Mail - Lilydale Star Mail - 9th August 2022

Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

Lilydale

Mail

Westpac Bank to close its doors

Campaign for Lilydale Youth Hub funding

Local Landcare finalist for weed control

Students unite for School Spectacular

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A Star News Group Publication

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Youth vandalism

By Mikayla van Loon Lilydale has been experiencing a spate of vandalism recently, with a group of bored and antisocial youth noted as the main offenders.

Last week, CFA and police were called to a donation bin fire at the Lilydale Marketplace but a similar incident with bins set alight at the Lilydale Coles supermarket occurred yet again on Sunday 7 August.

Lilydale CFA members were able to quickly contain the blaze to ensure no surrounding buildings were impacted.

An unrelated car fire also happened on Bellbird Drive in Lilydale, with CFA crews responding early on Monday 8 August. According to Lilydale CFA, police believe the car was dumped and set alight. Police are investigating the fire in relation to other incidents.

While graffiti and bus stops being smashed have also occurred, the donation bin fire sparked concern among many of the town’s groups and organisations.

Lilydale Township Action Group (LTAG) president Neal Taylor said there certainly had been a rise in frequency of events like this happening in Lilydale.

“We believe it’s something that’s happening more frequently now. We’ve had a couple of our committee members catch younger people doing vandalism and also graffiti,” he said.

“So it appears that there is a group of youths that seems to be causing a lot of problems.”

Mr Taylor said the committee is quite concerned that this group of young people don’t have anything better to do other than cause havoc.

Station commander of Lilydale police, Mel Woods said this concern led to a community forum meeting earlier in the week to discuss the response moving forward.

“Myself and our Proactive Unit (Youth Specialists) met with key stakeholders this week including the Council, Lilydale Youth Hub, Marketplace and a local school and going forward will work together to try and engage the

The newly replaced bus stop on the corner of Main Street and Castella Street was smashed over the same weekend as the fire.

Picture: LTAG

A donation bin fire at Lilydale Marketplace triggered a community response to local vandalism. Picture: RON HAINES LILYDALE CFA

ple from offending in that location,” she said.

Seeing more police involvement and their active presence is something Mr Taylor said he would like to see as part of the response.

Although Lilydale does have a number of security cameras placed along Main Street, Mr Taylor said perhaps advocacy for more cameras in different locations would help deter these youth as well.

“There needs to be some cameras in the ‘behind the scenes’ areas like the football club, it needs to have one there. Stuff like that needs to be taken into account as well.

“It is very frustrating, particularly around the bus shelters and it seemed like it was a late night thing where they’ve come along and smashed it thinking it was fun. It’s incredibly annoying that people can’t respect those sorts of things.”

Unsure what the answer is knowing that these young people aren’t going to come forward for help or assistance themselves, Mr Taylor said it’s a question of what to do next.

“I’m not saying we need to punish them but how can we turn their behaviour into positive behaviour?

“We’ve all been through Covid. We’ve all been locked in our homes and all know how frustrating it is but by going out and causing vandalism, I just don’t see how that is helping anyone else. 10 minutes of fun is going to cause a lot more problems for others.”

Yarra Ranges CIU confirmed the criminal damages of the donation bins have been linked to a group of youth who are being investigated but no interviews have been conducted yet, with evidence collection still occurring.

youths and redirect their focus,” she said.

“The community can expect to see an increase in police at the Marketplace, Chirnside Park Shopping Centre and surrounds and we would encourage the community to come and chat to the members.”

Senior Sgt Woods said during the winter months, when teenagers are bored and aiming to keep warm, they tend to offend inside, making the police response different to summer.

However, coming into the warmer months, Senior Sgt Woods said Lilydale police members will be undertaking bike courses to keep a presence on bike trails, foot patrols will be occurring more regularly and police will also be on trains.

“Police presence has proven to deter people from places and while we don’t want to pass the problem on, it does discourage peo-

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NEWS

Uniting to plan for future

By Mikayla van Loon Community organisations and homelessness advocates came together on Monday 1 August to launch the discussion around homelessness in the Yarra Ranges for Homelessness Week.

This far reaching and ever evolving issue has been of major concern to these organisations for many years but with a pandemic, storm events and now a cost of living rise, homelessness is becoming a possibility for people who have never experienced such hardship before.

Off the back of the pandemic, Anchor’s homeless services manager Peter Dinsdale said there were lessons to be learned about homelessness but also the ability to get people off the streets.

“During Covid, one of the upsides was with all the extra government funding we have not had to tear a single person away from emergency accommodation due to finances and money,” he said.

“That finished on the 1 July unfortunately but that means for two and a half years, we’ve been able to accommodate every family, every individual that we needed to.”

Mr Dinsdale said although hotel accommodation and short term stays weren’t ideal, it meant mental health and drug and alcohol services could start working with these people.

“During that time we found the benefits of being able to stabilise people and wrap the supports around what they need,” he said.

Of the people Anchor has worked with for 10 or 15 years, 30 of them were housed during the pandemic as part of the State government’s From Homeless to Homes program, which obtained 120 houses in the east for homeless people.

But one of the negatives of this program was people were put wherever was available, not having a choice about which house suited their situation.

“We need enough social and government

Organisations have agreed the planning for the future of housing and homelessness in the Yarra Ranges will need to be done collaboratively.

Picture: ON FILE housing, as well as, and let’s not forget, the support that goes with it,” Mr Dinsdale said.

Yarra Ranges Housing Action Group (YRHAG) chair Kate Coleman said Victoria used to get 5000 public housing properties a year but would think it would be no more than 50 these days.

“People are entitled to affordable, safe, secure housing and what we are seeing is growing numbers of people from every demographic who are desperately in need of affordable accommodation,” she said.

As someone who has worked in the housing sector professionally since 1975 and before that as a volunteer, Ms Coleman said YRHAG was formed to raise the profile and needs of people living in the Yarra Ranges.

“What I am seeing unfortunately is, we haven’t solved homelessness or the inherent problems but homelessness has grown and continues to grow which is abhorrent in every sense of the word.

“It’s heartbreaking for someone my age who has worked in the field for a long time, who has

always been interested, to see it whittling away to nothing.”

A positive outcome of the pandemic, mentioned by both Mr Dinsdale and Ms Coleman, was the community and homelessness organisations working together to achieve a better outcome for people.

“We need to now be coming together as a community and raise these issues and pushing it and saying ‘this is not good enough, we need more affordable housing’,” Ms Coleman said.

Examples of the community and various organisations joining forces to achieve better services for the homeless was presented

by ADRA Community Care Centre, Redwood manager Kate Barratt.

This community came together to offer shower facilities at the Warburton Millgrove Football Netball Club rooms, working alongside ADRA, Warburton Advancement League and True Value Hardware.

As well as this, donations helped ADRA set up a laundry and kitchen service. Support from Yarra Junction Community Op Shop and

students at Upper Yarra Secondary College helped establish a lounge room for people to meet or retreat as needed.

A group in Warburton, with the help of the Warburton Advancement League and ADRA, have a goal of establishing, building and managing a community of affordable transitional housing options, within walking distance of the main shops.

The group wishes to build up to 15 two to four bedroom homes to give people an opportunity to find their feet, get support and be financially ready to transition into secure housing more permanently.

Currently this project is in the pre-planning stage with Yarra Ranges Council and the group is seeking funding support of $6000-$10,000 for arboricultural and fire reports.

Like all homelessness and support services in the Yarra Ranges, Soupees founder Gavin Smith said he’s coming to realise the impact domestic and family violence is having on homelessness.

Starting 13 odd years ago in Upwey, Mr Smith said he has expanded much further, supplying meals, clothing, bedding and sleeping bags where he can.

“My job or my vocation if you like, is to try and provide some comfort to people wherever they are,” he said.

“I’m trying to fulfil a need just by walking around the areas that I go and it could be as far as Clayton, right up to the top of the city in North Melbourne.”

With the theme for Homelessness Week this year surrounding the topic of planning for the future of housing and homelessness, Holy Fools CEO Neal Taylor finished the discussion talking about his intentions to work more collaboratively with other services.

He also said to ensure rough sleepers and anyone feeling on the brink of homelessness have a place to turn, particularly in Lilydale, a drop in centre needs to be established.

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NEWS

IN BRIEF Arrests of teens

Bank branch to close in Lilydale

Southern Metro Crime Team detectives have charged five teens following a series of aggravated burglaries throughout the eastern and southern suburbs.

Police located an allegedly stolen BMW, which had been stolen from an aggravated burglary in Mount Evelyn, in Benghazi Avenue, Ashburton around 11.30am.

Police conducted surveillance and observed a second alleged stolen BMW, which had been stolen from Mount Martha, arrive and park in Tobruk Avenue, Ashburton around 2.15pm.

The five teenagers included two 16-yearolds and three 17-year-olds.

One of those arrested was a 17-year-old from Ferntree Gully who has been charged with aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated burglary, theft of motor vehicle, theft, commit indictable offence whilst on bail and unlicensed driving. He has been remanded to appear at a Children’s Court at a later date.

By Mikayla van Loon

Ambulance records broken

Westpac Lilydale is just one of 37 bank branches across Australia that will close over coming Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS months. 292888 Lilydale Township Action Group president Neal Taylor said he finds it ludicrous that multi-billion dollar companies see the need to improve their bottom line even further by closing stores.

“Lilydale is basically a community hub for the Yarra Ranges. We’ve got all the medical services here as much as we can and it’s a shame that banks are now falling out of this area completely and not considering that we have people from all places in the Yarra Ranges coming to Lilydale to do things like banking,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s any real thought about what they do and what repercussions of closing these places is actually going to cause.”

The Westpac spokesperson said Lilydale customers can travel to Chirnside Park, just four kilometres away, to access a branch, use the cash services at the Lilydale Post Office and access the Westpac ATM at the Marketplace.

Croydon’s Bank of Melbourne customers

can also access cash services at the nearby Post Office, as well as use an ATM at either Kilsyth or Croydon Centro.

“We take steps to ensure customers are notified in advance about the changes and are directly connected with the services they need to continue to do their banking,” the spokesperson said.

“For those who are new to digital banking, or may require more assistance with the changes, we provide dedicated support and education to make the transition easier.”

Mr Tayor said however, for many people in the Yarra Ranges, they don’t need more changes after so much disruption and uncertainty over the last few years.

“I just don’t think they need these extra stresses where they’re going to have to go an extra four kilometres to get money out, for example. It’s just sad that things like this are happening at this point in time,” he said.

Another rate rise blow for Australians On Tuesday 2 August the Reserve Bank of Australia announced another increase in the cash rate target of 50 basis points to 1.85 per cent.

In a statement announcing the increase, RBA Governor Philip Lowe said inflation in Australia is the highest it has been since the early 1990s and the increase is “a further step in the normalisation of monetary conditions in Australia.”

“The increase in interest rates over recent months has been required to bring inflation back to target and to create a more sustainable balance of demand and supply in the Australian economy,” he said.

“The Board expects to take further steps

in the process of normalising monetary conditions over the months ahead, but it is not on a pre-set path.”

The cash rate represents the interest rate on unsecured overnight loans between banks. It serves as the benchmark rate for mortgages, savings accounts and exchange rates and was at a historical low of 0.10 per cent for one year and four months from November 2020 to April 2022.

Head of consumer research at Finder Graham Cook said the increase in cash rate will cost the average homeowner an additional $610 a month compared to what they were paying before the rate begun to rise in April.

“Rising interest rates, soaring inflation, energy prices and the general cost of living

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are already squeezing household budgets,” he said.

“This latest hike could cost the average mortgage holder a whopping $7,300 extra per year compared to what they were paying in April.”

A new nation-wide survey by Finder found 85 per cent of Australians would spend less in certain areas to manage rising inflation and costs.

Attending restaurants topped the list of expenses likely to be cut with 22 per cent reporting they’d eat out less, followed by 13 per cent saying they’d do less online shopping and 10 per cent saying they’d cancel TV subscriptions. 9 per cent of those surveyed said they’d stop going to the pub to manage the rising cost of living.

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Records for ambulance demand in Victoria have been broken three times in a row, as Covid-19 continues to put unprecedented pressure on the health system across Victoria and the nation.

Ambulances were called to 97,928 Code 1 cases from April to June this year – making this quarter the busiest in Ambulance Victoria’s history and third consecutive record-breaking quarter.

That is a massive 16 per cent or 13,487 more ‘lights and sirens’ cases compared to this time last year and 4,694 more than the previous quarter.

The latest quarter breaks records set in the October to December quarter (91,397 Code 1 cases) and the January to March quarter (93,234 Code 1 cases).

Between April and June, 64 per cent of Code 1 cases were responded to within the statewide average response time target of 15 minutes. The state-wide average response time to Code 1 cases was 15 minutes and 49 seconds.

Ambulance Victoria Interim Chief Executive Felicity Topp said data for the fourth quarter of 2021/22 shows the response continues to be impacted by soaring demand, the wide spread of the Omicron variant, sicker patients who have deferred care, and staff furloughing.

“There are no signs of demand slowing down through winter. Covid-19 continues to pose a high risk to Victorians and will do some for some time,” Ms Topp said.

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The vehicles have a fire risk if the cooling system has to be refilled, air may become trapped in the cooling system which might result in insufficient cooling of the engine components. Insufficient cooling may result in damages to engine components and may cause a fire in the engine bay.

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Lilydale and Croydon will see two major banks close their branches in these locations as part of an Australia-wide shutdown of stores.

Westpac’s Lilydale branch and Croydon’s Bank of Melbourne will close over the next few months, leaving customers with extra travel to the next closest branch.

In total 37 bank branches from all big four banks will be closed across the country as more services make the move to online.

A Westpac Group spokesperson, which operates both Westpac and Bank of Melbourne, said with five million customers around Australia, making changes to the way people bank is about “investing in services to complement” that choice.

“Declining customer use of branches means that in some instances, we may take a difficult decision to leave a branch location,” the spokesperson said.

“In these instances, we continue to support our customers by expanding access via Bank@ Post, telephone, mobile and virtual banking.”

But Finance Sector Union (FSU) National Secretary Julia Angrisano said the closures were more of a tactic to increase profits rather than support customers.

“The banks continue to shut down branches, sack workers and turn their backs on customers and businesses. Cost savings from branch closures are designed to increase the banks’ already huge profits,” she said.

Ms Angrisano said this next lot of closures will increase the total number of big four bank branches closed since January 2020 to 550.

“Communities depend on the banks to deliver financial services but if we don’t stop the current trend, there will be no branches left.”

The Star Mail is published by Paul Thomas for Star News Group Pty Ltd ABN 98 238 557 339. All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible. Distribution numbers, areas and coverage are estimates only. For terms and conditions please visit www.mailcommunity.com.au Print Post Number PP33445700014.

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NEWS

Tax could spill pint costs

By Callum Ludwig Pubs and their patrons have been hit with another setback as the beer excise tax increased from Monday 1 August.

The announcement was made by the Australian Taxation Office as part of its CPI indexation review, deciding on an increase of 4 per cent.

Director of the Healesville Hotel Michael Kennedy said he thinks the decision is poorly timed.

“People are already fairly cautious on where they’re spending their discretionary dollar. I think this is just going to add to that squeeze as to where their discretionary dollar goes, and people are going to spend less time in their local,” he said.

“I think hospitality at the moment is copping it, a lot of industries are, but in hospitality at least, it’s quite acute. It’s this, it’s staffing, it’s the cost of lettuce being 50 per cent more than it was twelve months ago.”

The excise tax on beer and other alcohol is adjusted twice per year, usually in February and August.

Mr Kennedy said it’s currently tough on businesses.

“At the moment, you’ve got to be very clever, careful and vigilant. You’ve got to really keep an eye on all the costs, and what you’re doing and be creative,” he said.

“I hope people don’t view the businesses as trying to make more money, just because you’re putting up your prices doesn’t mean that you’re trying to make more money. It’s to stay open, keep employees working, and keep serving the customers you do have, so I hope our patrons are understanding.”

For a beer exceeding 3.5 per cent alcohol volume, the excise has increased from $37.76 to $39.27 for every litre of pure alcohol, meaning beer drinkers will pay $1.51 more per beer.

For packaged beer, the increase is even larger,

A pint of beer could cost up to $15, or even up to $10 for a schooner. increasing by $2.14 to $55.73 per litre of alcohol.

CEO of the Brewers Association of Australia John Preston said the increase is the largest in more than 30 years.

“Australians are taxed on beer more than almost any other nation. We have seen almost 20 increases in Australia’s beer tax over the past decade alone. Pub patrons will soon be faced with the prospect of regularly paying around $15 for a pint at their local,” he said.

“For a small pub, club or other venues, the latest tax hike will mean an increase of more than $2,700 a year in their tax bill – at a time when they are still struggling to deal with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.”

Only Norway, Japan and Finland are taxed more on alcohol than Australia found in a report by economist and University of Adelaide professor Kym Anderson AC, commissioned by the Brewers Association in 2020.

Since then, the Australian excise on packaged beer has risen to $2.70 from $2.26, meaning Australians now pay 18 times more than Germany, 15 times more than Spain, seven times more than America, six times more than Canada and almost twice as much as New Zealanders.

The Healesville Hotel is one of many pubs, clubs and hotels across the country set to be impacted by the beer tax hike.

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Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

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NEWS

Hub makes great impact

By Mikayla van Loon The impact the Lilydale Youth Hub (LYH) has had on young people’s lives isn’t just surface level help but something that goes much deeper, to the point of saving someone’s life.

This is the difference the LYH had for Amida Jones-Vermeend’s 13-year-old daughter, who a year and a half ago was struggling with her mental health and had no hope for the future.

“I don’t think she would have come through it [without LYH] and I think that is the reality for a lot of parents. I just don’t know if she’d be here,” Amida said.

“I have got fear that if those kinds of things close, a lot of young people who are accessing them, they’re going to get lost in the system.”

Unfortunately, the reality of LYH closing due to a lack of ongoing funding is a possibility.

Having been funded by the Liberal Federal government in 2019 for three years, LYH is now fighting for the State and Federal governments to recognise the positive impact the consortium service is having on young people.

As one of the first people taken into the Hub’s services during the lockdowns, Amida’s daughter was welcomed by her then case worker Tanya, who connected with her regularly and when allowed, visited her at home.

“It was a lifesaver, to be honest…I feel so grateful for Tanya going beyond herself,” Amida said.

From individual counselling sessions, Tanya then started getting the 13 year old involved in some of the programs on offer, the first being animal therapy.

Since then, she is the youngest member to have joined the Youth Advisory Group where she loves “having a voice and learning about how to talk and communicate her feelings and her thoughts on what is beneficial for young people in the area.”

Amida’s daughter is also part of Rural Rain-

The Lilydale Youth Hub located on the corner of Main Street and Clarke Street is at risk of being Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS closed without continued funding. 291742 bows and attends almost every holiday session available, having made her own way to the Hub from Warburton throughout the winter holidays.

“She started to make friends there. She has a really beautiful network now of friends her own age that she regularly wants to catch up with at the hub.

“It’s a really safe environment for young people in the area to catch up together, even if they’re not at the same school, it crosses over different schools and different demographics and really brings young people from the outer areas into the central hub.”

Amida said these were huge steps forward

coming out of sadness, something she wasn’t sure was possible.

Not only has LYH changed the 13 year old’s perspective on life but has established better connections with the whole family too.

“We attend regular family counselling which she has setup. She said, ‘I really want my family to work through some of the issues that we have at home’ and it has been, I would say, the reason we’re all still together,” Amida said.

“It’s had a flow on effect to the family and therefore, our community, our work, our self respect, our self esteem, our communication at home, connection to her school community. It flows out to everything.”

Consortium lead organisation Inspiro’s CEO Sue Sestan said unfortunately Amida and her family’s story is becoming far too common, where there is nowhere to turn.

“Parents are running out of places to get help for their child,” she said.

“We are proud to have built a service that is not only giving young people a chance to get support for their mental health and wellbeing, but a place where they feel welcome, valued andrespected.

“If the Hub were to close now, it would impact the lives of many young people and their families leaving them with nowhere to get support.”

That’s why LYH is campaigning for government support at all levels by asking families, individuals and organisations to raise their voice in support of what peer support workers and the consortium are doing for the Yarra Ranges.

“We want everyone in the Yarra Ranges to join our campaign and raise their voice to support youth mental health support in the Yarra Ranges,” Sue said.

“The messages that have come through so far show that the community truly value the Lilydale Youth Hub and that we have made a clear impact in the lives of young people in the area.”

Amida and her daughter’s story proves the success of a service like LYH and is something Amida said should only “expand, not close. It needs to get bigger and more beautiful.

“There are a lot of young people who are taking their lives or hurting themselves, and who are very much in distress,” she said.

“These are the leaders of our future. They’re going to be the ones who stand up and say, ‘No more. We’re going to have a better world.’

“But if we don’t look after them, what are we saying for our future.”

If you need support from the Lilydale Youth Hub, contact 9757 8777.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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MAIL 5

NEWS

RSPCA calls for action

By Parker McKenzie After polling over 3000 Victorians about the animal welfare issues which matter the most to them, the RSPCA is calling on Victorian political parties to commit to several reforms ahead of the November state election.

Two of the five points were the finalisation of a contemporary animal welfare legislation plan to replace the current Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and the introduction of CCTV into abattoirs and knackeries.

A Victorian Government Spokesperson said animal welfare is a priority of the draft legislation currently in development.

“We will deliver modern legislation to safeguard and support Victoria’s reputation for high standards in animal protection,” the spokesperson said.

“Animals play an important role in the lives of so many Victorians, and we’re consulting with community and farmers to ensure we get the reforms right.”

The most recent state budget included a total of $18.6 million for animal care and protection over the next three years, with an exposure draft of the new legislation expected to be released for public consultation.

In a statement to the Star Mail, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said the Liberal and Nationals remain committed to implementing the highest animal welfare standards for domestic and productive animals.

“The Andrews Labor Government has failed to complete a review of the Act, so before committing to a new piece of legislation we will engage with key stakeholders and implement appropriate legislation,” he said.

“The Liberals and Nationals currently do not support the inclusion of animal sentience in the legislation. However, all animals should be treated respectfully during all phases of life.”

Mr Walsh said the Liberals and Nationals

RSPCA CEO Dr Liz Walker called for political parties to commit to the five-point plan. do not support the introduction of CCTV into abattoirs and knackeries beyond what is currently required in export accredited facilitates.

RSPCA has also called for the development of a holistic cat management plan and shelter quarantine periods to be reduced to three days. The organisation is calling on Victorians

to visit rspcavic.org/become-an-animal-advocate and provide their name and postcode.

CEO Dr Liz Walker said every name added will help convince politicians to support the issues raised by the RSPCA. “We want our politicians to know that two in five people indicated a political party’s com-

Picture: SUPPLIED mitment to a key animal welfare reform would secure their vote for that party in the 2022 Victorian state election,” she said.

“We want Victorians to know that by standing alongside the RSPCA in demanding better welfare standards, they will be helping to create real, positive change this election.”

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According to the RSPCA, around 76 per cent of Victorians support the introduction of mandatory standards for horse racing, with support even higher within suburbs like Croydon and Ringwood.

The RSPCA is calling for political parties to support the introduction of “mandatory standards that would require owners and trainers to provide appropriate nutrition, socialisation, training and rehoming options as well as mandatory levels of training for staff,” as a part of its five-point plan.

In response, Racing Victoria said it is aligned with RSPCA “in that the welfare of thoroughbred racehorses is a non-negotiable” for the sport and pointed to the “robust framework in place to protect the welfare” of racehorses through the Australian Rules of Racing already in place within the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry.

“The Australian Rules of Racing are en-

forced stringently by RV, including, where appropriate, in association with RSPCA Victoria, and on the rare occasions that rules relating to equine welfare are transgressed, significant penalties are sought and administered,” Racing Victoria said.

“More broadly, RV has introduced a range of welfare programs and initiatives to maximise the wellbeing of racehorses at every stage of their lives.”

Currently, 2 per cent of all prize money from races held in Victoria is funnelled into equine welfare. In October 2019, Racing Victoria announced a $25 million, threeyear plan focusing on post-racing wellbeing. This included a state-wide re-homing program, advanced tracking of thoroughbreds and an equine welfare task force.

“We will continue to work with the RSPCA to ensure our rules and programs are fit for purpose and with horse welfare at the centre of what we do.” Racing Victoria said.

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NEWS

Alfred Mallia, Aaron Violi and Mary Holloway at the memorial.

Pictures: PARKER MCKENZIE

The flags being raised after The Ode to the Fallen.

The crowd during the service.

Honouring 39th Battalion

By Parker McKenzie A Kokoda Day Service was held on Monday 8 August at One Tree Hill Picnic Ground in Tremont, commemorating the sacrifice and service of the members of the 39th Battalion on the 80th anniversary of the re-occupation of Kokoda Village.

Organised by the 39th Battalion Association at the Kokoda Memorial, the yearly service opened with an Acknowledgement to Country and a welcome by life member of the association Alfred Mallia.

“I think we can all agree the gods have put on good weather today,” he said.

“Generally when we are here it’s raining, it’s wet and it’s very cold.”

Mary Holloway, whose father is a veteran of the Kokoda Campaign with the 39th Battalion, read a prayer written by her father for the 75th anniversary of Kokoda Day. “We particularly remember those members

of service units who pay the supreme sacrifice in the war in Papua New Guinea from 1942 to 1943,” she said.

“May all who visit this beautiful memorial recall their sacrifice and offer heartfelt thanksgiving and so dedicate themselves to those same ideals.”

The 39th Batallion consisted of mainly 18 and 19-year-old militia volunteers, who after two months of training traveled to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea to counter an anticipated Japanese attack. Across the Kokoda Trail, members fought the Japanese armed forces from the 21st of July until the 1st of September 1942.

Casey MP Aaron Violi spoke next and gave his congratulations and thanks to Mr Mallia and the volunteers who helped run the service.

“We should always remember that it was the bravery and sacrifice of these young men who played a crucial role in holding that day,” he said.

“The whole of Australia is indebted to the bravery and courage showed by your loved ones so that Australia could be the free democracy it is today.”

Ms Holloway said 8 August is an important day in the story of the 39th Battalion.

“My father was a veteran of the 39th Battalion. He was a part of the company at this very time as we hold this service of remembrance today,” she said.

“The battle of Kokoda began 80 years ago today on 8 August 1942, a company succeeded in re-occupying Kokoda, where they fought a series of fierce day and night until nightfall on 10 August.

“Whenever I recall their feats of courage and adversity my heart swells with pride and tears in my eyes. I’m so proud that I am the daughter of the 39th Battalion veteran.”

Sargeant Luke Schroder from Victoria Police read the names of the 22 members of the

Battalion who fought at Kokoda and paid the ultimate sacrifice, followed by a laying of the wreaths by Mr Violi, Mary Holloway and Glen Read on behalf of veterans, children from Belgrave South Primary on behalf of all children, Deb Manders on behalf of trekkers and Sgt Schroder and Mathew Hoogland from Parks Victoria on behalf of emergency services.

Mr Read, a veteran of the Vietnam War, read the Ode to the Fallen while the 39th Batallion’s Darcy Manks played the last post.

After a minute of silence was observed, the students from Belgrave South sang the national anthem to conclude the service, with Mr Mallia thanking Parks Victoria for their support.

“Any request, without hesitation Parks Victoria will come to our aid,” he said.

“I know the veterans are always grateful but I can tell you the families are just as grateful and we thank you.”

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MAIL 7

NEWS

CFA recruitment begins

By Mikayla van Loon After almost three years of being unable to recruit new members, Mooroolbark CFA is back on a recruitment drive, calling for anyone interested to enquire.

Brigade captain Tony King said although a couple of new volunteers joined earlier this year, usually the CFA likes to bolster numbers with between five and 10 recruits each year.

“At the moment, we’ve got about 38 volunteers. We’re doing OK but we need to futureproof our organisation,” he said.

“The problem we’ve got, as do all organisations that have volunteers in it, is people are time poor. 20 years ago people would come down and volunteer and they would spend two or three days, two or three times a week,

they’d be down the station, doing work.

“Times have changed and people have not got so much time to be able to spend volunteering these days. So with less time, we need more people. It’s a simple equation.”

Having already recruited two new volunteers, Mr King said the brigade would ideally like to attract a further five people.

“We’re recruiting for more obviously. Our ideal people would be people that are available during the day,” he said.

“Maybe stay at home parents. They’re always good people to have on board because they’re available during school hours while the kids are at school. Retired people, they’re always good value as well.”

But really, Mr King said, anyone willing to commit to the training requirement and give

their time to the brigade, no matter what hours, will always be welcomed.

“The more people that we can have available during the day and indeed, any time of the day or night just spreads the load more for our members so we don’t end up burning people out. It can be a tough gig.”

With a growing Burmese population in Mooroolbark and other ethnic groups, Mr King said he would love to culturally diversify the brigade and welcome the ideas, experiences and values that come with that.

Mooroolbark CFA trains every Wednesday night and every second Sunday, with the alternate Sunday devoted to the cleaning and maintenance of the station and equipment.

With the recruit course mostly moving to online learning, Mr King said it can often be

completed within eight to 12 weeks, with additional training nights or days.

Joining the CFA, Mr King said, is like joining a huge family that “all look after each other and take great pride in looking after the community.”

“It really does give you a well in your stomach where you think, ‘we’ve helped people’.

You don’t get that feeling from anything else.

“Helping the community, helping them through the toughest times in their life sometimes, is rewarding and to know you can physically help somebody gives you a feeling that you’ve achieved something.”

To apply to become a CFA volunteer, head to www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteers.../volunteerwith-cfa

Lilydale grandfather shocks granddaughter with big win A Lilydale grandfather known for his practical jokes has struggled to convince his granddaughter they scored a million-dollar prize in last week’s Monday and Wednesday Lotto draw.

The Victorian duo held one of the three division one winning entries in Monday and Wednesday Lotto draw 4203, drawn Wednesday 27 July.

So far in 2022, there have been three division one winning entries in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region that have collectively taken home $4.75 million in prize money.

The division one winning entry was unregistered, which means officials from The Lott had no way of contacting the winner and had to wait for the ticketholder to come forward to claim their prize.

The Melbourne granddaughter said her grandfather was rendered speechless when he checked their lottery ticket at the local newsagency.

“It’s a funny story, my pop checked the ticket at the local newsagency and the team member told him that he scored division one.

He said to her, ‘You’re lying!’,” she laughed.

“We were holidaying in Queensland as a family, and I received a phone call from him.

He told me that our Monday and Wednesday Lotto ticket had won division one.

“He likes to make practical jokes all the time, so I thought it was a joke! I said to him, ‘That’s BS’.

“He kept saying to me, ‘No, no, we won big’.

“I looked up the winning numbers on The Lott website, and they all matched.

“That’s when I realised it wasn’t a joke. It’s true.

“I can’t believe we won division one. I’m still shocked.”

When asked how the triumphant tag-team planned to enjoy their newfound fortune, the granddaughter said she would look after her

nearest and dearest.

“I know my pop’s house really needs a lot of work, so I’ll look at helping him out with my share of the prize,” she shared.

“I’d like to also help set up my mum, so I know she’s looked after for years to come.

“This is great!”

Their winning entry was purchased at Lilydale Village Lotto and News, Shop 5, Lilydale Village, 343 – 347 Main Street, Lilydale.

Lilydale Village Lotto and News owner Dhaval Shah said the division one winning entry was an exciting milestone for his store.

“We’re very excited for the winners, and we’re so happy the division one winning entry went to a regular customer who has always supported us,” he said.

“When the winner checked his ticket, he didn’t know he was holding a division one winning entry worth one million dollars, so he was very excited.

“He couldn’t believe the winning news and I had to take him aside to really convince him.

“Congratulations to the grandfather and granddaughter - we wish you all the best with your prize.”

The winning numbers in Monday and Wednesday Lotto draw 4203 on Wednesday 27 July were 28, 37, 29, 39, 24, 21, while the supplementary numbers were 19 and 2.

Across Australia, there were three division one winning entries in Monday and Wednesday Lotto draw 4203 – two in Victoria and one in New South Wales.

The Lott’s division one winning tally has now reached 270 so far this calendar year, including 112 won by Tatts customers.

In 2021, Monday and Wednesday Lotto created 97 millionaires across Australia.

During this time, there were 103 division one winning Monday & Wednesday Lotto entries across Australia, which collectively won $102 million.

A Lilydale man and his granddaughter received a big shock when told they’d won the Lotto.

Picture: SUPPLIED 8 MAIL

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Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

Protesting in timber zones will now result in big fines or up to 12 months of imprisonment.

Picture: ON FILE

Tough protest penalties approved in parliament An amendment introduced by the State Government to the Sustainable Forests Timber Bill has passed on Thursday 4 August, aiming to ensure stronger penalties are faced by protesters who put timber workers’ safety and wellbeing at risk.

The Sustainable Forests Timber Amendment (Timber Harvesting Safety Zones) Bill 2022 will mean that protesters who illegally enter timber harvesting zones, which are small and restricted areas where forestry activities are being undertaken, and dangerously interfere with workers or their machinery, will face maximum fines of more than $21,000 or 12-months imprisonment.

The Upper House passed the amendment with a final vote count of 30 to five, with Victorian Labor and Coalition representatives both voting in favour despite opposition from the Greens and the Victorian Branches of the Maritime Union of Australia, the United Workers Union and Australian Services Union.

Former Minister for Agriculture MaryAnne Thomas said when the bill was introduced in May that the government respects the right to protest safely but wants to make sure workers go home to their families each day.

“Every Victorian has the right to be safe at work. Protests are becoming increasingly dangerous – particularly for workers – which is why this legislation will support them to get on with their job and minimise disruption to the industry,” Ms Thomas said.

PVC and metal pipes, which can be used in dangerous protest activities, will be added to the prohibited items list meaning they potentially attract extra fines if used to hinder or obstruct timber harvesting operations.

Workplace Safety Minister Ingrid Stitt said the industry is already a dangerous environment. “…And is sadly over-represented in se-

rious incidents and fatalities. Every Victorian deserves to be safe at work, and these laws will strengthen protections for forestry workers,” Ms Stitt said.

To prevent repeated safety risks across multiple Timber Harvesting Safety Zones, Authorised Officers will be able to issue Banning Notices. The notices will aim to stop individuals from repeatedly engaging in dangerous activities in Timber Harvesting Safety Zones and other forestry coupe areas.

Authorised Officers will also be given additional powers to search containers, bags and vehicles for prohibited items.

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish said for too long our timber workers have been subjected to risky behaviour from illegal protesters.

“I’ve heard from workers about the enormous emotional toll this behaviour takes on them as they go about their legitimate work activity,” she said.

“This step, although five years too late, is good in supporting those workers.”

The Bill aims to bring the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 in line with other similar pieces of legislation such as the Wildlife Act 1975. For more information visit vic.gov.au/forestry.

CFMEU Manufacturing National Secretary Michael O’Connor said timber workers do not deserve to be treated as second-class citizens, and like every other worker in the Victorian economy, have the right to go to work and safely go about their job without fear of facing intimidation tactics.

“We support the right to peaceful protest, but we draw the line at workers being targeted with dangerous, dehumanising tactics like harassment,” he said.

“The Victorian Government has drawn a line in the sand against appalling tactics targeting workers, and they deserve credit for it.” mailcommunity.com.au

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MAIL 9

NEWS

Guiding control of weeds

By Mikayla van Loon Northern Yarra Landcare Network (NYLN) has been recognised as the Victorian finalist for the Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award that will be presented later this month.

Having partnered with Department of Transport (DoT) to conduct appropriate weed management along 14 kilometres of Melba Highway between Yarra Glen and Toolangi, NYLN president John Birse said the award comes as great recognition of how Landcare groups can support government agencies.

The project was sparked because Mr Birse and Landcare members from Steels Creek, Dixons Creek and Chum Creek, which make up NYLN, had noticed DoT contractors would spray weeds one week and slash the next.

“So all the work was basically being done for nothing. Because Landcare is involved with the local people with local volunteers, we said ‘we’re in a position to guide the weed management along the roadside of Melba Highway using local contractors’,” Mr Birse said.

“The benefit of that was we could choose the appropriate time and also the appropriate weeds to attack.”

Working with vineyard operators to ensure the weed management and spraying was done at a time that would not affect the crop, Mr Birse said built the relationship between Landcare, DoT and privately owned businesses.

“We’re very proud about the nomination as it actually shows a far better way of government instrumentalities like DoT getting bang for their buck, by working with local landcare and I think this provides a model for other things.”

Identifying weeds like blackberry, gorse and watsonia across 190 different sites, Mr Birse said NYLN could decide on the best practice for removing these fast spreading plants.

“The problem we had with Melba highway is it’s basically a spreader environment. So like rivers with blackberries, where the blackberries can spread down rivers, it’s the same thing with transport routes.

“We were finding a lot of weeds were coming in from other spots being brought down by transport.”

Initially being funded $15,000 from DoT to undertake the works, that was increased to $22,000 when the impact could be seen.

Because the project has been so successful,

Northern Yarra Landcare Network president John Birse and DoT Senior Environmental Specialist for Metro Maintenance Delivery Kelly Blackall were presented with the nomination award earlier this month.

Picture: SUPPLIED Mr Birse said now the NYLN has plans to do a similar weed management program along the rest of Melba Highway.

“We’re now extending it down to Maroondah Highway as well. We’ve also had other Landcare groups to the north of us who have expressed interest,” he said.

“So I’m hoping that if we’re successful in the nomination, the publicity from that is going to mean more and more Landcare groups will get

involved. We’re really keen to see that happen.”

Mr Birse said while the nomination in these national awards hopefully builds trust between major organisations and Landcare, it will also spread the word about what Landcare groups can achieve.

“The publicity we get from this award will make people realise that Landcare is really important and hopefully it encourages more people to join landcare.

“What we want people to realise at the moment with the decline in our environment, if they want to do something, joining Landcare is a really good way of having an impact in climate management and the decline of species.”

Mr Birse will travel to Sydney later this month to be a part of the National Landcare Awards where one of the eight nominees will receive the national award.

Community minded group driven by trading of skills

By Renee Wood The trading of time and skills has often been a format that has played out for what can be assumed centuries but it’s something that has dropped off in modern society.

As regions grow and neighbours move in and out, the sense of community can quickly escape us however, there’s one group that’s creating an extended community among traders and tinkerers.

Melbourne Eastern Region LETS (Local Exchange Trading System) allows members to offer their skills and goods in reward of tokens, which can then be used to pay other members for their services.

These could be things such as gardening, working bees, pet minding, transport, alterations, web site design, cooking, building any skill you have could be offered.

The community-based network allows many of its members to benefit without having to open their wallets.

It’s a revolving circular economy, with no money exchanged just virtual tokens which represent one hour of service for 25 tokens.

Members get a virtual bank account which stores their tokens and there’s also a group directory of all the members and the services they have to offer.

It’s a concept that was big in the 80s and once saw 30 groups within Victoria however, there’s now just a few in the state – including the Melbourne Eastern Region group.

Marilyn Lewis is part of the admin team, 10 MAIL

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Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

MERLETS members Kath Gannaway, Marilyn Lewis and Dale Morgan at the Old Badger Creek School where the next working bee will be held.

Picture: RENEE WOOD which she receives tokens to be part of, and said it’s a great network that allows her to get many things done that she can no longer do for herself, such as gardening.

Ms Lewis often uses her credits for a working bee which sees as many members as possible come to her house to tick off a list jobs.

“I’ve had my car vacummed, laundry cupboard cleaned out and de-cluttered, the linen press reorganised, washing windows everything - because 20 hours is a lot of

hours,” Ms Lewis said.

“That’s a joy for me to be able to see it all done.”

As part of MERLETS, there’s also a Yarra Valley Hub which is a smaller group formed within as other members are further down the line.

The Yarra Valley Hub was building before Covid-19 but the momentum was lost due to lockdowns.

YV Hub member Dale Morgan said she

enjoys the enthusiasm to help others and the community spirit that comes from being a part of the group.

“Something that really stands out for me is the delightful enthusiasm of the people who come, particularly people who’ve come from down the line - their enthusiasm to come all this way out here and they work like crazy,” Ms Morgan said.

Kath Gannaway is also a YV Hub Member and said an example of having her dogs minded for tokens was a huge benefit when arranging a trip away.

“It was such a relief, now I just feel completely happy that I know I’ve got a couple of people who both have dogs - it’s just worked out so well,” Ms Gannaway said.

An upcoming working bee for the Yarra Valley Hub is being held at the Old Badger Creek Old School, with the wider community invited to, to learn more about the group and how they can join the skill sharing community.

Trading tables will also be on display, with members able to trade their goods and price them with tokens.

The Old Badger Creek School working bee will be held Saturday 20 August from 10.30am - 12.30pm.

There’s also currently a display on show at the Healesville Community Bank with brochures available.

For more information, visit www.merlets. org.au or contact Marilyn Lewis on 0424 008 482. mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Putting on a spectacular

By Mikayla van Loon Thousands of school students from across the state are preparing to take to John Cain Arena in a few weeks time, as the State School Spectacular (SSS) makes a live return after a three year hiatus.

For students from The Basin, Upwey South and Tecoma primary schools, coming together on Friday 5 August at Maroondah Nets for the biggest mass dance rehearsal so far meant the show finally felt real.

Upwey South Grade 6 students Tess and Brigitte have both participated in SSS before but love being able to have fun and do something different from their normal school activities.

“It’s just really energetic and it’s a good feeling because everyone is up, performing which is really fun,” Brigitte said.

“I like it because you get to meet new people,” Tess said.

Excited about seeing how the performance will all come together, Tess and Brigitte are looking forward to taking their dancing skills to the big stage.

“I’m excited to see all the performances and the big crowd and the choir and all the elements put together,” Tess said.

“It makes the show feel way more real when you’re there and you get to see the performers on the big stage and the choir behind you,” Brigitte added.

Performing arts teacher at Upwey South, Penelope Lang, said embracing the arts is such an important part of the school community and SSS is a great opportunity for students to be involved in such a large production and to work with professionals.

“It’s wonderful for them to see a performance of this scale come together. So when we go to the arena, they’ll see all the lights and cameras and this is the only thing that they get exposure to that huge scale production, which is amazing.

“It’s also about teamwork. It’s about understanding that things just don’t happen. We worked for so many months to get to this. So it’s that idea of working towards something bigger.”

This year is also the biggest cohort of boys getting involved either with mass dance or mass choir from Upwey South, something Penelope was very pleased to see.

Grade 6 students Dylan, Mataya and Lauren from The Basin Primary School all decided to audition for SSS this year as it was their final opportunity to do so, having missed out last year.

“I like dancing and I just found it was a way

The Basin Primary School Grade 6 students Dylan, Lauren and Mataya are jumping for joy knowing the State School Spectacular is just around the Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON corner. 293135 of relaxing. My brother and sister are doing it as well,” Dylan said.

“It was definitely the thought of having just like a big group of people together and I thought it’d be pretty exciting,” Mataya said.

Having been to John Cain Arena before, Lauren said she didn’t find performing in the big arena daunting or scary but rather thrilling.

Able to rehearse with other schools on Friday, Dylan said it was great to see the progress being made, even if it wasn’t everyone.

“It’s interesting to just see how many people there are and this isn’t even all the people, it’s only like a quarter,” Mataya added.

The Basin’s performing arts teacher Colin Hartley said he had 46 children audition late last year but unfortunately only 16 can actually perform.

“I always say that you don’t have to be an amazing dancer, you just have to be able to have fun, enjoy it and move on to the music,” he said.

“So as long as you can do that, you can

come and audition. I’m not going to take the 16 best dancers that we have. I’m going to take the 16 kids that are there for the right reasons.

“It’s such a great opportunity for all kids to have a go and try something new. There’s no expectation on ability or anything like that. It’s just really about providing kids with a safe, fun environment and getting them to experience something they may not get to experience again in life.”

Tecoma Primary School team leader Deb Langford said of the 15 students she has participating, some like to dance, others like to play sport but it is a great opportunity for everyone to be part of.

SSS assistant dance director Hara Papoulias has been involved in Spectacular for eight years now but this year she has noticed just how interested each of the students are in the whole process.

“Maybe it’s because they’ve been through the hardest years of their life but I’ve found that they’re absorbing more information and

asking really smart questions,” she said.

“Asking things about costume changes, about where they’re standing, that they wouldn’t normally ask.”

Seeing it all come together, having started the process in November last year, Hara said is one of the best parts about being involved in SSS, particularly when the light bulb moment comes on in the kids.

“I don’t know what the word is that could describe the emotion that comes over me when I see them getting it. Most of these kids don’t get these types of experiences very often.

Some of the schools that come from regional towns, they’ve never come to the city,” she said.

“So this opportunity and experience is a big deal. And for me, I get a lot of joy out of knowing I’ve been a part of that memory for them.”

The State Schools Spectacular has two shows on Saturday 10 September at 1pm and 6:30pm at John Cain Arena. Tickets can be found here, www.ticketek.com.au/spectacular

Variety grant helps students get engaged with farming

By Mikayla van Loon Without the support of Variety - The Children’s Charity, Woori Yallock Farm School may not exist today to support students in finding an alternative education.

Having received a grant in 2019 from the charity, alongside funds students and staff had raised themselves, for a new school bus, Farm School coordinator Peter Preuss said it ensures students, who are often disengaged from education, can get to and from school.

“We wouldn’t exist without a bus. It’s as simple as that. We pick them up, we drop them off and in between, there’s all these excursions that they go on that are related to the course,” he said.

“32 years ago, when we started the farm school, our first bus was a retired bus from Werribee Zoo. So nearly 30 years ago, Variety came to the party with the first real, brand new people moving bus and we’re up to a third one.”

Residing on one of the oldest school campuses in the Yarra Valley, the Farm School helps build leadership skills, confidence and resilience with students attending one day a week for 20 weeks, where they acquire a certificate in horticulture and ecosystem management.

“Their self esteem builds up, their cooperation builds up, their engagement builds up, their leadership abilities, their organisational mailcommunity.com.au

Students and teachers Connor, Tyler, John, Sam, Sam, Noah, Lincoln, Ethan and Stuart used the bus on Thursday 4 August for an excursion to Kilcunda. 292887 skills, these are the personal development or personal capability aspects,” Mr Pruess said.

“But at the same time, they get a nationally recognised certificate, which for a 15 year old, is pretty amazing and in most cases, does get them back on track and gives them the feeling of success that they need.”

Variety CEO Mandy Burns said it was incredible to hear that the support given to a

school through a bus was the difference between their success and failure to educate children.

“It’s a pretty happy feeling to be that difference between being open and closed, and knowing how important an alternative setting is for kids. And it’s the kid who, for whatever reason, perhaps are not fitting in with mainstream pathways,” she said.

“It’s fantastic to be a part of that community and Variety very much recognises that it takes a village to raise a child and we are really privileged to be a part of that village.”

Ms Burns said Variety aims to help families, schools and organisations fill the gaps of need wherever that might be.

Through Variety’s grants and scholarships, the charity funds the purchasing of educational devices, mobility equipment, uniforms, objects to support a sensory room and sunshine buses.

“There are some resources that don’t go very far. So we try to fill that up or supplement what the government and others might provide which means kids can participate fully in school.

“It could also be that Medicare and NDIS does not fund an item or cannot recognise the disability of a child because a diagnosis hasn’t been made or the child loosely slipped through the system.”

With Variety’s next round of grants and scholarships open for applications from 1 August until 25 September, both Mr Preuss and Ms Burns would encourage any organisation or individual to apply should they have a need.

Individual and community grant applications, as well as Variety Heart Scholarship applications can made be made here, variety. org.au/vic/grants Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

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MAIL 11

OPINION

Top three issues According to Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC), the top three legal problems experienced in the Yarra Ranges in 2021-2022 were Family Violence Intervention Orders, Parenting Arrangements and Family Violence.

ECLC CEO Michael Smith commented that the Centre was not surprised by this data but believed that sharing this information was important for the community.

“We have been tracking these statistics for a while and sadly, it is not uncommon with the majority of calls for legal help at ECLC dominated by mostly family-violence related issues,” he said.

“These figures also include high demand for family violence-related assistance to Yarra Ranges residents at the Ringwood Court.”

ECLC is a multidisciplinary legal service that works to prevent problems, progress fair outcomes and support the wellbeing and resilience of communities and community members in Melbourne’s East.

This includes Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and the Yarra Ranges. Within the Yarra Ranges, the Centre has been providing free legal advice for over 15

Legal

matters Anita Koochew Eastern Community Legal Centre years and opened its Healesville-based team in 2014.

Besides the top three legal concerns, ECLC have also been providing free legal support for community members in the Yarra Ranges who were affected by the storms of 9 and 10 June 2021.

“ECLC is pleased to be able to assist the community who have been overwhelmed by these unprecedented storms,” Mr Smith said.

“The Centre has been an integral part of the storm’s response and have assisted over 80 residents with legal advice and navigating the legal processes. We know these problems are long-term and we remain available when

legal help is needed.”

This recovery support includes physical and virtual recovery hubs, and implementing a legal help checklist, used widely by recovery partners.

ECLC continues to assist residents on a number of issues following the storms, including tree damage, insurance, rent payments, family violence, family law, consumer matters and Centrelink.

Besides these areas of law, community members in the Yarra Ranges can also access free legal advice for a variety of issues including elder abuse, victims of crime assistance, fines, car accidents, neighbourhood disputes, debt matters and criminal charges.

If you or someone you know requires free legal help with any of the above mentioned areas, please contact ECLC at 1300 32 52 00 or email eclc@eclc.org.au or visit the website eclc.org.au for more information.

Free interpreters can also be organised if required.

The Intake Team will then go through a series of questions that will help them understand and connect you to the right lawyer or team to assist with your individual problem.

How can we best live in the environment Like us all, I have been living in ‘environments’ of varied forms all my life.

For many of us from early years we have taken it/them for granted.

Most of us didn’t think about rain volumes and keeping records, but I have old brownish colored roneod records from the Yellingbo rain station dating back almost 100 years.

As a kid growing up in the ‘burbs’ we loved the Autumn leaf drop because that meant sweeping the leaves up into piles in the gutters and setting light to them. Smoke would rise through the streets.

Then dad would light up the ubiquitous 44 gal drum incinerator down the back in which we disposed of anything we didn’t want.

That included old furniture, curtains, cushions, all household rubbish including food scraps – even a chook if it died.

When we celebrated Guy Fowkes night with a bonfire and crackers a guaranteed fire starter would be old tyres and sump oil.

It wasn’t until I started farming myself that I become conscious of recording rain and have keep records up until this day.

When planting crops for my dairy cattle to strip graze on, I studied and practiced, ‘Planting on the moon’.

No, I hadn’t gone off my head listening to Frank Sinatra wanting to fly to the moon, but

CARTOON

Focal Point

Graeme Dawson

I came to realize some of the power of the magnetic pull of the moon.

I found the moon controls the tides, women’s menstrual cycles and a time for plant seeds to shoot into life and grow.

I had to change my planting plan or the cockies would come up with a plan of their own. Reason was that I had to wise up to the moon phases and plant just before the full moon – that moon would then cause the seeds to shoot ASAP. Plant after the moon and they would lay dormant until the next moon – a moon cycle smorgasbord for the cockies who had wised up to realize you just had to walk up the rows and pick up a seeds every few steps.

Now I have to tread carefully here because it is easy to get into a row over climate change.

I understand much of what we humans are doing to the environment in terms of vehicular emissions in particular, which may have dire future consequences for us and

our families. No space here to talk about world deforestation, high water consuming rice crops and over grazing in the world.

Yes we are interfering with the God created harmonic balance and will pay the price.

What I have trouble with in ‘climate change’ speak per-se, is that we hear a lot about rising temperatures and not much about low records.

For 65 yrs. now I have not experienced temperatures as high as we had then.

114 Degrees F, twelve days in a row coming in from Adelaide and in my apprenticeship we worked outside on bare earth building sites in nothing but boots and shorts @108 degrees F, without thinking of knocking off due to the heat.

My old roneod Yellingbo records show far higher and lower temperatures and far higher rain totals and droughts that we have seen in my lifetime. Yes we play with the environment at our own risk and most only see what they can with their eyes.

Aphids were a topic on a 3AW garden show recently and my mind went straight back to my young boyhood when I read “Half hours in a tiny world’. In that book I discovered that ants milk aphids as we milk cows.

Many Blessings as you ponder my ramblings.

Graeme Dawson, Chaplain to Community

Upcoming shows

By Peter Kemp A Reminder Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Cosi It’s 1971 and outside on the streets, Australia is protesting the war in Vietnam. But inside a burned-out theatre, the resident patients of a mental asylum are listening to Mozart, learning their lines and occasionally skipping their medication.

Louis Nowra’s renowned Australian comedy finds light in the darkness and challenges our perceptions about, love, madness, and humanity.

A darkly funny and deeply moving ensemble piece, Cosi celebrates theatre and its power to transform lives.

Season: 18 August - 3 September Bookings: 9735 1999 Business: hours Mon, Tues, Fri 9am to 2pm.

· · ·

Eltham Little Theatre Moon Over Buffalo It is the summer of 1953, and George and Charlotte Hay, formerly a couple of Broadway stars, have taken their run-down touring company to Buffalo, New York.

In Buffalo they have the intention of running Cyrano de Bergerac and Private Lives in repertory, all the while grumbling about missed Hollywood opportunities.

But onstage harmony is compromised when George performs an off-stage infidelity, impregnating the company’s ingenue.

When Charlotte learns of this, she prepares to run away with the family lawyer, sending light-weight George on a grief-stricken drinking binge.

It turns out that Frank Capra is headed to town on a talent scouting mission looking to hire the couple for his swashbuckling Scarlet Pimpernel epic.

As a result, the Hay family must work overtime to get sloppy drunk George into his Cyrano hat and nose and worse. With the entrance of Rosalind’s dalliance, anxious TV weatherman Howard - one man with two mistaken identities - and Richard Maynard, the wealthy lawyer hopping to lure Charlotte away to his mansion - the confusion only intensifies.

With a plethora of pratfalls, slamming doors aplenty, and backstage shenanigans.

Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo is a fastpaced, hilarious screwball comedy in the old tradition, a throwback farce, a valentine to the stage and the larger-than-life personalities that inhabit the world of theatre.

Season: 2 - 17 September Bookings: 0411 713 095

· ·

Take plot with grain of salt Bullet Train Starring Brad Pitt, Joey King and Sandra Bullock Rated MA15+ Based on the novel Maria Beetle by Kotaro Isaka, Bullet Train is a thrilling, funny action comedy with an overcomplicated plot.

An assassin, codenamed “Ladybug” (Brad Pitt), accepts one last job on the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto, but gets caught up in a web of schemes among several other hitmen.

Pitt projects laidback charisma as Ladybug, playing a skilled killer doggedly trying to turn over a new leaf and embrace peace even as chaos erupts around him. Ladybug is both incredibly lucky and far too trusting, qualities which work for and against him (respectively) as an action hero and add to the humorous tension.

The entertaining ensemble cast bounces off each other with witty dialogue and fast-paced, exciting action sequences, which make frequent use of physical comedy. Joey King is compelling as Prince, a manipulative lone gun in the guise of a schoolgirl, and Aaron Taylor Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry have amusing chemistry as Tangerine and Lemon, two adversarial brothers who mean the world to each other.

John Wick, a series which Bullet Train clear-

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Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

ly takes after, has a layer of dark satire to its world-building; Bullet Train is more overtly comedic than John Wick, but suffers from the forced, muddy world-building of John Wick 3.

The stop-and-start pacing (while mostly effective, given the train setting) results in some characters slipping from your memory.

The schemes and plot-points weave together well toward the end, but the many vendettas blur together, and the back-story involving the overarching antagonist White Wolf (Michael Shannon) is very convoluted.

A fun character-driven action comedy with an unfocused plot, Bullet Train is screening in most Victorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes mailcommunity.com.au

THE LOWDOWN Q&A What is something people don’t know about you?

I’m a massive Neighbours fan, and lost it watching the finale. I also did the Deb Ball five times.

What do you enjoy most about teaching Indigenous Studies and sharing your Aboriginal culture?

Being able to learn as I go and then share my own journey and story is very empowering, and at the same time I genuinely feel that I’m helping society to better educate itself on issues that relate directly to ALL Australians.

How would you encourage more people to learn and understand Aboriginal culture, as well as begin a connection to Country?

Find out about your local history. Contact local councils or groups and start to learn about how we’ve come to this point in society – what has led us here?

What has been one of your most memorable moments?

Performing, being involved in, and watching ceremonies is such a connecting experience, no matter what level - Welcomes to Country, Smoking Ceremonies….they’re wonderfully grounding experiences. I’ll never forget being privileged to lay a gift of tobacco at the grave of Poundmaker, a famous Cree chief in Canada. Such a moving and spiritual experience, particularly for a kid from Healesville. Then of course, there’s watching the 2017 and 2019 Richmond premierships live with each of my two boys. Priceless.

What do you love most about the Yarra Ranges?

The sense of connection I feel to the area, the people and the history. Healesville will always be home and Mum always taught me about the value of family and connection. Playing football for most of my life for Healesville has created a number of lifelong friendships.

Nothing like the Valley.

What event, past, present, or future, would

with Andrew Peters

THREE … ways to give back

1

Donations Go through your wardrobe and donate old clothes that aren’t worn anymore to those in need this winter. Clear out the pantry cupboard and donate spare cans of food that won’t be used - your local op shop or donation centre will greatly appreciate it.

2

Charity events Have you ever ran a marathon or set a fitness challenge? How about doing it all for a good cause by taking part in a charity event.

As well as raising money, you can also donate funds to the cause.

3

Volunteering It’s a great way to keep busy, meet new people and learn new skills.

Check in with your local Lions, Rotary or community pantry and see how you can make a difference.

Dr Andrew Peters is a Swinburne University professor in Indigenous Studies and veteran Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Healesville footballer. 290883 you like to witness?

A Day on The Green concert featuring John Mellencamp, Dire Straits and RatCat, with guest vocalist Pee Wee from Healesville.

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

Michael Jackson, The ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, Stefan Edberg and John F Kennedy (I think he knows who did it) Who do you admire the most?

I’ve had so many great influences in my life, but I’d have to go with Ma (my mum). Raising a child on her own in the 70s – especially this

child – could not have been easy, but I think she lived a remarkable life.

What are some of your hobbies?

I love listening to music, and playing and watching sports – footy, horseracing, NFL, baseball, golf, tennis. I don’t do any of it very well, but I love it.

What is your favourite book and/or film?

‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’

by Robert Pirzig is a great book. And without doubt my all-time favourite movie is ‘Bad Boy Bubby’. Just kidding – it’s ‘The Sting’ with Redford and Newman. Brilliant movie.

NEWS

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FREE Lilydale Baptist Church will be hosting the pop-up Lifeblood clinic from 8 to 19 August. 291743 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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PROPERTY GUIDE Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

PROPERTY GUIDE

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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 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!

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

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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additional donors as the change comes into effect.

“It’s taken some time; however, we’re so pleased our comprehensive review of the evidence and our risk modelling has found this rule is no longer required. It means that from today, we’re thrilled to welcome these newly eligible donors to our centres around the nation,” Ms Stone said.

Since December 2000, those who had spent a total of six months or more in the UK between 1980 and 1996 were prevented from donating blood.

To book a donation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95, or download the free DonateBlood App.

New Aussies welcomed

Tuesday, 2 February, 2021

12477022-SN06-21

Lifeblood will be coming to Lilydale over the next two weeks with a pop-up blood donation centre taking appoints.

The clinic is being held at the Lilydale Baptist Church on the corner of Hull and Swansea Roads from 8 August to 19 August, with many appointments still available in the second week.

It is also the first time people who lived in the United Kingdom during the ‘mad cow disease’ outbreak have been approved to donate blood in Australia.

This could potentially contribute up to 58,000 additional donations each year.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Executive Director of Donor Services, Cath Stone said Lifeblood hoped to welcome around 18,000

Mail 12477081-JW03-21

Pop-up blood donor clinic

Tuesday, 2 February, 2021

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MAIL 13

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Artist named as finalist

By Renee Wood Yarra Glen artist Jay Young has been chosen as a finalist in the 2022 Ausmumpreneur awards, which is a nation wide network that’s passionate about supporting women.

Ms Young was shocked to be considered for the Creative Entrepreneur, Homewares and Handmade Business Awards after officially opening her business selling her water colour artworks in September last year.

“When I started the business, I wasn’t really doing it to become an entrepreneur or to make money or anything like that, I was doing it just for myself,” Ms Young said.

The mother of two first started painting with water colour three years ago after a midwife recommended she did something special for herself when she had postnatal depression.

Her works or sleeping woodland animals infused with soft colouring were the perfect fit for her own nursery, which helped to create a space of comfort.

“I just really stripped back his nursery made it really calm and neutral and that’s why I painted those artworks that are really neutral, really minimal, and created a little oasis for me and my son,” she said.

Now Ms Young’s talent and love for water colour has grown into a passion and business, as she creates artworks for nurseries and the home.

Working with water colour also forces the artist to slow down and have patience with the process, when you need to step away from each layer of paint.

“Instead of just rushing and getting something done, which I found I was doing a lot being a new mum…to have something just for myself where I was forced to slow down, let things dry, walk away…It just really taught

Ms Young uses watercolour to make beautiful nursery and landscape artworks.

Yarra Glen artist Jay Young has been honoured as a finalist in several Ausmumpreneur awards.

Pictures: SUPPLIED me to slow down and be pretty patient with the process, so the process itself was calming as well.”

Ms Young initially shared her works with

friends, family and her mothers group, who were all eager to have it on their own walls.

Now Jay’s reach has grown, selling artworks and limited edition prints internationally with

the UK her biggest market followed by Swedan, and Brisbane the biggest clientele in Australia.

Although the works were first nursery orientated - mystical and peaceful landscapes are now another stage of her creativity after feedback from markets stalls.

Living in the Yarra Valley has inspired some of the pieces and Jay will soon be releasing a Yarra Ranges collection.

With the help that painting has brought Ms Young as a new parent, she hopes to inspire others to find their own oasis and to look after their mental health and wellbeing.

“Be kind to yourself and give yourself the space physically and mentally to just take a breath, even to just sit down for five minutes with a glass of water and give yourself permission to just sit.”

The 2020 AusMumpreneur award winners will be announced at a gala event in September in Sydney.

For more information, visit www.youngbydesign.co

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Edge of the Present combines a virtual reality experience within a physical reality and is just one of the events the Yarra Ranges is hosting as part of The Big Anxiety Festival. Picture: JESSICA MAURER

Festival for arts, health

By Mikayla van Loon Opening the conversation about mental health can be done in many ways but what better way than thought provoking, inclusive and immersive art.

This is the aim of a creative festival coming to Melbourne this spring and wanting to help facilitate the dialogue, the Yarra Ranges will become host to numerous events.

The Big Anxiety Festival was first established in Sydney in 2017 but this will be the first year this innovative festival of lived experience will be showcased in and around Melbourne.

Yarra Ranges Regional Museum program director Megan Sheehy said as the biggest arts and mental health festival in the world, Yarra Ranges Council wanted to ensure people in the regions were being given the opportunity to explore their own mental health.

“The focus audience for the festival is really the 65 per cent of Australians that we know don’t seek help around mental health concerns and all the different kinds of projects provide a way to open up new conversations around mental health,” she said.

“We’re not in the metropolitan region and we’re such a huge geographic area. We have really struggled to keep up with the mental health demand across the region with the difficult experiences they’re going through at the moment.

“We are also a very creative region. So I think those two factors combined, it was almost the perfect landscape to be very open to a festival like this.”

Ms Sheehy said the entire project and concept of the festival is something she finds quite exciting, particularly because it invites a personal reaction from each attendee.

“I find the premise of it quite incredible. It’s taking such a different view. It’s asking people what is normal? Or what is wellbeing for you, so that people can define that experience for themselves and we all know that looks very different for every single person.”

Given the events of the last two years, Ms Sheehy said the exhibitions and projects, which will be showcased across different locations in the Yarra Ranges, are designed to support our recovery as a region.

Edge of the Present, a mixed reality experience, will combine the physical environment of Arts Centre Warburton with a virtual reality headset in a 10 minute immersive experience designed for suicide prevention.

“It was inspired by neuropsychological research into how memory and imagination work and was developed in collaboration with psychologists, mental health specialists and people with lived experience of suicide survival.

“We know that we have a high need in the Yarra Ranges in the Yarra and Upper Yarra areas around mental health. This profoundly mailcommunity.com.au

beautiful experience presents a new way for the arts to make change for people with mental health concerns.”

The experience aims to cultivate positive future thinking - the feeling that our actions can lead to helpful and positive things happening in the world.

From mixed reality to augmented reality, coming to the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum’s Box Gallery, Hard Place/Good Place will share the experiences of seven young people and their emotional recovery following last year’s storm event.

“We’re really interested in understanding how it’s changed their relationship to place and being both a hard place and a good place to be in.

“So a really difficult place because of the environment and that crisis and the impending thought that these challenges are going to be increasing in nature. But it’s also a good place because there’re so many stories about hope and community coming together.”

The young people who took part in the project are aged 14 to 25, an age group Ms Sheehy said whose “voice is not often heard in these circumstances, but of course, it’s their lives and their future that is so severely impacted by something like the storms.”

Ms Sheehy said Hard Place/Good Place is a storm recovery project developed in partnership with the UNSW, as well as part of the Yarra Ranges Council’s broader recovery response.

“The idea of this project is to use the capacity of the arts and storytelling to make sense of what has happened and to shape the meaning-making around an event like the storm.”

A further four creative displays, workshops and exhibitions will run throughout the duration of the festival in the Yarra Ranges, with a performance called ‘To the fallen trees’, photography workshops with UK photographer Daniel Regan and a film screening and Q&A session with the Grace Dance Company at Burrinja.

The fourth project will be an exhibition by artist Lucinda Makin at The Memo in Healesville called Lost in Serenity that explores her own mental health struggles and how she uses her artistic practice and the power of music to find a place of calm and wellbeing.

Moving forward, Ms Sheehy said she hopes The Big Anxiety Festival will inspire connections between artists, health workers and mental health workers for future projects.

“The hope is that this festival helps people think differently about mental health, to ask questions about mental health and to come together to appreciate how arts-based approaches can have a huge impact on our wellbeing and mental health.”

To book a session time for some of the events or to find out more information, go to https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/The-Arts/The-Big-Anxiety

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

Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

MAIL 15

PUZZLES SUDOKU

No. 093

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

easy

8 3 9 2 9

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

2

Division (6) US state (8) Social exclusion (9) Cavalry sword (US) (5) Web auction site (4) Occurring before (abb) (4) Shown (5) Old stringed instrument (4) Not required (8) Lacking footwear (8) Cicatrix (4) Beneath (5) Outer parts of the mouth (4) Game console (4) A second time (5) Unduly prominent (9) Weather (8) During (6)

1 4 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 20 22 25 26 28 30 31 32 33

Obsolete email service (7) Crust formed over a cut (4) Getting rid of (8) Help (10) Corrupt (7) Sing to (8) Fibber (4) Choice (10) Unbending (8) Exert maximum effort (2,3,3) Spread from the centre (7) Reconstruct (7) Save (6) Kitchenware (4) US island territory (4)

DOWN Oral (6)

21

22

23

24

25

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1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

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12

13

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”.

R

Today’s Aim: 24 words: Good 36 words: Very good

A

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4 7 3 6 9 8 5 1 2

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4 LETTERS AKIN ALES BALD CASH CASK FEES JOIN LION NODE OVUM PONY PUNY RAPS TENS TREE

7 5 8 9 4 6 2 3 1

1 3 6 8 2 5 4 9 7

9 4 2 7 3 1 8 5 6

3 6 1 5 8 2 7 4 9

2 8 7 4 1 9 3 6 5

5 9 4 3 6 7 1 2 8

1 7 2 5 4 8 6 9 3

5 3 9 6 1 2 4 8 7

6 9 5 1 7 3 8 2 4

8 1 4 2 9 6 7 3 5

3 2 7 4 8 5 1 6 9

9 4 8 7 2 1 3 5 6

2 6 1 3 5 4 9 7 8

7 5 3 8 6 9 2 4 1

6 2 5 1 3 7 8 4 9

3 7 8 9 4 5 1 2 6

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8 9 6 2 1 4 3 7 5

7 8 3 4 5 9 2 6 1

2 5 1 3 7 6 9 8 4

9 6 4 8 2 1 5 3 7

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

airier, albeit, alibi, alit, arbiter, aril, artier, bail, bailer, bait, barite, bier, bile, bite, biter, brail, briar, brie, brier, brit, irate, IRRITABLE, lair, liar, liber, lira, lire, lite, litre, rail, rarebit, retail, retrial, rial, rile, rite, tail, tibia, tibiae, tibial, tier, tile, tiler, trail, trailer, trial, tribal, tribe, trier

8 1 9 2 5 4 6 7 3

4 1 9 6 8 2 7 5 3

5 LETTERS ALIEN

JERKS KARAT KNITS LEADS LEAFS LUNGE NUDGE PECAN RABBI RACER RADAR SEDAN SENSE SERVE SLANT STEER STEWS STICK TENET TINGE TRADE

TREES TRUES WREAK

TENANTS VERSING 8 LETTERS DAPPERER INFRARED INTEREST TOTTERED

6 LETTERS AWHILE INSULT RESALE TWISTS

11 LETTERS PARTICIPATE RESISTANCES

7 LETTERS PESKIER RAPTURE SEAWEED SERPENT

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20

9-LETTER WORD

49 words: Excellent

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19

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18

easy

17

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12-08-22

William Matthews Funerals FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED

24 HOUR SERVICE ALL AREAS

9739 6868 45 Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au 16 MAIL

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Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

12410397-ACM06-19

mailcommunity.com.au

STUNNING HOME WALK to Lakeside Park in Pakenham from your new 4-bedroom home. Located close to shopping, schools, restaurants, playgrounds, and Lakeside Pakenham Lake where you can walk your dog, feed the ducks and enjoy a show at the Lakeside Theatre, this property offers the perfect location and lifestyle.

Previously a display home this property has all the best features, fixtures, and fittings with a grand glass door entrance, ducted heating, evaporative cooling, manicured gardens, and double garage entry into the hallway. Inside there is a large master bedroom with ensuite and walk-in robe situated next to one of 2 living spaces which has an ultra-modern gas fireplace with white rocks set into the custom built-in cabinetry, deck access, and plenty of natural light.

The open plan living/dining/kitchen is perfect for families or corporate couples wanting to entertain. The modern kitchen has stone bench tops, and stainless steel appliances with an electric oven with a gas cooktop, while the large family living space has access to the deck and an abundance of natural light. With a contemporary colour scheme the remaining 3 bedrooms have BIRs, and plush carpets, are spacious and light-filled and are located close to the modern family bathroom.

Enjoy the indoor-outdoor entertaining

space, perfect for entertaining with a built-in barbecue, undercover dining, water feature, modern decking, screening for privacy, and is weather-protected for year-round dining.

This property has it all so don’t miss out call to arrange a private inspection today.

Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some

properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 15 Botanic Drive, PAKENHAM Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $760,000 - $830,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Bethany Day 0438 844 968, BELL REAL ESTATE, EMERALD, 5968 6222

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

com.au

Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

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MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

17

HOME FOCUS

VERSATILE RESIDENCE WITH GREAT OUTLOOK THIS impressive residence with exquisite landscape is a magical mix of modern comforts and original character. With a versatile 2-storey design with options for a home office or teenage retreat this property is a one-off opportunity that was well worth waiting for.

From this elevated 998sqm (approx.) block with abundant off-street parking, walking distance to Upwey township is afforded. On the ground floor, separate access leads into a spacious bedroom with timber floors, sleek study nook, and shower bathroom.

On the upper level, spacious living with high ceilings and large windows serves as the heart of the home, comprising the lounge with vista outlooks, dining area with covered deck access, and magnificent kitchen with stainless steel appliances. With 3 further bedrooms on this level paired with a stylish bathroom with large soaker tub and separate WC, plus a modern family-size laundry, gas ducted heating, and evaporative cooling, and reverse cycle air conditioning, this enticing home offers immense appeal.

Outside, the landscaping is a feast for the senses. From the covered deck, the native gardens meander up to an inviting firepit area, impressive hen haven, golf putting green, and inground trampoline.

Boasting beautiful spaces both inside and out, this property is a must-see that promises to impress. · Versatile family home rich with character conveniently located within walking distance of Upwey township and train station · Bonus lower level with separate entry

includes a generous bedroom, study nook, and shower bathroom · Spacious upper-level living with timber

floors and high ceilings · Magnificent kitchen with stainless steel appliances overlooking the covered deck

· Exceptional landscape with lovely outlooks, firepit area, impressive hen house, golf putting green, and inground trampoline. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 17 Thompson Road, UPWEY Description: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms Price: $795,000 - $870,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sam Adamson 0421 023 760 and Daniel 0434 979 142, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE, 9754 6888

1a Milners Rd Yarra Junction

$570,000 - $625,000

Seville

First Home Buyer, Downsizer or Investor delight!

$670,000 - $710,000

Family home on a big 900sqm block

Set on a low maintenance block of over 600sqm this 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 2 toilet home is everything you’ve been looking for in a home! With gorgeous hardwood floors throughout, large open plan living and a lovely undercover decking plus double carport under roofline - don’t forget solar for the pesky power bills - every box is ticked! With gas ducted heating and split system all climates are covered, fully fenced, walking distance to shops, transport, rail trail, schools and Little Yarra River - the property is in a great location and offers loads of advantages to the astute buyer so call now for inspection and don’t miss out on this one!

Positioned to please this neat family home is conveniently located just a short stroll to the ever popular Seville shopping precinct, public transport, schools and the picturesque walking trail. The home offers 3 bedrooms plus a family size lounge/living area and a separate meals/dining area, the open plan kitchen is fresh, modern and boasts plenty of room as well with ample bench and cupboard space.

Loads of potential outside with a blank canvas sitting on just over 900 sqm there is loads of space to add your own personal touches with a huge back yard ready and waiting for a backyard blitz. A solid home in a great location and conveniently located close to all facilities it’s a great place to call home.

Contact: Leah Bannerman 0448 924 266 Inspection: Sat 2.30 - 3pm (Photo ID Required)

Contact: David Carroll 0419 539 320 Inspection: By Appointment

bellrealestate.com.au 18

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

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Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

5966 2530

3407 Warburton Hwy, Warburton com.au

5967 1277

2457 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction

mailcommunity.com.au

12561800-HC32-22

mailcommunity.com.au

com.au

Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

|

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

19

HOME FOCUS

IMPRESSIVE AND IDYLLIC LOCATION THIS welcoming residence within close proximity of Upwey’s schools, shops, and transport is sure to impress. With a wellconfigured and maintained interior, beautiful 984sqm (approx.) allotment, and lush hillside outlooks, the appeal is instantly apparent.

The core of this comfortable residence is the modern kitchen with stylish flooring, substantial storage, gas cooktop, Siemens pyrolytic wall oven, Miele dishwasher, and adjoining meals area with lovely outlooks.

The neighbouring formal dining area with arched custom cabinet and the lounge with exposed brick accents is enhanced with floor to ceiling windows with garden views.

Keeping the focus on family is the cleverly designed bedroom configuration.

The main bedroom with full ensuite, walk-in robe, and built-in robe is privately situated.

The adaptable family bedrooms, including one with separate entry suited to a second living area, accompany the main bathroom

with vintage tiles. Whether you choose to appreciate the era or usher in a new style, the meticulous care this home has received ensures immediate comfort.

Outside, this lovely garden is geared for entertaining with a generous deck, sensational paved area, custom table, garden sheds, and abundant off-street parking.

This property is set to impress, so act quickly, and plan your viewing today.

Lifestyle location close to Upwey township and train station 984sqm (approx.) property with leafy outlooks and lovely outdoor entertaining areas Modern kitchen with stylish flooring and quality appliances Lounge and dining area with floor to ceiling windows and custom brick accents Extras include an ensuite main bedroom, gas ducted heating, and ample off-street parking ●

· · · · ·

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 79 Mast Gully Road, UPWEY Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Price: $770,000 - $830,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sam Adamson 0421 023 760 and Daniel 0434 979 142, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE, 9754 6888

5962 3030

Mark Gunther LD

LD

SO

SO

Chirnside Park 7 West Haven Court

3A 2B 2C

Healesville 2/14 Blannin Street

3A 2B 2C

SOLD Via Openn Negotiation 99 Bids!

6 Qualified Bidders Only 29 days on the market!

SOLD well over reserve!

Call our agents to see how they can achieve these fantastic results for you with your property!

SOLD

SOLD via Openn Negotiation Online auction Only 28 days on the market 2 keen buyers 19 bids Properties are still selling in the current market.

Let us sell yours!

SOLD

$920,000 Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

LD

$658,000 Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

LD

SO

SO

Healesville 20 Baden Powell Drive

2A 1B 2C

Healesville 109 Maroondah Highway

3A 1B 2C

SOLD via Openn Negotiation Less than 2 months on market 4 qualified bidders 32 bids!

SOLD

SOLD via Openn Negotiation Online Auction Only 13 Days on market!

SOLD above vendors expectations

SOLD

For more information on this online auction process call our friendly agents on 5962 3030.

20

markgunther.com.au 189 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

|

Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

$616,000 Agent Mark Gunther 0448 623 030

$770,000 Agent Gary Lucas 0407 595 113

Our agents are here to discuss how they can sell your property too!

com.au

mailcommunity.com.au

Real Estate you can trust!

We ’ r e h e r e t o h e l p FOR SALE

2/40 Old Belgrave Road, UPPER FERNTREE GULLY

$480,000 - $520,000

FOR SALE

$925,000 - $975,000

5 Harold Street, OLINDA

READY, SET BUILD!

BEAUTIFUL BLUESTONE HOME STEPS FROM TOWN

A stunning, sun filled block of 1000m2 is ready and waiting for you to build your forever home in a highly sought after location. Within an easy walk to Upper Ferntree Gully train station, local primary school, the Angliss Hospital and local shopping precinct, there is nothing you won’t love about this block!

Warm, textural bluestone construction and a wonderful location only steps from Olinda township are the hallmarks of this home’s appeal.

Character-filled and conveniently positioned, this property is calling astute buyers seeking a picturesque Dandenong Ranges lifestyle.

Sharyn Chandler

Suzie Brannelly

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

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

3A 2B 1C

FOR SALE

7 Kooringal Road, UPWEY

$1,000,000 - $1,100,000

BEAUTIFUL FAMILY HOME WITH GORGEOUS VIEWS

4A 2B 2C

FOR SALE

$1,025,000 - $1,125,000

14 Bellbird Street, BELGRAVE

BESPOKE RESIDENCE BRILLIANT FOR ENTERTAINING

4A 2B 2C

A surplus of lifestyle features including filtered city views, a solar-heated swimming pool, and an idyllic indoor-outdoor design will have you instantly envisaging how this home will work for you. This residence opens in style to an adaptable floorplan that will evolve with your family through the years. The open plan kitchen overlooks the family room that flows out to the large deck with outstanding views and enclosed BBQ area ideal for entertaining yearround.

With impressive versatility and a vast array of quality updates, this exceptional dwelling delivers in every way. Boasting a variety of outdoor entertaining areas on a gorgeous 1,220sqm (approx.) block with Monbulk Creek meandering by and idyllically located on a quiet, no-through road only moments from Belgrave township, this is a lifestyle property in the heart of the Hills.

Sam Adamson

Sam Adamson

M 0421 023 760 | E sam@chandlerandco.com.au

M 0421 023 760 | E sam@chandlerandco.com.au

Daniel Steen

Daniel Steen

M 0434 979 142 | E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au

M 0434 979 142 | E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au

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

com.au

Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

|

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

21

HOME FOCUS

DON’T DREAM THE LIFESTYLE, LIVE IT SET in a quiet street, within walking distance to the vibrant, bustling town of Emerald, this polished entertainer offers a lavish amount of space for any family and is set on over one private acre.

With 3 spacious living areas, the home offers a flexible space for every occasion including an impressive sized rumpus room complete with a wet bar that overlooks stunning mature gardens, a large open family living area, with a crackling wood fire in the light-filled lounge room, all suited to entertaining.

A spacious kitchen with granite benches and solid timber cabinetry is the hub of the home and features dishwasher, electric cooktop, St George wall oven and offers full view of the rear yard with expansive lawn area and inground solar heated pool allowing the chef of the home to cook up a storm whilst watching over the kids enjoy outdoor activities.

The opulent master suite has a fully fitted walk in robe and a newly renovated ensuite and is set away from the remaining

bedrooms to provide privacy for all.

The second, third and fourth bedrooms are zoned in their own wing of the home and all offer built in robes and are serviced by the family bathroom compete with bath, shower and separate toilet. A dedicated study room provides the ideal place for quite contemplation.

Landscaped with beautiful low maintenance gardens and generous outdoor paving, this fully utilized block welcomes the family and offers enough room to ride bikes or let the family dog play securely at home.

Ready to move in and enjoy and equipped with gas ducted heating (3 zones), in wall reverse cycle air conditioners, and a slow combustion wood fire plus double car garage, over height carport, 6.6kw solar system with 13.5wh Tesla battery to reduce your energy bills, everything you could want and more is waiting here for you.

This wonderful family home has been the current owner’s pride and joy for 28 years and is now ready for the next lucky family to move in and enjoy. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 9 Maisie Road, EMERALD Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $1,200,000 - $1,320,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 and Jacqui Ryder 0433 095 278, BARRY PLANT, EMERALD, 5968 4522 22

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

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Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

com.au

mailcommunity.com.au

9 Gembrook Launch Pl Rd, Gembrook

$940,000 - $990,000

15 Botanic Drive, Pakenham

$760,000 - $830,000

Close to Town Gem!

Stunning Home in a Great Location!

Get in quick to secure this new family home, still under Builder’s Warranty, where you can walk to everything Gembrook has to offer! The home is an open-plan, splitlevel design with plenty of natural light and double-glazed windows to ensure energy efficiency. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, stone bench tops, a walk-in pantry, and a breakfast bar. The master bedroom has a walkthrough robe to a generous ensuite. There are 3 good-sized bedrooms with built-in robes. Additional features include a double remote garage, mains gas, ducted heating, a split system for cooling, a theatre/rumpus room, a kid’s retreat, and an undercover indoor/outdoor entertaining area. Outside is a beautifully landscaped low-maintenance garden, a fully fenced backyard with plenty of room for the kids and pets to play, and a chicken coop.

Walk to Lakeside Park in Pakenham from your new 4-bedroom home. Previously a display home this property the best features, fixtures, and fittings with ducted heating, evaporative cooling, manicured gardens, and double garage. Inside there is a large master bedroom with ensuite and WIR situated next to one of 2 living spaces which has an ultra-modern gas fireplace and deck access. The open plan living/dining/kitchen is perfect for entertaining. The modern kitchen has stone bench tops, stainless steel appliances with an electric oven and gas cooktop. With a contemporary colour scheme the remaining 3 bedrooms have BIRs, plush carpets, and are located close to the family bathroom.

Enjoy the indoor-outdoor entertaining space with built-in BBQ, water feature, decking, privacy screens, and weatherprotected for year-round dining.

Contact: Samantha Scott 0438 680 032

Contact: Bethany Day 0438 844 968

5 Union Avenue, Pakenham

$560,000 - $610,000

Lot 3 Alexander Road, Cockatoo

Stunning Family or First Home!

$700,000 - $770,000

Over an Acre of Cleared Land Near a Creek!

Don’t miss this beautiful 3 bedroom home in Pakenham.

Inside is a bright living room with plush carpets, and a modern colour scheme. There is an open-plan dining/kitchen area with access to the large outdoor undercover patio; perfect for indoor/outdoor entertaining. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, new NutraStone Quartz benchtops and plenty of storage. The main bedroom has a walk-in robe and ensuite with new Quartz benchtops, also in the modern main bathroom. All of the bedrooms have plush carpets and modern styling. This home features ducted cooling and splitsystem heating, new downpipes, low-maintenance outdoor space with an entertaining area and paved paths, a large lemon tree, 2 sheds, and a double lock-up garage with further car spaces for parking a caravan or boat.

Here is the perfect opportunity to purchase over an acre of cleared and sunny land just walking distance to Cockatoo.

One side and below you adjoin a creek reserve, never to be built out and only a short stroll along Cockatoo Creek through Alma Treloar reserve to town. On approximately 4,159sqm this block is perfect for anyone looking to build their forever home (STCA) with a large building envelope and all services available. Close to Cockatoo Township, local shopping, post office, primary school and preschool, RSL, sporting clubs, walking, and riding trails, cafés and restaurants, and the bus running back to Belgrave is nearby this is the perfect location to build your dream home (STCA).

Contact: Bethany Day 0438 844 968

Contact: Richard Birtchnell 0438 747 357

5968 6222

bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

311-313 Main St, Emerald

com.au

Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

|

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

23

29 Lisheen Road, Cockatoo

23 Emerald Monbulk Road, Emerald

17 Station Road, GEMBROOK

PERFECT FOR FAMILIES WITH GREAT VIEWS

ENTERTAINERS DREAM IN THE HEART OF EMERALD

NEST AND INVEST ON 2,755M2

3 T

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2 T

B

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2 T

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FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

GUIDE $700,000-$770,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Denise McKay 0479 184 147 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $1,550,000 - $1,650,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $770,000 - $840,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

355 Beenak East Road, GEMBROOK

76 Kirkpatricks Road, MACCLESFIELD

2 Town Road, GEMBROOK

EXCEPTIONALLY PRIVATE ON 2.47HA.

OVER 10 ACRES OF SERENITY

ONE OWNER WONDER ON 1790M2

3 T

A

1 T

B

2 T

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3 T

A

2 T

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2 T

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3 T

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FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

GUIDE $1,000,000 - $1,100,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $1,250,000 - $1,350,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $830,000 - $913,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

9 Maisie Road, EMERALD

26 Innes Road, Gembrook

16 Le Souef Road, Gembrook

DON’T DREAM THE LIFESTYLE, LIVE IT ON 4,101M2

NEAT, SWEET AND COMPLETE!

SUNSET VIEWS ON 1852M2

4 T

24

A

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B

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2 T

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FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

GUIDE $1,200,000 - $1,320,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $620,000 - $650,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $840,000 - $924,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE

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

Notice issued: 4 August 2022 DETAILS ABOUT THE APPLICATION The land affected by the application is located at:

46 Tamworth Road (Lot 15 LP41828 Ca), Kilsyth

The application is for a permit to:

Variation of restrictive covenant

The applicant for the permit is:

Mr G Davies

The application reference number is:

YR-2022/498

You may view the digital application online at the below website.

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

An objection must include: • The application number and site address.

• The name, address and email of the objector/submitter.

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

Objections can be submitted online at http://yarraranges.vic.gov. au/track. Simply search by the application number then click on “Make a Submission”.

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

The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before:

Rebedding & pointing Skylight resealing Written guarantee

Call Chris 0412 099 142 23 years in roofing leaks

22 August 2022

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

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

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Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

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MAIL 25

SPORT

Barkers winning run ends

By Peter Stephenson

Mooroolbark Soccer Club took on Heatherton United in Springvale over the weekend.

Picture: HEATHERTON UNITED In the 18th minute Paul McEvoy laid a great tackle in midfield, retrieved the ball and shot just over.

However, this was only a brief respite, as then United veteran Ali Sanad broke on the left and crossed for Kerla who was in on goal.

Brett Tronconi got a tackle in as the shot was made, but the ball managed to spin beyond Naumowicz into the net for 1-0 Heatherton.

Just after the half hour, Perrin won a tackle and ran down the left, crossing for Klepac.

His attempt at a diving header was ruled offside. Seven minutes before the break, Barkers gave the ball away in their own half again and resorted to a cynical foul, but the resultant United free-kick was hit wide.

It was looking grim for Barkers, but against the run of play, they found Steve Nittoli in space just before the break, and he hit a cracking shot from distance into the corner of the net to equalise at 1-1.

Surprisingly, the sides went in level at halftime, but Barkers seemed to be off their game.

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In 1980, Stevie Wonder released an album entitled Hotter Than July. So it was that the Barkers and Barkerettes rampaged through the hottest month (northern hemisphere style) – played nine, won seven, drew two, lost 0. Unfortunately, it was now August.

Saturday afternoon saw second-placed Barkers play a catchup game rescheduled from the previous week.

They travelled to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Centre in Springvale South to take on ninth-placed Heatherton United. Barkers had won six in a row, but Heatherton had lost only once at home, to league leaders Collingwood.

After six minutes Barkers raided down the right and crossed for Maxim Solovyev, who skewed his header.

The ball ran out to Sean Perrin who overhit the cross back in, while Sam Klepac was collected by Heatherton keeper Asaeli Batikasa in the first of a series of over-physical challenges.

United’s first chance came two minutes later when Liam Seaye lost the ball in midfield, allowing United to break and find Armin Kerla, the division’s leading scorer, who shot wide.

Three minutes later Geordie Scott was the next Barker to receive one of Heatherton’s cynical calling cards.

On 13 minutes, Barkers again gave the ball away. The speedy Makuei Ayom broke down the right and crossed for Kerla, who shot straight at keeper Mark Naumowicz.

Barkers replied straight away with a cross from the left from Perrin. This was cleared back to him, and his second attempt saw Klepac leap high and head narrowly wide. Yet again we lost the ball to Ayom, but this time a last-ditch tackle saved Barkers.

The second half began with United pressing once more, and it wasn’t until just after the hour that a chance came Barkers’ way.

A good through ball released Klepac, whose shot on the run brought a superb tip over from Batikasa.

On 73 minutes Barkers won a corner on the right. Perrin put the ball out to the edge of the box, from where McEvoy volleyed high and wide.

Straight away, Heatherton broke upfield, switching the ball from right to left before Kerla swept the ball in for his second goal and 2-1 Heatherton.

On 76 minutes, Klepac won a 50-50 ball, turned and ran for goal, but was hustled off the ball by a chasing defender.

Klepac then ran down the right wing and crossed for Scott, whose shot on the run was too straight to trouble Batikasa.

When Barkers’ Arash Sadeghi came on as a sub he caused some trouble on the left, and in stoppage time a move begun by Josh Newman, then on to Perrin, found Sadeghi, whose acute shot was beaten away by Batikasa at his near post. Full-time: Heatherton United 2-1 Mooroolbark.

Heatherton, despite their physicality and time-wasting, deserved the points, but this was a disappointing display from Barkers.

Some players made too many uncharacteristic errors, and hopefully the lessons will be learned as they head into the final two games clinging on to second spot.

Next Saturday, Barkers visit Doncaster, one of the other sides in a crowded scrap for the runners-up spot.

The Barkers’ women’s side had a week off, and next week have a home game against Manningham United on Friday night.

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SPORT

Last home game marked

By Callum ‘Articles’ Ludwig Lilydale hosted their final home game of the season in Round 17, with Wantirna South making the trip to The Nest.

The U19.5s, back in their usual 10.40am timeslot, were out to make amends for last week’s disappointing loss to Montrose against the second-placed Wantirna South side who also dealt them a heavy defeat earlier in the season. Make amends they sure did, shocking the Devils with a 2-goal win, 9.11, 65 to 7.11, 53.

Lilydale was competitive in the first quarter, but Wantirna South did get out to an 11-point lead at the first change. In the second quarter, the Dales fought back to take the lead by 9 points at the main break. The Falcons knew it was still going to take an almighty effort to get over the line against quality opposition in the second half, but were notably switched on and hyped up.

Wantirna South was largely the dominant side in the third quarter, but Lilydale’s staunch defensive efforts kept the quarter to two goals apiece. This resilient attitude was none more summed up than by an inspirational diving smother on the goal line from Luke ‘Turkey’ Bates to prevent an almost-certain goal. Luckily for Lilydale, Turkey’s attempt to kick out from the resulting point was turned down by the usual kicker and birthday boy Astin Bucci, denying Turkey the opportunity to continue his trademark of following up a great effort with a shocking disposal. A mature decision from Bucci, who was devastated to hear he is now halfway to 40.

In the final quarter, Lilydale held strong to secure the win, with even an opportunity for birthday Bucci to absolutely spray the final kick of the game with a shot that was lucky to register a score at all.

Cooper ‘Backpacks’ Beckwith made older brother Macauley ‘Bags’ Beckwith proud of his ‘Bubsee’ with a best-on-ground performance and was joined by Zac ‘Chicken Schnitty’ Carolan, Bailey ‘Bounces’ Bateman, Zac ‘Scags’ Scagnetti, the bruised and batter Austin ‘Oz’

The Lilydale boys were all smiles.

White and serial pest Adrian Clark who frustrated his Wantirna South opponent with a tight tag.

Backpacks was the only multiple goalkicker with 2, while Schnitty, Cobey ‘Set Shots’ Clausen, Scags, Fletcher ‘Double Cobra’ March, Bounces, Bailey ‘Tall Skinny Guy’ Grant and Sean ‘Mob Boss’ Calcaterra all kicking one.

The Dales important win doesn’t move them up from fifth on the ladder.

The Reserves were up next and unfortunately could not emulate the result of the U19.5s, going down 4.7, 31 to 8.10, 58. The two sides played out a thrilling stalemate last time out and were both keen not to split the four premiership points this time out.

Picture: ERICA MCMENAMIN Sean ‘Ranga’ Hadju started out the game at full-back due to a lack of key defensive stocks available in a decision that didn’t last too long.

Back to the forward line, probably with about as much of a mess in his shorts as he had after an ‘accident’ at work this week.

Mitchell ‘Peanut’ Blake continued his fine run of form closing out the season to take best on ground honours, followed by Josh White, Matthew ‘Dip’ Di Pietrantonio, young Blake ‘Nugget’ Milsom, Luke Hogg and Backpacks who went around for a second game.

Goalkickers were Dip, Whitey, Backpacks and Josh Newman whose goal from the pocket provided an ample opportunity for a subsequent celebration and cheeky pic for the paper.

The Reserves stay ninth on the ladder.

The Seniors were keen to get one over the Devils again and make it two from two wins against them this season. They did exactly that, withstanding a frightening last-quarter push to hold on for a 13.15, 93 to 13.6, 84 win.

Despite the big losses of Ryan ‘Dobby’ McNay and Nick ‘Noodles’ Del Biondo to injury and a goalless first quarter, the Dales bounced back in the second quarter to barge into the lead by 4 points at halftime. This period of control over the game continued into the third quarter, as the Falcons headed into the final change in what onlookers would’ve considered a comfortable 26-point lead.

Wantirna South was not going to give up easily though, kicking four rapid-fire goals early in the quarter which had Lilydale supporters nervous and Wantirna South fans double-checking whether their car horns were in working order. They very much were.

Lilydale did not give in, and the rest of the quarter contained three goals for both sides and got the Dales over the line.

Jayden ‘Jibba’ Depace was the best player for the boys in blue and gold, joined by the ever-courageous Riley ‘Santa’ Clausen, Liam ‘Jeffa’ Jeffs, returning ruckman Mathew ‘Sweet Chilli Philly’ Phillips, newfound defender Isaac ‘Thumb Thumb’ Biasuzzo and Brandon ‘Dros’ Droessler.

Beau ‘Beauner’ Mitchener was both figuratively and literally huge, taking towering marks at full-forward to finish with a five-goal haul, joined by Bags with 3, Jibba with 2 and Marc Massarotti, Harry ‘Tiktoks’ Mitchell and Jeffa with one.

The Seniors are still in ninth, but only on percentage, with a good opportunity to finish the season next week as high as seventh.

Next week Lilydale face the arduous trip away to Beaconsfield to conclude the homeand-away season. Congratulations to those who won prizes in the Future Fund raffle and thanks to Ben O’Donnell for his tireless work organising it.

Building family focused club

By Mikayla van Loon Since the return to a full football season after the pandemic lockdowns, Kilsyth Football Club has changed its approach to what kind of football club it wants to be and it is seeing great success.

Club president Quentin Van Veen said across all teams at Kilsyth there are multiple brothers, sisters and other family members playing side by side, something the club is really proud to have attracted.

“That’s been part of rebuilding the club to be a local community club,” he said.

“So when we made the final seven years ago, that was about doing what most footy clubs do: raise enough money, find enough good players and get them in the finals.

“Our approach now is, well let’s continue to create a place for Kilsyth kids to play footy in Kilsyth and be a true community club as opposed to just trying to win the next flag and get to first division.”

Moving forward with the community approach, Quentin said he hopes Kilsyth can be a hub for local kids to play sport and with that comes the upgrading of the current sports pavilion at Pinks Reserve.

“We’ve gone from a traditional 19s, reserves and senior men’s to now adding five more teams to that with the women’s football and the netball teams, so that puts another 60 or 70 players on the park every week,” he said.

While Quentin said Kilsyth Football Club wants to create a competitive environment, the focus is really on being a welcoming, safe space for children and families to enjoy playing sport.

“If we end up being a third division club or a second division club, then that’s good enough.

“We want to challenge the players to do their best and not accept where we’re at and challenge ourselves to be better but ultimately, at the moment, the way I see it, the way our committee sees it is that we want to be just a good club first.”

Even though the club went through a chalmailcommunity.com.au

lenging period throughout the pandemic lockdowns, Quentin said the positive impact sports can have on children, particularly after such difficult years for them personally as well, it is important to rebuild the club as a place they want to be.

“It’s become even more important for people to have something they can join and be a part of.

“We talk about kids with anxiety, kids who have learning problems and having trouble at school, broken homes, marriage and divorce, all the other things that go on in people’s lives, particularly young people’s lives.

“To create a space where we can have 100 or so young people come in and have a good time, play sport, we know it is good for them to be actively involved in sport.”

This positive environment has already had an impact on the club’s success in the competition side of things as well, with Mitchell Jacobs saying with such a young list already carrying the seniors, it can only improve from here.

“It’s really exciting for the club. If we can do what we have to do today (Saturday 6 August), and next week, we should be locking ourselves into a top four spot and playing finals for the first time in seven years, which is huge for the club,” he said.

“There’s no reason we can’t go further if we make it to finals this year, but this is just the first step for the next three, four or five years.”

Kilsyth had five junior teams make finals, with six players listed in the League’s best and fairest. The senior women will also be playing finals after a successful season.

“From where we were five years ago, preCovid and during Covid, which were really tough years for the club for a number of reasons, where we are now it’s testament to a lot of work that we’ve been putting in into the juniors,” Mitchell said.

Kilsyth’s seniors were able to win 130 to 30 against Nunawading, placing the team fourth on the ladder and in a good position for the division four finals.

Reilly, Mitchell and Matthew Jacobs took to Pinks Reserve together for the first time on Saturday 6 August.

Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON

Family affair on the field

By Mikayla van Loon Kilsyth Football Club has been building a family focused and community first environment for the last few years now.

And nothing fits that brief more than a father and his two sons taking to the Pinks Reserve home ground to play in the reserves match on Saturday 6 August.

The Jacobs had the chance when youngest son Reilly was selected from under 17s to play in the reserves, oldest son Mitchell had a wedding so couldn’t play with the seniors and father Matthew was asked to fill in.

“I never really thought I’d have the opportunity to play with both of them. I’ve played some two’s games with dad over the last five or six years but to all three of us wasn’t something that ever entered my head,” Mitchell said.

“So this is really exciting for me because this will be my last chance to play with dad more than likely and hopefully, it’s just one of many that I get to play with Reilly.”

It was Reilly’s first opportunity to play senior football as well, having filled in for the under 19s on a few occasions but never being selected to play at the top level.

“It’s a bit weird but I’ve been filling in for a while, so it’s not too uncomfortable. It is different and it is really cool that we do get to play a game together,” he said.

Matthew said when his boys were growing up, there wasn’t much choice in whether they played football or not, so it was nice to see them, particularly Reilly, take on the sport as he had wished.

“When Mitch came up with this [six weeks ago], I thought absolutely, in a heartbeat…it is a bit surreal,” he said.

With family and friends coming to watch the game, Matthew said he was just hopeful to get a kick, while Mitchell and Reilly were aiming for the win against Nunawading.

Unfortunately, Kilsyth’s reserves lost by just seven points having trailed the whole game but the three Jacobs were all named in the best players for the day.

Tuesday, 9 August, 2022

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