Mail - Lilydale Star Mail - 10th May 2022

Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

Lilydale

Mail

The Victorian Government budget breakdown

MLMC announced as sustainability award finalist

New Zealand chip brand sets up shop in Lilydale

The rental crisis grows in the Yarra Ranges

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A Star News Group Publication

Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

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Vigil held The Casey Grandmothers for Refugees were out on Maroondah Highway last week calling for a change in government to provide better support and respect to refugees.

With the help of members from other electorates, the Grandmothers had large numbers for the vigil.

As the election ramps up, the Grandmothers groups will be too, to fight for more humanitarian visas, the closure of detention centres and more protections for refugees and asylum seekers.

Being a marginal seat, the Casey electorate is a focus area for the group.

To read the full story, turn to page 11 Casey Grandmothers for Refugees were out on Maroondah Highway on Friday 6 May calling on passing vehicles to show their support by honking their horn - a count they keep track of.

Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON

Traffic nightmare

By Mikayla van Loon The messaging for all the level crossing removal projects including Lilydale promoted the easing of congestion and removing dangers for drivers.

Since the opening of Maroondah Highway under the rail bridge, local residents say the reality of these promises have been relatively unchanged from when the boom gates were in place.

Resident of 24 years and worker for 10 years

in Lilydale, Brendan McKenna has seen the traffic gradually get worse as housing estates have grown but he said while the boom gates did stop the flow of traffic, it was mostly the pedestrian lights that had the most effect.

“Between about 10 in the morning and

about three or four in the afternoon the trains were every half hour, so there’s four movements an hour but the pedestrian crossing was going off all the time,” he said.

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NEWS

Growers on alert for pest

By Callum Ludwig Yarra Ranges farmers and Agribusiness Yarra Valley are working hard to detect and eradicate the Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF).

Over the Summer the pest was detected in traps in Silvan, Yering, Coldstream, and Yellingbo, and as larvae in home garden peaches and tomatoes in Yarra Glen. With recent detections in traps in Silvan and Healesville in April, the efforts of QFF awareness and promoting action won’t be stopping.

QFF Regional Coordinator in the Yarra Valley Bronwyn Koll said a couple of years ago the Yarra Valley was fruit fly free, and current efforts are aiming to keep the pest away as much as possible.

“We use a surveillance grid of traps and fruit checks, and we had evidence to prove that there were no fruit flies in the Valley,” she said.

“We’re working to ensure a higher rate of certainty that properties are fruit fly free. It’s a three to four-year task for growers, but it is achievable.”

The Queensland Fruit Fly. Picture: AGRICULTURE VICTORIA The QFF targets hundreds of different fruit species, including a range of berries, apples and grapes that are prevalent throughout the Yarra Ranges. Currently in Autumn, the most at risk fruits include any fruit that has been left unharvested, like apples, feijoas, quinces, and also fruit that is ripening, like citrus fruits like lemons and oranges.

Ms Koll said Agribusiness Yarra Valley and farmers are taking preventive action to elimi-

nate the fly, and she encourages home-growers to do the same.

“If you’ve heard of fruit fly risk within your 2km warning radius, start putting out fruit fly bait. Growers should report if they see anything suspicious, and particularly those with fruit or veggies in their backyards who may not look otherwise,” she said.

The Yarra Ranges Council send out letters to affected areas after the first case of QFF detection, or growers can follow the Keep Yarra Valley Fruit Fly Free Facebook page for regular updates.

“We have fruit fly bait, laced with an organic insecticide, which attracts only fruit flies to it because of the decomposing proteins, for a very targeted and minimally invasive technique,” Ms Koll said.

Growers who have heard of fruit fly risk within their location should start putting out fruit fly bait weekly and repeat it after rain.

They should also have a focus on harvesting fruit before it falls, and keeping the production

area clean to reduce the risk of the QFF. Growers can look out for a pin-sized sting on the fruit’s surface from the laying of eggs and 5mm to 10mm long, creamy-white maggots/larva that often eat towards the centre of the fruit and cause it to rot. Whilst hard to spot, they may also notice white, 1mm long, banana-shaped eggs inside fruits and vegetables or oval, brown, hard pupae that have burrowed into the ground to develop into flies.

Adult flies themselves are 7mm long, reddishbrown in colour, with distinct yellow markings.

They often hide in the leaves of trees and are mostly only known about when specific fruit fly traps are operating and checked regularly.

Infested fruit needs to be destroyed by boiling or freezing, and then disposed of in a sealed bag in the regular rubbish.

Free QFF information sessions are avaialable and to roganise one, growers can contact Ms Koll via email qff@agribusiness-yarravalley.com or the phone 0490381999, and a workshop can be arranged at a time and location that suits.

Schools welcome more pathway options for students

By Mikayla van Loon Changes to the way students learn in the final years of their schooling have been widely accepted by the local school community.

The overhaul to how the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) offer subjects and hands-on learning will be the biggest reform to the senior secondary system since the VCE’s inception.

It will mean students will be able to undertake a broader range of apprenticeships,

traineeships and further education while also completing VCE subjects should they wish under the Vocational Major program.

The Victorian Pathways Certificate will replace VCAL to help students transition either to the VCE, to entry level VET or employment.

While currently state schools are the only ones required to undertake the transition, the State government has encouraged non-government schools to take up the new learning program.

Mount Lilydale Mercy College’s principal

Philip Morison said the school would always embrace the opportunity to offer more applied learning opportunities.

“I think the proposed changes are exciting and offer a great opportunity for all VCE students moving forward,” he said.

“Students will continue to be able to explore their talents in a diverse range of areas and develop skills for life that will help them develop skills for work and self interest.”

Deputy principal for learning and teaching Anita Kay-Taylor seconded the welcom-

ing of the changes and said the VCE VM will allow more diverse pathways for students that come from various backgrounds, with various interests.

“Catholic Education has always been a strong advocate for student pathways. The recognition of applied learners through a VCE qualification is a much welcomed change,” she said.

“Our College has a very strong and flourishing VCAL program attracting students with a wide range of academic abilities.”

Works continue near you and there will be transport disruptions Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions

Road disruptions: Closed roads and lanes

Lilydale Line

Monash Freeway

In May

Lanes, ramps and freeway closed at times between Warrigal Road and Eastlink

Princes Freeway

Some nights in May

Freeway closed at times between Princes Highway and Cardinia Road

MTIA7172

From 8.30pm 19 May to 23 May

Ringwood to Lilydale

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As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re removing 85 dangerous and congested level crossings, with 59 already gone. We’re also easing congestion by building better roads across our suburbs.

Find a detailed list of disruptions at bigbuild.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

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NEWS

IN BRIEF Firearms located

Mother murdered

By Mikayla van Loon Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man believed to be a Deakin University lecturer following the death of a woman in Croydon North on Saturday night.

The senior lecturer in communication, Adam Brown, was charged with murder on Monday 2 May following his arrest on Saturday night.

According to other reports, the 40-yearold has been remanded after facing the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Monday 2 May and will reappear in front of a judge in September.

This comes after emergency services were called to an address in Patrick Avenue about 10.15pm on 30 April, where paramedics attempted to revive 35-year-old Chen Cheng.

The circulation of the hashtags #sayher-

name and #hernameis have shown the outrage of another death of a woman in a home setting.

Comments have also started emerging on social media from current and past Deakin University students expressing their shock.

“I wanted to say something, but don’t know what to say. I am shocked by the news and hope my fellow students and staff are doing ok,” Bec Sennett wrote on Twitter.

“As a past student at Deakin University, it shocks me to think this is acceptable in 2022,” Jess O’Neill wrote.

Other comments have shown support for the staff and students who have been taught or worked with Brown at Deakin University.

“I hope the Deakin Uni staff and students get the support they need this week. A lot will be second guessing themselves this morning,”

one comment read.

Lecturers and staff at Deakin have also taken to social media to reach students wanting or needing support or counselling.

The hastags #ALM101 and #ALM102 have been connecting students who studied media and communications subjects at the university, with one student posting, “I studied #ALM101 at the end of 2021, hearing the news today has left me shocked and disgusted. Male violence is so ugly, so devastating and so unnecessary - I’m lost for words and it breaks me that we’ve lost another woman from DV this year.”

If this has triggered anything for readers, support can be found by calling the 1800RESPECT hotline for confidential information, counselling and support services on 1800 737 732.

Congestion issues still remain in Lilydale Residents and workers in Lilydale are thrilled by the upgrades to Lilydale Station but have been left bewildered when it comes to the state of Maroondah Highway. 279750 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS gotiate a five-lane bus interchange to enter Lilydale Station,” a government spokesperson said.

Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol senior constable Brett Truscott said when the boom gates were in place, drivers often toyed with beating the train.

“There’s always people who think their time is more important than their life and would do that kind of thing so it’s definitely a risk that has been mitigated by the overpass,” he said.

“From a safety point of view, it’s definitely worth it but as far as helping with the traffic flow, it probably hasn’t made a huge amount of difference.”

Mr McLean said as much as he loves what the new station looks like, for traffic and pedestrians it hasn’t been well designed.

“Raising it above was awesome. We all thought it was going to be great. And then they kept it a single lane,” he said.

“You can’t have a three lane highway, go the two lanes, go to one lane and then come into this brand new intersection where the actual light changes take twice as long.”

Mr McLean said when looking from the top of the highway towards Lilydale, a simple design feature could have been using the service lane outside Olex to provide an extra three lanes under the bridge while protecting the Queen’s Jubilee Avenue of Trees.

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Firewood collection Yarra Ranges Council are offering their second free firewood collection from the June 2021 storm event, available to Yarra Ranges residents only from Monday 9 May to Friday 14 May between 8am and 5pm each day. Residents can collect firewood either from Wandin East Recreation Reserve on the corner of Monbulk-Seville Road and Old Baker Road or Don Road Sporting Complex, 263A Don Road, Healesville.

Bookings are essential and Councils Parks and Bushland team members will be on-site to ensure bookings are checked. Each timeslot will be allocated 20 minutes to fill a trailer/vehicle and secure the load.

Pre-polling begins Early voting for the May 21 Federal election began on 9 May, with several pre-polling booths open throughout Casey and the surrounding area. St Patrick’s Parish Community Centre in Lilydale and Chirnside Park Community Hub are the closest voting centres, with another voting centre at Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Croydon.

People affected by Covid-19 isolation can vote by telephone.

Telephone voting registration will be available on weekdays between 8.30am and 5.30pm from Monday 9 May until 20 May.

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Highway Patrol members were conducting operations around licenced premises in the Maroondah Police Sservice Area on Saturday 7 May. At about 11.45pm, police intercepted a 37-year-old unlicenced male driver on Dorset Rd, Croydon.

The man returned a positive result for illicit drugs. His licence had cancelled by the Court a week ago for drug-driving offences.

His vehicle was immediately impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1,325.

He will have some explaining to do when he returns to Court on these latest matters.

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing woman Vashti.

As she is known to frequent the Lilydale, Geelong CBD and Melbourne CBD areas, Yarra Ranges residents are being asked to keep an eye out for her. It is believed the 45-year-old was last seen on Wesley Street in Kangaroo Flat in late April. Police and family have concerns for Vashti’s welfare as she has a medical condition which requires medication.

Vashti is Caucasian in appearance, approximately 170cm tall, with a thin build, shaved head, and blue eyes. Police have released an image of Vashti and urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact Bendigo Police Station on (03) 5448 1300.

Mr McKenna also said diverting the traffic around the service lane outside Mitsubishi, similar to what they have done in the city where trees need to be protected, could have also been a solution to the traffic congestion.

“They forgot how to get people underneath that bridge in a more efficient manner and I think they’ve actually just stuffed up,” Mr McLean said.

Trying to avoid the congestion under the rail bridge, drivers have been using Beresford Road and John/Hardy Streets instead.

“There are people who are doing the rat race around Lilydale now going down Beresford Road,” Mr McLean said.

“People are taking risks in order to skirt around Lilydale. It’s becoming a bit more dangerous on Beresford road for kids trying to cross roads and elderly people as well.”

Senior constable Truscott said so far there hadn’t been an increase of collisions on any of the roads that can be used as detours.

While Mr McLean agrees the train station improvements to cater to more people using public transport were needed, he believes the other elements were left unresolved.

As more people move into the area with the Kinley development and as more people travel to the Yarra Valley, both Mr McLean and Mr McKenna said something will have to change to prevent accidents, particularly for people who don’t drive the road regularly.

“The two main boards were: one to stop fatalities and accidents, which if someone’s died in the last 100 years, that’s terrible. If someone’s been injured, that’s terrible as well. But the other one was to free up traffic and it has not gone anywhere, it’s just made it worse,” Mr McLean said “There’s a bit of benefit with safety. Yes. But there’s not because the pedestrians still have to cross in front of the road. People are getting more frustrated so they’re taking shortcuts. [They] will just make mistakes because it doesn’t seem sensible.”

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Unlicenced driver caught again

Looking for Vashti

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From page 1 “I think there’s a lot of comparing apples and apples because on the Pakenham line they said the gate can be down for 10 or 15 minutes but that’s in the morning peak, you’ve also got the country train, the freight train, as well as the suburban.”

Mr McKenna said because the plan still included the pedestrian lights he knew there would not be much change to the traffic flow.

Another resident who has lived in Lilydale since the 1990s, Richard McLean said he would have liked to have seen a pedestrian overpass built into the design.

A government spokesperson said however, by adding station access from the eastern car park “passengers can catch the train without having to cross the Maroondah Highway during the morning and afternoon peaks.”

At the moment the lights seem to favour the pedestrian foot traffic rather than the cars, with Mr McKenna saying he timed how long cars had before the pedestrian lights changed.

“We actually timed that one day and I think it was about 25 or 30 seconds that traffic on the highway got a green light and it was about a minute that they were stopped for, so it was a third of the time,” he said.

The Department of Transport (DoT) has confirmed traffic engineers are still assessing the traffic volumes to find the right sequencing of the lights.

Mr McKenna said there seemed to be “almost a script they follow” and “every crossing is dangerous and congested” no matter how many accidents occur.

DoT data indicated there had been one collision and five near misses at both the Maroondah Highway and Manchester Road locations in the past 10 years.

“Removing the dangerous Maroondah Highway level crossing has significantly improved safety at the site for pedestrians and drivers, who were previously required to ne-

Firearms have been located by police at an address in Chirnside Park.

Police from Healesville and Lilydale attended at the address in Mayfair Court, Chirnside Park in relation to an ongoing investigation on Monday 2 May. A search of the premises was conducted under the Family Violence Protection Act and police officers located three homemade handguns and a longarm firearm.

A 31-year-old Chirnside Park man has been arrested and is currently assisting police with their inquiries

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MAIL 3

STATE BUDGET BREAKDOWN

Health top ticket item

By Parker McKenzie Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas handed down the 2022-23 Victorian state budget on Tuesday 3 May, with a focus on big spending on healthcare, infrastructure and education to guide the state out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The healthcare system will receive $12 billion in funding in the budget as the state grapples with massive wait times for elective surgeries.

The Government said it would deliver an extra 40,000 surgeries in the next year for a total of 240,000 surgeries annually. $333 million has been allocated to recruit 400 new staff for the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority, which is responsible for emergency calls after high demand during surge times left Victorians waiting for ambulances throughout the pandemic.

Also included was funding for hiring up to 7000 more healthcare workers, including 5000 nurses, and 2.3 billion to upgrade and build new hospitals. $124 million will be spent on recruiting 90 paramedics.

The budget allocated $1.3 billion in total for new mental health initiatives. The State Government said 90 per cent of recommendations from the Royal Commission into Mental Health were now underway.

The state will spend $1.8 billion for building new schools and upgrading existing facilities, with a focus on upgrading special schools and $277 million spent facilitating previously announced reforms to VCE and VCAL. The budget has allocated $581 million to build 13 new schools and complete additional stages at four others and $560 million to upgrade 65 schools — including $326 million for 36 special schools.

The budget includes $779 million in investment towards recruiting 1900 more teachers throughout the state.

Another $173 million will be spent supporting teachers with initiatives and funding including $104 million to upgrade school software and $33 million to expand teacher education. $15 million has been allocated to delivering

“kinder kits” to children starting three-yearold kindergarten in 2023 and 2024, which includes books, puppets and games to supplement learning. $131 million has been allocated to continue four-year-old kindergarten services around Victoria.

Alongside VCAL and VCE reforms, the State Government has also allocated $131 million for extra literacy and numeracy support for students. The Victorian Government is aiming to hire an additional 502 police and 50 Protective Service Officers over the next two years, as a part of the $342 million allocated in the 2022/23 state budget. $215 million has been invested into the rollout of conducted energy devices — commonly known as tasers — to police and PSOs. $15 million is being invested in providing death and disability insurance for operational police officers between the age of 55 and 60. $4.7 million has been allocated to support work on the Strategic Framework for Countering Violent Extremism.

Net debt is forecasted to be $101.9 billion as of June 2022, before reaching $167.5 billion by June 2026. $3.5 billion has been allocated for transport infrastructure projects, more trains and the removal of level crossings. The state government’s infrastructure investment will average $21.3 billion dollars a year.

The State Government is forecasting an operating cash surplus of $1.3 billion in 2022/23, with government expenditure expected to fall by 9.7 per cent in the same time period.

Total revenue for the state government is expected to be $81.9 billion in 2021/22, an increase of $3.9 billion from the previous year.

Victorian Liberal Party leader Matthew Guy said the budget was wasteful and mismanaged.

“How can you trust the government that got us into this mess to be the ones to get us out of it?” he said.

“People’s money is not a play-thing for a politician on the nose and should instead be used to ensure Victorians can have a secure job and better future for their children.”

Changes to Victorian electoral divisions for the 2022 federal election The name or boundaries of your electoral division may have changed since the previous federal election because of the recent Victorian federal redistribution.

As a result of these changes, you may need to vote in a different division, or your usual polling place may be in a different division.

To check what division you are enrolled in, or to find a polling place where you can

Federal election, Saturday 21 May 2022 aec.gov.au |

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Voting is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 years and older. If you don’t vote, you may be prosecuted.

If you vote more than once it is a criminal offence.

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vote, go to aec.gov.au or call 13 23 26.

Lilydale and surround suburbs were largely underfunded in the State budget for 2022-23.

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Lilydale area misses out in Andrews’ state budget

By Mikayla van Loon The Victorian State budget was handed down this week with funding for projects right across the state but the Yarra Ranges region was relatively underfunded.

With education, healthcare and infrastructure the major pillars of the budget, specific allocation of funding for these projects in the shire was minimal.

Local schools already approved for existing funding included Lilydale High School, Lilydale Heights College, Manchester Primary School in Mooroolbark, Yarra Ranges Special Developmental School and Croydon Community School.

The facilities at Croydon Special Developmental School will be upgraded as part of a $326 million funding package for 36 state-run special schools across Victoria.

“Kids with special needs deserve access to the same opportunities as every other student and with these upgrades, we’ll make sure that’s possible,” education minister James Merlino said.

Coldstream Primary School was also successful in receiving new funding of just under $2.5 million for the modernisation of existing buildings.

Much to the disappointment of Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence, major road infrastructure projects in Coldstream and Seville East, as well as the rail duplication in Lilydale weren’t funded in this year’s budget.

Ms Vallence said it was a missed opportunity in this budget to fund these projects to support commuters and drivers.

“The Lilydale Train Line is notorious for cancellations and poor punctuality and only duplicating the rail track between Mooroolbark and Lilydale will fix this,” she said.

“Despite the state government spending half a billion dollars to remove level crossings at Mooroolbark and Lilydale, traffic congestion has worsened and commuters still need to wait 20 to 30 minutes for a train.”

Lilydale did however, receive a mention with a contribution to continue improving the town centre under the Suburban Revitalisation Program. A further $9.7 million

will go towards supporting Boronia, Broadmeadows, Frankston, Lilydale, Melton, Noble Park, Reservoir and Tarneit.

“Lilydale, particularly Main Street, desperately needs revitalisation after the Andrews government’s level crossing removal project has made the area a traffic congestion nightmare, driving away customers and damaging trade for local small businesses,” Ms Vallence said.

“Residents are telling me that they’re simply avoiding the area. This has only compounded the challenges for local traders who, after the world’s longest lockdowns, are facing an increase in taxes on payroll announced in this state budget, up 17 per cent on the prior year.”

A $15 million Living Local Fund will also provide grants for projects to improve suburban shopping strips and public spaces, upgrade safety and accessibility and provide new playgrounds, splash parks, community gardens and public art.

Local government and suburban development minister Shaun Leane said the pandemic has changed the way people interact with their local communities.

“As we continue to recover from the pandemic, we’re investing in the projects that local communities want, as well as the Victorian workers we need to deliver them,” he said.

“By working with local communities, we strengthen the liveability of our suburbs, support local businesses and drive jobs growth closer to where people live.”

Two funds that have been quite successful in the Yarra Ranges are the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund and the Country Football and Netball Program.

Both funds received continued support in this budget with $88 million allocated to improve community sports infrastructure and programs to boost participation in local sports clubs and organisations.

Kimberley Reserve and the Yarra Glen netball courts were successful last year in receiving funds from both programs respectively.

Lilydale will also receive $1.2 million for a lawn grave development expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022-23.

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STATE BUDGET BREAKDOWN

Big spend for projects

By Parker McKenzie Reduced spending certainly isn’t on the table for the State Government, with huge expenditure to revitalise the Victorian economy announced in the 2022/23 budget.

With the backdrop of rising inflation and interest rates, Treasurer Tim Pallas handed down the budget speech to parliament with a focus on spending big on healthcare, infrastructure and education.

Mr Pallas said 280,000 jobs have been created across the state since the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns.

“The economy is broadcast to grow by 3 and quarter per cent in the coming financial year, industries are roaring to life,” he said.

“Victorians are crowding back to restaurants, theatres and stadiums.”

Net debt is forecasted to be $101.9 billion as of June 2022, before reaching $167.5 billion by June 2026.

$3.5 billion has been allocated for transport infrastructure projects, more trains and the removal of level crossings. The state government’s infrastructure investment will average $21.3 billion dollars a year.

The State Government is forecasting an operating cash surplus of $1.3 billion in 2022/23, with government expenditure expected to fall by 9.7 per cent in the same time period.

Total revenue for the state government is expected to be $81.9 billion in 2021/22, an increase of $3.9 billion from the previous year.

Mr Pallas took aim at the federal government in his budget speech, which he said was treating Victorians as “second class citizens”.

“Victorians have achieved this extraordinary economic recovery despite the commonwealth government shortchanging them billions of dollars,” he said.

“The commonwealth government must stop shortchanging hardworking Victorians and give us our fair share.”

Big spending on infrastructure projects is a cornerstone of the new budget.

Picture: ON FILE

Plenty of excitement for the grade 5/6 students and Principal Phillipa Adgemis. 280040 Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG

$2.4 mil for school works

By Callum Ludwig Coldstream Primary School is set to undergo major refurbishments of its Grade 5/6 area, having received $2.4 million from the Victorian Government in the 2022/23 State Budget.

The funding is also set to be used to upgrade the air conditioning system, remove asbestos and increase natural lighting.

Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence said she was thrilled the funding was secured.

“It was my pleasure to phone the Principal, Phillippa Adgemis, on Tuesday afternoon to let her know the wonderful news, and thank her and her staff for their hard work and persistence,” she said.

“After raising this issue on behalf of the Coldstream Primary School community a number of times in Parliament, together we now look forward to delivering a better and more modern learning environment for both students and teaching staff.”

The school has more than earnt their funding, having ranked as the top-ranked

This is retirement living.

school for reading in 2021 NAPLAN. Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said the funding will help every child achieve their full potential.

“You can’t get a first-rate education, in a second-rate classroom,” she said.

“It’s why we’re going to upgrade Coldstream Primary School with $2.4 million to bring buildings at the school into the 21st century.”

The funding comes as part of the 2022/23 Budget’s total $1.7 billion expenditure in education.

Minister for Education James Merlino said every Victorian kid deserves the best start in life no matter where they live, where they come from or what their abilities are.

“We know kids can’t learn at their best if they don’t feel happy and safe – that’s why we put health and wellbeing on an equal footing with academic achievement for Victorian students,” he said.

“We’re investing in our teachers and our education workforce because it’s good for students and it’s good for Victorian jobs.”

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SJRsales@benetas.com.au Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

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MAIL 5

STATE BUDGET BREAKDOWN

Crisis cash

By Mikayla van Loon The State budget released last week has aimed to build on its existing promises for building more social housing and improving conditions for women.

Having already contributed $5.3 billion towards the Big Housing Build in Victoria’s growth corridors, the State government has committed to ramping up the project to build 12,000 new social and affordable homes but the primary focus was on the creation of jobs.

“Our unprecedented investment in safe, secure housing will change lives – providing a home for even more Victorians and creating thousands of jobs as we recover from the pandemic,” housing minister Richard Wynne said.

While Anglicare Victoria’s Eastern Region regional director Shaye Chalmers said the commitment was a welcomed one, more needed to be done.

“At Anglicare Victoria, we welcome the Victorian government’s commitment to build more social housing but the planned number still won’t be enough to meet demand,” she said.

“There really needs to be an increase in the rate of JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments to prevent homelessness. While rents, petrol, utilities and groceries continue to rise, our client’s income support payments are being stretched ever more thinly.

“Increasing the level of the support payments would improve affordable access to the rental market for those on low incomes.”

Anglicare Victoria CEO Paul McDonald said as the cost of living rises, as well as rent, people are having to make choices between food and a roof over their heads, a situation that be-

comes even more challenging when a woman has had to leave a violent situation.

“Our agency is seeing dozens of single mums who have had to flee domestic violence situations – often with just the bare essentials – and are finding it hard to get rentals they can afford,” he said.

“This year there were just seven properties out of almost 19,000 which were affordable for single parents on income support.”

The government has stood by its promise to implement all of the 227 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence, with a total of $240 million announced in the budget.

This includes expanding critical refuge and crisis accommodation for victim survivors, support for family violence services to provide crisis assistance and specialised therapeutic support for young people, programs to work with perpetrators and prevention and education through Respect Victoria.

Improving outcomes for women on a whole was funded quite heavily with $940 million in initiatives primarily focused on giving women more employment opportunities and closing the gender pay gap.

Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams said the pandemic revealed the disproportionate impact on women when it comes to financial insecurity and safety.

“We know that inequality for women drives violence against women – that’s why our law reform and investments target both,” she said.

“From crisis accommodation to consent education, we’ll keep investing in the services we need to keep women and children safe and the Victorians we need to deliver them.”

Founder and CEO of Holy Fools Neal Taylor isn’t convinced by the Victorian Government’s response to homelessness in the budget.

Picture: ON FILE

Funding wins but not enough, says Holy Fools

By Callum Ludwig

Social housing and family violence funding announcements in the State budget were based previous commitments.

Picture: UNSPLASH

Are you aged 70 years or older?

You must still vote in the federal election.

The federal election will be held on Saturday 21 May 2022. Voting is compulsory even if you are 70 years of age or older.

If you can’t make it to a polling place on election day you may be eligible to vote early.

For more information go to www.aec.gov.au or call the AEC on 13 23 26.

COVID-19 measures at polling places A range of COVID-19 safety measures will be in place as you cast your vote. At all times you should follow local rules and public health directions, as well as instructions from AEC staff.

To protect the health and safety of the community, you should not attend a polling place if you’re showing any COVID-19 type symptoms.

Go to www.aec.gov.au for the latest updates and advice, including what happens if you are not able to vote.

Federal election, Saturday 21 May 2022 aec.gov.au | 

13 23 26

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Voting is compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 years and older. If you don’t vote, you may be prosecuted. If you vote more than once it is a criminal offence.

Homelessness support services are sceptical of the commitment to stemming homelessness in the Victorian State Budget released on Tuesday 3 May. $75 million was committed in the budget to upgrading homelessness support services for homeless Victorians or those who are at risk, including a specific focus on getting them into permanent housing.

Founder and CEO of Holy Fools, a homelessness support service in the Yarra Ranges, said he is very pleased with some of the funding, but failures to address other concerns indicate a ‘band-aid’ approach to support.

“What’s frustrating for me is they talk about providing $75 million to transform the services and $11.5 million towards targeted support for those at the greatest risk after Covid while we are in a housing crisis,” he said.

“I thought it was a bit pathetic that only $1.3 million in low-interest loans was given to community housing agencies to provide social and affordable housing.”

The Victorian Government did announce works for the 10-year Big Housing Build program are increasing, with a promise of more than 12,000 social and affordable homes, 6000 of which are already underway or soon to begin construction.

25 per cent of the total $5.3 billion allocated for the Big Housing Build over its lifespan is dedicated to regional Victoria.

Mr Taylor was much more welcoming of the funding for the Aboriginal Homelessness Access Point and a couple of other initiatives but critical of no additional funding for the successful From Homelessness to a Home (H2H) initiative.

“The funding that is allocated towards providing Aboriginal access points is brilliant, and so is the building of two Aboriginal community refuges, two new Core and Cluster family violence refugees and six new Crisis Accommodation properties.

These need to go to areas with the most need but I’m pleased to see that,” he said.

“They’ve withdrawn funding from the H2H program, and I think it’s a good indicator of the government and the sector funding band-aid solutions rather than those that work, it was fantastic that a lot of people went into motels, and there was a lot of people that provided there were found homes, even short term as part of H2H.” The Victorian Public Tenants Association (VPTA) shared a similar sentiment, lamenting the loss of the H2H program.

They indicated that without the program, the tenancies will be unable to be sustained into the future, leases which are expiring soon.

Chief Executive Officer of the VPTA, Katelyn Butterss said providing promises of long term homes to rough sleepers and other homeless people in 2020, only to cut the funding in 2022, was a cruel trick.

“With the cost of living only increasing, vulnerable Victorians who need support to remain in or access a safe, affordable home need more support – not less,” she said.

“Waiting list times are blowing out, yet this Budget fails to deliver the housing that would allow Victorians to access the safety, security, and dignity of a place to call home more quickly.”

VPTA pointed out in the Budget itself, on page 216 of Budget Paper 3, the Victorian Government’s target wait time for public rentals for priority applications cases is 10.5 months.

The Budget Paper indicates that in 202021, they hit an average of 12.4 months for priority cases and 11.1 for family violence cases. These are predicted to increase by 1.5 months and 5 months respectively to 13.9 and 16.1 months, as per the Government’s own estimate.

VPTA indicated they believe the data is skewed in favour too, stating from their own experience and research, that a recent survey of 310 public housing renters found that more than 30 per cent of the respondents waited three years or more to access a home.

Authorised by the Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria, 2 Lonsdale St, Melbourne.

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Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

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STATE BUDGET BREAKDOWN

Upgrades and upskilling

By Callum Ludwig The Victorian State budget announced huge funding aiming to boost Victorian emergency services preparedness, it comes after several natural disaster occurrences around the country, including the June 2021 storm.

VICSES in particular are major beneficiaries with a record $28.5 million allocated to improving its facilities and resources.

The organisation was elated at the cash splash, with VICSES CEO Stephen Griffin saying it is a fantastic outcome.

“This is a sign of the government commitment to the service and to the vital work of VICSES volunteers serving the Victorian community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” Mr Griffin said.

An additional $8.9 million on top of funding for existing projects has been allocated to new efforts to conduct priority maintenance to VICSES facilities and a continued rollout of replacing priority vehicles.

The Victorian Government have also encouraged VICSES to use the funding to improve the workplace safety and culture, particularly to encourage more women to join their local branch or other emergency service volunteer groups.

Unit Controller for Lilydale State Emergency Service Shaun Caulfield said the one-off funding is appreciated, but he would like to see an Emergency Services levy introduced in Victoria.

“We are having to replace a truck - the total cost is $250,000. We need to find $100,000 plus to contribute to that if we are able to secure a grant to cover the remainder. This grant is not assured.”

“The change to a true ‘Emergency Services levy’ – with a very modest increase of $5 per property over the whole state, would provide

Lilydale SES Unit Controller Shaun Caulflield would like to see an emergency levy established. sustainable ongoing funding to VICSES well into the future,” he said.

“We ask both sides of politics at State Level to consider the role VICSES plays in all Emergencies – Road Rescue, Storm, Flood and direct support to other agencies such as land search and land rescue, and to adequately fund us moving forward.”

For the CFA, the budget is delivering over $11 million spread across four years to perform CFA vehicle driver training and to upgrade and expand their fleet of emergency vehicles.

New initiatives include $8.9 million to a

statewide uplift of CFA’s emergency response capability, $2.2 million to programs upskilling and protecting firefighters statewide.

There’s also a further $9 million of previously unannounced funding to support gender diversity with female-friendly change rooms at over 40 CFA stations and three training campuses, as part of a $16 million total investment.

The funding will also go towards PFAS assessments and decontamination of high-risk stations and appliances.

Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes said the Victorian Government are con-

Picture: ON FILE tinuing to back the state’s hardworking emergency services with the support they need to protect and save lives.

“We’re delivering more staff, more resources and better infrastructure – attracting more people to begin a rewarding experience in our emergency services,” she said “Our hardworking emergency call-takers have done their absolute best throughout unprecedented demand from the pandemic – we’re ensuring they have the extra support they need to give Victorians the very best care.”

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Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

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MAIL 7

NEWS

Sustainability at the core

By Mikayla van Loon Sustainability and environment focused studies are a big part of the curriculum at Mount Lilydale Mercy College (MLMC) and now that is being recognised by Sustainability Victoria.

The college has been nominated as a finalist for the ResourceSmart Schools Awards in two categories, being the Community Leadership School of the Year and Curriculum Leadership School of the Year.

MLMC’s VET/RTO leader and sustainability leader Andrew Feher said working environment protection and management into the broader curriculum has been a challenge over the years but the recognition that it is working allows the school to know they are on the right path.

“It’s something that I do anyway, I would do it regardless of recognition,” he said.

“But if we can now piggyback off that success, whatever success we get out of it, then the students can be applauded for their efforts and once you get a bit of success it will suddenly create a magnet for others and they might join in the program.”

Sustainability Victoria’s community action director Katie Pahlow said when students engage in positive sustainability actions it gives them agency over their contribution to the world.

“Helping young people focus on what they can influence now for their future is more important than ever,” she said.

At a basic level, students in Year 7 learn about the importance of sorting waste into recyclables and rubbish, with different bins placed around the school, as well as a composting facility that then replenishes garden beds to grow fresh produce.

From there, sustainability is featured in nearly every subject from humanities to religious education and of course science.

Mount Lilydale Mercy College’s VET/RTO and sustainability leader Andrew Feher has been teaching students how to propagate grasses and trees to plant in the community. 279655 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS When it gets to the victorian certificate of applied learning (VCAL) years, Mr Feher said students learn about the larger impacts not only in the region but further along the line.

“We show them erosion control because a lot of these kids come from farms where that’s

Homes face climate risks

We’re moving From 2 May 2022 you can access Centrelink and Medicare services from a

By Parker McKenzie

temporary location at: Lilydale Marketplace, 33/45 Hutchinson Street, Lilydale.

Services at the corner of Anderson and Chapel Street, Lilydale will move on 12 May 2022.

Centrelink and Medicare services are also available at either: • Ringwood Service Centre, 2-6 Bond Street, Ringwood • Boronia Service Centre, 3 William Street, Boronia.

Opening hours are 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.

We’re offering a range of options to do business with us. You can: • use your myGov account, Express Plus mobile apps or phone self service to complete some of your business with us. To find out more go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/selfservice • book an appointment for Centrelink services to minimise wait times • have a one-on-one digital coaching session to help access our digital services.

To book an appointment call us on your main payment line or go to

Call 132 011 for Medicare and 131 272 for Child Support.

Let us know if you need an interpreter and we’ll arrange one for free.

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Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

0943SP_3019

payments and services.

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servicesaustralia.gov.au/phoneus Call us on 131 202 to speak with us in your language about Centrelink

been a big impact in this area.

“We’ve got the Yarra River, which is a focal point for our humanities and geography students. So we show them the impacts of erosion and then the impact of pesticides and fertilisers on various critters that go into the rivers

and then…what happens upstream impacts what happens in Port Phillip Bay so the fish pulled out they’ve got fertiliser, plastics, and all sorts of nasties in them.

“So we’re obviously trying to educate students and at the same time, hopefully their parents who are farmers to get them to at least change their thinking.”

Working with community partners like Yarra Ranges Council, Melbourne Water and BlazeAid, students have helped plant trees, keep rivers clean and rebuilt fences after natural disasters.

For at least 25 years, students have also been propagating and planting trees in the school grounds and in the community, with one of the early projects being at Lillydale Lake.

Although sustainability has been a focus for MLMC for all those years, Mr Feher only took on the role as sustainability leader three years ago.

Integrating sustainability into each area of the school, Mr Feher said it is important to work with the student prefects on projects where they can design posters for programs like the 1000 Trees planting initiative or organise climate change debates.

Mr Feher said MLMC is one of the schools leading the change in becoming a sustainably functioning school by helping others begin the transition, which could see them achieve a five star rating by Sustainability Victoria.

“So we’re going to be a ResourceSmart School hopefully by the end of the year but I think the next step is going that zero carbon, neutral carbon route which is a big undertaking. If the will is there I’m sure we can push that way. So it’s a never ending job but it’s just a passion.”

Winners will be announced on Thursday 2 June at an event held at the MCG. For more information visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/ rss-awards

Community reporting on rising insurance costs and the barriers residents and businesses face to fully insure properties throughout the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges has been reaffirmed by new research by the Climate Council. According to analysis by the Climate Council, one in 25 Australian properties will be effectively uninsurable by 2030, with some suburbs in the Dandenong Ranges reaching 100 per cent risk of becoming uninsurable. 66.89 per cent of houses in Mount Evelyn are at risk of becoming insurable by 2030 according to the Climate Council’s climate risk map while surrounding areas face a similar risk. Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said climate change is playing out in real-time and many Australians now find it impossible to insure homes and businesses.

“Over the past eight years the Federal Government has failed to meaningfully tackle climate change or prepare Australians for the worsening extreme weather events that we are now experiencing,” she said.

“The decisions of the next Federal Government will influence the future impacts of climate change for generations to come.

Pollution from coal, oil and gas must begin to plummet and we must scale up our renewable power so it meets the needs of all sectors of our economy.”

In February 2022, The Star Mail reported on a community-driven survey revealing the extent of increasing insurance premiums and the ties to weather and climate events. Two businesses in the area — one in Olinda and the other in Sassafras — saw their premiums double for 2021/22 compared to previous years. The Climate Council’s analysis has confirmed the data provided by the preliminary results of the survey, with residents and businesses facing yearon-year increases in insurance costs potentially making coverage unobtainable.

Jeremy Francis, the owner of Dandenong Ranges business Cloudehill Gardens and organiser of the survey, told the Star Mail on 22 February having an uninsured property creates further dangers for people when natural disasters occur.

“If people start finding insurance costs too much of a burden, what happens to leave early policy? It’s out the window,” Mr Francis said.

“If it means leaving the house, you’re going to lose everything that you spent your life up until then building, people are not going to leave.”

Chief Fire Officer for Forest Fire Management Victoria Chris Hardman said Victoria has seen a 40 per cent increase in very high fire danger days in the last 30 years, where bushfires are likely to cause more harm.

“When you live in an area like the Dandenongs or the Yarra Valley, which is an absolutely stunningly beautiful area that is surrounded by forest and rural land, that means in Australia we have ecology or an environment that has evolved with fire,” he said.

“Fire is a natural part of Victoria’s ecological system, so the challenge that we’re facing is many more people live in that environment than they have in the past.”

By 2050, the vast majority of houses in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges will be at risk of being uninsurable according to the Climate Council’s climate risk map.

Climate Council leading economist and Councillor Nicki Hutley said Australia is fast becoming an uninsurable nation.

“As an economist, I find these new numbers shocking and deeply concerning. I urge all Australians to use this tool to understand the risk they and their communities face as we progress through this critical make or break climate decade,” she said.

“This map makes it clear that the emissions pathway the next federal government sets us on will play a critical role in determining the insurability and future prosperity of entire communities and regions across the country.”

The Climate Council, which is a nonprofit communication organisation formed to provide independent information on climate change, have recommended Australia triple its efforts to reduce emissions by 75 per cent by 2030. The climate risk map can be viewed at www.climatecouncil.org.au/ resources/climate-risk-map mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

NZ brand lays down roots

By Renee Wood New Zealand chip manufacturer Proper Crisps has set up shop in the Yarra Valley, establishing its first Australian manufacturing facility in Lilydale.

The snack producer was founded in 2007 and has been selling in the Australian market since the 2019, as the decision to lay down roots in the region was made to be closer to consumers.

General Manager Andy Leonard said they secured an existing snack producing plant, with the take over now currently underway.

“The existing plant was very similar to the New Zealand plant and it was underutilised and available for us to come out and operate,” Mr Leonard said.

The move will help reduce shipping costs, while also reducing the food miles for the sustainably conscious brand and consumers.

Proper Crisps products are currently stocked in 1500 retail stores nationally and can be found locally at IGA stores or specialty retail such as organic fruit and veggie stores.

Crisps lovers may also now notice the change in the branding stating the product is ‘crafted in the Yarra Valley’.

The spuds are all sourced from Victorian growers and the varieties have been developed specifically for the PC recipes.

Mr Leonard said a lot of time has been spent working on the agronomy of yellow flesh potatoes, and three have been developed and grown by selected growers.

“There is not a lot of yellow potato used in Australia so we had to develop a seed program for some specific varieties, which has taken us a year or two.

“Some of those varieties haven’t been grown commercially and in big volumes before so we’re working quite closely with the growers.”

Despite the wet season, the crop has per-

General Manager Andy Leonard with Yarra Valley produced Proper Crisps. formed well and the harvest started in March, running through until May - the stock is then stored and processed at the Lilydale site.

Mr Leonard said skilled workers are needed and they were able to retain employees from the previous owner of the plant.

It’s estimated the Australian move will support 20 skilled jobs in the manufacturing sector.

“We have quite a specific cook profile and technique for making crisps, they are more handmade artisan than bulk manufacturer.

For example, “Probably the time and temperature curve subject to the condition that the potatoes are in - the condition of the potato changes a lot depending on when it was dug or what paddock it came from, so we change

our cooking profile to match the potato of the day, there’s quite a lot of skill in that side.”

Other skills are also needed for the bagging machines within the production line as well.

Mr Leonard hopes that more employment opportunities will be generated as the brand expands it’s product locally.

“We’re a brand that’s growing fast in Australia and we’re planning to continue that growth and grow manufacturing at the site here quite significantly over the next three years,” he said.

Developing products specifically for the Australian market will be another key factor of the brand’s success across the ditch, including the introduction of new products.

“We do a garden medley product which is

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS vegetables in the bag and it is quite unique and we will look to do that in Australia as well. So there’s lots of brand extension opportunities.”

Using home compostable packaging is also a sustainability win.

“That product is also available in Australia that was a first for the New Zealand market and we’re just trying to do our bit for the planet.”

One of the key aims for the brand is to connect with food shows and the local community around the product that’s now produced in their own backyards.

“We’ll be doing everything we can to engage with the Yarra Valley community and so people know where their product’s being made and that the potatoes come locally,” he said.

Nobody knows their community like you.

Draft Council Action Plan and Draft Budget 2022-23 including Capital Expenditure Program Last year Yarra Ranges Council used input from the community to develop its Council Plan and Budget. These documents outline the key activities that will be undertaken by Council and how these activities will be funded. We have revised the Council Action Plan and developed a new four year Budget to ensure the key projects and initiatives reflect community needs and help guide community recovery from COVID-19 and the June 2021 storm. Key highlights include: • We’ve added a new major initiative to the Council Action Plan focusing on supporting economic recovery.

• This year’s Budget has set aside $3 million in a Community Recovery Fund, to provide for new and ongoing initiatives, such as the four Community-led Recovery Committees, $86.4 million towards the ongoing delivery for more than 120 services and $89.2m to deliver on a Capital Expenditure Program.

From Wednesday, 11 May, Council welcomes your views on these proposed documents that will be available on Council’s website at www.shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/draftbudget-2022-23 or at all of Council’s Community Links.

Submissions will be considered at a public Hearing of Submissions meeting to be held on the evening of Wednesday, 15 June 2022 both virtually and in person at the Civic Centre, 15 Anderson St, Lilydale.

1300 368 333

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Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

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MAIL 9

NEWS

Representatives from building company Adco were at the youth expo to talk all things about pathways into the construction industry.

Various employment agencies and education provides set up stalls.

Yarra Range Tech School also showcased some of their technology on offer.

Parents, students and children came to the expo to find out information on possible career and study options.

Youth expo great success The Yarra Ranges Youth Expo was a great success when it came to the Tech School campus in Lilydale last week.

Outer Eastern Local Learning Employment Network (OELLEN) partnership broker Brooke Young said it was a huge hit with young people at all stages of their working and studying lives.

“Exhibitors were thrilled with the level of engagement from the young people who attended. They asked lots of great questions at the stalls and during the Q&A session and really took advantage of the evening,” she said.

Getting to not only engage with potential employers but also hear from experts about how to apply for a job, what a resume should look like and how to answer interview questions, Ms Young said it was a practical event to get young jobseekers ready for the workforce.

“Parents were coming up to us as they left thanking us for the opportunity for their young people to hear practical career advice from such a variety of exhibitors and for giving them the chance to practice their interview skills and get feedback.”

One young man was even able to negotiate a work experience role with a Q and A panelist after the discussion.

The panel discussion and Q and A session was popular with attendees to hear from various industry experts.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Cire services representatives had a stall to chat to people about training courses.

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Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

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NEWS

Renting prices skyrocket

By Mikayla van Loon

The ability to rent a home in the Yarra Ranges has been dwindling, as landlords sell and the cost of rent goes up.

Picture: ON FILE on minimum wage.

The number of advertised properties in the Yarra Ranges has also decreased from 82

Casey Grandmothers call for government action

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Back to school!

Mail

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

See page 7 for more back to school excitment.

Back to school!

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

A worthy brand

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

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

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

$8400 to help make the lives of children better.

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

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

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

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

Continued page 2

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Ms Schnieders said during their campaigning, the Grandmothers groups are calling for an end to temporary visas, permanent protection for refugees, the closure of detention centres, the speedy processing of 30,000 visa applications of people in the community already and increased humanitarian intake of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.

“We want a government that provides adequate and enduring support to all people seeking asylum who are living in the community. This support should not be left to non-government organisations,” Ms Schnieders said.

Although focusing on the election and hoping for better outcomes from a new government, Ms Browne said they won’t stop there.

“If we get a Labor government with independent support, which looks to me a likely option, we will really have a job then to focus on keeping Labor to some of the promises that they made and also trying to influence the Independents.”

Mail

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The Casey Grandmothers don’t believe they have been listened to in their electorate.

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The Casey Grandmothers for Refugees were out waving their purple banners and signs calling for a change in government in Chirnside Park today.

Planned as a vigil first gathering outside retiring MP Tony Smith’s office and then a public demonstration on the corner of Maroondah Highway and Kimberley Drive, the Grandmothers group were strong in numbers garnering support from some inner city members.

Casey group coordinator Virginia Schnieders said in the lead up to the election on 21 May herself and her members have been calling for larger protections and better respect for refugees.

“We are here today to demand better and demand change for refugees,” she said.

“We want better representation in Casey.

We want a representative who listens to the voices of all his or her constituents.”

Co-chair of the Grandmothers for Refugees executive and a resident in the Cooper electorate suburb of Northcote Margaret Browne said where there are marginal seats, the entire Grandmothers cohort has been focusing their attention on seeing a change in leadership.

“We’ve developed an election strategy and we have our five clear objectives. We decided that the only way we were going to see progress on those issues was to have a change of government,” she said.

“We realised the only way we’re going to get a compassionate refugee policy is if the government cares and we don’t believe this government cares.”

Mobilising what they have called the ‘flying squad’, the network of Grandmothers from various electorates are targeting eight marginal seats where they feel the most difference can be made.

in 2021 to 73 in 2022 and no properties were affordable to someone on income support, while 20 could be affordable for a person

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The reality of renting a house in the Yarra Ranges is slowly dwindling, with rental properties declining and prices skyrocketing in both the urban and regional parts of the shire.

Real estate agents have been seeing a trend of landlords selling investment properties while market prices are high, but the resulting issue means less affordable rentals are available.

Mooroolbark’s Methven Professionals director Geoff Earney said its portfolio of managed rental properties has dropped by five per cent with landlords choosing to sell and cash in a lump sum.

“We have an absolute severe shortage of rental properties and nowhere for the tenants to go to live,” he said.

Although not the primary reason, changes to the tenancy act in 2021 has meant tenants have been given many more rights when it comes to what they can and can’t do at their rental property.

Real estate agents who manage properties all over the shire said sadly it has meant landlords feel powerless and the costs in owning an investment have outweighed the benefits.

Lilydale’s Stockdale and Leggo property consultant Sharyn Manning said this was a trend their team saw across the board last year but could not blame the property owners for wanting to reap the rewards of their investment.

This lack of affordable rentals in the Yarra Ranges has also been analysed by Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Report for 2022.

Across the state, Anglicare found that of the 18,934 private rentals advertised on 19 March only two per cent (371) were suitable for a person or family living on income support and 23.5 per cent of properties (4444) were suitable for a person or family living

on minimum wage.

“Weekly rent in the Yarra Ranges is the highest it’s ever been. The median weekly rent was $455 in March 2022, compared to $430 a year ago,” Anglicare Victoria’s Eastern Region director Shaye Chalmers said.

Mr Earney said not only is the price hike making it challenging for people to stay in the area but the competitive nature of going for a rental is seeing 20, 30 or 40 people inspecting a home.

“There’s lots of people lining up to get through every open for inspection they can for a property and only one will get it, so where do they go?” he said.

“They have to go out of the area, perhaps down Berwick way or Werribee way but it’s a long way from where your family is if they’re already here.”

With more land and cheaper prices in those areas in Pakenham, Berwick and Werribee it’s driving people away from the Yarra Ranges.

“The shortage of land out here is a huge problem as well,” Mr Earney said.

“The cutting down of the normal quarter acre block so that you can put two on it has been very popular, however, they’re starting to run out now.”

Ms Chalmers said while the appeal of living in regional areas has seen some of her clients being pushed “into less accessible areas of the Yarra Ranges” it has also come with unexpected costs.

“Families are also living in houses or units that are too small for them – often due to increasing rental costs and limited options available,” she said.

“Coupled with the rising cost of living, it is harder for our vulnerable clients to make ends meet – many have had to make the difficult choice of skipping meals or switching off the heating in winter, just to keep a roof over their head.”

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MAIL 11

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Capturing autumn colours

By Mikayla van Loon Autumn is a time for changing colours and the welcoming of cooler months, something that lends itself to beautiful photography.

Croydon photographer Jason East has been out and about exploring some of the wonders of the region and shared with the Star Mail what he looks for when capturing autumn.

“Spring and autumn are the two seasons that change the most. One is a new life and one is shedding off the old life,” he said.

“The colours in the leaves in autumn capture everyone’s attention. It’s just beautiful.”

Mr East said within a matter of days let alone weeks, the colour of the leaves and the number that have fallen can change rapidly, making it even more exciting to capture the season.

Whether it’s light or perspective, Mr East said it can have quite an effect on the way certain moments are captured on camera.

For him when out looking for subjects to photograph, Mr East said it’s all about framing the most interesting part and is perhaps not something most recognisable to the eye.

“The detail that I capture is different to what people are used to seeing,” he said.

“I like to shoot a little bit lower and look up at things which gives a slightly different perspective. Maybe it’s framing something smaller other than trees. Maybe there’s something else like a bridge. Maybe one random person that adds personality or a human element.”

By capturing movement even in the edge of frame, whether it be humans or animals, Mr East said it breaks up perhaps that one dimensional landscape image.

As someone who has primarily been a drone photographer, capturing the world from above, Mr East said it has been a learning curve for himself to drop down to ground level.

“The drone you can just point and shoot and then you can crop it from there, you don’t have to think a lot, compared to when you’ve got a land camera you’re thinking ‘what do I want to capture? Is it just that area or is there a figure? What do I want in the frame?’

“So the learning curve was huge. The drones are always fun because you can just fly around but being on the land, you’re a bit more locked into a location so you really have to choose where you want to go and what you want to shoot.”

Mr East said he has steered away from the drone during autumn because it loses some of

The brightness of the colours in autumn truly inspire the need to capture their vibrancy against the dullness of trees that don’t change.

Pictures: JASON EAST the immense detail that is presented in these months, whether it be the falling of leaves or the golden light at sunrise or sunset.

While some photographers enjoy the ability to walk and shoot whatever grabs their attention, Mr East said he prefers to have a plan of where he is going and what he would like to capture.

Although the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges provide ample opportunities to photograph the wonders of autumn, making it hard to pick his favourites, Mr East said there are some stand out places in the region.

“My favourite one is the Alfred Nicholas Gardens. You can go to most gardens and it’s just a garden but there is a water feature and boathouse. It’s more than just the garden and the photographs are beautiful especially when it’s overcast and the trees are changing colours.

“Yarra Glen’s another good spot, it’s got lots of imported trees or exotic trees so they’re the ones that change the colours.

Autumn lends itself to clear skies but low cloud giving a great contrast when able to be in the right spot at the right time.

“A bit further along, I’m going to Noojee to catch the waterfall. With the rains that we’ve had over recent times it should be flowing nicely and I should get some good autumn

shots up there. But even just the local councils around here have done a good job [in planting trees] so you don’t have to go too far to find the natural autumn colours changing.”

1950s female independence brought to life on stage

By Mikayla van Loon Seeing a show at The Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre is like stepping back in time, entering the grand foyer, enjoying a sherry and witnessing the beauty of the theatre itself.

Travel back in time to the 1950s this May and June as the company brings a post-war drama of love, life and loss to the stage in Terence Rattigan’s ‘The Deep Blue Sea’.

Witness the love triangle of Hester Collyer, Freddie Page and judge William Collyer as despair and anguish overcomes the young lady when she attempts to find purpose in life.

Cast as Freddie Page, Ben Freeland has become a regular on stage at the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre but he said what grabbed him about this role was playing a character so different from himself.

“For me, I think it’s a juxtaposition of my natural character. There’s just a level of brashness and stunted emotional intelligence for the character, he’s just brutish and ignorant and unaware of how emotionally damaging he is to the women he engages in relationships with,” Freeland said.

Preparing to play a character that is largely self absorbed, Freeland said “the fun for me is trying to find the human” because even under the facade, a human being exists.

Director Alan Burrows said while it is quite a serious play, those who have studied Ter12 MAIL

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Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

ence Rattigan’s work regard it as something of foresight into the female escape from dependency.

“Even though it was written in the 1950s it has an element of a woman making decisions about her own life and it’s almost a preemptive feministic approach to relationships,” he said.

“In the end, she’s prepared to step beyond what would be a very comfortable lifestyle with the judge and realising that the younger man can’t really give her what she wants either and she comes to the conclusion that she can make her own way in life and be independent of either relationship.”

As a director Burrows said he has been drawing out certain elements in scenes, emphasising the relationships between men and women, as well as women asserting themselves equally.

“The important thing is to hit those issues but also to direct it in a way that heightens the tension as to what is actually happening and therefore, the interactions between both men and Hester is to actually create tension when they interact,” Burrows said.

“So the audience are, in a sense, kept on the edge of their seats as to whether she is going to continue down the path of self destruction or is she not and hopefully, we build the tension in a way that still right to the very end, they’re not quite sure which way she’s

going to jump.”

Freeland said while the play is dark and comments on mental health, the audience should connect to the realness of it no matter the generation.

“This is a more sombre piece and really dark in terms of its subject matter but it should be more true to life, it should be quite real I would hope,” he said.

“If the relationships that we can build during the rehearsal process exist, then people should feel a lot of mixed emotions about all the characters in the play.”

With that focus on the beginnings of women’s empowerment in the 1950s, Burrows said he believes women in the audience will feel quite a strong connection to Hester and her struggles.

For men, Burrows said may perhaps witness the shortcomings in both male characters in their reaction and solution to Hester’s despair.

Eight actors have been cast for the play, with Angela Glennie playing Hester, Phil Lambert playing her husband and Ben Freeland playing her forbidden lover.

“It is a serious story and what will captivate audiences will be the power of the performances,” Burrows said.

The season will run from Thursday 19 May to Saturday 4 June. To book visit www.lilydaleatc.com/ or call 9735 1777.

Lilydale Theatre regular Ben Freeland will take on the role of Freddie Page in The Deep Blue Sea production. Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON mailcommunity.com.au

BENDIGO BANK 20TH BIRTHDAY

Banking on the community The Community Bank Mt Evelyn celebrated 20 years of community banking last week, having given more than $3.5M in grants and sponsorships to community groups in that time.

“We are extremely proud of reaching this momentous milestone and want to thank our community and the people and businesses who have made this possible,” said John Stroud, Community Bank Chair.

“Thanks to the foresight and leadership of the community back in 2002, led by Allan Grundy, we have a Community Bank in Mt Evelyn today that serves the township and surrounding suburbs where the more banking that takes place the more financial support the community receives.”

Over the past 20 years the bank has supported disability groups, sporting clubs, environmental groups, secondary and primary schools, preschools, men’s sheds, community festivals, RSL, CFA, scouts, youth groups.

Support that has helped kick start ideas, purchased equipment, and created experiences to bring communities together, ensuring we live in a vibrant community with a diversity of healthy community groups.

Support to help build stronger, more connected communities.

In recent times, the impact has included special funding grants during COVID lockdowns to help groups stay operating, coffee and food vouchers to help keep people connected and funding for hay to go to Gippsland after the fires.

Bendigo Bank Relationship Manager, Tania Hansen wished Community Bank Mt Evelyn a happy 20th birthday. She said, “This is a significant milestone and a chance for the community to reflect upon your shared success. 20 years of service to the community, employing local people, reinvesting in local projects and

John Stroud current Chair, past chairs Jill Rule and Allan Grundy cut the cake.

The celebration of 20 years of Community Banking with John Stroud, Gareth Little-Hales, Laura Lilley, Gai Williams, Lisa Glassborow and Prue Northey.

Mt Evelyn Bendigo Bank celebrates 20 years of Community Banking.

organisations, and being part of a national network that leads the way globally when it comes to doing good by doing banking. Congratulations.”

Mr Stroud thanked the shareholders, customers and businesses for their continued support and said he looks forward to another

happy to meet new customers and see how the branch can help with their banking needs,” said Mr Stroud.

If you’re interested in finding out how your banking can benefit your community, then pop into the branch to see Dave and the team, or call them on 9737 1833.

celebration at the November AGM. “Our friendly team of branch staff and lenders are led by Senior Manager David (Dave) Watt. Dave has been with the branch since day one and has been pivotal in the success of the brand and our ability to give back to the community. Dave and the team are always

12549138-SN19-22

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Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

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MAIL 13

OPINION

State cuts

14 MAIL

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Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

By Bridget Vallence, Evelyn MP Last week the State Budget was handed down, and unfortunately it represents a troubling picture for our economy and completely ignores our local community. The Budget will result in a deficit of $7.9 billion, with State Net Debt a staggering $167.5 billion by 202526 taking Victoria’s debt level to that of NSW, Queensland and South Australia combined.

Victoria has lost its triple AAA credit rating, meaning that interest repayments on Victoria’s debt will only increase and our grandchildren will be the ones left to pick up the tab. Spending on Health and Covid recovery is crucial, yet the State Budget revealed a disturbing $2 billion cut to Victoria’s health system. That’s despite ambulances ramping at hospitals every day, hundreds of calls to Triple-Zero being left unanswered, and nearly 100,000 Victorians on the surgery waiting list.

Our community will recall in April 2020 being sent into lengthy lockdowns ‘in order to prepare the health system’. Regrettably, Victoria’s health system remains in crisis, our amazing healthcare workers are exhausted, and we still don’t know what happened to the $1.3 billion that was promised for 4,000 staffed ICU beds.

Unfortunately, the Budget is putting patients last.

For the Evelyn electorate, the Budget was incredibly disappointing. There was not one

cent to upgrade any roads or to duplicate the rail track between Mooroolbark and Lilydale.

The removal of the Lilydale rail boom gates has resulted in not one, but two additional sets of traffic lights on Main Street, causing traffic chaos. Local residents are now actively avoiding the intersection, causing traffic pressures in other parts of Lilydale and local traders losing customers. The half billion spent on removing the Lilydale and Mooroolbark level crossings has not resulted in any improvements in commuting times or reliability or frequency of train services. Further, it is astonishing the State Government has again refused to commit to the duplication of Maroondah Highway Coldstream and fix the dangerous Killara Road intersection, despite being gifted $20 million in Federal funding three years ago. The Victorian Liberals remain committed to this project. Additionally, we’ve pledged $5 million to upgrade the dangerous stretch of Warburton Highway between Douthie and Peters Roads in Seville East if elected this November.

Victorians deserve better than a Budget that cuts funding to health at the worst possible time. Instead, they deserve a dose of positivity and a plan to recover and rebuild our health system. I’ll keep advocating for better local healthcare services, support for small businesses, improved learning environments for our children, and better and safer roads and transport infrastructure.

Contrasting performances

By Peter Kemp Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre The Deep Blue Sea Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea tells the story of Hester Collyer, the young wife of the High Court Judge William Collyer, who has embarked in a passionate affair with Freddie Page, a handsome young former RAF pilot troubled by his memories of the war.

Their relationship is physical and passionate, but his ardour has cooled, leaving her emotionally stranded and desperate.

Taking place over the course of one day we witness her battle as she struggles to come to terms with her situation and to find a reason to go on living. Will she return to William, or will Freddie relent, and how will the interactions with others in the apartment block affect her circumstances and decision?

Season: 19 May – 4 June.

1812 Theatre Till Beth Do Us Part A side-splitting comic romp about marriage.

Career-driven Suzannah Hayden needs a lot mor help on the home front than she was getting from her husband, Gibby.

Enter Beth Bailey, Suzannah’s newly hired assistant, a gregarious highly motivated daughter of the South, in no time, she exceeds her duties as a household assistant and injects herself into Suzannah’s career.

As Suzannah’s dependence on Beth grows, she gives Beth carte blanche to change anything in the household; and the change Beth makes is convincing Suzannah that Gibby must go!

When he realises it’s Suzannah’s career Beth is really after, a newly determined Gibby sets out to save his marriage aided by Suzannah’s best friend, Margo, a wisecracking and self- depreciating divorcee and her ex-husband, Hank, who is in the midst od his own life crisis.

Their effort to stop Beth at any cost sets up the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry just as Suzannah’s boss arrives for that all-important dinner.

Season: 18 May – 11 June.

The second best of the year Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen and Xochitl Gomez Rated M

12539754-AV11-22

CHIRNSIDE PARK Meadowgate Milk Bar 3 Meadowgate Drive CHIRNSIDE PARK Coles Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway CHIRNSIDE PARK Woolworths Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway CHIRNSIDE PARK 7 - Eleven 242 Maroondah Highway CROYDON NORTH Croydon Hills Milk Bar 158 Nangathan Way CROYDON NORTH Eastfield Milk Bar 11 The Mall KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Churinga SC, Russo Place KILSYTH Kilsyth News & Lotto 520 - 528 Mt Dandenong Road KILSYTH Kilsyth Laundrette87 Colchester Road KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Canterbury Road Kilsyth KILSYTH TSG Tobacco Churinga Shopping Centre Mt Dandenong Road LILYDALE Lilydale Marketplace SC 33-45 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE Lilydale Village SC 51-59 Anderson Street LILYDALE Coles Supermarket Lilydale Village Castella Street & Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Lilydale Community Centre 7 Hardy Street LILYDALE Eastern Laundries. 2/4 Williams Street East LILYDALE Lilydale Lakeside Conference and Events Centre 1 Jarlo Drive LILYDALE United Petrol Service Station 473 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Caltex Lilydale 346 Main Street LILYDALE Caltex Woolworths 31 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE BP Service Station 87 Warburton Highway LILYDALE Shell Service Station 469 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE 7 - Eleven Lilydale Cnr Maroondah Highway & Cave Hill Road LILYDALE Coles Express 469 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Hutch & Co Cafe 251 Main Street LILYDALE Round Bird Can’t Fly 170 Main Street LILYDALE The Lilydale General 110 Beresford Road LILYDALE Yarra Valley Smokery 96 Main Street LILYDALE Bee Seen Cafe 178 Main Street LILYDALE Blue Turtle Cafe 222 Main Street LILYDALE Gracious Grace Castella Street LILYDALE Melba Coffee House 33-45 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE Lilydale Munchies 7/75 Cave Hill Road LILYDALE The Mustard Tree Cafe 3/28 John Street LILYDALE Freda’s Cafe 2 Clarke Street LILYDALE Ray White Real Estate 164 Main Street LILYDALE Stockdale & Leggo Real Estate 281 Main Street LILYDALE Professionals Real Estate 111-113 Main Street LILYDALE Grubs Up 1 Industrial Park Drive LILYDALE Olinda Creek Hotel Maroondah Hwy LILYDALE Crown Hotel Maroondah Hwy LILYDALE Yarra Ranges Council 61 - 65 Anderson Street MONTROSE Montrose Authorised Newsagency 912 Mt Dandenong Road MONTROSE Bell Real Estate 896 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road MONTROSE IGA Supermarket 916 Mt Dandenong Road MOUNT EVELYN Fast Fuel 1 Hereford Road MOUNT EVELYN IGA Supermarket 38- 40 York Road MOUNT EVELYN Post Office 12 Station Street MOUNT EVELYN Authorised Newsagency 1A Wray Crescent MOUNT EVELYN Red Robin Milk Bar 35 Hereford Road MOUNT EVELYN Library 50 Wray Cresent MOUNT EVELYN Milkbar 28 Birmingham Road MOUNT EVELYN York on Lilydale 138 York Road MOOROOLBARK Coles Supermarket 15 Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK Corner Milk Bar 38 Bellara Dive MOOROOLBARK Fang & Yaoxin Mini Mart 108 Hayrick Lane MOOROOLBARK BP Mooroolbark 103 Cardigan Road MOOROOLBARK Coles Express 2 Cambridge Road MOOROOLBARK Mooroolbark Coin Laundrette28 Manchester Road MOOROOLBARK Professionals Real Estate Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK L J Hooker Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK Fletchers Real Estate 1/14 Manchester Road MOOROOLBARK 7-Eleven Manchester Road

Like Everything Everywhere All At Once, Multiverse of Madness’s action-packed plot spans multiple universes but tells a moving, intimate story about regret, loss and longing.

Elite sorcerer Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) must protect America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a young woman who can travel between universes, from Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).

Doctor Strange is still quippy but more mature and grounded than in his first film, confronting his hubris across multiple realities, and has great chemistry with America as her beleaguered protector. Wanda, who wants to steal America’s power to reunite with her lost sons in another universe, is capable of shocking ruthlessness, but Olsen still subtly conveys Wanda’s discomfort over her actions. As such, despite the harsh, even horrific action, Wanda is a phenomenal antagonist who never quite slips into villain territory.

Multiverse of Madness has surreal, vibrant cinematography but compelling moral greyness. The plot has a steady, suspenseful escalation, as Doctor Strange and Wanda draw upon ever-darker forces for noble aims, but just as Everything Everywhere All At Once endorses kindness and acceptance, Multiverse of Madness stresses the importance of empathy and self-reflection.

Multiverse of Madness assumes some familiarity with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the TV show Wandavision, but is still accessible for casual viewers, and provides the satisfying (if brutally brief) MCU debut of certain iconic comic characters (which I will not spoil here). Multiverse of Madness is dark and macabre but unwaveringly fun under horror-comedy veteran Sam Raimi’s direction.

As zany, affecting action movies about the multiverse, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would make a great double-feature with Everything Everywhere All At Once, and is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes mailcommunity.com.au

PUZZLES

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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”.

T

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Today’s Aim: 15 words: Good 23 words: Very good

9 6 5 4 7 2 8 3 1

3 8 1 2 5 6 9 4 7

5 2 7 1 9 4 6 3 8

31 words: Excellent

I

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2 9 6 8 1 3 7 5 4

1 7 8 4 2 5 3 6 9

4 5 3 7 6 9 1 8 2

9 1 4 6 3 2 8 7 5

8 6 5 9 4 7 2 1 3

7 3 2 5 8 1 4 9 6

2 1 7 3 5 8 4 9 6

8 3 4 9 1 6 7 5 2

3 2 6 5 4 9 1 8 7

4 5 8 1 2 7 3 6 9

7 9 1 6 8 3 5 2 4

6 8 9 7 3 4 2 1 5

1 7 3 2 6 5 9 4 8

5 4 2 8 9 1 6 7 3

7 3 1 6 8 2 9 4 5

5 4 6 7 9 1 8 2 3

9 2 8 4 5 3 7 6 1

6 7 5 1 3 8 2 9 4

2 9 4 5 6 7 3 1 8

8 1 3 9 2 4 6 5 7

1 6 7 3 4 9 5 8 2

4 8 9 2 7 5 1 3 6

3 5 2 8 1 6 4 7 9

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

M

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4 LETTERS CAMP EARL GEED KISS KNIT OWNS PAST RAGS SAGS SWAP TENT USED WAYS WRAP

5 LETTERS ABORT ALLOT AMISS APART ARENA ASIDE AVAIL BACKS CASTE COLIC CRANE DRAWN DRIPS EDGED EERIE ENTRY ERASE FAUNA FETID GAMUT

drip, impend, imprint, IMPRINTED, inept, intrepid, pend, pent, perm, permit, pert, pied, pier, pine, pined, pint, pitied, pitmen, pride, pried, prim, prime, primed, print, printed, ripe, ripen, tempi, tepid, trip, tripe

6 4 9 3 7 8 5 2 1

hard

17

medium

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easy

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C P H S ZWA X KOU J F

4

C R A N E

GEARS GENIE GLARE HANDY HASTE HEDGE KORAN LURED MARIA MEATS PLEAS PRISM RAFTS SCARF SEWER SHARP SIREN SLEET STAIR STEER STEPS

7 LETTERS FLASHER LEAFIER MAIMING MONGREL RINSING WARFARE

SWEPT TAMES TEENS TIRES USING WAFTS WHENS WHIRR YOURE

8 LETTERS APPEARED INTEREST TOMORROW TORTILLA

6 LETTERS NEEDLE PSEUDO REHASH RESIDE

S L E E T

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T I R E S

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4 3

F A U N A

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A M I S S

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H A S T E

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G E N I E

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3 LETTERS ALL ARE AVO IMP INN INS IRE ITS NAP NEE ORE OWL PEA PEN PIE PIS PRO RED RUN SAC TEE UGH UPS WEE

No. 080

D R I P S

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WORDFIT

M E A T S

No. 080

A R E N A

DECODER

C O L I C

7

Co-worker (9) Poor labourer of low social status (7)

H A N D Y

8

DOWN 1 2

S E W E R

9

20 22 23

A P A R T

2

15 16 18 19

W A A V Y O P S R P O W L H E P E A I N S S S U I N G R E H E E D R L U E N

medium

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5 6 7 8 13

T S O T R E T E I R L L A P R K I N S I M T T N E A N P T

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

9 10 11 12 14 15 17 19 20 21

R A F A L L G L A P S S W H E N G R E E A R W A P E R E S T O W S M A A B O R C A R F C R A K O R S W E

2 1

Mortarboard (3) English poet and playwright (11) Having more leaves (7) Country (7) Allowing (8) Sensual (6) Gain possession (3) Instructive (11) Deporting (11) Fellows (3) Actor, – Brie (6) One of the Caribbean islands (8) Merit (7) 10-across state (7) Persistently (11) Spot (3)

1 3

Aptitude (5) Dealing with the operation of aircraft (10) Web auction site (4) Readying for use (9) City in southern France (7) Cyber messages (5) One who uses their wealth to invest in trade and industry (10) Feeling a strong affection (9) Visible features of an area (9) City in northern Italy (7) Occupying a middle position (7) Seconds (5) Pal (5) Prefix meaning million (4)

R P E S D E U I D M O P S F I E R T E I N D S I A N G N S

easy

3 4

ACROSS

No. 080

E E R I E

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.

QUICK CROSSWORD

E R A S E

No. 080

G A M U T

SUDOKU

13-05-22

William Matthews Funerals FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED

24 HOUR SERVICE ALL AREAS

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

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MAIL 15

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NEWS

Pledge for reserve works

By Mikayla van Loon Lilydale Recreation Reserve has been promised Federal government funding should Liberal party candidate Aaron Violi be elected at the end of May. The pledge of $1 million was made on Saturday 30 April at the Lilydale Football Netball Club President’s Lunch.

Club president Anthony Simmons said this was a step in the right direction to garner the support of local, state and federal governments to improve the tired and dilapidated facilities.

“It’s the first time we’ve had anyone come out and actually publicly support the redevelopment of the club rooms and actually put some money behind it,” he said.

“Obviously, it’s dependent on him being elected but at least it’s started the conversation and it’s now down to me to try to get bipartisan support for it through state and federal representatives and hopefully leverage those conversations with the council to get a plan and timeline.”

Mr Violi said as a member of the Lilydale Township Action Group, he has heard the needs for a project like this for Lilydale’s future.

“Not only will this bring our community together, it will be a welcome boost for our local economy, increasing female participation by upwards of 62 per cent and creating 33 new local jobs according to Council estimates,” he said.

“In total, 220,000 people are expected to use the upgraded facility upon completion, boosting health and wellbeing outcomes in Lilydale and surrounding suburbs.”

Both the current club rooms and visitors rooms under the grandstand are all on their last legs, being close to the original structures.

Having put money into some minor extensions to provide showers and toilets divided

The club and visitor rooms at Lilydale Football Club are becoming dilapidated with the footings eroding and facilities not catering to women. 234335 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS from the club room, as well as upgrading some fixtures, Mr Simmons said “It’s getting to the point now where the building is so old the footings are starting to give way.”

“The big storms that came through mid to late last year…we had a large tree fall down on the corner of the club rooms at the rear which damaged the flashing,” he said.

“We had some water getting in while it was being repaired. They’ve done the best they can but the amount of water that fell during those storm periods has eroded the footings of the change rooms at the rear side as well.

“Given that erosion it’s only a matter of time before that actually gets a lot worse and it’s going to happen fairly quickly.”

Not only is it the structural damage but without sufficient change rooms, Mr Simmons said Lilydale Football Club has been unable to start a women’s team as desired.

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“There’s a need for Lilydale as a whole to have a community centre, a genuine place.

There’s multiple community groups that need commercial kitchen facilities like Cire who have cooking classes for people with disability.”

With the station and car park redevelopment, as well as access from the Warburton Rail Trail, Mr Simmons said the reserve is in a great location for community access, which could also increase participation in sport.

“We want to drive that genuine interest in getting female participation up at all levels of sport and the disabled access we need to have that improved.

“It’s not just about football and cricket. It’s about having a genuine community centre in the heart of Lilydale.”

Fellow Casey candidates were contacted for a response.

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“We’ve been trying to get a women’s team up and running and we’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of female junior sides running but there’s no pathway for them and part of that is because the current change rooms are not female friendly.”

While originally Lilydale Football Club had been promised the move to new facilities at the Kinley estate once built, Mr Simmons said as the completion timeline is not for many years, the issue of facilities is becoming more and more urgent.

Because of this commitment, Mr Simmons said the club had been knocked from Yarra Ranges Council’s priority list for upgrades but has since been returned as the need becomes more prevalent.

Now Mr Simmons is pushing for a collective community space to be built at the Lilydale Recreation Reserve to provide a central location and events hub for the town.

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MAIL 17

SPORT

Wet and windy clashes

By Callum Ludwig A big win and two agonising losses for Lilydale FC this week as we took on Bayswater away from home in wet and windy conditions.

The U19.5s managed to avoid the poor conditions, for the most part, beating the battling Bayswater side 13.14, 92 to 5.1, 31.

It was a slow start for the Dales, with Bayswater taking it up to them in the first half, scores level at quarter time and only a 1 point lead for the Falcons at halftime.

The Dales got up and about after the break, however, and kept their opponents scoreless for the rest of the game while piling on 60 points.

Lachlan Baxter returned in style from his battle with man-flu, kicking 6 goals to send himself to the top of the goal-kicking charts on 16 for the season.

Zac Carolan’s skills were once again as clean as his boots, putting in a shift all over the ground.

Bailey Bateman kicked another two goals to add to his season tally of 8, and Cobey Clausen nailed a set shot he insists myself and others kick him a footy to practice 30 times before training.

Daniel ‘Paddy’ Ryan was influential in moving the ball forward from half-back and midfield, including with the spin move he must be contractually obliged to perform at least once a game.

The U19.5s are nestled comfortably in 1st on the ladder on percentage as one of five teams who are on 4 wins and 1 loss for the season.

In a low-scoring affair, the Reserves were narrowly beaten by Bayswater, 4.6, 30 to 3.5, 23 as the rain started to set in.

The game marked Sean ‘Ranga’ Hadju’s 100th game, and he didn’t let the occasion slip idly by, featuring among the best players on the day.

The Reserves’ led at quarter-time before Bayswater maintained a narrow lead that they held on to for the rest of the day.

Reserves leading goalkicker Harry ‘TikToks’ Mitchell snagged two customary goals on a day that favoured small forwards more than anyone, and Trent Davison kicked Lilydale’s other as the best on ground for the Falcons.

Cam ‘Fridge’ Oude-Meilink, Lachlan Cox, Jesse Ebert and Jack Nichols, on return from a long-term ankle injury, were the others to feature in the best for the 2’s.

The Reserves find themselves 8th on the ladder.

Scoring was also made difficult in the wet for the Seniors, who went down to Bayswater in a nailbiter. With less than a minute on the clock, the Dales were up by 2 before Bayswater kicked a goal to run out victors.

Matthew Phillips reaches highest in a ruck contest.

It was Bayswater’s accuracy in front of goal that won them the game, in the end, the final score 11.5, 71 to 9.14, 68.

In what was an utter shock to absolute no one from the Lilydale Football Club, Ryan ‘Dobby’ McNay relished the wet conditions to sneak into Lilydale’s best players.

At his insistence, it was once again another day of setting the tone from Matthew Phillips, who was dominant in giving Lilydale’s mids first service with his ruckwork.

Mitchell ‘DeFran’ De Franceschi was the best on ground for Lilydale, joined by Dougy Wooton, Riley ‘Santa’ Clausen and Marc Massarotti.

The netballer’s favourite Jordan ‘Jaws’ Jaworski kicked 3 goals taking his tally to 13 for the season, one behind Macauley Beckwith whose rare duck saw him temporarily forfeit his spot as the league’s leading goalkicker.

The Seniors sit 9th on the ladder.

Lilydale takes on East Ringwood at home next week.

Pictures: FIELD OF VIEW

A few wry smiles, probably at the state of Clem’s hair.

Barkerettes back on track but men suffer heavy losses

By Peter Stephenson The Barkers’ women’s and men’s soccer sides experienced contrasting fortunes on Friday night.

A cold, drizzly night at Esther Park saw the Barkerettes (third) host their first-ever league meeting with Yarra Jets (fifth), in round three of Women’s State 3 East. Barkerettes needed to bounce back quickly from the dropped points at Swinburne last week, to keep in touch with league leaders Banyule City and Lilydale Montrose United.

The first half was mostly Barkers, but both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances. Lucky, then that we’re with Amy. On 24 minutes, a pass from Lisa Walsh found Amy D’Ortenzio, who hit a low shot past an outof-position Gerty Daly in the Jets’ goal, into the corner of the net for 1-0 Barkers.

Jets didn’t really threaten until the closing minutes of the half, and when they did break through the Barkers defence, keeper Ashleigh Fraraccio was alert enough to snuff out the danger with a dive at the forward’s 18 MAIL

|

Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

The Mooroolbark Barkerettes have taken another win bringing them up to second on the ladder.

Picture: MOOROOLBARK SOCCER CLUB feet. Half-time: Mooroolbark 1-0 Yarra Jets.

The second half saw Barkers hit their straps and they put the game to bed with two goals in quick succession. On 64 minutes, a lovely through ball was sent into the path of Walsh, who hit a sweet shot past Daly for her

fifth of the season to make it 2-0.

Barely a minute later, a beautiful ball from D’Ortenzio found Isabella Vorpasso in space on the right, and she hit a lovely chip over Daly to make it 3-0. All was set fair for another clean sheet until two minutes from

time when Barkers repeatedly failed to clear their lines, allowing Kirsten Pedder to lob the home keeper, but it was too little too late for Jets as Barkerettes ran out 3-1 winners.

An excellent second half from Barkerettes led to a comfortable win. Not for the first time this season, they simply ran the legs off their opponents.

They move into second spot, two points behind Banyule City. Next week they face a local derby and a real six-pointer as they travel the short distance to third-placed Lilydale Montrose United for their first-ever meeting.

Meanwhile, over at Kevin Bartlett Reserve in Richmond, the Barkers’ men’s sides endured a night to forget in round eight of the men’s State 2 South-East.

First the reserves lost 0-5 to the league leaders Collingwood City. The senior side fared little better, going down 0-4.

To rub salt into their wounds, Josh Newman suffered a nasty injury towards the end of the game. Next for Barkers is a home game against Heatherton United next Saturday. mailcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Cobras’ winning Tas trip

By Zach Moult The NBL1 Kilsyth Cobra Men and Women have combined to go 3-1 in the daunted Tasmania road trip on the weekend. The Cobra Men continued they strong start to 2022, squeezing by the Hobart Chargers in an 82-78 thriller on Friday, before blowing the NW Tasmania out late to finish their road trip with a 100-73 win.

A pair of Tim Lang free throws in the final seconds proved to be the difference on Friday, as the Cobras made all the big plays late to stun the Chargers on the road. Star wing Corey Jeffs (25 points, 10 rebounds) and import Trey Moses (14 points 8 rebounds) carried the Cobras down the stretch, attacking the rim relentlessly as they combined to score 17 of Kilsyth’s final 19 points. While the Cobras were firing offensively, it was their trademark stifling defence that shone late, as they held a talented Chargers team scoreless over the final three minutes to secure their third straight win.

Facing the Thunder on short turnaround on Sunday, the Cobras showed no signs of fatigue late as they rode a dominant second half per-

formance for their biggest win of the season to date. Leading by three at the half, the Cobras exploded over the final 20 minutes of Saturday’s game, outscoring NW Tasmania, 56-30 in the second half behind a scintillating three point shooting display. Once again it was Jeffs leading the way, as he scored 14 of his game-high 19 points in the second half, while Adi Tomada recorded 16 points and a game-high seven assists and Lang, Ben Ursich, Deng Deng, and Mitch Dielemans each scored in double figures.

The Cobras impressive weekend also saw Deng Deng make his much anticipated debut, with the electric Brisbane Bullets forward showing why he is regarded as one of the NBL1’s best players with a number of spectacular plays on both ends of the floor.

The Cobra Women started their road trip off in style, riding a dominant first half on the defensive end to beat the Chargers, 75-57. Head coach Hannah Lowe received terrific contributions across the board on Friday, with Georgia Booth, Isis Lopes, Sarah Haberfield, Abi Curtin and Lauren Scherf each scoring in double figures. With their lead trimmed to 10 to start the

final period it was Scherf who put the final nail in the Chargers coffin, with the Australian Opal scoring on three straight possessions to blow the game open as the Cobras cruised the rest of the way for their second win of the season.

Lowe’s team hit the wall on Saturday in Launceston, though, running out of gas late as they fell to the Tornadoes, 67-85. Playing from behind for most of the evening, the Cobras behind Scherf and Kilsyth junior Nikita Young - led a late surge to claw to within 60-67 with five minutes remaining, but the Thunder responded with an 11-1 run as they pulled away from a visibly fatigued Cobra team late. Scherf led Kilsyth with a game-high 29 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Young added 14 points in 19 minutes in the loss.

The Cobra Women and Men return home this Saturday night, playing host to the Ballarat Miners/Rush for their annual NBL1 Junior Domestic night event. The Cobras are offering free entry to all Kilsyth Junior Domestic players under the age of 18 who attend the night in their domestic club gear. Tickets for Saturday’s doubleheader are now on sale (intix.com.au).

Kilsyth Basketball had a successful trip to Tasmania over the weekend bringing home wins all round.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Gladysdale Primary teacher new Vic junior head coach

By Callum Ludwig A local primary school teacher and basketball fanatic now has the opportunity to combine her passions for teaching and ballin’; Michelle Letts from Gladysdale Primary School being named as the Head Coach of the U12 Victorian Boys team for School Sport Victoria.

The grade 3/4 and PE teacher will take the team to the annual national championships in August.

Ms Letts said it was a nice surprise.

“It was a bit unexpected because I hadn’t heard anything about it after the interview.

Then coming back to work after the Christmas break, I found out from my principal (Tara Jenner),” she said.

“I’m very excited, and really looking forward to getting started.”

Ms Letts grew up playing basketball, starting when she was only five years old, playing for the SEBC Saints. She now coaches the Knox Raiders rep team and the Wantirna Wasps in the Knox domestic league.

Ms Letts said the tryouts stage has already begun.

“There are three different rounds of tryouts, and we started the first round last Thursday. We’ve got two more at the end of May,” she said.

“The final selection is in the June-July school holidays, and we select the team for the national championships from that tryout.”

The annual national School Sport Victoria basketball championships are set to take place from 13 to 19 August this year, played at Bendigo Stadium.

The Gladysdale Primary School teacher has been playing or coaching since she was only five years old.

Ms Letts said she has high hopes for the side and enjoys the part she will play as head coach. “Our ultimate goal is to take home the gold medal,” she said.

“I just like putting it back into the community, and being involved in a sport that I’ve always been really passionate about.”

Ms Letts thanked Gladysdale Primary School for supporting her and allowing her to pursue this opportunity.

Michelle Letts has been named as the Head Coach of the U12 Boys Victorian Basketball team.

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Sports participation down across the board post-Covid

By Callum Ludwig VicSport and the Physical Activity and Sport Insights (PASI) research group from Victoria and Federation University, held a webinar discussing the changes seen in sports participation in Victoria post-Covid.

In the VicHealth research, the Yarra Ranges saw one of the biggest drop-offs in participation post-Covid, going from a participation rate of 16.5 percent to 11.34 percent, going from the 5th highest rate among growing outer-metropolitan areas to 9th over the year between 2019 and 2020.

For Professor of Sport Participation and Behavioural Epidemiologist Rochelle Eime, the results were shocking as community sport is a way for residents in small towns and regions to meet up which she said is generally embedded in their communities and social connections.

“Given there are fewer other leisure-time activities in regional and rural areas compared to major cities, the absence of sport will have negatively affected regional communities mailcommunity.com.au

VicSport hosted a webinar discussing the latest sport participation trends, with a focus on recovering from the impact of Covid-19.

Picture: SUPPLIED more than those in metropolitan areas,” Prof Eime said.

Metropolitan growth areas like the Yarra Ranges have the lowest current sports participation rate at 7 percent, considerably lower than all other regions, experiencing a 26 percent total decrease in the participation rate.

Prof Eime said participation rates in highgrowth outer suburbs like those in the Yarra Ranges should be much higher, with relatively young populations spurring on the growth.

However, she said a combination of lower socioeconomic status and a lack of public sports

and recreational facilities is likely the reason why the growth is held back.

In general, winter-based and team sports experienced the greatest drop off in participation rates, as Victoria had reduced restrictions throughout the summer of 2019, 2020 and 2021 (before the Omicron wave).

Executive Manager of Growth and Inclusion at Football Victoria Karen Pearce OAM said the lack of participation from players also impacted other areas of football/soccer clubs as Victoria exits Covid-19 restrictions this year.

“It’s our clubs that have been impacted,

particular in the way of volunteers as the big picture item who have sat back and asked themselves; “Do I want to keep continuing to be involved and give all that time up?” she said.

“And it’s the referees, we are lacking. Our numbers have been slow, but they are okay.”

Head of Participation at Cricket Victoria Owen Hulett was asked how cricket has fared, especially considering they were able to conduct relatively full seasons. Despite Covid-19 restrictions being eased, he said they still experienced reduced numbers of people involved in local clubs.

“If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say ‘volunteer burnout’, I’d have quite a bit of money,” he said.

“It’s a recurring theme across all sports: how do we better support our volunteers and we do we get more in.”

The panel also included CEO at Vicsport Lisa Hasker, Professor of International Sport Business Hans Westerbeek and Head of Tennis Delivery at Tennis Victoria Tamatha Harding.

Tuesday, 10 May, 2022

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