Mail - Mt Evelyn Star Mail - 14th September 2021

Mount Evelyn

Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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Yarra Ranges’ roads project

Lilydale RSL in need of support

Mt Evelyn student captures dream

Mooroolbark kids say thank you

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A tribute to local icon If you’ve lived in the Yarra Ranges for some time or a frequent visitor, the chances are you’ve seen ‘The Walking Man’ on your travels through the region.

The man behind the legend was Joe Pulcin, a gentle soul who sadly passed away in July.

Joe’s neighbour and friend Inga Cogan shared with the Star Mail a great insight into the man who was an inspiration to so many.

Turn to page 4 to read his tribute

Cartoonist and illustrator Danny Zemp was one of many who saw Joe walking through the region.

Cartoon: DANNY ZEMP

Shire gets cases Covid-19 cases in the Yarra Ranges have spiked over the last week, with the shire recording a further 10 active cases in five days.

This brings the total number of cases to 20

Conditions apply

as at Monday 13 September, with four cases announced in the 24 hours prior.

These cases were recorded in the postcodes of 3138 and 3766, being the Mooroolbark area and Kalorama area respectively.

The Yarra Ranges is on par with the coun-

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According to the most recent Australian De-

partment of Health local government vaccine rollout data released on 5 September, the Yarra Ranges also has lower than average vaccine rates when compared to local councils with similar population sizes.

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By Mikayla van Loon

NEWS

School upgrades Better facilities are on their way for students at Mooroolbark East Primary School with works commencing on an important upgrade thanks to the Labor government.

Monbulk MP James Merlino announced on Thursday 8 September works were underway at Mooroolbark East Primary School to deliver $275,165 towards the construction of a roof over the basketball court, so it can be used as a multipurpose, all-weather sport and learning area.

“Every student should have a great school, no matter where they live. That’s why we’re investing in hundreds of small but important projects that will make a big difference

for schools and create jobs for Victorians,” Mr Merlino said.

“We’re making sure that our schools have the best facilities, our classrooms have the best teachers and that every child is given every chance to succeed.

“Mooroolbark East families are a step closer to getting the great local school facilities their kids need to thrive.”

In the past seven years, the Victorian Government has invested more than $10.9 billion in building new schools and more than 1,700 school upgrades, creating around 13,500 jobs in construction and associated industries.

It is now ahead of schedule in its commit-

ment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 62 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024.

While much of this funding went on new schools and significant upgrades to help meet increasing demand, the Minor Capital Works fund is about delivering the small projects that make a big difference while also supporting local jobs.

Projects through the Minor Capital Works Fund will be progressively delivered with all projects to be completed by the end of 2022.

The Victorian Budget 2021/22 invests $20 million in the Minor Capital Works Fund to improve learning spaces as well as the condition and character of schools.

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Cases and vax pop ups From page 1 Currently, of the 129,169 population aged 15 and over, 59.6 per cent have received their first dose and 36.2 per cent have received their second dose.

Knox Council has a population of 135,647, with 61.7 per cent having received a first dose and 38.1 per cent receiving a second dose.

Of Whitehorse Council’s 149,611 eligible population, 63.1 per cent have had their first vaccine and 40.7 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

As announced on Sunday 12 September by Premier Daniel Andrews, a number of Yarra Ranges locations will be included in the 100 pop-up vaccination centres coming to the suburbs most in need of vaccines.

“We are tailoring our vaccination rollout to remove any barriers that might otherwise stop someone from getting vaccinated. There are a million reasons to get vaccinated and vaccination is our only way out of this pandemic,” Premier Andrews said.

Yarra Ranges Council mayor Fiona McAllister, along with her fellow councillors, has been actively requesting the extension of vaccination facilities in the shire and was pleased to hear the Yarra Ranges had been included.

Pop-up clinics will be located in the postcodes 3799, 3139, 3770, 3777, 3138, 3781, 3796, 3137, 3140, 3765, 3775 and 3116 in coming weeks, with more details to be released in the DHHS website.

The first of these clinics will be located in Yarra Junction, with Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) setting up a facility to welcome 200 walk-ins a day from Monday 13 September until Wednesday 15 September between the hours of 10am and 3.30pm.

Mayor McAllister said this was welcome news for the Upper Yarra area and hopes this will help get people vaccinated quicker so that the state can be released from current restrictions.

“While this is welcome news for our Upper Yarra communities, there are still many communities across the Yarra Valley, and potentially residents in Murrindindi Shire, who do not have access to vaccination clinics close by,” she said.

“The council has written to the Victorian Minister for Health, The Hon. Martin Foley, requesting resources to enable EACH to establish an additional Covid-19 vaccination service at Coldstream Community Hall.

“A new 10 booth vaccination at Coldstream would enhance access to vaccinations for communities across the Yarra Valley, and potentially also for residents of Murrindindi Shire.

“These areas are popular tourist destinations that connect directly to regional Victoria. Achieving high vaccination rates in these communities will be essential as restrictions ease in parts of the state.”

Mayor McAllister also said by establishing another vaccination centre in Coldstream, it would help close the vaccine gap between council areas and within the shire itself.

The council’s analysis of the Australian Immunisation Register indicated that vaccination rates in the Yarra Valley – which includes regional townships such as Healesville and Yarra Junction – were lower than the municipality overall.

“We have estimated with confidence that 49 per cent of those aged over 16 in the Yarra Valley had received a first dose and 30 per cent a second, compared to 53.6 per cent and 31.8 per cent respectively in the broader municipality.”

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NEWS

IN BRIEF Thieves arrested

Resurfacing roads

Two St Albans males were arrested on Tuesday 7 September after fleeing in a taxi from a series of thefts within the Lilydale CBD. It is alleged the 23 and 33 year old men caught a taxi to Lilydale, then proceeded to steal goods from two supermarkets and a chemist. The value of the stolen goods was just shy of $5000. When Police attended they observed the taxi leaving on Maroondah Highway, where it was subsequently intercepted, the males arrested and the stolen property recovered. The pair fronted the Ringwood Magistrates Court on Wednesday 8 September.

By Mikayla van Loon Roads in the Yarra Ranges can be unpredictable - going from asphalt to gravel to dirt in a matter of metres.

Under Yarra Ranges Council’s $150 million federally funded Roads for the Community Initiative project, unsealed roads will be getting a makeover.

Roads across the Dandenong Ranges, urban area and Yarra Valley have been prioritised under the scheme to be sealed over a 10 year period.

In September 2019, the council gave first priority to the construction of unsealed roads bordering schools, preschools and key community facilities.

Priority was also given to roads that would complete the sealed road network and to unsealed roads within the urban growth boundary with high property density.

Yarra Ranges Council director of environment and infrastructure, Mark Varmalis said the community has been an integral part of sealing these roads.

“During the survey phase of the project, the openness from landowners has been wonderful and is providing a positive feeling that the council is making a significant difference,” he said.

“Many landowners have commented about their excitement at the prospect of their road being sealed in the near future.”

Feedback from residents has been positive, with many residents pleased to not have to deal with dust and dirt for much longer.

“Desperately want this project to proceed.

The dust is unbearable. The road is too busy not to be sealed,” one resident said.

So far, phase one of the road sealing project has been completed in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 years, seeing a total of 6.3km being resurfaced.

While a number of those roads, including Joy Avenue Mount Evelyn, McGregor Avenue

Fatal stabbing Homicide Squad detectives have charged a 42-year-old man following a fatal stabbing in Bayswater North on Sunday 12 September.

Emergency services were called to reports of an injured male at an address on Mason Court around 7.10am. A man aged in his 40s was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. A Croydon man has been charged with one count of murder. He was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday 13 September.

TAC campaign rounds up drivers Hyne Street Lilydale will be sealed under a special charge scheme and the Roads for the Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Community initiative. 250145 Healesville, Chalet Road Olinda and Allenby Road Lilydale, have been fully funded by the Federal government some road sealing projects will require resident contributions.

A total of 21.6km of road is expected to be resurfaced in the next stage of the project, which should be completed by 2023.

Over 1000 properties in Seville, Warburton, Lilydale, Millgrove, Healesville, Badger Creek and Belgrave Heights will benefit from these sealed roads.

Roads like Hyne Street Lilydale and Menzies Road Menzies Creek have been issued an intention to levy a special charge, meaning residents will contribute to the funding of sealing these roads for them to be finished by 2023.

As at August this year, a further 26km of road had been identified for construction in Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn, Woori Yallock,

Upwey, Wandin North and Monbulk.

To date, construction on 49km of road has begun, with the council expecting to seal a total of 187km by the end of 2028.

“We know that sealing unsealed roads is important for the residents that live on them, to reduce dust and improve all weather access,” Mr Varmalis said.

“This project is estimated to help more than 7,700 families and residents in Yarra Ranges to get their roads sealed in the next 10 years, which will be a great result for the municipality and people who visit the region.”

For long-time residents, this couldn’t come soon enough.

“We are very happy with this project. We have lived here for 40 plus years and dust has been a problem.”

Multiple drivers were caught over the weekend of 11 and 12 September. A 47-year-old female driver speeding was monitored doing 81 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on Maroondah Highway in Ringwood. She was found to be unlicensed and returned a positive result for illicit drugs.

Her vehicle was impounded for 30 days, with a fine of $932 and she was charged on summons.

A 32-year-old male driver tested positive result for illicit drugs while driving along Dorset Road Croydon and was charged on summons.

He will receive a 12-month loss of licence if convicted. Police intercepted a 28-year-old female driver on Railway Crescent Croydon, who returned a positive result for illicit drugs. She received a $545 penalty notice and a 6-month loss of licence.

A 23-year-old male driver was also detected driving at a speed of 96 km/h in an 80 km/h zone along Maroondah Highway in Croydon.

The driver also failed to obey a red traffic light, with penalties totaling $817 and a loss of 6 demerit points. The vehicle was issued a defect notice.

Lilydale’s community gardens, houses and art projects

By Mikayla van Loon The Lilydale Township Action Group gathered online on Thursday 9 September to provide updates on local community events and projects happening in the area.

President of the Lilydale Community Garden Group Benson Bannon spoke about his desire for the community garden outside Bunnings to be a space for everyone in the broader community to be able to use.

While many events planned by the community garden group have been cancelled or postponed because of the lockdown, Mr Bannon wanted to reassure residents that the garden group wants to be involved in the community and will resume doing so in the near future.

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some of the burden as the area grows.

Another exciting project on the horizon for Lilydale is the Art and Sole walking art installations that have been designed by Inspiro. Inspiro’s health promotion officer Toby Ware said with grant money from the Department of Health, Lilydale’s health services have linked with local artists to encourage active living.

“The goal of this project is to increase walking and decrease the number of car trips in Lilydale by promoting walking through art and behavioural nudges,” he said.

Mr Ware said Inspiro has put together a walking map which will include 12 artistic points for people to locate in the Lilydale west area. The artworks will be chosen in coming weeks and should be installed by early next year.

Another project which has been raised a number of times by residents as an important addition to the Lilydale community is a community centre or hub.

Yarra Ranges Council officer Nathan Islip provided an update on the progress of this much needed and wanted meeting place.

With funding from the revitalisation program and support from the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Yarra Ranges Council has been working on a social planning assessment to identify the demographic and geological need for a centre.

Mr Islip also mentioned that the council would be looking at how stretched some state level services, like the Ringwood Magistrates Court and Maroondah Hospital, are and whether Lilydale could eventually take

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in Lilydale at the moment is the establishing of a community house which will be run out of the senior citizen centre on Hardy Street.

Lilydale Community House coordinator Suyin Chan has been tasked with the job of setting up the house in Lilydale.

“So this is week three. Starting a job in lockdown and starting a community house in lockdown has been an interesting exercise,” she said.

To get a better understanding of what the community might like to have made available to them, Ms Chan has put together a survey, which so far has received over 50 responses. Ms Chan said many of the responses received ask for a community space where like minded people can gather to have a cup of tea and a chat, whether it be a mothers group or youth group.

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NEWS

Goodbye ‘Walking Man’

By Renee Wood If you’ve lived in the Yarra Ranges for some time or visited here often, the chances are you’ve seen ‘The Walking Man’ striding on a trek through the region with two walking sticks.

The man behind the legend and familiar sight was Chirnside Park resident Joe Pulcin, but sadly The Walking Man has taken his final steps and passed away on Sunday 15 August, just shy of his 86th birthday.

Joe was a well loved member of the community, named The Walking Man and previously known as ‘The Running Man’ with Joe unknowingly made his presence felt one step at a time since 1984.

Joe was seen as an explorer but he was also filled with kindness and had a caring nature, something his neighbours the Cogan family came to learn after moving next door to him nine years ago.

Inga Cogan said, “Joe was a soft hearted, soft natured man who kept to himself, we couldn’t have asked for a better neighbour. He will be dearly missed by so many.”

The Cogan’s met their neighbour when they moved in just before Christmas and he quickly became a close friend.

“Christmas Day came and we noticed he had no visitors, we prepared a plate of hot Christmas lunch and took it over to him.

“Our then one year old Darcy walked up to Joe with his arms up wanting a hug, Joe put his two walking sticks down, knelt on one knee and picked up Darcy and gave him a cuddle.

“We introduced ourselves, gave him his meal and told him we were always there if he needed anything.

“Joe shed a tear, gave us all a hug and wrote us a note to say thank you, we realised then that he couldn’t speak. From then on we took Joe over regular meals.

“In the end he was more than a neighbour, he was an extended part of our family.”

Joe was Croatian and arrived in Australia in 1964 and after 20 years he moved to Chirnside Park, which is where he started out on his adventures through the region, becoming an inspiration to many.

“Joe would walk everywhere, no matter whether it was sunny, cold, raining or blistering hot - if Joe wanted to walk, he would, if Joe needed to go to the shops, he would.”

Ms Cogan said nothing stopped Joe from getting out and about but home was also his happy place.

“He liked to wander around his garden and he would do incredible things with tree branches.

“When a tree started to grow a bit out of control, he would twist the branches around itself and around the tree, making such pretty and intriguing patterns.”

Joe was also a lover of music and artistry and was a talented guitar player and painter.

“He would often sit on his back verandah for hours playing different tunes. He was also a talented painter, with an easel set up in his living room.”

Sadly Joe’s journey has now come to an end as he walked on to his next life, he will be deeply missed by the community and friends.

“Joe’s passing has brought great sadness to our entire community.

“It is going to be a very different Spring and Summer in particular, not seeing Joe walking the streets of the Yarra Valley with his walking sticks,” Ms Cogan said.

Inga Cogan captured this moment on Christmas Day when then one year old Darcy was greeted with love by Joe Pulcin.

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Calls to split regionally

By Renee Wood There’s been fresh calls for areas in the Yarra Ranges to classified as regional following the release of the regions from the lockdown.

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish is leading the charge to parliament but said it’s driven by local residents desires with a survey she’s running having over a thousand signatures.

“They [residents] feel like and believe that they live in regional Victoria they don’t believe they live in metropolitan Melbourne,” Ms McLeish said.

“The upper Yarra and the Yarra Valley is dotted by small towns and they are quite removed from the city. You’ve got cattle, you’ve got vineyards, farmland, little country towns - you don’t have that built up metropolis.”

The regional classification has been an issue since metro and regional areas were split for state lockdowns.

The Yarra Ranges Council also put through a formal request last September to the State Government to reclassify smaller townships as regional.

A reclassification of The Ryrie Ward, O’Shannassy Ward and some communities of Chandler Ward were part of the motion, due to

the isolated communities strongly detached from a metro way of life.

Ms McLeish said it is possible for the State Government and Chief Health Officer to enforce restrictions by postcode.

“There’s no reason why they can’t declare by postcode if they want, they’ve made some changes previously.”

And also currently - while Greater Shepparton remains in lockdown and the rest of the regions open up.

Ms McLeish said if Covid-19 cases rise in certain areas, as they currently are in some parts of the Yarra Ranges, they can have a similar swift lockdown to contain cases.

“Look at Shepparton, now that they’ve opened up regional Victoria they’re keeping Shepparton closed, they do have the discretion, it’s not all or nothing - you can work with it.

“Generally the classification could be regional and if there’s an issue in certain areas then you could look at restrictions being in place.”

Yarra Ranges resident Barb Hegarty wrote to the Mail last week, discussing how the Commonwealth Government map classifies the

RSL in need of support

By Mikayla van Loon For 100 years the Lilydale RSL has been helping veterans find their feet after coming home from war.

Lilydale’s branch of the RSL movement was built by local men, heroes in their own right.

Charley Reakes, a stretcher bearer from World War I who won a military medal for being injured numerous times while saving lives, built the house, in which the RSL currently operates from, in 1921.

Ralph Goode, also a stretcher bearer in Gallipoli, started Lilydale RSL from a meeting at his home.

The RSL has always been a support service for returned veterans and Lilydale RSL president Bill Dobson said it is important to honour that legacy.

“The underlying philosophy of the RSL is mateship and that is as true today as it was 100 years ago,” Mr Dobson said.

“In those days there were no formal government welfare services for veterans and the RSL formed as an organised group to commit itself to the injured, sick and needy to provide help for those that served their country and this included their dependents.”

But after years of helping others, now it’s Lilydale RSL’s turn to ask for a little bit of help.

“Over the 100 years it has been a bumpy ride for the RSL, there were times when it’s future was very dubious, but that’s the past.

The present executives are very professional and competent, the financials are looking sound, bearing in mind this is spent on welfare,” Mr Dobson said.

Hoping to revitalise the function and presence the RSL has in Lilydale, Mr Dobson, Chris Templar and vice president Terry Hickey have three ideas to better establish the RSL as a key feature in town.

The first being to involve the Lilydale RSL in the teaching of local history at schools in the region.

Many of the RSL’s members have a rich history from their involvement in wars past.

“Bill Scurry, a former president of Lilydale RSL, received world wide acclaim for inventing the self firing drip rifles which were used to continuously fire as the troops were evacuating Gallipoli. This inventive Silvan farmer saved many lives,” Mr Dobson said.

It is expected that Mr Scurry saved at least 600 lives that day.

Another notable figure in Lilydale’s war history is George Ingram, a Seville primary school student, who won a Victoria Cross in World War I and was the first life memmailcommunity.com.au

The Lilydale RSL was built in 1921 and is located on Anderson Street. 209392 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS ber of Lilydale RSL. Seven schools have already registered their interest in the program, which will start next year and will require the RSL to install a multi media display and large projector in a designated room at the RSL. Adding to the improvements inside, the committee would like to renovate the 1920s Californian bungalow and repair the facade.

“As you can imagine after 100 years there are things that must be done. As a registered not for profit charity, money has always been tight. Our emphasis has been and will always be to use funds on welfare issues.

“Recently we have had a donor who specifically asked that we spend his donation to improve the facade of our building.

This donation is to start the process, more funds will be needed but the projects will go ahead.”

Once repairs are completed, the RSL wants to open up the space to other community groups to use for meetings and events.

The final task at hand is to build a younger veteran base, so the legacy of the Lilydale RSL can be carried on and can continue to support returning Afghanistan veterans.

Mr Dobson and the rest of the RSL’s committee is asking for any assistance possible, whether it be monetary, passing along the name of a returned veteran or offering physical labour to get repairs done on the building.

“It is very important to everyone to keep the RSL and the memory of local families alive, the community expects it.”

Yarra Ranges Shire as rural.

“I understand that since the initial lockdown this [State] Government has consistently been advised of local concerns and government documents related to the rural status of some areas - local member Cindy McLeish, shire representation and local businesses – but the government has not been prepared to listen and act on this local and logical advice,” Ms Hegarty wrote.

“With their ‘one rule suits all’ practice, the State Government has obviously determined that the entire YRS meets the criteria to be classified as Melbourne Metropolitan – despite other government documentation determining otherwise.

“Surely, it is time that the State Government took the time to address this situation and reconsider at least the YRS Wards of Ryrie and O’Shannassy, while acknowledging and respecting the needs of these local communities that have been additionally disadvantaged by this unrealistic classification.”

However, there is some concerns from business owners if restrictions ease in the area without Melbourne, businesses who rely on metro visitors would suffer and be unable to access government funding.

Willow and Jackson cafe owner Steph Deveson said those relying on tourism would struggle with out support packages.

“I agree with a lot of what people are saying is that we are technically regional and we need to open up and things, but I think because I’m so reliant on tourism if we opened up now and only allowed regionally, there’s still not enough support.”

“To open up and then remove all of the government support it would destroy me, personally, others might be different but I rely on tourism at the moment so I just couldn’t give up the government funding.”

A State Government spokesperson said as exposure sites and thousands of close contacts spread across Melbourne, the Chief Health Officer advises stay at home restrictions stay in place across metropolitan Melbourne.

“The definition of metropolitan Melbourne includes 31 local government areas, and is based on the Planning and Environment Act 1987. This definition has been used throughout the pandemic and there are no plans to change it,” they said “No one wants to be in this position but we know the delta variant moves faster than anything we’ve ever seen before.”

Boom gates gone for good

By Mikayla van Loon The boom gates at both the Maroondah Highway and Manchester Road level crossing have been taken away symbolising the end of traffic congestion on these roads.

Over the next 45 days, hundreds of people will carry out work around the clock to complete rail bridges and build new stations at Lilydale and Mooroolbark.

It does mean, however, major disruptions will be happening in both towns while works are underway.

Road closures during this time include a 28 day closure of Maroondah Highway and John Street at the level crossing, as well as a 13 day closure of Manchester Road in October.

Maroondah Highway is closed in both directions near Lilydale train station until midOctober as the level crossing is removed. Local residents and commuters are advised to use Cave Hill and Beresford roads and Gardiner and Anderson streets as a local detour.

Brice Avenue Mooroolbark is also now closed east-bound between Manchester Road and George Street until Monday 25 October.

Buses are replacing trains between Ringwood and Lilydale for six weeks until Sunday 24 October.

Around 36 structural bridge beams will

Crew members carry the large boom gate which was removed from Manchester Road in Mooroolbark. be lifted during this time, each weighing 120 tonnes and measuring in at up to 31 metres long.

Crews will also build the two new stations, complete the retaining walls and install new track, ballast and signalling.

Work is continuing on Major Transport Infrastructure Authority (MTIA) projects deemed critical by the Chief Health Officer, including the level crossing removals at Manchester Road and Maroondah Highway. There are strict protocols in place to reduce the spread and minimise the risk of coronavirus.

Level Crossing Removal Authority crew members remove the boom gates from the Lilydale level crossing on Maroondah Highway.

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MAIL 5

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Worries for historical societies

By Mikayla van Loon

The June 9 and 10 storm and flood event caused an unprecedent level of fallen and hazardous trees across the impacted areas of the Yarra Ranges, damaging homes, Council infrastructure, parks and bushland.

Clean up continues More than 31,000 tonnes of wood, stump and branch debris has been collected by Yarra Ranges Council since the June storm ripped across the municipality causing incredible destruction and distress to community members.

The June 9 and 10 storm and flood event caused an unprecedent level of fallen and hazardous trees across the impacted areas of the Yarra Ranges, damaging homes, Council infrastructure, parks and bushland.

Over the past three months, Council has been working with teams of contractors across multiple public sites to assess hazardous trees that needed immediate work, to make safe any risks to life and property, and to open roads, parks and bushland.

These works are also focused on reducing the enormous fuel load that now exists, prior to the upcoming bushfire season.

Teams have been working hard on the clean up, using heavy equipment including 78 excavators, 72 tipper trucks, 37 chippers and 33 towers ranging from 12 metres to 55 metres. So far, an estimated 5,652 truckloads of tree debris have been collected, amounting to around 31,651 tonnes.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Fiona McAllister said the landscape and topography of the Dandenongs in particular had been fundamentally changed due to the unprecedented impact of the massive and life-threatening storm event.

“As a result of the storm we lost an estimated 25,000 trees, and this has had a big impact on the natural habitat which is something our residents love and value,” Cr McAllister said.

“There is a lot of sadness in the community related to these losses and we understand the

community’s drive to ensure the value of these trees is appreciated.”

Crews are continuing to process the material into mulch and firewood for use in the community, as well as retaining logs for community projects. In just three weeks, the branches picked up through Council’s Special Storm Event Tree Branch Collection have been turned into mulch, with volumes so far estimated to be equivalent to five Olympic sized swimming pools.

As part of the clean up process, Council has set up 20 mulch sites, allowing community members and community groups to collect mulch for their own use.

Council is also using the mulch on many of its garden beds across the municipality, and on the new Yarra Valley Trail, as well as implementing landscape and habitat logs back into the parks and reserves.

As many of the fallen trees have been cut into small sections to remove them from roads and parks, this material is being turned into firewood, some of which has been provided to community groups to store and dry for use, or distributing to community members in need of support.

Free firewood is also going to be available for residents to collect from a range of sites in late September. A firewood registration process for interested community members will be put in place through Council shortly.

Additionally, Council is working to provide appropriate community-led projects and organisations with wood and logs, to provide benefit to the community out of such devastation and ensure some of it remains in the area.

Cr McAllister acknowledged Council, con-

tractors and other agencies and operators for the work already undertaken during such difficult circumstances.

However, she said that realistically, the extreme impact of the June 2021 flood and storms meant Council and other agencies would be cleaning up for months, and the recovery of some parts of the municipality could take years.

“Council teams have worked really hard to open up many Council-owned public parks and bushland as well as cleaning up the overwhelming amount of tree debris and using what we can locally and for the community,” Cr McAllister said.

“Making parks and bush trails safe for residents to exercise is even more important in a Covid-19 environment when movement of residents is restricted, so our community members can get some relief during lockdown.

“Significant progress has been made but as we know, the damage was extensive, and the full amount of work required over time is beyond the capacity of Council and residents.

There is much work still to be done.”

Council continues to discuss with Government the support required for recovery, on top of the work of Bushfire Recovery Victoria, which has responsibility for clean up on private land.

The restoration and clean up is important for the community as part of the long recovery process, and to relieve the stresses that such a significant event places on the community.

More information about the clean up and the availability of mulch www.yarraranges.vic. gov.au. Keep an eye out for more information on the firewood registration process.

Greens’ Jenny Game goes for Casey The Victorian Greens has launched its campaign for the federal seat of Casey, with long-term Upwey resident Jenny Game running for the second time.

With the retirement of Liberal Speaker Tony Smith, the seat of Casey falls within the marginal range for the first time and will be highly contested.

The Victorian Greens will run a strong campaign focussed on urgent climate action and fair taxation for the mega-rich and corporations.

Jenny Game is a senior academic and musician who has lived in the Casey electorate for more than 20 years and raised her two children there.

“As a musician and senior academic, I’ll bring integrity back to politics in Casey. Our beautiful region has been dismissed by the Liberal government for too long,” Ms Game said.

“It takes millions in donations from big corporations, while ignoring the climate crisis, the ever-growing wealth gap and the mailcommunity.com.au

needs of our community. This will change.

“Logging our beautiful native forests in what everyone can now clearly see as a climate emergency, is nothing short of criminal - but we can stop it.”

Ms Game is committed to fighting the wealth gap in Casey, and will push to create secure jobs in renewable energy.

Ms Game is also focussed on the Covid recovery, and is committed to prioritising investment in clean, green infrastructure and creating a more equitable society — importantly with the inclusion of a treaty for First Nations Australians.

The campaign will kick off on Friday 10 September with a virtual Women in Politics panel featuring Jenny Game, Greens Victoria Senators Lidia Thorpe and Janet Rice, as well as the Greens candidate for Cooper, Celeste Liddle.

All are welcome with funds raised going towards the campaign. To attend the event go to, https://victoria.greens.org.au/csey_ soc_20210910

Jenny Game will run for the federal Casey seat in the upcoming election.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Like many groups and societies, it has been another rollercoaster year for the Lilydale and District Historical Society (LDHS), with positives and negatives both showing through.

At the society’s annual general meeting on Saturday 4 September, re-elected president Sue Thompson thanked the committee and volunteers for their enthusiasm and work over the last 12 months.

“Another year has rolled by but against all the odds our society continued to operate. Despite the repeated lock downs, our wonderful volunteers have turned adversity into opportunity and continued working for the safety of their homes,” she said.

Considering the adverse nature of Covid-19 lockdowns, the historical society remained strong with a stable membership of 110 people.

The growth and interest in the history of Lilydale and surrounding areas was seen through social media, with an increase of followers on both Facebook and Instagram.

With a total of 69 posts to Facebook LDHS gained 390 followers and 36 posts on Instagram gaining them 170 followers.

But it wasn’t just online that the historical society made gains.

A further 26 items were added to the already extensive library collection, including books, CDs and brochures from each of the collection areas of Coldstream, Mooroolbark, Lilydale, Kilsyth, Seville, Chirnside Park and Montrose.

“We probably have one of the most comprehensive local history collections in our library,” Ms Thompson said.

LDHS volunteers and committee members have also made headway this year to archive and index 4000 items in the collection.

For 50 years the society has been collecting files on people, places, events and businesses in the surrounding area.

In the last two years, the society has been sorting through this collection removing duplicates and adding new information to the database.

While it has been a good year for the society on many fronts, financially LDHS made a yearly loss compared to last year’s profit.

The total income was $3000 less than the 2019/2020 year, with a net loss of $978.05.

“While those may not be big numbers, it means members have to work hard, keep doing research, selling images, generating sponsors, seeking donations, leading walks, talks and tours and giving talks to the community groups to keep ahead of things,” Ms Thompson said.

Ms Thompson also raised her concerns about the lack of support from Yarra Ranges Council which has relied on the historical society to produce work and research for a number of projects.

As part of the Yarra Ranges Heritage Network, which includes historical societies from all over the shire, the council was meant to employ a heritage officer who would support these groups.

But recently the heritage officer has been deployed to another project leaving these groups in the lurch.

“We’ve got three historical societies that are in real trouble, and need somebody to go and help them and there’s nobody from the council to help them,” Ms Thompson said.

“It is really poor and the other societies come along to the group meeting and they are having troubles themselves as well to keep getting members and everything else.

“The council’s got to come along and support these groups, because otherwise the council will have to employ people to answer all those queries if all the groups go under.

“If we didn’t do it, they would have to employ staff to do it or information on the people, places and events in this community would go unanswered.”

Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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MAIL 7

OPINION

Anxiety in children Last time I wrote I talked about how hard it was for most of us being jerked in and out of lockdowns.

Since that time we have been in constant lockdown and it is taking quite a toll on us with regard to schools being closed, as it is with eating out venues, ‘non-essential’ businesses, hair dressers, gyms, churches, sporting clubs and theatre events and the list goes on.

My observation now tells me that the fear stage we went through in the first half of 2020, has dissipated somewhat as we have now come to know the ‘enemy’.

However, the amount of fear mongering and miss information that is about on social media is overwhelming – the fear now is around vaccination, and people are ringing me seeking the truth.

I, of course, although well informed, am not an adequate answer man. My advice is to talk with your personally trusted family doctor for facts and advice.

However what I want to address in this article is a growing concern for our young people.

From the littlies at pre- kinder and big kinder, pre-school and early primary grades; these children are really missing their little friends they play with more the missing the learning.

Yet someone said to me today, “Oh well it won’t hurt then, they will soon forget”. In my case not true – I can clearly remember trauma

Focal Point

Graeme Dawson

in my kinder room over 70 years ago.

Then we think about students in the middle years - many in a battle between themselves and a parent as the latter attempts to home school. Some in the higher grades are missing school socials, excursions, and camps – all in a sense, rites of passage. In this cohort, calls for help to the Children’s Hospital have jumped from 30 to 80% during lockdown six.

Then the ones that I am very concerned about are the VCE students studying by themselves most times, at home on their PCs, attempting to achieve a score that will in many ways determine their future university options, and to find career avenue choices in the future as well. These are big issues.

It is a sad fact that the pressure and isolation and lack of connection with peers, after a world record lockdown of 340 days was recorded on the 2nd of September, has seen calls to Lifeline jump 30%, and a significant rise in

youth suicides this year.

We of the human race are designed for connection with others. Most times that happens within the primary family and to a slightly lesser extent the extended family. The latter is where holes in our socialization are prevalent.

If we live over five kilometers from the extended ones, we can’t meet. Not all of the elderly have the capacity to share on line, so two sides miss out – the children and the grandparents.

I see and I know that many of us are going a little stir-crazy being locked down and restricted. Most of my individual Chaplaincies ceased weeks ago, and I have missed the funeral of a dear friend – only 10 allowed and rightly so, the family has taken those places.

Let me finish with an old blessing that you can take with you in these uncertain times.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you And be gracious to you; The Lord turn His face toward you And give you peace.”

With blessings - Graeme (Feedback, questions or need for support can be fielded to my email, csrsmokey@gmail. com) Graeme Dawson, B. Min. Grad. Dip. C.C. Chaplain to Community

Hitching a ride on this mission to Mars Stowaway Starring Toni Collette, Anna Kendrick and Daniel Dae Kim Rated M Stowaway is a tense, deeply-affecting science fiction drama.

A three-person crew on a mission to Mars must deal with an unexpected stowaway.

Stowaway does an excellent job of both fleshing out its characters and establishing the ship’s layout, its critical systems and the cascading damage therein.

As such, you care deeply for the crew and have a clear awareness of the obstacles they face.

The intricate, cramped sets and stark, minimalist sound design make the film even more immersive.

The performances are authentically lowkey, which you would expect from highlytrained professionals, and the characters steer refreshingly clear from archetypes.

David the biologist (Daniel Dae Kim) is logical but warm and good-humoured, Marina the commander (Toni Collette) is authoritative but kind, and Zoe the doctor

(Anna Kendrick) is intensely compassionate but still sees the bigger picture.

Shamier Anderson forms the film’s bittersweet emotional core as Michael, the titular stowaway.

Fans of Danny Boyle’s 2008 film Sunshine will love Stowaway, as both films feature an understated tone, stowaways in space and strong suspense drawn from malfunctions and dwindling resources.

I won’t give anything away, but the ending of Stowaway was such a beautiful display of self-sacrifice and making peace with a hostile cosmos that it made me cry.

What more endorsement do you need?

Stowaway is the best space-based movie of 2021 by far, and is available for streaming on Netflix.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

Free vaccinations and desexing for cats Did you know that felines can reproduce at just four months of age and that cats can have two litters of kittens per year?

Every year we see kittens having kittens.

This cycle has the potential to increase exponentially, so it is so important that our community desex their pets.

We see the number of homeless cats and kittens increase year on year, this takes a huge toll on our community, impacting Animal Aid’s resources, our local wildlife and the welfare of unowned and unwanted cats.

Animal Aid is proud to be delivering free desexing, microchips and health checks to 100 female and 50 male cats at our Veterinary Clinic in Coldstream, the program has been hugely successful thus far!

We know that cost can be a huge barrier for

Animal

aid Mark Menze Animal Aid CEO our community when making the decision to desex their pets – this program will allow our community to access desexing and health services without the financial implications.

This program has the potential to prevent 316,000 unwanted cats and kittens in our community over four years.

Our mission is to address animal homeless-

ness and the number of unwanted pets in our community, this program is an exciting step in the right direction.

Every year we see more and more litters of unwanted animals – we know too well the importance of desexing to stop the reproduction cycle.

To be eligible for our Free Desexing Program, owners must hold a current health care or pension card and reside in Knox, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges, Whitehorse or Murrindindi local government areas.

Places will be filled on a first come first served basis, and all appointments must be booked via our vet reception on (03) 9739 0500.

For more information visit: animalaid.org. au/desexing-grant/

No theatre in The Basin until 2022 Kemp’s curtain call 8 MAIL

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

The Basin Theatre advises that all the remaining seasons in 2021 now have been postponed due to the impact of the coronavirus.

Even with the releasing of restrictions in Victoria it would be impossible for The Basin Theatre to safeguard the patronage attending the theatre for the remainder of the year.

The Basin Theatre will continue to moni-

tor the situation and ensure that all the members and patrons are regularly informed about the developing situation throughout The Basin Theatre’s web pages, Facebook pages and newsletter emails.

The company is currently planning an exciting performance program for 2022 with the expectation that shows will be able to be staged by February 2022.

MWF online PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN For the second year in a row, all live events planned for the Melbourne Writers Festival were cancelled. It’s disappointing news to all storytellers and story lovers, but we’re grateful that festival organisers have brought forward a series of online programs in the most difficult of circumstances.

In the words of Lord Mayor Sally Capp: “Now, more than ever, it is time for us to come together to help make sense of the world.” As we prepare ourselves to bounce back “bigger, better and brighter than ever”, the MWF’s online programs help us re-energise ourselves with culture and creativity, for “we are, and always will be, a city full of literary minds, readers and thinkers”.

The “MWF Digital” program features 10 events to be streamed online until September 15. The international authors highlighted include Rumaan Alam, Natasha Brown, Rachel Cusk, Emma Dabiri, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sigrid Nunez and Viet Thanh Nguyen, just to name a few.

Events are available individually on a Pay-What-You-Can basis or via a Digital Pass.

Meanwhile, “Writers on Film” is a specially commissioned documentary series mapping the creative lives of three beloved Australian authors. Viewable via YouTube, these short films feature Jennifer Down, Sophie Cunningham and Tony Birch doing self-narrated tours of neighbourhoods and personally significant sites that informed their award-winning books.

After watching the series, why not check out the books themselves? Birch’s latest collection of short stories Dark as Last Night was published last month, and his novels Ghost River (2015) and The White Girl (2019) are must-reads.

Also worth perusing are Canningham’s Melbourne (2011) and City of Trees: Essays on life, death and the need for a forest (2019), and Down’s latest novel Bodies of Light will arrive later this month.

Another MWF Extra to be found online is “Writing Melbourne”, a total of 11 works of fiction and non-fiction that reflect life in our city. Part of the Metro Tunnel Creative Program, the project displays excerpts of each commissioned work alongside illustrations by local artists at the City Square.

The writers highlighted include Melanie Cheng (Room for a Stranger [2019], Australia Day [2017]), Stephanie Convery (After the Count: The death of Davey Browne [2020]), Laura McPhee Browne (Cherry Beach [2020]), Thuy On (Turbulence [2020]) and Nova Weetman (The Edge of Thirteen [2021]), just to name a few.

This reviewer recommends “Cats of My Neighbours” by Ronnie Scott (The Adversary [2020]), a subtle story with an interesting twist. It’s about observing cats, yes, but it’s also a reflection on the “push and pull between states of loneliness and independence” that characterises life in a city apartment.

Finally, if you know an international student studying with a Victorian education provider, why not invite them to submit a story about their real or fictional life in Victoria? The “Melbourne Beginnings” program requests written and visual stories of “This is how my story began...” that are inspirational, nostalgic or fantastical. Entries close on September 20.

Details about the aforementioned programs can be found on the MWF website. mailcommunity.com.au

THE LOWDOWN Q&A Where does your love of the environment come from?

When I was little I didn’t need fairies at the bottom of my garden because I has birds & frogs, lizards and tadpoles. My parents could always tell me a story or something about these animals.

In my late teens and twenties I was able to travel to many far flung places and see and experience many of the wonders of the world.

On my return I realised that some of the most unique animals live right here in Australia.

On moving to Mount Evelyn in the eighties I was to have a chance encounter with a very large Powerful Owl right here along the Olinda Creek, his great big golden eyes watching me.

This was the moment I fell in love.

It has been my mission ever since to learn as much as I can about our beautiful native flora and fauna and share my knowledge with anyone patient enough to listen.

How did you get involved with MEEPPA? In 1991, the State government tried to introduce an act by which they would acquire a number of properties throughout the Dandenongs for Fire Buffers. This would mean that these properties could not be renovated, improved or sold to anyone without giving their department first option to buy. This scheme did not give residents any certainty that they would get a fair and reasonable price for their homes.

A group of us whose homes were earmarked for this zoning, banded together to get a better deal. It was at this time I approached MEEPPA for help. As they were so kind and helpful I joined MEEPPA. That was over 30 years ago.

What is your favourite Animal?

I love all animals, especially our Australian native animals, but it would be fair to say that I have a particular affection for owls.

What is the best discovery you’ve made?

Perhaps the most significant discoveries I have

with Clare Worsnop

THREE … facts about the Aussie flag

1

In 1901, Australia’s first Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton, announced an international competition to design a flag for the new Commonwealth of Australia. After receiving 32,823 entries, a winner was chosen and five nearly identical entries were awarded equal first (and so the Australian flag was born).

2

The flag was flown for the first time on 3 September 1901 at the Exhibition Building in Melbourne, which was then the seat of the federal government.

Ever since, this day has been celebrated as ’Australian National Flag Day’ and this year, the flag marked it’s 120th birthday!

3

The flag features three symbolic elements on a blue background: the Union Jack, the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross. The Union Jack represents the history of British settlement; the Commonwealth (or Federation) Star below has seven points, representing the unity of the six states and the territories of Australia; and the Southern Cross (a constellation only seen from the southern hemisphere) is a reminder of Australia’s geography.

Clare Worsnop is the president of the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association and has been involved with the organisation for 30 years. Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON made are, after 15 years of revegetation and rehabilitation work along the Olinda Creek and the Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve, the return of rare and elusive Yellow-bellied Gliders, absent for 50 years, our Long-nosed Bandicoots, absent for 60 years and more recently our Greater Sooty Owl, sometimes heard, occasionally seen, but rarely photographed.

What do you love most about Mt. Evelyn?

Mount Evelyn has a wonderful Community, interesting, eclectic and talented people and amazing flora and fauna. What more could I ask.

What event, past, present, or future, would you like to witness?

I would have liked to be on the first fleet but in-

stead of landing with hostility and bloodshed, to have been able to meet with care, respect and shared the knowledge with our First Nations People. Perhaps then we wouldn’t have caused so much heartache and been able to learn to live more sustainably with our unique environment.

Which four guests, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party?

My four guest would be - David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, Julia Gillard and Leonard Cohen What is something people don’t know about you?

I was once in a movie about football. It was partly filmed right here in Mount Evelyn.

DO YOU HAVE A WILL? Something that we all put off....

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• Drafting Powers of Attorney • Guardianship & Administration

• Probate & Letters of Administration

Call now to discuss a convenient appointment time from the comfort of your own home.

Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm |

(03) 5929 7010 |

info@yarravalleylegal.com.au 12513486-NG38-21

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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MAIL 9

NEWS

Playing to a crowd of one

By Mikayla van Loon

Andrew McDonough has been a touring musician for most of his life but has never taken as many breaks as he has during Covid-19.

Picture: SUPPLIED Now, he uses this whiteboard as a shopping list.

As a regular performer at Brycee’s Tavern in Mooroolbark and Rack-em-up Pool Hall in Lilydale, Mr McDonough said it’s the absence

of playing live to an audience that is really tough.

“Nothing is like sitting under the lights and looking out and just seeing people, there’s nothing like that. It’s why we do it but to not

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Being a touring musician for the better part of 48 years, Croydon’s Andrew McDonough has seen a lot but being forced out of his normal schedule of gigs because of a global pandemic, was not something he ever thought he’d have to experience.

Raising five boys throughout those years playing, Mr McDonough said he’d taken breaks from music but nothing like this.

“I had a break to have my kids and bring them up but I’d continue to play on and off then. This time, it’s the toughest it’s been for me in the 48 years of being a musician. No doubt about that,” he said.

“It’s been off and on and off and on, which was ok at the start, we could kind of live with that and cope with it ok.

“But the money has dried up for a lot of people. And it’s not just the musicians it’s dried up for. It’s dried up for people that have rehearsal studios or recording studios.”

Although Mr McDonough has a job to fall back on when times get tough, he knows that’s not that case for a number of people in the music industry.

He worries the mental strain of lockdowns and not being able to rehearse will cause people to abandon music, particularly touring musicians.

“I think a lot of the musos that play regularly or tour will probably reconsider the commitment they’ve put into music and how much they will continue to do it. I think a lot of them will struggle and I know a lot of people have given up and just said ‘no, I can’t do it’.”

Before Covid-19, Mr McDonough had a whiteboard, listing all the upcoming gigs he had at different venues for his two bands The Dead Pharaohs and The Masons - the list would sometimes have 15 gigs spread over two weeks.

have that it’s almost demoralising. You lose your sense of worth somewhat,” he said.

“Just that lack of everything that you’ve known rehearsing even, getting together and rehearsing once a week and then playing live on stage.

“When it’s gone, it’s your passion and almost your life kind of sucked out of you. And you haven’t done anything wrong. There’s nothing that us musos have done wrong to deserve this. It’s just happened to us.”

Mr McDonough said another challenge his bands face each time they come out of lockdown is getting to a live performance standard after not playing together for so long.

“It’s really disruptive to the progression, because most bands will rehearse, or most musicians will rehearse every week, or every fortnight forever, just to polish the material.

“And then when you don’t have that, it’s not like riding a bike because you’re actually getting paid to do a good job and if you’re not rehearsed and you don’t do a good job that not only plays on you mentally it’s actually not a good performance, and people don’t want a poor performance.”

Having released an EP earlier in the year, it has already had air time on the radio, but Mr McDonough is looking forward to being able to play it live and tour the album when the time comes.

But more so than that, he is looking forward to the atmosphere of a live gig.

“To play and perform in a live venue is just a feeling that you can’t get from anywhere else really. So that’s what I think I am chasing. And I know a lot of my mates would be the same, just to get that feeling of performing and doing a great job in front of a crowd.

“I think that’s what I’m looking forward to enjoying again, coming off stage, pat on the back, sweaty, hot and someone shouting you a beer saying ‘well done’.”

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BE KIND-BUY, EMPLOY, ENJOY LOCAL

Employ local There are so many benefits to working locally, particularly the ease and convenience. But here in the Yarra Ranges, there’s much more to it than just that - our region is home to an abundant range of diverse and interesting industries, from hospitality to advanced manufacturing, agriculture to health care through to retail and horticulture.

Our local hospitality and tourism industry opens up employment into one of Victoria’s most exciting and vibrant visitor destinations.

Hospitality offers numerous career pathways, from business management and leadership roles through to becoming a barista, sommelier or a chef. It can also offer the perfect flexibility during certain stages of life, such as studying or parenting young children, or there is the opportunity to build a rewarding lifelong career.

Right now, hospitality businesses are struggling to find enough staff. The significant impacts of consecutive lockdowns, and the pressures of re-openings have contributed to this shortage in staff despite the many advantages of a career in hospitality.

The Hospitality Jump Start for Jobs Program, a partnership between Yarra Ranges Council, Cire Training and Box Hill Institute, supports unemployed and underemployed locals to get the skills and training they need to get started in the hospitality industry.

Students in both the Front of House training and Kitchen Skills course earn certifications in the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Food Hygiene, along with a suite of other skills from barista training to knife handling. Students’ new skills are then put to the test in real life work experience at pop-up cafes. Best of all, the Hospitality Jump Start for Jobs Program results in real employment opportunities: Many Hands Winery in Coldstream, en-

couraged their team member Joshua Lovell, to undertake the Front of House training course, and get his RSA. “We knew Josh had potential, but it was amazing to see how his confidence had grown after doing the course,” said winery owner Jenny Walsh.

Elsewhere in Yarra Ranges students have been in employed in a variety of hospitality venues; the Burrinja Cultural Centre cafe employs four graduates of the course, while other students have gone on to work in kitchens at local aged care facilities, or even to begin an apprenticeship at a Yarra Valley winery.

The next round of hospitality courses will run later in the year.

Another exciting development supporting local employment opportunities is the launch of the Yarra Ranges JobLink, an online jobs portal connecting local staff with local businesses. It’s a free resource for all, whether you are an employer posting a job or a prospective employee sharing your CV. Yarra Ranges JobLink allows the user to explore the region’s trending industries and gain information on pathways into these careers.

One of the industries with the most advertised jobs has been in trades and services, which comes as no surprise given construction and trades are one of the top employers throughout Yarra Ranges. The number of jobs in this industry has been increasing steadily over many years and is estimated to keep growing 12% between 2020-2024.

The opportunity and incentives for training in this area are growing as well. Working in partnership with Yarra Ranges Council, Box Hill Institute’s Lilydale campus is home to a state-of-the-art trades training centre, which delivers a variety of industry apprenticeships training in wood, electrical, plumbing and automotive trades.

Hospitality Jump Start for Jobs Graduate, Grace, practising her kitchen skills.

If you’re looking for employment, a local Yarra Ranges Jobs Advocate can help. This free service provides jobseekers with information and advice, and connects them with the right local support to help find the perfect job, training or other assistance to become jobready. Local Jobs Advocates are running daily Zoom sessions during lockdown. You can find out more on the Yarra Ranges Council website www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Business-YarraRanges/Employment-Resources.

Council is committed to helping local businesses and industry recover from the impacts of the COVID pandemic. An important part of the economic recovery plan for the region is to facilitate employment in Yarra Ranges. And while the pandemic has disrupted our daily lives on every level, as we slowly build a pathway into a ‘COVID-normal’ life, the opportunities to live and work locally are growing. So, where possible, let’s all find ways to support our local economy and Employ Local.

EmplOY local YA R R A R A N G E S

As part of council’s recovery efforts, Yarra Ranges Council is launching Buy Employ Enjoy – a campaign created to encourage our community to choose local. We’ve been kind to each other, to business and to ourselves. Now it’s time to #BuyEmployEnjoy and support our local business and community.

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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MAIL 11

NEWS

Dylan Schafter nearly dropped out of school but has since found the drive to pursue his dream of becoming a photographer.

250143 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Dylan was able to head to the Gold Coast earlier this year to experience the boundary life of an AFL photographer. 250143

Capturing bright goals

By Mikayla van Loon Turning one’s life around is never easy but 17 year old Dylan Schafter has done just that and didn’t make it look all that hard.

The Mount Evelyn Cire Community School student has been an aspiring sports photographer since he picked up the camera at age 13 and started taking photos of his brother doing BMX tricks.

“Going down to the BMX track with my brother and just bringing the camera with me and taking some photos, I kind of saw the niche and I started liking taking photos but at that time, I wasn’t really good at it so I stopped taking photos of BMX and focused on landscapes,” Dylan said.

Dylan has won several awards for his work and one of his photographs was eleventh in the Australian Photography Magazine’s Top 20 Junior Category.

He’s also entered a nature photo in the Upper Yarra Community Bank’s 2022 Calendar Competition. His main motivation for entering was to highlight and share the natural beauty of the Upper Yarra.

But sports photography is where Dylan’s real passion lies and it’s been his dedication to becoming an AFL photographer which has seen him go on to have some incredible experiences.

As someone who considered dropping out of school at Year 9 and having been told he’d never make it as a photographer, Dylan is proving everyone wrong.

Persisting with his goal, Dylan scored himself an internship with the Gold Coast Suns media team earlier this year.

“It was definitely a dream come true. From a lot of people saying that they didn’t believe me, that I was never going to be good enough to be doing that kind of stuff, as well as having a disability.

“It was hard to learn to write emails back and forth and whatnot but yet it’s kind of going through that boundary and landing in the Gold Coast with the media team was an unreal experience.”

Dylan said his experience on the Gold Coast showed him what it takes to be an AFL photographer and said the media team told him he

had a great eye for capturing the action.

“After seeing that I can do that, it has made me want to chase it more but then with lockdown, it’s been a bit hard to do much, so that’s the only drawback at the moment.

“I’ve been looking at a lot of AFL photographers and been like, this is going to be me one day no matter what and the driver is there, I just want to keep pushing.”

Dylan said the most rewarding part of photography is holding down the shutter button and realising “you’ve captured the perfect photo.”

“Through sports photography, I’ve seen things through the lens that not many people get to see,” he said.

“Sitting on the boundary, taking photos, not being near people but just focusing on it and watching the play, go and if there’s exciting moments, you just smile, if you have captured the photo. It’s a great feeling when you look at the photo, and you’re like ‘yes, this is perfect’.

It’s a nice moment just to sit back and enjoy.

“I love football, taking photos of football, especially the older lot, the better players.

They’re really fun and actually exciting to watch, as well as photograph. You wake up in the morning and you’re like ‘I’m so excited to actually watch this and take photos’.

“It’s definitely a hard job to do but I love pushing myself on stuff and wanting to get the best photos.”

Next year Dylan hopes to get back to volunteering with local sports photography agency Field of View Sports Photography and to complete his certificate four in photography at the Cire Community School.

“Cire just really pushed me and got me to where I’m at today just by believing really, that was the main thing.

“I’ve never really had that, people who believed in me before, so for them to believe in me and help me out has been an absolute dream of mine.

“Being on the disability spectrum people would think that it’s very hard to reach your goals because it’s a really hard thing to have but I’ve shown people nothing is impossible and you can reach your goals you just have to keep pushing and keep that drive going.”

R U OK Day: Starting conversations can save lives

By Renee Wood On September 9 the community was urged to turn to loved ones, friends, colleagues and ask an important question - R U OK? R U OK day aims to raise awareness for suicide prevention while also being a driver for starting supportive conversations.

It’s also an important day within schools as mental health and wellbeing remains at the forefront of remote learning discussions.

Mater Christi College Principal Maria Haggett said it’s a vital topic for the College and its encouraging students to open up to see if they ‘really’ are ok.

“In this area with the storms and the lockdown, there’s this kind of sense of ‘she’ll be right’ and I think we have to be really careful about that. We have to give people an opportunity to articulate how they’re actually feeling,” Ms Haggett said.

It comes as the need for mental health support rises across Victorian schools as lockdowns continue.

“Our psychologists are flat out and they’re doing a fabulous job, but we are seeing a 12 MAIL

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

Are they really okay? Ask a loved one, friend, colleague today. waiting list for our psychologists and they are triaging and prioritizing the most severe cases and we’re working with parents as much as we can who,” Ms Haggett said.

“They’re (parents) going to their GPs to get a mental health plan for their daughter, but there’s a three month wait for a private psychologist in some areas.

“We’re trying to hold our students in the best frame of mind that we can, but it is tough for them and tough for staff as well.”

Mater Christi College School Captain Cassidy Ede said it’s the uncertainty and not knowing what’s ahead that worries students the most.

“You begin to think that you’re in the clear and getting back to normal and then everything changes,” Miss Ede said.

“Not knowing exactly when this is all going to be over or when we can go back to school creates a bit of stress and anxiety for people because you just don’t know what’s going to happen and everything can change so quickly.”

It’s the conversations, albeit virtually, that are helping her and her friends get through it.

“We know what each other are going through we’re able to give each other advice and just be there for each other. So we’ll zoom and have a catch up and just talk.”

Principal Haggett said looking at mental health as we do physical health will help to understand when you need some assistance.

“We accept we have to look after our physical health by eating well, by walking by running, so we need to think about our mental health like that too. Let’s not wait until we’re really mentally unfit to do something, lets be proactive,” Ms Haggett said.

“Find something that you can do every day that will lift your spirits. That might be a walk, it might be listening to music, it might be creating something, it depends on what you really love. We’ve got to find in each day something that brings us a little bit of joy.”

There’s hope by taking action and asking ‘are you really okay’ will drive the sentiment past the 24 hour cycle to ensure supportive conversations remain top priority.

“We definitely need to check in on each other more than once a year, it’s very important. Even doing little things just like a message or put together a little care package for your close friends and send it in the mail,” Miss Ede said.

“It’s definitely something we need to be doing all year round, not just on this one day.” mailcommunity.com.au

OPINION the link to a zoom call.

COMMUNITY DIARY WHAT’S ON AROUND THE VALLEY

Wurundjeri dance session Join Djirri Djirri Dancers these school holidays for a fun-filled workshop where the kids will learn traditional Wurundjeri dances and how to sing in the Woiwurrung language. The online session will be held on Wednesday 29 September from 11am to 12pm and will be $12 per household. A link will be sent out prior to the event. To book call 1300 368 333 or go to the Yarra Ranges TicketSearch website.

LENSCAPE

Song and dance for The art of nature photography Children’s Week Montrose Environmental Group will be hosting an afternoon with Kim Wormald on Sunday 19 September from 1.30pm. The internationally awarded Australian nature photographer will be sharing her wildlife images, talking about each species she’s encountered and her tips for ethical wildlife photography.

To join the online event, email info@meg.org. au by 12pm Saturday 18 September to be sent

A joint event hosted by Japara Neighbourhood House and Yarra Ranges Council will bring song and dance to you this Children’s Week. Although not until 25 October, score a spot early and start practising your dance moves. This event is planned to happen in person but will be shifted online should it need to be. To book go to https://www.trybooking.com/BUCVB or contact Japara Neighbourhood House on (03) 9728 3587.

LETTERS On a brighter note Hello, my name is Giselle and I am 11 years old. I know lockdown has been tough for all of us in one way or another but I have some great ideas to keep the lockdown blues away - here’s my top five.

Do a dance workout There are heaps of fun ones out there and it’s a great way to stay active and have a good time Do some cooking Get in the kitchen, bake some biscuits or even just make some fancy toast.

Have a movie night Grab some popcorn and a cosy blanket and you’re all set to watch Cruella.

Go for a walk Find some tall trees, take a new path or find a creek - this is a great place to have boat races or build a hut.

Zoom in Organise some friends or cousins and have an online zoom meet. Whether you do quizzes or just chat it’s great fun for the whole family.

I hope you try these suggestions and most importantly have fun.

-Giselle

This waratah was spotted by Star Mail’s photographer Stewart Chambers while he was out capturing photos for the newspaper. What have you spotted while on your walk in lockdown?

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MAIL 13

NEWS

Students say thank you

By Mikayla van Loon It’s not often that teachers get a special thanks from their students in the middle of the year, let alone one that comes as a complete surprise.

Mooroolbark’s Rolling Hills Primary School (RHPS) students, with the help of their parents, put together a thank you video which was shared with teachers, admin staff and support staff at a recent staff meeting.

Acting assistant principal and wellbeing coordinator Emily Murcott said except for the teachers who have children at the school, it came as quite a surprise for most of the staff.

“I had one particular staff member who just said she was brought to tears by it and she thought it was just gorgeous and the time and effort that had been put into putting it together was overwhelming,” Ms Murcott said.

Over the last 18 months or more of lockdowns and at home learning, Ms Murcott said RHPS’s teachers and staff members had had their fair share of ups and downs but receiving a thank you couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I just thought it was fantastic and it came at a perfect time because the extension till the end of the term had just been announced,” she said.

“Although we had an inkling that that was going to happen, this was actually a really good brace for them to feel like they actually were appreciated for what they were doing.”

As a parent of a Grade 3 and Grade 6 student at RHPS, as well as being a member of the school council, Tracy Lynch said this video also allowed her children to reflect on how appreciative they were to have their teachers.

“The effort they put into it and the ideas that they came out with were really amazing.

So I think it was good for them to go, actually, ‘yeah I do really appreciate the school, I do really appreciate my teacher or that spe-

Ms Lynch’s children used lego to say thank you but also show a deeper message of how they had been feeling about school.

Rolling Hills Primary School students say thank you to their teachers through art.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Students got creative to show their gratitude.

cial someone who’s been helping me out’,” Ms Lynch said.

“Whereas it’s very easy, I think, to overlook that when things are tough. The kids had a great time making it and they’ve each come up with their own twist on things.”

Students were asked to create an artwork or a five second video to say thank you to whoever at the school had been helping them get through the year at home.

Ms Lynch said the creative side of the students really shone with children jumping on trampolines, doing handstands and cartwheeling their messages to their teachers.

For Ms Lynch’s children, they used lego to say ‘thank you’ but it was more than just the words themselves.

“It started off grey and dull and then across

cent attendance on zoom for the last little while and that’s incredible for kids to be engaged and their relationship and the connection they have with their teacher is obviously very evident,” Ms Murcott said.

“And that’s not to put down any other teacher that doesn’t have 100 per cent attendance but we’ve got a pretty high attendance rate here online, which has been just incredible and a real asset.

“The teachers should be absolutely thrilled with the effort that they’re putting in, and the support that they’re giving the families and the students.”

Ms Murcott and Ms Lynch both said without the dedication of the Parents and Friends Group, this video never would have happened and couldn’t be more grateful to them.

the word ‘thank you’ it turned into colour and the background all got coloured and flowers and that sort of stuff,” she said.

“So the message behind it was that things were really dull and lifeless and then the teachers got really involved and helped them at schooling and things became more fun and that’s where the colour all comes into it.

“It was lovely to see that that completely came from the kids. That was the way that they felt, that things had changed because people were involved in helping them.”

Although remote learning has been tough on everyone, Ms Murcott said RHPS has really tried to remain positive and keep the engagement of students there by receiving feedback from parents.

“We’ve had one of our classes have 100 per

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Kiera Dell with her artwork of the Gouldian Finch that was submitted to the national Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS competition. 250222

Tuesday, 2 February, 2021

School students across Victoria made their return to school following summer holidays, while 2021’s preps got their first taste of primary school life. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy conducted a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony for Badger Creek Primary School students and staff.

See page 7 for more back to school excitment.

Back to school!

By Renee Wood

School students across Victoria made their return to school following summer holidays, while 2021’s preps got their first taste of primary school life. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy

By Jed Lanyon

Centre in the lead up to Christmas. Many locals far and wide were able to keep up their Christmas tradition in getting a family photo with ‘The Real Santa’ who they had grown to love.

The unlikely tandem tallied upwards of $30,000 from their family Christmas photos and then selected four charities to each receive

$8400 to help make the lives of children better.

The four recipients of the funds included: Backpacks 4 Vic Kids, A Better Life For Foster Kids, HeartKids and Chum Creek’s Good Life Farm. The organisations shared how the funds had already been put to good use.

Backpacks 4 Vic Kids CEO and founder Sally Beard told Star Mail the donation came as a “delightful surprise”.

“We’re very, very grateful on behalf of the children, whose lives that it will impact,” she said. “We have absolutely put that money to good use.”

Ms Beard shared that the $8400 donation from Branded is aiding 112 children in need with care packs filled with toiletries, spare changes of clothes, a toy and more.

Continued page 2 12477022-SN06-21

It’s February, but Santa Claus’ gifts keep on coming for several charity organisations who benefited from a partnership between Saint Nick and Seville’s Branded Burger Bar. The burger bar came to the rescue when they partnered with Santa, who had seen his role replaced at Chirnside Park Shopping

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A worthy brand

Coldstream resident Kiera Dell has shared her artwork on a national stage, competing in the Wild At Art Threatened Species Art Competition for Kids.

The ten year old ranked highly in the competition making the top 100 out of a 3000 applicants.

The Australian Conservation Foundation runs the annual Australian wide competition aimed at raising the profile of our nation’s threatened animals.

Kiera’s mum Linda Bester said her daughter was thrilled with the result and wanted to be part of the initiative because she’s concerned the country will lose more species during her lifetime.

“Both her and her little brother Heath care very deeply about native plants and animals. They often sit on the balcony at

home with their binoculars recording the animals that they can see,” Ms Bester said.

The avid drawer spends most of her time watching Ms Bester who’s an ecologist and wildlife illustrator.

“Kiera chose the Gouldian Finch because it’s a threatened species and because of its beauty and intense colours. It’s the first time she’s attempted a detailed artwork using her mum’s professional grade coloured pencils and art paper.”

And the young artist’s creative work doesn’t stop there as she looks forward to participating in next year’s competition and building on her skills in the mean time.

Ms Bester helped Kiera set up a social media account to share her work and inspire others on instragram.

“She’s keen to share her art with others and raise awareness about Australia’s biodiversity through @kdell_creations.” mailcommunity.com.au

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MAIL 15

NEWS

16 MAIL

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Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

Yarra Ranges Council is encouraging children and young people to create and share artwork on their ideas for what makes a safe and healthy community as part of National Child Protection Week (NAPCAN) and Children’s Week.

Children or their families can then submit their artwork by taking a photo of it or scanning it and then uploading to the council’s Shaping Yarra Ranges platform.

The artwork produced will then be displayed in an online gallery, and be used in ongoing work to promote child safety as being everyone’s responsibility in the community.

This year’s theme for NAPCAN is all about fairness for children and how communities can protect them and support them, to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Mayor of Yarra Ranges, Cr Fiona McAllister, said that NAPCAN is a good opportunity to take stock and recognise the importance of what children bring to the community, and how creating a safe environment is key to supporting their development.

“Our young people can often struggle to have a voice which is why initiatives like NAPCAN can be a great driver in promoting aware-

ness of the issues around child protection and safety,” Cr McAllister said.

“To get an understanding of how our children see our communities through their eyes is really important intel, so activities such as this art project is a great way for them to communicate that through a creative outlet.

“I encourage all families and services to get involved with this NAPCAN campaign and start a conversation with your child by touching on some of the talking points listed on our Shaping Yarra Ranges page.”

Some of these talking points to kick start a conversation might include: What are the things you like most about your community?

Where do you like to go for fun with your family and friends?

What do you think are important things for your community to have?

Submissions for the online gallery are now open, and will close on Sunday 31 October.

For more information on this art project and how to get your child involved, please visit https://shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ national-child-protection-week-art-activity.

· · ·

Social media’s being used as a tool to help retired Greyhounds find their forever home.

Picture: SUPPLIED

The power of social media

By Philippa Lavery 12511175-BL36-21

CHIRNSIDE PARK Meadowgate Milk Bar 3 Meadowgate Drive CHIRNSIDE PARK Coles Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway CHIRNSIDE PARK Woolworths Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway CHIRNSIDE PARK 7 - Eleven 242 Maroondah Highway CROYDON NORTH Croydon Hills Milk Bar 158 Nangathan Way CROYDON NORTH Eastfield Milk Bar 11 The Mall KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Churinga SC, Russo Place KILSYTH Coles Supermarket 520-526 Mt Dandenong Road KILSYTH Kilsyth Laundrette87 Colchester Road KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Canterbury Road Kilsyth KILSYTH TSG Tobacco Churinga Shopping Centre Mt Dandenong Road LILYDALE Lilydale Marketplace SC 33-45 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE Lilydale Village SC 51-59 Anderson Street LILYDALE Coles Supermarket Lilydale Village Castella Street & Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Lilydale Community Centre 7 Hardy Street LILYDALE Eastern Laundries. 2/4 Williams Street East LILYDALE Lilydale Lakeside Conference and Events Centre 1 Jarlo Drive LILYDALE United Petrol Service Station 473 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Caltex Lilydale 346 Main Street LILYDALE Caltex Woolworths 31 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE BP Service Station 87 Warburton Highway LILYDALE Shell Service Station 469 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE 7 - Eleven Lilydale Cnr Maroondah Highway & Cave Hill Road LILYDALE Coles Express 469 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Hutch & Co Cafe 251 Main Street LILYDALE Round Bird Can’t Fly 170 Main Street LILYDALE The Lilydale General 110 Beresford Road LILYDALE Yarra Valley Smokery 96 Main Street LILYDALE Bee Seen Cafe 178 Main Street LILYDALE Blue Turtle Cafe 222 Main Street LILYDALE Gracious Grace Castella Street LILYDALE Melba Coffee House 33-45 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE Lilydale Munchies 7/75 Cave Hill Road LILYDALE The Mustard Tree Cafe 3/28 John Street LILYDALE Freda’s Cafe 2 Clarke Street LILYDALE Barry Plant Real Estate 88 Main Street LILYDALE Ray White Real Estate 164 Main Street LILYDALE Stockdale & Leggo Real Estate 281 Main Street LILYDALE Professionals Real Estate 111-113 Main Street LILYDALE Grubs Up 1 Industrial Park Drive LILYDALE Olinda Creek Hotel Maroondah Hwy LILYDALE Crown Hotel Maroondah Hwy LILYDALE Yarra Ranges Council 61 - 65 Anderson Street MONTROSE Montrose Authorised Newsagency 912 Mt Dandenong Road MONTROSE Bell Real Estate 896 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road MONTROSE IGA Supermarket 916 Mt Dandenong Road MOUNT EVELYN Fast Fuel 1 Hereford Road MOUNT EVELYN IGA Supermarket 38- 40 York Road MOUNT EVELYN Post Office 12 Station Street MOUNT EVELYN Authorised Newsagency 1A Wray Crescent MOUNT EVELYN Red Robyn Milk Bar 35 Hereford Road MOUNT EVELYN Library 50 Wray Cresent MOUNT EVELYN Milkbar 28 Birmingham Road MOUNT EVELYN York on Lilydale 138 York Road MOOROOLBARK Coles Supermarket 15 Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK Corner Milk Bar 38 Bellara Dive MOOROOLBARK Fang & Yaoxin Mini Mart 108 Hayrick Lane MOOROOLBARK BP Mooroolbark 103 Cardigan Road MOOROOLBARK Coles Express 2 Cambridge Road MOOROOLBARK Mooroolbark Coin Laundrette28 Manchester Road MOOROOLBARK Professionals Real Estate Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK L J Hooker Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK Fletchers Real Estate 1/14 Manchester Road MOOROOLBARK 7-Eleven Manchester Road

Art project for children

Social media has become a very powerful tool for Greyhound Adoption Program to rehouse greys that are looking for their forever homes. With Covid restrictions and lockdowns, GAP hasn’t been able to hold an adoption day since April which means one of the only ways to advertise and promote greyhound adoption is via social media.

One story that highlights how effective socials can be, is that of how Kylee found her new family member, Lilith. After seeing a GAP Facebook post shared on a friend’s personal page, Kylee became very interested and showed her husband. “It was he who pointed out Lilith. We loved her colourings and smiley face. From there we decided we were both keen to meet her.”

Lilith (or Lil for short) in now a certified member of their family, “She’s affectionate, to us as well as anyone she has met so far, she doesn’t bark, is great to walk on a lead, she loves her walks and we just fell in love with her when we met her, we only wish we’d adopted sooner,” says Kylee.

There new four-legged friend is also keeping them entertained during lockdown as Kylee explains, “We wondered why there was water splashed all around her water bucket… she stands her two front legs in it, and stomps about…. not great to clean up but it is funny.”

A huge thank you to everyone that shares GAP’s Facebook posts about available greyhounds. Until adoption days can resume, this is the best way for GAP to spread the word about greyhounds needing homes. mailcommunity.com.au

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 046

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

6

8

9 4 6 1 2 7 8 9 6 6 7 3 2 3 6 1 9 2 5 2 8 1 6 8 3 4 9 2 1 7 medium

7

4

3 1

1 7 5 9 7

6 2 9

1 4 5 9 9 6 3

7

2

1

6 1 4 8 3

QUICK CROSSWORD 2 3

ACROSS Variety of nut (9) Boss (4) Tavern (3) Confusing (10) A rectangle halved from diagonal corners (8) Special abilities (6) Objurgation (4) Group of organisms (7) Obliterated (7) Circle of light (4) Spectacles (6) Rocky (8) Impregnating (11) Biological blueprint (abb) (3) Calm (4) Worsen (9)

1 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 25 26 28 29 30 31

4 5 7 8 9 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 27

DOWN

No. 046

Conscious (8) West Australian port city (6) To admit one's failings, eat — (9) Musical instrument (4) Treble (6) Abstract (6) Book of the Old Testament (7) Purifying (9) Non-specific (7) Asian country (8) Temper (8) Employable (6) Car fuel (6) Brand (6) Middle Simpsons child (4)

Office machines (8)

1

DECODER

No. 046

hard

1 1

8

9

10 11 12 13

Q W 21

22

23

24

25

26

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

9-LETTER WORD 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”.

Y

F

Today’s Aim: 5 words: Good 7 words: Very good

5 9 7 6 2 8 3 1 4

7 3 8 1 2 9 5 6 4

9 4 5 6 3 8 2 1 7

10 words: Excellent

2 1 6 4 7 5 9 3 8

4 6 9 2 8 1 7 5 3

8 7 2 5 9 3 1 4 6

3 5 1 7 4 6 8 9 2

R

L

O

O N

L

R

4 LETTERS EARN EBBS EDDY KNEW LEST LYRE MUST REAR REND ROLE ROTS SENT STAG TOMB

4 9 5 1 6 3 2 8 7

5 LETTERS ABATE ABOUT

5 2 7 3 1 4 6 8 9

6 9 3 8 5 7 4 2 1

1 4 3 5 9 7 2 8 6

2 6 8 4 3 1 5 7 9

6 3 2 7 4 9 8 5 1

7 1 4 8 5 6 9 3 2

8 5 9 3 1 2 4 6 7

9 7 5 2 6 3 1 4 8

3 2 6 1 8 4 7 9 5

4 8 1 9 7 5 6 2 3

3 6 8 2 4 7 5 9 1

7 1 2 8 9 5 6 4 3

6 4 7 3 2 8 1 5 9

8 5 9 4 7 1 3 2 6

2 3 1 9 5 6 8 7 4

9 8 6 7 1 2 4 3 5

5 2 4 6 3 9 7 1 8

1 7 3 5 8 4 9 6 2

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

ACRES ALARM ALIEN ALOUD BASTE BLADE BRAIN DINER DREGS ELITE EMITS ERASE GENRE HALON HALVE ICIER IDEAS IDIOM KNEEL LYRES MISTS MUSIC

No. 046

ODOUR RAGED RARER REEDS ROUSE SADLY SAWED SCARF SHARK SHEER SIREN SNARE SNEER SPEAR STORY TABOO TIARA TSARS UNTIE WHITE WINED YEARN

6 LETTERS ASSURE LETTER PRISMS STONED

8 LETTERS DECANTER DYNAMITE ELIGIBLE INITIATE

7 LETTERS BLUSTER CONSOLE ELASTIC LINKAGE RELEASE STREETS

11 LETTERS FORERUNNERS SECRETARIAL

floor, folly, fool, forlorn, FORLORNLY, loon, lorry, only, roll, roof

1 8 4 9 6 2 3 7 5

hard

7

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

20

medium

6

19

easy

5

18

7

4

17

1 3 6 9 8 7 9 5 2 3 6 5 2

3

3 LETTERS ADO ARE ATE BAN CAD EAR EVE GEE GET HID ICE IRE MEN OPT RAN RAP RID ROT RUE TEN TIE TOE USE YOU

H L UO J V B NAG T E F

5

2

16

5 8 7 2 3 4 9 3

15

8 5 3

14

7 1

P C D R I K S Y Z M X QW

4

WORDFIT

17-09-21

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12461776-LB38-20

REC 17042 PIC 38148 AU 06212

9870 7059 www.fairbairns.com.au

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Professional Services

V Tree Lopping/Surgery

section of Network Classifieds.

FULLY INSURED

30 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE

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Call Steve 0417 192 009

AND REMOVED • WOODCHIPPING AND STUMPGRINDING • QUALIFIED ARBORIST FREE • PROMPT RELIABLE SERVICE QUOTES • EXCELLENT RATES

12499475-CG25-21

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12358958-PB30-17

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

DIN TREE SERVICE WA•N TREES PRUNED, LOPPED, FELLED

V Builders & Building Services

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One call, We do it all!

0473 326 333

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Call the team today 0421 574 444

Jason 1300 644 698

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A Grade Electrical Contractor

www.transformedtreeservices.com.au

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J.L. Hutt Electrical

12438941-CG04-20

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V Massage Therapists

The successful applicant/s will have: • Certificate III in Aged Care or higher • Excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills • Experience in residential aged care • Positions subject to a successful Police Check • Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccination Please email yarra.ranges@adventcare.org.au or call (03) 5966 4400 for a position description or if you have any queries.

12511220-DL36-21

V Resumes/ Employment Services

General Classifieds

12462305-LB39-20

AdventCare is a ‘not for profit’ organisation offering aged care that embraces Christian values. We are seeking applications from Personal Care Attendants for our Yarra Ranges Facility in Warburton, who are looking for casual and permanent work.

On offer: • Immediate start • Salary sacrifice

☎ 9720 5111

Rebedding & pointing Skylight resealing Written guarantee

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Leak detection & repair Valleys replaced Pensioner discount

Pensioner Discounts

• LARGE TREE SPECIALISTS • HEDGE TRIMMING EXPERTS • STUMP GRINDING • MULCH AVAILABLE • CONSULTING ARBORIST • No Fuss • No Mess • No Stress

V Air Conditioning

Be cool this summer

TREE SERVICES

12496966-LB23-21

Email: sales@networkclassifieds.com.au

rangerpestcontrol.com.au Free termite quotes - Family owned business ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀

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VICTORIA REGIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

V Pets & Services 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

12423634-SN31-19

Phone: 1300 666 808

TERMITE CONTROL SPECIALIST

1129931-RC16-14

Placing your classified advert is so easy...

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12386568-ACM19-18

V Pest Control 12345326-PB14-17

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Employment V Professional

DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.

VAF Memstar, Australia’s leading developer and provider of membrane based wine processing systems requires the services of an Operations Manager for its fee-for-service and equipment rental business in Victoria. The successful candidate will report to the National Operations Manager and will be responsible for the daily operations of VAF Memstar operations in Victoria, in particular the initiation and successful completion of service contracts. A balanced role with a mix of hands on operations and the responsibility for developing sales and relationships within the wider Victorian wine industry.

The role will include: • Communicatiing and scheduling wine treatment operations across Victorian wineries.

• The operation of filtration plant and equipment at the highest standard.

• Ensuring customer service contract requirements are completed as specified • Preparing and maintaining contract and other documentation as required • Generation of new service, rental and sales enquiries • Conducting wine trials and communicating new and existing VAF Memstar technology with clients Ideally, the successful candidate will have a technical background in the wine, food or beverage industries, be able to self-manage and operate independently.

This role will suit an experienced industry person looking to ‘make a mark’ and wanting career independence.

For all your electrical work including: Extensions Safety Switches Faults Repairs Farm Work Commercial and Domestic

Ph: 9761 4092 info@kallistaelectrical.com

12440513-DV06-20

“Servicing the hills for over 30 years”

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get better results

SJC HOME MAINTENANCE

Call Mick 0424 414 495 www.sjchomemaintenance.com.au

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‘Your Local’ Qualified Tradesman House & Property Maintenance No job too small Quality work at a great price, Fully insured

ADVERTISE with us and CALL 1300 666 808

Location: A central Wine region in Victoria, ideally close to the Yarra Valley An appropriate salary, company vehicle, communication equipment will be provided.

Please email your application through to sclarkson@vafmemstar.com.au www.vafmemstar.com.au 12512715-CG38-21

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NEWS

Preparing for disasters With the increase in severe disasters in Australia in the last decade, new research by Australian Red Cross has found for the first time that preparing for a disaster has a positive impact on recovery.

Lead author Red Cross National Resilience Adviser John Richardson said the research looking at the emergency experiences of 165 people who lived through disasters between 2018 and 2019 proved for the first time that the more prepared people feel, the lower their stress levels at the time and better their recovery after an emergency.

“Emergency recovery is a complex process that can extend for decades, with lasting economic and health impacts,” Mr Richardson said. “While there’s a widespread assumption that preparedness makes for better recovery, there is little research to prove it, and most preparedness advice focuses surviving disaster and its immediate aftermath.

“We know that the level of preparedness

is low in Australia, with around 10 per cent of people saying they take some form of action, and we know the impacts of disasters are increasing, through climate change, increasing disadvantage and urbanisation, so the need for people to take action is urgent.”

Key findings Six months after a disaster more than three in five people had not recovered.

The more prepared people felt they were, the less stressed they were at the time of the disaster. And the more people were stressed, the worse their state of recovery was, even ten years after their disaster.

Those on low incomes were over-represented among those who said they had not yet recovered (67 per cent compared to 56 per cent).

The research also highlights the importance of family and friends, with around 70 per cent of people saying they sought support

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from these people, regardless of whether they’d recovered.

A greater proportion of those who had not yet recovered required government assistance, did not get any preparedness education and if they did it was more often through friends and not Australian Red Cross, relative to those who had recovered at the time of the survey.

The source of preparedness advice mattered to peoples’ feelings of being in control and confidence in the decisions made during the disaster. Those who received preparedness advice from Australian Red Cross were more likely to feel in control of their actions during an emergency. Those who received preparedness advice from multiple sources such as Fire Service, SES, CFS, local government or workplace in addition to Australian Red Cross were the most likely to feel confident with their decisions during an emergency.

When we looked at the actions people

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wished they’d done, the most common responses were making copies and protecting important documents such as wills, ID and financial papers, followed by protecting items of sentimental value, and managing stress.

Recommendations Mr Richardson said on the basis of the findings Red Cross is making four recommendations: An increased focus on preparing for the long-term impacts of a disaster in preparedness programs More tailored approaches to preparedness, taking into account peoples’ profiles and needs Ensuring that preparedness programs focuses on psychological preparedness during and after a disaster More research to further investigate which actions support a better recovery.

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Funding support to help renters and rough sleepers The Victorian Government is providing more relief for Victorians struggling to pay their rent with new grants to help them keep their tenancies.

The funding will support Victorians in need to continue to have a safe place to stay – because nobody should have to worry about losing the roof over their head in a pandemic.

The COVID-19 Rent Relief Grant program will help renters who are experiencing rental hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Grants of up to $1500 will provide direct financial support to renters by making a contribution towards the cost of their rent directly to their landlord on their behalf.

The one-off payment is specifically for renters paying more than 30 per cent of their income in rent who are living in a primary residence to help them maintain safe, secure, and stable accommodation. Grants will be targeted at those who have lost an income of 20 per cent or more due to the pandemic.

There is an annual income limit of $62,860 for singles and $94,300 for couples, and to be eligible applicants can’t have more than $2,000 in savings. The landlord and renter will also need to enter into a rent reduction agreement for a period after 27 May 2021.

Applicants who may be eligible include casual workers on holiday and working visas, international students, skilled visa holders,

seasonal workers, New Zealand citizens and all refugee and temporary protection visa holders.

Emergency hotel accommodation during lockdowns for people experiencing home-

lessness has also been boosted by almost $45 million, reducing the spread of coronavirus and ensuring rough sleepers can continue to have a safe roof over their heads.

A previous round of rent relief grants,

which ran from April 2020 to March 2021, helped more than 33,000 Victorian renters maintain their tenancy. To find out if you’re eligible, visit housing.vic.gov.au/help-renting/rentrelief

Fallen trees after storms allow seeds to be collected Mountain Ash trees that fell in the devastating June storms are providing a rare opportunity for seed collection.

The fallen trees have enabled land managers and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning seed collectors to build their stores of Dandenong Ranges Mountain Ash seed, with many fallen trees full of seed following a mass flowering event last year.

The tiny seed capsules are usually found 30 metres up in the tree canopy where they can only be accessed by qualified seed collectors but with so many trees brought down by the storms, land managers have the rare opportunity to gather seed at ground level.

“Ensuring our sensitive alpine forests are re-seeded following fires is critical and this opportunity for seed collection is one that couldn’t be missed,” Energy, Environment and Climate Change minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.

“This is an opportunity for the Mountain Ash seed stores to be boosted so we can continue the work to ensure we maintain these beautiful forests for future generations.”

“It is great to see land managers making the most of this opportunity by collecting the seed from the Mountain Ash trees.”

The Alpine and Mountain Ash forests were severely affected by the 2019/20 bushfires as well as previous fires.

The seed collection is part of a Labor government initiative to collect and store seed to mailcommunity.com.au

help our forests recover from extreme fire and weather events.

Many of our forests are adapted to regenerate after fires, but our alpine forests are fire sensitive and may not recover if another fire occurs before the trees can reach maturity and produce their own seed.

In stage one of the Forest Restoration Project the department, with partners VicForests, Parks Victoria and contractors from regional Victoria, aerially seeded about 11,500 hectares of the bushfire affected forest.

Stage two of the project will see VicForests and other contractors continue to deliver this important work, focusing on rebuilding seed stores and putting arrangements in place to more rapidly respond to future events.

Mountain Ash seed crops take a year to mature after flowering and seeding cycles can be unpredictable.

Seed collection needs to take place to ensure availability of stored seeds for this incredible tree, with the collection relying on suitable conditions for bud, flower and seed maturity over several years.

The Victorian Government has invested over $60 million in biodiversity recovery following the 2019/20 bushfires including $7.7 million for the second stage of the restoration project to help gather, replenish and store new seed to replace seed used last year. This will create a seed bank to buffer against future events.

The fallen trees from the June storms have helped land managers and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning seed collectors to build their stores of Dandenong Ranges Mountain Ash seed.

Picture: MARKUS SPISKE ON UNSPLASH Tuesday, 14 September, 2021

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