Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 21st March 2023

Ferntree Gully Belgrave

Data shows a drop in house values in the outer east

Aston candidates and party leaders

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

Mail The Basin Music Festival returns

Olinda’s female cricketers take out the grand final

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A Star News Group Publication

Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

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Birdsland workshops A project launched to rejuvenate the Birdsland Environmental Education Centre is nearing completion, with a workshop to create bunting for community events being held on Saturday 25 March.

Artist Renate Crow has been running Renewal Fest and Feast, a project to revitalise the Birdsland Environmental Education Centre through weekend workshops held at the centre.

Ms Crow said a lot of people aren’t aware of the education centre, which needed some creative love and community input.

“It’s like this hidden gem down the end of the road and they don’t even know it exists,” she said.

Turn to page 8 for more

Artists Renate Crow and Lisa Von Muller will be running a community bunting workshop at Birdsland Reserve.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Trek for poverty Oxfam’s Trailwalker has run in Australia for 24 years, with participants raising more than $98.5 million to challenge poverty.

This year, the trail for thousands of participants will begin at Puffing Billy Railway Station in Gembrook on Friday 24 March, with people given 40 hours to journey through a 100 kilometre, 50 kilometre or 30 kilometre bush trail.

Father-daughter pair from The Patch, War-

ren and Ebony Miller, will be trekking 100 kilometres in a group of six, passing by stops including SkyHigh Mount Dandenong, before finishing their walk at Lysterfield Lake on Sunday 26 March.

“It is a bit daunting knowing that we’re going to be covering such distance with little to no sleep and very short breaks, but I think we’ll be all right; if dad can do it, I can do it,” Ebony said.

So far, the group, named ‘Legends and Apprentices,’ has raised $2,384 through donations.

“It’s been really good. We’ve done the Melbourne ones, and then there’s Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and we’ve done some in New Zealand as well,” Warren added.

Another group, made up of Kathryn Eames from Sassafras, Judy Friguglietti from Menzies Creek and Katerina Volny from Upwey, joined

Sue Filmer from Lara for the New Zealand Oxfam Trailwalk at New Plymouth on the North Island earlier this month.

“We started in the dark at 6am Saturday and walked through the night to finish at 6.05am on Sunday, achieving our goal of 100km in 24 hours with the help of our excellent support crew,” Judy said.

For more on the story, turn to page 2

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Cycle cop hits the heights

By Tyler Wright A Detective Leading Senior Constable at Victoria Police’s major collision unit has successfully ridden the height of Mount Everest in an effort to raise funds for police veterans’ mental heath.

Raising nearly $10,000 for Police Veterans Victoria with friend Stephan Jusypiw; Constable Leigh Miller rode 300 kilometres on a 1.5 kilometre stretch of Kallista-Emerald Road in The Patch on Saturday 11 March.

Starting at 3am, it took Constable Miller nearly 14 hours to reach a vertical gain of 9,036 metres; nearly 200 metres higher than Mount Everest.

With wife Michelle on the board of Police Veterans Victoria, the police officer knew that a $400,000 sponsorship with the state government had fallen through for the non-for-profit organisation, and he wanted to create a fundraising event.

“Back in the late ‘80s I was a track and field athlete and went to the Olympics in Seoul for 400 metre hurdles, so I’ve got a sporting background,” Constable Miller said.

“I like a challenge, and fitness and health for me is very high on my agenda, so once my running career finished back in the ’90s and my body started breaking down, I went to cycling and I love riding.

“We’re dealing with some the worst collisions that anyone can see, which involves a lot of tragedy. Getting out of the bike clears my head. It gives me time to bring myself back to normality.“ Working with police officers throughout the state and seeing the potential mental health impacts on those in the police force, Constable Miller said he wanted people to know there is an organisation that can help them in retirement.

“PTSD builds up on you, of course, once you retire and you’re not working...they start to suffer,“ he said.

“For instance, I go to fatal collisions day after day, and I say, ’it doesn’t affect me, ’it doesn’t affect me. I’m okay,’...but then one day I go to a collision and it bothers me, and then when I retire or I leave the job and I’m walking down the street and I see something and it’s a flashback to that memory, and all of a sudden I’m a mess and I need help and I don’t

Major collision unit Detective Leading Senior Constable Leigh Miller rode over 9,000 metres on Kallista-Emerald Road in The Patch, higher than Mount Everest, to raise funds for Police Veterans Victoria.

Picture: ERNESTO ARRIAGADA

Constable Miller (centre), was supported by friends Stephan Jusypiw (right) and Purdie Long (left) on Saturday 11 March.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Constable Miller’s wife Michelle (left) is on the board of the non-for-profit organisation, which provides counselling and other services to former members of the police force and their families.

Picture: SUPPLIED

know where to go, it can be just one incident which puts you over and just makes you suffer.

“Whereas police veterans, they’re there, they will provide counselling, servicing, support, anything that members need, and because they’re not for profit, obviously, they’re

“Even post ride messages of support, people that came out and ride with me and support me, it’s just a different feeling than riding on your own...I knew I had people’s backing,“ he said.

“I’m just blown away by the support that everybody gave me.”

relying on the goodwill of major corporations to keep them up and running.“ Constable Miller said the support from Victoria Police, as well as friends and family he received throughout his fundraising efforts, made him feel “really good“.

Oxfam Trailwalker returns with a Gembrook start

By Tyler Wright The Oxfam Trailwalker is returning to Melbourne in 2023, this time beginning in Gembrook for the first time in its 24-year history.

Held from Friday 24 March to Sunday 26 March 2023 on trails throughout the Yarra Ranges, thousands of people will be walking either 30 kilometres, 55 kilometres or 100 kilometres, helping achieve Oxfam’s goal of raising $2.2 million to challenge poverty.

Father-daughter duo from The Patch Warren and Ebony Miller - are taking on the 100 kilometre two-day trek, starting Puffing Billy Railway Station in Gembrook and passing by stops including SkyHigh Mount Dandenong, before finishing their walk at Lysterfield Lake with a group of four other participants.

While it will be Warren’s 15th time conquering the journey, it will be Ebony’s first time, with the pair preparing for the event by completing two 25 kilometre walks; one flat around the Kew area, and another trail from Montrose up to Mount Dandenong and over to the Thousand Steps.

“I’ve wanted to do it for a while now, but obviously because of Covid and everything it’s been postponed, and then last year I was supposed to do it but I busted my ankle just a week out, so I couldn’t do it,” Ebony said.

“This is the hardest trail I think that they’ve ever done.

“It is a bit daunting knowing that we’re going to be covering such distance with little to no sleep and very short breaks, but I think we’ll be all right; if dad can do it, I can do it.“ Warren said the groups can take breaks to 2 MAIL

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

Judy Friguglietti, Kathryn Eames, Sue Filmer and Katerina Volny pause for breath during the 100km NZ Oxfam Trailwalk, which they did in 24 hours earlier this month. Pictures: SUPPLIED

Ebony Miller, Andrew Larkin, Warren Miller and Kylie Heinley will trek 100 kilometres throughout the Yarra Ranges from Friday 24 March to Sunday 26 March as team ‘Legends and Apprentices’.

going out of their way to donate you because you’re finishing the 100ks as well,“ Ebony said.

Since 1999, 96,400 people have participated in the event and raised more than $98.5 million for Oxfam Australia.

Kathryn Eames from Sassafras, Judy Friguglietti from Menzies Creek and Katerina Volny from Upwey also joined Sue Filmer from Lara for the New Zealand Oxfam Trailwalk at New Plymouth on the North Island earlier this month.

Their team, named ’Fit Just Got Real,’ raised close to $3,000 as part of Judy’s 10th Trailwalk.

“We started in the dark at 6am Saturday

and walked through the night to finish at 6.05am on Sunday, achieving our goal of 100km in 24 hours with the help of our excellent support crew, Katerina’s partner Matthew Wall,“ Judy said.

“When you’re walking in the dark with sore blistered feet and trying to spot the next trail marker it feels hard, but then you think of the people who have to walk 50km just to get water or medical help,“ she said.

“Oxfam’s mission is to tackle the root causes of poverty, and that can mean anything from providing clean water and sanitation in Papua New Guinea or supporting farmers in Timor-Leste to adapt to climate change.”

sit, eat and drink along the way, with checkpoints providing amenities for walkers.

“You’ve all got to start and finish together.

You could get sprung out a bit along the trail, but you don’t want to get too far from each other,“ he said.

“It’s been really good. We’ve done the Melbourne ones, and then there’s Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and we’ve done some in New Zealand as well.“ So far, the group, named ’Legends and Apprentices,’ has raised $2,384 through donations.

“It’s a nice feeling, knowing that you’re helping someone as well who’s less fortunate, and it’s also really nice that other people are

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IN BRIEF

Snapper scammed A Selby-based photographer has had her business impacted by a social media scam, leaving her ‘disappointed’ at Instagram parent company Meta’s lack of action.

Garden Imagery owner Kathie Thomas said she was contacted around April last year by someone she thought was a friend; asking for help verifying their account.

Unbeknownst to Ms Thomas, a scammer was behind the account - using the verification she provided them to change the phone number and email address linked to her own.

“I really saw it was someone that I knew who was contacting me saying they wanted help, and I genuinely believed them. Turned out that they’d already hacked this other person’s account and that’s how I got stung,” Ms Thomas said.

Despite contacting META within 24 hours of the hack to prove her identity, Ms Thomas said she has not been able to retrieve her account - and the more than 1000 followers that

came with it.

“I was posting to this Instagram account on a regular basis (three or four times a week), and I started up a new Garden Imagery account, but there was no way I could build up all those followers again because people think they’re still following me on this other account,” Ms Thomas said.

“It’s disappointing and for those who earn their full time income from Instagram or via Instagram, and I know there are a number of photographers who do…that would be so devastating for that to happen to them.”

Ms Thomas also said she has recently received “over 100” messages from contacts looking to verify if messages they have been sent from @ryaugardenimage_ asking for their help are legitimate; which they are not.

“They need to report that person as they’re pretending to be someone they’re not, to unfollow them, because that hurts. The more unfollows they get, the better,” she said.

Meta was contacted for comment.

Operation Arid

Kathie Thomas was locked out of her Garden Imagery account - which she used to contact calendar companies and magazines - after being hacked by someone posing as a friend.

Picture: SUPPLIED

CFA stresses the importance of burns With the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley being high bushfire-risk areas, CFA is taking the opportunity provided by favourable weather conditions to conduct planned burns across the regions to help reduce bushfire spread and intensity and decrease the risk to homes, key infrastructure, and reservoirs.

CFA District 13 Assistant Chief Fire Officer David Renkin said it is important CFA takes the opportunity to reduce vegetation levels in the area while conditions are safe to do so.

“Our aim is to reduce fuel loads such as leaves, sticks and fallen branches in these locations that are close to communities and reduce the impact of future bushfires,” he said.

“While burns are in progress, smoke may be present in communities, and some roads and forest areas may be closed for public safety.”

Biodiversity and cultural heritage checks have been completed, and endangered species and sites of cultural significance will be protected.

Mr Renkin says high priority planned burns in Silvan and Emerald have been planned in partnership with Melbourne Water to reduce the risk of ash and soot contamination of Melbourne’s vital water supply during an intense bushfire.

“The burn is being done to protect Melbourne’s water storage and treatment infrastructure and safeguard the Silvan water catchment from a bushfire entering from the north,” he said.

“CFA firefighters and firefighting vehicles will be on site during all burns to keep the fire under control, and for 2-3 days after to

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15-year-old Nadine was last seen on Terry Avenue in Belgrave on Thursday 16 March. Concerns are held for her wellbeing due to her age.

Nadine is 168 centimetres tall with a slim build, brown hair and has braces on her teeth.

She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and tracksuit pants with black shoes. She is possibly in the Knox or Ringwood areas. If you have seen Nadine or know something, please contact the Belgrave Police Station on (03) 9754 6677.

Victoria Police’s Operation Arid detected almost 7000 traffic offences as they ramped up their efforts to keep people safe on the roads last Labour Day weekend.

The stakes were high, with 74 lives lost in the first 73 days of the year, 45 per cent higher than the same time last year and the five-year average – both 51.

Assistant Commissioner Road Policing of Glenn Weir said considering it was a long weekend, with high traffic volumes and good weather, they saw the majority of people doing the right thing on our roads.

“Disappointingly though, we continue to detect motorists for the type of behaviour that’s been contributing to road trauma this year – that being speed, distraction, and impaired driving,” he said. “It is simply not good enough to just ignore the warnings – the reality is, there has been more lives lost on our roads than there have been days this year.”

Speeding, impaired driving, mobile phone use and unauthorised driving were the key issues detected by police during the four-day operation. More than a third of offences detected related to speeding, with almost 80 per cent of speeding motorists detected between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.

There were almost as many drug drivers caught as drink drivers, with 198 drink driving offences and 192 drug driving offences detected. Mobile phone offences jumped 23 per cent from the last statewide operation in January, with 323 motorists caught using their phone while driving. Unauthorised drivers accounted for 396 offences, with police using automatic numberplate recognition technology (ANPR) to detect and remove disqualified, suspended and unlicenced drivers from the road.

Applications to help seeing eye dogs now open CFA is conducting planned burns across the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges. Picture: SUPPLIED prevent the burn from reigniting.”

“Current mild temperatures, wind conditions and average rainfall have allowed for a safe window for the planned burns to be conducted and easily controlled. If the weather becomes unfavourable during operations, the burning will stop,” he said.

CFA is urging the community to stay informed of planned burns happening in their local area.

“It is normal to see flames, smell smoke, and hear crackling on the day of ignition and see vegetation smouldering in the burn area for 2-3 days post-burn. You should not call 000 unless there is an emergency,” he said.

“If there is no wind to clear the air, smoke can linger and settle in low lying areas for a few days after a burn too.

“The community should subscribe to Planned Burns Victoria and the VicEmergency app to receive notifications when burns in their area are being scheduled and undertaken.”

During planned burns you should: Keep doors & windows closed Switch air conditioning to recycle or recirculate Bring washing inside Keep pets indoors Avoid physical activity If you have asthma, carry your medication and inhaler with you For the latest information about when and where planned burns are happening visit www.vic.gov.au/plannedburns or call 1800 226 226.

· · · · · ·

Applications are now open in Melbourne for volunteers to help guide Vision Australia’s Seeing Eye Dogs along the path to becoming highly trained working dogs.

Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs cover the costs of raising a pup, including food, equipment and vet care. Volunteers just offer their home and heart.

Puppy development trainers meet each volunteer carer to help teach basic puppy skills, such as lead-walking, socialising, appropriate feeding, and toileting. From application to approval, the process for volunteers takes about eight weeks, including police checks, working with children checks, and household assessment. Whether working, studying or retired, single or with family, already caring for a pet, apartment-living or on an acreage – or somewhere in between – please apply now!

To apply to be a puppy carer, visit: www.sed. visionaustralia.org/puppy-caring/apply-now

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Missing teen

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NEWS

Healthcare inspiration

By Mikayla van Loon Aspiring Yarra Ranges healthcare professionals currently immersing themselves in study are being encouraged to apply for Inspiro’s tertiary health scholarships program.

Open to students studying health sciences at an Australian university or at a higher education TAFE and those undertaking studies in a health field in a vocational education and training setting, four scholarships of different values are awarded each year.

Having received both the major $10,000 award and the $3000 award across the space of four years, Zoe Eggleton came back as an ambassador for the scholarship program this year.

“It’s such an incredible program and opportunity. First of all, obviously, there’s the elements of the scholarship fund but there’s also the extra support you get from Inspiro,” she said.

“It’s nice to feel like you’re part of the community and that you’re supported by that community.”

The scholarship program was able to assist Zoe in both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in physiotherapy, which saw her graduate at the end of last year.

Now working as a physiotherapist at the Austin Hospital, Zoe said she feels so lucky to have been supported by Inspiro to get her to where she is now, considering when she first started she wasn’t too sure where that would be.

“I had a drive to work in healthcare but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go and my idea of where I wanted to head in healthcare

Last year’s scholarship program brought together Sue Sestan, Kim Griffiths, Zoe Eggleton, Jim Child, Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS. Amy Imms, Olivia Marceddo and Hamish Russell. 278880 has changed significantly throughout my journey,” Zoe said.

“I didn’t really know much about Allied Health, and the different aspects that exist in healthcare initially. Once you get your foot in the door, whether that be through a health science degree or anything, it opens your eyes to all the different elements of healthcare that exist.

“It’s just encouraging to know Inspiro is supporting people through any healthcare de-

gree or study so they can then be exposed to that and then decide where they want to go.”

Executive assistant to the CEO Penny Taylor said with a skill shortage across every industry, healthcare being quite severely impacted, the scholarship is about sharing other people’s routes as well to show there are many different avenues.

“There are so many roles and opportunities and I think it’s making people aware of those opportunities,” she said.

“It’s that education piece around, it’s not just these traditional positions when you think about health, there are so many layers and levels, and different areas that you can specialise in.”

Expecting a late run of applications before the end of March, Penny said it’s just about making young people in the Yarra Ranges aware this is available to them.

The four scholarships are divided into a $10,000, a $7,500 and two $2,500 awards to be used by the recipient as they see fit, whether that be helping others or helping to financially achieve their studies.

Since Inspiro took on the scholarship program from the former Lilydale Community Hospital in 2006, the organisation has assisted 62 students, sharing in $170,000.

“It’s our commitment to giving back to the community, but also to continue to encourage and support those students through community health, we’re so committed to the sector,” Penny said.

“But also to give them an opportunity to be able to facilitate that and being so committed to the Yarra Ranges community, to provide that support to those students to try and assist them through the process.”

Applications are open until 4pm on 31 March, after which shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with one of the board directors, Community Advisory Committee chair Hamish Russell and Zoe. An award ceremony will follow once recipients have been notified, with family and friends invited to share in the celebrations.

To apply for the scholarship go to inspiro. org.au/join-in/scholarships/

Three generations spending quality time together A restarted initiative through Yarra Ranges Council is creating community connections that span across generations.

Marking Cultural Diversity Week, diverse families from Council’s Supported Playgroups and senior citizens from the Social Support Groups came together for a morning of playtime and fun on Tuesday 14 March.

Yarra Ranges Council’s Playgroup & Early Years Community Support Team Leader Rakhi Khanna said there are benefits for both seniors, parents and children, with the most important aspect being that it is breaking social isolation.

“For many of our families, don’t have grandparents living in Australia, so it’s great for the young families to make the connection with the seniors and have an elderly figure to start that,” she said.

“For the seniors, as well as that connection they get an increased feeling of purpose, we have seen the joy and the sparkle in them when they are interacting with the

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little child, it brings back a lot of memories from their own parenting.”

The families are from a variety of different cultural backgrounds including the Hakha Chin and Zomi Chin people from Myanmar as well as India.

Ms Khanna said the group shows that it takes a village to raise a child.

“It is creating a cohesive community and gets them interacting with more adults and community members, which is very important for creating a secure attachment and relationship base,” she said.

“Young toddlers are on their journey of developing their speech and language and they are hearing different words and songs from the seniors as well and that will really enhance their speech and language development.”

A twelve-month pilot program of intergenerational pilot was successfully run in 2019, but the program has been on hold since due to the Covid pandemic, but regular sessions are expected throughout 2023.

Coordinator of the Social Support pro-

gram Heather Barr said their aim is to keep people out of nursing homes where they can by providing physical and cognitive stimulation and fun for elderly citizens still living at home.

‘A lot of the seniors do not see their grandchildren due to busy families or family breakdowns etc but they just come alive around children, and I’ve heard them being asked advice by the parent so they feel like they are valued and have something to contribute,” she said.

“We’re a time in a society where there are more one-person households than ever, of any age group and some people have forgotten how to socialise a little bit so this is a really nice, gorgeous and organic human interaction, which is great to see.”

A variety of arts and crafts and toys were provided for attendees to participate in and enjoy.

Mother Sui Ngun Bor Liam said she wanted her daughter ThaTha to develop and interact in places with others, rather than being bored at home.

Plenty of playtime.

Picture: JESSE GRAHAM

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‘Call to action’ to save independent cinema

A Sassafras mansion has had an asking price reduction of around $3 million after being listed in 2021 with a price range of between $8 million to $8.8 million.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Mansions fail to sell

By Tyler Wright House values have taken a hit over the past year according to new data, with two mansions in Sassafras returning to the market after price cuts.

Data from CoreLogic shows house values have fallen in Melbourne’s outer east by 11.4 per cent in the year to February, with a median value of $862,628.

At their peak value last year, homes in Olinda, Kalorama, Mount Dandenong, Selby, Emerald and Gembrook were valued at a median price of over $1 million, and are now valued at a median of $999,693, $967,867, $990,660, $907,585, $955,405 and $927,570 respectively.

Marshall White Manningham director Brenton Linmeiers said the market is “not bad“ by any means, but houses are taking longer to sell due to trade shortages.

“If we had the same stock volume as we typically do, then there would be a drop,“ Mr Linmeiers said.

“I’m sure some areas that do still have stock volume, they are seeing a greater drop, maybe up to seven per cent, but because of the shortage of stock, it is holding prices.

“It’s not great for real estate agents not having as much stock, but it’s also not bad for real estate agents because we’re essentially still holding prices, so we’re not having to struggle to sell every property.“ Mr Linmeiers is currently handling a listing at 4 Chudleigh Crescent in Sassafras; a mansion with an asking price between $4.9 and $5.2 million, which is set to break the suburb’s record if sold within asking range.

The property dubbed ’Chateau Jardin

Parfume’ sold in 2020 for $2.66 million before being listed in 2021 for between $8 million to $8.8 million.

It is believed a contract fell through with the buyer, who made an offer of around $7 million, with the property making a return to the market in 2023 with a hefty $3 million price cut.

“If we think a property is outside of what we think we can achieve we won’t take the listing on, but anybody who has seen the house can see quite plainly that it’s worth every penny in that quoted range,“ Mr Linmeiers said.

“Some agents come in and give it some inflated value, and obviously the vendors are always happy to try as you would be, but at the same time there were some things that were included in the sale back then that potentially aren’t now, like a lot of the furnishings.

“They’ve spent close $4 million in renovations on that property since they purchased it for $2.5 to $2.6 [million], but then they’ve also spent millions of dollars in furnishings and sculptures and things like that that actually make up a lot of landscaping and so forth.“ A six bedroom and six bathroom home in Sassafras at 2 Aurora Rise has also re-entered the market, this time with a $500,000 drop in asking price, with the vendor asking for $5.4 million, compared to a listing in 2022 asking for $5.9 million.

‘Abingdon’ as the mansion is named, last sold in 2017 for $1.6 million.

Sassafrass’ current record house price sits at $3.3 million, with the sale of 1 Chudleigh Crescent in April 2022.

JEWELLERS

Tom and Cynthia Schouten, the owners of Metro Cinema in Boronia, have a lifetime of association with the silver screen that they don’t want to end anytime soon.

The pair said since the Covid-19 pandemic, their business has been “smashed” and without a change in patronage, they aren’t sure if Metro Cinemas will still be a part of the Boronia community in six months.

Mr Schouten estimates that since the Covid-19 lockdowns in Melbourne, business at the cinema is down over 50 per cent.

“It’s a special little place, just walking into the foyer it feels homely,” Mr Schouten said.

“The two biggest things have been people getting into the habit of watching through streaming and the older audience still being concerned about their health.”

Other factors like delays in filming and production during the pandemic impacting what “product” is available to cinemas to screen and rising electricity costs are creating further challenges for the business.

Mr Schouten said he hopes the local community will answer a ‘call to action’ and support their business so a community asset isn’t lost forever.

“Every independent cinema is facing that at the moment, we’re all in the same boat,” Mr Schouten said.

“There’s a whole there’s some good product coming through over the next year, so we’re just going to get there.”

He asked the local community not to for-

get about going to the cinema because they need their support currently.

“It’s soul destroying, it rips me apart,” Me Schouten said.

“We get the locals here. We had Bob and Sylvia come to announce they were getting divorced, we’ve had people get engaged here.”

The couple met while working for competing cinema companies, have worked across the state at different theatres and have ran Metro Cinema as a family-owned business since 2005.

“We just love the place and we love cinema. We’ve been in the industry for ages,” Ms Schouten said.

“We just love movies, but it’s just seeing people come up, chatting to them to them even if they’ve had a bad day.”

In the past — before streaming services — films would often take 90 days to release on DVD or video and sometimes longer.

Mr Schouten said most films reach streaming services 40 or 45 days after release, giving people less incentive to rush to the cinema.

“The thing is, we just want people to come. We don’t want to be like a kid in Oliver saying more, please,” he said.

“I don’t want to be bankrupt and I’ll deal with it properly, but we don’t want to go out of owing money to people. “ “If we were to shut, I could hear what everyone would be saying,” Ms Schouten said.

“They’d all be saying, oh no we loved going there.”

Metro Cinemas Boronia is located at Dorset Square, Boronia.

12593102-AI12-23

By Parker McKenzie

We’re removing level crossings on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines As part of Victoria’s Big Build, we’re removing 110 dangerous and congested level crossings, with 67 already gone.

Train disruptions: Buses replace trains in both directions Belgrave and Lilydale lines

Until late May

On sections of the lines

Road disruptions: Closed roads

Come be a part of

the Upwey Easter Eggstravaganza with Erimus Jewellers

Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert

Until early May

At the level crossing

Union Road, Surrey Hills

Until early May

At the level crossing

Check before you travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au

MTIA8825

THURSDAY 30TH MARCH 5pm until 8pm

Contact us Erimus Jewellers 0448 319 713 10 Main St, Upwey | Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 5:00pm Saturday: 9:30am - 2:30pm | Sunday: Closed

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 12590024-SN12-23

mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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MAIL 5

NEWS

Birdsland to Upwey pathway supported

By Parker Mckenzie A petition to connect Birdsland Reserve to Upwey received support from local councillors at Yarra Ranges’ most recent council meeting on Tuesday 14 March.

Launched by local resident Andrew Weiler, the petition proposes the addition of a walking path from Hazelvale Road across councilowned land, drastically reducing the time required to reach Birdsland Reserve.

Mr Weiler told councillors at the meeting he discovered on his walks that there was an unused paddock connecting the road to the reserve.

“One day I got hold of a map that shows that the paddock is a part of Birdsland Reserve, for a while the council leased to as an adjistment paddock,” he said.

“Putting the path through would be a sensible way to encourage walkers into Birdsland.”

Mr Weiler said his change.org petition received over 350 signatures and many com-

The proposed entrance for the pathway into Birdsland from Upwey.

Picture: FILE ments in support of the idea.

Yarra Ranges Director of Infrastructure Hjalmar Philipp said the process for creating the walking path is “pretty straightforward.”

“The team have had a cursory look, there are no real red flags. The question of boggy

Nike will phase out the use of kangaroo leather across all its products by the end of the year.

ground has to be investigated,” he said.

“It’s not currently in the council’s budget, so council officers will go and undertake the investigation, cost it up and bring it back to council to consider in your full program.”

Cr Joanna Skelton said she thought the path was a great idea as soon as Mr Weiler shared the petition with the council.

“It was really great to see how much of the community got behind and signed the petition and to and to see all the comments that came out of it,” she said.

“It is frustrating walking the big loop and all of that other stuff, so it’s it’s great to hear that we will receive this petition and take further action to look at the concept from here.”

Cr Andrew Fullagar, who is also an Upwey resident, said the path makes “a lot of sense.”

“At the moment you zigzag to Burrinja and into Birdsland and this would be ideal to short circuit it encourages walkers and helps connect our communities,” he said.

The motion was passed unanimously.

Picture: DIEGO FEDELE/AAP

Nike gives kangaroo leather the boot

By Callum Ludwig After years of campaigning from groups such as the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance, major global sports brands Puma and Nike have announced they are scrapping the use of kangaroo leather, known as ‘k-leather’ from their products by the end of 2023.

Due to its toughness, k-leather was used in the upper material football boots such as the Puma King or Nike Tiempo but will now be replaced by a new microfibre technology which Puma claims have outperformed previous boots in touch, comfort, and durability.

President and founder of the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance (VKA), which started out in the Yarra Ranges, Alyssa Wormald said the VKA are ecstatic and finds it heartening to see large corporations making the move in line with their consumer expectations.

“The kangaroo protection movement has a long history and there have been some really impactful wins along the way. The import bans in California and Russia, and the RSPCA rejecting kangaroo pet food were particularly notable advances,” she said.

“It has been pretty incredible to have two big wins with Puma and Nike ditching kangaroo leather alongside import bans pending in the USA and Europe.”

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

known as the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action or DEECA) has a 2022 Statewide Abundance of Kangaroos in Victoria report, which found that there were an estimated 2,418,000 kangaroos in the state in September and October 2022, predominantly Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

Ms Wormald said the loss of these big retailers will certainly hurt the kangaroo industry, and ending the commercialisation of the slaughter is a key goal.

“We know that there are innovative ways to peacefully coexist with wildlife, but as long the commercial industry exists there is no incentive for the development and implementation of such methods,” she said.

“We hope that community action and international censure will provide the incentive and political will to do better.”

In Victoria, authorised harvesting of Eastern and Western Grey kangaroos is permitted under the Victorian Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan (KHMP). This followed the Kangaroo Pet Food Trial (KPFT) held from 2014 to 2019 where under the Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) system, landholders could kill and dispose of kangaroos themselves. According to the KPFT Evaluation report, there was a 250 per cent increase in kangaroos killed in the state, which totalled over one million kangaroos during that time. The report found

the increased number of kangaroos approved for control ‘may not only compromise the aim of reducing waste, but could also threaten the sustainability of kangaroo populations in future years.’

President of the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia (KIAA) Ray Borda said in a statement that Nike changed their direction some time ago in 2021, as did Puma.

“From our perspective, some of these materials decisions can be a move towards new synthetic alternatives rather than a move away from Kangaroo. We have always seen shifts in and out of kangaroo and other leather over time by various brands and across various products,” he said.

“These relationships don’t underpin the industry – we have other shoe manufacturers that have increasing demand and recognise the environmental benefits of kangaroo leather. Kangaroo leather is fast becoming known as an eco-friendly option due to its longevity, biodegradability, and sustainability.”

The KIAA is currently pushing for carbon footprint accreditation for the harvest of kangaroos, highlighting the fact that those kangaroos have one-third the carbon footprint of other animals like cattle and sheep. They have pointed to reduced methane emissions, less water consumption, less impact on grazing lands and ease of capture and contain as key indicators of this.

From left: Simon Dent, Parks Victoria Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area Project Officer and Sue Tardif Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Community Engagement Facilitator. Picture: SUPPLIED

Protections enhanced

By Callum Ludwig The Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area in Yellingbo is set to improve its security and effectiveness with an upgrade set to help the native habitat thrive.

The last remaining wild population of the critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater and the only lowland population of the critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possum reside within and rely upon the Conservation Area to prevent their extinction.

Parks Victoria Area Chief Ranger Jack Dinkgreve said Parks Victoria is thrilled to be leading an important habitat restoration project at Woori Yallock Creek within the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area on Wurundjeri Country.

“With support from the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater and Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum, and funding from the Victorian Government and Melbourne Water, a 1.8km herbivore exclusion fence has been erected to establish important feeding and breeding habitat for critically endangered populations of the Helmeted Honeyeater and Leadbeater’s Possum,” he said.

“Covering an area of 6.3 hectares, the new fence has been built using reclaimed materials from existing plots in the area. It will keep deer and local herbivores such as wallabies and wombats from devouring more than 125,000 seedlings, to be planted in the coming months as part of a collaborative, multiyear habitat restoration project.”

The development comes as part of the 10-year plan for the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area drafted by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), in collaboration with Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water.

Co-President of Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Virginia Wallace said the support and every little bit helps in protecting and improving the outlook for the faunal emblems.

“We really need to give the seedlings that we grow at our nursery the best opportunity possible to create that understory and habitat, particularly because deer are ruthless and they just munch everything,” she said.

“Areas like these are so important because we’re not here just for one species, we’re here for the whole of the habitat.

We’ve recently become aware there are some endangered reptiles in the area and know of other endangered species, such as owls so whatever we do to look after the habitat for one species has enormous positive benefits for others.”

Regular planting days and survey events are held at the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area and anyone interested in getting involved can find out more at www.helmetedhoneyeater. org.au or on the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Inc Facebook page. mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Greens candidate hopeful

By Parker Mckenzie Greens candidate for Aston Angelica Di Camillo is hoping to build on a strong result for the party at the 2022 federal election on both a local and national level.

After making her first foray into politics during last year’s Victorian state election, Ms Di Camillo said she decided to run as the Greens candidate in the state seat of Rowville because she wanted to take action and “be around people who really care.”

“I was so inspired by the incredible people that I met that really cared about the future of politics and also just I really care about the future of young people, especially in Aston, because I know there’s no way that I could personally afford a home in the area,” she said.

“It’s stressful for young people to feel that way, knowing that they can’t necessarily live in areas that they want to. Those kinds of pressures pushed me to want to speak out on these issues.”

She said she was attracted to the Greens because the party “offered a refreshing view of politics for everyday people.”

“It’s so easy to get really disenfranchised with politics, but I found that all of their policies really care about people and the planet over anything else, especially over big business,” she said.

“The Greens are adamant that they’re strong to their values and don’t waiver on that, so that was really powerful and I wanted to be involved in it.”

Raised in Rowville, Ms Di Camillo works as a project manager for an engineering consulting company focused on sustainable buildings and infrastructure.

She said the effects and causes of climate change are an issue that should be addressed, with coal and gas contributing to extreme weather patterns.

“Instead of pouring more fuel on the fire and opening up more coal and gas, we really need to stop it. The current government isn’t doing that, they’re wavering,” Ms De Camillo said.

“There are so many opportunities to create thousands of jobs in renewables and exciting opportunities there and the Greens have re-

Greens candidate for Aston Angelica Di Camillo. ally solid plans for a clean transition there and making sure the workers are included in that conversation. “ Ms Di Camillo said another major issue for the people of Aston is the cost of living crisis, which is “causing everyday people to suffer.”

“Interest rates increasing and then banks being able to profit off that during the hard times is something that the Aston individuals shouldn’t have to suffer through,” she said.

“That’s why Greens are pushing for freeze rent and mortgages to keep up with this increased cost of living and also to push fully

Picture: FACEBOOK funded dental and mental health into Medicare so that individuals aren’t paying for those kinds of essentials.”

The Greens achieved good results at the 2022 federal election in Aston, an “exciting” 3.22 per cent increase in first-party preference, which was the party’s best result in the electorate.

Ms Di Camillo said she believes the result is because people have realised there are more options than just Liberal and Labor.

“For too long, the major parties have benefited because they haven’t been held account-

able to their promises,” she said.

“There’s been a real shift and a real change in the air, people understand how powerful their vote really is and they won’t be taken for granted any longer.”

The Aston by-election will be held on Saturday 1 April.

The Aston electorate covers Bayswater, Boronia, Ferntree Gully, Knoxfield, Rowville, Scoresby, The Basin, Wantirna and Wantirna South, and parts of Lysterfield, Sassafras and Upper Ferntree Gully.

Early voting for Aston by-election commences Monday

By Parker McKenzie Prime Ministers in Chinese restaurant carparks, the opposition leader handing out lettuce in Ferntree Gully and less than subtle digs from candidates: All this and more, just in time for pre-polling to start on Monday 20 March.

Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have been a common sight around the suburbs that make up the electorate after the Saturday 1 April by-election was triggered by Alan Tudge’s retirement from politics.

Mr Dutton was at Foothill’s Community Care’s Wednesday night dinner alongside Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell and Casey MP Aaron Violi, as the trio helped hand out free food to those in attendance.

“Thank you very much to all the volunteers who are here and the amazing people,” Mr Dutton said.

“I just wanted to say thank you for having us and I’m sorry to interrupt, but you’re about to have dinner. It smells fantastic.”

At Foothills, Ms Campbell told the Star Mail she was finalising her move to the Aston electorate.

“I committed when I stood for this seat that I would move into the seat and we picked up keys for a property on the weekend,” she said.

“Out of the two major parties there will be one will be an Aston local on election day.”

The following day, Mr Albanese, Labor candidate Mary Doyle and Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles held a press conference in the car park of Mei Jing Chinese Restaurant in Wantirna.

Ms Doyle said she was thrilled to welcome mailcommunity.com.au

Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and a Foothills Community Care volunteer.

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles, Labor candidate Mary Doyle and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Pictures: PARKER MCKENZIE the pair to the local area.

“Since May last year, it feels like there’s an audible sigh of relief to have a compe-

tent, sensible government leading the nation again,” Ms Doyle said.

“I want to be part of the Albanese Labor

government, which has restored Australia’s reputation on the world stage.”

Mr Albanese said his government understands that Australia’s diversity is a strength.

“The truth is that the modern liberal party are too busy fighting each other to worry about fighting for the interests of people,” Mr Albanese said.

“They have a leader, a bloke who told Melbournians that they weren’t safe to go out, who attacked Victorians during the pandemic.”

From Monday 20 March, three early voting centres will open: Boronia Community Church of Christ, 59 Boronia Rd, Boronia St Jude’s Parish Centre, 51 George Street, Scoresby Ferntree Gully Road Business Hub, 1350 Ferntree Gully Road, Scoresby For more information on opening times for voting and all voting centres open on Saturday 1 April, visit aec.gov.au/aston/voting Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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NEWS

Get rid of your weeds at Monbulk

Bunting booster

By Parker Mckenzie A project launched to rejuvenate the Birdsland Environmental Education Centre is nearing completion, with a workshop to create bunting for community events being held on Saturday 25 March.

Artist Renate Crow has been running Renewal Fest and Feast, a project to revitalise the Birdsland Environmental Education Centre through weekend workshops held at the centre.

Ms Crow said a lot of people aren’t aware of the education centre, which needed some creative love and community input.

“It’s like this hidden gem down the end of the road and they don’t even know it exists,” she said.

“They know Birdlands and they know the lake, but often they don’t know that there’s this great facility down there.”

She envisioned the idea of the workshops before the covid-19 pandemic, which she said threw her “off track” completely.

“The workshops, that’s about getting connections with community and people coming together, doing an activity, learning new skills, learning from each other and making friendships,” Ms Crow said.

“The first one was power tools for women.

We made a pizza paddle out of an old oar that I found on hard rubbish and we sanded it, cut it to shape, and we made the metal out of sheet metal I also found on hard rubbish.”

Recycling and reusing old materials is a regular feature in Ms Crow’s art and is a key focus of the workshops. Participants in previous workshops have practised using power tools, some for the first time, and created art to rejuvenate the education centre.

Ms Crow said a previous workshop had participants creating a mosaic to decorate the education centre.

“We learned about cutting out the wood

By Tyler Wright

Artists Renate Crow and Lisa Von Muller at the Birdsland Environmental Education Centre.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS with the jigsaw, so we got to practise our skills,” she said.

“The last one is making community bunting. So this is bunting that we can use for, say, if you organise a festival or an event, you can borrow or hire this bunting, which will become a community asset.”

The workshops are funded through a community grant from Yarra Ranges Council and supported by Burrinja Cultural Centre.

The upcoming workshop will also feature Textile artist Lisa Von Muller, who recently won a Mandurah award for wearable art, and have participants great the community bunting us-

ing Old Singer sewing machines, treadles and hand cranks, with the oldest from 1914.

Ms Crow said the sewing machines aren’t something most people have had the opportunity to experience.

“It’s been really fun and I’ve met some great people,“ she said.

“All these stories that come out about people from their past and our ancestors, and that’s a really special thing.“ For more information on the workshop, visit facebook.com/events/768623511279084 and anyone interested in taking part can contact Renate Crow at renate@sublimemoves. com.au

The community will be able to celebrate the change of summer into autumn at Belgrave Food Garden on Sunday 2 April.

Yarra Ranges locals will be able to drop off their weeds at Baynes Park in Monbulk over two days in April, as weed mass increases throughout the area.

Yarra Ranges Council will organise for two skips to be at the site on Saturday 1 April and Saturday 29 April, with people able to dispose of their weeds from 9.00 am to 03.00 pm on both days.

Council’s biodiversity rehabilitation officer Hannah Grant said the amount of common weeds in the Dandenongs - like Agapanthus and English Ivy - has increased over the past 12 months due to wet conditions.

“When we’re having a species like a weed out competing our native species, we’re seeing native food resources be removed from the environment that our native species need to survive,” Ms Grant said.

“If you got rid of your Ivy and [replanted] with some natives, you’re providing habitat and food for native species.”

Ms Grant said information is available on the council’s website as to how to remove specific weed species; with herbicide an option for some, as well as alternatives that do not involve chemicals.

“Coming into winter, it does give us a chance to remove some of the weeds that are a bit more tricky,” Ms Grant said.

“While it is autumn and we do still get a few dry days... do your herbicide or your cut and paste... cut down a weed and then you’ll put a little bit of the weed killer on the stump...dabbing that on there on a dry day means that it has a chance to soak in and kill that weed before the rain comes and washes it away.”

The next step after weed removal is then the preparation of your soil, Ms Grant said.

“Head down to one of the local nurseries, you can buy tubestock for two to $3... and see if we can help these natives establishing plant in winter and then they have plenty of time to establish by summer, and then hopefully you’ve got something else occupying that space that makes it a bit harder for those weeds to establish.”

Ms Grant said she hopes to make the ‘weed blitz’ and annual event.

“Our green waste bins get full so quickly... some of these properties are quite large and they have quite large infestations of weeds,” she said.

“Providing the skip option means that they can dispose of the weed is free of charge, so it’s a good way of supporting the community.”

Picture: SUPPLIED

Gardeners to celebrate season change

By Tyler Wright As the weather turns cooler in the transition from summer to sutumn, the Belgrave Food Garden will be holding a free family festival celebrating the change of season on Sunday 2 April.

Live music, gardening talks, a kids workshop and silent disco will be part of the festivities from 12pm to 4pm on the day, behind the Cameo Cinemas at 1624 Burwood Highway.

“As most gardeners will recognise, it hasn’t been a particularly great season because it’s been rather wet, but this year we’ve had a lot of beans, which have been great, a lot of herbs,” head of the Belgrave Food Garden committee Ellie McSheedy said.

“We’ve grown a lot of green tomatoes, we’ve got our fingers crossed some of those might ripen, and if they don’t, we’re going to be turning them into chutneys and preserves,” Ms McSheedy said.

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Preparing the gardens for winter will involve composting old plants, thermo casting and using a fumigator plant to rid the area of existing diseases.

Vegetables including brassicas, carrots are then expected to slowly grow in the garden beds throughout winter.

“We’ve also a lot of leafy greens, so a lot of chards, and we had a lot of broccoli as well at the beginning of the season, and we’re also still growing some hops as well, which hopefully we’re going to be turning into a community beer later on in the year,” Mr McSheedy said.

“We’re going to be working with a wonderful permaculturalist Jane Coleman of Earth and Soul Designs, who is very kindly drawing up a crop rotation plan for us so we can absolutely maximise that tiny space to really get as much produce in there as we can and make it as healthy as it can be without the use of any pesticides or any chemicals.”

The space with nine garden beds about a

metre and a half by one metre is available for the community to use 24 hours a day, with the beds looked after by volunteers and locals able to take home ready-to-pick produce.

“Outside of that, any other food that we have remaining is distributed among our volunteers that help out at the garden, and then when we do get a good harvest we also share produce with the library, who give it to the people who visit there, and also with DRERS (Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief) who are also located in the same site as we are,” Ms McSheedy said.

“Bring community together to get to know more people, to be outdoors, to celebrate nature really is the main aim.

“By holding these events, we hope to get more people to know about the garden so they will come and visit the space, they will pick the produce.”

The Belgrave community garden family festival is supported by Yarra Ranges Council’s community grant program.

Weed mass has increased throughout the Dandenong Ranges, according to Yarra Ranges Council’s biodiversity biodiversity rehabilitation officer Hannah Grant.

Picture: ON FILE mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Colour your world On a Thursday afternoon, performers at Colourz – Performance with a Purpose are busy preparing for their biannual show, which will be held at Burrinja Cultural Centre on Saturday 25 March at 3pm.

There’s the crash of drums, laughter and singing as over 30 people practice their dancing, singing, music and performing at St Steven’s Anglican Church in Bayswater, and the fun and joy is infectious to everyone involved.

Colourz founder Arthur Le Fleur said his organisation caters to participants with disabilities and gives them the opportunity to follow their dreams.

“A lot of us want to be an actor, a lot of us want to sing or model or make movies. Some want to be a director and some would like to edit,” he said.

“They want to be musicians and that’s what they get out of this.”

The performances are as varied as the people involved in the program.

Kathryn, who plays the drums and dances, said everyone is really excited about the upcoming show.

“When people watch us and clap their hands, it’s like amazing,” she said.

“Colourz helping us with what we’ve been doing, it’s just really good.”

The program runs daily from Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm. Beyond singing, music and dancing, Colourz also runs programs in modelling, film and acting.

Mr Le Fleur said wants to see those involved go onto further employment in the field they want to pursue.

“We’ve got a friend here who has an editing degree, I would love to see him progress into working at channel 9, 7 or 10,” Mr Le Fleur said.

“I want to see Home and Away actors, I want to see them catwalk modelling. I just want them to have opportunity.”

Colourz – Performance with a Purpose started during the Covid-19 pandemic when Mr Le Fleur ran online performing arts classes for people with disabilities during lockdown.

“A lot of people cannot get that passion of performing because they withdraw and hold it in, a lot of what we see here wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago,” he said.

“We just wanted to get this model right. We want to make sure that we had our routine, our staffing, policies and everything that we’re doing right.”

Our Voice, the show at Burrinja, is a twohour “musical extravaganza,” featuring solo performances and group numbers.

Mr Le Fleur said he wants the local community to join them in celebrating the hard work of everyone involved in the performance.

By Parker Mckenzie

Performers practicing a song and dance routine.

Pictures: PARKER MCKENZIE

The 30-plus strong group of performances in the Thursday afternoon session.

The first thing you hear at Colourz Performance with a Purpose in the beating drums, followed by infectious laughter.

“They work one year to prepare for our show. We’re just asking for people to come and share the emotions with us to two hours out of your year,” he said.

“They spent all year preparing, give them

two hours out of your here and bring a box of tissues because it is an emotional moment.”

For more information on Our Voice, visit burrinja.org.au/burrinja-whats-on/whatson-schools.

Clippers buzz for Emerald’s Great Shave

By Shelby Brooks Buzzed locks floated through Emerald Secondary College’s courtyard on Friday 17 March as the school supported the Leukaemia Foundation.

Most of the school turned out at lunchtime to support the students and staff undergoing the World’s Greatest Shave.

Student Taesha Korsten was one of the first to have all her hair shaved away.

“It feels nice but it’s a bit weird still,” Taesha said afterwards.

“I was nervous to shave my head but it was the best chance to do it for a good cause.”

Wellbeing coordinator Felicity Wooden said the event was a great way for students and staff to be “able to do something for someone else that’s easy, but a very brave thing to do”.

“They can raise a lot of money and understand that their little action can make a huge difference in someone else’s life,” Ms Wooden said.

The school raised over $4500 for blood cancer research.

“It’s also bringing in the wider community, parents and families and carers, small businesses, nearby businesses that are wanting to donate,” English teacher Amy Donders said.

Those who participated received a free Emerald beanie or free Emerald cap. mailcommunity.com.au

Experience the deep

Hollie Kee is supported by her peers after her shave.

Peter McKenzie holds his ponytails which were cut off.

The opportunity to experience an ancient Indigenous meditation practice called Dadirri — or deep listening — while surrounded by the sound of the didgeridoo and reclaimed bushland isn’t one that presents itself often.

On Sunday 26 March, the Hills Walking Together project and Glenfern Valley Bushland will host a Deep Listening event with Ash Dargan, a Larrakia man.

Mr Dargan said Dadirri is the ancient Aboriginal practice of mindfulness and in simple terms, a form of meditation.

“It consists of connecting to country or to the bush. That could be the sky, that could be the mountains, that could be the animals, or it could be a water feature: anything that’s immediately around you when you’re in nature,” he said.

“Dadirri is the practice of being mindful when we’re in nature, it’s about connectedness to nature.”

The hour-and-a-half session starts at 2pm and also features a yarning circle with music and movement.

Mr Dargan said he believes that connectedness is something missing in modern life for many people.

“We’re all so busy in the nine-to-five grind, and most people are working longer hours than that in these enclosed environments, we’re separated from the natural cycles of just the sun moving across the sky, we don’t notice that anymore,” he said.

“We step very briefly out into the world, but then we’re back in our car on the way home to cook dinner and so there’s very, very little time that the average person spends in a natural environment or just outside. “ The event is being held at the Glenfern Valley Bushlands in Upwey, which was previously a quarry and later used as a dumping ground and area for fourwheel driving and trail biking. In 2000, a group of local volunteers took an interest to rehabilitate and preserve the land, reclaiming it as a nature reserve with the help of Yarra Ranges Council.

Mr Dargan said he hopes those in attendance are reminded of the importance of “finding where the pause button is in our busyness and taking a moment to reconnect with nature.”

“This practice restores that connection, but they’re also learning about Aboriginal culture and the cultural knowledge that helps people find their way back to appreciating and having a relationship with nature once again,” he said.

“People will also experience the didgeridoo when I’m doing some meditations, I actually play the cultural music as well and people just absolutely love that.”

The event costs $20 and bookings are essential at trybooking.com/events/ landing?eid=1026937&fbclid.

For more information on Hills Walking Together, you can visit the Facebook page or email hillswalkingtogether@ gmail.com.

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Taesha and Tanja Korsten celebrate her new ‘do.

On Sunday 26 March, the Hills Walking Together project and Glenfern Valley Bushland will host a Deep Listening event with Ash Dargan.

Picture: YARRA RANGES COUNCIL Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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MAIL 9

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The Basin talent show ‘celebration’

By Parker Mckenzie The organiser of a talent show in The Basin hopes the success of the event inspires other communities to host their own and celebrate the talent within the local community.

At The Basin Talent Show on Sunday 12 March, fourteen performers wowed around 75 people at The Basin Theatre.

Organiser Lynette Hayhurst said the feedback from those in attendance was “palpable.”

“The audience didn’t just applaud, you could hear the joy in their cheering,” she said.

“They were ecstatic and loved every performer, it was just wonderful.”

MC’d by Kathy Woolard from Radio Eastern 98.1 — called in on late notice after ABC presenter Jacinta Parsons was forced to pull out due to travel issues — and supported by local businesses, the free event moved all 120 tickets available.

Mr Hayhurst said the show wasn’t a competition; it was a celebration of local talent.

“We had a nine-year-old classical guitarist and his sister, a twelve-year-old harpist who had never performed in a public forum outside their school grounds before,” she said.

“We had veteran performers like Kathie Kenyon who has decades of on-stage experience performing and directing and poet John McKelvie, who had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands.”

The event was sponsored by The Acorn Bar and Restaurant, The Oak Tree Tavern, The Basin Bakery, The Basin Pantry and Croydon Dan Murphy’s.

Mr Hayhurst said she even had the oppor-

Performers on stage at The Basin Talent Show.

Pictures: DANNY TOH

The Soopa Doopa Bush Band performing at The Basin Talent Show. tunity to perform on stage herself.

“We were given an 1880 original Penny Fargo by Pat and George Hetrel to put on the stage for that particular act,” she said.

“I want more communities to do this sort

of thing, it went back to the variety days of the 1950s and 60ss because it was a really familyoriented event.”

Other performers on the afternoon included the Soopa Doopa Bush band and singersongwriters Rainie Zenith and Abbie CW.

Local band celebrates St Patrick’s Day

By Tyler Wright A group of local teachers came together to perform at Micawber Tavern in Belgrave to perform traditional Irish jigs in honour St Patrick’s Day. The newly-formed band titled ‘The Kerrys’ performed a mix of instrumental songs and vocals with the guitar, fiddle, Irish flute, piano and accordian on Friday 17 March.

Flautist Evonne Hampton created the band at the start of 2023 after discovering herself fellow music teacher Penny shared a common love of Celtic music.

“She loves that type of fiddle playing, and of course I got excited when I was in Ireland and bought myself the Irish flute,” Ms Hampton said.

“The other members of the band; my husband on the piano accordion and Penny’s partner on the guitar. It was one of those things that grew and we went ‘hey, let’s get out in the community and play.’”

Newly-formed local band ‘The Kerrys’ celebrated St Patrick’s Day this year with a performance at Micawber Tavern in Belgrave.

Picture: SUPPLIED Ms Hampton said she has connected with the operator of the Victorian Irish Dancing Academy in Tecoma, collaborating with the dancers - who also joined their performance on St Patrick’s Day - by going along to their re-

hearsals and learning more about Irish dance.

“Being the type of music it is, you can have musicians coming in and out and we’re actually meeting a heap of people as well,” Ms Hampton said.

After Covid, music returns to The Basin

By Parker Mckenzie It has only been a short hiatus for The Basin Music Festival, with the long-running showcase of local talent returning to The Basin Triangle and surrounding venues on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 March.

Held since 2005, TBMF hosts free performances on a stage in the town centre, known as The Basin Triangle, and other gigs at nearby venues The Acorn Bar and Hotel and The Oak Tree Tavern.

TBMF Committee member John Mortimore said the four-month turnaround between festivals was because of the Covid-19 pandemic cancelling the event in 2021 and 2022.

“It’s always been held in March, but we’ve had additional events like the Saturday Picnic in the Park concerts as well,” he said.

“The last one was partly a trial to get things back on track again after Covid.”

TBMF is run by organised by a volunteer 10 MAIL

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

The festival kicks off at 10am on Friday 24 March and sees dozens of performances across five stages and locations.

Picture: SUPPLIED committee, with a stage set up in The Basin Triangle for free performances across the three days. Mr Mortimore said the music festival is getting “stronger and stronger.”

“There’s a whole new team of people involved in the organisation and management,”

he said.

“Some are old timers that have been around for ages, but there are some new high-energy people on the committee and they’re getting the job done extremely well.”

The festival kicks off at 10am on Friday 24 March and sees dozens of performances across five stages and locations.

Mr Mortimore said the biggest change in the festival since it first launched 19 years ago was the increased regulations required to put the event on.

“There are always changes in administration and the way we do things, the rules and regulations we have to obey. It’s far more regulated now than it was when I started out on it.”

“We have to bring in other facilities to govern traffic and parking and security. Security used to be sleeping on-site, but that’s no longer considered adequate.”

More information and tickets for the nonfree performances can be found at tbmf.org.au

Synth solo

By Tyler Wright Electro-pop act Boo Seeka, AKA musician Ben ‘Boo’ Gumbleton, will bring his synths to Belgrave’s Sooki Lounge on Thursday 23 March as part of the solo artists’ biggest regional tour yet.

Packed into his own car with three crew members, Gumbleton has performed to crowds at venues in Townsville, Byron Bay, Port Macquarie and Woolongong along with other regional destinations throughout the country on his Australian tour with 25 plus dates.

“It’s a little crew in my car all packed up, all squashed in like we would have been when we first started out, and honestly, it’s just been incredible...if we didn’t have other things to do, we’d be turning around and doing it all over again,“ Gumbleton said.

The first time Gumbleton performed in Belgrave was in 2015, with the area becoming one of his “top favourite“ regional venues to play in Australia.

“I’ve had nothing but great shows there and great memories, and it’s always packed and a good vibe and I think it’s a great room,“ Gumbleton said.

“I can’t wait to get back.“ Boo Seeka was nominated for Triple J’s Unearthed Artist of the Year in 2015, with the act since going on to release several Gold certified records and perform several sellout tours around the country.

While the pandemic brought Gumbleton’s touring schedule to a halt in 2020; he released Boo Seeka’s second studio album ’Between The Head & The Heart’ in 2022.

Fans will be able to enjoy crowd favourites on the current tour, including Kingdom Leader and Finish What You Started, with Gumbleton also set to trial run new songs off an upcoming third record.

“Before I got to do this as a career, I was the one buying five tickets to shows every week to go and see live music,“ Gumbleton said.

“To be in that crowd and seeing my favourite bands playing my favourite songs, and whether it was a sad song or a happy song or a song that made me angry, it gave me emotion, and I was singing at the top of my lungs.

“For me to be on the opposite side of that, being on stage and seeing people smiling or crying and wrapping hands around their friends and singing the top of their lungs; It’s something that I can’t really explain, but it’s the best feeling that you could possibly be given.“ The touring crew will travel to San Remo and Rye after Gumbleton’s performance in Belgrave, followed by a trip to Western Australia before a trip to Darwin where the artist will join indie folk band Boy & Bear on tour.

“I’d be incredibly honoured if you come and saw a Boo Seeka show, but if not, go out and support your other favourite bands,“ Gumbleton said.

“This industry has gone through the ringer and it’s been tough...the best way to get it back to what we all know as live music is to go out there and support your bands.“ For more information on Boo Seeka’s Regional Australia Tour, visit https:// linktr.ee/booseeka

One-man act Boo Seeka, AKA Ben ‘Boo’ Gumbleton, will perform crowd favourites like Kingdom Leader as well as songs from his upcoming album at Sooki Lounge on Thursday 23 March.

Picture: SUPPLIED mailcommunity.com.au

OPINION

Elvis and Steve ‘robbed’

By Seth Lukas Hynes The 95th Oscars ceremony on March 13 made history, but also had a slightly disappointing acting result.

Everything Everywhere All At Once took home seven Oscars, and became the very first science fiction film to win Best Picture (unless you count The Shape of Water, which is more urban fantasy than sci-fi). The fact that a bonkers action-packed sci-fi film earned so much awards love – three acting Oscars, Editing, Original Screenplay, Best Director for the Daniels duo, and Best Picture – is exciting and endlessly encouraging to me.

Michelle Yeoh, the star of Everything Everywhere All At Once, became the first Asian woman and second woman of colour (after Halle Berry in 2002) to win Best Actress, and her speech contained an inspiring message for every woman watching: ’Don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime.’

Jamie Lee Curtis, who won Best Supporting Actress for EEAAO, graciously honoured the hundreds of people who worked on the film – ’We just won an Oscar!’ – and Ke Huy Quan’s unbridled joy at winning Best Supporting Actor (also for EEAAO) was magical.

Yeoh, Quan and Curtis’s Oscars together are a win for range: within EEAAO’s multiverse narrative, these actors each shift between so many markedly different versions of their characters, conjuring laughs, deep pathos and even both.

Brendan Fraser won Best Actor for The Whale, which I’m not so happy about. The Whale is one of those films that became worse the more I thought about it. The film has strong performances, engaging dialogue and a well-paced essay-like structure: an opening thesis of Charlie, a morbidly-obese teacher, trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter Ellie, followed by “paragraphs” developing this conflict and the backstories of his friends

Seth Lukas Hynes thinks Austin Butler deserved Best Actor for Elvis, just as he thought Michael Fassbender did for his depiction of Steve Jobs in 2016.

Picture: SUPPLIED and family, leading to a conclusion. But if I had to grade this essay, I’d give it a B-minus, as the conclusion is sloppy and unearned.

Ellie is so cruel and spiteful that I don’t believe the plot’s insistence that she is a good person deep down, and I don’t think writerdirector Darren Aronofsky intended to leave her morality ambiguous. As such, the hopeful

ending falls flat. There is also an uncomfortable disconnect between Charlie demanding honesty from Ellie and his students and the inherent artifice of Fraser wearing a CGI-enhanced fat-suit.

Setting aside my misgivings over the movie, Fraser delivers a poignant but charming performance, he and Aronofsky bring dignity to

what could have been a grotesque caricature, and it’s nice to see a talented actor win an Oscar after such a long career slump.

But I wanted Austin Butler, the star of Elvis, to win Best Actor. Like Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote, Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln and Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin, Butler becomes Elvis, conveying his swagger, allure and musical passion, but also his poor judgement and failing health as the show-business machine takes its toll. Elvis Presley’s family lauded Butler’s performance, and Butler played the part so well that he still hasn’t completely lost the accent.

Fraser’s paradoxical performance in The Whale is moving yet static. Fraser plays a dying man desperate to reconnect for two hours, and Charlie is more of a focal point than an active character: therelationships around him change, but he himself changes very little. By embodying Elvis, in his meteoric rise and weary, exhausted decline, Butler delivers a more substantive, dynamic evocation of character, and thus deserved the Oscar.

I had much the same attitude in 2016: Michael Fassbender should have won Best Actor, not Leonardo DiCaprio. As Hugh Glass in The Revenant, DiCaprio undeniably gives a compelling performance of raw survival and vengeance, but as Steve Jobs in the film of the same name, Fassbender portrays a more complex, nuanced and evolving character.

While this viewpoint may relate more to writing than acting, Fassbender and Butler’s performances both have more dramatic meat on their bones.

Even a groundbreaking Oscar ceremony like this one can’t get everything right, and while Austin Butler didn’t win the Best Actor Oscar, I can console myself with the fact that he won a Golden Globe, BAFTA and AACTA award for Elvis.

– Seth Lukas Hynes

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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MAIL 11

OPINION

Geology behind Mt Best-loved PASSION Evelyn’s history

FOR PROSE

‘History’s about chaps’, the saying goes. Even leaving aside the sexist implications, it’s a narrow definition – that history is entirely about human activities. But it’s also said of history that ‘Whatever happened, it had to happen somewhere’. And what that somewhere was like, was bound to influence what people did there.

In the last few decades a new kind of history has emerged, in which the environment is central to the argument. Gary Presland, author of First People, has revived the old-fashioned term ‘Natural History’. This includes the geology, soil, climate, flora and fauna: ‘anything that’s not human’.

This has come about partly through a growing interest in Aboriginal history. Bill Gammage’s The Greatest Estate on Earth is a well-known example. Writing about the First Australians without taking account of their deep and subtle engagement with their environment would be almost impossible. Environmental history also fits well with regional history, as in Tom Griffiths’ Forests of Ash.

The perils of coating road dust The dust billows as another car comes into our self-contained subdivision of seventy homes. The dust hangs over the houses until it is blown inside them, and inside our lungs.

The dust coats everything, even the gardens forcing the birds and pollinators to evacuate. Locals drive slowly out of sympathy, but it makes little difference.

When the rain comes the potholes form complementing the dry weather corrugations. It is not long before the Council sends a truck to dump another 30 cubic metres of crushed and powdered rock with quartz, mica and the silicates.

The grader gives us a smooth road until the next rain, or if it is dry for two or three days when the dust again shrouds the area.

Like so many streets we have been promised that ours would be sealed.

But the Government has made a wise economic decision and withdrawn the funds.

However they do not realise that this is not just a budget or engineering matter; it is a community health danger.

We are glad that action is being taken to prevent silicosis in the workplace, but for us it is our living environment, all the time. There appears to be an abnormally high rate of respiratory and throat troubles amongst the residents.

Isn’t it time to research how toxic the dust is?

There may be a way forward. Most residents do not want the area urbanised with environmentally-damaging concrete kerb and channel work and footpaths, we simply want the road surface sealed.

This would be a good solution for the residents, and should be economically possible even within budget constraints.

Surely this is a serious enough matter for our Councils to work hard on providing residents a safe living environment.

- Peter Crawford OAM 12 MAIL

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

Looking

back Karen Phillips

Mount Evelyn History Group editor Griffiths notes that all good ecologists are also good historians.

We can apply these insights to Mt Evelyn, starting with its geology. Mt Evelyn’s underlying rock is volcanic, but from two different sources. The light-coloured rock from the western end is Mt Evelyn Rhyodacite, which originated in Devonian-era eruptions of the Dandenongs volcano more than 400 million years ago. The red basalt of the eastern side came from the so-called ‘ Older Volcanics’ and is only about 23 to 40 million years old.

Except for the alluvial soil found along the creeks, our soil is derived from these two rock types. The Mt Evelyn Rhyodacite produced a thin Light Grey Loam.

The combination of the rock and the nutrient-poor grey soil defeated the early selectors from the 1870s in their attempts to support themselves on the land. The western side began to be subdivided for weekend housing blocks from the 1920s. The basaltic Red Loam found in the eastern and south eastern parts of Mount Evelyn supported flower, fruit and berry growing.

There was traditionally a social distance in Mt Evelyn between the agricultural eastern end and the more closely settled west, with the railway line marking an informal boundary between them. There was even a political divide between the rural, conservative East Riding and the more progressive South West Riding of the former Shire of Lillydale.

So much depended on which volcano you lived under…

An autumn theatre season Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Barefoot in the Park Season: April 20 – May 6.

Paul, a conservative lawyer, marries the vivacious Corrie, but their highly passionate relationship descends into comical discord in a five-flight New York apartment contending with a lack of heating, a leaky roof, several long flights of stairs, the oddball neighbour, the telephone repairman and Corrie’s well-meaning mother.

The Basin Theatre Same Time Next Year Season: Thursday April 20 – Sunday April 30.

Gala Opening: Friday April 21.

New Jersey accountant George Peters and Oakland housewife Doris meet at a Northern California inn in February 1951. They have an affair, and agree to meet once a year, despite the fact both are married to others and have six children between them.

Over the course of the next 24 years, they develop an emotional intimacy deeper than one would expect to find between two people meeting for a clandestine relationship just once a year. During the time they spend with each other, they discuss the births, deaths,

CARTOON

Kemp’s curtain call and marital problems each is experiencing at home, while they adapt themselves to the social changes affecting their lives.

Burrinja Theatre End of Winter Season: Thursday March 30 at 7.30pm.

Will climate change erase leaving it to exist only in fairytales, paintings, and historical accounts? In hot bushfire-prone Australia our winters are becoming warmer and shorter.

The End of Winter is about loss and resilience.

It’s about the places one can search for cold weather – places that can be reached via public transport and imagination.

Don’t forget the 1812 Theatre’s production of The Shoehorn Sonata opening Thursday March 23 and closing April 22.

Bookings: 8758 3964

WITH CHRISTINE SUN A review of RecipeTinEats: Dinner by Nagi Maehashi If you enjoy cooking – or, if you simply enjoy food – then you are likely to have heard of Nagi Maehashi, Australia’s most popular food blogger, and her website RecipeTin Eats. Even her dog Dozer has received the title “Australia’s best-loved food tester”.

The statistics alone are astonishing: Launched in 2014, Maehashi’s website now boasts 140 million visitors per week, with a 4.5 million-strong social media following. In 2021, she founded the not-for-profit organisation RecipeTim Meals, which has since provided more than 30,000 made from scratch meals for the vulnerable in Sydney.

Published in October 2022, Maehashi’s debut cookbook RecipeTin Eats: Dinner was the No.1 bestselling book throughout the Christmas/New Year period. It remained Australian’s most popular non-fiction book until Prince Harry’s Spare arrived in January 2023.

It is perhaps reasonable to suggest that readers embrace Dinner because they like Maehashi’s recipes, regardless of the fact that many of them already exist on her website. It can also be seen as a show of support for a fellow Aussie who has been hard at work for years to build success upon something that she genuinely loves doing.

But the cookbook itself is not without merit. To start with, it contains 150 recipes carefully curated for home-based cooks at all skill levels. The majority of the ingredients can be found in ordinary supermarkets, and a sufficient amount of notes are supplied to explain the preparation, cooking, presentation and storage procedures.

The recipes range from comfort food to fast-and-easy favourites for weeknights, salads, soups as well as rice and noodle dishes from a variety of cultures, simple but delicious desserts, and special treats for festive occasions. Each recipe also comes with a QR code, which readers can scan to watch a convenient how-to video online.

Meanwhile, the many expertly composited and beautifully shot photos makes the cookbook particularly satisfying to those recipe users who must have images or at least illustrations included in their reading, As for those pursuing the culinary art, much can be learned from Maehashi’s aesthetic skills in arranging and showcasing her dishes.

Above all, the cookbook makes for a pleasurable and relaxing reading experience. Indeed, if Nigella Lawson is said to be a “domestic goddess”, then Maehashi is just like the girl next door who can be heard yelling and laughing and rolling all over the floor with her fluffy, cheeky dog. There is no pretence. Whenever you want to cook, it is only because you enjoy cooking, eating and sharing.

If that makes sense to you, then you can understand why Dinner is such a delightful cookbook. The only drawback is that it does not offer a ‘tap or hover to scale” function featured on Maehashi’s website, where you can discover how much of each ingredient is required to downsize a mouth-watering 12-serving strawberry cheesecake for a family of four.

(Come to think of it, you can simply visit the RecipeTin Eats website. Or, surely each family member would be happy to have three servings in one go...) mailcommunity.com.au

SHOP LOCAL EMERALD

Filing abuse compo claims We know from our experience at Guardian Injury Law that, sadly, many individuals have suffered both sexual and physical abuse in school settings in Victoria. It is important that survivors know that they may have options to pursue compensation for both physical and psychological injuries arising out of the abuse, regardless of whether the abuse occurred in a public school or a private school.

The main way to claim compensation arising out of abuse in a school setting in Victoria is by way of a common law claim for pain and suffering and economic loss damages.

What is a common law claim?

A common law claim is a claim in negligence.

To bring a common law claim, it needs to be established: 1. That the school owed the student a duty of care; 2. That the school breached their duty of care when the student was abused; and, 3. That the student suffered an injury as a result of the abuse.

A school’s duty of care: Teachers and schools have a duty to take reasonable care for the safety of students who are under their supervision and control.

Where a student has been abused by a teacher or another student, a school may be found to be responsible for the actions of the teacher or student if certain conditions are met. These conditions can include things such as: Failing to supervise the teacher or students; Employing someone who is a known risk for this type of behaviour; or Failing to respond to complaints about the abuse.

Where a student has been abused by another student, it must be established that the school either knew or ought to reasonably

· · ·

have known that the student was at risk of being abused and that the school failed to adequately minimise that risk.

Generally speaking, the duty of care owed by a school applies to a child who is on school premises during school hours. There have, however, been some cases in Australia where students have been awarded compensation for abuse that has occurred both on and off school premises. For example, at a teacher’s home, in their car or on school excursions and camps.

Students must have suffered an injury due to the abuse: It is a requirement that the person making a common law claim has suffered an injury as a result of the abuse. This is in most circumstances a psychological injury, but things such as scarring from physical abuse can also be considered.

What types of damages can I claim?

There are two main types of damages (compensation) that can be sought in a school

abuse claim. These are known as pain and suffering damages and economic loss damages.

How an abuse lawyer can help: We understand, through our experience with these types of claims, how challenging a process it can be for survivors of physical and sexual abuse. At Guardian Injury Law, we aim to deliver our services in a trauma-informed manner. We will listen to your story and advise you on all potential compensation options available to you.

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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MAIL 13

PUZZLES No. 125

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 ACROSS

easy

5 6 1

9 2 2

3 8 7 9 4 4 5

3 1 7 1 2 5 3 6 1 2 4

4 8 7 6 7

9

7

medium

3 6

6 5 2

9

4 1

9 6 3 7

12 13 14 15 20 21 25 26 28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 27

Man-made water channel (8) Finacially backs (8) Division of the year (6) Unsound; nonsensical (9) Solomonlike (4) Call for repeat (6) Snags (6) Barter in good faith (7) Painting of the countryside (9) Accomplish (7) Australian animal (8) Outfits for actors (8) Shaping garment (6) ABC’s (6) Door opener (6) – and cons (4)

DECODER

No. 125

8 5

4

5 4 6 8 1

DOWN

Hitmen (9) Honey drink (4) Extraterrestrial craft (1.1.1) Representation of an abstract meaning (11) Oust (8) Tussle (6) Schlep (4) Surgical instrument (7) Exchanging something for money (7) Edible rootstock (4) Source of wisdom (6) Edible snail (Fr.) (8) Mountainous, landlocked European country (11) Male sheep or goat (3) Trial (4) Bones; frames (9)

1 6 10 11

No. 125

1 5 9 6

5

4 7

8

hard

3

4

5

6

8

9

10 11 12 13

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

S V 15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

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

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

S

E

Today’s Aim: 12 words: Good 18 words: Very good

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

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

25 words: Excellent

hard

7

3 LETTERS ANY APT ASH ASK DUE EKE ERA EVE HER HUE LYE MAP MEW MOP NIL OUR OWE PER PLY RAM SOP UPS WOE YOU

O Z C N E P UWD I G X J

medium

2

T R KMQ L B H F A Y S V

easy

1

14

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

WORDFIT

E

T

L

B V

I

U

4 LETTERS ALMS BASS COOL COSY DARK ELSE HEED HERS LADS OVEN PILL SAPS TENS TIME

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

5 LETTERS AEONS

& 2 5 ( 6

ALIKE ALIVE AREN’T AROMA ASIDE AURAL AWARD BRAVE BURST CATER CORES DELAY DELIS DRYER EATER EDGED ERROR FIVES GIVES HEART KEEPS

beet, belie, belies, belt, belts, beset, best, betel, bets, bile, bite, bites, blest, blue, bluest, built, bust, bustle, stub, sublet, subtle, tube, VESTIBULE, vibe, vibes

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

No. 125

LOWER MEALY OBESE OPERA PANES PEARL PRONE RASPS RATTY SAFER SAGER SASSY SAUNA SLEWS SMOKO SMOTE SOAPS SPENT SPORT STAID STARS

STYLE TEASE TOKEN TWINE USERS VENUE YELLS

7 LETTERS AWAKENS LETDOWN LINEAGE STRAINS VIRTUAL WASTING

6 LETTERS GUESTS NURSES RESALE RESULT

8 LETTERS INTEREST RELEASES STRESSED TOLERATE

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SUDOKU

24-03-23

William Matthews Funerals 24 HOUR SERVICE - ALL AREAS

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

14 MAIL

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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ULTIMATE SETTING AND LOCATION IF simple living and convenience, accompanied with a safe and tranquil family setting is what you are after, then look no further.

Showcasing excellent presentation and situated in a highly desirable location within walking distance to schools, transport, shopping centers and of course, the famous Emerald Lakeside Park with picnic areas, walking trails, paddle boating and fishing, all with picturesque surrounds right on your doorstep.

This impressive contemporary home boasts all the space your family needs comprising of three generous bedrooms, all with robes and master complete with ensuite and walk-in robe.

The gorgeous hostess kitchen boasts an abundance of bench space and storage,

integrated dishwasher and quality stainless steel appliances and spills out to an open plan dining and lounge which enjoy views over the tree top canopies of Emerald Lake Park.

Entertainment can continue beneath the undercover alfresco whilst watching the kids or furry friends play safely on the terraced lawn ahead.

Other features include the creature comforts of hydronic heating ideal for family members with allergies, a crackling wood fire, split system cooling, bamboo flooring, garden shed, sealed driveway, hedges providing natural private screening and much more.

This home has all the lifestyle features you will desire, so don’t wait and book your inspection today. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 15 Emerald Lake Road, EMERALD Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $850,000 - $935,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218, BARRY PLANT, EMERALD

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

Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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MAIL 15

HOME FOCUS

SPACIOUS ENTERTAINER IN THE HEART OF EMERALD UNIQUE in every way, this much loved tri-level brick home is nestled on a leafy allotment of 4101m2 featuring a variety of native and ornamental shrubs and trees that provide privacy and beauty.

Custom designed the home boasts a brilliant floor plan that allows each member of the family their own space. The spacious living area is filled with charm from the soaring timber lined ceiling, spotted gum floating staircase and the inviting solid fuel fire whilst the well-designed kitchen has an open plan meals area adjoining.

Offering all of the modern conveniences, there is an electric stove, dishwasher and an Aga that will allow you to cook the most amazing meals like Grandma used to. If you would like to connect the Aga up to the new hot water system you can benefit by saving on your bills while you cook.

Huge windows offer a garden view from every angle and allow you to take in the variety of colourful birds that visit. There are four bedrooms, the lavish master suite is set away from the rest of the home and has a parents retreat/study, walk in robe, built in cupboards and full ensuite as well as a balcony that overlooks the yard; this is the ideal place for Sunday brunch.

The fourth bedroom has been designed to be part of a self-contained section that includes a loft, bathroom, 2nd kitchen and a living area complete with solid fuel heater.

This area would be ideal for an extended family situation, adult/ teenagers pad or could be used as a source of income STCA. The remaining bedrooms have built in robes and are serviced by the third bathroom.

There is also two air-conditioners to provide year round comfort.

Out through the main living area is a large deck with a built in BBQ, overhead heaters with a gorgeous view of the surrounding Hydrangeas and Camellias, a sensational place to entertain and watch the kids and fur babies play.

Situated within walking distance of all that the wonderful township of Emerald has to offer including a variety of eateries, highly regarded Primary School, kindergarten, childcare and sporting facilities, this is a property that will delight you and allow you to live a relaxed country lifestyle with every convenience at your fingertips. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 9 Orchard Grove, EMERALD Description: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms Price: $950,000 - $1,040,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Jacqui Ryder 0433 095 278 and Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218, BARRY PLANT, EMERALD 16 MAIL

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

mailcommunity.com.au

20 Hillside Road, Cockatoo

201 Emerald Monbulk Road, Monbulk

68 Beaconsfield Emerald Road, Emerald

BRILLIANTLY FLEXIBLE – INDOORS AND OUT

LOCATION, CONVENIENCE, LIFESTYLE

FAMILY FAVOURITE WITH LOVELY VIEWS ON 1,154M2

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FOR SALE.

GUIDE $720,000 - $770,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $720,000 - $770,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

15 Emerald Lake Road, Emerald

11 Steane Street, Cockatoo

Lot 4, 130 Gembrook Tonimbuk R Gembrook Tonimbuk Road, Gembrook

THE ULTIMATE SETTING, LOCATION AND LIFESTYLE

SITTING PRETTY ON STEANE

5 PICTURESQUE ACRES TO MAKE YOUR OWN

GUIDE $710,000-$781,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

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FOR SALE.

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FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.

25 Edmunds Road, Cockatoo

31 Hamilton Road, Emerald

9 Orchard Grove, Emerald

COUNTRY CHARMER ON 1,005M2

A DREAM LOCATION PACKED WITH POTENTIAL!

Spacious Entertainer in the heart of Emerald

GUIDE $850,000 - $935,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

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GUIDE $700,000 - $770,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

mailcommunity.com.au

GUIDE $750,000 - $800,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

4 T

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GUIDE $695,000 - $764,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Riley Nicholas 0488 501 218 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

GUIDE $920,000 - $980,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

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GUIDE $950,000-$1,040,000 INSPECT By Appointment CONTACT Jacqui Ryder 0433 095 278 Barry Plant Emerald 5968 4522

Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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MAIL 17

HOME FOCUS

IMMACULATE, CHARACTER FILLED HOME THIS unique and delightful home is situated privately on nearly 1.5 acres of parklike grounds, offering the epitome of a private and peaceful Hill’s Lifestyle.

As you enter the home through the split barn door, the open plan lounge/living space features soaring timber ceilings and a large open fire perfect to relax and warm your toes on those cold winter’s evenings. With a gorgeous country style, timber kitchen, complete with free standing gas stove, stainless steel dishwasher and island bench this home exudes warmth and comfort. Add to the comforts with mains water, mains gas ducted heating, a split system for year round convenience and NBN connected.

Outside there is a single lock up garage, the carpark is sealed and provides for plenty of parking for the whole family and all their toys, a cubby house and of course over an acre of natural bushland that welcomes an abundance of birdlife and wildlife.

This immaculate home is bursting with possibilities and would also make an excellent investment as a B&B. Call to arrange a private inspection today.

Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 22 Stewart Road, EMERALD Description: 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 garage Price: $980,000 - $1,070,000 Inspect: See website Contact: Samantha Scott 0438 680 032, BELL REAL ESTATE, EMERALD 18 MAIL

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

mailcommunity.com.au

P 5968 6222 311-313 Main Street Emerald

22 Stewart Road, Emerald

$980,000 - $1,070,000

309 Paternoster Road, Cockatoo

$1,200,000 - $1,300,000

Immaculate, Character Filled Mudbrick Home with a Sound Studio!

Fairytale home with amazing views!

This unique & delightful home is on nearly 1.5 acres of parklike grounds. As you enter the home through the split barn door, the open plan lounge/living space features soaring timber ceilings & a large open fire. With a gorgeous country style kitchen, complete with free standing gas stove, stainless steel dishwasher & island bench. Add to the comforts with mains water, mains gas ducted heating, a split system for year round convenience & NBN connected. There are 2 bedrooms on the ground floor near the main bathroom, & then a 3rd bedroom & separate sitting area upstairs. There is a 4th bedroom (with provision for a WIR & ensuite), which is located in the outbuildings along with a further living room & a sound proof studio. Outside there is a SLUG, the carpark is sealed, there is a cubby house & over an acre of natural bushland.

Two storey home on approx. 8 acres, with bay windows, slate flooring, & reclaimed timber interior.

The ground floor offers open plan living with the kitchen, dining, & lounge room enjoying floor to ceiling glass windows & a large wood fire. The lounge room has a split system AC. There is a downstairs toilet & a large laundry. The spiral staircase leads to 3 large bedrooms all with bay windows & vaulted ceilings. The master bedroom has an ensuite, WIR, & split system AC. There is a study nook, storage area & a toilet & family bathroom. There is a double shed, & a DLUG. The land is divided into 3 paddocks and then a natural bush area, with water to all paddocks & shelter sheds in 2 of the 3 paddocks. With mains electricity, septic system, & approx. 90,000L water storage. There is a 5kW Solar system with 6.5kW battery back-up, a Starlink & a NBN Satellite Dish.

Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032

Bethany Day M 0438 844 968

4

2100 Wellington Road, Clematis

A

1

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

B 1 C

$575,000 - $625,000

3

5 Belvedere Court, Gembrook

A

2

B 2 C

$960,000 - $1,050,000

Great Location - Renovate or Detonate

The Ultimate Family Home in the Heart of Gembrook!

• • • • • •

This stylish character home features 4 bedrooms, 2 large living areas & great outdoor entertaining spaces. With high ceilings, quality light fittings, & polished floorboards throughout. The Master Bedroom has WIR & ensuite with double vanity. The formal living/dining room, allows you to entertain guests whilst the kids hang out in the open plan family room/kitchen/meals space. Or enjoy a cosy night by the wood fire in the living room. The kitchen has white cabinetry, a rangehood, stone benchtops, SMEG gas cooktop & oven, SS dishwasher, & walk in pantry. There is a pitched ceiling over the kitchen & the meals area, creating a bright, airy feeling of space. Outside, is a rear deck in the fully fenced rear yard & a swim spa. With mains gas ducted heating, 5kW of solar, a large DLUG with work bench area & both rear yard access & internal access. There are 2 garden sheds.

1 acre Quiet service road location Dual access 2-bedroom 1920s home Terraced acre with natural bush outlook Mains water, power, NBN & gas available

Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032

Bethany Day M 0438 844 968

2

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Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

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bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

|

MAIL 19

HOME FOCUS

HOME WITH ACCOMMODATION ZONING WITH picture window views of Sherbrooke Forest and only 300 metres to metro train station, bus connections, shops, cafes, bars, live music, and cinema, this beautiful character-filled circa 1919 home gives you the best of both worlds – super convenience and a genuine, private Hills retreat amongst the trees and birds.

Wrapped in a wide, early 20th century jarrah verandah, the upper level of this home has 3 generous bedrooms, including one with open fireplace. The light-filled, extensive living area has rare, original Kauri pine floors with a combination of old-world sash windows and large, North-facing, doubleglazed picture windows bringing mountain views and an abundance of winter sun and streams of moonlight.

Downstairs is zoned Class 1B accommodation with 2 bedrooms, loungeroom, kitchenette, bathroom with spa, and a large deck to enjoy the garden and northerly sun. Being a short stroll from tourist hot spot Puffing Billy, this is a great opportunity for a lucrative accommodation business or homestay income from international students from the adjacent

private girls’ high school.

In addition, there is a 6K watt cost-saving solar system which receives all-day northerly sun. With the potential to add battery storage, there is no need to worry about rising electricity prices.

Other features include ducted heating, WI-FI connected smoke alarm system, 2 wood heaters, lead-light windows, skylights, terraced block and 4 car spaces.

With enough space for family living, an accommodation business, art studio, or teenager retreat, plus a home office, all of your dreams can coexist in this exceptional home.

1,353sqm (approx.) property only 300m from iconic Puffing Billy Railway and the amenities of Belgrave township Light-filled living area with rare Kauri flooring and North-facing double-glazed windows Lower level zoned as Class 1B rental accommodation 6Kw cost-saving solar power system Ample off-street parking and wide street frontage l

· · · ·

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 37 Bayview Road, BELGRAVE Description: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $1,200,000 - $1,300,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Suzie Brannelly 0490 506 910, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 20 MAIL

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

mailcommunity.com.au

Real Estate you can trust!

We ’ r e h e r e t o h e l p FOR SALE

21 Maskells Hill Road, SELBY

$1,220,000 - $1,350,000 4 A 3 B 3.5 C

QUALITY FAMILY LIVING ON OVER HALF AN ACRE

Owned, loved and beautifully maintained by the same family for over 50 years, this unique property showcases the true essence of quality family living. Sitting proudly on 2767m2, the surrounding established gardens and rolling lawns compliment this home so well, showing the high standard that this entire property has been lovingly cared for over the years, both inside and out.

FOR SALE

$615,000 - $675,000

21 Inspiration Circuit, PAKENHAM

4A2B2C

SOPHISTICATION, STYLE AND A PERFECT LOCATION!

Located in the Edenbrook Estate and within walking distance to John Henry Primary School & Edenbrook Secondary College, this impeccable family home will impress on all levels. Built with timeless style and sophistication, you will discover a spacious floorplan that includes four sizeable bedrooms, two bathrooms (ensuite to main bedroom) and dual living zones that area perfect for creating privacy for all.

Make this home your inspiration!

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

Glenn Chandler

Sharyn Chandler

M 0418 410 689 | E glenn@chandlerandco.com.au

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

FOR SALE

12 Kia Ora Avenue, UPWEY

$780,000 - $830,000

CHARMING PERIOD HOME WITH PRIZED NRZ2 ZONING

2A1B1C

FOR SALE

21 Bianca Court, ROWVILLE

$950,000 - $995,000 4A2B

SINGLE LEVEL HOME IN PEACEFUL POCKET POSITION

Savvy buyers will see instant potential at this charming period residence merely 50 minutes from Melbourne CBD. Situated only 600m from bustling Upwey township and easily accessing public transport and picturesque Dandenong Ranges National Park, this property has all the makings of a magnificent investment.

From its sprawling 628sqm (approx.) corner allotment in a quiet no-through road position, this impressive home offers an outstanding lifestyle. Designed for comfort within a single level layout, every element required for enviable family living can be found here. Upon entry, the generous lounge with floor to ceiling windows is adorned with quality carpet for a warm and cosy feeling.

Brad Conder

Brad Conder

M 0422 639 115 | E brad@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, 21 March, 2023

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MAIL 21

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5968 3334 or 0408 335 077 IAN WOODHOUSE Plumbing Contractor Reg No. 15348

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CRANE TRUCK DRIVER Murphy’s Mitre 10 is a local Hardware/ Trade Centre, located in leafy Monbulk.

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WANTED TO RENT KALISTA 1-2 bedroom cottage close to Perrins Creek Road Kalista. From 1st February 2024 for 6 months. Please phone Chrissie 0428 293 037

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Call Chris 0412 099 142 24 years in roofing leaks

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• After your advertisement has run for 13 weeks you must call us each fortnight to renew it for a further 2 week period AND reduce the price of your item by a minimum 5% for items in the “For Sale” section or 3% for items in the “Motoring” section. This process may continue until you have sold your item. If we do not hear from you we will assume you have sold your item and your advertisement will not appear.

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MAIL 23

SPORT

Gripping, exciting victory

By Tyler Wright Olinda Cricket Club’s women’s side won its first grand final in the Ferntree Gully & District Cricket Association’s Women’s League on Sunday 12 March, playing off against South Belgrave.

Women’s coordinator and co-captain of the First XI women’s team at Olinda Cricket Club, Nikki Burgess, said it was a “very close match” at the opponent’s home ground.

“It was really quite an even playing field, and great to have the result we did; there was a lot of celebrating amongst the girls and the wider club and actually the wider community in general have been very supportive,” Burgess said.

With one stand-in player to field, Olinda came home with a result of 1/125.

Martha Box ran 44 not out, followed by 32 runs from Hannelize Human and a 22-run streak from Maddie Vouvoplousos.

Belgrave South’s Lucy Searle bowled 1/11.

The home team scored 6/117, with top scorer Miah Beardshaw securing 50 before retiring.

Kate Cattanach scored 30 runs, with Nadia Beardshaw running 11.

Ellie Buxton bowled 2/13, with Martha Box bowling 1/18 and Grace Emmett with 1/29.

After losing three games in the home and away season, the Olinda women ended up fourth on the ladder; with the battle of facing top-placed Knox Gardens in the semi final.

“I said to my girls, ’this is like our grand final,’“ Burgess said.

Olinda’s cricketers rose to the challenge, coming away with the win after scoring 8/115, ahead of Knox Gardens’ 6/113. “[It] was an incredibly close and exciting

game that came down to the last two balls of the game and everybody was on the edge of their seat,“ Burgess said.

“Somebody [said] ’cricket is boring, but it was very gripping and exciting’... which was amazing.“ Despite the win, Burgess said it has been difficult getting women into the club since the team formed in 2020; with the First XI team having to forfeit games this season due to a shortage of players.

“When we first started, there hadn’t been women’s teams for 109 years... so the first couple of trainings were quite hilarious because we’d be in the nets practising with them [the men], and they were just so quiet you could hear a pin drop because it was like they didn’t know how to act around us.“ she said.

“We still have a long way to go. I think sometimes we’re not taken as serious as the men and just things like getting equipment; we had to use men’s bats, men’s pads... because there just weren’t women’s stuff available for us, so they don’t fit properly and they’re hard to move in and that kind of thing.

But she said attitudes are changing, with Olinda Cricket Club president David Ardley and members of the Ferntree Gully Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association have been “encouraging“ and “very inclusive“.

“We would love to see the Olinda Cricket Club become a destination club for women’s cricket for multiple senior women’s teams,“ she said.

Olinda Cricket Club’s women’s side took home the grand final against South Belgrave despite finishing fourth on the ladder at the end of the season.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Monbulk Rangers open season with close defeat In what was a wonderful evening for football, Friday night saw the start of the Monbulk Rangers FV State League 3 South-East 2023 campaign as they faced off against Brighton SC down at Monbulk Regional Soccer Facility.

The proceedings started off well for the home side as they took all 3 points in the Reserves fixture, taking out a comfortable 3-0 victory, with young 16-year-old Brayden Jones scoring two, one of which was a delightful chip from some 27m out, and the other tapped in from close range by debutant Daniel Biondo.

The Senior match was a whole other story. The home side was caught on the back foot early and, after being denied what was a clear penalty, Brighton was reduced to 10 men, yet found themselves walking into the halftime break down 2-0 after 2 sloppy pieces of defending caught them out and was safely tucked away. Coach Steve McRae had some

calming words at halftime to the lads and they made a profound impact as Monbulk came out after halftime and scored 2 goals in 15 minutes to even the scores back up at 2-2 with a fair portion of the second half remaining.

Brighton then threw caution into the wind and scored another 2 goals to find themselves 4-2 up with 10 minutes to play, however, young Oliver Grujic came on as a late substitute and with his first touch of the match, scored a glancing headed goal in at the back post in the 89th minute. Despite the late shift in momentum, it was Brighton who held on to take the match with a final scoreline of 4-3.

Monbulk’s next home game is this coming Saturday where it is also the return of the classic Dutchy v Pommy game, which will kick off as the curtain-raiser at 3.45pm with the Reserves at 5pm and Seniors at 7pm. The Women’s VPLW campaign also begins this Sunday with kick off’s at 1pm and 3pm.

Monbulk’s next home game is this coming Saturday, with the Reserves at 5pm and Seniors at 7pm.

24 MAIL

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Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

Monbulk Rangers kicked off the 2023 season with a close defeat against Brighton.

Pictures: SUPPLIED mailcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Some +55 seniors wander off map

By David Waters The Eastern golf club hosted round six of the +55 senior pennant. The golf was played in very pleasant conditions. No wind, just a gentle breeze and high clouds dissipating to bright sunshine. The temperature being in the low to mid-20s meant no pullovers were needed.

Team manager Mark Dowell liaised with VicRoads and their contractors to allow players through road works outside the club to meet the 7.30am hit off time. Most players followed Mark’s instructions and had easy access. Some followed google maps and were led astray, resulting in under prepared starts for a few players.

Many of the contests finished early with big winning margins. Of the 48 contests only 13 went through the 18 holes and only two of those contests were tied.

Eastwood green dropped the ball in this round and has a bye next week. Eastwood will not be finalists and now look forward to the team challenge in two weeks’ time. Four teams in the green group remain in contention for the top position.

Eastwood gold remains a threat to Heritage in their group but must await the outcome of the final round. The home course again proved advantageous to both green and gold teams from Eastern as they both won handsomely.

Highlights of the day were Ross Scott (Eastern) putting for eagle and settling for birdie on the 19th hole.

Wayne Barlow (Yering Meadows) showing his style on this last tee shot.

Norm Carroll (Churchill/Waverley) and

By Mikayla van Loon

Wayne Barlow (Yering Meadows) showing his style on his last tee shot.

Pictures: EASTERN GOLF +55 Brian Hobbs (Yering Meadows) following each other into bunkers and hazards to the amusement of their playing partners.

A generous meal was provided and enjoyed by some tired golfers. Some liquid refreshments were consumed while talking footy and forgetting golf.

Ross Scott watching his putt and settling for birdie on the 19th hole.

Lilydale-Montrose enjoy perfect opening

By Parker McKenzie Lilydale Montrose United Football Club’s season started with a perfect record, with all four men’s teams winning their opening game across the weekend.

A new-look senior team played Alphington FC on crisp a Friday evening, in coach Dimi Moutafis’ first game in charge of the side.

Last season, Lilydale Montrose United finished last in State League 5 East, while Alphington FC finished ninth in State League 5 North and moved to the eastern conference ahead of the 2023 season kicking off.

After a cagey opening period, club captain Louie Pettinella opened the scoring for the Goats early in the first half with a close-range finish, before Tom Tellefson equalised for Alphington from the penalty spot after Orin Giesbers was punished for a push in the box.

LMU was slow out of the changing rooms after the break and gave Alphinton the chance to take the lead after a poor back pass resulted in LMU goalkeeper George Kostoulias conceding a second penalty of the game.

A jubilant Kostoulias saved the resulting penalty and LMU took the lead shortly after through Con Moutafis, who saw an initial shot blocked before his second attempt found the back of the net.

Late in the game, Alek Bejatovic found time at the edge of the box to chest the ball down and hit a long-range effort from 25 yards, beating the Alphington FC goalkeeper who made several quality saves throughout the 90 minutes.

The gritty 3-1 win was a just reward after a tough pre-season at the club. After one game, the LMU Senior men’s team is now only one point off the previous season’s effort.

The reserves, playing before the firsts, had

Lilydale-Montrose United opened the season with a 3-1 win over Alphington FC. mailcommunity.com.au

KBA forced to solve a sport poser

an emphatic 5-3 win featuring several great goals during the game.

Brechan Adams hit a goal-of-the-season contender with a long-range volley, and JeanPascal ‘JP’ Sebire scored two more from range, beating the Alphington goalkeeper first with a curling effort from the edge of the box, followed by a shot from range which the goalkeeper failed to handle.

Nicholas Sanelli and Julian Sebire added to the score sheet in an attacking display.

LMU play their next two home games on a Friday night at Keith Hume Fraser Reserve in Montrose and will be looking to build upon the successful result in the opening game.

The Veterans team won their opening game of the season 5-1 against Ashburton and the thirds beat Croydon Ranges 2-1, with the four teams winning 12 points from 12 to open the season.

Picture: SUPPLIED

The Kilsyth Basketball Association has had to confirm this week a transgender player has applied to play in the NBL1 South league women’s team after it was leaked on social media.

The Association released a statement on the afternoon of Tuesday 14 March confirming the application and that Basketball Victoria was assessing the player’s eligibility.

“A transgender athlete applied for selection in our Kilsyth Cobras NBL1 Women’s team for the 2023 NBL1 South season,” the statement said.

“Our NBL1 Women’s coach invited the athlete to participate in try-outs ahead of an eligibility assessment, as required by Basketball Victoria.”

Kilsyth Basketball said the player would continue to train with the squad until an outcome was reached by Basketball Victoria.

“The athlete has undertaken all the necessary medical and physical testing required to determine eligibility, and we are waiting to hear the outcome from Basketball Victoria.

“As always, the wellbeing of everyone involved is our number one priority, and we will continue to support all members of our community.”

Working in conjunction with Basketball Australia, Basketball Victoria has developed the Guidelines for the Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse People in Basketball in Victoria.

In a statement released by Basketball Victoria, it said these guidelines are about “opportunities for transgender athletes while balancing fairness and inclusion.”

Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey said the guidelines will act as a support mechanism across all divisions of community and professional basketball with a focus on inclusion and wellbeing of participants.

“It is important that all athletes participate in an inclusive, fair, and respectful environment and we hope all in the community can move forward together with a clear understanding of the new guidelines,” he said.

Basketball Victoria’s Diversity and Inclusion Manager Sheena Atkin said by having guidelines in place, it will ensure athletes, coaches and officials will remain in an inclusive and welcoming environment.

“Basketball has long prided itself as ‘Everyone’s Game’ and this remains the case, particularly at the ‘Community’ level,” she said.

“We recognise there is still much to learn in this space, the new guidelines confirm the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community into all levels of basketball being an imperative.”

The discussion around transgender athletes in basketball was sparked by a controversial social media post by former NBA player Andrew Bogut on Monday evening.

Basketball Australia released a statement on Tuesday expressing its disappointment of the conversations being had on social media.

“It’s been disappointing to see the negative commentary and hurtful language used across social media over the past 24 hours,” the statement said.

“We ask for patience and understanding as we support Basketball Victoria in navigating through this complex space with integrity and respect for all involved, and also thank those in the community who have shown sensitivities at this time.”

Tuesday, 21 March, 2023

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MAIL 25

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MAIL 27

CLOSE THE DOOR AND HIT THE ROAD APARTMENTS AVAILABLE NOW Start your next adventure and leave your worries behind when you move to Ryman.

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