Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 20th December 2022

Ferntree Gully Belgrave

Casey electorate volunteers honoured

Multi million dollar renos open in Knox

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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School closes after 43 years

Cheers for Leny’s 100 year milestone

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Result success

Mountain District Christian School students Asher and Makayla have always been competitive but took it to the next level with their ATAR results.

312847 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS dents preparing for many and various career pathways when university offers are released early next year.

To read more about how these students did and what’s next for them, turn to pages 6 and 7

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a “major relief” to not have to complete her studies virtually.

The release of ATAR scores will now see stu-

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After some challenging years making their way through senior school, Emerald, Belgrave, Mountain District and Monbulk’s Year 12 students have been handed some high achieving success with the release of ATAR results on Monday 12 December.

Whether it was friendly competition or the drive to get into a university course, Hills students left a mark on their schools, with many scoring above 90.

These high achieving students came from Emerald Secondary College, Mater Christi College, Mountain District Christian School and Monbulk College, seeing 31 students across the four schools make the VCE honour roll by scoring 40 or above in individual subjects. 24 of those students went to Mater Christi.

In total 49,581 students graduated with their VCE Victoria-wide this year, a completion rate of 98 per cent while15,163 students graduated with their VCAL. For some, their results guarantee a position in their desired university course, for others, despite the high marks, the wait still remains.

“I got a good score, but it wasn’t competitive enough so I’m waiting for interview offers at the moment,” Mater Christi College dux Madi Zapanta.

While Mountain District students Makayla Allisey and Asher Megee have always been competitive, it was never more prevalent than in Year 12, with the best friends both aiming high and now for the same course given their results.

Overall, the graduating class was relieved and grateful to have been able to return to their school campuses for their final year together as friends and classmates, with Emerald Secondary student Jade Poort saying it was

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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NEWS

IN BRIEF

Cuts are ‘worrying’

By Parker McKenzie Federal MP for Casey Aaron Violi has decried the federal government’s decision to decrease the amount of medicare-subsidised psychology sessions from 20 to 10, returning the available sessions to pre-covid pandemic levels.

On Monday 12 December, Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler announced the Australian government will not be extending the temporary additional 10 sessions beyond the expiration date of 31 December 2022.

“The report shows Better Access is failing some Australians. Gap fees and wait times make it inaccessible and unaffordable for too many. The most disadvantaged Australians those among us with the greatest need - have the least access to mental health services,” he said in a statement.

“The findings of the Better Access evaluation have provided us with an opportunity to address a variety of concerns so all Australians — no matter where they live or what their circumstances — can get the mental health care and support they need.”

Casey MP Aaron Violi visiting Headspace Lilydale, a mental health service.

Picture: SUPPLIED The Department of Health and Aged Care said in a statement that an independent evaluation by the University of Melbourne concluded while the scheme had positive outcomes for those accessing the sessions, “it is serving some groups better than others, and these gaps are widening.”

“The evaluation considered the temporary COVID-19 measure to subsidise an additional 10 sessions under Better Access. In 2021, Aus-

tralians used 5 sessions on average, with 83 per cent of people using 10 or fewer sessions,” the statement said.

“In 2022 to date, less than half of those of low socioeconomic status were able to access treatment including the additional 10 sessions.”

The Better Access scheme was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic by the previous Coalition government and gives medicare rebates to eligible people for mental health services.

Mr Violi said the changes are particularly worrying for the community because “Casey has become a desert for mental health support.”

“First the Albanese Labor Government failed to fund the future of the Lilydale Youth Hub, and now they are slashing access to psychologist visits for Australians who are struggling,” he said.

“Access to mental health support is critical right now, particularly for young people in my electorate, and this decision in the midst of the holiday season is devastating.”

Drivers urged to put safety, security first RACV is urging Victorians to keep safety at the forefront of their plans ahead of the summer holidays, with some useful tips to address potential risks at home and on the roads.

Across the state, RACV is expecting an uptick in travel to regional hot spots and holiday destinations. RACV General Manager Automotive Services, Jackie Pedersen, said it was important that everyone who takes to the road is aware of changed driving conditions brought on by extreme weather events throughout the year.

“Heavy rain – brought on by the La Niña weather phase – has contributed to flooding that has deteriorated the quality of roads, causing potholes and other hazards for road-users,” Ms Pedersen said.

“It’s vital that Victorians who are about to embark on road trips are aware of these changed conditions.

“Whether you’re using roads you’re familiar with, or driving to a new regional location, it’s very important that you plan ahead and be prepared for increased traffic and different driving conditions.

“Leave earlier wherever you can to avoid any unnecessary rush and remember to have patience with your fellow motorists.”

RACV has recently published advice from an RACV Drive School instructor for motorists encountering potholes.

RACV also recommends that motorists check that their roadside assistance and car insurance policy is up to date before they leave.

“It’s very good practice to get in the habit of also checking the fluid levels under the

RACV is urging Victorians to keep safety at the forefront of their summer plans.

Picture: ON FILE bonnet, including oil, coolant and even the windscreen washer level. Checking tyre pressure is also a must.”

Ms Pedersen said that scheduling regular stops and sticking to main roads will make for a safer, more predictable journey.

RACV Head of Home Insurance, Kirsty Hayes, says there are simple precautions that you can take to make your home safer over Christmas.

“Christmas lights are a beautiful way to decorate at Christmas, but using power boards in your home can be risky if not used properly. It is important to ensure that you don’t overload power boards by attaching double adaptors or additonal extension cords to them. It’s also important to use good quality power boards with overload protection,” Ms Hayes said.

“Candles add a festive ambience to your home, but they must never be left unattended and always be extinguished before you leave a room. Never touch or move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is liquefied.

We at the

“Most house fires start in the kitchen. It is important to have a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in an accessible area of your kitchen.

If you don’t own a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket, they are great items to add to your Christmas list.

“RACV recommends that you also take time over Christmas to review your home and contents insurance and ensure that you are adequately protected before you leave home for the Summer holidays.

“It’s also good practice to let a trusted neighbour know of your plans if you will be away from home for an extended period of time.”

Due to increased rainfall in Victoria, the state is expected to have below normal bushfire risk at the start of Summer. As the risk will potentially increase towards March, RACV recommends that Victorians use this time at the start of Summer to prepare their property.

“Make sure you regularly maintain the area around your home and yard to ensure it is free of excess vegetation and debris – this includes gutters and pipes,” Ms Hayes said.

“Also look to seal gaps in doors and windows to the best of your ability, and ensure flammable goods such as woodpiles are removed, or stored far from the home. It’s also a good idea to ensure your motor vehicle is adequately covered and has a had a safety check in case you need to evacuate.”

To assist you in determining how much to insure your home and contents for, there are calculators on the RACV website: A building sum insured calculator and a contents sum insured calculator.

Police respond to car block Belgrave Police, responding to reports by an off-duty protective service officer, discovered a vehicle blocking half of Morris Road in Upwey overnight on Tuesday 13 December.

Police said the vehicle was still running, with a man lying in the backseat unconscious but still breathing.

After an ambulance was called when police made multiple attempts to wake the man verbally and with lights and sirens, police members broke the back window before the man was woken by paramedics and medically cleared.

Police said when they searched the vehicle and man, they found a shopping bag containing dried cannabis and a large sum of money.

Police allege the man had driven from Box Hill earlier in the night and he was arrested and interviewed in relation to a suspended license, trafficking, possession of a drug of dependence and proceeds of a crime.

He was released and will appear at Ringwood Magistrates Court in 2023.

Drivers caught State-wide road policing operation ROADWISE has commenced and will run until 27 December 2022.

Late on Friday 16 December two motorists were detected exceeding the 80 km/h speed limit significantly on Wellington Road in Belgrave South within 12 minutes of each other.

A 49-year-old female driver was detected at 137 km/h and a 32-year-old male driver was detected at 122 km/h.

The woman’s licence was suspended for 12 months with a $925 fine and the man received a 6-month licence suspension with a $786 fine.

In other news: Boronia - 32-year-old unlicenced male driver positive result for illicit drugs; court appearance; Bayswater - “ 42-year-old female driver positive result for illicit drugs; court appearance, minimum 12-month licence suspension upon conviction; Bayswater - “ 26-year-old female driver positive result for illicit drugs; $555 penalty notice with 6-month licence suspension (first offence); Boronia - “ 35-year-old male driver positive result for illicit drugs; court appearance, minimum 12-month licence suspension upon conviction

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Early immunisations available Yarra Ranges Council is offering the opportunity for residents to get all their immunisation appointments sorted before the holidays kick off.

They’re taking bookings for our 2023 immunisation sessions in Lilydale, Upwey, Yarra Junction and Healesville.

Catch-up vaccination appointments can also be booked if your child has missed a vaccine they would normally have received through school.

The immunisations are being run locally at Sherbrooke Family & Children’s Centre, 1443 Burwood Hwy, Upwey Please note Council does not administer COVID-19 vaccines.

You can book a 2023 immunisation here: www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Community/Family/Immunisation/Book-an-immunisationappointment/2023-immunisation-sessions

Mail

Wish everybody an enjoyable festive season with family & friends We would like to thank all our readers, advertisers & wider community for your support this year.

This is our last edition of 2022 & our first edition in the New Year will be January 10th 2023

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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NEWS

Local labour of love ends

By Parker McKenzie A Belgrave business is shutting up shop after being unable to find an insurance policy to cover the home business, as insurance issues throughout the hills become more common for individuals and businesses.

Ernie Gruijthuijsen, the owner of Care You Love, said despite having a policy for the previous 12 years, no insurance company will cover his home content insurance because he runs his business from home.

“The biggest issue is that it is very hard to understand what is the actual risk that they’re trying to mitigate?” he said.

“You can’t get an answer from them on that.”

Care You Love is a boutique producer of skincare products, which Mr Gruijthuijsen sold at markets around the Dandenong Ranges.

Ingredients for the products were grown in his own garden, before being created at home.

He said the most disappointing part of the ordeal is that he knows it will affect more people than just himself in the future.

“People who create something different or offer a unique product that has a loyal following and have people that appreciate what you make, a lot of that is going to disappear,” he said.

“A lot of people have probably started some side hustle and they would like to convert that into their own business.

“When it starts off, you want to build it up without too much overhead cost. Then you’re going to find yourself constrained by the fact that the minute you say I’ll do it as a business

from home, you might just lose my home contents insurance.”

When the Insurance Council of Australia —the representative body for the insurance industry —was asked what options home businesses have if insurance companies won’t cover them, a spokesperson said “specific insurance products are available for people who operate a business from home.”

“These products can cover home building, home contents and the business. Policyholders who run a business from home should review their insurance cover to ensure they have adequate and appropriate cover for their personal situation,” the spokesperson said.

“Calling your insurer to seek guidance and assistance is the first step, to understanding if your cover meets your needs.”

When asked if people who put in claims are more likely to be rejected from new insurance policies, the Council said it was a matter for individual insurance companies.

Mr Gruijthuijsen put in a claim around four years previously when a tree fell onto his home and damaged it, but said he hasn’t made a claim in relation to his home business.

He said he would warn people who are interested in starting a business from home to make sure they are across their policy first.

“You better make sure that you understand what your Product Disclosure Statement from your insurance says, like if you are still covered,” he said.

“You need to read the fine print and read your documentation because you might find out that you’re no longer covered.

A Belgrave business is shutting up shop after being unable to find an insurance policy to cover the home business.

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If you plan to travel through Victoria during fire season, it’s important to check the Fire Danger Rating every day.

If the rating is Extreme or Catastrophic, avoid travelling to high risk bush or grassfire areas. It’s safer to travel to cities or towns for the day.

Plan. Act. Survive. Go to emergency.vic.gov.au

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NEWS

Thanking local volunteers

By Parker McKenzie Casey MP Aaron Violi held a Volunteer and Community Awards on Saturday 10 December, where over 41 individuals and four groups received awards for their contribution to the local community.

Foothills Community Care, Kalorama-Mt Dandenong Fire Brigade and Selby Community House were three community groups rewarded for their work helping people in Casey, alongside individuals from the hills who have contributed in different ways.

Mr Violi said in a statement that volunteers and community groups are the heart of Casey.

“We are fortunate to have so many passionate locals working to strengthen our communities,” he said.

“They give so much of their time and energy to the Casey community, it’s important that they have their hard work recognised and rewarded.”

Founder of Tribe-Monbulk Youth Inc. Belinda Grooby said receiving the award was a reminder about how important it is to have a space for young people to come together.

“It’s nice to be recognized for the work that’s been done in the background to keep empowering young people in the area,” she said.

“The biggest issue for us is that we don’t charge membership, we want to make sure that we are 100 per cent inclusive so that every young person has the opportunity to come and engage in our space.

“What that means is that we are desperate for extra funding and depending on what our

plenty of other things.”

Ms Grooby said it was an honour to be in the room with “so many incredible, amazing people.”

“The pool of volunteers is really the lifeblood of a community organisation or a sporting club,” she said.

“They are what keep these organizations running and ticking.”

The Community Award recipients were: Foothills Community Care Kalorama-Mt Dandenong Fire Brigade Macclesfield (CFA) Large Animal Rescue Selby Community House The individual Casey Volunteer Award recipients were: Gerran Wright (President, Upwey Men’s Shed) Keith Atkin (1st Belgrave South Scout Group) Margaret Brooks (Monbulk Girl Guides) Michelle Hall (Monbulk Lady Nighthawks CWA) Monbulk Recreation Reserve, Vice-president MADCOW) Judy Wolff (Volunteer, Selby Community House) Linda Fullagar (Upwey Township Group, Upwey Archies) Belinda Grooby (Founder, Tribe-Monbulk Youth Inc) Deb McLeod (Holy Fools) Deborah Hamilton (Holy Fools) Rachel Ryan (Holy Fools)

· · · ·

Casey MP Aaron Violi with volunteers and community groups at the awards. funding streams look like next year will be dependent on what we do.”

Upwey Men’s Shed President Gerran Wright, Belgrave South Scout Group Keith Atkin, MADCOW’s Vice President Paul Utting, Selby Community House volunteer Judy Wolff and Upwey Township Group’s Linda Fullagar were other hills locals who won an award.

Michelle Hall, who was nominated for her work with Monbulk Lady Nighthawks Country

Picture: SUPPLIED

Women’s Association, said it was a nice surprise to win the award, which is the first she has won since she started volunteering at 16.

“We do the produce market each month at Monbulk and sell items, but all the money goes back to the community, helping people whether locally or overseas,” she said.

“This year, we’ve helped people locally with hospital bills that get really expensive; we’ve donated some money to the girl guides and

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Council campaign to close the gender gap in the LGA

By Tyler Wright Yarra Ranges Council is looking to bridge the gender gap in the municipality by working with the state-wide Put Her Name On It campaign run by Gippsland woman Kerry Wilson.

The Put Her Name On It Campaign project began in 2020, when Wilson called on Premier Daniel Andrews to develop a list of women the state could name things after, and name sites after women moving forward in order to start increasing the number of public places, streets and commemorations named after women.

Since the campaign launch, Gender Equity Victoria and Geographic Place Names have become supporters, with Geographic Place Names about to send out a message to the 700 naming authorities in the state, 79 of those local governments, making them aware that in May this year naming rules were changed to include gender equality and Aboriginal naming principle.

“We’re trying to find out what people need, trying to look at what templates of tools or resources and support they might need, and we can design some initiatives around that

to actually try and fast track people,” Wilson said.

Wilson said Darebin City Council has recently agreed to develop a draft place naming policy which proposes 75 per cent of all things named after a person be named after a woman.

“These policy positions have a systemic change that we’re looking for, they they set the scene... the council can do so much, but it’s up to the community and what they can do...[by sharing names of women or identifying locations,” Wilson said.

So far, Wilson has identified three places commemorating, or named after, women in the Yarra Ranges; including Dame Nellie Melba’s statue at Coombe Estate in Coldstream and a seat at Lilydale’s Gateway Reserve acknowledging six sportswomen.

While the difference in the amount of sites, public places and commemorations named after men in comparison to women is not yet known, Wilson said it is clear there is a gap.

“We want to show the stories of women that lived and accomplished and taught us lessons and contributed to their community or to the stories of Victoria in their local

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Occleston said it is umportant to make sure the municipality has diversity everywhere, and place names are important as they are so visible to the community.

“It’s really important for our young people as well to see that boys, girls, gender diverse people can be celebrated, can be leaders and in different areas, too,” she said.

“It all goes towards achieving that gender equality that we want to see in community, and really the work that we started doing around gender equality as the backbone in the prevention of violence against women; we know that societies that are more gender equal, in all regards have lower rates of family violence... it’s all contributing to that society where we that we want to say everybody celebrated everyone included.”

Indigenous names will also be an important part of the audit.

In March 2023, Put Her Name on It will launch Victorian commemorative tour called Finding Her which includes 40 sites across the state, telling the stories of about 80 women.

It involves murals, statues, plaques, parks and headstones; some of which will be in the Yarra Ranges.

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area,” Wilson said.

“There is many, many women that have made significant contributions to Victoria, and these public areas that have not been acknowledged in any way, but we want to make sure that we tell the intersectional stories, that we don’t just tell, the easy to find ones...[ones that] started a movement of First Nations women, of women with disabilities, the contributions that they’ve made, and multicultural community, how they’ve had to come and resettle and the things that they’ve done to contribute to a better community for all of us,” she said.

Yarra Ranges Council’s Senior Gender Equity Business Partner, Jess Occleston, said the council is looking at developing a place naming policy.

“Part of that will include agenda impact assessments, something that we really are required to do because of legislation, but it’s also something that we’re really keen to do; that will involve conducting an audit on some of our place names; street names, our local reserves or recreation facilities that we can try and get some data on to find out the origins of those names and where they came from,” Occleston said.

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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MAIL 5

CLASS OF 2022

School’s out, results in The graduating class of 2022 were handed their final results last week as ATAR scores were released across the state. Scores were available on Monday 12 December, which saw local students relieved to reach the milestone.

Final two MDCS students excel in results

By Tyler Wright It was a long competitive streak that pushed Mountain District Christian School Year 12 students Makayla Allisey and Asher Megee to receive their ATARS of above 90.

Sweat 1 and Sweat 2, as the pair are fetitiously nicknamed, have battled each other for the top spot in marks - and everything else - since Grade 5.

This year, Asher was named school Valedictorian and received an ATAR of 90.3, while Makayla received an ATAR of 96.65 and received a study score of above 40 in her Psychology and Further Mathematics subjects.

“I’m pretty sure I screamed when I got it, I was not expecting that,” Makayla said.

Meanwhile, Asher said he was slightly disappointed with results in some of his subjects.

“There was some relief when I opened it… I wasn’t going to be happy with anything below 90,” Asher said.

“It was a lot of pressure.”

Exam time brought adversity for Makayla; with her cousin and grandmother passing away on the date of her exam, and a car accident before that which she had not fully recovered from.

“I had a lot of stuff happen in my exam time, so I wasn’t very confident coming out of my exams because I wasn’t very focused going into them, but obviously it turned out all good,” she said.

While Makayla’s original focus was to enter into a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science at Deakin University - which she has applied for - a higher than expected ATAR has meant she has also applied to study physiotherapy.

“My course didn’t even need a high ATAR, I’m pretty sure my only motivation to study was to beat Asher,” Makayla laughed.

Asher is also looking to study physiotherapy in an honours degree at La Trobe University.

“It’s weird to break the routine that has been the last 13 years...there’s parts of me that are looking forward to studying in a specialised field and learning something I’m interested in, but It’s also a lot of stress, especially that it’s not guaranteed that I’ll get into my preferred courses,” he said.

Asher Megee (left) and Makayla Allisey (left) were two of the Year 12s from Mountain District Christian School in Monbulk who recently receive their ATAR results. 312847 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS Eight students went finished VCE at Mountain District School in 2022 in the Monbulk Prep to Year 12 school’s final year in the community, with one student passing unscored.

[At] the farewell assemblies...that’s when it started to dawn on me how big it was...thinking about all our teachers and how they have to go and find new jobs and all the students that have to go and find a new school,” Asher said.

“As I said in my Valedictorian speech, ;as one door closes for all these people, another one will open.’”

As for advice for incoming Year 12 students, it’s all about balance.

“Asher has this quote that he says... that ‘you can’t be good at everything.’ Every time I was struggling with something, or I was complaining about something, he’d just say you ‘can’t be good at everything,’ Makayla said.

By Tyler Wright

Asher and Makayla have had a competitive streak since Year 5, sparking the idea for nicknames Sweat 1 and Sweat 2. 312847

Emerald students thrilled to hit milestone

By Tyler Wright Three Emerald Secondary College Year 12 students have come out their VCE studies with an ATAR of 90 and above, despite challenging circumstances throughout the past three years.

College dux Emily Tilson is looking to study a general science course at Melbourne University with an ATAR of 94.45, and following that is hoping to go on to specialise in a particular science she is interested in.

“It feels pretty unreal…I don’t think it’s quite hit me yet,” Emily said of being named Dux. “People are going in all different directions, some are looking at uni and summer trying to take a gap year…It’s a lot of celebration.”

Jade Poort is leaving her secondary education with an ATAR of 93.8, and will most likely defer study next year.

“I’m going to go into psychology... I’m going to apply and then most likely defer to take a gap year and take some time off,” Jade said.

For Jade, being able to complete her Year 12 studies in person rather than virtually was a “major relief”.

“I found that really tough because I was doing a year 12 subject [in Year 11] and there was different restrictions for Year 12s and Year 11s, so sometimes I had to come into school for only a single period of my Year 12 class and 6 MAIL

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

then had to go back home for the next period and miss out on some of my year 11 classes because of travel time,” she said.

“It was really hard because there were different restrictions and they were constantly changing.”

But with school assessed coursework, or SACs, being so close together throughout the year, Jade said she was able to better prepare for the exam period.

And her efforts paid off in her final results.

“I woke up right on the dot, and I was just waiting. I was so nervous. I barely slept that night,” Jade said.

“Then I woke up and I was so surprised I just didn’t know what to do with myself, [and] because no-one was awake, I was freaking out.”

In Ebony Dasler’s Valedictorian speech, she reminded those sitting before her that their toughest critic is always themselves.

“When I saw my individual scores for my subjects, If I’m honest, I was a little bit disappointed. But then when I saw my ATAR, it was very surprising to me, I was very happy with my overall score,” Ebony said.

With an ATAR of above 90, Ebony is looking to study Occupational Therapy at the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

Monbulk Dux scores scholarship

Emily Tilson, Dux of Emerald Secondary College in 2022, received an ATAR of 94.45. 313442 Picture: SUPPLIED

Monbulk College’s 2022 Dux, Owen Vandegraaff, has been awarded the $5,000 Melbourne Principals’ Scholarship to go towards setting up his living and studying space as he prepares for the next step in his study.

Owen received an ATAR of 97.8, is going to study mathematics and statistics, despite faring particularly well in science subjects.

“I made sure to pay attention in class, do the classwork, make sure I was up to date with all my homework, and I think that consistency is really key there; If you just do all the work, and you don’t procrastinate while doing it, it becomes a lot easier to get a good result that you’re happy with,” Owen said.

Owen’s aim is to get a job in mathematical finance, which will require roughly five or six years of study.

“It requires a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s... a Bachelor’s of maths and statistics and a Masters with the same focus,” Owen said.

Owen studies Math Methods, Specialist Mathematics Engineering Systems in Year 11, Physics and Chemistry.

“I’ve put in a consistent effort throughout the years. I think that really helped me in my final this year.

It’s really good just to have a consistent effort because it spreads that work out rather than cramming in the final year, so I think that helped me maintain a fairly balanced year.”

Owen recommends students take a Year 11 subject in Year 10 and a Year 12 subject in Year 11.

I would highly recommend it because it gives you a taste of what VCE’s like,” he said.

“I think that almost all students should think about fast tracking.”

Owen received a study score of 42 in English, 42 in Physics, 47 in Systems Engineering and 37 in Chemistry. mailcommunity.com.au

CLASS OF 2022

A new chapter begins

By Parker McKenzie Year 12 students around the Dandenong Ranges celebrated the milestone of receiving their ATAR scores, as they prepare for life beyond secondary school.

Students received their VCE results from 7am on Monday 12 December and while some received early offers, others will need to interview or apply for a university to continue their studies.

Mater Cristi College student Madi Zapanta, who was Dux of the school, said her score of 98.4 wouldn’t automatically get her into her dream course.

“I’m looking to do medicine and to get into undergrad med I needed to get a really good ATAR score,” she said.

“I got a good score, but it wasn’t competitive enough so I’m waiting for interview offers at the moment.”

49,581 students graduated with their VCE Victoria-wide this year, a completion rate of 98 per cent. 15,163 students graduated with their VCAL. Ms Zapanta, who was also a sports captain at her school, said she has known she wanted to study medicine from Year 9.

“I found it hard to balance study and if I wanted to keep doing my sports, so I stopped playing footy for a while but then ended up coming back to it and it was really good for me,” she said.

“The plan is to go do a few interviews for university spots and then if not, I’ll start a Bachelor’s degree at Monash and try to do well in that and try to transfer out.”

Jasmine Andrews, who was offered a ViceChancellor’s Scholarship from Deakin University after the results were published, said she will miss the sense of community at Mater Christi College.

High achievers from Mater Christi College met after their ATAR scores were released to celebrate.

“I’m hoping to study the wildlife and conservation biology course,” she said.

“I used to just be very focused on trying to get those really high marks and putting a lot of stress on it, but I think I eventually realized that it’s more important to just learn and to get the most you can out of it.”

Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins said in a statement that she would like to congratulate every student who received their results.

“This is an exciting step as they move from secondary education into further study, train-

ing, the workforce or a gap year,” she said.

“These results show our education system is delivering high-quality outcomes, setting students up for future success in whatever pathway they choose.

“I want to acknowledge and thank the hardworking teachers, principals and parents right across the state who have supported students to achieve these fantastic results.”

There will be several changes to VCE and VCAL starting in 2023. The state government has allocated $277.5 million to reform the

Picture: PARKER MCKENZIE system, with VCAL being replaced by a VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate, aiming to provide students with more opportunities for apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, non-ATAR university pathways or pathways into the workforce after leaving school.

The reforms were introduced after a review published in November 2020 found that more needed to be done to make vocation and applied learning schools “high quality, highly regarded, relevant to the needs of students and employers and available to all.”

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MAIL 7

NEWS

Multi million reno opens

By Parker McKenzie The first stage of a $355 million renovation of Westfield Knox has been officially opened, featuring a Woolworths, Aldi and fresh food market.

On Thursday 15 December, a crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of the first stage of the redevelopment, with an official ribbon cutting by Woolworths Store Manager Jason Dishon.

Mr Dishon said Woolworths has been trying to get into Westfield Knox for over a decade.

“There have always been two Coles in the centre, so now we get a choice for customers and families to come here and shop,” he said.

“It means a lot for the business to be here, and it’s a big point for me in my career. I’m really excited to welcome families into the new Woolworths here.”

The second stage of the redevelopment — earmarked to be completed throughout 2023 — will see a new 2000 square metre public library, new retail stores and the opening of a multi-purpose community space.

Westfield Knox Centre Manager Kristian Nicholls said in a statement that he is excited to see the launch of the “fresh food gourmet marketplace experience just in time for Christmas and give our customers a look at what we’ve been working on for them.”

“The opening of the first stage at Westfield Knox is just the beginning as we transform the centre into a destination truly designed for community,” he said.

“Welcoming much-loved favourites and new experiences, including fashion and lifestyle retailers, a refreshed food court, community basketball court, swim school and more to come in 2023.”

The renovation also includes new flooring, and ceilings, changes to skylights and upgraded amenities, accessibility improvements including gender-neutral amenities, changing rooms, a calm room and a regularly scheduled quiet hour event at the centre and the installation of a rooftop solar system.

The shopping centre was officially opened in 1977 and has undergone several upgrades, renovations and name changes in the following decades.

Westfield purchased the centre —which at the time was called Knox O-Zone — in October 2012. The planned expansion of the shopping centre has been in the works since 2014.

Woolworths Store Manager Jason Dishon officially opens the new store.

The entrance to the new food court.

Pictures: PARKER MCKENZIE

The new development features several fresh food stores.

Knox City Council rejects ‘Lake Knox’ planning permits

By Parker McKenzie Knox City Council has refused two planning permits for a controversial development in Knoxfield, after receiving over 1000 objections from the public.

The council voted to reject two planning permits from Development Victoria — the Victorian State Government’s self-described developmental arm — after receiving more than 1170 objections between the two applications.

Knox Mayor Marcia Timmers-Leitch said in an online statement that the proposal had failed to balance the development of the site with respecting the sensitive biodiversity.

“The proposal will detrimentally impact protected species, particularly the Bluebilled Duck and possibly the Dwarf Galaxais, and Council is not convinced that the future habitat proposed for these species will be viable,” she said.

“The proposal detrimentally impacts protected vegetation and will not provide an appropriate balance between the need for additional housing while respecting the existing ecology of the site, the surrounding area and Blind Creek corridor.”

Before the council meeting on Monday 12 December, Knox City Council officers recommended the committee “issue a notice of refusal to grant a planning permit for the subdivision of land in stages, removal of native vegetation, creation of access to a road in a transport zone, and associated and buildings,” and “issue a notice of refusal to grant a planning permit for a utility installation, 8 MAIL

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

There has been a sustained community campaign against the development since the plans were announced.

Pictures: ON FILE removal of native vegetation and associated buildings and works at 521 Burwood Highway, Knoxfield.”

They gave seven grounds for recommending the rejection, including that it was inconsistent with “environmental objectives and the relevant decision guidelines of the environmental significance overlay,” because the proposal has the “potential to detrimentally impact habitat of species which are protected,” particularly the blue-billed duck and dwarf galaxies.

The second permit was recommended to be rejected based on five grounds, including the same environmental concerns.

A Spokesperson for Development Victoria said “we note the Knox City Council’s decision not to approve two planning permit applications to progress our Knoxfield development.”

“We are now considering our options for the project.” the spokesperson said.

Located at the corner of 621 Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road in Knoxfield, the site was formerly the Scoresby Horticultural Research Station, which was opened in 1956, according to Ray Peace from the Knox Historical Society.

Mr Peace said the station originally oc-

A render of the proposed development at the Knoxfield site. cupied both sides of Burwood Highway and remained that way for over 30 years.

“I don’t have an exact date for when Lake Knox was built, because in its early days it was impossible for the public to access the lake. That remained the case until the shared use path was built along Blind Creek in the early 1980s,” he said.

“The second lake south of the highway was constructed in 1985, just before the rest of the southern section was subdivided as residential. The research station finally closed in 2014, and the station archives were handed over to KHS.” mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Members of the Mountain District Christian School community gathered on Saturday 3 December to mark the school’s closure after 43 years in the Dandenong Ranges.

Pictures: MOUNTAIN DISTRICT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

The last bus pick up from Mountain District Christian School.

MDCS closes after 43 yrs

By Tyler Wright The Mountain District Christian School community have bid farewell to their school as it concludes its final year of operation after 43 years in Monbulk.

It was announced in October the Prep to Year 12 school would close at the end of 2022 due to financial issues.

It is believed roughly 155 students were enrolled this year.

In a Facebook post, Mountain District Christian School shared a prayer read by Mrs Hanscamp at the end of school’s final gathering on Saturday 3 December.

‘For the first families whose passion for a Christ-centred education for their children, laid the foundation for our school, Lord, we give you thanks,” the prayer began.

“For this awesomely beautiful place they found for us to grow in, learn in, play in and enjoy; in which every towering tree, misty morning, birdcall and smell of eucalypt fills us with wonder at our creator God, we are so grateful.”

The prayer went on to express gratitude for the school’s board members, teachers, families and children for their contribution to the community.

“We were all here ‘for a time’, ‘for a season’, and as it says in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, there is a time and a season for everything.

“A time to plant, and a time to build, a time to end a time to weep; but God’s purposes are greater than what we can see, and Ecclesiastes also says that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and noth-

ing taken from it. Of His purposes there is no ending,” the prayer concluded.

“And when we drive out that driveway for the last time, many with tears, it is comforting to know that God’s purpose for each one of us endures, that our loving God goes before us, and goes with us in the next stage in our journey.”

Community members flocked to a video on the school’s Facebook page capturing the last bus pick up; reminiscing and sharing their heartbreak at the school’s closure.

“A friend once made the comment at an EGM that quality was better than quantity, which is totally true, but sadly we needed the quantity to keep going. A catch 22 situation,” one commenter wrote.

“I am still grieving this and will for some time and I’m really annoyed at myself that over

our 17 years I never walked the Nature Trail!”

One said they were “so sad to see the end of such a beautiful community”.

“We have see amazing growth in our boy while there. Best wishes to all,” their comment read.

“I was so sorry when I heard this. My son Kaleb went to your school. You were amazing [and] bent over backwards to help,” another parent added.

Others thanked Mountain District Christian College and reinforced that it would be missed, but not forgotten.

“Thank you for all the wonderful years our girls had at MDCS - good luck to all the teachers, staff and students in the future,” one community member wrote.

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MAIL 9

COUNCIL NEWS

Future town plans

By Mikayla van Loon Yarra Ranges Council has approved a review of five structure plans for some of the main activity centres in the shire.

The review of Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark, Healesville, Coldstream and Monbulk’s structure plans consolidated information, updated project scope, removed completed actions and updated changes of council departments.

With the normal lifespan of a structure plan being 20 years, the council undertakes reviews regularly to ensure the growth and advancement of the towns are reflected in planning.

Councillor Johanna Skelton put forward the recommended motion to accept the updates and said it was part of the council’s process to do so.

“It’s a policy neutral, bureaucratic thing we need to do to ensure everything stays up to date for these townships and all the energy that has gone into the community engagement and the material in those structure plans is not changing, so that’s the important bit for me,” she said.

“It seems important and prudent to go through and replace the outdated aspects of these plans because there are things that are very much out of date.”

For Chirnside Park the updated actions refer to public transport connectivity, pedestrian access on Kimberley Drive and within the Eastridge/McMillans sites, as well as a

coherent road system.

In Mooroolbark the updates are mostly in response to the level crossing removal and incorporating better streetscapes, looking at repurposing the temporary station car park for affordable housing, actively encouraging the development of The Terrace Shopping Centre and better community spaces.

Cr Sophie Todorov spoke to the motion and said particularly with her patch, the Mooroolbark Structure Plan was last updated in 2011 but many changes have been made since then.

“That’s quite some time ago but I was really pleased to see we’ve had government announcements for a new train station for example and the catalysts that have informed the changes for Mooroolbark and what that township needs,” she said.

Healesville’s structure plan had a large list of amendments to facilitate sustainable residential growth, working with tourism destinations, provide cultural opportunities and conduct an urban design framework.

As the councillor for Ryrie ward, Fiona McAllister said she remembers when the structure plans for her area were being put together, bringing together over 100 people for hours.

“These documents are really key and yes it is about removing actions that have been done and it is hugely rewarding to see those lists because sometimes those lists are very long but it does keep them living and I think that is really

critical in that they are not documents that sit on the shelf,” she said.

“I’m a huge fan of [having these documents] come back into the chamber very regularly for us to have an opportunity to revisit, look at what is still relevant because the towns change, Coldstream has changed, Healesville has changed and some things we have in those plans from six years ago aren’t quite right.”

Coldstream’s revised action list refers to the relaxing of requirements in the Green Wedge Zone in commercial areas, exploring opportunities to expand the Coldstream trail experience, aesthetic improvements for shop fronts and improving Coldstream’s drainage issues.

Up in Monbulk, the revisions look at appropriate planning zones to housing change areas, improved street activation, encourage ‘shoptop’ housing and retail and commercial business zoning.

Seconding the motion, Cr Todorov said these reviews were essential to the future of these towns.

“It’s looking at future use, looking at land use development, open space, even potentially looking at planning scheme amendments as well, which impacts other things like infrastructure and transport links,” she said.

“It is important these structure plans remain fluid so they are adapting to changes.”

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Monbulk design consultations extended

By Tyler Wright The length of the community consultation phase for Yarra Ranges Council’s proposed Urban Design Framework for Monbulk has been lengthened after concerns were raised at a council meeting on Tuesday 13 December.

A representative for the “growing number of people concerned” about the framework and suggested an extension to the public exhibition process.

“As several weeks of this proposed exhibition are in the holiday period, we feel it needs to be extended another four weeks at least being its the holiday period, as it will have a major impact on Monbulk residents’ lives with work [and] freedoms,” the speaker said.

The framework includes three main precincts; Main Road, Monbulk Civic and Moores Road.

It also includes the redevelopment of the St Georges Anglican Church forecourt, the activation of a Village Green and new sporting facilities.

The speaker asked for the council, in the draft, to clarify the definition of the terms ‘precincts’ and ‘preferred development character’ in the framework and who defines what these terms.

“Point 11 mentions electric vehicle stations - how does the electric vehicle station conflict with the intersection treatments?,” the speaker said.

“What is an intersection treatment and how is it risky to electric vehicle stations?

“What are the safeguards for electric charging stations within close proximity to the main street in light of recent explosions across the world [from] electric vehicles that can’t be extinguished?”

Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham approved the amended motion for the draft Monbulk Urban Design Framework to be placed on public exhibition between 16 December 2022 12 March 2023, two weeks after its original completion date of 26 February 2023. “[I’m] hearing from the gallery a bit of frustration about the time…as someone who has spent a lot of time working in community engagement and a lot of time also working in the Monbulk community I hear the submitters reasons around extending it, and we’ve extended it into March,” Cr Eastham said.

‘But also I have confidence that those that would want to have a say would be made aware of it through the engagement plan, that there will be opportunity for people of all demographics and abilities to have their say; whether that be through the drop in sessions, whether it be through online submission, whether it be flicking through an email around your thoughts.”

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Monbulk residents will be able to have their say on Yarra Ranges Council’s proposed Urban Design Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Framework for Monbulk until 12 March 2023. 313049 Cr Eastham also said the council can be absorbed in the language used in reports, including terms like ‘book ending’ which was used in the draft framework.

“I think tonight was a good reminder that we’ve got to use plain language and language… we’ve got to use language that everyone understands,“ he said.

“We want young people, we want people of all ages to be providing feedback on this, because to the submitter’s point, this is a substantial piece of work that is going to help shape the future of Monbulk.”

“This has been something that has had involvement from community, whether it be from 10 years ago when the community embarked on their community planning process which involved hundreds and hundreds of local community members that came together to talk about what they saw as the future of Monbulk, from there it led to the structure plan which had a lot more community engagement, through to now, the urban design framework.”

“This is not something that’s come about from one consultant...this has been driven by the community.”

The next important step of the process, Cr Eastham said, is getting the draft which includes public transport concerns and aged care, out into the community for consultation.

“We’ve heard a lot over the last decade, we’ve spent a lot of time putting those concepts onto paper and now we want to hear back from the community; ‘what do you love?, what don’t you

love?’ this is that opportunity, and I’ll look forward to hearing from the community about what they see is an ‘absolute winner, love the idea’ or ‘hey, not really a fan of that, can you a) explain it or b) consider an alternate option.”

Cr Eastham also said once the plans are finalised, the council will not be able to commence works straight away.

“There might be a few small wins that we can incorporate from exisitng budgets, but this is going to provide us with that platform to advocate to state and federal government for funding,” he said.

Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister seconded the motion.

“These are very important documents and they’re not just pieces of paper, they’re frameworks that do impact - hopefully positively - on the lives of community,” Cr McAllister said.

“They do requite at the end, in terms of planning scheme amendments, quite a lot of language that is difficult to understand, so I do appreciate our submitter tonight putting a case for something that helps community to actually have a voice and a view based on understanding.

“Planning decisions that we make are, as I always say, probably the most difficult and the most important, and design frameworks are no different, so I do look forward to hearing community feedback on this and pleased that it’s going out for consultation.”

The alternative motion was carried unanimously.

Recovery wraps up

By Parker McKenzie Community members made their frustration with Yarra Ranges Council clear during a council meeting on Tuesday 13 December, over the decision to wind up the Storm Recovery Team and other issues related to disaster recovery following the June 2021 storm.

In a tense discussion over the council’s Municipal Recovery Plan, Sassafras local Liz Millman spoke to the agenda item and said her family’s home was destroyed on the night of the storm, and her family is still living in a rental home.

“I understand we are the first family to achieve, but with no building permission yet it’s just endless uncertainty and it’s all too slow,” she said.

“Too many of us are living every day with the second trauma of time dragging by, we feel overlooked. Some folks are valiantly battling against the regulations, and some give up, but the reason I’m here today is because of the invitation I had.

“You seem clearly unaware that so many of us, we’re still facing so many challenges, we feel invisible, so I came here to be visible.”

Ms Millman said she didn’t understand the council’s decision to wind up the recovery team.

“We haven’t had a dedicated or functioning Community Recovery Center and we feel that no one’s supporting or advocating on our behalf,” she said.

“My plea, along with other struggling storm-affected families, is Yarra Ranges Council respects our efforts and works with us listening to and supporting our needs, understanding our perspective with compassion as we crawl up the slippery slope still hurts our individual recoveries.”

Mayor Jim Child said Ms Millman is a passionate representation of her community.

Councillors David Eastham and Tim Heenan also thanked Ms Millman for her advocacy.

When Mayor Child asked if there were any other comments or questions from members of the council, community members began to shout comments from the gallery, including “why don’t you do your job?” and “why doesn’t council step up?”

One member of the gallery, Belinda Bernardini, came forward to speak.

“I’ve not actually been impacted, I’ve been very fortunate but as a resident, I believe we all have a moral obligation to look after our fellow residents and that’s what has been lacking over the last two years,” she said.

“It is of utmost importance that the council prepare for the worst but hope for the best, and this includes but is not limited to better land management, ensuring that as many of the 67 recommendations outlined in the 2009 Royal Commission report are implemented and providing for more autonomy in the management of the land upon which one lives.”

Mayor Child said the council has undertaken a great deal of work over the past 18 months.

“We are aware there are some residents managing complex issues within the Hills area and we will continue to advocate on their behalf to the state government and other agencies for continued support, that includes the Insurance Council too because these insurance companies have had something to answer for too.”

“Staff from council’s recovery team are being absorbed back into the organisation’s support for our community.”

The motion to pass the third version of the Municipal Recovery Plan was passed unanimously. mailcommunity.com.au

COUNCIL NEWS

Know your local refuge

By Callum Ludwig While the wet and cold weather may be pushing it to the back of our minds, we are in the midst of bushfire season and particularly once the heat picks up, it’s important to be fire ready.

Yarra Ranges Council discussed the annual Neighbourhood Safer Places report at the 13 December Council meeting, which checks all of our local emergency resorts are up to scratch.

Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham spoke to the motion and said neighbourhood safer places and community fire refuges are extremely important for regions like ours.

“Having spent a couple of years in that neighbourhood safer place and community fire refuge portfolio, I know just how much the community value these,” he said.

“Obviously looking outside with the weather that we’ve had recently, it’s easy to think that is the last thing on our mind, but I remember hearing once that every season we don’t have a bushfire, we are probably one season closer.”

There are 18 designated Neighbourhood Safer Places within Yarra Ranges to retain the designation for the 2022/2023 fire danger period: 1. Belgrave Recreation Reserve (Oval), Reserve Road Belgrave 2. Alexanders Car Park, Terrys Avenue, Belgrave 3. Halley Supple Reserve (Oval), Bounded by South Gateway and North Gateway, Coldstream Dixons Creek Recreation Reserve (Oval), Melba Highway (between Pinnacle Lane and Lorimers Lane) Dixons Creek 4. Queens Park, Bounded by Don Road, Maroondah Highway and Badger Creek Road

In the event of a bushfire, it is crucial to know which neighbourhood safer place or community fire refuge is your last resort.

Picture: ON FILE (entry off Don Road) Healesville 5. RACV Healesville Country Club Underground Car Park, Healesville-Kinglake Road (near corner Chum Creek Road) Healesville 6. Lilydale Recreational Reserve area, Main Street (Maroondah Highway) opposite Hutchinson Street Lilydale 7. Lilydale Lake Park (Between Car Park, Playground and Rotunda), Swansea Road Lilydale 8. Millgrove Recreation Reserve, Moore Crescent Millgrove 9. Monbulk Recreational Reserve (Oval), Moores Road (near McAllister Road) Monbulk 10. Yarra Hills Secondary School (Oval), Bounded by Old Hereford Road, Mikado Road and Burdap Drive (Reserve access

Road) Mount Evelyn 11. Upwey Recreation Reserve (Oval), Alexander Ave (opposite Austral Ave) entry also via Chosen Ave Upwey 12. Dandenong Ranges Community Cultural Centre ‘Burrinja’ (Rear Car Park), Corner Glenfern Road and Matson Drive Upwey 13. Wandin North Reserve (Oval), Corner Clegg Road and Warburton Highway Wandin North 14. Warburton Recreation Reserve (Oval), 3455 Warburton Highway Warburton 15. Woori Yallock Recreation Reserve (Oval), Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road opposite Nester Road Woori Yallock 16. Yarra Valley Racing Centre Yarra Glen (carpark area), Armstrong Grove Yarra Glen 17. Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve (Oval),

Park Road (off Warburton Highway) Yarra Junction.

18. Dixons Creek Recreation Reserve (Oval), Melba Highway (between Pinnacle Lane and Lorimers Lane) Dixons Creek Cr Eastham said keeping up with your local safer place is extremely important.

“These places really are, as they say, the last resort. As the CFA, Victoria Police and any other emergency services will say, if you do end up at a neighbourhood safer place in a bushfire it is most likely going to be extremely uncomfortable for you. But they have met certain criteria, whether it be the distance to vegetation, or taking into consideration the slope and gradient of the landscape around them as well,” he said.

“Each year these assessments are carried out and I want to thank Victoria Police, CFA and other stakeholder groups that come together and help us with these assessments. There are a number of safer places that won’t be in place this year, due to the projects going on there.”

In addition, there are three Community Fire Refuge (CFR) locations within Yarra Ranges municipality which will remain designated during the fire danger period: Millwarra Primary School East Warburton Campus, Woods Point Road East Warburton Ferny Creek Primary School, School Road Ferny Creek Wesburn/Millgrove CFA Fire Station, Warburton Highway Millgrove.

Yarra Ranges Council has no designation responsibility for CFRs. All councillors voted in favour of the motion and it was passed unanimously.

· · ·

Step forward in sealing Silvan road following petition

By Tyler Wright Yarra Ranges Council’s councillors voted to receive a petition for the sealing of Wiseman Road in Silvan in a council meeting on Tuesday 13 December.

There are eight valid signatures on the petition from residents calling on the council to seal the road via their Special Charge Scheme.

The issue of signage along the road was raised by Deputy Mayor Melba Ward Councillor Sophie Todorov in the meeting and will be adressed with the appropriate council officer along with the petition for the sealing of the road under a Special Charges Scheme.

One resident told the council he moved into Wiseman Road two years ago, and said recent weather events have led to the road deteriorating quickly and holes appearing.

He said he was almost not able to leave his property even in a four-wheel drive.

“We’d like to take to the council, under their special charges scheme, about going down the process of getting the road sealed, “ the resident said.

“First thing being safety, being a bushfire [and] storm zone in the area... there’s 10 resi-

dents on the road.

“The second reason is the water quality; nine out of 10 houses are all on tank water, and because of the additional dust and traffic, there’s additional things we have to do to treat our water tanks, mainly because on Google Maps it actually stills shows that the road goes through to Gum Gully Farm, which is incorrect.”

The resident said Gum Gully Farm is about 30 to 35 metres past his house - where Wiseman Road ends - meaning courier trucks and semi-trailers have had to use his driveway to redirect and are sometimes unable to get out of his driveway due to the condition of the road.

“The continuation of council having to come down and regrade the road and repair the road would be cost saving if we could look

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A petition for the sealing of a section of Silvan’s Wiseman Road will be considered by Yarra Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Ranges Council. 313051

at getting the road sealed in that section,” he said.

Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham moved the motion.

“We’ve had a couple of times where community have definitely flagged concerns over particular roads...I attended a meeting on Wiseman Road shortly after I was elected... there were a few different families involved and I definitely understand the concerns that you’ve raised,” Cr Eastham said.

Billanook Ward Councillor Tim Heenan seconded the motion.

“I’ve been down that road myself a few times gone by and I’m concerned, as Councillor Todorov said, about the signage,” Cr Heenan said.

“Do we know if there is signage along that road or are we assuming that it needs signage?

“Because if there is no signage, it would be very important to make sure we do have some notification [for] people coming down to a dead end part of that road.”

The motion to refer the petition and issue of signage to the appropriate council officer was carried unanimously.

y

Tuesda

Mail

AVONSLEIGH Avonsleigh News & General Store 445 Belgrave Gembrook Road BELGRAVE Belgrave Newsagency 1704 Burwood Highway BELGRAVE Woolworths Supermarket 1629 Burwood Highway

EMERALD Bell Real Estate 313 Main Street FERNTREE GULLY Upper Ferntree Gully Newsagents, 1202 Burwood Highway FERNTREE GULLY Glenfern Road Milk Bar , 83 Glenfern Road

MONBULK Monbulk Newsagency & Officesmart 76 Main Street OLINDA Monbulk Bowling Club, 11 Moores Road OLINDA Olinda Cellars Shop 7/540 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road

BELGRAVE IGA 151 Belgrave-Hallam Road BELGRAVE Chandler & Co Real Estate 1689 Burwood Hwy

FERNTREE GULLY Coles Supermarket Mountain Gate SC Ferntree Gully Road FERNTREE GULLY Woolworths Supermarket Mountain Gate SC

OLINDA Ranges at Olinda 5 Old Main Road OLINDA IGA Supermarket 1526 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road

BELGRAVE First National Real Estate 1 Bayview Road BELGRAVE SOUTH Belgrave South Motors 138 Belgrave-Hallam Rd BORONIA Boronia Mall Newsagent Corner Floriston Road & Chandler Road

Ferntree Gully Road FERNTREE GULLY Mountain Gate Newsagency & Lotto Mountain Gate SC 9b Ferntree Gully Road FERNTREE GULLY Ferntree Gully Authorized Newsagency Shp 2/69 Station Street

OLINDA Bell Real Estate 11 Main Road SASSAFRAS Sassafras General Store 391 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road SILVAN Shell Princi Motors, 275 - 277 Monbulk Road

COCKATOO Ranges First National Shop 2, 24 McBride Street COCKATOO IGA Cockatoo 34 McBride Street

TECOMA BP Service Station 1524 Burwood Highway TECOMA Bon Ton General Store 1537 Burwood Highway

EMERALD Kaye Charles RE 12a Kilvington Drive EMERALD Ritchies SUPA IGA 342 Belgrave-Gembrook Road EMERALD Emerald Village Newsagency 4 Kilvington Drive

FERNTREE GULLY Shell Service Station 1140 Burwood Highway FERNY CREEK Ferny Creek & Post Office 195 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road GEMBROOK Gembrook Post Office& Newsagent 72 Main Street GEMBROOK IGA Supermarket 83/85 Main Street

EMERALD Woolworths Supermarket Belgrave Gembrook Road EMERALD Auto Plus More Petrol Station 365 Main Street

KALORAMA Post Office 1209 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road MONBULK Best Repairs & Accessories Monbulk - 26 Main Road

TREMONT Caltex Service Station 100 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road UPWEY Newsagent 18 Main Street

EMERALD Shell Service Station 336 Main Street EMERALD Barry Plant Real Estate 1/ 321 Main Street

MONBULK Food Express 128 Main Road MONBULK Woolworths Supermarket Main Road & Moores Road

UPWEY IGA Supermarket 62-64 Main Street UPWEY Yarra Ranges Shire Council 40 Main Street

12560832-ACM31-22

TECOMA O’Brien Real Estate 1567 Burwood Highway TECOMA McDonald’s Restaurant 1529 Burwood Highway THE PATCH The Patch Store and Post office 16 The Patch Road

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MAIL 11

NEWS

Council supports Burrinja

By Parker McKenzie Yarra Ranges Council has voted to continue a partnership with Burrinja Cultural Centre for another four years, with an option to extend it for a further two years.

During the council meeting on Tuesday 13 December, Councillor David Eastham said Burrinja provides “so much for our community.”

“Yarra Ranges Council has had this partnership with Burrinja for almost 20 years. Not just that, it is one of our most significant partnership agreements,” he said.

“We’re all aware of the tough financial environment that we are in and need to think critically about the amounts that we put into these agreements.”

The council will enter a partnership with Burrinja Cultural Centre for a four-year term with two one-year options to extend, annual funding of $592,885 and updated KPIs. Cr Eastham said the proposal would keep Burrinja’s funding at a set amount without increases over the four to six-year window.

“I know there’s a number of people that

have spoken to me about this, and that there’ll be people watching wondering about that funding staying constant but I don’t want to dwell on it because to me this really is a good news story,” he said.

“Burrinja, as I mentioned, is such an important cultural institution and provides so many valuable services and support to the community. It’s been particularly important in recent times, coming out of Covid then of course the storms.”

In the 2021-22 financial year, over 30,000 people attended Burrinja Cultural Centre, with 800 artists being supported and over 600 unique artworks displayed in the galleries.

Cr Tim Heenan said the “asset” originally belonged to the Shire of Sherbrooke — which was abolished and absorbed into Yarra Ranges Council — and earmarked to be saved.

“Its delivery of all things arts has been so fantastic since its inception, and it’s grown and grown and grown over the years,” he said.

“It’s only going to get better and as a great asset to the Dandenong Ranges.”

The motion to continue the partnership was passed unanimously.

Yarra Ranges Council has extended its partnership with Burrinja Cultural Centre for another four years.

Picture: ON FILE

Sassafras Community Choir hits high notes with piano

By Tyler Wright The Sweet Sassafras Community Choir is looking to expand its skill set and performance capabilities with a new electric piano bought with a grant from the Dandenong Ranges Community Bank Group.

Choir Secretary Stuart Semmens said the choir did not apply for the $1,000 grant, and receiving the funds was a surprise.

“We have a new choir director, Susy Hull, and she likes to use the piano a lot in teaching...we decided that an ideal thing to buy would be an electric piano that she could stand and teach at chat, and we can take it with us for performances,” Semmens said.

The community-led choir recently performed to audiences at the SelbyFest music and arts festival and Tecoma’s ethical twilight market.

“It’s great because we can be outside with a piano and everybody can still hear us, we couldn’t have done that before at all with an ordinary house piano,” Semmens said.

“It’s got a variety of tones, so [Susy] can find an organ tone, celeste or glockenspiel... we tend to use it just as a straight piano, but recently she’s been using as electric...

“It gives us a the ability to have a variety of sounds to suit different songs.”

The new piano has also lifted the choir’s morale, Semmens said, with three new people joining the choir in the last fortnight.

“People have heard us and like what we do, so they decided to join,” he said.

Sweet Sassafras Community Choir mem-

Choir director Susy Hull (centre) with choir members at SelbyFest 2022. bers meet at the Tecoma Uniting Church on Monday nights during school terms, and perform a mixture of classic music, modern

pop songs, African freedom song, soul and rythymn and blues.

The choir is open to anyone who loves to

Picture: KATE CASHIN sing, and those interested in joining are advised to visit the Sweet Sassafras Community Choir Facebook page.

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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NEWS

It’s groovy to get moving

By Mikayla van Loon An Inspiro led and designed program aiming to get primary school children to change the way they think about physical activity has been nominated for a statewide award.

The Morning Move For Mind (MM4M) program is listed as a finalist in the Victorian Health Promotion Awards for 2022 for Outstanding Health Promotion.

“It’s a real honour. An absolute honour to be nominated. It’s a very highly sought after acknowledgement of any kind of health promotion project to be announced as a finalist,” Inspiro health promotion officer Megan McInerney said.

“So it’s a really, really big deal for us to be nominated and we’re really proud of the program.”

VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said the awards celebrate the amazing work of groups and individuals making a difference through health promotion initiatives across the state.

“The 36 finalists unveiled today (6 Dec) have shown incredible commitment to the health and wellbeing of communities across Victoria in the past year,” Dr Demaio said.

“The 2022 Victorian Health Promotion Awards are the perfect platform to showcase the great work happening in health promotion, and to inspire others to do the same.”

Having encouraged 150 students across three different schools in the Dandenong Ranges to combine movement with mental health and wellbeing awareness, health promotion officer Tom McKinnon said it has been well received by the students.

“The program is a well being lesson done in an active way. So we’re trying to increase the physical activity of kids, but also educate them around emotional well being,” he said.

“It’s been well received and it’s not some of the information is new to them, like the posi-

Inspiro’s health promotion officers Tom McKinnon and Megan McInerney held the last session at Kallista Primary School where students received completion certificates. Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON tive coping strategies, some of them might already do exercise if they’re feeling angry or something, but might not have made that connection before that is a coping strategy.”

The program goes through various emotions the children might feel, as well as what may trigger that feeling and how getting active can be a positive coping strategy.

“It’s also about having that confidence and that space to be able to have those conversations in a safe environment as well, where they’re not feeling embarrassed to talk about [their emotions],” Megan said.

Inspiro set up the MM4M program initially prior to Covid but this year Megan and Tom have streamlined it to run an eight week program, twice a week for 30 minutes for two different age groups.

“We come and train the teachers first and we run one or two sessions the first week and then the teachers will take over after that,” Megan said.

“So hopefully having the teachers do the teacher training first helps them have that confidence to be able to run the program themselves…it means it’s more sustainable for

the program and it can be continued to be rolled out each year by the teachers.”

Kallista Primary School Grade 2 and 3 teacher Grace said she has definitely seen the value in the MM4M program and has inspired her to take more lessons outside.

“I learned a lot, the kids learned a lot about wellbeing strategies. The one they really enjoyed, which they didn’t know much about was happy triggers,” she said.

“It was good that they learned triggers aren’t always about the negative side, there’s positive ones. It was great to get them outside moving around. They were more settled in class because they got to have a run around and burn the energy.”

Tayla, a student at Kallista Primary, said she loved learning about mindfulness strategies, particularly reading and meditation.

Jeff on the other hand couldn’t decide which part was his favourite because he enjoyed it all.

Megan said Inspiro has been able to conclude that with children taking part in MM4M, they complete an extra 400 minutes of exercise.

“We know that young kids spend so much time on their screens, so to be able to get them out and do more exercise, even if it’s at school or thinking about how they can increase their activity outside of school hours, that’s a really big part of the project to just get them moving more,” Megan said.

“It’s also knowing the difference between exercise and physical activity. We don’t want them to just think of physical activity as doing sport. We’re also encouraging the idea of playing with your pet as physical activity or jumping on the trampoline in the backyard is a physical activity,” Tom said.

Inspiro will find out whether it has been the lucky recipient of the award in February.

Scholarship open for Emerald school leavers

By Tyler Wright

David Ferrier and Emma Clark in the Emerald Primary School bush tucker garden. 312843 Picture: SHELBY BROOKS

A tree collaboration

By Shelby Brooks A hills primary school and not-for-profit tree salvaging organisation have teamed up to inspire sustainable and Indigenous education.

Emerald Primary School principal Emma Clark met Treasuring our Trees founder David Ferrier in March this year, at the Rotary Storm Recovery Festival in Monbulk.

Treasuring our Trees is an organisation aimed at salvaging wood from traditional green waste removal methods, to use the materials in school or community projects.

Ms Clark, who is a Rotary member, helped pick Treasuring our Trees as a significant benefactor for funds raised by Rotary for storm recovery projects.

“Treasuring our Trees was selected to receive one of the larger funding amounts, for us to purchase a mill and some large chainsaws to help us start processing materials,” Mr Ferrier said.

“It was an amazing boost of confidence because we hadn’t had any funding yet.”

Mr Ferrier said he had built relationships with 18 primary schools so far and had six mailcommunity.com.au

of those schools locked in for the first lot of works in the new year.

Emerald Primary School is one of those six schools.

“We’ve created something special,” Mr Ferrier said of the connection with the school.

“We’re looking to compliment what Emerald has here already.”

Although possibilities are still being discussed, Ms Clark said a yarning circle and improvements to the school’s bush tucker garden were likely projects Treasuring our Trees would help with.

The trees the Mr Ferrier has salvaged could be turned into garden beds, seating and chainsaw art works.

“We’re trying to have a bigger focus on our Indigenous education,” she said.

“It’s already in the classrooms but we want it outside represented in the yarning circle” “Our bush tucker garden can certainly be built upon as well. We have a kitchen here so the aim is for the bush tucker garden is to merge it all together.”

The Rotary Club of Emerald & District is calling for high school leavers interested in studying medicine, nursing, pharmacy, medical science or related fields to apply for its MacLeod Murphy Memorial Fund Scholarship.

Applicants must live in Emerald, and if successful will receive $1,000 towards university supplies and utilities in 2023.

Emerald Rotary Club Vocational Chair Susi Wilson is a pharmacist and said the demand for staff in the medical profession is very high, especially in the Hills.

“The dropout rate for doctors, pharmacists, and nurses in the last couple of years was enormous,” Susi said.

“It’s still an amazing job, whoever is in this field loves it, and I hope that the world goes back to normal [and] that kids can study uninterrupted, being on campus and not doing things online.”

Due to Covid, the MacLeod Murphy Memorial Fund Scholarship has gone to three recipients over two years, and Susi is eager to

award someone new.

“People can apply, and I hope to get multiple applications so that we can actually give it to multiple people,” she said.

The fund was established in 1981 in memory of Emerald’s first doctor, Dr McLeod Murphy.

Dr Murphy practised in Emerald for 30 years prior to his death that year, and the MacLeod Murphy Memorial Fund aims to support and encourage local students starting a tertiary qualification in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other medical related fields.

Applications for the scholarship will close on Thursday 27 April 2023, with applicants required to prove they live in Emerald and have enrolled in medical studies.

Applicants can write a letter detailing why they have a special interest in the medical field and how they would use the funds.

You can submit your application to the Vocational Chair of The Rotary Club of Emerald & District at PO Box 46, Emerald 3782, or contact Susi Wilson at detmoldemerald@gmail. com

The Rotary Club of Emerald & District is calling on school leavers in the Emerald area interested in studying the medical field to apply for a $1,000 boost through the MacLeod Murphy Memorial Fund Scholarship.

Picture: ROTARY CLUB OF EMERALD & DISTRICT Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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NEWS

Big cheers for 100 years

By Tyler Wright On 26 October 1959, dutch-born Leny Broekhof arrived in Monbulk with her husband Nick and four children in tow.

The family left Holland from the Port of Rotterdam on a ship called ‘The Waterman’ and would first settle on McCarthy Road in Monbulk in a house with no electricity; a far cry from their house near Hillegom in their home country.

Sponsored by a friend, Leny and Nick were able to live in the packing shed next to the Churches of Christ children’s camp without paying rent, but Leny would make coffee and tea for morning workers.

Barely three years after the Broekhof’s move to their new country, the 1962 bushfires swept through the Dandenong Ranges and outskirts of Melbourne destroying their house and around 450 others.

With no radio, no warnings, limited English skills and a lack of education about bushfires the family were evacuated to Van Berkels’ property on Silvan Road.

“That was an experience I’ll never in my life forget,” Leny said.

Not only did the fire take their home, but photographs from their life in Holland and possessions also.

“I was fast asleep, and my husband came in and he said ‘we’ve lost everything, we’ve got nothing left, now go back to sleep,” Leny said.

“That was terrible because we wrote our memories and photos when we came here, and we lost all of that.”

Needing somewhere to live again, the family moved into a neighbouring farmers’ house on Moores Road, caring for their four children alongside two children of another friend who was in hospital giving birth; all packed into a house with one bedroom and one living room.

“I used to lift the mattresses, sweep the floor

Leny Broekhof moved to Monbulk from Holland with her husband Nick in 1959. 312679

Leny Broekhof with her Monbulk Fire Brigade Life Membership. 312679 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS and put the mattresses back down,” Leny said.

After about a year, the family found their forever home on Monbulk Road and purchased a Lakeside Nurseries; running a mail order business selling bulbs and flowers.

In 1983, the Ash Wednesday bushfires would threaten the Dandenongs, and Leny

was contacted in the very early hours of the morning by the then president of the Monbulk Fire Brigade’s Ladies’ Auxiliary, Dawn Fleming, asking for assistance.

Leny heeded the call and contacted friends and neighbours, mainly from the Dutch community, who ransacked their cupboards to provide suitable clothing for children sheltering at the Cockatoo kindergarten.

Leny and her daughter Trudy delivered the clothing to Cockatoo at around 5.30am despite horrible conditions, and the day after worked with evacuees at the community hall in Monbulk.

It was the devastation of these bushfires that motivated Leny to join the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Monbulk Fire Brigade in April 1983, and has been a member for almost 40 years; two of those as auxiliary president.

Over the years, she served on committees of the Monbulk Pre-School, Monbulk Primary School, Monbulk Secondary College, Rotary Anns, Sylvan Glades Retirement Village Committee of Management, is a Life Member of Monbulk Senior Citizens for transporting the members weekly, and is a member of the Belgrave VIEW Club.

She was also awarded a Life Membership at the Monbulk Fire Brigade, after decades of countless feedings at fires in the Dandenong Ranges, fundraising events, brigade events and annual packing of lollies for the Christmas Santa Run. Leny lost her son after came back from serving in the Vietnam War in the ‘70s, lost her eldest daughter to cancer in 2009 and also lost her husband to cancer at 88 years old.

“There’s been good and bad,” she said.

While the Broekhof’s mail order business was eventually sold to Tesselaar’s, the legacy of the family still lives on - with Leny’s granddaughter Shane now running Lakeside Flowers as a florist.

On Wednesday 21 December, Leny will be turning 100, but she makes sure to remind others she’s still technically 99.

“My doctor told me I’m ‘disgustingly healthy,” she laughed.

As for Monbulk, while the landscape has vastly changed over the years, she “wouldn’t live anywhere else”.

“It has been a bit of a hard life, but I’ve never regretted it and I’ve always liked it here,” she said.

And her advice after a century worth of experiences and memories?

“Do everything in moderation, and don’t worry about things you can’t change.”

On Wednesday 21 December, locals will be able to visit Monbulk RSL to celebrate and pass on their best birthday wishes to Leny.

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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OPINION

Top ten best films for 22 This year’s good films were marked by fun coincidences and creators going against the grain.

We got three Stephen King or King-adjacent films, two of which are about phones: The Black Phone and Mr Harrington’s Phone. We got two movies about the multiverse. Halloween Ends, the third and final film in David Gordon Green’s trilogy, took the franchise in a bold and divisive new direction, much like Halloween 3: Season of the Witch in 1983. We got After Yang and After Blue. Black Adam and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are both superhero films with black heroes and a strong focus on character growth.

Like Joker from 2019, The Batman is a great DC Comics film without the baggage of the main series. After several middling films, the best Star Wars content is currently on television, namely Obi-Wan Kenobi and the critically-acclaimed Andor. This year’s MCU entries feel more individualistic: Thor: Love and Thunder has Taika Waititi’s unique blend of humour and pathos, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is unmistakably a macabre, scary and funny Sam Raimi movie. The Northman is more of a conventional blockbuster than Robert Eggars’ other work, but still has his darkly surreal vision. The bombastic Baz Luhrmann shows unusual restraint where needed in his excellent Elvis biopic.

Three Thousand Years of Longing is another resoundingly imaginative work from the esoteric George Miller, whose varied filmography ranges from Mad Max to Happy Feet and Babe.

Here are my picks for the top ten best films of 2022.

10.The Northman. An enthralling historical thriller with stunning costumes, props and cinematography and a powerful combination of cunning and gut-wrenching violence.

9. Men. One of the best horror films in years, with a remarkable central performance from Jessie Buckley and a near-flawless escalation of dread. The only reason it doesn’t place higher is the silly ending.

8. Don’t Worry Darling. A tense, stylish psy-

chological thriller about a young woman struggling against a glamorous yet oppressive system. I’m in a relative minority who loved this movie; as a Matrix fan, I particularly enjoyed all the clues pointing to the simulation twist.

7. Nope. A fascinating, creepy and frequently fun sci-fi mystery with outstanding character development, Nope is also a wonderful love-letter to classic moviemaking.

6. X. Director Ti West shows an astounding command of suspense, both in nailbiting individual sequences and the chilling total

narrative. Lurid but never gratuitous, X has some clever deconstruction of the slasher genre in a story about youth, envy and sexuality.

5. Everything Everywhere All At Once. This film is a superhuman balancing act: hyperactive and utterly bonkers yet deeply poignant and moving, and set across multiple universes yet laser-focused on its core family and their troubled but loving dynamic. In its own crazy way, Everything Everywhere All At Once may be star Michelle Yeoh’s career-defining film.

4. Three Thousand Years of Longing. An enchanting character study about a genie and a professor, each trapped in different ways, suffused with visual splendour and a love for storytelling, science and knowledge.

3. The Menu. A gourmet dark comedy about class, obsession and retribution. The Menu has a fun ensemble cast, stunning cinematography, a duelling dynamic between leads Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes, and a tone of clever, cruel hilarity, with ample helpings of disturbing and laugh-out-loud moments.

2. The Innocents. A darkly grounded story about superpowers and the challenges of childhood, The Innocents is a sterling example of indie filmmaking fundamentals: a small cast and apartment setting and simple camerawork and editing, conveying extraordinary depth and impact.

1. The Black Phone. An unparalleled fusion of psychological and supernatural horror, with the latter adding macabre intrigue to the former. The Black Phone has riveting performances from Mason Thames and a mercurial, terrifying Ethan Hawke, harsh atmosphere, exquisite pacing balancing despair with hope, and an ending that feels both exhausting and triumphant.

It feels as if cinema has been reinvigorated in 2022, with blockbusters returning to prominence and film productions in general regaining larger scales and casts, and I very much look forward to the films of 2023.

Looking back at the best five books reviewed this year PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN With Christmas fast approaching, it is time to reflect on the progress we made in 2022 while planning new projects and fresh goals for 2023.

This year we reviewed 32 books and featured a series of literary programs and events, including but not limited to the Australian Children’s Laureate, Melbourne Writers Festival, and UNESCO Cities of Literature Network Meeting. We even received a reader’s request to feature a book published a century ago.

That special request led to coverage of not just Australian authors but also those overseas. Indeed, while this reviewer has been prioritising Australian books – and will always do so – there are numerous excellent reads from around the world that are worthy of our attention.

So, below are this reviewer’s Top Five books for 2022: 1. Costa’s World: Gardening for the soil, the soul and the suburbs by Costa Georgiadis (2021) – A delightful read for all who care about our environment and wildlife, full of extensively researched and superbly presented resources for individual and community gardens. One of the best and sincerest communicators of citizen science.

2. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff (2021) – A stunning illustrated dark fanmailcommunity.com.au

tasy of epic scale, featuring complex characters, intricate plots, dazzling writing, and a great sense of humour. A detailed survey of vampires as “an object of desire, an exploration of immortality, a study in morality, or just plain terrifying”.

3. Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (2008) – A timeless masterpiece, beautifully written, achingly tender yet emotionally powerful and mentally haunting. This winner of the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel is worth reading by all females but especially male readers who are mature minded and fighting to safeguard women’s rights.

4. The Winter Road: A story of legacy, land and a killing at Croppa Creek by Kate

Holden (2021) – Winner of the Walkley Book Award, NSW Premier’s Literary Award – Douglas Stewart Nonfiction Prize, and NSW Premier’s History Award – Community and Regional History Prize, among others. An intense, confronting piece of investigative journalism.

5. The Gaps by Leanne Hall (2021) – This “complex and absorbing dual narrative psychological thriller” is the winner of the 2022 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Literature. A compelling exploration of vulnerability and strengths of those teenagers who have lost their loved ones to violent crimes.

And, finally, we have two honourable mentions. The first is Leonard and Hungry

Paul by Irish author Rónán Hession (2019). A quiet book celebrating kindness and friendship in our seemingly ordinary life, recommended by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature.

Meanwhile, Sistersong, by Devon-based author Lucy Holland (2021), is recommended by Exeter UNESCO City of Literature. A successful marriage of fantasy and historical fiction about ancient Britons facing the arrival of Christianity and the Saxons.

So, here is a heartfelt THANK-YOU to all our readers who have been supporting the “Passion for Prose” column since February 2021. This reviewer will return in January 2023 with more recommendations of interesting Australian and international books.

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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MAIL 15

NEWS

Christmas at church

By Parker McKenzie With Christmas just around the corner, here is what local churches in Ferntree Gully and the hills are doing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Pastor Bill Morrison from Ferntree Gully Baptist Church said they will be holding a Christmas Day service at 9.30am.

“We are also having a carols service this Sunday at 10am,” he said.

The carols service will replace the regular Sunday service. The Baptist Church is located at 17 Hunter Street, Ferntree Gully.

St John the Baptist Church in Ferntree Gully will hold a Christmas mass on each Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Saturday 24 December, a family mass will be held at 6pm, with preceding caarols from 5.30pm. A mass of Christmas Night will be held at 9.30pm with preceding carols from 9pm.

On Sunday 25 December, a Christmas Day Nativity of the Lord mass will be held at 9am and 11am. Normal services on Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 won’t be held.

The church is located at 19 Forest Road, Ferntree Gully.

Boronia Road Uniting Church will hold a Christmas Day Mass at 9am on Saturday 25 December, with lifts available from Ferntree Gully Uniting Church at 8.30am. The church is located at Boronia Road, Zeising Court, Boronia.

Throughout the hills, Catholic churches will be holding the following masses across Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. St Thomas More Church in Belgrave will

Robyn Scott from Tea Leaves.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Best festive windows With Christmas just around the corner, the following church services will be held in Ferntree Gully and the hills.

Picture: LAURA NYHUIS UNSPLASH have a 5.30pm carols, 6pm childrens mass, 11pm carols and an 11.30pm midnight mass on Christmas Eve. It will also have a 9am Mass on Christmas Day. St Joseph’s church Emerald will hold a 6.30pm mass and St Paul’s Church in Monbulk will host a 7.30pm carols followed by an 8pm mass on Christmas Eve. Sacred Heart Church in Gembrook, located at 95/93 Main Street, will have a Christmas Day mass on 25 December and St Paul’s Church in Monbulk will hold one at 11am. St Paul’s is located at St Luke’s Church in Cockatoo will host a Christmas Eve service at 7pm and a Christmas Day service at 9am. Its sister church in Gembrook will host services at the same time.

By Parker McKenzie and Cal Ludwig Yarra Ranges Council’s Christmas Window Competition bought festive cheer across the shire this year, with four winners picked from Chirnside Park, Warburton, Sassafras and Monbulk.

The four winners were picked from four different categories: urban, hills, valley and upper. The winners were voted on by the Yarra Ranges community and each received a hamper of locally sourced goods.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child said the competition celebrates the creative, colourful and luminous window creations of local businesses.

“Yarra Ranges businesses really decked out their windows for this holiday season and collectively, they have made a valuable contribution to the heart of the Yarra Rang-

es, raising spirits and drawing in customers during an important season for trading,” he said.

“Thank you to all of the businesses that entered, and congratulations to all of our 2022 winners.”

Owner of Hills winner Tea Leaves Deonni Ring said they created their display using different stock from the shop.

“We import tea by trade, but we also have tea accessories and other things as well including a Christmas range,” she said.

“We get a lot of enjoyment out of doing it and we tried to do something really different just to show the personality of the shop.”

Tea Leaves received 40 votes during the competition to be named the hills winner.

Tatiana’s in Monbulk was the Valley winner, with 121 votes.

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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“EAGLE’S NEST” EXECUTIVE HOME IDYLLICALLY positioned in a most peaceful and private enclave adjacent to majestic state forest and the Kyeema Track, “Eagle’s Nest” - a custom built brick veneer property on ¾ acre sits in perfect harmony with its tranquil environment providing a secluded setting to raise a family and embrace the very best of the Dandenong Ranges.

Oriented for stunning north westerly vistas, the executively built home on an open and sunny allotment, tiptoes quietly amongst nature where birdsong hangs in the air and the occasional wandering echidna meanders across the rolling lawns. Beyond the sweeping driveway, inside calms with a flowing single level, dual-living floorplan that spills to an all-season alfresco - the best seat in the house to take in the magical glow of sunset o’clock. Families will be drawn to the space, the setting, the quietude and the potential for living off-grid yet you are just a 3-minute drive to the Mount Dandenong Village and Fiveways for conveniences, community and connection.

Step inside to living areas that are grounded by the earthiness of bamboo floors under a canopy of soaring 3m high ceilings where an open plan zone is warmed by the ambience of a combustion wood fire.

A striking stone bench kitchen is highlighted by a central island for casual eats, stainlesssteel appliances and a lavish walk-in pantry whilst a quiet lounge/tv room offers a reprieve from busy family life. A privately placed master bedroom offers a sanctuary for the heads of the house accented by a

extra parking for the caravan or · Abundant trailer. gas hot water system in the en· Instant suite heating plus split systems and · Hydronic ceiling fans for seasonal warmth of storage, including built-in robes to · Loads bedrooms 2 and 3 plus vast under house storage with a storage platform. towel racks in both bathrooms. · Heated grid potential with 3 x rainwater tanks · Off (2 x 22500L and 1 x 9000L), solar panels walk-in robe and rain shower ensuite with a dreamy deep soak bath enhanced by soulsoothing views. Two minor bedrooms are quietly housed in a separate wing serviced by a family bathroom and a home office could also be utilized as a fourth bedroom.

Alfresco allure is delivered in spades with an all-season entertaining zone spilling to a polished concrete terrace ripe for hosting friends and family. A built-in barbeque will have the sausages sizzling all-year round and you can watch the kids as they cartwheel across the lush, flat lawn below.

Beautifully landscaped gardens made private by a camellia hedge allow you to pick your own blooms displaying an array of liliums and lily of the valley… just waiting for the summer sun.

Dreams of self-sufficiency can also be realised with the covered veggie patch ready for your green thumb complemented by avocados, pears, blueberries, dwarf apples

and an orchard of mandarin, lime, lemonade and apple trees. And don’t forget the luxury chook house ready and waiting for your isa browns, the water tanks, the commercial generator and the solar panels! All the ingredients you need for your off-grid life.

Moments from the top of Mount Dandenong for panoramic vistas of Melbourne and fireworks on New Year’s Eve and with picturesque walking tracks at your front door - “Eagle’s Nest” is just perfect for raising a family, entertaining and taking time to appreciate life among nature.

More to Love: One owner property built by a local builder in 2013 6+ Star energy rating Electric gated entrance Fully landscaped ¾ acre grounds Double garage with commercial electric door, connected storage cove with roller doors and rear access.

· · · · ·

x 8, chicken coop and plentiful fruit and veggie patches.

Double glazed windows Pop up watering system for the lawn area run off tank water 10 KVA Silent Diesel Generator 240V with auto transfer switch to mains power.

Provides either prime power or standby/ back-up power sources and an estimated run time of 30 hours at 100% load (model retails for over $10,000).

Adjacent to land owned by the ABC - no neighbours on that side and adds to the feeling of seclusion.

Disclaimer: All information provided has been obtained from sources we believe to be accurate, however, we cannot guarantee the information is accurate and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions (including but not limited to a property’s land size, floor plans and size, building age and condition) Interested parties should make their own enquiries and obtain their own legal advice. ●

· · ·

·

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 1 Osprey Road, MT DANDENONG Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,590,000- $1,720,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Trevor Bell 0418 333 580 or Elliot Bell 0427 099 880, BELL REAL ESTATE, BELGRAVE

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

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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MAIL 17

HOME FOCUS

YOUR COUNTRY LIFESTYLE AWAITS SITUATED on almost 1 acre, this character home with large verandahs is what you’ve been dreaming of.

Upon entering the home, the first thing you’ll notice are the high ceilings, then the sense of space.

Well zoned too, with parents’ main bedroom with ensuite, built-in robe and walk-in robe at one end of the house and kids 3 bedrooms at the other, right next to the rumpus room. Most rooms have French doors to access the verandah.

Centrally the home has a chefs own modern kitchen with dishwasher, porcelain sink, Caesarstone bench tops and Belling oven, meals area as well as 2 other separate living rooms and a large study.

Comfort is provided by 3 split systems and near new gas ducted heating with the property connected to mains water and mains gas. Special features include picture rails, ornate plasterwork and polished hardwood floor boards.

The main bathroom has a claw foot bath as a centrepiece. Outdoors there is plenty of room on almost one acre for children and pets to romp around amongst established gardens with several varieties of fruit trees - lemon, mandarine, apple, mulberry and more.

Also, 3 cross overs to give plenty of space for vehicles and an in/out driveway plus a three bay American style garage with mezzanine storage.

All of this within walking distance of childcare centre, shops and the wonderful eateries that Gembrook has become renowned for.

Gembrook is a quiet country town around an hour from Melbourne at the end of the Puffing Billy Railway line, shops, primary school, cafes and restaurants as well as bus transport are some of its many features. Once you live here, you may never leave! l

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 16 Quinn Road, GEMBROOK Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $1,200,000 - $1,320,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Janet Hawkins 0409 117 432, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL, 9754 6111 18 MAIL

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

mailcommunity.com.au

HOME FOCUS

SPACIOUS HOME, PRIVATE WITH VIEWS THIS spacious and welcoming, low maintenance family home offers distant views and is situated in a peaceful location just a few hundered metres to everything Monbulk has to offer.

Stacked with features and representing great value, the features included: 12 year young chartacter home - privately situated on over 1600m2 Elevated and distant views Approximately 30 squares under roofline High ceilings throughout An abundance of glass and natural light in every room Double glazed windows great for peaceful nights and to minimise those power bills Stacker doors to the deep varandahs - perfect to capture the breeze in summer Huge open plan lounge, dining, family room with central double sided wood fire Modern kitchen with generous pantry and quality appliances Large family bathroom with oversized, walk in shower, bath and European laundry Seperate powder room 3 king size, robed bedrooms all with ceiling fans Gas ducted heating, evaporative cooling, a split system and ceiling fans Deep verandahs where you can relax and enjoy the view All services connected - gas, water, sewer, power and NBN 6.6kW of solar to offset the rising cost of electricity Undercover access to the home from the under house double carport Plenty of room downstairs to build in fur-

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

ther rooms - rumpus or home office

· Concrete driveways · Drive through access - perfect for vans, boats and floats · On site parking for 10+ vehicles + the caravan and then some · 8m x 6m shed with concrete floor and power and water tank for irrigation · Irrigation lines installed throughout the rear yard · Large igloo for the avid gardener/grower · Fruit trees and extensive established hedging

under 500m to the primary school, Aldi, · All Woolies and the heart of Monbulk!

You could not build this property for the price - with nothing to do but put your own stamp on things this property has it all so don’t miss out!

Call Samantha Scott on 0438 680 032 for more information and inspection times.

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

12582479-JC50-22

Address: 24 Moxhams Road, MONBULK Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 8 garage Price: $870,000 - $950,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Samantha Scott 0438 680 032, BELL REAL ESTATE, EMERALD

“Eagle’s Nest” - Executive Home in a Secluded Hills Locale on ¾ Acre with Off Grid Potential (Land size 3302m2) 1 Osprey Rd, Mt Dandenong Idyllically positioned in a most peaceful and private enclave adjacent to majestic state forest and the Kyeema Track, this bespoke brick veneer property on ¾ acre sits in perfect harmony with its tranquil environment providing a secluded setting to raise a family and embrace the very best of the Dandenong Ranges. Oriented for stunning north westerly vistas, the executively built home on an open and sunny allotment, tiptoes quietly

amongst nature where birdsong hangs in the air and the occasional wandering echidna meanders across the rolling lawns. Beyond the sweeping driveway, inside calms with a flowing single level, dual-living floorplan that spills to an all-season alfresco. Families will be drawn to the space, the setting, the quietude and the potential for living off-grid

• One owner property built by a local builder in 2013 • 6+ Star energy rating • Electric gated entrance • Fully landscaped ¾ acre grounds • Double garage with commercial electric door, connected storage cove with roller doors and rear access.

• Abundant extra parking for the caravan or trailer.

• Instant gas hot water system in the ensuite • Hydronic heating plus split systems and ceiling fans for seasonal warmth • Loads of storage, including built-in robes to bedrooms 2 and 3 plus vast under house storage with a storage platform.

• Heated towel racks in both bathrooms.

• Off grid potential with 3 x rainwater tanks (2 x 22500L and 1 x 9000L), solar panels x 8, chicken coop and plentiful fruit and veggie patches.

• Double glazed windows • Pop up watering system for the lawn area run off tank water • 10 KVA Silent Diesel Generator 240V with auto transfer switch to mains power.

Provides either prime power or standby/back-up power sources and an estimated run time of 30 hours at 100% load (model retails for over $10,000).

• Adjacent to land owned by the ABC - no neighbours on that side and adds to the feeling of seclusion.

9751 2375 11 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda mailcommunity.com.au

4

2

2

Price $1,590,000 - $1,720,000 Trevor Bell: 0418 333 580 Elliot Bell: 0427 099 880

9754 5888 1642 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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MAIL 19

HOME FOCUS

PRIVATE AND WELL POSITIONED WITH VIEWS LOCATED in a prime location is this beautifully and lovingly renovated 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home.

As you arrive at this property nestled opposite the golf course, which provides a gorgeous park like view, you will notice the welcoming entertaining deck and landscaped front garden.

On entering the warm and cosy home, you are greeted by slate floors and character filled exposed beams, a wood heater, two split system air conditioners, and bi-fold front window that opens up onto the front entertaining deck. Allowing the light to flood into this fantastic entertaining area as you enjoy the picturesque view.

As you flow through to the modern and stylish kitchen, and continue down the hallway towards the stain-glass window, you will notice the barn-door features leading to each of the two generous bedrooms.

This immaculately presented home also contains a European laundry, is rendered, and has a landscaped and low maintenance secure rear yard. With a great flat area for children or pets to enjoy, there is also a handy garden shed, as well as having a separate rear access to the property. l

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 3 Luke Place, GUYS HILL Description: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom Price: $745,000 - $785,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brennan Mileto 0422 996 451 or Aaron Day 0407 365 994, BELL REAL ESTATE, EMERALD 20 MAIL

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

mailcommunity.com.au

P 5968 6222 311-313 Main Street Emerald

10 Belvedere Court, Gembrook

$980,000 - $1,080,000

3 Luke Place, Guys Hill

$745,000 - $785,000

Amazing location, gorgeous family home and stunning private views!

Private & well positioned with a lovely view! 5 Mins to Berwick!

Charming fully fenced property with asphalted driveway & manicured gardens. The master bedroom offers an ensuite with toilet & shower & WIR. Featuring evaporative cooling & ducted heating throughout. The Kitchen opens up for the ultimate entertaining zone with large island, amazing gas stove, electric oven & also ceramic stove top, quiet rangehood extractor & lovely butlers pantry.

Enjoy the views by opening the loungeroom onto the rear entertaining deck. There are a further 3 bedrooms, 2 with WIRs, that utilise the well appointed family bathroom with a shower & bath. Storage & parking are well catered for with a DLUG with electric roller doors, & a second two car garage with an attached fully lined craft room/office space. This property offers approximately 1.5kW Solar Panels, a lovely grassed flat back yard, a fully covered vegetable garden, & a garden shed area.

Beautifully and lovingly renovated 2 bedroom, 1 Bathroom home. Nestled opposite the golf course, with a gorgeous park like view, you will notice the welcoming entertaining deck and landscaped front garden. With slate floors and character filled exposed beams, a wood heater, two split system air conditioners, and bi-fold front window that opens up onto the front entertaining deck. There is a modern and stylish kitchen, and also barn-door features leading to each of the two generous bedrooms. This home contains a European laundry, is rendered, and has a landscaped and low maintenance secure rear yard. With a great flat area for children or pets to enjoy, there is also a handy garden shed, as well as having a separate rear access to the property.

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451

Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451

4

4 Lisheen Road, Cockatoo

A

2

B

4

C

$880,000 - $940,000

What an opportunity! Expansive 6 bedroom family home, with huge shed on 1/2 an acre!

2

25 Pakenham Road, Cockatoo

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

A

3

B

4

1

B

2

C

$645,000 - $710,000

This lovingly updated & character filled, 3 bedroom home is designed over two levels, and enjoys year round comfort with a wood fire, ducted heating and split system.

The bedrooms all contain BIRs, and the master bedroom is serviced by a lovely ensuite. The kitchen is a delight, containing a gas cook top and an electric oven. There is also an updated and highly functional European laundry, and plentiful storage with the large attic. Step outside onto a spacious deck and take in the amazing view of surrounding forest, and enjoy the well tendered garden.

This property offers a delightful garden workshop, dual carport and has all mains available, and is currently connected to mains gas and water and utilises a septic system.

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

6

A

Fantastic opportunity in the heart of Cockatoo!

This is an amazing family home. With 6 bedrooms & 3 bathrooms, offering the possibility of sharing a multi-generational home/dual occupancy. All bedrooms have BIRs & carpet. Master bedroom has an ensuite. The further two bathrooms contain both a toilet & shower. The larger bathroom offers a corner spa bath. The kitchen has a 900mm electric oven & gas stove, & overlooks the lounge area & rumpus room. This home features high ceilings, ducted heating, ducted vacuum, wood fire, air conditioners & a rear deck that is 9m*12 m & fully covered to facilitate all year around entertaining.

The garden has fruit trees, a dedicated dog area, chicken yard, & a paved area. There is under house storage and a brand new massive 9m * 11m, 4 car shed with concrete floor & 4m high walls.

Bethany Day M 0438 844 968

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

C

Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451

3

A

2

B

2

C

bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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MAIL 21

HOME FOCUS

DUAL LIVING AND MODERN MASTERPIECE ONLY 3 years young, this architect inspired home offers views and a flexible floorplan to suit any family. Designed with dual living in mind for multi-generational living, the floorplan can be utilised as it currently is with 2 generations sharing the home or opened up to be a large family home.

Polished concrete, square edged cornices and double-glazed windows are just some of the features of the home along with hydronic heating and refrigerated cooling.

The kitchen is the hub of the home, adjoining the living room and enjoying views to the distant hills, it also offers a large walk-in pantry behind a timber door as well as Caesar stone benchtops, 900mm Falcon oven and dishwasher.

The large master bedroom and ensuite makes you feel like you’re on holidays every day with a well-proportioned ensuite including fee standing bath with 180 degree views out the windows.

The large second bedroom also offers a full ensuite and nearby there is a study nook for those that work from home. Down the other end of the house, the 3rd bedroom with large ensuite adjoins the large family room.

The shed is large at 20m x 8m in three bays and includes caretaker quarters with bathroom and 2nd toilet and also a mezzanine upstairs, which could be an ideal games room.

Access to the property is via a quiet sealed road all the way to the front gate, with plenty of room to park the cars, boat, trailer or caravan or any toys you want!

There is 200,000 litres of water storage and 16kW of solar panels, making this a very low-cost living home. There are fruit trees, 6 paddocks and a dam with plenty of space for any animals.

If your dream is to get ‘off the grid’ and back to low-cost living, then this is the home for you. Come and enjoy the Yarra Valley lifestyle today! Fresh and inviting, this home is ready for a new family.

Young homes of this quality do not come up for sale often, so be quick! All the hard work has been done. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 575 Sheepstation Creek Road, HODDLES CREEK Description: 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 7 garage Price: $1,650,000 - $1,800,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Jane Mortimer 0457 620 542, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL, 9754 6111 22 MAIL

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

mailcommunity.com.au

Ranges

We put you first

YoUR CoUNTRY LIFESTYLE AWAITS

GEMBROOk 16 QUINN RoAD

$1,200,000-$1,320,000

WEll-ZONED HOME WITH PARENTS RETREAT, RUMPUS, TWO lIVING AREAS & A STUDy! Situated on almost 1 acre, this character home with large verandas is what you’ve been dreaming of. Upon entering this home, you will notice the high ceilings, French doors, picture rails, ornate plasterwork and polished hardwood floor boards. offering a sense of space, the parents’ retreat is located at one end of the house & the kids 3 bedrooms at the other with a rumpus room. Centrally located chefs modern kitchen with dishwasher, porcelain sink, Caesar stone bench tops & a Belling oven, meals area as well as 2 other separate living rooms & large study. Comfort is provided by 3 split systems, near new gDH, with the property connected to mains water and mains gas. outdoors there is plenty of room amongst established gardens and several varieties of fruit trees, also, 3 cross overs to give plenty of space for vehicles and an in/out driveway plus a three bay American style garage with mezzanine storage.

Mick Dolphin

Janet Hawkins

0429 684 522

0409 117 432

3/4 ACRE VACANT LAND

SElBy 103 BELgRAVE-gEMBRook RoAD DREAMING OF THAT BRAND NEW HOME?

WALk To BELgRAVE ToWNSHIP!

$356,000 - $395,000

DRIVEWAY ACCESS 3 HARDY STREET SELBY. If you are tired of old homes, here is your chance to build with the quality you want. The huge LEVEL home site (30m wide x 15m deep) has been prepared many years ago on this 2,959sqm block. The width is a rare 60m which allows for more building possibilities. Enjoy the tranquil treed aspect and the quaint tree fern-lined babbling creek. Most services are readily available & the location is ideal- walk to school, bus & 2k from Belgrave Central.

Grant Skipsey 0418 528 102

9754 6111 rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

4A 2B 3C 1E

BElGRAVE 44 BELgRAVE-gEMBRook RoAD ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRy yET CONNECTED TO CBD!

$815,000-$870,000 3A 2B 1E

Set on a corner block in a parklike setting with two driveway entrances and offers plenty of off-street parking. This gorgeous light-filled, extensively renovated character home offers an open plan lounge & dining, a study, bathrooms boasting beautiful French tapware, a hostess kitchen with a fireplace and Caesarstone bench tops. Additional features include gDH, reverse cycle A/C, leadlight features, timber floorboards, cedar blinds, oFP, huge attic storage and extensive landscaped front and back yards.

Jan Brewster 0409 558 805

“We Put You First”

1 Bayview Rd, Belgrave Shop 2, 24 McBride Street, Cockatoo Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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MAIL 23

HOME FOCUS

FAMILY STARTER WITH FILTERED VALLEY VIEWS STARING out over filtered views that take in the nearby Monbulk valley, this three bedroom home is spacious and positioned privately away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Set on a generous 1851m2 elevated block with a stunning canopy of mature trees, the home boasts an open plan design with an updated kitchen that includes a 900ml stainless steel upright oven plus excellent storage and bench space.

Hardwood timbers bring warmth and character to the home and along with lovely large windows, make this property a perfect family starter!

All bedrooms are large, with the main bedroom having an ensuite and all have a colourful view of the surrounding gardens.

Warm and cosy, there is a charming wood heater and also ducted heating throughout and although needing some small repairs, you will find another wood heater on the timber decking - perfect for enjoying a Friday night outdoors with friends and family.

Outside, the rear yard is fully fenced and contains a garden shed, wood shed and an old but useful studio that would be great as general storage.

Located perfectly in easy reach of both Monbulk and Olinda townships and only a short drive to Belgrave train station, this property has so much to offer for a growing family. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 30 Upper Coonara Road, OLINDA Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $685,000 - $750,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 24 MAIL

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

mailcommunity.com.au

Real Estate you can trust!

We ’ r e h e r e t o h e l p FOR SALE

$1.3m-$1.43m

352 Glenfern Road, UPWEY

PREMIER FAMILY RESIDENCE WITH SPARKLING POOL ON HALF AN ACRE

5A3B6C

Offers Close Dec 20 Unless Sold Prior A flawless fusion of space, style, and superb outdoor entertaining areas, this centrally situated residence in a prime Glenfern Rd location is ready to impress. Focused on providing premier family comfort in a prized lifestyle location only moments from public transport, schools, shopping, and restaurants, this is a top lifestyle property with all the trimmings.

Sam Adamson

Daniel Steen

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

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

FOR SALE

32 Lomond Avenue, KILSYTH METICULOUS HOME ON COVETED CORNER BLOCK

$750,000 - $790,000 3A2B2C

This meticulously maintained home on a coveted corner allotment opens endless options for astute investors. Capturing prime position only 750m from Churinga Shopping Centre, this property is perfect for first homebuyers, discerning downsizers, or developers determined to capitalise on subdivision potential (Subject To Council Approval).

FOR SALE

35 Glen Road, BELGRAVE

$610,000 - $670,000 1A1B

SWEET STARTER HOME IN SPECTACULAR LIFESTYLE LOCALE

This sweet starter home situated near beautiful Birdsland Reserve is calling astute investors that can spot immense potential. With several updates already complete and a sunlit interior that overlooks the generous ½ acre allotment backing onto Monbulk Creek, this is an outstanding opportunity to enter the market in this exceptional lifestyle locale.

Brad Conder M 0422 639 115 | E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

Sam Adamson

Brad Conder

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

M 0422 639 115 | E brad@chandlerandco.com.au

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

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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MAIL 25

PUZZLES

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9-LETTER WORD

9

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

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

P

Today’s Aim: 14 words: Good 21 words: Very good

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No. 112

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

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No. 112

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23-12-22

William Matthews Funerals 24 HOUR SERVICE - ALL AREAS

9739 6868 45 Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au 12567433-SN37-22

26 MAIL

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

mailcommunity.com.au

OPINION

Support your Local It has become a sad trend of the last few years, that the Mayor’s Message at the end of the year is wrapping up a difficult time, and hoping for better in the coming year.

Even though we have battled our way through storms, floods, and Covid, I continue to be in awe of our community, for the way in which we come together and support one another.

The Yarra Ranges is the best place in the world to live, to visit and to work, and the community is at the heart of that. Time and time again, we show how connected, how resilient and how vibrant we are – even in times of adversity.

Christmas means different things for each of us, but in a time when the words ‘normal’ and ‘routine’ needed to be abandoned, the approaching season feels like a very welcome time of regularity, charged with a renewed sense of meaning.

However you celebrate, I encourage everyone to find their reason this festive season in Yarra Ranges – to get behind our ‘Buy, Employ, Enjoy’ campaign, which has a strong focus

Jim Child on supporting local businesses and helping them get back on their feet after the past few troubling years.

This is one of our first festive seasons without Covid-19 restrictions in place, and tourism is back as the weather warms up. There’s never been a better time to visit a local business for gift shopping, Christmas catch-ups and family lunches, or to get out in our parks, trails and reserves to see everything the region has to offer.

From berry picking from local farms to exploring one of our 55 towns to experience our best local produce and captivating local art you’ll find it all in Yarra Ranges this season.

There’s also local Christmas Carols and community wishing trees where you can donate to help others make the most of the festive season. If you have any last-minute Christmas shopping to do, I encourage you to buy from local traders to support our local economy.

If you’re not sure where to start, can I suggest visiting yarraranges.vic.gov.au/buylocal for a directory, where you can find more than 400 business listings - to help you find whatever it is you’re looking for, for anyone in your life.

There are so many people in our communities who are deserving of our deep and ongoing gratitude for all the work they have done to protect and support us this year and for these people especially.

In the spirit of Christmas, I hope each of us have an opportunity to stop, to relax, to and find time for the people we care about and come into 2023 replenished and ready.

For all those heading away over the break, please travel safely and take extra care during this busy time on our roads.

CARTOON

Looking ahead Kemp’s curtain call Now it’s December and your local theatres have closed for the Festive Season.

But no! Rehearsals for the new year are progressing.

Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre have forwarded their program for 2023.

The opening play is ‘Family Values’

by David Williamson and directed by Ian Frost.

Season: 9 – 25 February. Matinees: Sundays 12 and 18 and Saturday 25 February.

Show number two is ‘Barefoot in the Park’ written by Neil Simon and directed by Pip Le Blond.

Season: 20 April - 8 May. Matinees: Sundays 23 and 30 and Saturday 6 May. Play number three is ‘Switzerland’ written by Joanna Murray-Smith and directed by Helen Ellis.

Season: 28 June – 15 July. Matinees: Sundays July 2 and 9 and Saturday 15 July.

Play number four is ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare’ (abridged) (revised) (again) written

by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield and directed by K.J. Amey.

Season: 7 – 23 September. Matinees: Sundays 10 and 17 and Saturday 23 September.

Play number five is ‘Fracked! Or Please don’t use the F-word’ written by Alistair Beaton and directed by Alan Burrows.

Season: 16 November – 2 December.

Matinees: Sundays November 19 and 20 and Saturday 2 December.

Bookings: 9735 1777 Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, office hours 10am to 2pm.

CPP Community Theatre has advised your correspondent that congratulations are in order for the cast of their opening show for 2023.

The show, ‘Sense and Sensibility’ adapted by Kate Hamill and based on the novel by Jane Austen.

Directed by Kathryn White, the performance season is from 14 April – 22 April.

The company can’t wait to jump into rehearsals and bring this new production to life. The company asks that you stay up to date with rehearsals by visiting the Facebook and Instagram pages.

Maroondah Festival On a rather warm and sunny day, and after a long hiatus, the much-loved Maroondah Festival was back in full force earlier this month.

A group of volunteers welcomed and spoke to lots of people perusing the festival, handing out flyers for the upcoming information night for Sense and Sensibility and talking up CPP. The team also handed out Oliver and Sense and Sensibility colouring sheets for the kids (and big kids) and a number of people signed up for the mailing list. It was such a wonderful opportunity to really showcase who CPP are and what the community means to them. A very big thanks to Fee Rosel, Robyn Dalton, Jenny Gay, Cassie Quinlan, Helen Taylor and Steph Vawser for volunteering their time. The CPP A Cappella choir is going to be bigger and better than ever next year. CPP will be aiming to increase its performances throughout the year so please keep this in mind if you would like to join in the fun. If you would like to be involved, or have any questions get in touch with CPP Community Theatre at 0447 014 584 between 1pm amd 3pm.

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When ‘did Christmas really start anyway?

Focal Point Christmas day is just a few days away when most of us will try to replicate some of the great Christmases we have known.

However there can be a lot of pain around Christmas for many, especially the lonely and the grieving.

There is often an unreal expectation that somehow all the family conflicts of the past year will dissolve on the day, but a little too much to drink easily brings the old issues to the fore.

Of course most children will still be untainted, and will be going to bed excited and eager to wake up the next morning to surprises.

For many weeks now people have been sighing and complaining that Christmas seemed to start earlier each year and the instore carols are driving them crazy.

So, when did Christmas start? A long time ago - around two thousand and twenty two years give or take a few years when ‘Julian’ and ‘Gregory’ fiddled with the calendars.

You might say that sounds like it belongs to a mythical saga before the mists of time, but in fact it is linked solidly with our current history and evidence of that time is in many places in the world.

Have you ever tried to make the link between the Jesus of Christmas and the Roman roads you might have walked on in the Middle East? mailcommunity.com.au

Graeme Dawson

You may have seen the Roman roads and bridges in Britain, and the ancient buildings of Greece that you might have taken photos of? In fact it is all very tangible.

No, the Christmas story did not float out of the ‘long ago ether’. Jesus as the baby, and eventually the man, are rooted solidly in history. BC and AD, Before Christ and AD (Anno Domini) The year of the Lord, have allowed us to date our years. So 2022 speaks of 2022 years from the birth of Jesus.

So what does it say that Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus at Christmas every year since? I understand it to mean that this Jesus was no ordinary baby. He was the Son of God sent to earth to redeem fallen people, so that their relationship to their creator could be restored.

Of course, if we appropriate that as true, then doesn’t the message suit today well? Don’t we live in a fallen world?

Haven’t we got far away from our creator?

Don’t we need restoration? Aren’t we desperate for relationships and belonging? Aren’t we people who are searching for love? The world I live in is screaming for these things. And do you know what? Christians believe that Jesus still lives today in His Heaven advocating for us as He promised he would do all those years ago and calling us to Him so that He can be the answer to the questions above.

From where I sit as a Chaplain and pastoral worker, I see many in crisis and I firmly believe that where they’re at is the very place where Jesus stands to meet them – at those metaphorical crossroads – at their point of crisis.

So next time we complain about Christmas starting early, and are annoyed with the carols, let’s try to see if we can locate the real Jesus of Christmas who transcends time but lives in it – our time.

This is a matter of God’s Grace and our faith working in tandem.

He did say that whoever looks for Him will find Him. If you would like to get some of this unpacked over a coffee give me a call on the number below.

Many blessings and a safe and Merry Christmas.

0487698201 Graeme Dawson, Chaplain to community

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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MAIL 29

SPORT

Thriller Monbulk matches The Monbulk Cricket Club held its Christmas party on Saturday 17 December, with those from all areas of the club, including blasters, juniors, seniors and families.

Junior coaches spoke about the improvement, fun and success all the teams are having and handed out some awards, with Santa also paying a visit much to the delight of the many kids and parents.

There were 10 Christmas raffle winners, with the main prizes of: Bike from Cog Bikes(Aaron Bermingham), SR Extreme Cricket Bat (Andy Firth) & MCC Cricket Bag (Clayton Spooner).

The 3’s, 4’s & 5’s were able to secure a win on Saturday 17 December, with the 1’s and 2’s both going down by 1 run in absolute thrillers against top sides The club wishes luck to its four juniors playing in the FTGDCA rep teams in the VMCU Christmas carnival - Lucas McIntosh, Sam Blenkiron, Grace Hourigan, Will Blenkiron.

In other exciting news, some of Monbulk’s Junior Blasters will be attending the Boxing Day Test on day four to participate in activities on the ground during the lunch break.

On 12 January at a Melbourne Stars match at the MCG, last season’s U14 premiers will be doing a lap of honour, and all junior players are invited to attend this match using their Stars membership.

The Monbulk Cricket Club wishes a Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all its awesome players, families and friends.

Scores: 1st XI - Monbulk 9/178 (J.Wilkinson 49, S.Cosstick 37) def by Upwey-Tecoma 7/179 (A.Powell 2/17, S.Cosstick 2/21) 2nd XI – Monbulk 7/197 (B.Trinnick 54, L.Rowe 46, L.McIntosh 34, J.Fenby 33) def

by Upwey-Tecoma 10/198 (D.Cleary 3/19, K.Storey 3/27) 3rd XI – Monbulk 3/109 (C.Spooner 38*, T.Noonan 24*) def Knox City 9/105 (E.Blenkiron 3/14, C.Spooner 3/18) 4th XI - Monbulk 7/162 (T.Mackay 45, D.Blenkiron 37*) def Olinda 8/135 (S.Blenkiron 2/19, L.Tilley 2/27) 5th XI - Monbulk 4/203 (B.Emmett 96*) def Sth Belgrave 8/190 (J.Woodcock 2/31, K.Beecroft 2/34, F.Cocks 2/46) U16’s – Monbulk 8/91 (S.Blenkiron 19, L.McIntosh 19) def by Footballers 6/107 (T.Storer 1/0, W.Meyer 1/11, J.Fraser 1/14) U14 Monbulk 7/89 (E.Dawson 26*, R.Tudor

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The Monbulk Cricket Club community meets Santa.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

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Craig and Jordan Broekhof with Santa.

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14*, L.Ploeg 13*) def FTG Footballers 10/83 (L.Pritchard 2/12, W.Blenkiron 1/9, O.Watson 1/4) U12 Monbulk 2/71 (Q.Kelly 16*, D DeRenzy

Super 7 super stars Harry and Heath.

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Monbulk Cricket Club’s1st XI went up against Upwey-Tecoma Cricket Club on the weekend.

1/19, J.Jennings-Sykes 1/11)

11*, A.Spiteri 9*) def by Knoxfield/UFTG 5/186 (H. Arnott 1/13, T.Phyland 1/38) Fast 9’s Monbulk 5/47 (J.Jennings-Sykes 15*, N.Taylor 7*) def By The Basin 3/111 (A.Selby

7’s Monbulk 10/104 (H.Watson 17*, · Super H.Grigg 16*, Q.Doyle 10*) def by Belgrave White 4/106 (H.Watson 1/2

Goodbyes, Santa visits and Harry Norman’s huge run Put: Ashleigh Rooke 9.11m; Hayley · Shot Wilkins 8.72m; Sarah Ebbels 7.56m; Kathi

By Jamie Strudley The sun was shining for Yarra Ranges Athletics to enjoy the last round of little athletics for 2022 on Saturday. A day of mixed emotions for the club and members. After a morning of high quality athletics that saw a High Jump record from 1991 broken, a visit from Santa brought smiles to the faces of everyone as we also said goodbye to one of our favourite families.

After several years of fantastic support from Kate Downward and her family we say goodbye as the family head to a new adventure in country Victoria. Kate has been an age group leader, committee member and a fantastic coach for our developing little athletics membership. The club wishes Kate, Hannah, Quinn and Scott all the best, we look forward to seeing them again soon.

Harry Norman competed in the Zatopek 10000 on Thursday night at Lakeside Stadium. This is one of the premier events on the Australian Athletics calendar, being the Australian 10000m championships and Victorian 10000m Championships, with prize money up for grabs, a plethora of Australian representatives and the current Australian record holder in the field the race was always going to be tough and exciting. Harry finished in 14th place (5th Victorian) running a huge PB and club record of 29.34.58.

Yarra Ranges’ seniors were in action on Saturday for round 7 of AVSL. Highlights were 30 MAIL

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

Hewitson 6.29m; Ciara Willey 5.95m; AnneMarie Ebbels 5.94m; Hammer: Sarah Ebbels 30.48m; Anne-Marie Ebbels 25.88m; Kathi Hewitson 19.28m; Men 200m: Liam Russell 25.13 (-1.0); Joseph Johnston 27.13 (-0.5); Michael Willey 29.00 (-0.6); Bradley McMeeken 37.79 (0.3); 800m: Craig Hewitson 2:34.95; Michael Willey 2:39.57; Bradley McMeeken 3:24.90; 1500m: Mitchell Pointon 4:58.9h; Shot Put: Ash Almond 8.89m; Craig Hewitson 6.81m; Michael Willey 5.33m; Hammer: Ash Almond 19.64m; Triple Jump: Liam Russell 11.05m; Ash Almond 9.71m; Craig Hewitson 7.82m; Good luck to all athletes competing in Vic Milers events this week.

Training is available to all club members on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5.30pm and continues throughout the Christmas period.

Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability. If you, or someone you know, wants to join in the Little Athletics fun registration is at www. lavic.com.au. For information on training, how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit the website at yarrarangesathletics.org.au or check us out on Facebook. Run, Jump, Throw…too easy!

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Harry Norman finished 14th and 5th for Victoria, running a huge PB and club record at the Zatopek 10000.

Pictures: YARRA RANGES ATHLETICS a rousing 200m heat win from Liam Russell and a fast 800m from Zoe Clarke. The club finishes 2022 in equal first place on the ladder with Preston AC. We look forward to a big turnout of club members in the remaining rounds to cement our position on top of the ladder and secure promotion. Results are: Women 200m: Ashleigh Rooke 27.60 (-0.8); Zoe

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Kate Downward and her family say goodbye to Yarra Ranges Athletics to move to country Victoria.

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Clarke 28.61 (-0.1); Rori Jones 30.20 (-1.2); Ciara Willey 30.38 (-0.8); Kathi Hewitson 37.18 (-0.1); 800m: Zoe Clarke 2:24.76; Mia Strudley 2:33.84; Ciara Willey 2:37.85; Ashleigh Rooke 2:47.10 400m Hurdles: Rori Jones 77.06; 2000m Walk: Emilie Garside 13:38.0h; Triple Jump: Kathi Hewitson 6.15m;

mailcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Monbulk regains top spot

By Jack Rollings The weekend pennant weather was summery temperature at last but there was also a strong gusty breeze that made draw bowling tricky.

Monbulk 1 played at home against Ferntree Gully 2. Monbulk was well above on the ladder so this should have been a gimme. But it turned out to be a close match all day and the overall scoreboard was the centre of attention.

Brian Smith’s team won twelve ends including a 3 and two 4s. They did have a lapse in the middle of the game where they gave away two clangers, a 4 and a 5, which let Ferntree Gully back into the game. But all the other losses were singles. And in the run home Monbulk was the more consistent team. Monbulk won the rink 24 shots to 16.

Karen Rice’s team struggled at the start and was down 8 shots going into the fifth end. Then they picked up four ends in a row to briefly take over the lead. Then followed five horrific ends where Monbulk dropped 14 shots to trail by 12 shots. The Monbulk bowlers then started getting some bowls in the head but the Ferntree Gully skip, with his mechanical arm and heavy bowls, was able to make some precise conversions. Incidentally, the Ferntree Gully skip, Les Lucas, now retired, used to be a farrier for some of the top racehorses. Monbulk was stronger in the final third and was able to reduce the margin which was an important contribution to the overall score. But they lost the rink 21 shots to 28. So, it’s fair to say that this Monbulk team was beaten by Manikato’s farrier.

Jim Bras’ team had the close match. Scores were level five times and the lead changed several times. The Monbulk team didn’t win as many ends but they were able to keep most of the losses to singles, with just one 3 shot clanger. Their wins included two 3s and a 4 and a few doubles. With just three ends to go, scores were locked at 14 shots all. And that’s when Monbulk was able to play their best and

While Monbulk may be on top of the ladder, the top four sides all have a win:loss ratio of 6:3, making the top end of the ladder crowded.

Picture: ON FILE come away with the win 18 shots to 16.

Eric Markham’s team dropped the first two ends but then came back strongly and took the lead by the fifth end. After that, Monbulk dropped only five ends, all for minor scores while their wins included six ends in a row, and they kept increasing their lead with some good multiples. Monbulk won the rink 27 shots to 10.

Overall Monbulk won 90 shots to 70 with three rinks up. Monbulk is now back on top of the ladder. But the top four sides all have a win:loss ratio of 6:3, so it is very crowded.

There are only five rounds remaining after

the Xmas break, starting with an away match against Boronia 1 on 14th January. They are just two ladder points below Monbulk. There might be some nervousness in this round.

Monbulk 2 played away against Narre Warren, under their roof. The wind wasn’t as strong or gusty as it was at Monbulk. With just eight ladder points separating the sides going into this match, and Pakenham way out ahead, this round was always going to be a battle for second spot.

Peter Lee’s team struggled against a strong Narre Warren combination. The Monbulk team was able to win eight ends but all for

minor scores, while the losses included five 3s and a 4. Monbulk lost the rink 12 shots to 26.

Alan Hamilton’s team won nine ends but the losses included a 3 and a 4 and that’s most of the final margin. Towards the end of the day Monbulk rallied and won five of the last six ends and was able to reduce the margin but they couldn’t avoid the loss 11 shots to 19.

Graeme Seymour’s team trailed throughout the front half but was able to draw level at the halfway mark. Then Monbulk won a few ends in a row and led by 8 shots going into the seventeenth end. Narre Warren then picked up 7 shots over the next three ends to trail by just a single shot with two ends to go. Then Monbulk picked up a double and led by 3 shots going into the last end. And that’s when Monbulk dropped a 3 shot clanger to bring up a draw on the rink 19 shots all.

Mike Harris’ team led all day and a couple of times had the margin out to 13 shots. They won eleven ends to ten and both sides won a 3 shotter and a 5 shotter. But Monbulk also picked up a 6 shotter and that proved to be the winning margin at the end of the day. Monbulk won the rink 25 shots to 19.

Overall Monbulk lost 67 shots to 83. They are still third on the ladder. Narre Warren are still second. First game back after the Xmas break, Monbulk will play host to top-of-thetable Pakenham. Pakenham have won all their matches so far this season, but, to give Monbulk some hope, the Pakenham score difference isn’t so far away from Monbulk’s and, even though Monbulk has dropped more shots, they have also scored more shots overall than Pakenham this season. This should be a ripper match.

Cockatoo/Monbulk had a bye this week.

They are third on the ladder, but even so, their score percentage is the highest of all the sides in this competition at 134.84&percnt;. They have a good chance of playing in the finals. After the break they will play at Cockatoo against Yarra Junction 1.

Monbulk midweek bowlers kicked out of the top four

By Jack Rollings On Tuesday it was the coldest, windiest, drenchiest rain that you could ever expect in the middle of winter, and yet there the bowlers were, close to the middle of December.

Welcome to climate change.

Monbulk 1 played away against Lilydale 1.

They played on the Lilydale top green just outside the clubroom. It is a needle-punched carpet that has black furballs on the green surface and it changes pace with direct sunlight (not much of that on Tuesday) and it is also very fast and a bit wide. A lot of bowls ended up in the ditch, with the fast pace intensified by the swirling wind. The home side struggled in the conditions too, but managed better than the visitors.

Eric Markham’s team won ten ends and had level scores a few times. Then, with the end in sight, and the rain starting to pelt down, they dropped three ends in a row and trailed by 7 shots. The final two ends, with all the players soaking, went to Monbulk, but they couldn’t quite make up the margin.

Monbulk lost the rink 17 shots to 19.

Brian Smith’s team led for most of the day and adjusted better than the other rinks to the abnormal conditions. They were 6 shots up going into the sixteenth end, but that’s when they dropped three ends in a row to trail by one shot. Then there was a short break while the rain bucketed down. After that, Monbulk resumed with some focus and took the last three ends to win the rink 23 shots to 19.

Jim Bras’ team won seven ends, including a 3 and a 4, but the losses included four 3s. At the lunch break Monbulk trailed by 6 shots.

Then in the back half, Lilydale kept winning the mat and setting long ends which suited the Lilydale skip – he was able to make several conversions to take the shots from Monbulk. Monbulk lost the rink 14 shots to 26.

Overall, Monbulk lost 54 shots to 64, with one rink up. Monbulk is third on the ladder.

They might have lost touch with top spot but mailcommunity.com.au

It was a wet day at Lilydale during last week’s weekday bowling pennant.

Monbulk Bowling Club’s Craig Ward at Lilydale.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

they are less than a game from second spot, so that will be the aim for after Christmas.

Monbulk 2 played at home against Berwick 4. The rain stopped play late in the day, but the sides had already played more than the minimum 45 ends so the scores stayed in place.

Peter Lee’s team dropped only six ends for the day, with only one clanger. The wins included three 3s and a mighty 7 shotter. They were 10 shots up at the break, then they doubled that in the back half to win the rink 27 shots to 10.

Graeme Goller’s team had a quickfire start, picking up 14 shots on the first three ends. Berwick picked up a few ends after the break, but Monbulk was able to maintain that 14 shot lead right to the finish. They won the rink 27 shots to 13.

Alan Hamilton’s team took the lead on the fifth end with a big 4 shotter and then increased the margin after the lunch break with some good multiples. They won the rink 23 shots to 12.

Overall Monbulk won 77 shots to 35, with three rinks up. Tuesday’s win puts Monbulk

into second spot on the ladder, less than a game below top spot.

Monbulk 3 played against the top side Lilydale 3, but it was at home, on Monbulk turf. Someone forgot to tell Lilydale. They played as though they owned the green. They showed why they are on top of the ladder, with no losses for the season.

Mike Harris’ team won nine ends – the same as Lilydale, but dropped some clangers and they made all the difference. Monbulk was finishing with some momentum until rain stopped play and they were left stranded on 16 shots to 19.

Graeme Seymour’s team had a close battle in the front half. Then Lilydale came out after the break and fired up. Monbulk then lost five ends in a row, including a bad 5 shot clanger.

When rain stopped the game Monbulk had lost 11 shots to 18.

Bruce Cockerill’s team also had a close game. Scores were 4 all, then 7 all, then 14 all.

Then Monbulk managed to grab a couple of singles before the rain stopped play, leaving Monbulk with the win 16 shots to 14.

Overall Monbuk lost 43 shots to 51, with one rink up. They are out of the top four on the ladder but still within one game’s win of third and second. They can still score a home final if they can grab the points after Christmas.

Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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Tuesday, 20 December, 2022

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