edition

By Casey Neill As you drive to Marysville along the Black Spur, there at first are no signs of the devastation that the ferocious 2009 bushfires inflicted on the picturesque landscape.

As you get a little closer, though, you spot charred tree trunks on some of the towering gums that line the road.

Then you catch sight of a hill covered with tall trees that are devoid of foliage until their very top.

Jenny Pullen explains that this is epicormic growth - what she describes as the last gasp.

Matchstick-like remnants of mountain ash trees cover the peaks behind the town.

But Jenny doesn't see destruction - she sees babies.

"They need a fire as hot as we had to open up the seed pods, so there'll be baby mountain ash growing," she said.

The Mail spoke to Jenny shortly after fire tore through Marysville, destroying her home and Allwah Tourist Cottages.

She described it then as "worse than Hiroshima".

Sitting in the rebuilt Fraga's Cafe in the lead-up to the Black Saturday 10th anniversary, Jenny said she knew that Saturday 7 February 2009 would be a bad day.

"We'd been told for a fortnight that it was going to be the worst day in history," she said.

"My husband (Graeme) and I are both firefighters so we were very aware of what was happening.

"The leaves had been falling off the trees for a week so we knew it was bad."

Their son Nigel is a firefighter with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and always rings her when he's heading to a fire.

That day he told her he was off to one at Murrindindi.

"Then he rang back some time later. It might have been 10 minutes, it might have been two hours," Jenny said.

He told her the fires were really bad, that he was heading back towards Marysville and she needed to leave.

Dressed in her fire gear, she evacuated the guests from her cottages.

"The fourth cottage, the people didn't want to leave," she said.

"They said 'we've just been through Healesville, there's no fires, we'll be fine'.

"I told them to pack up. They did leave, and thanked me the next day."

Jenny had her then 81-year-old mum with her.

"She'd been burnt out in the '39 fires. She was in a bit of a state," she said.

"We packed whatever we could. We were going to the oval, Gallipoli Park.

"No sooner had I got mum into the car and

Jenny Pullen is grateful for the support she and other Marysville locals received after the fires. we'd driven around to where the oval is and met someone from the SES and he said in no uncertain terms, 'get the f*** out, nothing's going to save Marysville'.

"I'd made a pact with one of my friends that we'd both evacuate the mothers together. We drove into Alexandra to my cousin's house.

Both mothers stayed there.

"I thought 'I'm going back to Marysville and I'm going to save it'.

"I went through three road blocks."

She was in 'firefighter mode', thinking about which hoses to use, which cottage to save first.

At the fourth road block, a local policeman told her she'd die if she continued on.

But Jenny kept driving.

"Then we met the wall of flames," she said.

She turned around went back to Alexandra "I didn't hear any noise and I didn't see any flames. I obviously did, but it's been blacked out," she said.

"Then we evacuated to the community centre at Alexandra and met up with quite a few of my friends and we were all together as a group.

"I was never scared.

"It must have been adrenaline or my training as a firefighter.

"For a long time there I was unsure on what I'd run away from, because I couldn't see anything, because we weren't allowed back in."

Nigel had been evacuated to Gallipoli Park.

"He saw his sister's house burn without be-

ing able to do anything," she said.

"As devastating as it all was, my friends that were lost and pets that were lost, we stuck together as a family."

On the Sunday, overcome with anxiety, Jenny insisted that the family needed to literally come together.

An Alexandra family moved into their motorhome so the 10 Pullen family members could be under one roof.

"They're the people that I really want to thank; they're the salt of the earth people," she said.

Jenny said she only started to heal once she was allowed back into Marysville and "I could actually feel the soil and find a chip of china".

"The roof of the house we were in had collapsed and I knew where precious things would be, so I commando-crawled into where I had a set of jade elephants," she said.

She found a small piece.

"I felt alright then, I had something," she said.

At that stage, Jenny had no idea what she was going to do next.

She was 55 years old and worried about finding a job.

"I didn't know if I could rebuild the cottages," she said.

"They were only three years old. I was the site manager when they were being built.

"They were named after people in our family, females in our family.

"It took us a long time to work out that it was just too hard to rebuild the cottages and too expensive.

"My husband picked up the tools again, he was a builder.

"He helped build the police station, he built our office area, he helped build the golf club ...

"I was offered work for DHS (the Department of Human Services) in the hubs and that really helped me.

"And I think it helped the people I was trying to help because I'd actually been through it."

Graeme didn't want to rebuild in Marysville, so they bought a house in nearby Buxton.

"That was somebody else's house. It wasn't my home and it didn't have my things in it," Jenny said.

Eventually they bought land in Buxton to build on, and just recently moved into their new house.

"I've gone home after 10 years," Jenny said.

"I just feel so humble that I've gone home, I've finally gone home."

Nigel and his then-girlfriend Millie are now married with their own home, a daughter and another child on the way.

Jenny's daughter Sarah and her partner Bert bought in Alexandra.

"Where my office is, I've seen so many houses come in on trucks," she said.

"I wonder where it's going and whose it is.

"Marysville will never be the same old Marysville, but it's the new Marysville.

"I feel the community just looks after everybody.

"We all look out for each other.

"I feel loved in the community."

Jenny has served on the town's committee for the 10th anniversary commemorations.

"I went on it to put my thoughts forward as a business owner, to try and help the community," she said.

"I'm trying to be a voice of many people.

Every other committee member is as well.

"Nobody is doing it for themselves.

"They're trying to get the community together."

Graeme has never marked the anniversary, Jenny said. He tells her he remembers the people he lost every day.

"It slips to the back of my mind, but if I go past the house where they live or see some of their family members," Jenny said.

She and Graeme were going to a thank-you event in Alexandra on Sunday 3 February.

"Then on the Thursday we have a church service, non-denominational, then walk to the memorial for a minute's silence, and go to the barbecue area.

"I still don't know if my husband and will be there."

After the fires, Dianne Lisle opened Marysville Triangle Real Estate out of a shipping container.

"She asked me if I would like to come and work with her. I really thanked her for it, but I said 'I don't think I'm well enough yet'," Jenny said.

Six months later she took up the offer, got her agent representative licence and later got her full licence.

"Dianne sold the agency and I bought with another partner, Georgia," she said.

"Now we have The Professionals Real Estate.

"It's been a godsend to me.

"I should have done it when I was 40, not when I was 60.

"I think being able to help Marysville rebuild has been good for me, to bring new people in or people who've gone away and have come back again.

"In my small part I feel as though I've helped the town to rebuild.

"There's still a way to go. There's lots of empty spaces yet to be built on.

"Out of the devastation I think we've done pretty good.

"Actually, we've done amazingly well."

A true battler remembers the blackest of days

By Michael Doran As a boy, Les Dovaston spent weekends in Healesville and rode the steam train from Lilydale to Healesville with his uncle, the train's fireman. Fire was a source of fun in those days but little did he know it would return six decades later to do it's best to destroy his life.

He was five when he first came to Healesville, where he met his future wife Jenny. "After we got married we had two children, Glenn and Leanne, and went around Australia for six months then settled in Healesville," he said.

"We bought the fish farm in 1996 and the ponds were here but were unused, covered in blackberries. Glenn wanted to start a business so he took on the trout farm and me and Jenny worked on the holiday cabins."

"Then Black Saturday came through and that was that."

"When the fire came it went as dark as night and you couldn't see anything except smoke and fire. Me and Jenny jumped in one of the ponds when it hit and although it was hot we stayed in the water for a couple of hours until the wind dropped.

"I just stood there looking around at everymailcommunity.com.au

thing burnt, everything gone after so many years of work. I was kicking through the ashes looking for something but I don't know what I was looking for, hoping to find something but not knowing what I was hoping for.

"We had a houseboat up in Eildon so I brought it down and put it on stilts and that's where we lived for a while. Glenn decided to head off to work in Western Australia so I built a new house up on the hill for us to live in and worked on getting the fish ponds going again.

"The fish survived but it rained after the fire so all the ash washed down and silted up the ponds and that's what killed them. We had an MP come here and he said he would give me some fish eggs if he got a photo of me shaking his hand and thanking him, so I told him where to stick his fish eggs.

"We lost everything in the fire but we decided to carry on and do what we could to start again. But we didn't know what insurance was until we went to claim, they kept half and we only got half.

"In the class action they got $500 million, my claim was for $2.2 million but we only got $50,000, so I don't know how they worked that out. That was the end of the holiday park."

Beyond all of the financial and work-related issues Les has faced, by far his biggest cost has been the human tragedy left behind in the wake of Black Saturday.

When he and Jenny set about reviving the fish farm, daughter Leanne offered to get involved in to help them out but in a cruel twist of fate she drowned in an accident on the farm in 2011. Leanne was well known in Healesville as an active member of the Rotary Club.

Ten years on the impact of Black Saturday still looms large over his life and leaves many questions unanswered for him.

"Jenny is now living at Aurrum Care in Healesville and I'm not sure she didn't get crook because of what happened. Glenn is not here, we lost Leanne and I had a stroke last year, all after what happened on Black Saturday."

Whilst the last ten years have not been kind to Les, now in his eighties, he has battled on, facing his adversity and remaining remarkably positive for a person in his position.

"Life has been good to me. It's been a good life, great wife and kids and when we came here it was good for 10 years and then all of a sudden it went bang."

Les Dovaston. 189945

Picture: ROB CAREW

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 9

Black Saturday 10 years on Day of fire in the vines Special commemorative edition

By Casey Neill Leanne De Bortoli has been involved in the family wine business "ever since I was kneehigh to a grasshopper".

"When my husband and I first moved to the Yarra Valley, 1989 was a wet year and there were floods everywhere," she said.

"We had cool weather, it was wet in summer, every now and then you'd get a hot day.

"You always knew there was a cool change coming.

"We never would have thought back then that the Yarra Valley would be susceptible to drought conditions."

The day Black Saturday threatened De Bortoli's Dixons Creek vineyard is still fresh in Leanne's mind, 10 years down the track.

The Yarra Valley Wines committee member said they had a fire plan back then, but "how ignorant we were at the time".

"We'd had hot weather before and the warning signs were there," she said.

"I remember the premier being on the radio and telling everyone to enact their plans.

"No one ever thought that the valley would burn.

"Yet when you look back to 1939 when the conditions apparently were exactly the same, leading up how it was very hot and dry and the weather came from the north-east and Kinglake way ...

"It was like a mirror image."

Leanne said the communication between emergency services and the public at the time wasn't as good as it was today.

"I can remember ... the CFA wasn't answering their phones because everyone was calling them," she said.

"On the website it had that the fires were still up Kilmore way.

"Looking up at the horizon you could see the smoke, and it had a bit of an orange glow to it.

"I thought 'no, that's a lot closer' "Being able to access that information back then, we just didn't have it.

"By the time we realised when was happening, the fire had already come through in part and the roads were closed off.

"We had a wedding here that night."

They finally got through to the CFA and explained their situation, and were advised to

Smoke taint was an issue for wine growers, as well as losing vines to the flames. keep the guests on-site.

"I can still remember him saying 'honestly, that's probably the safest place for them to be at the moment'," Leanne said.

"We do have this buffer of the vineyards around us, and the water.

"There are gardens and concrete leading up to the restaurant.

"People who ended up down at the Dixons Creek CFA, they had to vacate there and they ended up driving up to Yea." Neighbours from Steels Creek sought shelter at the winery.

"It was just a couple and their dog. Everything else they left behind," Leanne said.

"They stayed with us for a couple of days."

Their house burnt down.

"It was a very trying time, a very trying time for our staff as well," she said.

"None of them could leave the property to check on their own families at home.

"What we had here was probably replicated at other vineyards around the valley."

De Bortoli staff loaded trucks and tractors with pumps and put out the fires on the vineyard, but still lost a couple of hectares of vines in the fire - a minor dent in the 180 hectare site.

"Vines don't normally burn, but the grass underneath the vines was very dry, very brittle," Leanne said.

"There were quite a few wineries who had similar problems.

"A couple of wineries, like Brownstone, burnt down.

"But then we were all faced with the problem of smoke taint.

"We continued to pick a lot of our fruit.

"As we went through the fermentation process, it was just so obvious.

"Except for a little bit of pinot and chardonnay that we picked just before the fires, we lost that vintage.

"It was heartbreaking when you consider you've spent all this time - pretty much 12 months - growing the vine, pruning it, training it, grapes are ripening, maintaining the vineyard, and just when you're supposed to be reaping the rewards and turning it into wine, all the hard work went up in flames."

She said De Bortoli was lucky to have other vineyards in Victoria and interstate, and other grape suppliers.

"We probably weren't as affected as some of the smaller producers who had to make the hard call of whether they would write off the vintage or still produce wines, and sell it at a reduced price," she said.

"I would think for them it had enormous impact.

"They would have had very little income for the year."

Leanne said De Bortoli's Yarra Valley wines really saw a return to form in 2012, and bringing tourists back was also a slow process.

"It was still raw in people's minds," she said.

"People elected not to come back to the Yarra Valley. Some people didn't want to come to an area that was burnt up."

Leanne was in the Napa Valley wine region in California, USA, last year shortly after bushfires tore through and it took her right back to the aftermath of Black Saturday.

"They were just trying to get people to come back," she said.

"It was like groundhog day."

She said that Wine Yarra Valley was collecting information from all wineries in the area about their fire season plans.

"In our plan, if there is a code red day, restaurant and cellar door will be closed and all non-essential staff will be told not to come in," she said.

"I believe that the feeling from a few venues is similar, that they would do that.

"We don't want people on the road if we have a day like that again."

Fire was inevitable - and like an atomic blast, says Ray

By Casey Neill "Just like Hiroshima."

That's how Ray Donkin described the plume of smoke he saw billowing over the hills behind his Buxton home on Black Saturday.

Radiating sincerity, he said the spotted the approaching blaze about 3pm on 7 February and images of the atomic bomb being dropped on Japan during World War II immediately sprung to mind.

About 40 people were at the property, using his dam to cool down since the town had no public swimming pool.

"I thought to myself, 'good god almighty.

It's huge'," Ray said.

"It was a bloody huge ball of smoke. I could see the turbulence inside the ball.

"The embers were coming over and they were breaking out in the hills."

By 6pm Ray's home was gone.

"It was an inevitability that I knew was going to happen," he said of the ferocious bushfire.

"I do a lot of horse riding. I take people out into the bush.

"I used to say to these people, because I've lived in the area all my life, 'have a look at this undergrowth, this fuel on the floor of the forest. If some nutter drops a bloody match in here it will be a holocaust'.

"The aboriginals used to burn it, so that deleted the undergrowth to an extent."

The fire took out Ray's fences and sent his stock scattering onto the highway.

The clean-up and rebuild on his own prop10 MAIL

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

Ray Donkin on his Buxton property, the bushfire scars still visible on the mountains behind him. erty and others across the district wasn't easy, but he was full of praise for the state government of the day, led by Premier John Brumby.

"They did a fantastic job. The way they organised for a whole area to be cleaned up after the fires..." he said.

"The way they did that it was really great, the speed of it.

"The people of Australia - and probably

overseas, of course - the donations that rolled in ... that was a tremendous effort."

But Ray did think some major aspects of the incident could have been handled better.

He questioned why television broadcasts weren't interrupted with emergency messages for communities under threat.

"That to me is the simplest, quickest way to

get through to people," he said.

"Being a hot day, people are watching telly.

"The greatest failing of that day, I believe, was lack of communication.

"People actually died because of that.

"Everyone I spoke to, they didn't get enough warning."

He recalled one mate who opened his back door to step outside for a cigarette and found the bushfire "on his doorstep".

Ray said some Buxton locals who stayed behind in the housing estate opposite the trout farm were bucketing water from the river onto the flames.

He said there was no fire truck left to defend the town itself because they'd been called away to the front.

"They could have left at least one truck here," he said.

His other bone of contention was about a convoy from the Marysville football ground to Alexandra.

He questioned whether the evacuation should have taken place.

"One woman in the convoy said the smoke was that thick you couldn't see," he said.

"The fire was running along the nature strip beside them.

"If one tree had fallen across that road there would have been a human disaster. What would they have done? Jumped out and run?

"But I guess it's all in the past now. You have to move on."

Ray just hopes that lessons have been learnt. mailcommunity.com.au

Black Saturday 10 years on Service for Bond forged by fire support Special commemorative edition

By Dr Lachlan Fraser

It was horrendous.

Alone in my street, I saw neighbouring homes razed to the ground in minutes, among swirling showers of embers and thick, choking smoke that blotted out daylight.

Half an hour earlier I had phoned to cancel a Melbourne visit.

“We have a fire coming to Marysville,” I said, preparing to defend my home of 10 years with hoses and buckets.

Sited within the town grid, I imagined a few houses might be lost on the outskirts.

My medical clinic in the main street should be OK. The Murrindindi fire started about 30 kilometres away, south of Yea, at 3pm on 7 February 2009 in code red fire conditions.

It was uncontrollable 20 minutes later.

The severe drought, extreme heat over 46 degrees, high winds (to 120 kilometres an hour) and low humidity made for the worst bushfire conditions ever recorded.

By evening there would be nearly 400 fires across Victoria.

Marysville would be in a direct line as the inferno spread out, worsened by the predicted wind change from northerly to south-westerly at 6.30pm, which turned the line of fire into an even wider front.

The warnings were abysmal.

The fire prediction map in Melbourne was not used until too late.

The direction of the massive smoke plume, visible from 3.30pm, was obscured in our valley by Mt Gordon.

Narbethong was razed at 4.30pm, with radio reports only of “ember attack”.

The power went out at 5pm as police, SES, CFA and DSE (now DELWP) did what they could against the inevitable.

There had never been a co-ordinated emergency exercise; their communication channels weren’t linked and became overloaded with traffic.

CFA policy was not to sound the alarm to warn communities.

I drove towards Keppel Lookout and saw spot fires at the trout farm at 5.30pm.

Back in town, winds felled a massive tree, crushing a lady in her car.

After helping with her extraction I had 20 minutes to prepare.

The water pressure was low as everyone used it, and it cut out when fire burnt the mains.

Green shrubs, retaining walls and bollards ignited.

My neighbour’s house erupted, singeing my face and torching into my home.

“We’re going to survive this,” I told my dogs, anchored to my empty car in the street.

I slipped on the wet verandah, smashing a window and cutting tendons in my hand.

It was over, but not safe.

With no thoughts to get anything from inside, we fled to Gallipoli Park where the emergency service crews and about 30 locals sheltered the night amid the destroyed town.

We lost 40 souls in our area, many known to me.

Yarra Ranges Council will host an event to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.

It will start at 5.30pm on Thursday 7 February at McKenzie Reserve in Yarra Glen.

Residents, emergency services workers and friends and family of those affected by the bushfires are welcome to attend the reserve for a short program of speeches and performances, including Dixons Creek Primary School and the Badger Creek Women's Choir.

Yarra Glen Men's Shed will run a gold coin donation sausage sizzle to support CFA brigades.

Refreshments will be available and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic.

Today's Mayor Tony Stevenson said the bushfires had a flow-on effect into so many aspects of people's lives.

"We want this event to be a time where people can come together, be with each other, and have support as we reflect on one of the most profound natural disasters to ever hit our region," he said.

In the event of a Fire Danger Rating of Extreme or higher, the event will be cancelled.

In the event of rainy weather, the event will be relocated indoors to the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall.

Dr Lachlan Fraser outside his rebuilt home, the burnt hills visible behind him. 189778 Picture: ROB CAREW Their life stories emerged in the dozens of funerals to follow.

The survivors spread far afield, into the arms of family, friends and strangers.

Three of us lay people collated a list of survivors (over 400) and set up the Marysville community website.

The relief supplies, volunteers and capital from individuals, organisations, businesses and government were incredible and vital to our recovery.

The Marysville and Triangle Development Group was set up by our federal member, Fran Bailey, and local leaders, to co-ordinate information and assistance.

I’ve been a spokesperson, plus helped regroup our community via MATDG, which faded after the shire’s Community Recovery Committee arrived mid-year.

The workload was massive though, and good to share out.

“Those were the worst of times, and they were the best of times,” to misquote Chaucer.

We bonded strongly via meetings, sausage sizzles, music, comedy, gardens and arts.

Highlights were an audience with the Dalai Lama, a mini-concert by Simon and Garfunkel, and the Sound Relief bands at the MCG. Our steelpan band ‘Pans On Fire’ continues to wow audiences.

Being a runner, a week after Black Saturday I determined that we would have the Marys-

ville Marathon to bring people back and allow them to show their support.

In the process I met Cassandra - a nurse from Alexandra, where we now live - and set the town abuzz.

The marathon is still going strong each November and we have a seven-year-old daughter, Samantha.

I rebuilt my home for guest rental, taking its name Greenlands from a former guest house that covered the site.

The health centre, other facilities and two resorts arose from the ashes over the years.

Thanks to so many locals and supporters, Marysville is a friendly town again of 400, with old and new residents.

Seared into our psyche, those terrible hours are still replayed, as time covers the wounds.

For many of those directly involved, the fires will be the biggest single event in their lives, more so than births, deaths and marriages.

In my catastrophe, at least I got more than one of those.

The environment is so resilient, with the regrowth showing why we love this place and want people to visit.

Ten years later most people have iPhones and the Vic Emergency app provides incessant updates to watch zones.

With greater fire awareness, plans and warnings we can do so much better.

Fires set new standards The 2009 bushfires prompted the CFA to review, reflect and improve on its procedures.

CFA Chief Officer Steve Warrington said the Royal Commission into the tragic event guided changes and set a new standard for firefighting practice and procedure.

"Our partnerships with the emergency services sector were strengthened and we work collaboratively with a range of government organisations," he said.

"The Stay or Go policy was revised to place a far greater emphasis on protection of life by leaving early.

"This combined with an unprecedented amount of information to help the community prepare for fire season has made substantial change across the state."

Mr Warrington said the CFA also adopted a new national three-tier bushfire advice and alerts system.

"This has put more warnings in place than ever before, including the development of a telephone emergency warning system," he said.

"The national development of the Emergency Alert enabled warnings to be sent to fixed and mobile phones.

"There were countless changes made following the 2009 bushfires but being able to directly contact those people in danger is an imperative tool to help protect our community.

"We will continue to carry the memories and heroism from those fires and we will always strive to be better prepared."

Police offcer’s strength from overwhelming sense of duty

By Casey Neill For Inspector Bob Raaymakers, the 10th anniversary of the Black Saturday Bushfires has sparked reflection.

"You do reflect on what you did and where were you at certain times and also, I suppose historically, being involved in something so significant is quite overwhelming at times," he said.

The Tecoma local was the sector commander looking after the Yarra Valley area in 2009.

In 2011 he received an Australian Police Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his efforts.

His Saturday 7 September started about 5.30am, touching base with colleagues and other agencies. mailcommunity.com.au

"We knew it was going to be a bad day and we knew it would really test our resolve and our arrangements," Insp Raaymakers said.

"As the day went on, we knew if something did happen it would be significant and unstoppable."

He saturated the Yarra Glen area with police as the fires encroached to "provide some community reassurance" and manage traffic.

"We were also managing people trying to self-evacuate or get back to their properties," he said.

"I was also mindful of where police members were from the point of view of their own safety."

Insp Raaymakers said the calls for assistance police received that day were hard to cope with.

"The real thing that really pulled on my heartstrings was there were areas where we just couldn't send fire services or ambos or police members into because it was just too dangerous," he said.

"We still had people in the emergency services putting themselves in harm's way to protect the community, to save them."

In the immediate aftermath, officers helped to identify victims and provided the community with reassurance and advice.

"I remember going to a number of community meetings at Healesville, Yarra Junction and Warburton. We had fires going for weeks afterwards," Insp Raaymakers said.

"In times like that you really have an overwhelming sense of duty, a sense of purpose,

and you must keep focused on what your roles and responsibilities are.

"You push aside your own needs."

He remained involved in community meetings as survivors started to clean up and rebuild.

Insp Raaymakers is now the regional emergency management inspector, based at Knox.

"A lot of my day to day activities are around preparation for emergencies in the area," he said.

"I've thrown myself back into the fire quite literally.

"There's a real strong focus on the part of the police that work in the area to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.

"There's a resolve."

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 11

Black Saturday 10 years on Marysville says thankyou Special commemorative edition

By Michael Doran Anniversaries often stir up emotions, some good and some not so good. For the people of Marysville this is certainly the case but a strong message coming out of the town is one of wanting to say 'thank you.'

For Christine Adams, a member of the team behind the Marysville 10 Years On commemoration, now is the right time for thankfulness but finding a way to do it is not so simple.

"We have often talked about how do you say thank you, that word is not big enough it and doesn't stretch far enough but what word is there? As a town we would like to really thank the world for what they did so this is our time to say that thank you, have a commemoration and then move on."

Around twelve months ago the state government started talking about the ten-year anniversary and organised some consultation processes in the town aimed at finding out what the town wanted.

"Before government came along we had already started talking about it, even two years back quiet conversations were starting to happen. We were aware that 10 years was coming up and we wanted to make sure we were controlling that and not the government.

"All the towns had the opportunity to do their own decision making on what they wanted to do, Taggerty, Chum Creek, Kinglake and the others. So for Marysville we picked up the tagline of 'Marysville 10 Years On' because we are looking at where we are now, not where we were.

"So we thought let's go back to Alexandra, which is where most of us were for that first couple of days and Alexandra people just put themselves out there and gave us beds, fed us and watered us, as did Healesville and Yarra Glen. From that point it became a ripple effect of how the community, the state, Australia and the world started giving us donations.

Christine Adams, member of the Marysville 10 Years On commemoration team. 189918 "So this is just our way, little Marysville's way of thanking all of those people for all that they did over that time.

"We know that we are always going to be known as the town that burnt down, we know that is going to happen and we can't get rid of that. What we hope is that it becomes part of our history, it's not the focus and we look at

being the town that you want to come and visit because of the nature, the beauty of the falls, the walks and so on.

"We don't want to talk about the new Marysville; Marysville is over 150 years old and for the people that come here now this is Marysville. What is out there is what Marysville

is and we look forward to seeing more houses growing and more businesses coming in.

"I'm the president of the tourism association and what we should be doing as a town is bringing people in, that's our focus, and once we bring them let them decide what they want to do.

"There are a whole lot of things that can make up a tourist town. MiRa is one, Vibe is one, trail-biking, Brunos sculpture park, the caravan park, the golf course and much more but without all of us we don't have a tourism industry, we all need each other.

"I think the town is still struggling in how its moving forward. We desperately need more businesses in town but you can't open a businesses unless you have the confidence the tourists are coming, it's a Catch-22 situation.

As the owners of the Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park, Christine and husband Ken have a pretty good handle on what visitors to the area have in mind when they come. "I still get people who come here and say 'well you didn't affected by the fires' or 'how come there's so many new houses around here'?

"There are people still walking into the town assuming they are going to see burnt out houses and burnt trees everywhere. So I am hoping the significance of this ten year anniversary will stop a lot of that."

Ken and Christine lost their home and business, the Scenic Hotel, on Black Saturday and then faced the dilemma of rebuild or leave.

"We were approached about re-building the caravan park, initially as a place for tradies to stay in as the town re-built itself," she said.

In reflecting about how Marysville people have handled the ten years since the fires, Christine said that while everyone faced lifechanging issues doing so in the spotlight has prolonged the pain.

"Ours is public but yours is private. We don't stick a microphone in your face and ask how's your ugly divorce, your child that died, etc.

I am fierce about my privacy but I still think we don't have a private life like most would do, the whole thing is that people assume they have the right to know everything about us.

"Thursday night will be a time for reflection and we will be doing something here as a community, as are all the individual communities. I will be very surprised if anybody does this again, on the day it might be something we talk about but I don't think there will be the concentrated focus on commemorating it.

"Our message is a big thank to everyone who helped us get back on our feet and to come out, see our town and love it for what it is today."

Fortitude through the flame for the kids of Chum Creek

By Derek Schlennstedt Chum Creek Primary School reopened its doors on Monday 16 February, more than a week after the Black Saturday Fires devastated much of the small community.

Even though the school was spared in the horrific Black Saturday blaze, it did not escape totally unscathed and as Principal Michael Corr retells, disasters don't necessarily end when the debris is cleared and buildings rebuilt.

The trauma and disruption can leave lasting memories, and for children those memories and the fallout can be particularly pernicious.

"I remember a few years after the event I was watching out my office window and a truck drove up Cunningham's Road, which is a dusty road ... as it went up the road this big cloud of dust was left swirling."

"It was a very hot, still day and the kids were all playing ... as it went up they all stopped and watched, just watched, they didn't say anything and the dust started to settle and they just went back to playing.

"They were all up on their toes, anxious, anticipating."

While the school's chook shed, wheelchair ramp, play equipment and many trees around the school grounds were all damaged by the fires, the main buildings were left intact.

Mr Corr remembered returning to the school on the Sunday, holding onto hope that the school had not been destroyed.

"It was just blackness."

"You're in the middle of all this blackness and right up until the school, the ferns the em12 MAIL

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

Tahlia, Pipa, Sol, Dominica, Jayden and teacher Wendy proudly display the school banner students created after the original school sign was burnt by fires in 2009. bankment all of it was gone.

"It was just burnt dirt and sticks and in the middle of all this was the cream weatherboard building and I just thought 'thank god, it's still there.'"

Following the fires the school not only become a safe haven for students but also a community centre for residents and parents who had no power, or water.

Mr Corr said the decision to return to school a little over a week after the fires was one of necessity to help students return to some form of normality.

"I think the best thing that worked for us was to just provide something for the kids each day."

"They could come and if they didn't have lunch we could give them lunch, if they just wanted to sit and read they could.

"It was about providing a place where they could come and be safe and secure."

"As the only community building in the area we had people coming up here to have a shower so we kind of threw the school open a bit."

"They attached a few taps to our water supply and made them available through the fence because there were plenty of houses that didn't have water.

"We tried to support the families and students as best as we could."

10 years later and the school has all but recovered, there are no signs of the charred edges that Mr Corr saw on the Sunday following the fire, and the enrolments have risen from 25 in 2009 to a healthy 65.

The sheds, play spaces and wheelchair ramps which were destroyed have all since been replaced and many of the dangerous trees removed.

"You have to look for a silver lining ... no one wants a bushfire no one wants trauma, but if you have to have it and you have to come out of the other side you may as well make it as good as it can be." mailcommunity.com.au

12410597-CB6-19

mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 13

Fruits Yarra Valley of the

Festival

16th & 17th February 2019 9am - 4pm

FREE ENTRY

Rayner’s Orchard 60 Schoolhouse Rd Woori Yallock www.raynersorchard.com.au | Ph- 03 5964 7654 Local attractions; Tractor Rides; Fresh Flowers; Fruits Preserving; U Pick Fruit on Fruit Tasting Tours Blacksmith Demonstrations; Fruiting Plant Sales; Local Fruit & Berries; Devonshire Tea; Sausage Sizzle, Fruit Ice Cream; Kids Activity Zone adveBr ring this

the tiseme F n a tra estival, t to ctor take to rece ive 1 ur and KG FRE E fru of it

Fruit, flowers & fun 12409656-SN07-19

14 MAIL

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

mailcommunity.com.au

FRUITS OF THE YARRA VALLEY

Weekend proves fruitful The Fruits of The Yarra Valley Festival will be held at Rayner's Orchard on 16 and 17 February 2019 This free event is designed to showcase some of the many great attractions and producers that call the Yarra Valley home - because there really is nothing quite as delicious as the flavours of freshly grown fruits or the beauty of local flowers!

There will be plenty to do while throughout the festival. Why not enjoy a tractor tour of the orchard tasting fresh fruits? Or perhaps watch local blacksmiths from Mont De Lancey Historical Homestead at work. Alternatively, take a little time out learn to preserve a bottle of fruit - just like grandma used to make!

Or, for those who are seeking some relaxation time, simply enjoy some Devonshire Tea in the cafe - this is an all-ages event with something for everyone!

When they're not busy running festivals, Rayners Orchard offers the opportunity to learn about everyday life on an orchard, how fruit grows and the chance to pick and taste your own fruit.

They also run fruit tasting tours and workshops that teach people how to preserve fruit without chemicals or additives.

Located in the gorgeous Yarra Valley, Rayners offers customers over 450 varieties of fruit. The farm shop features preserves, fresh fruit, sauces, preserving equipment and fruit leathers. Also available is a function room and cafe which serves farm style meals.

As owner Len Rayner explained, Rayners Orchard has a welcoming family feel and staff share their knowledge with guests from all over the world.

"We have one of the largest fruiting plant nurseries in Melbourne," Len said.

"We want to encourage visitors to experience the joys of tree-ripened fruit and to educate visitors about everyday farming life, including farming methods and practices, as well as picking, storing and eating a wide variety of fruit."

Rayners Orchard fruit products are free from anything artificial and staff use sustainable farming practices.

"We have 40 years of farming experience and our staff include local people as well as three generations from our family. They all strive to deliver our customers an experience to be remembered," Len said.

The Fruits of The Yarra Valley Festival will be held at Rayner's Orchard, 60 Schoolhouse Road Woori Yallock on 16 to 17 February 2019 from 9am to 4pm daily. For more information, phone 59647654.

This free event is designed to showcase some of the many great Picture: ROB CAREW attractions of the Yarra Valley. 125170

Watch local blacksmiths from Mont De Lancey Historical Homestead at work at the 2019 The Fruits of the Yarra Valley Festival. 125170 Picture: ROB CAREW

Rayners Orchard offers the opportunity to learn about everyday life on an orchard, how fruit grows and the chance to pick and taste your own fruit.

mailcommunity.com.au

The Fruits of The Yarra Valley Festival is an all-ages event with something for everyone! 174361

There really is nothing quite as delicious as the flavours of freshly grown fruits or the beauty of local flowers! 174499

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 15

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT

They’re all smiles here Valley Dental has moved to its brand new home in Lilydale Marketplace.

The practice, which was previously located in Wandin North, has been open for two years and is a family practice run by sisters Dr Rupali Prabhu and Dr Sonali Prabhu.

Valley Dental features a team of friendly and passionate women who are focused on providing a positive outcome for patients and their families - they also have a full understanding of all dental needs and provide appropriate tailor-made treatment to suit.

The dedicated team pride themselves on providing compassionate and professional services to all families in the region offering general dental treatment, including build-up of worn down dentition, check-ups, cleans, fillings, extractions, root canals, root removals, mouthguards, bleaching treatments, crowns and bridges as well as referrals to a specialist dentist if required.

Dr Sonali Prabhu said they enjoyed providing the service for the community.

"We find the Yarra Valley a very friendly and welcoming place," Dr Prabhu said.

"People are helpful, friendly and a pleasure to work with."

Valley Dental's nurses are also local, experienced and are well versed with the community's needs.

"We have a team of professionals who enjoy working with the community to provide affordable dental treatment catered to the client needs," Dr Prabhu explained.

"We treat patients of all ages, from tiny tots to the older patients."

Valley Dental accepts all private health insurance funds and provides Medicare bulk billing for children aged two to 17 years for

Sisters Dr Rupali Prabhu and Dr Sonali Prabhu. eligible patients from $700 to $1000.

Customers are invited to visit Valley Den-

tal's brand new facilities at Shop 43, Lilydale

dale. For more information, or to book an ap-

Marketplace, 33 Hutchinson Street in Lily-

pointment, call 9737 6453.

12410857-CG07-18

arburton Medical Group 3476 Warburton Hwy, Warburton 3799 WARBURTON MEDICAL GROUP is pleased to announce the appointment of our new Registrar DR EUNICE OUANO who will be starting on Monday 4th February 2019.

Appointments are available daily by phoning 5966 5988.

Your Quality General Practice

We have relocated to new premises at Lilydale marketplace close to Aldi. Our brand new premises have plenty of parking, disabled access and convenient location.

12397197-ACM36-18

Monday to Friday 8:30am–5:30pm Saturday 9:00am–12:30pm

Your Local Dentist in Wandin.

Valley Dental is run by sisters Dr Rupali Prabhu and Dr Sonali Prabhu.

We are a family based practice that believe in serving the dental needs of the community.

We have staff that are highly experienced in the dental industry and work as a team to provide quality dental services.

We provide services relating to all aspects of dentistry including scales and clean, extractions, restorations metal and non-metal, fissure sealants, check ups and x-rays, root canals, crowns and bridges, veneers, bleaching at home and in chair.

WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME AND VISIT US AT OUR NEW PREMISES.

Please call for appointment 16 MAIL

|

9737 6453

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

Shop 43 Lilydale Marketplace, 33 Hutchinson St. Lilydale mailcommunity.com.au

property

RURAL LIFESTYLE ON ALMOST 2 ACRES ESCAPE the hustle and bustle of town life with this beautiful home located on a no-through country lane, the agent says, only a short drive to schools, transport and Healesville’s food and cafe strip.

The light and bright three-bedroom brick veneer home has a well-equipped galley kitchen, recently renovated family bathroom and spacious sunken lounge featuring a wood fire.

Modern conveniences such as new gas ducted heating and new split-system will keep its new owner comfortable the entire year, the agent says.

There is a separate studio for working from home or for a teenager to have their own space.

Outside on the undercover deck is where the new buyer can relax and enjoy the sounds of nature, the agent says, while looking over about 2 acres of cleared and lightly-treed land.

There's a horse arena plus stables and a tack room which the agent says is ideal for a family pony, or a great place for a giant shed. â—?

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 21 Hillcrest Grove, Healesville, VIC 3777 Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $690,000 - $750,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Gary Lucas 0407 595 113, MARK GUNTHER FIRST NATIONAL

mailcommunity.com.au

com.au

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

17

bellrealestate.com.au

10 Valley Grove Pl Yarra Junction

$640,000 - $690,000

50 High St Seville East

$790,000 - $840,000

Awesome family home with views

Entertain in Style and Live in Luxury

Located in a most sought after areas this 4 bedroom home is in impeccable condition & boasts lovely mountain views. A perfect home for the large family with two large living zones, master with walk in robe & ensuite, huge family bathroom and fantastic kitchen with walk in pantry, loads of cupboards and bench space, gas ducted heating and evaporative cooling. Outdoors has a covered deck enjoying the views, well manicured garden and double garage.

The ultimate in family living and entertaining, this sleek modern home is packed full of surprises.

Offering 3 large bedrooms all with built in robes plus expansive living area, home theatre, lovely polished loorboards throughout and a beautifully appointed kitchen with quality appliances, ducted heating, wood heating and multiple split systems throughout. Outside is an entertainer’s paradise featuring the ultimate outdoor living space.

Contact: Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513 Inspection: Sat 12:00-12:30pm (Photo ID Required)

Contact: David Carroll 0419 539 320 Inspection: Sat 12:00-12:30pm (Photo ID Required)

1434 Healesville Kooweerup Rd Woori Yallock $600,000 - $660,000 Big Family Living in Woori Yallock A substantial opportunity for someone who wants to own their home in the ever popular Woori Yallock. On a lat level block of 1280 sqm (approx) there is plenty of room here for kids and toys alike! The home is solid brick and consists of 3 good size bedrooms, big master with ensuite. The family bathroom is new and stunning! The galley kitchen is most certainly the heart of the home with electric cooking and plenty of bench space. The kitchen has a servery that opens onto the massive family room and also opens onto the great size undercover decking via sliding doors. A formal lounge at the front with beautiful hardwood looring and plenty more room for a study area completes this family home. A big crackling wood ire in the family room along with Gas ducted heating and a split system has all your climate needs covered. Outside has established gardens & lock up garage.

Contact: Leah Bannerman 0448 924 266 Inspection: Sat 2:30-3:00pm (Photo ID Required)

Powelltown

$360,000 - $390,000

Warburton

$300,000 - $310,000

Step back in time

Affordable Weekender Shack in a Serene Setting

The lovely old miners’ cottage represents a simpler time in our history. Offers three spacious bedrooms with timber loors, front lounge room and dining room with open ire place. The country style kitchen has plenty of bench space, good sized pantry & even a slow combustion wood stove. Warm and inviting throughout with the timber loors and timber lined ceiling this home is one to put to the top of the list. Outside there’s an abundance of shedding and garden on the 912sqm plus lots of bird life. This is the ideal home to put your own touches to make a home for life.

Set out from the hustle and bustle of town yet all within walking distance you will be pleasantly surprised by this package with already a Rustic shack which is super cozy with a wood ire and positioned nicely towards the back of the block which makes it nice and private. Complete with mains water connected and a garden shed and carport this is the perfect place to escape. Set on a gorgeous block of around 2400sqm with huge mountain views, situated down a no thru road that’s a hop and a skip from the beautiful Aqueduct walking trail.

Contact: Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513

Contact: Rebecca Doolan 0401 832 068

Michael Robinson 0418 505 635 30 years

Peter Robinson 0419 543 341 31 years

Sam Price 0438 795 190 7 years

Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513 15 years

5967 1277

2457 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction 18

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

David Carroll 0419 539 320 14 years

Rebecca Doolan 0401 832 068

Leah Bannerman 0448 924 266

Clare Morse Marketing Manager 10 years

5966 2530

3407 Warburton Hwy, Warburton com.au

Jenni Milne Licensed Agent 15 years

Carly James Property Manager

Michelle Karanikich Property Manager

Nicky McDonald Property Management

Julianne Spendlove Administration

5964 2277 569 Warburton Hwy, Seville

mailcommunity.com.au

bellrealestate.com.au

41 Guidehouse Rd Wesburn

$840,000 - $920,000

2 Ridge Crt Launching Place

$550,000 - $605,000

“Witield Lodge” - Luxury home on over an acre

4 bedrooms plus study, views, great location

This remarkable home has been built to a standard not a budget. A lexible loor plan which currently offers three bedrooms but could be up to four plus a self-contained area depending on your needs.

The heart of the home is a magniicent marble kitchen complete with Belling free standing cooker.

The sumptuous lounge room offers an ornate slow combustion wood heater whilst an open ireplace features in the dining room with spotted gum French doors out to the veranda.

This huge family home is everything that you need! Consisting of 4 bedrooms PLUS a study, 2 bathrooms and two living areas there is plenty of space for everyone! A great big undercover entertaining deck at the rear gives plenty of room for all your BBQ’s and drinks with friends and the mountain views will be a great talking point and backdrop! All of this set on an easy to manage 655.90 approx block, in a fabulous quiet court location. Call now!

Contact: Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513 Inspection: Sat 1:00-1:30pm (Photo ID Required)

Contact: Leah Bannerman 0448 924 266 Inspection: Sat 3:30-4:00pm (Photo ID Required)

2 Symes Rd Woori Yallock

$530,000 - $580,000

This Could be the Perfect Family Home!

A great home within strolling distance to the local shops, the kinder, the primary school, public transport and the Warburton trail, this is the ‘position perfect’ home ready for its new owners. The large home provides a stylish galley kitchen, family and dining room boasting a feature wood heater and access to one of the two outdoor decked areas. The lounge room is a brilliant size with the master bedroom with full ensuite and WIR adjacent and opening to the 2nd outdoor entertaining area which is the perfect spot to sit and have a wine and enjoy the mountain views. A further 3 bedrooms are all great sizes for the kids to spread out in. The creature comforts are well taken care of with natural gas ducted heating, wood heating and 2 split systems, a single lock up garage and a double carport. Add this to a great sized, fully fenced and useable allotment and you are set!

Contact: Samantha Price 0438 795 190 Inspection: Sat 1:30-2:00pm (Photo ID Required)

Millgrove

$400,000 - $440,000

26 Alpine Blvd Launching Place

$620,000 - $680,000

Relax with the sounds of the Yarra

Stunning Valley Views with a Large 4 Bedroom Home

Beautifully positioned directly opposite the sparkling Yarra River is this much loved family home, ready and waiting for a new family to enjoy. Recently updated with new Kitchen, bathroom and laundry; and is now ready for you to move in, put your stamp on and enjoy living in this stunning location. The home comprises of 3 large bedrooms, natural gas ducted heating, split system heating and cooling, open plan living and a lovely front deck overlooking the river reserve.

This home will certainly surprise you! Showcasing stunning panoramic views, this sensational family home will leave you breathless! Sitting in your light-illed lounge room or opening the sliding double glazed doors and lazing on your large decking will surely be the positions of choice to relax and unwind. Offers 4 over sized bedrooms, the master with ensuite and plenty of robes. The car accommodation is well catered for with external and internal parking in double garage.

Contact: Samantha Price 0438 795 190 Inspection: Sat 2:30-3:00pm (Photo ID Required)

Contact: Samantha Price 0438 795 190

Michael Robinson 0418 505 635 30 years

Peter Robinson 0419 543 341 31 years

Sam Price 0438 795 190 7 years

Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513 15 years

5967 1277

2457 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction mailcommunity.com.au

David Carroll 0419 539 320 14 years

Rebecca Doolan 0401 832 068

Leah Bannerman 0448 924 266

Clare Morse Marketing Manager 10 years

5966 2530

3407 Warburton Hwy, Warburton com.au

Jenni Milne Licensed Agent 15 years

Carly James Property Manager

Michelle Karanikich Property Manager

Nicky McDonald Property Management

Julianne Spendlove Administration

5964 2277 569 Warburton Hwy, Seville

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

19

5962 3030

Mark Gunther R FO LE SA

R FO LE SA

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

Healesville 1 Elliot Close

Yarra Valley

Townhouse in a Great Location!

Offered for sale is this quality brick townhouse, comprising of 2 spacious bedrooms with built in robes and ensuite effect to the master, large open plan living and dining area plus stylish kitchen with quality appliances. Featuring a low maintenance courtyard garden with entertaining area and a single lock up garage with internal access.

Exciting Business Opportunity

2A 1B 1C $440,000 - $480,000

The Fairdinkum Cleaning and Property Services business has been operating in the Yarra Valley for many years. The cleaning services that are offered are carpet, upholstery and mattress cleaning, cleaning of schools, new home cleans for builders and child care centres. Call for full list of equipment & more details.

Inspect

By Appointment or OFI Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

$100,000 Inspect

By Appointment Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

R FO LE A S

W NE ICE PR

Healesville 3 Vine Close

2A 2B 1C

Healesville 132-134 Maroondah Highway

3A 2B 2C

Located close to town, sits this 2 bedroom apartment arranged over two levels. The master bedroom & ensuite on lower level with the second bedroom & family bathroom on the upstairs level. A well-appointed kitchen, open planned living, private outdoor entertaining area & a lock up garage complete this home.

FOR SALE

This home offers a separate formal lounge, open plan dining, family living area plus spacious kitchen. Featuring a master with large BIR’s plus ensuite, while 2 other bedrooms also offer BIR’s & are serviced by the spacious family bathroom.

The backyard is fully fenced, there is ample parking & a double garage. Call to inspect.

FOR SALE

$390,000 - $430,000 Inspect

By Appointment or OFI Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

R FO LE SA

Nestled down a quiet country road is this unique property that is approx. 3530m2. With views over the Boat O’Craigo vineyard & across to Mt Riddell & located only a short distance to town, this is a great opportunity to build your dream home (STCA). For all planning / building enquiries call MAP Building Consultant Services 5962 1446.

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

$620,000 - $670,000 Inspect

By Appointment or OFI Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

R FO LE SA

Healesville 34 Juliet Crescent

20

markgunther.com.au 189 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

FOR SALE $180,000 - $190,000 Inspect

By Appointment Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

Badger Creek 40 Wallaby Way

3A 1B 1C

This affordable, fresh & tidy 3 bedroom home features a spacious open plan lounge, separate dining, family kitchen overlooking the fenced back yard. Set on approx. 651m2 lat block with easy to maintain gardens & a single lock up garage, makes this a great property for irst home buyers or smart investment.

FOR SALE

com.au

$460,000 - $500,000 Inspect

By Appointment or OFI Agent Mark Gunther 03 5962 3030

mailcommunity.com.au

Yarra Valley 45 Eacotts Road, Hoddles Creek

For SaLE

2

2

4

Country Road, Take Me Home…

A very neat and light filled home ofers two bedrooms & master ofers a full ensuite. We also have a second bathroom.

The open plan living, meals and kitchen area are very neat and ofer wood heating and split system heating & cooling.

Each room has a hydronic heater. Solar panels & solar hot water helps with energy eiciency. Entertaining is made easy with a huge alfresco area complete with a sink & cupboards!

Double carport, extra large double lock up garage and plenty of uncovered parking. A large workshop/shed is great for storing those extra bits and pieces! The low maintenance park like gardens feature a fish pond with water feature, vegetable patch and a large chook pen. Backing onto Sheepstation Creek with pumping rights and surrounded by farmland, the setting is ideal for those wanting a peaceful place to call home. For more info SMS 45EACOTTS to 0488 824 379.

FOR SAlE $620,000-$680,000 lAND 1.5 acres (approx.)

INSPECT Sat 9/2 2:30-3:00pm or by appointment

NEW LISTING 31 Ronald Grove, Millgrove

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

10 Big Pats Creek road, east Warburton

PRICE REDUCED Stop looking……It’s all here!!!

• • • • • •

3

Master with ensuite & walk in robe Central kitchen opens onto two living areas Undercover entertaining deck & single carport Mountain views & access to the Yarra River Walking distance to shops, schools & transport For more information SMS 31RONA to 0488 824 379.

2

PRICE REDUCED Historical homestead on 13 acres (approx.)

1

FOR SAle $450,000-$460,000 lAND 673m2 (approx.)

INSPeCT Sat 9/2 11:30-12:00pm or by appointment

• Character illed home nestled opposite the pristine upper reaches of the Yarra River • Miraculously cared for by the current owners • Orchard and vegetable gardens providing a bountiful harvest throughout the seasons • For more information SMS 10BIG to 0488 824 379.

4

1

4

FOr Sale $690,000-$730,000 laND 13.2 acres (approx.)

INSPeCT By appointment

69-71 Braeside Drive, Launching Place

FOR SALE

4

2

3

A Modern, Country Lifestyle Awaits….

Often sought but rarely found in such a prominent area is a flat, just under 2 acres (approx.) of land. Fully fenced and divided into paddocks with ample parking space, outside storage, stables & circular drive with carport. Three bedrooms, timber floors almost throughout, a light living room with large windows & wood heater plus a spacious modern kitchen & meals area. The family bathroom has been renovated & ofers plenty of space. A great option for guests or teenagers is the brick bungalow with ensuite, BIR’s & a covered patio.

Covered pergola as well as a verandah attached to the house.

An additional bungalow & cubby are an added bonus! Within easy walking distance to public transport & take away food/ convenience store, while the Primary School, hardware & milkbar are still only a short walk away. For more info SMS 71BRAE to 0488 824 379.

FOR SALE $860,000-$910,000 LAND 1.8 acres (approx.)

INSPECT Sat 9/2 1:30-2:00pm or by appointment

NEW LISTING

Ashleigh Hall

Chris lord

Director

Sales Manager

5967 1800 mailcommunity.com.au

MarcBarton-Johnson leanne Stacey Andrew McMath Sales Agent

Sales Agent

licenced Estate Agent

lyndal Hall licenced Estate Agent

Yarra JUNCTIoN | 5966 com.au

Wendy Adams Melinda Darwall licenced Estate Agent

licenced Estate Agent

Cassie Crowe

Kristen Johnson

Alise Hatt

Karen Eve

Administration

Administration

Administration

Administration

2800 WarBUrToN Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

mcmath.com.au |

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

21

Black Saturday 10 years on Marysville 10 Years On Special commemorative edition

By Michael Doran ‘Marysville 10 Years On’ is a photographic exhibition at the Marysville Information and Regional Artspace, MiRa, mounted as part of the town’s Black Saturday 10-year anniversary.

The exhibition has been curated by Ali Griffin, Arts Co-Ordinator at the centre, who said the project started with ads in the local newsletter calling for photos that represent Marysville 10 years on. “We received photos from professional photographers, people in the media and from others who have documented the whole journey along the way.

“The brief for the project was it had to be a positive thing, it’s saying a big thank-you to everyone who helped us when we needed it and for them to see how good we are now. We didn’t want pictures of burnt stuff, that was ten years ago and we are not that burnt place anymore.

“If people can come in here and have a look at how far we have come then the exhibition has done its job. This is Marysville, it’s not old or new, it’s just Marysville today.”

The 47 photos by 14 locals are curated into five themes of Rebuilding, Events, Community, Regeneration and Openings, showcasing the elements of the town’s journey. “We have tried to put what everybody submitted into the accompanying book or in the exhibition,” she said.

“This is not just about Marysville, it’s for the whole Triangle area and we wanted it to speak for all of its people. Ten years is a marker in time and it’s a marker I feel most people are happy to see come and go.

“People are doing incredibly well here because they are really passionate about the area. And that’s not just for the 10 year anniversary, there are so many things happening in the area, the Australia Day parade, the marathon, a fun run, the jazz and blues festival and the Marysville Art Show.

“For a town the size of Marysville it’s astounding, it comes back to the fact they are incredibly passionate about their town, they don’t want it to die. They want people to come in, they want people to spend money to make it a profitable town for people to open busi-

nesses in, so that they can stay here and enjoy living here.

“And I think they were like that before the fires as well because it’s such a small town, if you don’t get involved then what have you got?”

Marysville has always had a strong creative side and the opening of the Community Space at MiRa had given the town a permanent place for the community to join together in many types of artistic pursuits.

“The thing living up here, and more importantly into the future, is not so much about Marysville becoming an arts town but that a lot of the recovery process has been driven here at MiRa. All sorts of community workshops have been held since the day after the fires where the creative people in the town wanted to get together and make it beautiful again.

“And so they got people involved and that created a community who had ownership over the town because they went out and made mosaic seats or tiles for the playground. It was done to a level where anyone could join in and be involved and that took time and creativity and got people together again.

“So that’s why MiRa is here because the artists, the creative people wanted a space because at the time they were doing art from the back of their car, from a container, from outside in a paddock as they didn’t have anywhere else to do it from. It’s taken probably the last eight years putting this plan in process for this community space to make it happen.

Ali Griffin, who lost her own house on Black Saturday, said she knew meeting the brief would be a challenge but is happy with the result.

“I didn’t want to upset anyone, especially at this very sensitive time. I guess there are going to be some people who don’t feel as recovered as some others but overwhelmingly the people I have spoken to are all about the anniversary as being a time to say thank you to everyone who helped us when we needed it.”

Marysville 10 Years On Photo Exhibition. 189911

Time to heal after the Black Saturday firestorms from page 1 "It came to the front door and the back door," Lesley said.

They moved the horses around as paddocks caught fire. The dogs took shelter under the house.

The shed caught on fire. They threw buckets of water at spot fires that sparked in the guttering.

Many of her fences burnt down. The house two doors up burnt to the ground.

"Another friend about 12 midnight broke through the blockade," Lesley said.

"He came and we basically stayed up all night putting out any spot fires.

"In the middle of the night we were sitting on the back verandah and we could see this glow over the mountain and it would flare up and flare down.

"We just sat there and thought 'oh my God'.

"You just pray for people, and the animals too.

"We didn't have the intensity like that did at Kinglake or like they did in Marysville.

"It was as scary as all ...

"The funniest thing I remember is being exhausted in the morning and thinking 'now I've got to feed the animals'.

"And then I thought 'how lucky am I to feed the animals?'."

Movies at Healesville and Warburton Thu 07 February - Wed 13 February For more information and to book tickets: 1300 368 333 or culturetracks.info The Memo, Healesville

Arts Centre, Warburton

235 Maroondah Highway

3409 Warburton Highway

The Favourite

The Favourite

07-Feb 08-Feb 12-Feb 13-Feb

2:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 11:30 AM

OC

Boy Erased Thu Sat Sun

07-Feb 09-Feb 10-Feb

11:30 AM 11:30 AM 2:00 PM

Thu

07-Feb

11:30 AM

Sat

09-Feb

11:30 AM

Sat

09-Feb

7:30 PM

Sun

10-Feb

2:00 PM

Wed

13-Feb

2:00 PM

Boy Erased

The Children Act

Thu

07-Feb

2:00 PM

Fri

08-Feb

2:00 PM

Sat

09-Feb

2:00 PM

Fri

08-Feb

7:30 PM

Wed

13-Feb

2:00 PM

Sat

09-Feb

2:00 PM

Wed

13-Feb

11:30 AM

Bohemian Rhapsody Fri Sat

08-Feb 09-Feb

The Children Act

2:00 PM 7:30 PM

A Star is Born Fri

08-Feb

11:30 AM

Fri

08-Feb

11:30 AM

Sun

10-Feb

11:30 AM

SD

Ralph Breaks the Internet Sun

22 MAIL

10-Feb

|

OC

11:30 AM

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

12410788-SN07-19

Thu Fri Tue Wed

Lesley received donations to help her with the task.

"The week after Black Saturday a long-lost relative turned up, and a friend from Queensland came down and they put up the front fence in a day," she said.

"It was about 10 of them."

On 26 January this year, almost 10 years after the fire, Yarra Ranges Council named Lesley the shire's Citizen of the Year for her work on the farm.

It celebrates difference, builds resilience and connects teens with their communities.

Back in 2009, kids from the then-Upper Yarra Community House (UYCH) had been working at the farm the day before the fire.

They returned a month later to help Lesley with the clean-up and rebuild, and continued their support for months to come.

"I had to stop the program for June/July and had the rest of the year off," she said.

"It triggered a lot of stuff from my past.

"Sometimes you've just got to take some time to heal."

She sought help from a psychotherapist and did some equine therapy in Monbulk.

"I had a lot of survival guilt," she said.

"I survived a car accident when I was little when all my family died.

"Things happen and you can't stop living because things happen."

"If I were to never get in a car again, how much would that have impacted my life?

"There has to be time for healing, but there has to be time to step out of your comfort zone and face your fears again, otherwise it just disables you to do anything.

"It paralyses you and you don't live your life to the full - and that's not what life's about.

"The following summer was the hardest.

"Every time it was hot you had flashbacks and got a bit panicked on hot days."

Lesley wanted to "spread joy among the sea of black and burnt earth" so with plenty of help, she created a giant pink pig to sit at the top of her driveway.

"For me, I think the most positive thing that came out of it was the sense of community," she said.

He's recently had a facelift and is now black with brightly-coloured writing, welcoming visitors and passers-by to The Good Life Farm.

"Resilience is living through hard times," she said.

Lesley Porter on the front page of our coverage immediately following the fires. mailcommunity.com.au

networkclassifieds.com.au Trades & Services

Place your ad in print and online www.networkclassifieds.com.au V Trades Business Profile

Placing your classified advert is so easy...

V Electricians

D.G. & V.M. CLINCH

s s e n i s u b r u o y w o Gr with Trades and Services

Online: networkclassiďŹ eds.com.au (24/7) Phone: 1300 666 808 (Open 8.30-5pm Mon-Fri) Fax: 03 5945 0667 Email: sales@networkclassiďŹ eds.com.au (include your name, address and phone number)

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR *Domestic *Commercial *New Installations *Maintenance Ph: 0418 172 328

5966 9141 V Excavators

We accept payment by: VISA/MASTERCARD/EFTPOS

JC EARTHMOVING

From plumbers to pest control, carpet cleaning to building services, dry cleaning to computer repairs, lawn mowing and more, Network ClassiďŹ eds has been connecting local businesses with the local community with our Trades and Services each week.

Ask about our discounted ongoing advertising rates and how choosing more newspapers gives your advertising more impact and saves you money...

12353605-HM22-17

Trades: 2pm Friday Classifieds: 4pm Friday

om.au rangerpestcontrol.c

V Awnings, Blinds & Curtains

TERMITE CONTROL SPECIALIST

We make beautiful custom-made, made-to-measure curtains & blinds. Our Interior Decorator comes to you for an obligation free Measure & Quote, with a full range of samples to help guide you through your window treatment needs.

0402 760 756

tions â—? Cou

Qualified & Insured

MATERIALS AT TRADE PRICE

JUST CALL TOM: 0410 264 346

are very happy with the response we are getting from the Mail

ss - Family owned busine Free termite quotes â—? Spiders e Mic â—? ts Ra â—? ts â—? Termites â—? An s & Wasps â—? Cockroaches â—? Bee ncil Certificates â—? Pre purchase inspec

TOM’S PALING FENCING FREE QUOTES ฀฀฀฀ ฀฀฀฀

Call 1300 666 808

V Bathroom & Kitchens

No Job Too Small Reg.BPB Reg.DB-L 14599 Reg.M.B.A.V. 52311

0409 884 413

c 1FSHPMBT t %FDLT t "MM $BSQFOUSZ 8PSL t t 0WFS :FBST &YQFSJFODF t

฀

฀ ฀

Call Steve 0417 192 009

0408 538 121 12358958-PB30-17

฀

฀

No job too big or small

Phone Dean 5962 1090 Mobile: 0412 086 471

Real Estate

Find local work with an advert in the

Trades & Services section of Network Classifieds.

V Garden Services

J.L. Hutt Electrical

Carpenter *BO 3PCFSUT

฀ ฀฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

Ph: 5968 9710 Fax: 5968 9715

SITE CUTS & EXCAVATIONS

Boxes and packaging material for sale Local, country and metro All Household Maintenance Available

section of Network Classifieds.

V Builders & Building Services

฀

Mob: 0408 050 938

HOUSE SLABS

V Electricians

V Carpenters

Trevor - 0401 888 194

Small Job Specialst

Concreter-Your LocalMick Call

SHED SLABS

24 HOUR SERVICE Rec: 17824

1152285-PB36-14

Complete and Partial ฀ ฀ ฀ Complete home maintenance service

Call Richard Maile: 12322765-HM38-16

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS

Furniture Removals š ( JhkYai 7lW_bWXb[ š IjehW][ 7lW_bWXb[

FOOTPATHS

BUILDER/CARPENTER ★ EXTENSIONS ★ ★ RENOVATIONS ★ BATHROOMS ★ ★ CARPORTS, ETC ★

V Furniture Removals

DRIVEWAYS

V Builders & Building Services

C1092362-JO38-13

5962 4060 0409 889 507 0409 889 507

฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

12345678-HM15-17

C1084033-JO31-13

Proprietor ProprietorChris ChrisBurley Burley

section of Network Classifieds.

1202250-KC42-15

Healesville Blinds

V Concrete Products & Services

General Classifieds

฀

฀0418 515 414

12368209-HM42-17

BLINDS & SECURITY DOORS

฀฀฀฀ ฀฀฀฀

฀

12337167-HM04-17

• Blinds and Awnings of all types • Security Doors and Screens • Competitive Rates and Free Measure and Quote

12325266-LB40-16

KELLY’S FENCING & TIMBER

papers.� – Andrew

0488 097 005

1215133-PB05-16

Est. 1973. Incorporating 059 Curtains

V Fencing & Gates

“The consultants at Network Classifieds are fantastic and easy to deal with. We

2064941v5

Spectrum Curtains & Blinds

Call for a free estimate 0466 315 944

• Entensions/Refurbishments • Switchboard Upgrades/Safety Switches Specialising in all Electrical Installations • House Rewires FREE QUOTES • Phone/Data/TV & CCTV No Job too big or small • Oven & Hot Plate Repairs • Hot Water Service Repairs www.jlhuttelectrical.com.au • Security Alarms • AC Installations

Jason 1300 644 698

• Garde

Owen's Mowin'

ai te a e • Mo i g a d lea -up • Pro pt, relia le ser i e Ph: 0422 425 337 or email: owenweld101@gmail.com

V Glass/Glazing

STEVENS GLASS

375 Maroondah Highway, North Croydon

Showroom open Mon - Fri, 8am - 5pm (8 - 12 Saturdays)

• Household & Shopfront Glass Repairs • Insurance Work • Commercial & Domestic Glazing • Mirrors

• Frameless/Semi-frameless shower screens • Frameless balustrading • Splashbacks • Cut to size while you wait

Phone: 9726 6488

1118763-RC07-14

DEADLINES

- Site cuts - Driveways - Carparks - Dams - Horse Arenas - Property clearing - Machinery hire And more....

Speak to our classiďŹ ed team and ďŹ nd out how easy it is to advertise. Start building your brand today and be seen every week in Network ClassiďŹ eds Trades and Services.

1129931-RC16-14

(1.5% credit card processing fee applies. Cheques and money orders can be posted in or hand delivered to our local ofďŹ ce)

R.E.C. 8864

1211217-PB51-15

12409424-CG04-19

V Deadline

2214155v11

Place Your Classified Ads Online Your advert will appear in print and online! mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 23

Trades & Services

General Notices V Public Notices and Event

V Plumbing

THE TAP SPECIALIST

30% OFF

24/7

FREE THIS MONTH QUOTES

EŽƚĹ?ĨĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĆšĹ?ŽŜ ŽĨ WĆŒĹ˝Ć‰Ĺ˝Ć?ĞĚ ĹśÄ?ŜΥ ZÄ‚ÄšĹ?Ĺ˝ EÄžĆšÇ Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹ Ä‚Ć?Äž ^ƚĂƚĹ?ŽŜ &Ä‚Ä?Ĺ?ĹŻĹ?ƚLJ

Call Your Lady Plumber ✔ Tap Repairs & Installations ✔ Toilet Repairs / Installation ✔ All Small Plumbing Jobs

dŚĞ EÄ‚ĆšĹ?ŽŜĂů ĆŒĹ˝Ä‚ÄšÄ?ĂŜĚ EÄžĆšÇ Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹ ͞ŜÄ?ŜͿ Ĺ?Ć? Ä‚ ĹšĹ?Ĺ?Ĺš Ć?ƉĞĞĚ Ä?ĆŒĹ˝Ä‚ÄšÄ?ĂŜĚ ĹśÄžĆšÇ Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹ ĚĞĆ?Ĺ?Ĺ?ŜĞĚ ƚŽ ĆŒÄžÄ‚Ä?Ĺš Ď­ĎŹĎŹ Ć‰ÄžĆŒ Ä?ĞŜƚ ŽĨ ĆľĆ?ĆšĆŒÄ‚ĹŻĹ?Ä‚Ĺś Ć‰ĆŒÄžĹľĹ?Ć?ÄžĆ? ĂŜĚ Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ç€Ĺ?ĚĞ ƚŚĞ Ä?ŽžžƾŜĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĆšĹ?ŽŜĆ? Ĺ?ĹśÄ¨ĆŒÄ‚Ć?ĆšĆŒĆľÄ?ĆšĆľĆŒÄž ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ĆľĆ? Ć?ƚŽƉ ĨĂůůĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä?ĞŚĹ?ŜĚ Ĺ?Ĺś Ä‚Ĺś Ĺ?ĹśÄ?ĆŒÄžÄ‚Ć?Ĺ?ĹśĹ?ůLJ ŽŜůĹ?ŜĞ Ç Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŻÄšÍ˜

ĹśÄ?Ĺś Ĺ?Ć? Ä?ŽžžĹ?ƚƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĚĞůĹ?Ç€ÄžĆŒĹ?ĹśĹ? ůĞĂĚĹ?ĹśĹ? ĞĚĹ?Äž Ä?ĆŒĹ˝Ä‚ÄšÄ?ĂŜĚ Ć?ÄžĆŒÇ€Ĺ?Ä?ÄžĆ? ƚŽ Ä‚ĹŻĹŻ ĆľĆ?ĆšĆŒÄ‚ĹŻĹ?Ä‚ĹśĆ? Ä?LJ ĹŻÄžÇ€ÄžĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?Ĺ?ĹśĹ? ƚŚĞ ĆšĹšĆŒÄžÄž ƚLJƉĞĆ? ŽĨ ƚĞÄ?ŚŜŽůŽĹ?LJ ĂǀĂĹ?ĹŻÄ‚Ä?ĹŻÄž Í´ ĨĹ?džĞĚ ĹŻĹ?ŜĞ͕ ĨĹ?džĞĚ Ç Ĺ?ĆŒÄžĹŻÄžĆ?Ć? ĂŜĚ Ć?ĂƚĞůůĹ?ƚĞ͕ ĚĞƉĞŜĚĹ?ĹśĹ? ŽŜ ĹŻĹ˝Ä?Ä‚ĆšĹ?Ĺ˝ĹśÍ˜

Ć? Ć‰Ä‚ĆŒĆš ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĹ?džĞĚ ĆŒÄ‚ÄšĹ?Ĺ˝ ÍžÇ Ĺ?ĆŒÄžĹŻÄžĆ?Ć?Íż Ä?ŽžƉŽŜĞŜƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EÄžĆšÇ Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹÍ• ĹśÄ?Ĺś Ĺ?Ć? Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ć‰Ĺ˝Ć?Ĺ?ĹśĹ? ƚŽ ĞdžƉĂŜĚ ƚŚĞ ĞdžĹ?Ć?ĆšĹ?ĹśĹ? ĆŒÄ‚ÄšĹ?Ĺ˝ ĹśÄžĆšÇ Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹ Ä?Ä‚Ć?Äž Ć?ƚĂƚĹ?ŽŜĆ? Ä‚Ćš ƚŚĞ Ä¨Ĺ˝ĹŻĹŻĹ˝Ç Ĺ?ĹśĹ? ĹŻĹ˝Ä?Ä‚ĆšĹ?ŽŜ͖ ϯϯϲϹ DÄ‚ĆŒĹ˝Ĺ˝ĹśÄšÄ‚Ĺš ,Ĺ?Ĺ?ĹšÇ Ä‚Ç‡Í• dÄ‚Ĺ?Ĺ?ÄžĆŒĆšÇ‡Í• s/ Í• ϯϳϭϰ ͞ώ͏W^ώϭϴϾϯϭͿ ÍžZ&E^ ^Ĺ?ƚĞ EŽ͗ ϯϳϭϰϏϏϹͿ

dŚĞ Ç Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹĆ? Ä‚ĆŒÄž ƚŽ Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ç€Ĺ?ĚĞ ĹšĹ?Ĺ?Ĺš ƋƾĂůĹ?ƚLJ Ç Ĺ?ĆŒÄžĹŻÄžĆ?Ć? Ä?ĆŒĹ˝Ä‚ÄšÄ?ĂŜĚ Ć?ÄžĆŒÇ€Ĺ?Ä?ÄžĆ? ƚŽ Ä?ĆľĆ?ĆšĹ˝ĹľÄžĆŒĆ? Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŚĞ Ć?ĆľĆŒĆŒĹ˝ĆľĹśÄšĹ?ĹśĹ? ĹŻĹ˝Ä?Ä‚ĹŻĹ?ĆšĹ?ÄžĆ?͘

dŚĞ Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ć‰Ĺ˝Ć?ĞĚ Ç Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹĆ? ŽŜ Ć?Ĺ?ƚĞ Ç Ĺ?ĹŻĹŻ Ĺ?ŜǀŽůǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƾƉĹ?ĆŒÄ‚ÄšÄž ŽĨ ĞdžĹ?Ć?ĆšĹ?ĹśĹ? ƚĞÄ?ŚŜŽůŽĹ?LJ ƾƉŽŜ ƚŚĞ ĨĂÄ?Ĺ?ĹŻĹ?ƚLJ Ĺ?ĹśÄ?ůƾĚĹ?ĹśĹ? ĂŜĚ ŜŽƚ ĹŻĹ?ĹľĹ?ƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĆŒÄžĆ‰ĹŻÄ‚Ä?ĞžĞŜƚ ĂŜĚ Ĺ?ĹśĆ?ƚĂůůĂƚĹ?ŽŜ ŽĨ ĹśÄžÇ Ä‚ĹśĆšÄžĹśĹśÄ‚Ć?Í• ĆŒÄ‚ÄšĹ?Ĺ˝Ä?ŽžžƾŜĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĆšĹ?ŽŜ ÄšĹ?Ć?ŚĞĆ? ĂŜĚ Ä‚Ć?Ć?Ĺ˝Ä?Ĺ?ĂƚĞĚ Ä‚ĹśÄ?Ĺ?ĹŻĹŻÄ‚ĆŒÇ‡ ĞƋƾĹ?ƉžĞŜƚ ƚŽ ĞŜŚĂŜÄ?Äž ĆšĆŒÄ‚ĹśĆ?ĹľĹ?ƚƚĹ?ĹśĹ? ƚĞÄ?ŚŜŽůŽĹ?LJ͘ &ĆľĆŒĆšĹšÄžĆŒĹľĹ˝ĆŒÄž ƚŚĞ Ç Ĺ˝ĆŒĹŹĆ? Ç Ĺ?ĹŻĹŻ Ĺ?ŜǀŽůǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĆŒÄžĆ‰ĹŻÄ‚Ä?ĞžĞŜƚ ĂŜĚ ĂĚĚĹ?ĆšĹ?ŽŜ ŽĨ ĞƋƾĹ?ƉžĞŜƚ Ć?ĹšÄžĹŻĆšÄžĆŒĆ?ÍŹĹ˝ĆľĆšÄšĹ˝Ĺ˝ĆŒ ƾŜĹ?ĆšĆ? ĂĚŊĂÄ?ĞŜƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨĂÄ?Ĺ?ĹŻĹ?ĆšÇ‡Í˜

ĹśÄ?Ĺś ĆŒÄžĹ?Ä‚ĆŒÄšĆ? ƚŚĞ Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ć‰Ĺ˝Ć?ĞĚ Ĺ?ĹśĆ?ƚĂůůĂƚĹ?ŽŜĆ? Ä‚Ć? Ä‚ >Ĺ˝Ç /žƉĂÄ?Ćš &Ä‚Ä?Ĺ?ĹŻĹ?ƚLJ ĆľĹśÄšÄžĆŒ ƚŚĞ dĞůĞÄ?ŽžžƾŜĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĆšĹ?ŽŜĆ? Íž>Ĺ˝Ç Í˛/žƉĂÄ?Ćš &Ä‚Ä?Ĺ?ĹŻĹ?ĆšĹ?ÄžĆ?Íż ÄžĆšÄžĆŒĹľĹ?ŜĂƚĹ?ŽŜ ĎŽĎŹĎ­Ď´Í˜ /Ĺś ƚŚĞĆ?Äž Ä?Ĺ?ĆŒÄ?ƾžĆ?ƚĂŜÄ?ÄžĆ?Í• Ĺ?Ćš ĚŽĞĆ? ŜŽƚ ĆŒÄžĆ‹ĆľĹ?ĆŒÄž ƉůĂŜŜĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä‚Ć‰Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ç€Ä‚ĹŻ Ä¨ĆŒĹ˝Ĺľ ŽƾŜÄ?Ĺ?ĹŻÍ˜ dĹšĹ?Ć? ŜŽƚĹ?ĨĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĆšĹ?ŽŜ Ĺ?Ć? ĆľĹśÄšÄžĆŒĆšÄ‚ĹŹÄžĹś Ĺ?Ĺś Ä‚Ä?Ä?Ĺ˝ĆŒÄšÄ‚ĹśÄ?Äž Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĆŒÄžĆ‹ĆľĹ?ĆŒÄžĹľÄžĹśĆšĆ? ŽĨ ^ÄžÄ?ĆšĹ?ŽŜ Ďł ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DĹ˝Ä?Ĺ?ĹŻÄž WŚŽŜĞ Ä‚Ć?Äž ^ƚĂƚĹ?ŽŜ ĞƉůŽLJžĞŜƚ ŽĚĞ ĎŽĎŹĎ­Ď´Í˜

0405 430 061

GREG: 0414 516 050

Allison www.thetapspecialist.com.au

V Roofing

RIDGELINE GLASS & GLAZING

All types of Roofs ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

All major credit cards accepted

฀ ฀

฀

฀

฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

฀

฀

฀ ฀

฀

฀ ฀

฀

฀

฀

฀ ฀

Paul 0418 570 231

paulnobes@live.com.au

Lic. 25035

C1047556-KG35-12

V Handy Persons

12402861-RA44-18

The Re-Roof Man

Call your local Glass Supplier Ph/Fax: 5962 2888 Mobile: 0418 102 370 Prop. DAVID DUNCAN 24HRS - 7DAYS 16 HUNTER ROAD, HEALESVILLE

1194040-KC32-15

Over 20 years experience in all aspects of Roof Tiling. • RooďŹ ng Repairs • Leak Detection • Re-Bed and Point • Roof Restoration • Re-Roofs • Extensions Call Ross now for a no Obligation free quote.

Personalised and Professional Service Guaranteed

MAN WITH A UTE Mowing - Garden Manicure Small Moves - Rubbish Removal

Ph: 0400 627 644

ANYTHING CONSIDERED LOCAL WARBURTON

9 Tiled roof repairs 9 Rebed and point 9 Gutter protection 9 Replace valley irons ROOFING 9 Gutter cleaner Over 50 years experience 9 Laser light installation www.keysrooďŹ ng.com.au Call for a free quote Peter Keys 0429 551 333, 9752 1868 Matt Keys 0407 657 484

KEYS

5966 5559 - 0416 040 105 1233554-ACM27-16

C1069369-JL15-13

V Rubbish Removal 12367707-LB41-17

Why hire a bin when we load & take away your rubbish from $100

Gardening Gutter Cleaning General Home Repairs Rubbish Removed Sliding Door Repairs Painting Pre-Sale Improvement General Garden Clean Ups www.handymandave.com.au

R U B B I S H R E M O VA L

YARRA VALLEY SEPTIC TANK CLEANING • Septic Tanks • Treatment Plants • Grease Traps • EPA Licence • Portable Toilets

IAN HARRIS Painting

5962 4841

Ian 0412 814 298 Jake 0402 913 197

9735 3700

Mobile 0419 131 958 SERVICING ALL AREAS BOB WALLACE AND SONS

12334723-EPJ02-17

Reliable service Over 20 years’ experience Healesville, Yarra valley & Surrounding Areas

SEWING MACHINE Treadle Singer, circa 1945, 2 draw, working, $200. Healesville. 0414 168 444.

V Wanted GUITARS Any condition. Ph: 9730 2332

Advertise in the

Professionals section of Network ClassiďŹ eds.

V Massage Therapists ADVERTISERS, in this section are qualified practitioners and offer non-sexual services.

V Pets & Services

New rules apply to the advertising of dogs and cats for sale.

It is now an offence to advertise the sale of a dog or cat unless the microchip identiďŹ cation number of the animal is included in the advertisement or notice.

A registered domestic animal business may use its Council business registration number as an alternative.

V Septic Tanks

V Painters/Decorators

V For Sale

ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE

C936869-KK25-11

0433 223 796

Ricky Prest: yr.landscaping@hotmail.com

Same day Service, Free Quote

Call Andrew 0408 242 015 C1074785-KK7-13

LANDSCAPING

YARRA RIDGE

Specialising In: • All Aspects of Stonework • Paving • Retaining Walls • Driveways • Landscape Construction • 3 Tonne Excavator with Augers

SN1090434-PJ37-13

&ĆľĆŒĆšĹšÄžĆŒ Ĺ?ĹśÄ¨Ĺ˝ĆŒĹľÄ‚ĆšĹ?ŽŜ ŽŜ ƚŚĹ?Ć? Ć?ƉĞÄ?Ĺ?ĨĹ?Ä? Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ć‰Ĺ˝Ć?Ä‚ĹŻ Ä?Ä‚Ĺś Ä?Äž Ĺ˝Ä?ƚĂĹ?ŜĞĚ Ä?LJ Ä?Ä‚ĹŻĹŻĹ?ĹśĹ? sĹ?Ć?Ĺ?ŽŜĆ?ĆšĆŒÄžÄ‚Ĺľ ŽŜ Ď­ĎŻĎŹĎŹ ϳϰϹ ĎŽĎ­ĎŹÍ˜

tĆŒĹ?ƚƚĞŜ Ć?ĆľÄ?ĹľĹ?Ć?Ć?Ĺ?ŽŜĆ? Ä?Ä‚Ĺś Ä?Äž Ć?ĞŜƚ ƚŽ͗ ĹśÄ?Ĺś WůĂŜŜĹ?ĹśĹ? dĞĂž͕ >Ĺ˝Ä?ŏĞĚ Ä‚Ĺ? Ď°ĎŹĎŹĎ­Í• DĹ˝Ĺ˝ĆŒÄ‚Ä?Ä?Ĺ?Ĺś s/ ĎŻĎ­Ď´Ďľ Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ç€Ĺ?Ä‚ ĞžĂĹ?ĹŻ ƚŽ ĹśÄ?ĹśÇ Ĺ?ĆŒÄžĹŻÄžĆ?Ć?Ç€Ĺ?Ä?ΛǀĹ?Ć?Ĺ?ŽŜĆ?ĆšĆŒÄžÄ‚ĹľÍ˜Ä?Ĺ˝ĹľÍ˜Ä‚ĆľÍ˜ dŚĞ Ä?ĹŻĹ˝Ć?Ĺ?ĹśĹ? ĚĂƚĞ Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ć?ĆľÄ?ĹľĹ?Ć?Ć?Ĺ?ŽŜĆ? Ĺ?Ć? Ď­ĎľÍ˛ĎŽÍ˛ĎŽĎŹĎ­ĎľÍ˜

&Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ĺ?ÄžĹśÄžĆŒÄ‚ĹŻ Ĺ?ŜĨŽ ŽŜ ƚŚĞ ĹśÄ?Ŝ͕ ĞžĂĹ?ĹŻ Ĺ?ŜĨŽΛŜÄ?ĹśÍ˜Ä?Ĺ˝ĹľÍ˜Ä‚ĆľÍ• Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ç€Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ?Ćš Ĺ˝ĆľĆŒ Ç ÄžÄ?Ć?Ĺ?ƚĞ Ä‚Ćš Ç Ç Ç Í˜ĹśÄ?ĹśÄ?Ĺ˝Í˜Ä?Ĺ˝ĹľÍ˜Ä‚ĆľÍ˜

House, Garden, Mixed General Rubbish Removal Building Debris, Concrete, Soil & Brick Removal

V Landscaping

V Adult Services

12410979-DJ07-19

Tick some jobs off the List!

1177123-HM12-15

• Domestic/Commercial Glazing/Repairs • Manufacture of Frameless/Semiframeless & Fully Framed Shower Screens • Double Glazing & Laminated Glass • Glass cut to size - Pick up or Delivery • Insurance Work Handled • Free Quotes or just some advice • New Colours and Styles in Splashbacks • Qualified Tradesman

CHARLTON Gordon Barry The family of Gordon Barry Charlton wish to thank the staff, nurses and Doctors at Box Hill, Maroondah and Healesville Hospitals for their care and attention of 'Barry'.

Waikato Tainui

Lic 38064

1238399-RC33-16

REPLACEMENTS

12364589-PB37-17

ALL BROKEN GLASS

V Acknowledgements

General Classifieds

For further information, call 136 186 or visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/pets

1021249-PJ16-12

V Glass/Glazing

V Auctions

V Tree Lopping/Surgery

V Pest Control

CLEARING SALE “Haining Farm� (ex dairy) P F & L F Doyle

12373899-ACM49-17

TERMITES ANTS WASPS SPIDERS MICE RATS ETC Commercial/Domestic & New/Established Homes

EZY TREE SOLUTIONS

rangerpestcontrol.com.au Free termite quotes - Family owned business ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

฀

฀ Insured

฀ ฀

฀ ฀

฀ ฀

฀ ฀

฀ ฀

1129931-RC16-14

12345326-PB14-17

TERMITE CONTROL SPECIALIST

QUALIFIED ARBORIST TREE AND STUMP REMOVAL MULCHING SERVICE & SALES 25M TOWER HIRE (15M OUTREACH)

FREE QUOTES FULLY INSURED

WAL 0438 979 022 JENNI 0438 500 265

฀ ฀

Call for a free quote

0488 097 005

FULLY INSURED

YARRA VALLEY HOME REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

Free Quotes Call Phil: 0400 757 487 24 MAIL

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

TREE SERVIC E ฀

฀

฀ ฀

฀ ฀

฀

฀

฀ ฀

฀ ฀

CALL JIM or BEN on

0473 326 333

www.ruralcoproperty.com.au

Find what your looking for in our

฀

฀

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Damian Fitzgerald 0419 524 824 Contact: Office 03 56 295 329 LOCAL SERVICE, NATIONAL STRENGTH

฀

฀ 12389516-EPJ24-18

Painter and Plasterer, Specialising in small painting, plastering and handyman repairs

30 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE

DIN WAN ฀ ฀

V Plasterers

1207980-HM48-15

0412 990 372฀ ฀ Award nomination - Vic 2014, 2015 and 2016. Pest Manager of the Year.

12410320-RC07-19

12386568-ACM19-18

'RQ 5RDG /DXQFKLQJ 3ODFH ‡ Friday 15th February, 2019 @ 9.30am Tractors inc: John Deer 2040S 2wd, 3 sets remotes, c/w Robot loader with third function remote, 2 buckets, hay fork, 4 in 1 bucket (no rams), soft feel arms-can alter to suit and loader with appropriate hitch, David Brown 885 tractor c/w cab- not going at present (water in pistons) Plant & Equipment inc: New Holland bale elevator c/w electric motor, 3pl PTO rotary drain cleaner, Sunbeam 3pl PTO super spreader, hyaline hay baler, Ajax 4�x 3� 3LT2W PTO irrigation pump on wheels, Jas Smith chaff cutter, chisel plough, 12 late 3pl disc plough, Dillor pasture harrows, Gippsland pasture renovator (aerator), 3pl grader blade, Berends 3 function hyd 3PL grader blade, 3pl carry all, Silvan tank on trailer & hose, diamond harrows, John Deere mobile irrigation plant with Ajax 3MSC 4� x 3� pump-needs work on wiring & radiator, Autoplus 196 Mig welder on wheels, back pack spray, wick wiper, small air compressor, Broadbent twin cyl air compressor, Davey dynajet water pump, Masport slasher, Silvan bike sprayer, Williams super duper travelling irrigator, Webco silage cart, cow jack cow lifter, old water pumps, cattle crush, 3.6m punt boat (reg) 10HP motor on trailer (reg), 20’ container, 2 pen chook house ( 1 wall missing), old roller seed drill – vintage Dairy Plant & Equipment: Flynn twin head milk pump, 5 stainless steel poly milk buckets 20L-32L, Apex DCM twin head milk pump (needs repair), Milkwell S/S milk vat 1600lt- vat only, Milkwell S/S milk vat 1550lt with compressor (buyer to de-gas), AI kit, liquid nitrogen tank, single cow milker, 16 x Westfalia Dematron 70 milk meters, 16 x Westfalia cluster (cups & shells) 300cc cup, 16 Alfa Laval Electronic pulsators (EP100), 1 x rotary power grand slip ring (power & communications), Allflex water ring vaccum pump feed head control (can run 3 feed heads), 150 cow collars, numbers for collars (4 numbers per) & electronic transponders, Computer and Westfalia dairy plan software not included, Reeve manure pump 10hp, 3 phase, Fencing materials: 5’6� gal star posts c/w 3 porcelain insulators, assorted pine posts, near new, ringlock fence strainers, Alfa Laval 6K electric fence energizer, assorted gates, 3� & 4� alum irrigation pipes, 3� & 4� alum pipe couplings, Sundries: Too numerous to mention Terms & Conditions of sale: GST is applicable, no buyers premium, number registration system applies, photo id required, strictly cash, cheque or eftpos on day of sale, light refreshments available, covered in footwear must be worn, no dogs Photos and further entries available on www.alpa.net.au ID 1395

FREE QUOTES

General Notices section of Network Classifieds.

mailcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Blues over the odds

By Chris Anderson A couple of surprise results have ensured an intriguing finish to the season in the Yarra Valley Cricket Association DJ Strachan Shield.

Seville’s dogged win against the highly-fancied Mount Evelyn would be the biggest upset of the season, but Healesville’s dominance of Wandin was the biggest result of the season considering the race for finals.

Seville had set up a path to victory last week, when young star Liam Kay cut a swathe through the Mounters’ batting line up with fantastic figures of 7/44 leaving them with a tricky, but much favourable chase of 114.

The loss of three wickets late on day one was a stumbling block.

Stung by a poor day’s cricket, the Mounters struck early enough with wickets to Chad Witherdin (3/7) to give themselves what seemed at the time the upper hand.

Sensing no need to rush, the Blues stuck to their guns and continued patiently against some tidy bowling.

Andy Kay would enter the fray at the fall of the fifth wicket with the score on 45, and the home side was looking for some experienced guidance.

Tom Page had tempered his normal aggressive approach, and provided an important anchor to the innings.

Brad Jones kept the visitors right in the mix when he removed Page within distance of the lunch interval with the score still crawling at 6/58.

Riley Foster joined Kay at the wicket as the veteran had found his groove, patiently swooping on the rare loose deliveries.

The youngster stood firm despite some wobbly moments and the pair began to piece together the match-winning partnership against a tiring Mount Evelyn attack.

Scoring opportunities started to arrive

more freely, and in the end the post-lunch period was quite fruitful as they raced to an unbeaten 63-run partnership that would lead their team to a momentous six-wicket victory - their finest victory since their premiership days of nearly a decade ago.

Healesville has wallowed and struggled to gain much momentum since the break, until now.

Hosting Wandin who had nestled comfortably in second on the table, it really was just about last chance saloon for the Bloods.

Day one saw a tight battle between bat and ball, with Wandin posting a handy total of 161 courtesy of Rhett Smith’s late order hitting pushing the score out.

By no means was the total great, but considering Healesville’s batting woes this season it looked to be a challenging one.

Someone forgot to tell the Bloods’ top order bats as they went about chasing the total with such conviction.

From the word go, openers Breton Damrow and Max Minney looked in complete control.

Ethan Alderman was introduced into the attack to stem the run flow, which he managed well, but the runs continued to leak at the other end.

On the stroke of tea, Minney fell for a brilliant innings of 60, and with an opening partnership of 110 the Bloods looked well on track for victory.

Damrow’s innings ended just after posting a much-deserved half-century, as he succumbed to the stifling heat and retired hurt.

This opened the door somewhat for the Bulldogs, but it was abruptly shut as Dale Senior (31 not out) and Jayden Lawry (24 not out) ensured their teammates’ efforts would not be in vain.

In the final game of the round, Yarra Junction moved on from a disappointing showing last round to beat Warburton-Millgrove with

V

12400498-CG38-18

Positions Vacant

V

HERD BAR & GRILL BAR/WAIT STAFF We are looking for part time or full time staff with confidence, personality and a strong hospitality background.

Excellent wages and conditions.

Short term accommodation available.

Send resume to sean@habitat1.co

HERD BAR & GRILL HEAD CHEF Great opportunity exists for a passionate, creative & dedicated Chef to take over the reins of an established & popular venue in the heart of the Yarra Valley.

Great wages, conditions and support.

Short term accommodation available.

Send resume to sean@habitat1.co

Employment Positions Vacant

TIMBER STACKER A FULL TIME POSITION IS AVAILABLE FOR A TIMBER STACKER.

฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

฀

฀

฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

REID BROS TIMBER PTY LTD 30-42 LITTLE YARRA ROAD YARRA JUNCTION PHONE 5967 1005 FAX 5967 1909 EMAIL reidbrostimber@bigpond.com

12400545-LB38-19

฀

12325777-RC41-16

฀

Professional

DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.

NEED

General Classifieds

NEW STAFF?

Motoring

V

Professional

CASUAL TEACHERS WANTED 2019 Lilydale Tuition Centre is a dynamic centre of learning located in the heart of Lilydale. We provide academic assistance and development to students from Lower Primary to VCE. Ideally suited to teachers seeking to supplement their income, semi-retired and retired; we are seeking: 1. Primary school teachers.

2. Secondary Maths teacher 7-9 but expertise with higher levels will be well regarded.

3. VCE Chemistry.

4. VCE Physics.

Applicants must be: 1. Able to teach in groups of 2 - 4 2. Qualified and V.I.T. registered or hold a current Working with Children check.

3. Flexible because of the nature of the work.

Applications and CVs to Carmel at Lilydaletuition@yahoo.com.au.

section of Network Classifieds.

V

Auto Services/ Repair

Get 10% Discount Use code: EMPDISC 12410871-LB07-19

ZZZ QHWZRUNFODVVL´HGV FRP DX

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT APPLICANTS: ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

A superb +9 won the day for Ray Gilmore and Captain Noel Cross at Warburton Golf Club's Wednesday 30 January competition.

Clearly the captain was happy with his partner, as 'Happy' scored a great eagle on the 10th.

Ossie McClay and Malcholm Dickson had the second-best score on the day, a +6, to snare the runner-up prize.

Balls only got down to +5.

Nearest the pin winners on this day were Ron Hottes with his second shot on the sixth, Max Carvill on the ninth, and President Hall on the 15th.

Steve Noonan won the twilight contest with 22 points.

This total was boosted greatly by a hole-inone on the fifth.

The runner-up was Sam Patrick with 21.

Players who collected 18+ points can go and claim a ball.

Nearest the pins went to Dave Wappett on the third, Adam Patrick on the seventh and Steve Patrick on the ninth.

On Saturday 2 February was the stroke and Monthly Medal competition.

In recent weeks the winning scores have been through the roof due to plenty of run on the course.

But Saturday's field bucked that trend, as the best scores on the day were three nett 68s.

A-grade and the medal went to Marcus Hottes, who won the medal on a count-back.

The old stager, Barry LeGassick, grabbed the B-grade voucher, also with a 68.

Peter Bell was the daily runner-up with a 68, too.

Balls went to nett 72.

Nearest the pin winners were Danny Fox on the third, Steve Wyatt on the fifth, Marcus Hottes on the ninth, Kenno on the 12th and Sam Dennis on the 15th.

Employment

PLACE YOUR

V

By Ron Hottes

12410817-CG07-19

General Classifieds

a dogged performance with both bat and ball.

The Eagles posted a competitive 9/195 last week on a slow Zara Junction oval against some tidy bowling from the Burras.

The Burras couldn’t put together the necessary partnerships to really challenge the Eagles’ total.

Terry Ottrey, an unassuming character, constantly challenges a batsman’s patience and skill with disciplined bowling to well-set fields.

He was the major thorn in the Burras’ side as his four wickets and scrupulous economy left the visitors with few answers.

His captain Kevin Bomford was just as effective with his variation of slower balls, as he collected three wickets of his own.

Liam Barnard challenged early while Adam Humphrey added respectability to the scoreboard late, but this was Junction’s game from the moment the first wicket fell on day two.

The visitors were bowled out for 126.

With three rounds remaining, the race for the top four is alive and well.

Mount Evelyn sits comfortably on top.

Wandin still sits in the box seat, but could miss out all together if they flop their lines over the remaining rounds.

Seville and Yarra Junction round out the top four, one game ahead of Healesville and Warburton-Millgrove.

Next round, a win to Seville will all but assure the side a return to finals action, while a win to Healesville would close the gap and reignite their season.

Mount Evelyn will play Yarra Junction. A loss to the Mounters would provide a significant boost to the rest of the competition and almost hand Yarra Junction a finals berth.

Wandin will host Warburton-Millgrove with both teams desperate for a win.

Happy and Cross win it

Fill your position online ZZZ QHWZRUNFODVVL´HGV FRP DX

Walkers Wanted 12410871-LB07-19

Make Extra $$$ in your spare time to support your income or for fitness, by becoming a reliable and enthusiastic independent distributor delivering local newspapers and leaflets in your local neighbourhood.

Call us on

1300 654 910 12386922-SN20-18

or apply online at

www.fermax.com.au

Buy & Sell in our

Motoring section of Network Classifieds.

CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE! networkclassifieds.com.au

mailcommunity.com.au

Find local work in the

Employment section of Network Classifieds.

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 25

SPORT

Burras lose hot contest

Bronze for Emily

By Jamie Strudley Yarra Ranges Athletics athletes took to the track at Lakeside Stadium over the weekend for the 2019 LAVIC Combined Events Championships.

Athletes compete in a set group of events, accruing points based on performance, similar to a decathlon.

Yarra Ranges had 10 athletes compete with the best Little Athletics athletes in Victoria, with some outstanding performances.

The very hot conditions challenged athletes and parents.

Watching all the kids finish the day doing 800 metres was inspiring.

They gave their best efforts with many breaking multiple person bests during the competition.

Emily Fiedler was the club's only medallist for the day, placing third in the under-9 girls.

The club's other little athletes enjoyed a personal best-filled morning on Saturday.

Its seniors competed in round 11 of the AV Shield.

With one round to go before finals, Yarra Ranges has a very good chance of qualifying all five teams.

Next week the club competes at Nunawading, and some athletes will be competing in the Box Hill Classic on Thursday night.

Bronze medallist Emily Fiedler competes in the State Multi Events.

Training is on every Tuesday and Thursday night from 6pm.

It's not too late to get involved in either

Little Athletics or the senior competition with Athletics Victoria.

Email join@yarrarangesathletics.org.au.

Healesville 2 still top of the ladder Healesville Bowling Club's number one side travelled to play Monbulk 1 on their slick carpet in very hot and humid conditions with a slight cross breeze.

Monbulk led 42/33 at the break and were too strong in the finish, winning 95/66.

Healesville salvaged four points with wins

to the A. Beales and A. Phillips rinks.

Healesville 2 played MCC 6 at home and after suffering only its second defeat at its previous game, the side quickly bounced back to winning form, 94/69 to win by 25 shots.

The results for Saturday Pennant played on 2 February are:

Monbulk 1 (14/95) d Healesville 1 (4/66) A. Phillips 26/17, A. Beales 17/16, S. Graham 10/35, B. Simmons 13/27

Warburton Bowls Club's number one side played the top side Mentone 1 at home.

The Burras were beaten 68 to 103 in very hot conditions.

Rink scores were J. Van der Zweep 26/21, J. Brookes 15/19, A. Holmes 9/44 and S. LeeTet 18/19.

Despite the overall scores, Warburton 1 was quite competitive apart from one rink.

It will next play Burden Park 1 away in another challenging match.

Warburton 2 played Croydon 3 away and was soundly defeated 48 to 122.

Rink scores were P. Summers 6/36, R. McKail 16/28, N. Whelan 15/26 and B. Hall 11/32.

The side is looking forward to re-grouping this week at home against Eastwood Golf 1.

The Mid-Week Tuesday Pennant team played Chirnside Park 2 away and in another very tight finish, the Burras won by three shots, 61 to 58, to further consolidate second position on the ladder.

Rink scores were G. Walsh 17/22, R. McKail 23/17 and S. Lord 21/19.

The Burras will play the top side, Monbulk 1, at home this week in a very challenging game.

The Wednesday Night Barefoot Bowls Triples Competition was cancelled last Wednesday due to the severe weather forecast.

Club members are reminded to keep the Intra Club Competition games moving along.

They all need to be completed by the end of February.

Healesville 2 (16/94) d MCC 6 (2/69) - W. Mays 27/17, G. Gommers 31/14, C. Boland 17/22, R. Smith 19/16

This week’s crossword proudly sponsored by

The Heritage Family

HERITAGE & HERITAGE FUNERALS Lilydale 9739 7799 Healesville 5962 1600 HERITAGE PIONEERS CHAPEL 1414 Healesville/Koo Wee Rup Road, Woori Yallock 5964 6500 Head Office: 733 Boronia Road, Wantirna 9800 3000 info@ heritagefunerals.com.au www.heritagefunerals.com.au

No. 4222 S SUDOKU UDO KU

1157336-CB40-14

CROSSWORD No. 7560

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 7560

8

Quick Clues

9 1 7 9 5 2 3 6 7 6 5 2 1 8 4 7 6 3 7 3 8 2 3

5

9 3 6

2 3 4

4 7 9 1 8

Fill th every 3x3 s the 9 7 5 6 2 4 8 1 3

Solu

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7560 - SOLUTIONS Across - 6, Great number. 7, I’s-i’s. 8, Over-shoe. 9, Hounds (anag). 10, M-utter. 12, S-tol-en. 15, Ham-per.

17, Un-common. 19, Yarn (anag). 20, Inside story.

Down - 1, Personal. 2, St-ools. 3, Mu-seu-m. 4, Ebbs. 5, Gr-o-ove. 6, Gus-to. 11, Tommy-rot. 13, Ten-nis (rev). 14, No-mad-s (rev). 15, Ho-nest. 16, Ear-l-y. 18, (fam)oust(oo).

8 4 3 5 9 6 8 1

Solution No.4222

6 2 4 1 7 3 9 8 5

every row and every 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

9 8 3 5 4 6 2 1 7

|

DOWN 1. Offensive to one in private (8). 2. On the way to Oslo, changed seats (6). 3. A state building mother and Sue wandered into (6). 4. Enlarges the strand (4). 5. In the wood there’s a hollow, or furrow (6). 6. A man has to have pleasure (5). 11. Nonsense about the soldier? (5-3). 13. Do wrong by putting the net up for the game (6). 14. The mother and son about to return are not stay-at-homes (6).

15. Straight after call home (6). 16. Within a year, about, left: prematurely (5). 18. Supplant some of the famous, too (4).

1 5 7 8 2 9 3 4 6

26 MAIL

Clues man? (6,5).

2 6 8 7 9 5 1 3 4

ACROSS 6. For many, a very good pain killer (5,6). 7. One’s on either side of the river (4). 8. A galosh for the bowler? (8).

9. Chases out unshod (6). 10. A number speak, but speak indistinctly (6). 12. A lot returned money held to have been robbed (6). 15. Are obstructive, but the food gets through (6). 17. Not shared, whiich is unusual (8). 19. Made up nary a tale (4). 20. The facts as revealed by the middleman? (6,5).

DOWN 1. Offensive to one in private (8). 2. On the way to Oslo,

4 3 9 6 8 1 7 5 2

DOWN ACROSS Cryptic 1.

Break 6. Think (11) CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7560 (8)

5 7 1 4 3 2 6 9 8

ACROSS

8 4 2 3 1 7 5 6 9

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7560

7 1 6 9 5 8 4 2 3

DOWN Break (8) Language (6) Scanty (6) Every (4) Herb (6) Tree (5) Flower (8) Receive (6) Fruit (6) Honey (6) Vegetable (5) Average (4)

3 9 5 2 6 4 8 7 1

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

11.

13.

14.

15.

16.

18.

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 7560 - SOLUTIONS Across - 6, Contemplate. 7, Edge. 8, Morphine. 9, Craven. 10, Engulf. 12, Pallid. 15, Narrow. 17, Economic.

19, Exit. 20, Perforation.

Down - 1, Interval. 2, German. 3, Sparse. 4, Each. 5, Fennel. 6, Cedar. 11, Gardenia. 13, Accept. 14, Damson. 15, Nectar. 16, Onion. 18, Norm.

ACROSS Think (11) Border (4) Drug (8) Cowardly (6) Swallow up (6) Wan (6) Constricted (6) Financial (8) Way out (4) Hole (11)

Ho S

9

8 4 3 2 7 3 5 1 6 2 4 4 5

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

12.

15.

17.

19.

20.

4 2

mailcommunity.com.au

2 8 4 1 9 3 5 7 6

6 3 1 5 8 7 4 2 9

Black Saturday 10 years on Sanctuary under siege Special commemorative edition

By Casey Neill Gerry Ross remembers embers falling from a night-like sky into the Healesville Sanctuary grounds on Black Saturday.

The sanctuary's life sciences manager of animal health said it was about 8pm on Saturday 7 February.

"I can still remember driving to work thinking that the hill looked like it was on fire, am I actually going to be able to get home from work today?," she said.

"It was really quite eerie and weird.

"Then we saw embers falling on the lawns out here."

They had to figure out what to do with the animals, and quickly, and were soon evacuating them to the Melbourne and Werribee zoos.

"We focused on threatened species at the sanctuary and the more iconic species that are hard to replace and really valuable," she said.

"Unfortunately we couldn't move everything.

"At that time we hadn't really thought that that could happen to us.

"We weren't the best prepared.

"We now every year have drills and we have a really solid plan of what we do if it's a code red day."

Ms Ross said the park would be closed on a declared a code red day, and limited staff

would be on site purely to work on the sanctuary's code red plan.

"We don't want visitors here because we have to look after the animals," she said.

She said they'd assessed the most genetically viable animals to relocate from the sanctuary, how to keep the animals left behind safe, and how the watering system works under pressure.

They have enough boxes and in the right sizes for transporting the animals, and have made sure they'll fit into the available vehicles.

It's all to avoid stressing them out if an emergency evacuation does need to take place.

"We're really prepared from a looking-afterour-animals perspective," she said.

"No matter how prepared you are there'll be things that catch us by surprise, and emotions that are brought up from previous times.

"There are still a lot of people here from that time. Their experience will help us deal with it better next time as well."

Ms Ross manages the Australian Wildlife Health Centre.

"From the hospital perspective we didn't see any animals come in that day (Black Saturday). It was really quiet," she said.

"The following day really hit us a bit more.

"We had a couple of animals coming in that were quite severely burnt.

"It was quite horrific seeing them and that they survived that.

"We had a wildlife carer come in whose place had been burnt out."

Ms Ross said the badly burnt animals needed bandage changes every two to three days for weeks on end.

"Each bandage change would take us a good hour, hour and a half," she said.

"Often it was four feet that were really severely burnt."

Eastern grey kangaroos were the most common patient, but the casualty list also included echidnas, wombats, bird species, possums and lace monitors.

They had to euthanise some of the most severely burnt animals.

"We also went out to wildlife carers' places that were local who often had lots of animals in their care. Rather than them bringing in, went to them," she said.

"Our focus was on the really sick intensive care animals that needed rehabilitation.

"We had nurses and vets come to us from Melbourne Zoo and Werribee and assist us.

"Everyone was there to help each other.

"I feel like I was running on adrenaline through that time. It's a blur.

"We were doing extra-long hours.

"You get home and you're exhausted, and you sleep ready for the next day, not knowing what might come in."

The influx of injured animals continued weeks after the fires as people returned to their homes and found malnourished or burnt creatures.

"The echidnas were with us for months and months," she said.

"Their quills were all burnt. We had to make sure they'd regrow before they went back out so they could protect themselves."

Koalas were a challenge, because there was no vegetation left for them.

"We had two koalas for a long period. We got permission from DELWP (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) to release them in different location to where we found them, with a known food source," she said.

"I suppose for the kangaroos, the grass comes back a bit quicker."

Ms Ross remembered it being dark for days after Black Saturday, and fire threatening Healesville for weeks.

"There were lots of unknowns," she said.

"What do we do for our animals and our staff, how do we support everyone through that?"

The sanctuary is better prepared should another catastrophic event ever occur.

My memories of that darkest day of fire

10 years on

By Narelle Coulter

By Melissa Meehan

The images I saw while flying over the Yarra Ranges on Sunday 8 February 2009 are seared into my mind, as vivid today as they were a decade ago - the unending blackness, the smouldering columns of smoke rising here and there from the seared landscape and the endless vista of burnt trees jabbing out of the earth like thin black needles.

I was chief of staff for the Mail News Group at the time.

Senior reporter Kath Gannaway had left for a Queensland holiday on the morning of Saturday 7 February.

The next week’s edition of the paper was almost finished. Just a few stories to put to bed on Monday.

We all knew Saturday 7 February was forecast to be a shocker.

My then one-year-old daughter and I tried to stay cool at home during the day before my husband and I went to an engagement party that evening.

Driving home from the party close to midnight I heard the first reports of the terrible fires that had taken hold during the afternoon and were still blazing.

I remember the shock I felt when the news reader said 14 people had died.

How terrible, I thought, not realising that number would escalate to 173 once the inferno was finally over.

The next morning ABC television showed the havoc wreaked on Marysville throughout that terrifying night.

I rang my editor Garry Howe - “You’d better turn on ABC television. Marysville has been destroyed“.

We both headed into the office and quickly decided we would add an extra eight pages to Tuesday’s Mountain Views Mail.

We had little over 24 hours to get the coverage together and the paper to the printer.

The strap at the top of those eight pages read Hell on Earth. The cover featured a photo of a bewildered Lesley Porter surveying the damage to her Chum Creek property.

Two young reporters, Melissa Meehan (who would later become the editor of the Mail) and Jade Lawton hit the road, heading into the disaster zones around Healesville.

Myself and photographer Meagan Rogers were assigned to go to Lilydale Airport.

For the first time in its history the company hired a light plane to cover a news story.

“I’ve never seen it this dry,” commented pilot Roger Merridew, as we bumped down the parched runway.

It's hard to believe it's been 10 years.

I was a very young journo facing the biggest story of the area, and my career, when I got the call on the Sunday following Black Saturday.

I was already on my way into the office, knowing full well senior journo Kath Gannaway was holidaying up north.

The blackened trees and smell of smoke are etched in my memory forever.

And so are the people.

In the days and weeks following the fires I was lucky enough to be invited into the homes and lives of people most affected by the blaze.

I travelled to Marysville, Narbethong, Steels Creek and Chum Creek and surrounds and learnt the true meaning of devastation.

Sally White and Steve Pierre Humbert allowed me onto their property a day after they huddled under a metal sheet in their underground wine cellar as the fire destroyed their home above. It was a true story of survival.

Tony Parisi in Narbethong told me of how the chestnut trees on his farm burst into flames and the only warning sign he and his family had was the roar of the fire screaming up the mountain.

As a young journalist with only a year of full-time work under my belt at the Healesville office - I really understood the importance of a local paper. We had people calling asking if we knew whether people were alive, others called us to let us know they had survived.

I remember Ray Donkin coming into the office with only the clothes on his back to his name - just to let us know he was okay. And so that we could let those community members worried about him know that he was safe.

We became a base for people to check in and a safe space for others to tell their tales.

I remember a well-known firefighter coming in and telling us the devastation he saw in Marysville soon after the fires.

It was the stuff of nightmares.

I've touched base with some of those people I spoke with back then, and overwhelmingly they have moved on with their lives and don't want much to do with anything that marks 10 years since the fires.

They shudder at the term anniversary or commemoration and are worried that the coverage by major networks will bring back dreadful memories. And who can blame them?

Many people are still grieving and picking up the pieces.

So let's acknowledge the devastation and celebrate the community spirit brought about by the blaze, but keep in mind that it's been only 10 years.

mailcommunity.com.au

Stewart Chambers' photograph of a lonely house which survived the inferno at Steels Creek. 26994 “Our house is up there,” he said, pointing toward a ridge a few kilometres from the airport.

Thankfully the Merridew house was okay.

Behind me in the plane, Meagan began to feel ill as the flight progressed.

She was in the early stages of pregnancy but hadn’t told anyone at work.

In my story ’From the heavens, it just looks like hell’ which was printed on the back page of the special wrap, I described Dixons Creek as looking like “a black and white checker board, great swathes of ground scorched black next to untouched patches of green, mostly grape vines, and drought-parched yellow grass“.

“The flames devoured part of Ferguson Winery, row after row of vines now scorched brown,“ I wrote.

“It licked the outskirts of Yarra Glen, destroying in the process the old railway line laid more than 100 years ago.“ When we fly over Kinglake I note that “Crumpled piles of iron litter are all that remain of whole streets in and around Kinglake

and Kinglake West, the heartbreaking remains of people’s homes and dreams".

“It’s like a vision of hell.“ However “among the devastation are miracles. Houses still standing, while neighbouring homes were devoured and turned to ash“.

From the air we see little signs of life save for the odd CFA truck and “miraculously, pockets of clear ground where handfulls of horses and cattle graze, having survived the storm that engulfed the surrounding bush“.

Roger attempts to fly towards Marysville but we are turned back “by smoke so thick it renders the surrounding mountains invisible“.

As we land, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addresses the nation from a refuge at Whittlesea. He calls it the day “hell and all its fury visited Victoria”.

My small glimpse of hell and its fury will never leave me.

I can only imagine what painful memories and images this 10-year anniversary will evoke for those who lived through that dark day and night.

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

|

MAIL 27

Queensland Fruit Fly. Photo: Deb Yarrow

Queensland Fruit Fly, damaged tom Fruit Photo: Deb YarrowQueensland Fruit Fly larvae Queensland Fruit Fly, damagedQueensland tomato. Photo: RobFly. Bob's Backyard in apple. Photo: Bron Koll

Queensland Fruit Fly, damaged tomato. Photo: Rob Bob's Backyard

uit Fly. Photo: Deb Yarrow

Queensland Fruit Fly larvae in apple. Photo: Bron Koll

Queensland Fruit Fly, damaged tomato.

Photo: Rob Bob'sQueensland Backyard Queensland FruitinFly larvaePhoto: in apple.Bron Photo: Bron Koll Queensland Fruit Fly, damaged tomato.

Photo: Rob Bob's Backyard Fruit Fly larvae apple.

Koll Queensland Fruit Fly. Photo: Deb Yarrow ruit Fly. Photo: Deb Yarrow

What do I do if I suspect fruit fly damage in my garden?

Teach others in the community about the importance of garden hygiene, prevention & reporting.

What do I do if

What do I do if I suspect fruit fly damage in my garden?

YV coordinator What do I do if I suspectNotify fruitthefly damage in my garden? bait, traps and netting What do I do if I suspect Use fruit fly damage in my garden?

Pick all infested fruits and treat to kill larvae (cook or freeze) and dispose in a sealed bag into the rubbish bin, not the compost!

Prune all host plants to a height you can easily net & harvest

Prevent infested fruit entering your property & our Yarra Valley!

QFF traps

’

QFF damaged fruit.

Continually pick & remove all ripe fruit—prevent QFF being attracted to your crop

Ensure QFF larvae and pupae can’t survive.

STOP THE CYCLE. Trap adult fruit flies.

PREVENT THE NEXT GENERATION.

Monitor regularly Report any suspect damage

QFF larvae in apricot. Photo: C. Bain

Prevent any movement of infested fruit.

QFF larvae in apricot. Photo: C. Bain

’

Photo: James Niland

Photo: James Niland

Contacts Regional Coordinator Agriculture Victoria 136186 Neighbours, Agronomists QFF larvae in apricot. Photo: C. Bain Nurseries & fruit growers

’

QFF larvae in apricot. Photo: C. Bain

PROTECT OUR FRUIT FLY FREE

Keep infested fruit out YARRA VALLEY

Photo: James Niland

Keep infested fruit out

K

QFF larvae in apricot. Photo: C. Bain

Photo: James Niland Photo: James Niland

agriculture.vic.gov.au/qff 28 MAIL

|

Tuesday, 5 February, 2019

Keep infested fruit out Keep infested fruit out

12392003-RA27-18

mailcommunity.com.au