Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 2nd November 2021

Upper Yarra

Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

Mail

Tourism operators welcome visitors back

Wild weather lashes the region

Local history advocate honoured

A call to action against Indian Mynas

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A Star News Group Publication

Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

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Yarra Valley screams Halloween Yarra Valley residents have embraced the spooky holiday and toured homes across the region that were decorated for Halloween.

Families have enjoyed the opportunity to dress up and roam the front lawns of those tricker treating.

For more turn to page 8

All aboard the ‘ghost train’ for trick or treating in Coldstream.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Workers wanted Computer Colour Matching

the East Cost.”

Last season there was some crop losses reported in the area to Yarra Valley Agriculture due to not enough seasonal workers to pick the produce.

Yarra Valley Cherries thankfully secured picking contractors but this upcoming season is one they will need all hands on deck for with a harvest expected of around 100 tonnes.

Continued page 3

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themselves a farm job for the harvest season, but these last two years I have been very lucky to have maybe a couple of backpackers make contact with us,” Ms Hall said.

And for those still in the country, Victoria hasn’t been the most ideal place to visit.

“They’ve been unable to make it to Victoria before the harvest time, and then they run the risk if they’re in Victoria for the harvest, of trying to get back out to follow the harvest trail up

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Farmers are facing yet another summer harvest with a labour shortage as the Covid-19 pandemic still causes issues for international seasonal workers.

Yarra Valley Agriculture’s Kylie Ammerlaan said in the past mostly backpackers have serviced the Yarra Valley.

“At the moment we’re quite limited by the

fact that we don’t have those people waiting around the Valley anymore,” Ms Ammerlaan said.

Yarra Valley Cherries is one of many producers who have relied on backpackers but Packing Shed Manager Robyn Hall said they’ve heard from very little in the past two years.

“We normally have a lot of backpackers contacting us mid year in the hope of finding

Learn more: Scan the QR code or visit www.cire.org.au

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By Renee Wood

NEWS

Yarra Valley Railway will be welcoming passengers back on to the train from October 31.

Pictures: ON FILE

Tourism trade resumes

By Renee Wood Many Yarra Valley tourism operators have been suffering through closures over the past eighteen months, but now restrictions have eased and it’s full steam ahead for a summer filled with visitors.

The Yarra Valley Railway is one of those that has been closed for some time, all together over the past two years it’s been locked down for longer than 12 months.

Sunday 31 October marked a special occasion, with the captain welcoming passengers back on to the heritage Walker Railmotor, the first time in three months.

Secretary Brett Morton said the demand is high for visitor experiences.

“It’s surprising how keen people are to do things at the moment, so it’s important to have a presence and get things back up and running because people are looking to do as much as they possibly can,” he said.

A mix of metro and regional visitors are expected to embrace the opportunity, as domestic travel interests increase.

“We’re going to lose a lot of internationals but there’s obviously the flip side of that, which

is that people in Australia can’t travel at the moment so they are looking to do things locally - therefore when the opportunity is there, the demand is quite strong.”

Currently the service is capped at 25 per cent capacity for the first few rides but limits are expected to change in the coming weeks as more restrictions ease.

Once things are running at full capacity, the funds will help to continue fueling Australia’s biggest volunteer run project – the restoration of the rail corridor between Yarra Glen, and Tarrawarra.

“We need to get back and running and we’ve got a business to run, we need to keep the income ticking in and to maintain a presence with our customers.”

The railway’s a drawcard for many visitors as a bucket list item for the Yarra Valley region.

“Our scenery is spectacular, rolling mountains, we’ve got tunnels - it’s just a beautiful, a beautiful spot in the world.”

“The whole region is a hotspot for tourism, you only have to go to every cafe and winery on the weekends every car park is full, so we complement the other type of tourist attractions.”

Healesville Sanctuary is another tourist hotspot and has welcomed visitors back for the first time in months on Tuesday 26 October.

The laid back Kangaroos and curious Dingoes enjoyed the company and other animals like the Tasmanian Devil and her new triplets have also said hello to visitors for the first time.

Director Ross Williamson said the carers started getting the animals familiar with seeing people again before opening.

“Most of our animals hadn’t seen people for about 80 days and we had to go through a process of just getting them used to having people around,” he said.

“We were playing announcements over the PA system and asking people to walk through exhibits in plain clothes not in uniform, so that animals just gradually got used to different people.”

Some 850 visitors walked through the doors on the first day on Tuesday 26 October and then another 950 booked into explore the following day.

Mr Williamson said the Sanctuary is gradually increasing its booking numbers slowly

before reaching maximum capacity early November.

“On Saturday we went up to 1,500. Then from the fifth of November, we’re going up to about 2,500 people so it’s a nice steady increase.”

The outdoor exhibits, indoor reptile and nocturnal enclosures are currently all open and the ‘Spirits of the Sky’ bird presentation will be back on Friday November 5.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing a really busy December and January, particularly over the school holidays, which the Sanctuary is really at its best over that period.”

A series of live music events will also be held at on the grounds in coming weeks, inviting visitors to enjoy a picnic, live music and local producers goods on Saturdays from November 20 to 11 December and February 5 - 26 2022.

“We’re putting ‘Sundown at the Sanctuary’ on Saturday afternoons and that will be a really good attraction for people.”

Those visiting need to be aware of online booking requirements and Covid-safe practices, including social distancing, vaccination statuses and masks, there is also only EFTPOS transactions allowed at the moment.

Stage two of works begin at Upper Yarra Secondary

By Renee Wood Works have started for stage two of Upper Yarra Secondary College’s multi-million dollar redevelopment project.

This phase will see the refurbishment of the Integrated Technology Learning Building, including a new learning landscape with tiered seating and a brand new art studio.

Principal Scott Tully said the refurbishment will support woodwork, ceramics, art and photography classes for all year levels.

“The old building, a lot of the windows were problematic, particularly now the buildings require good ventilation, they’ll all have good windows, they will have great facilities,” he said.

“The technology area is going to be completely redesigned with an art gallery in there as well, it will just be a more functional space where we can consolidate our art and technology together with those subjects going hand in hand.”

There has been slight delays due to the construction shut down but construction will be completed over the summer and students are expected to move into the technology spaces at the start of the 2022 school year.

In term one, work will then begin on building the new art and dark room building also part of the second stage.

Education Minister James Merlino said he looks forward to watching this $4.13 million upgrade take shape.

“These works are part of the Victorian 2 MAIL

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

Stage two is expected to be completed early next year.

Artist impressions of stage two of the works at Upper Yarra Secondary College.

Government’s investment in the Lilydale District and Yarra Valley Education Plan, which aims to provide every secondary student in these communities with the knowledge and capabilities they need to thrive throughout their lives,” he said.

Stage one was completed earlier in the year and the last stage of works is expected

to begin next Easter to deliver a new building with six classroomss, toilets and a renovation of the food tech area.

Mr Tully believes the students and community gain confidence and hope for a strong future when they see investment in the school.

“It’s really important to see investment in

communities, particularly when the buildings are still the original buildings from 1961,” Mr Tully said.

“Obviously, we look after the buildings, but they are old and tired and to see something nice and new, I think it actually does help to reimagine and give the kids a greater imagination and hope to see things happening.”

The school is currently sitting around 650 students and the last phase of works will see facilities that accommodate up to 800 students.

“That would be a really nice number, it’s still a number where you can know every student. So that’s the long term goal and I think hopefully in the next two years it will be realized when all the stages are done.” mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

IN BRIEF Rainfall It’s been a very wet October according to Alma Mitchell’s rain gauge, with 156.9mm of rain recorded over 22 days.

This compares to just 69mm of rain recorded last October in 17 days.

The year to date rainfall, measured from 1 January to 31 October has been 1059.3mm.

Highway road works The transport department has advised of upcoming road works at the Maroondah Highway and Warburton Highway intersection in Lilydale.

Works are scheduled from 2 November to 6 November between 8pm and 5am each day.

Detours will be in place around the intersection during this time.

For more traffic information visit the department’s website.

Emergency crews were called to several car rescues including this one in Mt Evelyn.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Severe storms and wild winds have once again lashed the Yarra Ranges causing severe property damage and power outages.

Picture: ON FILE

Wild winds blow in

By Renee Wood The Yarra Ranges was yet again lashed by storms and wild winds throughout the evening of Thursday 28 October and into Friday morning.

A severe weather warning was issued for damaging winds over southern Victoria and it’s believed they reached 100 kilometres per hour.

Vic SES received more than 7000 calls for help across the state as of Sunday 31 October and said, “Please be mindful of longer than

usual wait times if requesting SES emergency assistance on 132-500. If your emergency is life-threatening, phone 000. Thank you for your patience.”

More than 100,000 homes lost power due to the storms and AusNet has worked to restore most of those however, 15,000 customers were still without electricity as of Monday 1 November.

Hundreds of homes went without power in Seville, Wandin East, Silvan, Mount Evelyn, Sherbrooke, Macclesfield, Wandin North and East, Healesville, Chum Creek, Monbulk, Olin-

da, Emerald, Cockatoo, Kalorama, Sassafras and Mount Dandenong.

While more than a thousand properties in Gembrook and The Basin were off the grid.

There was also reports of trees down across the region, including in Seville, Woori Yallock, Macclesfield, Healesville, Cockatoo, Emerald, Mount Dandenong, Sassafras, Gembrook, Mooroolbark, Montrose and Croydon.

Local SES crews are still working to clear many hazards and are still receiving calls for assistance as residents assess the impacts of Thursday and Friday’s wild weather.

A push to get more seasonal workers

The Yarra Valley Seasonal Work Hub has many jobs advertised waiting for prospective workers to apply.

Picture: SUPPLIED about seasonal work, information about harvests, and more importantly a jobs board where farmers can advertise jobs and prospective employees can apply.

“The other part of that website is a grow-

ers hub as well, so lots of information about employing people and lots of links and helpful templates that can help, a lot of Covid information and they can upload their jobs on there as well.”

Many jobs have been already advertised with a variety of producers, including Yarra Valley Cherries who is looking for a retail worker and packing shed manager.

“We’re looking for someone as a team leader in our packing shed, hopefully someone with a little bit of packing shed supervising experience to help us run our team in the shed, and a retail person in our retail shop where we sell our farm gate sales,” Ms Hall said.

“There’s a lot of different areas - the packing sheds quite a nice environment, it’s air conditioned, we make it a pleasant work experience, keep everybody focused, and it’s fast and exciting.”

For more information visit www.yarravalleyseasonalwork.com.au

Learner driver taught a lesson A teenage L-Plater was issued a hefty fine in Woori Yallock Tuesday 26 October after being caught speeding hours after obtaining a learner’s permit.

Officers from State Highway Patrol SouthEast intercepted a Hyundai Getz on Healesville -Koo Wee Rup Road after it reached alleged speeds of 83km/h in a 60km zone about 1.30pm on Tuesday, 26 October.

Officers spoke with the driver, a 17-year-old boy, who told them he was taking his grandmother out after getting his learner’s permit hours before.

The boy was issued with a $363 infringement notice and lost three demerit points for exceeding the speed limit.

Burn off escapes Just before 9pm on Thursday 27 October Hillcrest CFA was called to a tree on fire that caught on fire next to a burn off pile.

Crews worked quickly to contain the blaze and thankfully it didn’t spread any further.

The CFA said this was a timely reminder, urging residents to be careful when burning off and even though we are still having rainfall burn offs can still spread.

Always keep an eye on the weather conditions and changing winds when clearing your property.

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From page 1 “It’s not very often we go over a 100 tonnes, so I would still like to have a few more names of people who are looking for work and essentially who can work most days of the week is pretty important for us.”

Ms Ammerlaan said the industry is trying to lure in local workers to help fill hundreds of positions ahead of the summer harvest.

“They may be students, they may be people who are unemployed, lost their job during Covid, or looking for a change, or they want to earn some extra money for the season coming up to Christmas,” Ms Ammerlaan said.

“There’s lots of lots of opportunities to come and make some decent money in the next couple of months.”

Yarra Valley Agriculture has created a dedicated online hub, funded by the state government, to draw in new workers.

The Yarra Valley Seasonal Work hub is an interactive web based platform with videos

String of collisions Yarra Ranges CIU are investigating a series of collisions and near misses through the Lilydale CBD early from the afternoon of Wednesday 27 October.

It is alleged a 35 year old female was driving a 2007 Toyota Corolla, with the registration UWY224 from near Nelson Road and Britannia Way, Lilydale, through the Lilydale CBD before being arrested near the corner of Maroondah Highway and Cavehill Road.

It is alleged the female collided with vehicles throughout the CBD and had a number of near misses with vehicles, pedestrians and construction workers.

Police are requesting that anyone who has dash cam footage of the incident, or witnessed the driving, or is a victim of a collision or a near miss, contact Detective Senior Constable Kellett at Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit on 9739 2401.

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mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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MAIL 3

NEWS

Bike statement delivered The Warburton Mountain Bike Destination has reached a huge milestone after the project team delivered the project’s Environmental Effects Statement (ESS) to the Victorian Minister for Planning on 22 October.

Over the past 18 months Yarra Ranges Council, together with a team of expert consultants, have completed the most comprehensive investigation ever undertaken into the potential environmental effects of mountain biking.

The EES stretches over approximately 3500 pages, containing around 1,500,000 words, covering the topics of; Biodiversity and Habitats; Surface Water, Ground Water and Geotechnical Hazards; Cultural Heritage; Land Use and Planning; Socio-economic; and Transport.

Director of Environment and Infrastructure, Mark Varmalis said it is the latest body of work after years of preparing, planning and engagement with stakeholders and the community.

“This is the only project of this nature to

The project team delivered the EES for the Warburton Mountain Bike Project to the Planning minister on 22 October.

Picture: RIDE YARRA RANGES have undertaken an EES in Victoria and is the most comprehensive investigation of potential environmental effects of mountain biking ever conducted,” he said.

Following the Minister’s authorisation, it is anticipated that the EES will go on public exhi-

bition in late November 2021.

During the exhibition period the EES will be available online and in hard copy for the community to review.

There will also be opportunities for the community to hear about the project and con-

nect with project staff and specialists.

During this time the community will be invited to have their say and make submissions on the EES. “These submissions will be reviewed, through an inquiry by an independent panel who will then report to the Minister for Planning. After this report has been assessed, the Minister will advise on how the project will proceed.”

More information will be released over the next coming weeks on how residents can participate in the EES process or register on www. rideyarraranges.com.au to receive project updates.

“Stage 1 of this project has been funded by all three tiers of Government, along with a $300,000 contribution from the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise, and will deliver significant economic, jobs and health benefits for the community and the wider state. We look forward to sharing updates with the community as the EES progresses.”

MLMC wins ‘best school wine’ at Adelaide Show

By Mikayla van Loon Mount Lilydale Mercy College (MLMC) has added yet another award to its belt for best school wine at the Royal Adelaide Show.

The 2019 Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, produced entirely by students, also took home the national gold medal, while the 2018 wine of the same making took home silver.

Farm manager and agriculture and horticulture teacher Tim Thompson said the students involved in the winemaking program were thrilled with the result.

“You’d be surprised how interested students get when you set the bar high and you tell them this is what we’re setting out to achieve and this is what we’ve done in the past and this is what you are expected to do,” he said.

“They really switch on and get engaged and it’s not just a school project, it’s a real thing.”

Students are involved in the process from start to finish, first by testing the quality of the grapes and picking a harvest date, through to managing the fermenting temperature, plunging the juice twice a day, barreling the wine and then finally bottling it.

Mr Thompson said the program has been around for a number of years but it’s only in the last six years that MLMC has really focused on building it up.

During that time the school has won a dozen or so awards, not just in school competitions but in national competitions against

Students from Mount Lilydale Mercy College have just received best school wine at the Royal Adelaide Show. some of the leading winemakers in Australia.

“It got an honorary gold in the James Halliday Cabernet Challenge last year which is the national commercial wine competition.

It’s not a school wine competition, it was up against some very good wines from all around Australia,” Mr Thompson said.

Students from all year levels can take part in the winemaking and agricultural classes

on the school farm at MLMC. Younger year levels learn how to produce wine, breed sheep, prune the orchard and propagate plants in the nursery, while VCE students learn the more mechanical side of things like shearing sheep and maneuvering heavy equipment.

“I think it’s an important job of schools to connect students with local industry and set

Picture: SUPPLIED

a purpose for them and I think our principal’s done a great job in promoting a program that does that,” Mr Thompson said.

“Some of these students end up with jobs in the industry and they can converse with winemakers and vineyard managers quite intelligently and are quite successful when they go out into industry, which is just wonderful.”

Yarra Ranges solar panel project to reach milestone Solar panels will be installed on six community facilities in coming months, as Council’s rollout of solar systems edges closer to its 4000th panel.

New solar power systems will be installed on Seville Preschool, Hanson Park Preschool and Palm Grove Preschools, the Golden Wattle Club, CIRE’s Community House in Mt Evelyn and the Warburton Waterwheel before February 2022.

The funding for these systems has been provided by Council and the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund, with Council installing each system.

Chirnside Ward Councillor, Richard Higgins, said the systems will help community facilities to reduce their ongoing power bills, and their environmental impacts.

“Though COVID-19 restrictions have kept a lot of us at home, our teams have been working to install more solar power systems on buildings throughout the community,” he said.

“In recent months, Council has installed systems on three preschools in the Chirnside Ward – Bimbadeen Preschool, Chirnside Park Preschool and Rolling Hills Preschool. These 4 MAIL

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Rolling Hills Preschool is one of the community buildings to receive solar panels from the Yarra Ranges project.

Picture: SUPPLIED projects, also funded by the Federal Government, will save our local preschools money, while reducing greenhouse emissions from electricity.

“These new systems, and those set for preschools and community buildings, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and give something back to the community, by dramatically reducing power bills for the people using these facilities.

“Earlier this year, we ran a survey for community members using buildings that could benefit from solar installations. More than half of respondents said that they would use savings to update existing equipment and resources, while 32 per cent said they would be able to offer extra programs or services to the community.

“I’m proud that we’ve been able to help these community groups with installations, which will put money back into the community, instead of sending it to power companies.

“I’d like to thank the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund for supporting these projects and helping us to get this work done.”

Council has installed 3973 solar panels to date, on 52 public and community facilities.

These solar installation projects align with Council’s Liveable Climate Plan, which outlines major goals for reducing Council’s environmental impacts and switching to renewable energy – such as 100% renewable energy use in Council services and infrastructure from 2030, net zero operational spend on electricity by 2040 and net zero emissions by 2040.

Cr Higgins said that all the solar systems in-

stalled by Council has resulted in a total capacity of over 1.17 MWp – enough to power over 650 homes.

“There’s been an incredible body of work at Council to help reduce our impact on the environment, since the mid-2000s. We’re seeing the benefits of that work now, as we save hundreds of thousands of dollars in electricity bills and watch our organisation’s emissions plummet,” Cr Higgins said.

“I’m proud of the work being done here, and look forward to us meeting our goals and helping the community to adapt to this space along the way.”

Yarra Ranges Council is part of the Solar Savers program, which helps provide community members with affordable solar panels for their home; Energy Savers for Business, which assists small businesses to save money by installing solar, switching to energy-efficient appliances and lighting and; Environmental Upgrade Agreements, where large businesses can access funding to upgrade to more energy efficient equipment and install renewable energy systems with a low-interest loan.

For more information about Council’s work in environmental sustainability, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/sustainability mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

IN BRIEF

YR vision adopted

By Mikayla van Loon Yarra Ranges Council has adopted its council plan, vision, action plan and financial plan after draft documents were consulted on by the community last month.

These plans outline what the council would like to achieve over the next four years and by 2036.

Some of the community feedback received through the advisory panel and from online submissions noted the importance of including First Nations heritage across the municipality by way of signage and flags, as well as Aboriginal history.

Other points raised related to the financial stability of the council, economic recovery from the last two years, rate increases, environmental management, bushfire preparedness, the importance of local agricultural businesses and local assets.

“These documents are our commitment, the promise that we make to our community, about what we will deliver. The council plan in particular is the heart of every local government and

this one involves the voices of a large number of our community,” Mayor Fiona McAllister said.

“Whether you live here or visit, you will see how much we care for Country, how inclusive and connected our communities are, and how balanced growth makes us the best place in the world.”

Lilydale and District Historical Society president Sue Thompson elected to speak at the council meeting on 26 October to address the Value of History Statement.

Ms Thompson said Yarra Ranges Council was the first in Victoria and most likely Australia to adopt the statement as part of the council plan.

“You are all true trailblazers, and I congratulate you. While you’re only now adopting the statement, your planning staff have been doing amazing work under the guidance of Alison Fowler (heritage officer), on the protection of the natural and built history features of the municipality,” she said.

With 14 historical societies in the shire, Ms Thompson said a heritage officer was meant to support these groups but had since been redeployed, leaving historical societies in a questionable position.

“The support of history groups has fallen away and the groups have faced huge challenges, including aging, as we all do, and Covid.

“The lack of people and volunteers has seen five history groups in the Shire of Yarra Ranges facing serious issues. Their membership, remaining incorporated, is a key issue when you are in charge of collections, promotion and limited ability to open the doors.”

Ms Thompson said she would like to see a full time heritage officer assigned to the role to “ensure all groups, their collections and their knowledge survive and thrive.”

Half a million dollars for the community ship for Happy Families program $1,980

By Renee Wood Half a million dollars will be going towards supporting projects across the Yarra Ranges as part of the council’s annual Grants for Community program.

Councillors unanimously supported the funding at the Tuesday 26 October meeting for 68 projects across the municipality ranging from events, health and wellbeing projects and Covid-19 recovery ideas.

Councillor Sophie Todorov said they support the council’s strategic plans and will create a sense of belonging and identity for local communities.

“I must say our calendars will be jam packed over the next 12 months or so, so many fantastic initiatives and events coming up,” she said.

The grants were broken into community development, arts and heritage and festivals and events.

“They will involve many community volunteers, in fact we can never underestimate the monetary value of our volunteers in running these fantastic events and programs as well.”

Councillor Tim Heenan said many of the funding recipients will be looking forward to getting back together after cancellations due to the pandemic.

“We know that in 2022 there is a lot more certainty for our community to have these great events and to do these great things in the community than what there was in 2020 and even 2021,” he said.

Local grants include: Community development Woori Yallock Primary School’s member-

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art program $10,000

of the Hills to deliver a ‘resilient · Yarra Valley Arts for a series of textile art · Mums classes $5,000 mums’ support project $8,000 Arthritis Support Group to help · Auspicious Arts Projects to build on from a · Healesville 2021 documentary about creative women older residents affected by the lockdowns $5,210 Healesville Living & Learning Centre’s Social Justice Day event $2,485 Upper Yarra Rotary Club for a LGBTIQA+ mentoring program $7,000 Badger Creek Community’s Dancing in the Dark weekly event $1,950 Eastern Domestic Violence Sevice’s Level Playgroup $5,000 Upper Yarra River Reserves Committee workshops and regenerative tourism course $5,000 Healesville CORE to develop an educational outreach package and town meeting $9,860 CIRE Services to re-introduce a second weekly Gumboots Playgroup $3,175 Yarra Valley ECOSS to create Crops for Community $10,000 The Valley Market Warburton to support the monthly market and mentoring youth $8,000 The Big Sister Experience for a series of mental health and wellbeing workshops $4,000 Arts and Heritage Yarra Valley ECOSS for its indigenous education program the Bunjil’s Nest $10,000 Healesville Toastmasters for Zinezibar and online workshops $5,000 Yarra Valley Singers for pop-up performances $10,000 Belgravia Foundation for a school holiday

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· · · · ·

$7,000 Katu Katu for a mentoring project for local artists $8,000 Yarra Valley Arts for the annual Open Studios Djirri Djirri Cultural Services for a traditional Wurundjeri ceremony $7,000 Yarra Ranges Heritage Network for a research project with 15 historical societies $10,000 Forgotten Heroes Vietnam and Veterans Music reminiscence project $10,000 Mikhaela Ebony Bourke at Burrinja for Play Imagine Create workshop series $7,500 Festivals and Events Opus Twenty One for the Big Band Park series at Queens Park $3,164 Yarra Ranges Film Society for the Warburton Film Festival $2,000 Ecstatic Arts Incorporated for the Blacksmiths and Artisans Festival $10,000 FoodPatch Art for Efemera a 9 day multiarts event $9,000 Eastern Volunteers for a volunteer expo showcasing community groups $9,000 Victorian Skateboard Assoc. for Yarra Ranges Downhill Festival $8,000 The River Folk Festival for the 3 day music festival in Warburton $9,000 The Jamalama Music for the Backyarder Festival $9,000 Yarra Valley Arts for Sensefest with musical master classes for youth $9,000

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Civic Centre update At the council meeting on Tuesday 26 October, Yarra Ranges Council gave an update on the Civic Centre redevelopment and when it is likely to be completed.

Councillor Len Cox said due to the pandemic, the building of the new centre had been delayed but it is expected construction should be finished by early January.

While being built as the council offices, Cr Cox said it has been built with purpose and is very much in line with the needs of the community.

The redevelopment began in 2019 but had been on the cards for several years prior.

Council is working in partnership with an artist team of Aunty Joy Wandin, Jonathon Jones and Tom Nicholson to deliver an integrated artwork installation at the new building.

Land use framework In partnership with the fellow councils of Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash and Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges Council has submitted its Eastern Metro Land Use Framework Plan to the State Government.

The 30 year plan outlines the use of land for infrastructure, provides a long-term framework to manage growth, focus on resolving regional and metropolitan issues and ensure projects align with the planning scheme.

The council’s submission specifically asked for acknowledgement of how the Yarra Ranges fits into and contributes to the eastern part of Melbourne, as well as raising key issues and challenges for the region and what can be done to address them.

Councillor Sophie Todorov said the framework council submitted focused on the importance of tourism, transport, social community housing and the local economy.

Declaration of a special charge Menzies Road in Menzies Creek will join the list of roads to be sealed, with the council approving a declaration of a special charge.

The special charge scheme allows residents and the council to fund the sealing of dirt roads, with assistance of $150 million from the Federal Government.

After consulting with residents along Menzies Road, the council shared its intention to levy a special charge.

Since the submission stage has finished, the council moved to approve the special charge scheme for this strip of road.

All those liable for the special charge will be notified by the council, explaining in writing the decision and what happens next.

June storm update Yarra Ranges Council supplied a storm recovery update at the 26 October council meeting, noting the impacts still remaining.

Of 135 houses which sustained significant damage, 74 are still uninhabitable, 49 have been assessed as habitable and 12 are still awaiting assessment. Several properties are still struggling to re-establish a reliable water supply.

From council surveys of the land, it is estimated over 25,000 trees fell in the region and a number of places in the Dandenong Ranges show just 10 per cent canopy coverage.

A community consultation has just wrapped up, showing 789 people completed the community impact survey about the storms and the pandemic, of those 613 were storm affected residents.

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MAIL 5

NEWS

History advocate award

By Mikayla van Loon Sue Thompson has been a fierce advocate for the continued celebration of history in Lilydale and surrounding areas for the last 30 years, something she has now been recognised for by the History Council of Victoria.

As the inaugural winner of the Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy, Ms Thompson’s dedication to history not only as president of the Lilydale and District Historical Society but even prior has been acknowledged.

Ms Thompson said given the list of worthy recipients she was “gobsmacked” by the announcement made on Thursday 21 October.

“I’m a little overwhelmed at the honour the History Council of Victoria and Jane Hansen has just given me,” she said.

“I accept it on behalf of all those people throughout Victoria who actively promote the value of history in their communities.”

The prize was established in 2020 to applaud the efforts of groups or individuals who advocate for the value of history, the work of historians and the need for history in education.

It is named after Jane Hansen AO who has always had a passion for history and has been a supporter of the History Council of Victoria through her philanthropic work.

“I think Sue’s ongoing energy and advocating history is wonderful. As well as a respected public speaker, she has embraced current technologies to reach new audiences through two important websites,” Ms Hansen said.

Sue Thompson has been award the inaugural history advocacy prize by the History Council of Picture: ROB CAREW Victoria. 200586 Commended for her role in advocating for the Value of History Statement to be adopted

by Yarra Ranges Council, Ms Hansen said Ms Thompson embodied all the reasons why she supported the establishment of such a prize.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Fiona McAllister said the council was “thrilled” to hear of Ms Thompson’s award.

“I think I can speak on behalf of all the

councillors, we absolutely admire all the wonderful work that you do for our community but we love your voice and your presence in our council meetings,” Cr McAllister said.

“I have to say for me as mayor, having you there and the voice that checks in and knowing that you have views everytime that add huge value to our council process is greatly appreciated.

“We are absolutely thrilled about this award and we couldn’t have thought of a better person to be an inaugural recipient.”

Having worked as a journalist for 40 years, Ms Thompson said she was able to combine her love for history with her storytelling skills.

“Way back in the very early 60s I had a school assignment about my family. This started my lifelong love of history,” she said.

“After a brief stint in the law, I found my niche in journalism where I spent the next 40 years working with and promoting local communities and their stories.”

It was her work on the Lilydale Express’ centenary edition of the newspaper in 1987 however, that allowed her to join the Lilydale Historical Society.

As president of the historical society, Ms Thompson has been a voice for change, expressing her passion for history at every turn and embedding the need for history across a range of platforms as technologies develop.

Ms Thompson said often the historical society was known as the “hysterical society which was full of old people.”

“To me there is only one way to counter that description – be active, be innovative and use technology to promote the value of history and its importance in society.

“As historians we have to accept change but we should always try to ensure our community’s history is woven into all new projects and activities to ensure its stories are preserved and told to present and future residents.”

Star Mail footy tipping winners score big The final siren has been rung for the AFL footy season of the year with the Demons coming out on top but it was a nail bitting finish in the end for the Star Mail’s tipping competition.

Coming in on first place by the smallest of margins was Barry Cripps from Healesville Toyota on a score of 128.

Following along behind him was a draw for second place with Ashleigh Skillern from Yarra Glen Auto and Clint Rose from Clint Rose Motors both narrowly missing the win on 127 points each.

Mr Cripps received a 65 inch Hisense TV donated from the Mail’s sponsor Harvey Norman Chirnside Park.

Both Mr Skillern and Mr Rose received a $250 voucher each to be spent at the Mail’s sponsor Monbulk Jewellers.

All have celebrated the win after years of being tipsters in the competition.

The Mail would like to thank Harvey Norman Chirnside Park and Monbulk Jewellers for sponsoring the prizes and all the tipsters for their support and contribution.

Ken Hunt from Monbulk Jewellers awarding Ashleigh Skillern with his second prize win.

Clint Rose was unable to attend.

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Barry Cripps (Right) from Healesville Toyota receiving his first place prize from Atilla Okur (Audio Picture: STAR MAIL Visual Specialist for Harvey Norman). 255430

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NEWS

Destructive Indian myna

By Renee Wood Yarra Ranges, Cardinia and Knox councils are joining forces to reduce the Indian myna bird population which is creating biodiversity havoc across the south east.

An online webinar was held on Thursday 28 October where Darebin Parklands Head Ranger Peter Wiltshire was a guest speaker to share his knowledge of the pest bird and how it displaces native species.

It’s hoped those who watched the webinar will join a voluntary community action group to help solve the Indian myna problem.

Mr Wiltshire, who’s been a ranger for 40 years, has been researching the myna’s behaviour for decades after noticing Eastern Rosella numbers decreasing.

“We have 155 nest boxes throughout Darebin Parklands, but the problem is the Indian mynas invade the boxes and so we decided that we would trap them and reduce the population,” he explained.

“We’ve court over 1500 birds out of our park and that changed the biodiversity dramatically, but they remain a threat and we decided that we wanted to research the behaviour of the birds to understand it.”

The bird from Southern Asian was first brought to the country in 1863 to Werribee, Victoria to help control insect pests.

However, it is now prolific through suburbia in Australia’s south east causing great harm to other bird populations.

During the webinar several videos were shown, providing insight into the highly intelligent bird and how they evict natives species from hollows and bird boxes.

“If you watch the video you’ll see how tenacious and how good they are at problem solving, when we saw this [the bird finding its way into a ‘myna proof’ bird box] we were quite distraught to be honest with you.

Traps can be used to capture the Indian Myna and humanely dispose of them to reduce their numbers.

The Indian myna bird, also known as the common myna, is a pest species that’s causing havoc on Picture: DELWP the local biodiversity. 141051 “When we saw that we thought we need to understand the capacity of these birds, so we set up a network of trials.”

The videos went on to show several ways that the myna was still able to get into the nest box and take over the nest.

Several videos were distressing, showing the myna breaking other birds eggs and throwing chicks out - the true nature of the destructive bird.

“As you can see, they bust the eggs up and then they take them outside. They don’t eat them or anything, they just drop them outside.

We’ve found evidence of eggs and chicks at the base of trees, with tree hollows and our nest boxes.

Surveyor support needed

By Parker McKenzie Yarra Ranges Council has asked for the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) to appoint a manager of business to resolve orphaned surveying permits, an area of concern that the VBA believes is a council duty to resolve.

Yarra Ranges Council issued a statement regarding an ABC News article detailing how Victorian homeowners are being stranded with building permits that are unable to be completed.

This occurs when the original private building surveyor is no longer in business and other surveyors are unwilling to complete the job because of the risk of crippling insurance liabilities.

“We understand this is a complex and frustrating issue for members of our community who have found themselves in this position. Council has been and will continue to advocate to the VBA and State Government to assist residents in finalising these outstanding building permits,” the statement said.

“Council is also working with the Victorian Municipal Building Surveyors Group to advocate for action on behalf of the thousands of home owners across Victoria.”

Yarra Ranges Council said in these situations many homeowners have been left unable to occupy their homes and has called upon the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) to use their powers to appoint a manager of business to resolve the issues.

The issue of orphaned permits has been worsened by building surveyor skills shortages, disciplinary activity and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council said that the VBA is the only authority with jurisdiction to resolve the issue, and they will be secured against liability for their actions.

“Under Victorian legislation, the VBA has the power to intervene in these matters and in doing so, would be indemnified against any risk under the Building Act. The Victorian Building Authority is the correct and ap-

Yarra Ranges Council has released a statement calling for building surveyor support in response to a news article last week. propriate authority to resolve these issues, and should exercise their powers to appoint a manager to the business, as they are the only authority with jurisdiction under the relevant part of the Building Act being section 83B(b) to do so.” Yarra Ranges Council said.

VBA State Building Surveyor Andrew Cialini said the authority is looking at potential solutions, however councils have a responsibility to resolve the issue.

“The VBA has been active in seeking improvements to the regulatory framework to better support consumers impacted by orphan permits. Councils have statutory obligations to support consumers to resolve their building works,” he said.

“Given the local impacts on consumers it is imperative that all councils uphold their role in Victoria’s building control framework by accepting building permit applications, including the transfer of functions, and enforcement of compliance with the Building Act, where deemed appropriate.”

The VBA is currently collaborating with a host of organisations including the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Victorian Municipal Building Surveyors Group on potential options to resolve orphaned permit issues.

“We tried every combination, every paper we read said how you could stop mynas getting in - we found that if you designed a box that could stop mynas, it stopped everything, and there is no solution to it other than to make sure if you put boxes out then to patrol quite regularly and secondly, if you do put boxes up that you keep the holes to a smaller size so the mynas can’t get in.”

Also part of the webinar was discussing how residents can use traps to capture the bird and humanely dispose of them to reduce their numbers.

“If you’re going to trap them, you’re best putting the trap somewhere as open as possible and where they can actually keep an eye on from a higher point, that seems to be the

main thing. They’re also attracted to the colour red so the red dried pet food is one that seems to be more popular with them.

“Regarding euthanizing we’ve used cervical dislocation. It’s basically breaking the neck and we’re obliged to be humane with these animals to kill them instantly as best we can.

Mr Wiltshire recommended residents don’t feed chickens scraps and switch to pellets, also don’t leave pet food out which attracts the birds and plant more native trees to reduce wide open spaces for mynas to feed on.

They are also known to nest in roof tiles and open eaves, with residents encouraged to block up holes to stop them roosting.

“We have the opportunity to actually be part of a voluntary community action group.

If what you’ve seen tonight really interests you, if you think you’d like to be a part of trying to solve the Indian myna problem that we’ve got across all our regions, then do fill out the surveys,” Jen Ellison, Environmental Volunteers Support Officer for Yarra Ranges Council said.

The webinar will be uploaded to the Yarra Ranges Council website in the next couple of weeks for those who missed it.

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MAIL 7

OPINION

Welcome back to beloved libraries Readers rejoice! Our public libraries are opening up! Apart from browsing and/or checking out the latest books, magazines, newspapers, CDs and DVDs, all on-site and in-person services are becoming available once again.

For those wanting an outing in the city, State Library Victoria (SLV) will reopen on Wednesday 3 November, although the Russell Street Welcome Zone and Readings bookshop will stay shut until January 2022. Masks will remain mandatory inside the library at all times.

All visitors to SLV will also need to checkin using the Services Victoria app and provide proof that they are fully vaccinated, either with a digital certificate or a printed copy of it. We are just in time to view SLV’s first Window on Collections display, the “Rural and Regional Photography Commission”. It features a selection of 30 photographs highlighting the lived experiences of rural and regional Victorians in 2020, during the devastating bushfire season and then the COVID global pandemic.

These images shed light on local stories of courage, loss and resilience, captured by photographers from rural and regional communities with which they each share a deep and personal connection. Many of them feature Victoria’s unsung heroes, from frontline workers such as nurses, firefighters and supermar-

PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN ket staff, to parents doing homeschooling and those helping neighbours and strangers alike.

Another exhibition worth seeing at SLV is “The Changing Face of Victoria”, which explores the spirit of activism and invention and its impact on our modern state. There are everyday themes – water, workers’ rights, camping and coffee – with more than 150 objects, artworks and photographers carefully curated to showcase some of the ways we can all make a difference in shaping our world.

90 percent of these collection items have never been exhibited before, including a series of funky espresso machines that were introduced to Australia by European migrants in the 1950s. So little was known about these

machines that cafe owners across Melbourne were required to obtain a boilermaker’s license before they could operate them.

Now, surely you would say, you don’t need to go to the city to enjoy a nice cup of coffee? Indeed, for those preferring to stay local, Eastern Regional Libraries (ERL) will throw open their doors on Monday 8 November. The aforementioned rules such as wearing masks, checking in and providing proof of vaccination will apply.

It is worth mentioning that ERL supports all readers in proving their vaccination status and accessing all 13 branch libraries. Readers can send in their digital certificates to be printed and ready to collect when they arrive at the library. Those who need help setting up their digital certificates can access the highly succinct and user-friendly guides on the ERL website.

Meanwhile, ERL will continue to offer a diverse range of online events and services, including but not limited to storytimes, guest speakers and presenters, and tech help sessions. “Click & Collect”, which has helped so many readers across Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges during the lengthy lockdown, will also continue.

Freedom is at the door, do we taste it?

Focal Point Were you one of those who let your hair down on ‘Freedom Friday’?

I didn’t celebrate it as I was too busy trying the retrieve information and data from my phone which was lost a week ago, then found flattened by X number of cars. However I did a ‘big freedom trip’ (WHOOPEE) across to Healesville for Sunday lunch with some of my family.

WOW it all looked new and it was a lovely drive. That was my first real sniff of freedom from a daily 4.5 km drive to a coffee van.

Interestingly, freedom for some can be a scary thing with fear of what lies outside of home. (Which was the lockdown capital of our then known world.) Many of us where locked in there for a world record time.

Having been locked down for that time, some of us are experiencing strange feelings.

In long past eras being incarcerated in prison meant being thrown into a dark dungeon, with no light and no orientation.

A book on my shelves tells the story of a young Christian pastor, being horrifically treated in a terrible prison in China at the turn of this century, simply for being a Christian. For decades before 100s of 1000s were eliminated as the church was persecuted. A lot of that time in prison, he lay naked on a bare concrete floor and was thrown scraps of food and each time the guards walked past,

Graeme Dawson they urinated on him. When released he came out, jubilant and refreshed in his faith and like Mandela, refusing to be bitter.

Now of course, our being shut out of many aspects of our lives, really does not compare with the suffering those poor men and women went through, but many of us have gone through deep grief and sufferings of different kinds.

Let us never forget that over nine hundred families in Victoria have had to say goodbye to loved ones under very restricted conditions and regulations.

With sustained deprivation and suffering there is a phenomenon known as ‘Brain Fog’, a fog-like experience, that over time, envelopes a person - a psychological affect that has become a real ‘Pea Souper’.

‘Brain Fog’ can hang around for years if not treated medically and or psychologically.

Part of that ‘Fog’ has risen from a lack of a known future – so there has grown a despondency about even thinking about holiday plans, making a new garden, and in my family, a hesitancy in setting a new date for a twice cancelled wedding.

Many of our older readers have created a cocoon type world to protect themselves from the ‘big new bad world’ out there, so that when they do come out they find they are not free at all, as the cocoon has now taken on another form – another prison?.

Now we find the battle through the ‘Brain Fog’ is entrenched and seems permanent.

Without exaggeration and with scientific backing, these psychological states are now bordering on a form of PTSD. (We have gone through the trauma, now we are dealing with the stress of the disorder) I would let my readers down if I didn’t bring some encouragement from the book of life; the maker’s manual.

‘God helps us in our times of weakness; even when we don’t know what to pray He intercedes for us with words we cannot express’.

Apostle Paul.

(Feedback and need for care can be fielded to my email - csrsmokey@gmail.com) Graeme Dawson, Chaplain to Community

Looking back at 1984 film

Dune Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis and Sting Rated MA15+ With Victorian cinemas now open again but Denis Villeneuve’s Dune not coming out in Australia until December 2, let’s look at David Lynch’s 1984 Dune adaptation.

Based on Frank Herbert’s iconic novel, Dune follows Paul (Kyle MacLachlan), heir to the spacefaring House of Atreides, who becomes a messiah to the Fremen, the natives of the desert planet Arrakis.

Dune is a tedious, poorly-paced visual masterpiece.

Maclachlan is rather wooden as Paul, the performances are generally staid and flat, and the film is choked with inorganic exposition.

Nearly every minute detail is described with dry spoken dialogue or inner narration, which is unnecessary and even patronising. The Emperor-backed siege of House Atreides by grotesque rival House Harkonnen is a visually exciting set-piece, but the build-up carries little suspense after every privy character relentlessly explains their plans. In contrast to the long, plodding first act, Paul’s time with the Fremen and his showdown with the Harkonnens are extremely rushed.

Despite its severe narrative flaws, Dune is one of the most visually breathtaking films of the eighties, with stunning sets, costumes and miniatures. The film has a rousing score by rock band Toto and a majestic theme by Brian Eno. Dune also has several thrilling battle sequences, although Lynch is not good at directing smaller skirmishes or hand-tohand fight scenes.

A beautiful but intensely frustrating watch, Dune is available on DVD and iTunes.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

Senior Netball Coach Wanted The Alexandra Football / Netball Club are seeking expressions of interests for a Senior Netball Coach for the 2022 Season.

The club is looking for a head coach to directly coach the A & B Grade teams as well as assist the coaches in the lower grades. The club is part of the AFL Outer East Football Netball League, Division Two.

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Our Club is very much a family orientated club who are seeking a coach that will build on the existing playing groups skills, develop upcoming junior players and be able to introduce / attract new players to the club.

Pre-season training commences in November with the normal home & away season starting in April 2022.

Renumeration package is available and negotiable to the right person.

For more information please contact either Michelle Jack on 0400 519 862 or Sharon Hedger on 0409 105 613 or email alexandrafnc@afloutereast.com

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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NEWS

Halloween comes to town Houses across the Yarra Ranges put on some great displays for Halloween this year, creating a map of houses to visit in the shire to experience the ultimate spookiness.

Yarra Valley Haunters, created by Narelle Stillwell, allowed families to plan their route for trick or treating and where to find the very best Halloween-esque houses.

Decorated houses spanned from Healesville, to Coldstream, Lilydale, Chirnside Park, Mount Evelyn and Woori Yallock, leaving a trail of happy children and parents.

It was a frightful night for some as spiders dropped from trees but most left with smiles on their faces, filled to the brim with lollies and sweet treats.

The spooky season may be over for another year but it just means Yarra Ranges residents have a full year to plan for next year.

These Coldstream residents really embraced their theme of Ghostbusters. 255713

A house on Mangans Road in Lilydale decked out their front yard ready for trick or treaters on Sunday 31 October. 255709

Halloween hounds Tyson and Coco were a big hit with the children who came to say hello. 255691 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

The ghosts had no chance up against the team of Ghostbusters. 255713

Spiders were a common theme for this year’s Halloween displays. 255709

Creepy was on the agenda for Halloween this year. 255713

Evil was brewing in some people’s front yards.

255691

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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MAIL 9

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

New lens tech delivers Groundbreaking new lens technology now available at Yarra Junction Optical.

Yarra Junction Optical are pleased to announce the newest technology in Australian made lenses are now available at our practice.

Australis lenses are the most accurate visual solution, taking into account your personal feedback and the characteristics of your selected frame.

This means your glasses are fully custom made, providing smooth and natural vision in every direction of gaze, far and near.

The most accurate point-of-wear measurements further refine the lens design to create a fully tailor-made visual experience.

The uniquely developed lens design is created to suit your lifestyle, personal preference and visual needs. Rather than choosing a lens category for you, the visual solution will be tailor-made to your eyes.

Utilising the newest design technologies, called the Hexagon Technologies, the ergonomically optimised lenses are created with up to 20% less aberration, providing natural, sharp vision through the thinnest lenses possible. As a result, wearers experience a near-instantaneous adaptation to the Australis lenses.

Australis lenses are manufactured right here in Dandenong by family owned and operated business CR Surfacing Laboratories.

CR Surfacing supports independent optometry practices such as Yarra Junction Optical through their Focus On Australia campaign raising awareness of the Australian economy, local businesses and jobs.

As a locally owned and operated practice, Yarra Junction Optical is proud to partner with such a progressive Australian business and to be able to provide such industry leading products to our patients.

Book An Eye Test To maintain good eye health it’s important to have regular eye tests. Around 90% of all blindness and vision impairment in Australia is preventable or treatable if detected early. Optometrists recommend that eye tests should be carried out every 2 years.

If you are over 65, have diabetes or a progressive eye condition this should increase to a minimum of every 12 months.

Want to find out more?

Australis lenses are only available at accredited, independent optometrists and all our staff have completed high level training to receive their certification.

For more information please give us a call

on 5967 2065 or book a consult online yarrajunctionoptical.com.au Treat your eyes with $50 off Australian made Australis lenses from Yarra Junction Optical. Simply mention Star News in store during the month of November to receive your discount.

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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MEDICALLY SPEAKING

NDIS Options offered

By Elle Cecil Recovery Options is a disability and support services organisation that provides disability support workers, support coordinators, cleaners and gardeners to eligible people in need, as well as providing a range of other support services.

A boutique registered NDIS provider, Recovery Options has been in business for three years. Managing Director Russell Bosnjakovic says that the business is driven by a desire to provide meaningful and effective support to service users.

“We aim to provide a committed, personalised, recovery-oriented service with great care and detail,” explains Russell.

“We’re driven to help create optimum transformative lifelong recovery by assisting, inspiring and motivating the participant to become the best version of themselves by collaborating with family, community, employer groups and professionals.” “[We work with] professionals who share the same focused determination, utilising evidence-based approaches, holistic healing modalities and innovative alternative therapies, until successful outcomes are achieved as measured by the full satisfaction of the participant and their family,” Russell says.

Recovery Options’ greatest achievement so far bridging the gap between large-style corporate organisations and those wanting a more personalised service. The next goal for this local business is to make homes available to participants on Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Recovery Options is building four SDA houses due for completion in Yarra Junction in 2022, within walking distance to the supermarket. Recovery Options is currently taking expressions of interest in housing

Working solely to achieve one hundred percent customer satisfaction, Recovery Options services a myriad of disabilities. 247416 provided under the following design categories: one improved liveability home, one high physical home and two fully accessible homes.

As a registered Implementing Behavioural Support Provider, Recovery Options has its own appointed Authorising Program Officer (APO), approved by the Victorian Senior Practitioner. The APO works together with Behavioural Support Specialists to provide in-

tensive support interventions for participants to address significantly harmful or persistent behaviours of concern for the temporary use of restrictive practices, with intention to minimise use of these practices.

Working solely to achieve one hundred percent customer satisfaction, Recovery Options services a myriad of disabilities including physical, neurological and psycho-social

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

NDIS

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MAIL 11

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 053

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

5

6

4 9

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

1 7 3 4 5 9

5 3

4

4 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 14 15

ACROSS Small amounts (5) Superfluous (9) Proceedings of meeting (7) Elementary particle (7) Not artificial (7) Settle (7) Mediterranean islander (9) Agreement (4) Small island (4) Tending to plants (9) Corrected (7) Radio broadcaster’s accessory, often (7) First (7) In the midst of (7) Provider of information (9) Lecher (5)

1 4 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 19 22 25 26 27 28 29

16 18 20 21 23 24

No. 053

Gloomy (9) Consequential (9) Giver (5) Naming words (5) Type of acid (7) Dig (6) Compass direction (5-4) Animals that prey on others (9) Firebrand (8) Local law enforcer (7) Visible (2,5) Polynesian island (6) Less wet (5) River mouth (5)

DOWN Effeminate (8) Upper house politician (7)

1 2

DECODER

No. 053

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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”.

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Today’s Aim: 10 words: Good 15 words: Very good 21 words: Excellent

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3 LETTERS AGE ARC CIA CPA DIE EGG EVE FEZ GAG HOE IRE KEN LOT OAR OPT ORE PEA RAG RAM REV RPM RUE SAC UGH VCR WEB 4 LETTERS ACRE APED ATOM AWED BADE BALM BAYS DARE DATA FAKE GERM GOAT MITE NEED OOZE

PAPA PAST PERT 5 LETTERS ADOBE AGENT ALIGN AROMA ASSET BASIS BEARD CHILD DREAM EDGES EERIE FLORA FORAY GONNA HOSTS IGLOO

No. 053

LEASE LINEN LINGO LOCAL MALES MENUS MOLES MUFFS NIECE OLIVE OMENS OPERA ORGAN PARSE PEARL PROSE SCENT SEEMS SELLS SLEEK SNOBS

SONGS STAKE STERN TAPES THORN TIGER WHEEL 6 LETTERS BRANDS SENATE 7 LETTERS MICROBE MILEAGE

PEBBLED SEAPORT SNORTED SPRAWLS 8 LETTERS BRIGADES INSANEST SADISTIC TAMPERED 10 LETTERS AMPERSANDS SPEEDBOATS

ADULATORY, aryl, dory, dourly, dray, duly, duty, lady, LAUDATORY, layout, outlay, royal, tardy, toady, today, tray, troy, truly, tyro, yard, your

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WORDFIT

05-11-21

This week’s crossword proudly sponsored by

The Heritage Family

HERITAGE & HERITAGE FUNERALS Lilydale 9739 7799 Healesville 5962 1600 HERITAGE PIONEERS CHAPEL 1414 Healesville/Koo Wee Rup Road, Woori Yallock 5964 6500 Head Office: 733 Boronia Road, Wantirna 9800 3000 info@ heritagefunerals.com.au www.heritagefunerals.com.au 1157336-CB40-14

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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CHARMING CHARACTER HOME AS charming inside as it is out with a rambling cottage garden and lovely old Oak tree virtually embracing the weatherboard home ensuring relaxing summer days resting on the breezy covered verandah.

Inside polished timber floors, high ceilings and decorative features just start the picture of what living in this home will truly be like.

Offering two large living zones, three bedrooms, master with access to the

gorgeous main bathroom.

Old and new are on show with double hung windows, gas ducted heating, reverse cycle air-conditioner, gas cooking, dishwasher and much more. Outside there’s a lock up workshop and double carport all sitting on an easy to manage 693 square metre of land, just a short walk or drive to the local shops or Warburton Trail. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 15 Hillview Street, YARRA JUNCTION Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 garage Price: $650,000 - $715,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Tony Fanfulla, 0419 870 513, BELL REAL ESTATE - YARRA JUNCTION, 5967 1277

mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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MAIL 13

HOME FOCUS

TOWNHOUSE LIVING WITH VIEWS NEAT as pin and situated close to town and all it has to offer, here you have a stunning 2 bedroom townhouse that will tick all your boxes!

With modern open plan living, an island bench in the kitchen, plenty of space and open to to the rest of the living areas including mountain views from most windows.

With 2 sliding doors opening onto your private court yard where you can enjoy the Yarra valley lifestyle privately but conveniently.

Gas ducted heating and split system has your climate needs covered, a single lock-up garage with rear entrance to your court yard, along with an extra parking spot; this can be your starter or downsizer depending on your needs.

Located only minutes walk to the rail trail along with Gladysdale bakehouse and then a short stroll to town, you can not go wrong with this one. Call now for inspection and don’t miss out. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 4/2556 Warburton Highway, YARRA JUNCTION Description: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 garage Price: $540,000 - $590,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Leah Bannerman, 0448 924 266, BELL REAL ESTATE - YARRA JUNCTION, 5967 1277

Millgrove

$500,000 - $550,000

Yarra Junction

$540,000 - $590,000

First Home Buyer Delight!

Townhouse living in a great location with stunning views!

This home consisting of 3 bedrooms set on a 650sqm (approx) block with a great big rear undercover decking. With mountain views,gas ducted heating, split system heating and cooling, evaporative cooling, solar power for the power bills and a single carport.

Contact: Leah Bannerman 0448 924 266, please contact Agent to arrange time Inspection: By Appointment, see www.bellrealestate.com.au for more details

Neat as pin, stunning 2 bedroom townhouse modern open plan living, plenty of space and open to the rest of the living areas With 2 sliding doors opening onto your private court yard. Located minutes walk to the Rail Trail along with Gladysdale bakehouse and then a short stroll to town.

Contact: Leah Bannerman 0448 924 266, please contact Agent to arrange time Inspection: By Appointment only, see www.bellrealestate.com.au for more details

2558 Warburton Highway Yarra Junction

11 Themeda Place Lilydale

$560,000 - $590,000

$680,000 - $740,000

Perfect Position in the Perfect Location

Stylish & easy living

Conveniently positioned, offering 2 large bedrooms & just metres from facilities, it’s the perfect place to call home. Beautiful mountain views from the lounge/family room area, the open plan kitchen is fresh, modern. Outside a covered entertaining area with a good size yard, carport and garage.

Contact: David Carroll 0419 539 320, Inspection: Saturday 10.30 -11.00am see www.bellrealestate.com.au for more details

Boasting 3 bedrooms, with the veranda connected to the open plan living area and merging into the delightful kitchen complete with all the modern conveniences. Extras include a large double garage, water tank, ducted heating, reverse cycle air conditioning, solar power and much more.

Contact: Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513, Inspection: Saturday 11- 11.30am see www.bellrealestate.com.au for more details

bellrealestate.com.au 14 MAIL

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

5966 2530

3407 Warburton Hwy, Warburton

5967 1277

2457 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction

mailcommunity.com.au

Mark Gunther e in n l n o o cti au

e in n l n o o cti au

Healesville 5/6 Grandview Crs Healesville Lifestyle at its Best If you’re looking for a stylish character home where peace, privacy and lifestyle are assured, then this home is it. Ideally set in a quiet location within an easy walk to town. Featuring open plan living, gas log fire, quality kitchen, master with ensuite and WIR, undercover entertaining deck, ducted heating, evap cooling, double lock up garage and beautiful gardens.

5962 3030

markgunther.com.au 189 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

Healesville 290 Lowes Road 3A 2B 2C Openn Negotiation Sale Inspect

By Appointment Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

Come and Escape

4A 1B 6C

Contemporary 4 bedroom mud brick home hidden away on 15 acres (approx.) affording stunning views into the surrounding valleys and yet only minutes to the township of Healesville.

Featuring separate home office/studio plus enormous garage and workshop with gantry and 3 phase power. Sale via Online Auction at Openn Negotiation.

Current Bid $987,000 Inspect

By Appointment Mark Gunther 0448 623 030 Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

e in n l n o o cti au

Lilydale 4/2 Summit Rd

2A 1B 1C

Healesville Lots 1-15 McGrettons Rd

This immaculate 2 bedroom plus study unit is ready and waiting for a new owner or investor. Set in a brilliant location being within walking distance to town, shops, Lilydale Lake and with the Warburton Trail on your doorstep to enjoy great walks and cycling! Call Mark today to register your inspection.

Current Bid $450,000 Inspect by Private Appointment

McGrettons Rise | Only 6 left! An incredibly rare opportunity has arisen to purchase superior elevated allotments in the heart of the Yarra Valley. Build your dream home in an exclusive estate located within walking distance to the main street of Healesville.

Ranging from 500m2 to 885m2. All lots will be fully serviced.

Agent Mark Gunther 0448 623 030

Priced Individually Inspect by Appointment Mark Gunther 0448 623 030 Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

R t De ac n u tR n co

R Fo le Sa

Healesville 2/71 Newgrove Rd

2A 1B 1C

Healesville 1 Mason Close

3A 2B 2C

This cosy home is situated only a short distance from the thriving township of Healesville and boasts lovely views out to the distant ranges. This unit presents a great opportunity for an investor with it already being tenanted on a month to month basis for $560 per fortnight, or for a first home buyer looking to get into the market.

FOR SALE

If you desire luxury, location & quality then you must see the plans for this beautiful home, yet to be built & located only a short stroll to the centre of town.

This architecturally designed home will showcase a spacious master bedroom with WIR & stylish ensuite, quality fittings & fixtures, oak timber floors, large double garage & low maintenance garden.

FOR SALE

mailcommunity.com.au

$400,000 - $440,000 Inspect by Appointment Only Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

$745,000 - $775,000 Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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MAIL 15

With nearly 20 years’ experience helping families find their home, realestateview.com.au is the trusted source for property.

VISIT US TODAY

12514145-BL39-21

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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Ian 0412 814 298 Jake 0402 913 197

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Ricky Prest: yr.landscaping@hotmail.com

We are seeking applications from professionals who live locally and have previous experience within the Real Estate Industry and or in a similar client facing role with solid administration skills.

To be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate the following; • Real Estate Agents Representative and or commitment to obtaining within first 3 months of employment • Highly motivated with exceptional customer service and client service skills • Proven organisational skills, managing multiple tasks with strict deadlines • Familiar and knowledgeable with our local area of the Yarra Valley • Advanced computer skills with MS Office Suite and RP Office (an advantage) • Demonstrated written communication and solutions focused • Full Car Driver’s License with no restrictions & a reliable modern Vehicle • Pre employment checks (eg: police check)

Confidential inquiries welcome by calling Allison on 0430 226 993

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Specialising In: • All Aspects of Stonework • Paving • Retaining Walls • Driveways • Landscape Construction • 3 Tonne Excavator with Augers

Yarra Valley Rentals P/Ltd specialise in residential, commercial leasing and holiday accommodation management in the Yarra Valley Area. We are the only local company who specialises in Property Management and are committed to our work and ensuring our services are looking after the interests of both rental providers, renters, and contractors.

If you would like to be part of our team and a great local business, please email a current CV and cover letter addressing the above to yvrentals@bigpond.com by 5th November 2021

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• Part Time role (2 Days per week 9am – 5pm, plus every Saturday 9am-1pm) • Career Opportunity with a dedicated supporting fun team • Yarra Junction, Yarra Valley

Key will be your willingness to learn from and support your colleagues who are experienced Property Managers. You will enjoy being part of a small, yet professional team who is committed to providing exemplary property management service to their renters and rental providers and having fun along the way.

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MASTER STONEMASONS SPECIALISING IN: Monuments and Memorials Gravestone Inscriptions Renovations and Restorations

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MAIL 17

NEWS

Cooking for fundraiser

Diverting household rubbish from landfill

By Elle Cecil If you’re looking for a way to shake off the lockdown blues and start planning for that long overdue get together with those you’ve missed – then this is for you!

To further highlight this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Trials has launched an exciting new campaign to support research and clinical trials, which aims to ultimately bring Australia’s breast cancer mortality rate down to zero.

As the country’s largest breast cancer clinical trials research organisation, Breast Cancer Trials has launched the 3 Course Challenge, encouraging food lovers all over Australia to ‘stay in and entertain’ over the months of October and November.

Endorsed by celebrity chef Sarah Todd, a highly renowned Aussie chef that specialises in Indian cuisine, the 3 Course Challenge invites Australians to take on the challenge of cooking a three-course Indian feast to raise money for life saving breast cancer clinical trials research.

Sarah’s own mum Lorraine was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 50 years old, so Sarah has personal experience and understands the impact of this disease, so is very motivated to make more research, treatment and cures possible.

To get involved in the fundraiser, invite your friends and family for a COVID-safe dinner party at home or at the park. Dinner party hosts will then reach out to their networks of family and friends to encourage them to donate to Breast Cancer Trials research.

Dinner parties can be held any time until

Celebrity chef Sarah Todd’s mum Lorraine was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50, so Sarah is determined to raise funds for Breast Cancer Trials.

Picture: SUPPLIED November 30, and Breast Cancer Trials encourage participants to follow government restrictions and safety regulations pertaining to visitors in the home and gatherings in public areas.

This is your opportunity to cook a delicious three course meal for your friends and family, whilst also supporting new research to save the lives of those diagnosed with breast cancer.

Nothing brings people together like the promise of a dinner party with delicious food!

Plus, you’ll be changing the future for people affected by breast cancer. Now that’s worth cooking for!

For more information or to register for the 3 Course Challenge, visit www.3coursechallenge. com.au.

Yarra Ranges Council has joined 14 other councils in Melbourne’s south east to form a company to deliver an advanced waste processing alternative to landfill.

This type of company is called a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and is common in projects where there are many organisations working together.

The SPV—called South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing Pty Ltd— will help councils deliver an advanced waste processing facility that will process household rubbish instead of burying it in landfill.

“By signing up to the SPV we are strengthening our ability to secure the economic, environmental, and social benefits from the facility,” Yarra Ranges Mayor Fiona McAllister said.

“The SPV has its own legal identity and will enter into a contract for advanced waste processing on behalf of participating councils.”

Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group (MWRRG) is facilitating the procurement of advanced waste processing for councils.

“Councils coming together to form a SPV is a major milestone in what is the biggest tender for new waste management infrastructure ever undertaken by councils in Melbourne,” MWRRG CEO Jill Riseley said.

“The new facilities are expected to attract multi-million-dollar investment and create up to 400 temporary jobs during construction and up to 100 permanent operating jobs.

“Advanced waste processing facilities are being used safely and reliably around the

world, including in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and North America.”

Advanced waste processing facilities are regulated by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA). Any facility will need to be appropriately located, constructed and operated according to strict regulations that minimise risks to the environment and people.

Cr McAllister said advanced waste processing solutions would play a significant role in achieving the State Government’s new target to divert 80% of household rubbish from landfill by 2030.

“Yarra Ranges Council is excited to be part of this historic tender process,” she said.

“Advanced waste processing will do more with the resources that are being put in landfill and achieve better financial, environmental and social outcomes.

“This facility will provide a great solution for household rubbish that would normally go to landfill, complementing the continuation of kerbside recycling and green and food waste collection services as part of our total approach to managing waste.”

Motoring section of Network Classifieds.

Positions Vacant

Australia’s Premier Cross-Country Ski Resort.

Full-time Manager Visitor Experience team

Frock and awe

Step into Paradise with Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson

MOVIE GUIDE INSIDE

Looking for love search for Brooke Blurton’s on love breaks boundaries Australia The Bachelorette

REE DIGITAL ED

REE DIGITAL EDITION

SIG N U P N O W !

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Australia’s Premier Cross-Country Ski Resort.

■

The Visitor Experience Manager will lead and manage the Visitor Experience Team in the creation, implementation and delivery of our visitor experience program in alignment with the development and delivery of Lake Mountain Alpine Resort tourism/adventure/products.

You must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this job.

To apply for this position, please complete the application via the website, https://www.lakemountainresort.com.au/careers/ or SEEK. All applications must include an up-to-date resume and a brief covering letter which addresses the Key Selection Criteria listed on the position description.

12519891-SG45-21

This position is for a short term contract of 9 months that will require weekend & school holiday work.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake and provide: • a Working with Children Check, • Drug and Alcohol test, • Police Check, • Employment Misconduct Declaration & Consent

REDGUM FIREWOOD

Pakenham

Sweet treats a cool hit

12520043-NG44-21

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Firewood

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

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Full-time Manager - Maintenance and Operations team

$200 per metre

The Manager, Maintenance and Operations is required to lead and manage the multidiscipline operations team in providing effective and efficient service in a timely manner in respect to road clearing, car parking, land management, drainage, water/waste and other utilities, building maintenance, property development, all areas of operational project development and general resort presentation to ensure an excellent visitor experience. The position will consist of a mix of maintenance of existing facilities and equipment, upgrades to existing facilities and equipment, and construction/project management of new facilities and equipment.

This position is for a fixed term period of 3 years that will require weekend & school holiday work.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake and provide: • a Working with Children Check, • Drug and Alcohol test, • Police Check, • Employment Misconduct Declaration & Consent You must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this job.

To apply for this position, please complete the application via the website, https://www.lakemountainresort.com.au/ careers/ or SEEK. All applications must include an up-to-date resume and a brief covering letter which addresses the Key Selection Criteria listed on the position description.

For further enquiries or a copy of the position description, please contact careers@southernalpine.vic.gov.au Applications close, Saturday 20 November 2021 Southern Alpine Resort Management Board is an equal opportunity employer.

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

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

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

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PAGE 3

We are seeking experienced journalists to assist the production editor and liaise with our reporters both here in Victoria and also with our reporters interstate.

You will assist reporters with their story lists, allocate stories to pages, ensure deadlines are met, provide feedback to reporters and ensure daily online story targets are met.

Ideally you will be based in our Pakenham office with part time and full time positions available.

Star News Group produces a number of news media titles across Melbourne and interstate with weekly printed newspapers and digital content.

Star News Group focuses on the local news and information that affects the lives of our community, and broader issues that directly impact our regions.

The Company is operated by experienced independent publishers and a local team of experienced media professionals.

Please send your resume to garry.howe@starnewsgroup.com.au

CLEANER WANTED

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Slowly getting back to normal

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Call Steve 0408 372 833

School hours and weekend work, cleaner required for holiday apartments in Healesville area.

Need to be very reliable, have eye for detail and able to work on your own.

Good rate and super if applicable. Ring Gaylene 0497 999 020.

PAKENHAM OFFICER

PART TIME CLEANER Coldstream/Lilydale area.

Various days, 6-12 hrs per week. Ideal for husband /wife or semi-retired.

Ph: 0438 387 536 or 0418 559 098.

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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SPORT

Learn like a pro at Warburton Golf

By Renee Wood Warburton Golf Course has roped in a PGA professional to launch a new beginners golf program for women to attract more to the sport.

PGA player Jessica Stirling will lead a four week course, teaching basic techniques and skills for on the greens.

Ms Stirling said she’s excited to be a part of the program and encouraging more women to play golf.

“It is common for golf to take a couple of years of play, coaching and practice to have the players game at a competent level,” she said.

The pro will be sharing her best advice with the participants and said the key is to have patience and stick with it.

“It may take the whole hour to see the ball go in the air, or see it go in the hole, but it is part of the learning process and perseverance will help you overcome. It’s the type of sport that if you stick at it, you’ll reap the rewards.”

Participants will cover green reading and speed control for putting in the first week.

“The second and third lessons covers chipping and pitching and how to manage short shots onto the green. The final week we will cover full swing and how to hit the long shots for golf,” she said.

Teaching others how to play is a passion of Ms Stirling.

“It also allows women the opportunity for exercise which we know benefits mental and physical health and the opportunity to play in competitions and feel a sense of achievement and self pride.”

Promotions officer Vicki Hottes created the program to encourage more women to join the sport.

Currently the club has around 15 women who play regularly in a monthly social competition but Ms Hottes would like to see this grow.

“Our plan is that hopefully twice a year we would run this for program for beginners and there’s the opportunity for them to have other lessons and then hopefully join in on our social day, which is a Thursday,” she said.

Ms Hottes is aiming to create a nine hole competition for women in the future.

“I would love it if we would have about 20 to 30 women for a regular nine hole competition, a lot of other courses do that – thinking outside the box to get more people in.”

“I think nine holes is a really good format that you can do in around one and a half to two

Oh joy, we are back

By Ron Hottes It is so therapeutic to be reporting back to you, dear readers the results from our FIRST competition in nearly 3 months!

So a healthy field of nearly 50 avid members took on the course again in ‘real-time’ combat ( sounds like a video game) and the most successful combatant was Pat-O’Regan who conquered the course, amassing 41 very impressive Stableford points.

This earnt Pat the B-Grade voucher easily.

Ryan-Smith took out the A-Grade with 38 solid points. ( Even though he was none-toopopular when he took up 3 spaces in the carpark with his car and trailer.)

With scores like that, no-one would be surprised that balls only went down to 35.

And we even had NTP’s - they were snared

by PK,(3rd), Clint-Toohey,(5th), The Pres ,(9th), Happy-Gilmore,( 12th) and to ‘Mr. Grumpy’ Maltman,(15th).

And the best part of all this is I’ll be back next week, reporting on a Wednesday comp, Twilight on Thursday and another Saturday comp.

Look out for those details folks.

Healesville scores

By Karl Hradsky Jessica Stirling will be leading Warburton Golf Club’s women’s program.

Women will be learning on the Warburton course. hours, depending how many people are playing in the group, and you’ve got the rest of the day.”

The first lesson will be held on Sunday 7

With most of the Covid restrictions lifted we are back to playing in fours.

We can also remove the flag from the hole, which some of us find helps make the putting easier.

The bunkers are still not being raked.

Greg Urquhart (13) made a great come back in the second nine to win, on count back, with a Stableford score of 36.

Chris Handasyde played a steady game with 18 points on both nines to also get 36 for second place.

Third was Karl Hradsky (11) with a close 35 points.

Nearest to Pins were hit by Chris Handasyde (x2), Greg Urquhart and James Campion.

The Secret Holes (6,8,12 and 16) was won by Karl Hradsky with a score of 10 over the four holes.

A reminder to those in the group that wish to partake in our adventure to Mansfield that it is coming up on the 14th of November.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Picture: RENEE WOOD November and will continue for the following three Sundays.

For more information contact the club.

The ‘homewood run’ playing the RACV Par 5 15th The Friday before last seems a long time ago now.

If you remember, we enjoyed a magnificent day of sunshine, before the age old shepherds warning alerted us to what might be in store for our RACV Saturday morning golfers.

And sure enough the rain began to fall just beyond midnight and it continued all through the night.

For those who were on the tee early morning; conditions were miserable and without a breath of wind, it wasn’t about to clear too soon.

This left only a determined few on course willing to combat the elements and the course.

When I arrived at the club, play had been under way for a little over three hours by my reckoning and if I was right, my arrival would have me at the 15th Tee Block, just in time to catch Peter Monk and Chris Handasyde teeing off.

Even better, I caught them executing the par 4, 14th “The Turtle” just as they were giving the customary salute to neighbours having achieved regulation; before climbing to the elevated Par 5, 15th Tee Block. mailcommunity.com.au

Callen’s column Ian Callen This is a where golfers turn to face the southbound fairway that signifies the “homeward run” and usually it’s such a splendid scenic view.

On this day however, our two golfers stood dripping wet trying to decide which fairway they should play and the reason for this is a natural water course; a Burn, that snakes a path up the fairway dividing it in two. And for Peter and Chris, two good shots up the fairways might normally see them on the green avoiding the sidewinding hazard that skirts the 15th green to slither off past the 16th.

Watching them surveying this scene, I wondered, if they might toss a coin, heads for the left fairway, tails for the right, but care needs to be taken here for the last thing they want is

their golf ball in that Burn.

“A par would be a good result today lads, what’s the plan?” I said form the shelter of my electric cart.

“Your not wrong“, said Chris “ We’ve enjoyed better conditions. On a good day, I’d be targeting that second bridge down there over the Burn. I can carry the distance, but I am not so sure today”.

I turned to watch Peter as he was removing his driver from his bag and I could see he’d already made his decision; “I’m going down the left side” he said determinedly.

“Towards that bridge and from there I’ll follow the tree line into the green. That’s my plan anyway.”

I have watched these two on course many times over the past year and they can play.

Peter’s handicap is 7, whilst Chris plays off 6; which means they are both very capable and stylish golfers, with well balanced swings into full follow throughs. I wasn’t surprised to see the vapour trailing their golfs balls as they disappeared into the gloom.

Unfortunately heavy sky’s forced them a little short which meant they had to play for the

safety of the open right fairway.

Here they battled waterlogged cut grass and the clutch situation of setting up a birdie chance, with an added dilemma; the requirement of pin point accuracy over a Burn that swallows all brands of golf balls.

On the “Putting Surface”, where the middle of the green has been scooped out; there is an assortment of rises, slopes, dips and gradients, that’s tricky enough and worse on a sunny day.

Those little blades of bent grass tend to follow the rays of light crossing the sky… but not today thankfully!

As mentioned, Par would be a good result and I think the lads were happy enough to know they had overcome the elements as real golfers do - well played.

Darren Edwards (67) Peter Gebert (67) Andrew Body (68) Nearest the Pin Rob Johnston / Second Harrison Baxter / Fourth Don Stevenson / Tenth David Chipperfield / Thirteenth

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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Tuesday, 2 November, 2021

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