Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 12th January 2021

Ferntree Gully Belgrave

Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

Mail School holiday fun

Monbulk skate plans

Looking back at 2020

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A Star News Group Publication

PROPERTY GUIDE

Covid’s front line Mail PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

2020 This is for the frontline workers.

In our hospitals, clinics and testing stations, health care workers risked their wellbeing to care for others during Covid-19’s deadly first and second waves.

The unstinting nurses, doctors, surgeons, cleaners, counsellors, specialists, receptionists and the myriad of health care workers at Eastern Health are the Star Mail People of the Year.

In this special edition we look back at what made news in 2020 dominated, naturally,

by Victoria’s battle to suppress Coronavirus through what was a grim winter.

We also look back at other newsmakers, as well as the sporting events and the images that made news in 2020.

For an insight into the battle waged by health workers on the frontline turn to pages 4 and 5.

Nurses at a testing clinic in the Yarra Ranges celebrate the region hitting zero cases in October.

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NEW COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE To continue to keep our state safe, new restrictions are in place.

Visitor numbers to your home are reduced to 15*.

Fitted face masks must be worn indoors and on public transport.

And please practise COVIDSafe behaviours to keep us safe this summer.

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Keep 1.5 metres apart from those you don’t live with.

Keep your hands and surfaces clean.

Stay home if you feel unwell, and get tested.

Check listed exposure sites and follow the health advice provided.

Stay up to date on exposure sites and restrictions by visiting CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au For translated information about coronavirus visit CORONAVIRUS.vic.gov.au/translations *Babies under the age of 12 months are not included in this daily limit number.

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NEWS

IN BRIEF Olinda home invasion

Intersection win

By Taylah Eastwell The Montrose community has had a win after years of advocating for the State Government to amend design plans proposed for a popular local intersection.

The roundabout joining Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Swansea Rd and Montrose Rd with Canterbury Rd caters for high volumes of traffic as an integral stretch of road linking Melbourne’s eastern suburbs with the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.

VicRoads released plans to improve congestion and traffic flow through the area in 2017, which originally involved removing over 100 trees to make room for eight lanes of traffic and replacing the Montrose roundabout with a traffic light intersection.

The original plans also included a re-designed entrance to Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd. The Montrose community had strong views about the proposal, with many fearing the modern upgrades would destroy their leafy, village-style foothills township.

According to VicRoads website, since the first community consultation in December 2017 the authority have heard and shared the community’s wish to make sure the upgrade fits in with the character and needs of Montrose.

Member of Montrose Township Group Chelsey Cooper said the proposed upgrades are still quite a divisive issue for Montrose residents.

“Quite a few people want to keep the roundabout, and quite a few think it needs to change because it can get quite congested,” Ms Cooper said.

Ms Cooper said the Montrose Township Group looked at what elements were most important to locals.

The group have been advocating for the plans to be amended in a way that increases safety for drivers and pedestrians while main-

taining Montrose’s homely village feel.

“There was a lot of concern about Montrose feeling more like Bayswater and those industrial areas and losing our village feel, and the other concern was the trees. Originally over 100 trees were being removed to make way for the expansion,” Ms Cooper said.

“They just hadn’t considered the fact that there are hundreds of school aged students that cross in Montrose or what a safe crosswalk looks like in this area. They hadn’t considered those things until we said how we live here,” she explained.

Through discussions with VicRoads, Monbulk MP James Merlino, Casey MP Tony Smith and the Yarra Ranges Council, some amendments have been made to the design plans.

James Merlino said he worked closely with the Montrose Township Group.

“We needed to balance ensuring the intersection was as safe as possible alongside delivering an upgrade the community was happy with,“ Mr Merlino said.

“The intersection is the gateway to the Dandenongs, so protecting as much of the vegetation as we could was a really important part of the project,“ he said.

Ms Cooper said VicRoads have taken their concerns onboard and updated the plans “quite a bit“.

“If you compare what they came up with originally to what they are now, they are considering much more, such as how we retain our village feel and what that looks like, how they can keep as many trees as possible and they have also adjusted pedestrian walkways to make them safer and more accessible,” she said.

The updated design includes replacing the Montrose roundabout with traffic signals, providing an additional lane in both inbound and outbound directions, providing dedicated right hand turning lanes and left slip lanes and a new pedestrian signal on Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd.

The new plans also include a new pedestrian crossing on Canterbury Road at Stradbroke Road with improved access to the CFA, according to the VicRoads website.

The Department of Transport said they have analysed traffic data and undertaken traffic modelling to understand the best way to upgrade the intersection, and as a result the Montrose roundabout will be replaced with new traffic signals and dedicated turning lanes to keep motorists moving at all times of the day.

“Signalising the intersection will allow more vehicles to travel through it – this will improve traffic flow, ease congestion and make access safer for more than 30,000 drivers who use Canterbury Road every day,“ a Department of Transport spokesperson said.

Over 60 trees will be saved from the original plans to remove 100, with plans for the wood to be repurposed in the Montrose community to allow the legacy of the local trees to live on.

While there have been many alterations to the original designs, the Montrose Township Group said there are still a few points that have not been considered.

“They are maintaining a 70 kilometre speed limit through town and we don’t feel comfortable with that given that the round about slows people down at the moment,” Ms Cooper said.

Montrose Resident Debbie Brasher is hopeful that the new traffic lights will ease congestion by causing more gaps in traffic.

“Lights will give everyone the chance to go.

Coming out of Ascalon Road to turn onto Mt Dandenong Rd is a nightmare, so hopefully the lights create more gaps. I think it will be better at school time,” she said.

VicRoads conducted online consultation sessions last month where the updated plans were presented to community members. The next step will be to consult with local schools and businesses about how to repurpose the trees.

New skate space for Monbulk mooted

By Taylah Eastwell Keen skaters, scooter-riders and BMX goers will soon have a new stomping ground, with exciting upgrades planned for Monbulk Skate and Scooter Park.

Yarra Ranges Council first asked the community for feedback and design ideas in July 2020 and have recently finalised concept designs.

The new skatepark at Monbulk Recreation Reserve will keep the existing half pipe, while new features such as a street section, flow area and intermediate bowl will be added.

Council is now asking community members to provide feedback on the new design and vote on four different element options.

Council wants to hear whether the community wants a rail element, a parking block, a transition funbox or a hip bank at the site.

A man was stabbed in the back when he confronted two offenders who broke into his Olinda property.

Investigators have been told two offenders broke into the Range Road property about 3am on Sunday 3 January.

The 44-year-old man was stabbed by one of the offenders before the pair stole his 2009 black Audi sedan which was parked in his driveway.

Police followed the vehicle as it travelled west along Burwood Road and onto Ferntree Gully Road.

The Audi was last seen travelling south on Eastlink about 3.15am on 3 January.

The Olinda man sustained non-life threatening injuries and is recovering in hospital.

The investigation remains ongoing and anyone who sights the vehicle, bearing registration VAI-842, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic. com.au

Father-son crop caught Olinda and Belgrave Police with the assistance of Parks Victoria arrested two men following the discovery of about 50 cannabis plants in the Dandenong Ranges National Park at Mount Evelyn.

The plants were located by Parks Victoria about 2.20pm on 16 December.

A 48-year old man and his 18-year old son, both from Mooroolbark, were arrested at the scene and will face court early this year on charges of cultivating cannabis.

Millgrove crash Six people in their twenties were injured in a crash in Millgrove on Sunday 3 January.

According to Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol investigators, it is believed a white Toyota Tarago was travelling south-west on Dee Road when the driver veered off the road and struck a tree about 10.30pm.

The driver and front seat passenger were trapped for some time before being airlifted to the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition, one with upper body injuries and the other with lower body injuries.

Two other male passengers with minor injuries were taken to Maroondah Hospital via road ambulance, while a man and a woman were taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition with upper body injuries.

The exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Concept designs have been released for planned Monbulk skatepark upgrades.

Picture: YARRA RANGES COUNCIL This feedback will be used to finalise the design of the park and confirm either spinning or rocking elements in the final designs.

Once designs have been completed, Council will program the skatepark to be constructed.

It is expected the project will be fully complete by 2022.

The survey can be completed at: https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ Council/Engage-Yarra-Ranges/MonbulkSkate-and-Scooter-Park-Upgrade

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS …

COVID-19

Health heroes take a bow

By Jed Lanyon and Taylah Eastwell Karen Pieters - Nurse Unit Manager Operating Theatre - Healesville Hospital Ms Pieters’ operating theatre at Healesville Hospital was shut down in March when elective surgeries were halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Pieters and her staff had their roles change drastically as they were allocated to help support Covid testing at GP clinics, popup sites and outbreak locations in Kilsyth and Wantirna.

“All of the operating staff were just incredible, I haven’t heard one grizzle from them after we’ve had to put on so many hats. One of the values of Eastern Health has been our adaptability, I’m so proud of my staff and myself.”

Ms Pieters, a Mount Evelyn resident, said part of her new role was alleviating the fears and anxiety of nervous patients. She said her staff were trained in analysing people to see how they were coping.

“Patients would come into the testing clinics and they’d be absolutely petrified. It’s like a pregnancy, they’ve only heard the horror stories. They’ve heard, ‘this is going to be shoved up your nose and into your brain’ and stories that just weren’t correct.

“They’d walk out often happy and laughing and there’d be lollipops given out to the children.

“Some days you’d just go home and be balling your eyes out. You’ve got these sad and lonely patients who haven’t seen anybody, and you see they’re so excited to be getting a Covid test because they haven’t seen anybody.”

Ms Pieters held concerns for patients who were receiving treatments for other serious conditions and illnesses but feared they would contract the virus.

“They were scared to go to hospital and they were scared to have their procedures done. They said, ‘I feel as if I should wait until Covid-19 finishes’ but your potential illness or cancer may not wait for that.”

Victoria’s efforts in suppressing the second wave of the coronavirus meant that Ms Pieters and her staff could return to the operating theatre once again.

“We started operating in October, we’re pleased to come back and do what we’re all employed to do.”

Ms Pieters admitted that she would be in a high-risk category if she contracted the coronavirus.

“If I got Covid, the chances of me dying would be reasonably high. But you go into nursing because that’s what you choose to go into. It’s the same as when you go into the navy and board a ship.

“You have to believe in the equipment and policies and the process has been terrific.”

Craig Hamilton - Nurse Unit Manager, Dialysis Unit at Healesville Hospital Craig Hamilton’s unit helps provide dialysis treatment for renal patients experiencing kidney issues.

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Karen Pieters - Nurse Unit Manager, Operating Theatre at Healesville Hospital.

Pictures: JED LANYON Mr Hamilton, from Wonga Park, said it is “impressive” to see a Dialysis Unit located out in Healesville.

“It’s relatively exceptional to have a service like this provided in country Victoria. Not all country towns have a dialysis unit and some patients might be travelling an hour and a half to receive their dialysis in a centre.”

If it weren’t for the Healesville Dialysis Unit, local patients would be travelling to Maroondah Hospital three times a week.

As the dialysis is essential for a patients survival, the work of Mr Hamilton and his staff didn’t change all too much throughout the pandemic. But as patients requiring dialysis are likely to be imuno-compromised, it was vital that Eastern Health created a CovidSafe environment to prevent any transmission of the virus among patients.

Screening patients and identifying those who were sick was crucial for the Dialysis Unit to successfully carry out their work in a safe manner.

“The process around a patient attending for dialysis changed somewhat. We go through an important process when a patient enters a hospital, their temperature is taken and they are asked if they are well enough to enter the hospital.

Mr Hamilton explained that the Dialysis Unit had become separated from other functions of the hospital to ensure the safety of patients.

“It was important for us to ensure these patients don’t mix in with the population or with other patients who have kidney failure.

“We always have a safe environment, but now we have a CovidSafe specific environment that has been created to essentially protect the patients and the staff from the likelihood of

contracting Covid-19.”

As renal patients are in the high risk category for contracting the virus, Mr Hamilton said his patients didn’t take the threat of the coronavirus lightly. He said patients would still be adhering to strict Covid-19 protocols as the threat of contracting the virus poses a greater risk.

But due to these same initiatives, Mr Hamilton noted some patients had been in better health, having not encountered common viruses as the flu over the winter.

“The patient group has been the wellest I’ve seen as they haven’t picked up the usual respiratory infections as you would over winter.”

“They’ve all been pretty conservative, they haven’t gone out to the shops, they’ve had food delivered and they stay away from everyone.

It’s pretty impressive they’re able to do all that and they’re all quite sensible and wanting to make sure they are safe.”

Working on the frontlines of the fight to suppress the virus comes with risks, and for Mr Hamilton, he was forced to isolate and get tested in a period where he was experiencing mild cold symptoms. Thankfully he tested negative.

When asked what he has learned from this year, Mr Hamilton said that “life is precious”.

“We’re lucky here in Australia in terms of our healthcare, we have an excellent system.

But with diseases there is always the risk associated with it spreading, like this virus. I’ve taken away how fortunate we are to be in such an excellent health system that supports us all beyond the walls of the hospital.”

Sharon Young - Administration and Social Support Group Worker - Aboriginal Health Team Sharon Young is an administration assistant

Sharon Young - Administration and Social Support Group worker. and social support group worker in the Aboriginal Health Team at Healesville Hospital.

Ms Young would typically undertake administration duties as well as take elders out on trips, but this changed drastically when Covid restrictions came into effect.

“Like everyone they were stuck at home. A lot of the clients say the outings are their saviour or the thing they look forward to, some live alone, it helps them greatly so I’m sure they were disappointed but they understood,” she said.

“For me, it just meant I had extra time in the office to help out and catch up on things I don’t normally get to do,” she said.

Ms Young, a Healesville resident, said her role moved from the office to home once the work from home direction was announced.

“I enjoy it and hope it might be something that happens moving forward. The challenge was just getting the computer side of things working at the start but once it got going it was good.

When the second wave hit, Ms Young was glad to be a Healesville resident away from city crowds.

“I thought he (Daniel Andrews) was on the right track. We just had to close it down and it looks like it worked. I felt lucky we live in the lovely little town of Healesville where we were away from everyone,” she said.

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Craig Hamilton - Nurse Unit Manager, Dialysis Unit at Healesville Hospital.

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2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS …

For Ms Young, the highlight of the year has been how every single person at Eastern Health has been acknowledged for their contribution over the difficult year.

“I know we need admin to function, but the clinicians and the nurses are the real heroes.

It’s good everyone gets recognition, from the cleaners to the cooks. The managers and CEO’s of Eastern Health have been sending emails throughout the time and thanking everyone, it just shows we are all in it together and have to keep moving forward,” she said.

Michelle Fleming - Associate Program Director, Specialty Medicine and Ambulatory Care.

Michelle Fleming’s role is to lead the community health, Aboriginal health, GP clinic and sexual assault services at Eastern Health across the Yarra Ranges.

“I support my teams to make sure they’ve got what they need to see their patients every day, while looking at new opportunities and looking at new services and then supporting my teams to deliver the services to our clients.”

Ms Fleming stressed the importance of healthcare workers, who would ordinarily be caring for others, to ensure they are taking care of themselves as well in such a difficult period.

“It is so incredibly important to look after ourselves in health,” she said. “If we don’t look after ourselves we won’t be able to be at work and won’t be able to look after the community, so it’s important to put ourselves first.”

She said it’s important to eat well and that sometimes all it takes is having an afternoon off or catching up with a friend to help keep the balance right.

“You have to ask yourself, do I need rest?

Am I overdoing it? If you’re not putting yourself first, you’re putting yourself at risk and therefore the community at risk.”

Ms Fleming said the Covid-19 pandemic “sped things up” in terms of changes that have been made at Eastern Health. One example would be the increased use of telehealth, which sees health staff communicating via video to patients in the comfort of their homes.

In a post-Covid world, Ms Fleming thinks telehealth will be here to stay.

“One of my colleagues did some research and found around a third of patients thought telehealth was either as good as or preferred over face-to-face appointments,” she said.

“It’s easier for access as patients aren’t worrying about parking. They are in their home environment so they are more comfortable.

And for a GP to see someone in their home environment is helpful too to see their furniture or other things in their house.”

Ms Fleming said the teamwork established within the walls of Eastern Health had been a welcomed boost and spoke highly of the work of staff members at Ferntree Gully’s Angliss Hospital.

“It’s a fantastic team down there at the Angliss ... That team really pulled together quickly and everyone on site was so supportive.

“There have been a few good things to come out of Covid-19. Seeing the team work and watching them pull together has been great, they’ve been very resilient.

“The cross organisation partnerships, where one benefits the other, we’re seeing theatre and district nursing crossing over, where

COVID-19

Michelle Fleming - Associate Program Director, Specialty Medicine and Ambulatory Care.

Josette O’Donell - Senior Health Promotion Officer

Christine Wittkopp - Nurse Unit Manager at Healesville Hospital.

previously we would never have that connection between staff groups.

Ms Fleming also had praise for the Yarra Ranges community for doing their bit to stop the spread.

“I’m so pleased with what everyone in the community has done to get to this point.

They’re the ones who’ve allowed this change in case numbers to happen by staying home and wearing masks in public. That’s what really has made the difference.”

But Ms Fleming stressed the importance of remaining vigilant when it comes to the coronavirus.

“It’s been a really hard road to travel and now it’s so precious that we wouldn’t want to lose it. It’s so important we keep careful and keep up our distancing and hygiene practices.

“We don’t want to go where we were a few months ago, we want to still get around and catch up with our friends.”

Josette O’Donnell - Senior Health Promotion Officer As a senior health promotion officer at Eastern Health, Josette O’Donnell has a strong connection to the Yarra Ranges community in promoting health and wellbeing.

Ms O’Donnell’s work saw her work with local schools and sporting clubs to promote wellbeing as well as distributing face masks to vulnerable populations. She said over 10,000 masks were distributed in a six month period.

Her work saw her assist in supporting mobile testing clinics to visit caravan parks in remote areas such as Dixon’s Creek and Toolangi.

“We wanted to make sure there were no additional barriers for people to get tested,” she said.

“Basically, I work in the field of prevention.

I work to try and support our community in schools and sporting clubs to become environments that promote health.

A couple priorities we’ve had in the last few years is to promote a healthy and active living and to make sure you’re getting exercise and not too much screen time.

Another aspect of Ms O’Donnell’s work is helping in the prevention of violence against women.

“That one has really been tested in the pandemic,” she said.

“It’s been stressful staying in the house for longer periods of time and working from home, I think has placed a strain on that envi-

ronment particularly when the pandemic was at its height.”

In the Yarra Ranges, Eastern Health works in partnership with EDVOS, a specialist family violence service in the eastern metropolitan region.

“We led an eastern region campaign to promote gentleness and respect at home in lockdown.

“I think we just had to do things differently and we still are across the state. There’s been a lot of research and questions about how you think the pandemic has affected or impacted our relationships.

“In a sense, it might feel like we went backwards in a few priority areas, but at the same time there’s been so many things we’ve learned from the pandemic.

“One of the things that has humbled me is seeing the volunteer efforts of the community.

I remember in winter, local footballers had started distributing firewood because there had been a shortage.

“You really see how our community in the Yarra Valley look after each other in a disaster, much like Black Saturday. It had quite an impact on me and made me notice how special the Yarra Valley is.”

Like many, Ms O’Donnell juggled work, while helping her two children with remote learning for two terms, completing what she calls “maths with mummy at breakfast”.

“I don’t think they think I’m the best teacher,” she joked. “But I think that was a challenging environment. I’ve got several roles, here (Eastern Health) is to support the community and the other is to support my own family.

“It has amazed me how Eastern Health staff have dealt with the pandemic, we all have our own personal situations and families and we needed to work to support the community.”

Christine Wittkopp - Nurse Unit Manager at Healesville Hospital Healesville Hospital nurse unit manager Christine Wittkop explained the role that Healesville Hospital played in the eastern metropolitan area in helping to keep other hospitals functioning efficiently.

“We identified our role through the covid pandemic and that was to facilitate transfers out of acute hospitals to make sure beds were available and to make sure beds were available in those acute hospitals.

The role of Healesville Hospital helping re-

covering patients meant that other hospitals in the region such as Maroondah Hospital or Box Hill Hospital were able to take on more patients to keep the system in balance.

“We remained a Covid free site here at Healesville, but we did have patients who had been infected with Covid-19, and once they tested negative, they were able to finish up their hospital stay with us supported by nursing staff and treated by the allied health team until they were ready to get home.

“They may go in for a surgery and then get to the point where they don’t have to stay at one of those other sites.”

The Covid-19 pandemic meant that there were less at-home services available for patients meaning it took longer for them to get home as hospital staff had to ensure they were more independent than what they would usually expect them to be.

Ms Wittkopp gave the example of elderly couple Vic and Jean who were diagnosed with Covid-19 and spent time in Maroondah Hospital. Vic had been recovering from a broken hip at the time too, but once he was cleared of the virus, he was transferred to Healesville Hospital for the remainder of his recovery.

“He is the perfect example of the type of patients we’ve been getting out here. They have their acute episode elsewhere and then they come to us when they are well enough to not require ongoing medical treatment, because an acute hospital can obviously provide much more medical support.

“While we may not be seeing and dealing with Covid-19 patients like the other hospitals, we’re still supporting our community through it all and being flexible to playing whatever roles we have to play.

Ms Wittkopp reflected on some of the challenges of 2020.

“I think it was just keeping up the morale of staff and even patients. Everyone’s just dealing with the same impact that this has had on their normal life. We’ve had people working from home or have had their holidays cancelled like everyone else in the community.

“It makes you proud as a unit manager that staff have responded when they need to.

Whether it’s doing extra shifts or going to get swabbed when we’re feeling unwell, everyone was willing to stay up to the mark just to get through it all.”

Continued on page 6

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MAIL 5

2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS …

COVID-19

Covid hits Yarra Ranges Regional or metro?

As Victoria continued to grapple with a second wave of a Covid-19 outbreak, the Yarra Ranges community was thrusted into the harsh lockdowns as residents asked, ‘Why are we metropolitan Melbourne?’. Yarra Ranges Council made a submission to the State Government for the reclassification of smaller townships, but it was ultimately rejected.

Small townships such as Healesville and Warburton on the fringes of the Shire of Yarra Ranges were subjected to the same lockdown rules as the worst impacted Melbourne suburbs despite having little to no cases for months.

O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child spoke about the numerous isolated communities in his ward, including Matlock, Powelltown, Reefton, East Warburton.

“The first is our one and only resident up at Matlock ... (who’s) lived up there for a long time,” he said.

“The distance is 100 kilometres from her front gate to the Yarra Junction Woolworths ...

To maintain her five kilometre radius around her residence, that means she cannot commute to Woods Point where her network community is and she is in such an isolated position.”

Fight for business survival Numerous Yarra Ranges businesses faced a “challenge for survival” when Stage 4 restrictions came into force.

Dramatic changes to workplaces across Melbourne were introduced by midnight on 6 August in a bid to combat the spread of Covid-19.

This included some industries being forced to close, others - such as construction and food production - operating at reduced capac-

Empty street in Gembrook.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Sylvia with a takeaway coffee as Emerald Village Bakery and Cafe moved to take-away only.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS ity and essential stores such as supermarkets and pharmacies remaining open.

The new restrictions saw hairdressers close for the first time since the pandemic began and major hardware stores, such as Bunnings and Mitre 10, moved to mostly online services.

Childcare services were also impacted, with only children from workers with a permit allowed to attend childcare.“We’ve been forced into reducing hours for our staff, reduced our opening hours, our turnover has been reduced and what we’re producing has been reduced as well,” said Beechworth Bakery Manager Kylie Bray. “It’s a knock on effect right along and it’s affecting every part of the business.“Monbulk Mitre 10 owner Julie Murphy said “we’ve had to put off a few casuals for six weeks which is

really sad because we employ them from the local community. But we had to cut the staff because our revenue wasn’t what it was.

The owner of Hair for the Hills hair salon in Olinda, Jessica Birch, said “it was very sudden, I didn’t think we were going to go into lockdown but in terms of the business, it will hibernate quite well,” she said.

Ms Birch said that being in a small community provided “amazing” support and gave her confidence that she could return to a busy salon once restrictions were lifted.

Zero cases in the Yarra Ranges The Shire of Yarra Ranges recorded zero active Covid-19 cases on 18 October marking the elimination of the virus from the region in what was a significant local milestone in the

long fight to contain the coronavirus outbreak in Victoria.

The Yarra Ranges became the sixth local government area in metropolitan Melbourne to reach zero active cases, with neighboring councils, Maroondah, Cardinia and Nillumbik all reaching the mark in the outer east. The other two being Kingston and Mornington Peninsula.

Eastern Health’s Clinical Director Ambulatory Care, Dr Penny Gaskell said reaching zero cases was “very exciting” and a “huge achievement” considering active cases in the Yarra Ranges had peaked at 140 on 6-7 July. The region has experienced a total of 251 cases to date, many of which stemmed from the Kirkbrae Presbytarian Homes outbreak in Kilsyth.

“It’s great work by the community for following all the harsh restrictions and for taking care of each other,” Dr Gaskell said.

“Thank you to everybody for sticking with it and doing the best they can, it has to be a community and team effort to beat this thing.”

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ositive purpos d Hotel has fitted out the several posters in a bid to it

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Positive purpose

By Jed Lanyon Healesville’s Grand Hotel has fitted out the pub’s exterior with several posters in a bid to lift community spirit.

Pedestrians and drivers passing the iconic hotel can easily spot the signage, which has been created by locals to share messages of support for those doing it tough.

Healesville resident and pub-goer Kersten Gentle said the idea came from her daughter Nikita, who pitched the idea to the business owners of the hotel.

“We recognised how community minded Lisa and Tom are and my daughter said, ‘why don’t we do some posters to brighten up the place as people are walking’ and the response from people has been amazing,” Ms Gentle said.

“This town has gone through a lot in the past and I know that if the community comes together now, we will make sure that everyone gets through this. And that’s what these posters are about; making sure that everyone comes through the other end of this pandemic.”

Business owner Lisa McKay-Campbell invites locals to design their own A2 posters to display across the pub as they enlist the services of Breen Printing to create their positive posters. Relatives of Ms McKay-Campbell, who were in Mallacoota at the time of the recent bushfires were involved in a similar feat paying respects to the nation’s firefighters.

The idea initially started as a home-schooling art class activity but is now open for people of all ages with time to spare in isolation.

“One of the biggest problems with the pandemic is the effect on people’s mental health, so if these posters can put a smile on someone’s face then the Grand is doing a good job ...

To me this is the perfect canvas for our town,” Ms Gentle said.

Ms McKay-Campbell said that some of her

Business owners Tom and Lisa with kids Levi and Maeve. 208350 customers would share that the brief interaction with the hotel’s staff would be the only human contact they receive for the day.

The Grand Hotel is now operating a drivethrough takeaway meal service for locals looking for a restaurant quality meal without having to leave the comfort of their car.

“It’s something that we would never had or-

dinarily done ... It’s the only thing we can really do,” Ms McKay-Campbell said.

“You drive through the bottle shop and they pass it to you through the car window. You can literally come through in your pyjamas.”

As part of their takeaway menu, the hotel has also started cooking regular Sunday roasts for customers.

Picture: STEWART W CHAMBERS Those keen to have their artwork displayed can drop off the poster to the Grand Hotel’s bottle shop or contact: grandcommunityspirit@gmail.com.

To place an order at the Grand Hotel, view the menu at https://healesvillegrandhotel. com.au/ and call 0404 406 172.

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Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

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Tuesday, 12 May, 2020

From page 5.

Rose Abrehart - District Nursing Team Healesville Hospital Rose Abrehart is a member of the District Nursing Team based at Healesville Hospital.

The District Nursing Team, made up of about 10 nurses, is a team of highly skilled nurses with varied areas of expertise that provide home visits across the Yarra Ranges Community.

The nurses provide services including wound care, medication compliance, palliative care and general support and monitoring.

Ms Abrehart, from Mooroolbark, said the nurses travel to visit patients at home in towns spanning from Mt Evelyn, to Poweltown, Reefton to Toolangi and all those in between.

Ms Abrehart said the highlight of her work during this difficult year was that she was “still able to provide the services we normally provide.”

Dressed in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the district nurses were able to continue attending homes to provide necessary support and care during the height of the pandemic.

“We continued home visits because a lot of our clients don’t have other supports, they still had wounds that needed to be dressed,” Ms Abrehart said.

“We were just very cautious of what we did, we had access to full PPE the whole time which was good. I didn’t feel unsafe because we had some really good protocols at Eastern Health, and where we were there wasn’t a huge population of people that did test positive,” she explained.

Ms Abrehart’s role got a lot larger with the various restrictions and protocols, which involved screening clients over the phone before visiting, conducting in home Covid-screening and sanitising everything she had used inside each client’s home even cleaning the car she travelled in at the end of each day.

“We were really busy because a lot of other services could not provide home vis-

Rose Abrehart - Registered Nurse, District Nursing Service. its, so we would pick up the slack for podiatrists and a lot of other home visits that potentially couldn’t visit because of the restrictions. We were in high demand because we still had access to people in their homes.

“My team manager also worked in conjunction with DHHS to monitor people who were Covid positive and under quarantine,” she said.

Ms Abrehart said the clients found it “quite reassuring to have a bit of normality”.

“A lot of clients have been seeing us most of their lives. It was a bit overwhelming us turning up in full PPE, but I think it was more reassuring that we were still able to go and keep them in the loop and keep them less socially isolated,” she said.

The humble Ms Abrehart said she would not describe herself as “on the front line”, but admits she was a first port of call and involved in reassuring people as much as she could.

“We were just providing a service we would normally provide,” she said.

The challenges of working through a pandemic were made easier by the ability to work in a team, according to Ms Abrehart.

“We are connected to the hospital so we’re really lucky to have that connection to allied health and GP clinics, so we could still work with other teams during that time which made things better,” she said. mailcommunity.com.au

2020 - THE YEAR THAT WAS ...

IN PICTURES

Rachel took part in Cire Services’ Lock Down Lego Challenge in April 2020. Members of the community built Lego creations based on a new theme each day and then posted their build on the Lock Down Lego Challenge Facebook group.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Upper Ferntree Gully’s Tilly Esse spread joy during Covid-19 restrictions by planting teddy bears for children to hunt in a Kings Park.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Upper Ferntree Gully’s Tilly Esse spread joy during Covid-19 restrictions by planting teddy bears for children to hunt in a Kings Park.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Lily from The Laughing Owl cafe during the Belgrave Lantern Festival. The festival was changed from a one-night event to a two-week festival due to Covid-19 restrictions.

This year’s festival saw lantern making kits provided to residents and live streamed lantern making workshops online facilitated by local artists.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Business closures during Covid lockdowns.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Puffing Billy closures.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Merran Macs when facemasks were first made mandatory in July.

Picture: GARY SISSONS

An empty Emerald Village Cafe during Covid lockdowns.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Helen and Jenny in their face shields at Monbulk Jewellers.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Ambulance Victoria in Emerald with STAY @ HOME written on the side.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Michael Dinkgreve walked around Belgrave in a bubble during Covid-19 lockdown.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Emergency crews along Kaola St Belgrave after storms ravished the Yarra Ranges on 27 August.

Picture: GARY SISSONS

The trend of decorating spoons and creating a ‘Spoonville’ took off during lockdowns. River added his creation to Spoonville at The Patch earlier this year. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Sue Samphier with Chuckles, the kookaburra she raised while posting daily updates to a loyal local following on Facebook throughout November.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

The scene along Kaola Street about 750m from where a tree fell on a car and killed a 59-year-old Tecoma man on 27 August. 214177 Picture: GARY SISSONS

Mary Eats Cakes Montrose Bekk, Jess and Keilani jump for joy after opening up for the return of seated patrons after lock down.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

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MAIL 7

OPINION

Summer this year is warm and humid, perfect for Queensland Fruit Fly, a pest native to the tropics. You may come across Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) in other parts of NSW and VIC, but hopefully never in the Yarra Valley. We have an early detection network, if we know it has been imported to our region, we can act to eradicate it. We want to keep the Yarra Valley Fruit Fly Free. Last week we detected QFF in Silvan, so all Silvan residents need to be alert for signs of QFF. Our summer “harvest season” is focused on stone fruit now. There may be excess fruit left hanging on the tree or lying around on the ground. This ripe fruit scent is highly attractive to QFF, and the fruit left hanging can support another generation of QFF, that in turn builds up QFF numbers. The QFF can overwinter into next spring as adults. Acting now to eradicate QFF is the best way to ensure QFF does not make it to the next ripe crop or even into next season. Harvest all fruit. Pick up all fruit. Leave nothing for QFF to breed in. Treat any suspicious fruit.

Queensland Fruit Fly larvae found inside a peach. This fruit was treated by freezing for about a week until it was frozen solid, then sealed and binned.

SOLARISE DOUBLE BAG

BOIL MICROWAVE

FREEZE

ALWAYS DISPOSE IN A DOUBLE PLASTIC BAG

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Report suspect Queensland Fruit Fly to the Yarra Valley QFF Coordinator on (text) 0490 381 999 or qff@agribusiness-yarravalley.com—if possible send a photo too.

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Place a sample of the fruit and the larvae in a sealed bag for testing.

TREAT all INFESTED fruit and vegetables by boiling OR microwaving OR freezing before disposing of it in the rubbish bin in a sealed double bag.

8 MAIL

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Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

Hopes for a better 2021 Welcome to 2021, everyone.

I hope that you’re reading this fresh from a fantastic Christmas and New Year.

The end of 2020 felt like closing the book on a really tough year, but there’ll be new challenges this year will throw at us, as we continue to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and begin the rollout of a vaccine across the country and continue the recovery.

Supporting our local businesses is critical as the peak tourism period of summer ends and our main streets quieten later this month.

Please remember when you shop with a local business – whether it’s a retail store, a cafe, distillery or winery – you’re not just supporting the owners of that business, you’re helping to keep local families afloat.

Some local businesses have had difficulties finding staff, particularly as movement became restricted during lockdown. One of the many things we’ll be doing at Council is rethinking the support we can offer businesses and how we can better connect young people and people seeking work with our local industries.

Last year Council helped many businesses with footpath dining, business registration fees waived, rates payment delays, expanded economic planning and countless phone calls providing support or pointing owners to places where they could get help or advice.

Last year wasn’t all doom-and-gloom. We’ve heard so many stories about acts of kindness in the Yarra Ranges – the small, heartening acts of support for others and the large-scale efforts people and groups have made to help their communities get through the year as best they can.

From my

desk Fiona McAllister

Mayor of Yarra Ranges I’m proud to say that our Australia Day Award winners – which will be announced later this month – will be acknowledging some of this work. I also know there have been countless acts of generosity, kindness and support that people will never hear about, but will have made the world of difference for the people who have received them. On behalf of the community, thank you to everyone who was disciplined and generous. The Yarra Ranges is a fabulous place to live and work, largely because of the beautiful community spirit that ties us together.

As the summer wears on the bushfire risk increases of course. Its a good time now to pick a cooler day and reduce the ground fuel and trim trees near your house and (re)establish your fire plan for a bad bushfire risk day: make sure the whole family knows the plan.

Remember on a bad bushfire risk day the CFA has limited resources and leave early is usually the best option. Make sure you have the VicEmergency app on your phone to get early warning of local fires.

Thank you in advance to the CFA volunteers on alert and active over summer.

New Year’s resolutions Focal Point

New Year’s resolutions - how long do they last?

I resolved to eat smaller portions, walk more, keep in touch with old friends, and keep up Facebook contact with the many football and netball players at Powelltown where I am chaplain. Then with regard to my voluntary community chaplaincy role, spend more time in pastoral care and prayer for people in our communities who are not well, unemployed or have relationship difficulties coming off the back of a hard 2020.

It’s twelve days into 2021 and I have slipped to just a pass mark in most areas. Now is this a character fault of mine to be poorly disciplined, or a behavioral fault in setting my bar too high?

My son-in-law once said, “You only get hurt from unmet expectations that result from the unreal level at which you set the bar, which you subsequently fail to clear”.

I’m inclined to believe that that could be a cop out which means you only attempt the things in life that you see yourself safely achieving.

Safety first is an excellent principle, but safety and a high bar saw Sir Edmund Hilary and his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, first to reach the top of Everest in 1953.

Martin Luther King Junior who eventually lost his life in achieving a new level of hard fought freedom for African Americans in the USA, sadly never got to see the fruits of his labor. (The height of his bar cost him his life).

Nelson Mandela after 27 years in three different prisons for fighting for his people finally achieved equal opportunities for them and was subsequently voted in as President of South Africa. (27 years in prison – what a high bar).

On the basis of my last article in 2020 where we were encouraged to think more deeply about the real meaning of Christmas, and who Jesus really was and is, I say that Christians who are devoted to following Him, have a high bar that can only be cleared though faith in Him. The Christian God is not a cosmic superman, but He has promised through Jesus, to help His people achieve many things that they

Graeme Dawson

would normally see as humanly unachievable.

I think of just a few, who when facing a very high bar, cleared it with total faith and trust in God. Gladys Staines comes to mind from a number of years ago when her husband and two boys were burned to death in their car by terrorists in India while on a missionary trip – (that was a painfully high bar for her). Betty Cuthbert, 1956 Melbourne Olympic track champion was another - her combined bars of bankruptcy and multiple sclerosis would have been un-clearable without her personal faith in God. I have a book on my shelves titled ‘Disappointment with God’ by Philip Yancey. Sadly I meet many people, the likes of whom Yancey speaks about, among this paper’s readership.

These people who are often bruised by an unreal understanding of God, and or poor and often misguided teaching, have failed to clear their unrealistically set bars and have blamed God. To me, a parody of that well known song line starts playing in my head, “what’s God got to do with it?

Be gentle on yourselves this New Year. Failure is not final. Forgive yourselves quickly and willingly for those personal failures in trying to clear bars you had set too high, and whatever you do in 2021, try to set realistic goal heights and take personal responsibility for your settings.

I pray that some of the high bars that we have cleared during Covid-19’s trials, will bear fruit in 2021 and you’ve now had great New Year’s celebrations. I pray for a totally different year in 2021, filled with newness of mind, body and spirit.

Many blessings.

Graeme Dawson is a Community Chaplain mailcommunity.com.au

2020- THE YEAR THAT WAS …

Kiah and Jacinda Erich set out on a mission to collect rubbish in honour of Jacinda’s son, Harper, 10, who was killed in a freak accident alongside his father as they drove through the Dandenong Ranges in 2019. Harper was a keen environmentalist.

NEWSMAKERS

Spinach sustained burns to all four paws as well as around his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. The koala was nursed back to health at Healesville Sanctuary.

Crews along Kaola Street in Belgrave clear fallen trees during the August storm.

2020’s people and events

mailcommunity.com.au

zie later stood down as Minister.

Big builds at local schools The State Government’s Lilydale and Upper Yarra Education Plan saw the construction of three major projects at public schools which will soon transform education across the Yarra Valley.

Upper Yarra Secondary College is constructing a new science building that will modernise the school’s STEAM education.

Assistant principal Michael Schultz said, “STEAM is a priority of the school, so that is science, technology, engineering, art and maths ... This is something we’re pushing hard with at the school.

“The idea is that this building will have four new science labs, and then it will have three general purpose areas that will be classrooms dedicated to teaching STEAM. “A lot of our buildings are quite old. From my understanding our science labs are the originals. So that makes them 50 years old.”

The project will deliver a sustainable learning hub, new gym and create a town centre for Lilydale Heights College Lilydale Heights College principal Rosina Fotia told Star Mail that students have taken on the theme of sustainability as the school’s identity.

While Lilydale High School will soon open its Zoology Learning Centre, which will permanently house the school’s reptiles, including frogs, lizards, snakes and even a crocodile.

Project coordinator Georgia Casey is a former Lilydale High School student, who returned to help create the new zoology learning centre at her old school.

“It’s a bit surreal to be going back to high school after all this time,” Ms Casey said.

“The last time I was there I was worried about going to uni and getting a job. And now I’m back after everything and it’s all just sort of fallen into place.

“I remember the reptile room as a good community for those in it. Marcus Whitby put a lot of time and care into it all, so this latest upgrade is well deserved for him and the school.”

All three projects are expected to be completed in 2021.

Tree fall tragedies 2020 was a tragic year of tree falls killing motorists.

A 32-year-old man and 34-year-old woman, both from Aintree, and a 16-year-old boy from India were tragically killed after a tree fell onto their moving car in Kallista on 8 March.

The vehicle was travelling along Sherbrooke Road when it was struck by a falling tree and then veered off the edge of the road just after 2.30pm.

A 25-year-old woman from India and 4-year-old boy from Aintree were both transported to hospital in a stable condition for observation following the incident.

Former Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Richard Higgins acknowledged the crash at the council’s meeting on 10 March and offered his

sincere condolences to those involved.

“We understand that incidents like this are concerning to our community, but they are an unfortunate reminder of the unpredictable nature of the treed environment in which we live.”

A 59-year old Tecoma man also died after a tree fell on his vehicle as he was leaving a shopping centre carpark in Belgrave on 27 August.

The man’s vehicle was crushed at the intersection of Terrys Avenue and Ena Road.

The incidents came as a severe cold front passed over Melbourne on 27 August. The SES received over 2100 calls by the following morning and hundreds of houses went without power for days on end.

A primary school-aged boy was airlifted to hospital on 8 April after being struck by a falling tree in Healesville.

Works began on the Black Spur on 16 March to remove unsafe trees, with 98 marked unsafe by an arborist. The works came after a tree fell on a car on the Black Spur on August 9 2019.

A 10-year-old child was airlifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital and a 55-year-old woman taken to Maroondah Hospital after a tree fell on their moving car in Yarra Junction on 18 December.

CFA merger uncertainty The rollout of the State Government’s Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) sparked concern for the future of volunteer firefighters throughout the eastern region.

Fire Rescue Victoria was launched on 1 July, merging all Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) and CFA careers staff, making CFA a community-based solely volunteer firefighter organisation.

CFA District 13 Headquarters Brigade captain Serafina Munns said there had been insufficient consultation with the over 54 fire brigades in the outer eastern region.

“Change was expected, however the lack of input into the future model of CFA as a community based volunteer emergency service is of huge concern. There is so much uncertainty and many unknowns,” she said.

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish slammed the State Government reforms and said a Liberals National government would “restore the CFA as an independent fire authority.”

CFA acting chief officer Garry Cook said the introduction of FRV was the start of a new chapter for the organisation.

“The delivery of vital emergency services is the number one priority of both organisations and service to the community will not be disrupted by these changes.

Yarra Ranges takeover plot IBAC hearings revealed ex-Casey mayor Sam Aziz had plans with Jim’s Mowing founder Jim Penman to “takeover” Yarra Ranges Council with a like minded group of councillors.

The aim was to install a predominantly Liberal “working majority” - “good people” to replicate the “success” of Casey Council, he told an IBAC inquiry on 16 November.

They would be community servants with skills in business and “good governance”, Mr

Aziz said. Mr Aziz said he had been in talks with Mr Penman, Jim’s Group chief executive Tino Grossi as well as members of Mr Aziz’s “political circle” about the “project”.

Counsel assisting IBAC, Michael Tovey, asked if Mr Aziz wanted to export a “model of corruption” from Casey to Yarra Ranges. Mr Aziz, who is under investigation over allegedly corrupt land deals at the Operation Sandon inquiry, dismissed the “ridiculous question”.

“There’s no corruption or behaviour traits, as you describe, Mr Tovey, in relation to Casey Council.”

“The achievements we’ve made speaks for it, and I was trying to deliver that model to another council,” Aziz explained.

As it turned out that was a very short-lived aspiration because of the commencement of the IBAC inquiry.

Fresh faces at Council A blend of new and old will represent residents throughout the Yarra Ranges over the next four years, with the new cohort of Councillors announced in November.

Out of the nine positions up for grabs, five incumbents were re-elected and four will serve their first term as a Councillor.

The election was record-breaking for the region, with the highest number of female Councillors elected since Yarra Ranges was formed in 1997, that being four.

Meanwhile, the average age of Councillors has reduced by 12 years - from 65 to 53.

The region said goodbye to a handful of former Councillors, with Noel Cliff (23 years of service), Terry Avery (15 years) and Mike Clarke (six years) retiring, and Tony Stevenson (four years) failing to be re-elected after moving wards.

David Eastham, Johanna Skelton, Sophie Todorov and Cathrine Burnett-Wake made up the new councillors that were sworn in.

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Bushfires The year got off to a rocky start as bushfires continued to rage in Eastern Victoria and New South Wales. Thankfully the Yarra Ranges wasn’t impacted directly, but the impact was still felt as many tourist destinations noted visitor numbers declined as travellers, who had concerns about visiting regional areas.

Yarra Ranges residents know all too well about the devastation bushfire season can have and that inspired our community to lend a hand in fundraising efforts to charities and organisations like Zoos Victoria, who continue to play an integral role in the rehabilitation of wildlife from bushfires.

Healesville Sanctuary’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre was inundated with injured koalas in January as veterinarians worked to ease their pain and heal their wounds.“We’ve had 16 in total come to us for further burns treatment - the majority of them are burns victims,” said Senior Vet Nurse Sarah Kaiser, speaking to Star Mail last January.

“We’ve had a few with eye issues from the radiant heat, and a few with respiratory issues from smoke” “The worst we’ve seen is Spinach - he’s had all four paws completely burnt and he’s also got burns around his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Some are third degree.”

Across Australia, it is estimated that as many as two billion animals - including critically endangered species - perished in the bushfires.

Wine worries Yarra Valley wineries already had their fair share of issues as vineyards deal with growing feral deer numbers and the threat of grapevine-eating bug, phylloxera. As tourist operates, they too felt the impacts when tourist numbers dropped from the bushfires and the the coronavirus.

Not playing ball Yarra Ranges Council became entwined within the Federal Government’s sports rorts scandal after numerous grant applications from the municipality were refused, despite receiving high merit.

An ABC report on 28 January revealed that the Yarra Ranges Council had three sports grant applications refused under the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program (CSIG).

These three applications all ranked within the top 50 that scored highest in the scheme but were rejected for funding.

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) undertook an audit of the $100 million funding that was awarded to 684 projects under the CSIG and found that over half were awarded to applications not deemed meritorious by Sport Australia.

As a result, former Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie was accused of ignoring Sport Australia advice and approving funding in ‘marginal’ or ‘targeted’ seats.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked his department to investigate if Bridget McKenzie has breached ministerial standards in her handling of the sports grants program. Ms McKen-

The Star Mail is published by Paul Thomas for Star News Group Pty Ltd ABN 98 238 557 339. All material is copyright to Star 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.mailcommunity.com.au Print Post Number PP33445700014.

Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

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MAIL 9

THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO

There’s so much to do at the zoo There’s plenty to see and do at Mansfield Zoo, including meeting all of the animals or camping overnight for those who are game.

Mansfield Zoo is the place to go for animal lovers and a fun family day out, and the meerkats have arrived too.

The zoo features a large menagerie of native animals and animals from around the world including two rare white lions, two tawny lions, monkeys (capuchins, marmosets, rhesus and bonnet), deer, camels, bison, alligator, wombats and plenty more.

Take the opportunity to pat one of the friendly dingoes who walk around with a keeper while the lions are being fed.

Most animals can be fed by hand every day while guests wander the expansive ground.

A small spade is provided to feed the more gregarious animals, like the camels, who will run off with the spade if they can.

There are sambar, fallow deer and kangaroos roaming the grounds, along with guinea fowl and peacocks.

Bring a picnic lunch or use the free barbecues, just keep an eye on the deer as they often try to steal food.

For the more adventurous, there’s nothing

like trying to sleep to the sound of the lion’s roar.

Overnight campers are welcome from 1 September to 31 May each season, but a spot does not need to be booked.

Visitors can bring their own gear, set up for a camping trip with a difference and take the opportunity to roam the zoo after hours.

The Mansfield Zoo is open every day from 10am to 6pm (10pm on N.Y.E.) and is closed on Christmas Day only.

For more information, visit www.mansfieldzoo.com.au, the zoo’s Facebook page, facebook.com/mansfieldzoo, or call 5777 3576.

Members of the Meerkat Mob at Mansfield Zoo.

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140 Wandin Creek Road Wandin East, Victoria

Call Daniel 9777 0613 or book online at www.paintballgames.com.au 12476625-NG03-21

Visit jayberries.com.au to see what’s ripe for picking Open Sun to Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm

• equipment hire included • 50cal low impact markers • BBQ area available

Open Daily From 10am Visitors are able to hand feed some animals, followed by feeding of the Meerkats!

Enquire for an unforgettable overnight camping experience.

www.mansfieldzoo.com.au 1064 Mansfield Woods Point Road, Mansfield Phone 03 5777 3576 10 MAIL

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Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

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THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO

Family fun at the circuit Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is the destination for the whole family with many hours of entertainment and enjoyment on offer and these school holidays is the ideal time to visit.

Go Karts and Tandems Strap yourself into the all-new Sodi Go Karts for an exhilarating session on the 750-meter track – a replica of the world-renowned Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Push out a series of hot laps and try to set the fastest time.

With 9 horsepower Honda GX 270cc engines, the French-made karts provides an ultimate karting sensation and are tested to meet the stringent Australian standards.

The RT8 Evo2 single karts can reach up to 65k/mph and feature a high front blade for greater safety and a roll bar with all-round protection to avoid wheel-to-wheel contact.

While the harness seatbelt and easy to use seat adjusters allow for greater comfort and custom fitting.

The 2Drive tandem karts allow the whole family to get involved as the twin seats provide children the thrill of go karting. The dual steering allows children to get involved while under the safety and supervision of an adult driver.

Bookings are recommended.

Grand Prix Motorcycle Collection at the Circuit The star exhibit in the History of Motorsport Display is the superb collection of 25 Grand Prix winning motorcycles from the two famous Italian marques, Aprilia and Cagiva, with the two-wheel treasures permanently installed in the display at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Visitor Centre.

In total these sleek racing machines have won 9 World Championships, 51 Grand Prix wins and 106 Podiums. Make the time these holidays to take in these magnificent pieces of racing history.

Ready to race in the school holidays.

Slot Cars – the best fun for all ages Race your family or your mates and experience the fun on Australia’s largest four-lane GP Slot Car Track - an exact replica of the circuit.

Racing simulators Test your skills or challenge your mates to a simulated race on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Go flat out down Gardner Straight, through ultra-fast Doohan Corner, slide through Stoner Corner, thread your way through Siberia and slip stream up the back straight. Watch out for the hairpin at the bottom of Lukey Heights. Who will get the bragging rights?

Champions Cafe After all the excitement, the Champions Licenced Cafe delivers with its fresh menu with plenty of choices. Fantastic coffee and delicious scones, cakes, slices, muffins, pastries, sausage rolls and pies hit the spot The gift shop at the Visitor Centre has a wide selection of stylish apparel, merchandise and souvenirs to choose from so you can take

Tandem go-karting at Phillip Island. a memento home with you.

Covid-19 Operating Conditions Due to current restrictions Guided Circuit Tours and Hot Laps will not be available.

Push Bike Ride Days will also not be run-

ning over the Summer. Hopefully, these will return for the Easter school holidays.

For further information call 5952 9400 or visit www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au and www.phillipislandgokarts.com.au

12476768-JW03-21

SAVE

20% on MEMBERSHIPS Available until 17th Jan 4-hour holiday programs running Wednesday’s 13th and 20th 11.30 - 3.30. For more information or bookings Visit www.ninjanation.com.au

• OBSTACLE TRAINING FOR KIDS & ADULTS • WEIGHT TRAINING GYM • TOTAL BODY FITNESS CLASSES • BOXING / KICKBOXING • MARTIAL ARTS • PILATES • YOGA • BIRTHDAY PARTIES, SCHOOL GROUPS, CAFÉ AND MORE Casual play sessions from $12.95, Classes from $15 Check online for FLEXIBLE MEMBERSHIPS with UNLIMITED CLASS AND CASUAL PLAY ACCESS 8201 9338

hello@ninjanation.com.au

12476696-JW03-21

Melbourne’s newest and exclusive family Ninja Warrior training facility!

716 BURWOOD HIGHWAY, FERNTREE GULLY

12475245-DL03-21

mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

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MAIL 11

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 011

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

easy

7 1 9

8 2 5

7 9

3 1 7 4

3 8 1 6

4 5 7 1 8 6 1 3 9 6

2 5 2 6 8 7 medium

1 5 4

9

8

2

Stubborn (10) Unpleasant (7) Consulate (7) Finishes (4) Habitat (11) Wasteful (10) Large bird (7) Infested (7) Nation on the Baltic Sea (7) 23 Book ID (1,1,1,1) 26 Reverb (4) 28 Hotel (3) 6 7 8 11 14 15 18 20 22

ACROSS Achieving (13) Type of fruit (5) Chatty (9) Dry (4) Comprehended (10) Japanese warrior (7) Diverse (6) Pathetic (6) Forest workers (7) Identifying (9) Celebrity (4) Story (9) Pessimist (5) Global (13)

1 9 10 12 13 16 17 19 21 24 25 27 29 30

No. 011

DOWN Element with atomic symbol Ca (7) Possesses (4) Possibly (11) Unwell (3)

2 3 4 5

DECODER

No. 011

3 9 1 4 3 6 1 9 3

8 5 8

QUICK CROSSWORD

6 7 3 9 6

7 2 8 9

7

8 hard

8 3 5

9 2 7 4

1

6 4

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3

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9

10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

8

J R 17

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O A F V B MW L Q N K Z X 3

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13

9-LETTER WORD

3

easy

medium

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

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

P

Today’s Aim: 20 words: Good 30 words: Very good

4 7 1 6 2 3 8 5 9

3 9 7 4 1 5 8 6 2

4 6 2 7 8 3 1 9 5

40 words: Excellent

1 8 5 9 2 6 3 4 7

5 4 8 2 6 7 9 1 3

2 1 3 5 9 8 6 7 4

6 7 9 3 4 1 5 2 8

8 5 1 6 7 2 4 3 9

9 2 6 8 3 4 7 5 1

7 3 4 1 5 9 2 8 6

5 3 9 8 4 7 6 1 2

8 2 6 9 5 1 3 7 4

1 5 8 2 7 9 4 3 6

6 4 2 1 3 5 7 9 8

7 9 3 4 8 6 1 2 5

2 8 5 3 1 4 9 6 7

9 1 7 5 6 8 2 4 3

3 6 4 7 9 2 5 8 1

hard

N

U

O

L M

1 9 5 6 2 3 8 7 4

7 8 2 4 9 5 1 3 6

6 4 3 1 7 8 2 9 5

8 5 7 9 1 6 3 4 2

3 1 9 5 4 2 6 8 7

2 6 4 3 8 7 5 1 9

4 2 6 8 3 9 7 5 1

9 7 8 2 5 1 4 6 3

5 3 1 7 6 4 9 2 8

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

H

E

G

3 LETTERS ALE APE ARE ARM ART CAT DID EAT ELM ERR FOG GET GIN HES ILL KIT LSD MOB PAL PEN RAM REV TEE TIE TWO WAR 4 LETTERS AIMS ARIA AVOS BASK CHAT CYST EGGS FOES IONS KNEW KNIT LETS NINE PAPA PATE

PUCK TEST WIVE 5 LETTERS ADMIT ADULT ALONE BASIS BASKS BEGUN CROSS DAMPS DREAD DRESS EAVES EDGES EERIE ELOPE ERRED FOAMY

No. 011

GOODO GRAFT HASTE IVORY LEAVE LIARS NEEDS OCEAN OILED PIANO SEDAN SEWED SHAPE SLEDS SMEAR SMILE SMITE SMOTE SOBER SPARE STREW

SUITE SYRUP TACOS TENET UNTIE WHALE YACHT 6 LETTERS LASSES STEEPS 7 LETTERS AERIALS ASTUTER

COWGIRL CRADLED RELYING STEEPER 8 LETTERS OPERATES PREPARES SCANTIER SCRAMMED 10 LETTERS CRITICISED DISGRUNTLE

ghoul, glen, glom, glue, glum, gluon, gulp, helm, help, hole, holm, lemon, loge, lone, long, lope, lough, lounge, loupe, lumen, lump, lung, lunge, melon, mogul, mole, mule, ogle, phenol, phlegm, phloem, plenum, plough, PLOUGHMEN, plug, plum, plume, plunge, pole, pule

1 7 9

2

3 9 6

1

8

2

14

1

1

CGUD S P H Y T E I J R

7

WORDFIT

15-01-21

William Matthews Funerals FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED

24 HOUR SERVICE ALL AREAS

9739 6868 45 Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au 12 MAIL

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Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

12410397-ACM06-19

mailcommunity.com.au

PICTURESQUE VIEWS, PREMIUM POSITION AND POTENTIAL SITUATED less than 50 minutes from Melbourne CBD and central to Upwey Station, this inspiring property offers a lovely Hills lifestyle close to local amenities.

Saturated in priceless city views and poised within incredibly highly sought-after surrounds, this comfortable home could provide the perfect platform to further develop into your ultimate dream home (subject to council approval).

From its quality brick construction to its coveted potential, a promising future awaits this property. The interior is a blank canvas for buyers, with instant comfort or scope to style to your liking. Flexible formal and informal dining areas frame the timber kitchen with wall oven and walk-in pantry.

The inviting lounge boasts a picture window to frame the fabulous outlooks.

With good-sized bedrooms, a classic

bathroom, and show-stopping vista views at every turn, a little vision will go a long way into reinventing this home as a potential luxury residence in one of the area’s most sought after locations. Whatever your property strategy, this sensational residence surrounded by quality homes is a savvy addition to any property portfolio. Plan your inspection today.

Features: Outstanding location only 50 minutes from Melbourne CBD and central to Upwey station Show-stopping city views Classic brick home with brilliant potential Timber kitchen framed by formal and informal dining areas Lounge with large window to take in the picturesque views ●

· · · · ·

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 45 Hughes Street, UPWEY Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 garage Price: $870,000 - $920,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sam Adamson, 0421 023 760 or Brad Conder, 0422 639 115, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE, 9754 6888

SUBURBAN, COUNTRY & LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES ACROSS THE REGION mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

|

MAIL 13

Real Estate you can trust!

We ’ r e h e r e t o h e l p FOR SALE

5 Hawthorn Lane, BELGRAVE HEIGHTS CHARACTER RESIDENCE WITH SPLENDID STUDIO

$850,000 - $930,000 5A 3B 2C

FOR SALE

13 Engelke Road, BELGRAVE SOUTH

$1,525,000 - $1,675,000 4A 2B 3C

SPACE, SERENTIY AND SIZE

For a marvellous mix of location and livability, this superior property is set to impress. Boasting the best location within walking distance of shops, cafes, schools, and bus transport, you can enjoy this enviable residence with every amenity nearby. This inviting home is an inspirational blend of period elements and modern comforts. The dining / living area with lovely wood fire is enhanced by character picture rails. The kitchen with classic timber floors is balanced by SS appliances and sleek glass splashback.

Like a perfect picture, this stunning 20 acre (approx.) property takes in beautiful sweeping valley views that stretch as far as Port Phillip Bay whilst being in the ideal location for horse lovers. Only minutes from Wellington Road & with great access to Eastlink, Monash Fwy & Princes Fwy, the property sits in the much sought after area of Belgrave South, close to the Lysterfield Equestrian Centre & the Dandenong Ranges Horse & Pony Club.

Suzie Brannelly

Glenn Chandler

M 0490 506 910 | E suzie@chandlerandco.com.au

M 0418 410 689 | E glenn@chandlerandco.com.au

FOR SALE

34 Ridge Road, KALLISTA YOUR 3 ACRE LIFESTYLE DREAM STARTS HERE

$1,600,000-$1,750,000 4A 2B 2C

FOR SALE

3 Braeside Avenue, SHERBROOKE

$1,650,000 - $1,790,000

PRESTIGIOUS LIVING IN AN ENVIABLE LOCATION

4A 3B 4C

Privately situated on over 3 stunning acres, this lifestyle property offers a chance to enjoy being surrounded by space and serenity. The acreage has been well utilized to create beautiful canopied garden areas, an open paddock area that is ideal for keeping animals and also an established foliage garden for market or just your own enjoyment that includes little gem magnolia’s, twisted willow, camellias and much, much more.

In the highly regarded pocket of Sherbrooke, with the George Tindale Memorial Gardens as your closest neighbour, this elegant and enviable property awaits its new owners. Behind the tree lined circular driveway, the property sits proudly on over 1 acre of landscaped gardens that are enhanced tree top vistas from every angle. Beautifully detailed both inside and out the property has been designed to complement today’s busy lifestyle with the opportunity to come home to your very own tranquil retreat.

Glenn Chandler

Sharyn Chandler

M 0418 410 689 | E glenn@chandlerandco.com.au

M 0439 882 442 | E sharyn@chandlerandco.com.au

9754 6888 1689 Burwood Highway, Belgrave VIC 3160 www.chandlerandco.com.au of fice@chandlerandco.com.au 14 MAIL

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Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

mailcommunity.com.au

28 Jellicoe Avenue, Monbulk

298 Belgrave Gembrook Road, Clematis

2 Alexander Street, Emerald

Heritage Style Seclusion with Extensive Shedding

COUNTRY CHARM MEETS MODERN STYLE

‘FOREST LODGE’ A HOME WITH HISTORY ON 5842m2

4 T

A

1 T

B

2 T

C

5 T

A

2 T

B

2 T

C

3 T

A

2 T

B

2 T

C

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

GUIDE $720,000-$790,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Denise McKay 0479 184 147 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $720,000 - $790,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $850,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Gayle Barrot 0408 195 767 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

82 Emerald Monbulk Road, Emerald

8 Fairway Road, Emerald

40 Mountain Road, Cockatoo

NOTHING TO DO BUT MOVE IN AND ENJOY

FAIRYTALE SETTING WITH 5 BEDROOMS

SURPRISE PACKAGE ON AN ACRE

3 T

A

2 T

B

5 T

C

5 T

A

2 T

B

2 T

C

1 T

D

4 T

A

3 T

B

2 T

C

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

GUIDE $680,000 - $748,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $870,000 - $930,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Lana Maher 0408 535 075 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $690,000 - $759,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

22 Aura Vale Road, Menzies Creek

16 Maurice Street, Cockatoo

75 Kilvington Drive, Emerald

‘PARADISE ON 1/2 AN ACRE’

CHARACTER COTTAGE, HUGE SHED ON 1/2 ACRE

AN EXCEPTIONAL HOME IN AN IDEAL LOCATION

3 T

A

1 T

B

6 T

C

2 T

A

1 T

B

6 T

C

3 T

A

2 T

B

3 T

C

1 T

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

GUIDE $720,000 - $790,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Denise McKay 0479 184 147 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $600,000 - $660,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Lana Maher 0408 535 075 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $870,000 - $950,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

mailcommunity.com.au

D

Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

|

MAIL 15

2/12 Westlands Road Emerald

$780,000 - $850,000

15 Victor Road Clematis

$950,000 - $1,040,000

Brand New In Emerald!

Lifestyle Change?

This well built brick veneer home located in the dress circle of Emerald has all the requirements for comfortable living.

Featuring wide hallways, high ceilings and contemporary flooring and colour schemes, this property is as comfortable as it is impressive. The open plan kitchen, dining and living area is has an abundance of natural light and direct access onto the outdoor entertaining. The stylish kitchen features stone bench tops, stainless steel appliances, blended cabinetry and Butler’s Pantry. There are 3 good sized bedrooms, master with ensuite and walk in robe cleverly zoned away from the remaining bedrooms which are serviced by the main bathroom. The single lock up garage has internal access for added security. A rare find in Emerald, don’t delay!

Take advantage of a property with space to work from home, caters for the extended family, and is still only approx. an hour to the CBD. This dual occupancy property features main home with 3 bedrooms over 2 levels, master with walk in robe & ensuite, living room with wood heater and outdoor entertaining deck. 2nd dwelling features open plan kitchen, living & dining, & 2 robed bedrooms towards the rear of the property. There is also a large separate studio with bathroom making working from home or indulging your passions easy.

Additional features include chook pen, wood shed and plenty of off street parking.

Contact: Samantha Scott 0438 680 032

Contact: Samantha Scott 0438 680 032

4 Wonga Road Ringwood

$1,680,000 - $1,850,000

5 James Lane Hoddles Creek

$700,000 - $770,000

Resort Style Living Every Day!

Private Acreage Dream!

This outstanding home has been designed to create a resort vibe every day. With 3 separate retreat areas, this home offers privacy for all members of the family while the entertaining areas and outdoor room with open fire and pizza oven provide the perfect place for family connection.

The home features 6 bedrooms plus study, the master suite with walk in robe, ensuite, private balcony and parents retreat with powder room. The large kitchen features walk in pantry and plenty of room from meal preparation which can be enjoyed in the dining room or alfresco area. Outdoors the home is fenced with gardens bordering a path that encircles the home and leads to the stunning solar heated in-ground pool with pool deck. The home also features it’s own putting green. Call to arrange an inspection today!

Well presented 4 bedroom home on 2.5 acres is within walking distance to the local school. All 4 robed bedrooms are located along the front of the home, the master with ensuite and access to the study. Other features include 2 living areas separated by a good sized kitchen complete with Butler’s Pantry and access onto the rear entertaining deck with wood heater. Outdoors there is a dam with petrol pump, 30,000 ltr water tank, 40” shipping container, 3 car garage and double carport. This delightful home provides the opportunity to grow some of your own produce in a private location still only approximately 30 minutes to the Emerald and Pakenham townships.

Contact: Aaron Day 0407 365 994 Bethany Day 0438 844 968

Contact: Aaron Day 0407 365 994 Tyson Bluhm 0437 843 820

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5968 6222

311-313 Main St, Emerald mailcommunity.com.au

networkclassifieds.com.au www.networkclassifieds.com.au

Place your ad in print and online

B PLASTERING

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Email: daniel@topcatdriveways.com.au Visit our website at: www.topcatdriveways.com.au ฀ ฀ ฀

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0408 538 121

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Phone Brett: 0409 665 327

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MAIL 17

Trades & Services

General Notices V Tree Lopping/Surgery

V Welding 12438690-FA04-20

FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS.

Call the team today 0421 574 444

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SERVICING THE PATCH AREA FOR OVER TEN YEARS

9998-2905

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OPTUS AND VODAFONE MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AT 459 MAROONDAH HWY LILYDALE VIC 3140 WITH 5G

Ms J L Gray

The application reference number is:

YR-2020/876

Objections can be submitted online at http://yarraranges.vic.gov.au/track Please be aware that copies of objections/submissions including your full name and address may be shared with the applicant (upon their request) and/or made available for viewing by members of the community (upon their request). as part of the planning process. Requests for a copy of any part of a planning permit application will incur a fee.

If you object, the Responsible Authority will advise you of the decision

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before:

24 January 2021

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• The replacement of the existing headframe with a new headframe; ,QVWDOODWLRQ RI ÀIWHHQ QHZ SDQHO DQWHQQDV QRW PRUH WKDQ 2.8m long); • Removal of three (3) existing panel antennas; • Installation, relocation and removal of ancillary equipment including RRUs, antenna mounts, feeders, cabling, combiners, and other associated equipment; and • Works within the existing equipment shelter.

2. Optus & Vodafone regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above.

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General Classifieds ADVERTISERS in this section are qualified practitioners and offer nonsexual services.

1. The proposed facility consists of the addition of new Optus and Vodafone equipment and associated works as follows (including 5G);

Rebedding & pointing Skylight resealing Written guarantee

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The applicant for the permit is:

For further information on the application, or to make an appointment, please contact the Planning Officer, Susan Hartley by email: mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

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Varation to restrictive covenant reference 24 79030 as it relates to Lot 68 PS22316 to allow for more than one dwelling

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The application is for a permit to:

Objections can be made (and received) up until the decision date.

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7 Ashby Way (Lot 68 LP22316), Kilsyth

An objection must: • Include the application number and site address.

• Include the name and address of the objector/submitter.

• Include the reasons for the objection and how the objector would be affected.

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DETAILS ABOUT THE APPLICATION The land affected by the application is located at:

You may view the digital application on line at the below website.

Simply search by the application number then click on “Documents”. http://yarraranges.vic.gov.au/track or The digital application can also be viewed at any one of the Community Link offices Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

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section of Network Classifieds.

An application for Planning Permit has been made which may affect you.

Notice issued: 7 January 2021

3. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2018 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to: Jessica Bradbury/0428 526 796, or via the Lendlease Wireless Consultation inbox at optus.enquiries@wirelessconsultation. com.au RU =HQLWK &HQWUH /HYHO 7RZHU % 3DFLÀF +LJKZD\ Chatswood NSW 2167, 5pm, Thursday 28th January 2021.

Real Estate section of Network Classifieds.

ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number.

It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice.

For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au

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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.

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SPORT

Daniel Gorringe in Powelltown colours.

Olinda Cricket Club’s first ever women’s team with returning coach Keith Rae.

Seville Pony Club each Rachael Edwards.

Sport challenges of 2020

By Jed Lanyon and Taylah Eastwell The local sporting calendar was derailed as the Covid-19 pandemic took its toll on Victoria.

While many sports seasons didn’t go ahead or were halted abruptly, there were still many sports stars who shined throughout the year.

Here are some of the best local sports stories to come out of 2020.

Gorringe joins Powelltown Former AFL player Daniel Gorringe signed a two year contract to play for Powelltown Football Netball Club in the AFL Outer East for the next two seasons.

Gorringe played 22 games with the Gold Coast Suns over five seasons before joining Carlton to play four games before retiring in 2017. He was a top ten pick in the 2010 draft but made a bigger name for himself following his football career, most recently appearing as a contestant on reality show, Big Brother.

Powelltown FNC president Geoff Mooney said he’s looking forward to having Gorringe on board at the Demons for the next two years.

“It’s fantastic, we’re only a little town so for someone like Daniel to want to come and play for us, it’s extremely exciting. We couldn’t be any happier.”

At the time of his signing, Gorringe said he was looking forward to joining the Demons and enjoying his footy.

“I just want to have fun but in the back of my mind I want to win a flag. Hopefully I can kick a few goals and enjoy a few tinnies in the clubrooms post game.”

Pony Club coach named the best in the country Seville Pony Club’s Rachael Edwards has taken out the highest honour for a coach after being named as Coach of the Year by Pony Club Victoria and by Pony Club Australia.

Ms Edwards, who has been involved in the sport for over 30 years, said her mind was blown after learning she would be recognised for her efforts at a state level before going on to take out the award on a national scale.

Seville Pony Club made the nomination for Ms Edwards’ dedication to the club and to surrounding clubs in the northern metropolitan zone.

Speaking in the weeks after her big achievement, she said, “I don’t think it has sunk in yet, to be honest. I’m just a normal person who lives in Seville and goes about my daily jobs.

I still don’t think it has actually hit me yet,” Ms Edwards said.

Rett Syndrome Awareness Cup In what may have been one of the only games of footy played locally for the year, the Valley Vicious Rett Syndrome Awareness Cup went ahead in February, showcasing the wonderful sporting characters of the Yarra Ranges for a good cause.

On a night dedicated to banding together as a community with the purpose of fighting and raising funds for the devastating disease that is Rett Syndrome, Lee Lawrence once again drew the crowds out to Healesville Sporting Complex in February.

Lee runs the popular Facebook page ‘Valley Vicious Footy and Netball Banter’, which mailcommunity.com.au

Alycia Olney, Lee Lawrence, Chris Spencer in the Valley Vicious uniforms. he started when his daughter, Gypsy was diagnosed with Rett - a genetic brain disorder found almost exclusively in females and with a prevalence of one in about 15,000 females - all with the aim of raising awareness and raising funds to find a cure.

Infants and children with the disorder cease to acquire new skills and gradually lose previously acquired abilities, such as control of the hands and the ability to vocalize most sounds and words.

Lee said while the disease is cruel and debilitating, Gypsy has never dropped her spirit and continues to smile no matter the circumstances.

History made for cricket club Olinda Cricket Club hit gender barriers for six, with the club’s first ever women’s cricket team taking to the pitch for the first game of the season in November.

The women took to the field against Upwey Tecoma, finishing with 79 runs while their opponents fell 15 runs short on 64.

President of Olinda Cricket Club Matt Burgan said the club had been pushing hard to get more people involved and had a strong response this year from women wanting to play.

“We’ve sort of exploded and I think we are about two years ahead of where I thought we would be. The club was keen to try and get a women’s side up and was optimistic but realistic given the Covid situation, but incredibly people have responded,” Matt said.

Captain of the women’s team, Nikki Burgess said because her son plays cricket, she received

Picture: ROB CAREW

The Rest Syndrome Awareness Cup match. the club’s call-out at the beginning of the season seeking kids and past players to get involved.

“I said yeah, James will be playing but when are you going to get a girls’ team up. Next minute I had a job, the club said it was something they’d always wanted to do,” she said.

“Once people came and had a hit they realised it is really fun. We’ve almost got enough for two teams which is phenomenal,” she said.

“This is a big milestone, it’s been 109 years since the beginning of the club without a women’s team.

With many of the women having never picked up a cricket bat before, the excitement of winning their first game was “electric”, according to Ms Burgess.

“It was a great atmosphere, a lot of positivity and an edge of competition. You get a bunch of mums together and everyone thinks it’s all going to be fun and games, but everyone wants to win.

“We’re normally on the sideline cheering our kids so it’s really nice to walk out the door and say sorry, I’ve got my game on.”

Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

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Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

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