Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 28th March 2023

Ferntree Gully Belgrave

Community support for Kallista township group

Volunteers out in force before Aston by-election

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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Monbulk Football Club members inducted as league life members

Australian Idol contestant goes out with a bang

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Farmers go batty

By Tyler Wright Local farmers say they are feeling the brunt of grey-headed flying foxes migrating south, with the destruction of fruit crops playing a part in the growers’ decision to either sell up and relocate.

Fourth generation fruit grower Alan Upton made the decision to sell his fruit farm on Maroondah Highway Coldstream three years ago to instead work as a beef farmer on a property in Yarra Glen; in part due to the impact animals including the Australian native flying fox, or fruit bat, were having on his produce.

“My great grandfather started in Langwarrin in 1908, my grandfather then bought a property in Wonga Park in 1922 which I grew up on and never knew what a fruit bat was there, never lost an apple or a pear or a peach to [them],” Mr Upton said. “From 1987 we moved to Coldstream, and then in and about 2010... we were introduced to the problem of fruit bat damage in the fruit trees.”

Mr Upton said he began finding half chewed fruit on the tops of trees, with the bats chewing on the fruit flesh at night time.

“The value of the fruit actually on the tree is probably not $5 a kilo like you see on the supermarket shelf when it reaches retail level, but the cost is more on your mental well being,” Mr Upton said. “You’re dealing with all sorts of other pests and diseases throughout the growing season, and this one just fills in the 24 hours a day that your fruit’s under attack, and it has a very wearing effect on your mental ability to cope with it all.”

Continued page 3 Colin Wood grows chestnuts on his farm in the Dandenong Ranges, while growing fruit in Pyramid Hill near Bendigo. 325354 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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YOUR CANDIDATES AND POLLING PLACES FOR THE 2023 ASTON BY-ELECTION On by-election day, Saturday 1 April 2023, you can vote between 8am and 6pm sharp at any of the polling places within the federal electoral division of Aston.

Early voting is available until 6pm on Friday 31 March 2023. Early voting locations can be found at www.aec.gov.au/aston Voting is compulsory if you are enrolled to vote in the federal electoral division of Aston.

COVID-19 safety measures will be in place at polling places and other workplaces to protect voters and AEC staff, in line with current health advice.

CANDIDATES Listed below in ballot paper order are the nominated candidates for the 2023 Aston by-election.

1

MILLER, Owen

FUSION: Science, Pirate, Secular, Climate Emergency

2

CAMPBELL, Roshena

Liberal

3

DI CAMILLO, Angelica

The Greens

4

DOYLE, Mary

Australian Labor Party

5

TESA, Maya

Independent

POLLING PLACES Listed below are polling places for the 2023 Aston by-election.

ASTON BAYSWATER

BORONIA

ROWVILLE

Bayswater Primary School, 2 Birch St

Karoo Primary School, 160 Karoo Rd

Bayswater South Primary School, Enfield Dr

Park Ridge Primary School, 21 Wentworth Ave

Bayswater West Primary School, 58 Phyllis St

Rowville Community Centre, 40 Fulham Rd

Boronia Heights Primary School, cnr Landscape Dr & Phipps Ave

Rowville Primary School, 11 Paratea Dr

Boronia K-12 College, 35-37 Albert Ave Boronia West Primary School, 25 Tormore Rd

St. Simon The Apostle Primary School, 2 Taylors Lane SCORESBY

Knox Central Primary School, 39 Darwin Rd FERNTREE GULLY

Heany Park Primary School, 81 Buckingham Dr

Ferntree Gully Road Business Hub, 1350 Ferntree Gully Rd St Jude's Parish Centre, 51 George St

Fairhills Primary School, Manuka Dr Ferntree Gully North Primary School, 111 Forest Rd Kent Park Primary School, 17 Greenaway Dr

THE BASIN

St Bernadette's Primary School, 1264 Mountain Hwy

UPPER FERNTREE GULLY

Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School, 4-10 Talaskia Rd

WANTIRNA

Templeton Primary School, 1 Crestdale Rd

Mountain Gate Primary School, Adele Ave Wantirna College, 90 Harold St

St John the Baptist Primary School, 17 Forest Rd

Wantirna Primary School, 120 Mountain Hwy

Wattleview Primary School, 19 Wattletree Rd KNOXFIELD

LYSTERFIELD

Carrington Primary School, Laura Rd

WANTIRNA SOUTH

Knox Gardens Primary School, 80 Argyle Way

Knox Park Primary School, Kathryn Rd

The Knox School, 220 Burwood Hwy

Lysterfield Primary School, Bellfield Dr

Wantirna South Primary School, 16 Tyner Rd

These polling places have wheelchair access

These polling places are suitable for wheelchair access with assistance

A full list of polling places is also available on www.aec.gov.au/aston. If you have any questions please contact the AEC on 13 23 26.

www.aec.gov.au/aston |

13 23 26

1136KL_3760

Aston by-election, Saturday 1 April 2023

Authorised by the Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria, Level 8, 2 Lonsdale St, Melbourne 2 MAIL

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NEWS

IN BRIEF

Mixed feelings as road sealing starts

Potential asphalt scam In a social media post, Yarra Ranges Council said it has been advised of a potential scam where residents are offered construction of a cheap driveway using surplus asphalt sealing materials leftover from council projects.

The individuals offering this service are not council appointed contractors. People are advised to be wary of a potential scam if they are considering engaging the services of these individuals.

Another alert regarding this scam was issued by Yarra Ranges Council on social media in April 2022.

Power saving bonus returns

Ranges Ward Councillor Jeff Springfield.

Blackwood package include pavement construction, kerb channel construction, construction of traffic calming devices, drainage works, signage and line-marking.

This project was made possible with funding from Council, Special Charge Scheme contributions from residents, and the now discontin-

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS ued federally funded Sealing the Hills Program.

Council is continuing to advocate for funding towards road sealing projects across the shire.

Works are expected to be completed by mid-2023, conditions permitting.

For more information, please visit www. cardinia.vic.gov.au/sealingthehills

Farmers driven batty by flying foxes From page 1 Eventually Mr Upton purchased a machine which rolls out netting to drape over his trees, with the cost of permanent netting estimated to cost him $80,000 per hectare.

“The pressure of netting and not being able to successfully grow fruit unless it’s under netting was very frustrating and it made the decision pretty easy when the opportunity came [to semi-retire,]” he said.

Dandenong Ranges based nut and fruit grower, Colin Wood, said farmers should be provided a subsidy for part of the cost of netting.

“I don’t grow fruit here anymore. I’ve given up. When I came here 27 years ago, I got all

244 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville, 3777

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Dandenong Ranges based farmer Colin Wood said there should be more protection for growers against the grey-headed flying Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS fox. 325354

Call lan Hocking at Hocking’s Gas Services for all servicing, repairs and breakdowns to gas ducted heating

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the fruit under the sun, but since then, between the fruit bats and rainbow lorikeet and the like, it’s gone,” Mr Wood said.

Mr Wood bought a property in Pyramid Hill near Bendigo five years ago in order to continuing growing produce, while continuing to harvest chestnuts and hazlenuts in the Hills.

Destroying the grey-headed flying fox is illegal in the state - but Mr Wood said there should be more support for farmers from the state and federal governments and lobbying groups to manage the species - which can fly up to 40 kilometres to feed.

“It’s completely wrong and something should be done about it,” he said.

Get Winter Ready!

PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN OWNED & INDEPENDENT

Rowville police are appealing for public assistance after two people ran from a crashed car in Ferntree Gully on 27 March.

Police were patrolling Emma Court when they observed a red Ford Falcon about 1.25am.

Police attempted to conduct a routine intercept of the Ford when the driver failed to pull over and clipped the front bumper of the police car, causing minor damage. The car left the scene and was last seen speeding into Cheryl Crescent. It is believed the vehicle then lost control and crashed into a tree on Windermere Road.

The two male occupants ran from the car and it is unknown if they were injured in the crash. Officers patrolled the area but were unable to locate the people involved. The officers were not injured. No arrests have been made and investigators are keen to speak to any witnesses or anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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Another round of the energy bill-busting $250 Power Saving Bonus is now open, with Victorian households able to secure a boost to help manage cost of living pressures.

Acting Minister for Energy and Resources Ingrid Stitt launched the fourth round of the State Government’s Power Saving Bonus on 24 March, with every Victorian household eligible to receive $250 when they access the Victorian Energy Compare website – even those who received payments under previous rounds.

Since the $250 Power Saving Bonus launched on 1 July 2022, more than 1.8 million households have received the payment by comparing their energy bills.

“We’re making sure that Victorians facing hardship receive the Power Saving Bonus, and get the support they need to access concessions for cheaper power through The Energy Assistance Program,” Ms Stitt said.

Applications for the payment can be made through the Victorian Energy Compare website, which gives customers access to the best energy offers in their areas – potentially saving hundreds of dollars. Households needing help to apply can call the Victorian Energy Compare helpline on 1800 000 832 to apply or be connected by an outreach partner in their community. For those without internet access, phone and in-person support is available through our Community Outreach Partners – including Anglicare Victoria, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Community Information and Support Victoria, Ethnic Community Council Victoria, Good Shepherd, State Trustees and Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria.

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Cardinia Shire Council has started road sealing works on Innes Road, Blackwood Lane, Russell Road and the services roads for Redwood Road and Gembrook Road in Gembrook.

Ranges Ward Councillor Jeff Springfield said sealing roads delivers wide-reaching environmental, economic, and social benefits, and is crucial for improving the liveability of townships in the municipality.

“While I’m pleased to see works commence on yet another Sealing the Hills package, council and local communities have been left devastated by the recent federal government funding cut to the program of more than $100 million dollars, which has impacted more than 2500 households and will leave more than 130 roads unsealed,” Cr Springfield said.

In January, council received official confirmation that $109 million of committed funding for the Sealing the Hills roads program had been discontinued and withdrawn by the federal government.

“These communities deserve to have the federal government’s promises of funding for unsealed road upgrades upheld, and council is committed to continuing to advocate for funding to be restored in its entirety,” Cr Springfield said.

Council formally endorsed the Sealing the Hills petition lodged with the Australian Government at last night’s council meeting.

“Thousands of residents and community members across Cardinia Shire and Yarra Ranges have rallied together in support of this petition, wanting to see our road sealing programs continue and funding restated.” Mayor Councillor Tammy Radford said.

“Council fully supports our communities’ advocacy efforts, and we hope that the federal government listens to their calls,” she said.

The works on Innes Rd and the Russell-

Information sought after crash

MAIL 3

NEWS

Orange Sky comes clean

By Parker McKenzie Every Monday and Wednesday night, volunteers from Orange Sky offer free washing services for those attending Foothills Community Care’s regular meals.

On this particular blue-skied Wednesday afternoon at the Ferntree Gully Girl Guide Hall, Pam, Gary, Ron and Colleen are on hand, manning the bright orange van fitted with mobile washing machines and offering more than just a wash to those who access the free service.

“I saw it on TV — I think most people see it on TV or read it in the newspaper — but my daughter said this would be a good organisation to join, so she said she’d put my name down for it,” Gary said.

“You get the nicest people doing Orange Sky, it’s really interesting.”

The volunteers know their regulars and often see the same people weekly for months, forming a personal connection in the process.

“We had a guy come in about three months ago and I don’t think he’d washed his clothes in 18 months,” Ron said.

Ron said the man was very introverted — “It took a couple of weeks to convince him we wouldn’t steal his socks,” Colleen interjects — but eventually he bought a blanket out to be washed too.

“He told us it hadn’t been washed in three years.”

The volunteers were amazed by his transformation over the following months, as they saw him take pride in his appearance and continue connecting with those at Foothills and Orange Sky. When their friends stop appearing to get their washing done, it can be stressful and worrying, and often they never find out what happened.

“There are a lot of people that have severe, but not immediately obvious, mental health issues,” Pam said.

Volunteers from Orange Sky with two attendees at Foothills Community Care’s weekly Ferntree Gully meal.

“They’ve often got nothing, so they are coming to get food and get their washing done, so people come and go to different locations,” Colleen said.

“Then all of a sudden, we don’t see somebody. We don’t know where they’ve got, whether they died or not.”

In October 2014 Orange Sky Laundry was started by Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett in Brisbane, offering a free washing and drying service but also a human connection.

Mr Patchett said the service first started in the Dandenong Ranges after the 2021 storm weather event, before beginning a partnership with Foothills Community Care six months ago.

“I was out at a Foothills shift around a month ago and you see people drift in and out, but that connection and conversation week on week keeps people coming back,” he said.

“The laundry is really a catalyst for bringing people together and then once the washing is on, you aren’t going to go anywhere.”

He said forming collaborative partnerships is a core value of the organisation.

“We know that we can’t go at it alone, so we really want to work in conjunction with lots of service providers,” Mr Patchett said.

“That’s massive not-for-profits through to tiny community centres, it’s a big mix.

We operate around 300 locations across the

Picture: PARKER MCKENZIE

country every week.”

Over 3000 volunteers have washed 3 million kilograms of washing across Australia and New Zealand since Orange Sky Laundry started with a single van.

Mr Patchett said the organisation is seeing more demand across the board.

“We just want to be there as much as we can, supporting as many people as possible,” he said.

“We need more volunteers, more funding and committed people to be able to help out however they can.”

For more information on Orange Sky, visit orangesky.org.au

Homelessness crisis 12593104-AI13-23

By Mikayla van Loon

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 Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert

Until early May

At the level crossing

Union Road, Surrey Hills

Until early May

At the level crossing

MTIA8825

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

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

4 MAIL

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The most up to date snapshot of homelessness in Australia was released on Wednesday 22 March, as the 2021 Census data showed just how many people were living without a home during that year.

Across Australia the data found over 122,000 people were homeless at the time of the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census, a 5.2 per cent increase on 2016. In Victoria, the figure of people living without a permanent home increased by 24 per cent to 30,660.

The Council to Homeless Persons said the recent data showed the “true state” of homelessness in Victoria, which was at “alarming levels”.

Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale said the situation required an immediate response.

“This alarming surge in homelessness must be the catalyst for the State Government to act urgently by continuing to invest - and there are solutions,” Ms Di Natale said. “These grim numbers show exactly why the Victorian Government must fund highly successful programs like From Homelessness to a Home, which provides stable housing and support for people who are sleeping rough.”

Ms Di Natale said this was the “most accurate picture” of Victoria’s homelessness crisis and it required a “comprehensive strategy” to find a solution.

The Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIA Vic) echoed Ms Di Natale’s calls on the State government, suggesting it was why more funding for social housing was needed.

“There’s not much more important in life than having a safe home yet close to 31,000 people in Victoria have been living without one,” CHIA Vic acting CEO Jason Perdriau said. “These figures prove how vital it is for our state to continue building more social and affordable homes.”

The Victorian data showed around 1991

children under the age of 12 were living in supported accommodation for the homeless, with another 1631 living in crowded dwellings. Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said the threat of housing stress saw 387 children sleeping rough during the 2021 Census, an inconceivable number.

“Australia is in the midst of its worst housing crisis in living memory. We have women and children fleeing violence and becoming trapped in homelessness,” she said. “As one of the world’s wealthiest nations it is inconceivable that children are sleeping rough. We can and must do better.”

The face of how people experienced homelessness may have been influenced by the response to the Covid-19 pandemic according to ABS head of homelessness statistics Georgia Chapman. “During the 2021 Census, we saw fewer people ‘sleeping rough’ in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out, and fewer people living in ‘severely’ crowded dwellings and staying temporarily with other households,” she said.

“However, we saw more people living in supported accommodation for the homeless, boarding houses and other temporary lodgings, such as a hotel or motel.”

Across Australia, women experiencing homelessness increased by 10.1 per cent to 53,974. Women and children combined accounted for 56 per cent of the total number of people without a home. In Victoria, 12,989 women were said to be homeless in 2021. Moving forward, Ms Colvin said the response needs to be a three pronged approach. “Starting with providing people with the homelessness support they need to have a genuine path out of homelessness,” she said. “People also need adequate income to pay for rising rents. Current levels of income support payments such as Commonwealth Rent Assistance are woefully inadequate. An ongoing commitment to expand social housing by at least 25,000 homes a year would also provide more people on low and modest incomes with the stable, secure housing they need.” mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Kallista plans to kick on

By Tyler Wright Kallista is set to have its very own community group, with more than 30 people expressing their interest in being a part of the Kallista Village Township Group after a meeting on Thursday 23 March at the local mechanics insititute hall.

Kallista Village Township Group secretary Miki Schwartzbord said the not-for-profit association - which is not yet incorporated will encompass the towns of Sherbrooke, The Patch and Kallista as well as those who work, live and play in the area, with its initial plan to revamp the decades-old Kallista Village Market originally run by the now-defunct Kallista Community House.

“There’s a kinder and there’s a CFA, and there’s some local organisations, but none of them really have as their purpose running the market or getting events happening, or there’s a whole long list of concepts and ideas of what a township could potentially achieve,” Mr Schwartzbord said.

“The initial goal and the reason this all came together initially was with trying to revive the market…but as we did so, we started to realise that a lot of the community organisations [are] having a tough time after Covid.

“All these organisations need community in order to thrive and so they’re really keen to get behind this idea.”

Mr Schwartzbord said the group will mainly start by planning events - including a market festival in Spring and local Christmas Carols - but could eventually form into an umbrella body for advocacy groups.

“This is the longest running market in the hills, It’s been going since 1978. Rather than just another commercial market, It really is like an institution, a public amenity in the sense that locals would come to the market and schmooze and get a cuppa and hang out and it wasn’t a place to go and make lots of

Community members met on Thursday 23 March at the Kallista Mechanics Institute Hall to discuss plans for a township group for those who live, work and play in Kallista, Sherbrooke and The Patch.

Picture: SUPPLIED money necessarily as a market storeholder,” Mr Schwartzbord said.

Emergency management plans for the community are also on the agenda as a part of storm recovery and bushfire preparedness, he said.

“There was a completely unmet need when there were storms going through... people hav-

ing Facebook groups saying ‘who needs a generator and who needs food?’...there are a lot of good willed people, but there was no actual plan or body that could help coordinate that,” he said.

“People from the CFA, from Parks [Victoria], from other organisations have stuck their hand up and said, ‘yeah, happy to be part of

that’...so that’s something that would then be available for all residents.”

Those interested in joining the township group are able to email kallistavillage@gmail. com and/or fill out an expression of interest form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/ 1FAIpQLSe6KKpF2JiUBEErv2hdW2h3lb30z2v hmF5AUat-kyQaRZCnZA/viewform

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NEWS

Volunteers out in force

By Parker McKenzie Early voting for the Aston by-election opened on Monday 20 March and volunteers were out in force at the Boronia Community Church.

Ahead of Election Day on Saturday 1 April, The Star Mail spoke to those volunteering for candidates who want to represent the local community about why they were giving their chosen candidate their time and effort.

Liberal volunteer Jeff said he was volunteering because he has supported the party his entire life and was impressed with Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell.

“I’m really annoyed at what happened to funding for roads in this electorate,” he said.

“I really appreciate pre-polling, it’s the way of the future and many people are making comments about how they are getting it out of the way early because they have things to do on the weekend.”

Ms Campbell is a Melbourne City councillor and a barrister.

Greens volunteer Don said he was volunteering because voting was an important part of a democratic society.

“I first handed out cards for the Greens in 1983, when we were worried about dams in Tasmania,” he said.

“You have the usual people who know who they are going to vote for and the rest are of course friendly, and they know it’s strictly political theatre.”

Angelica Di Camillo, the Greens candidate, works as a project manager for an engineering consulting company focused on sustainable buildings and infrastructure, and was previously the Greens candidate for Rowville during the 2022 Victorian state election.

Labor volunteer Robert said he was inspired to help Mary Doyle because she took “the courageous move of running again.”

“Why would anyone vote for someone in opposition? If you’re voting, you want your voice heard and you should vote for someone in government,” he said.

“I have sympathies for my colleagues here from the Fusion Party and Greens, but I cannot see why this electorate wouldn’t vote for Labor.”

Volunteers were out in force at the Boronia Community Church on Monday 20 March.

Ms Doyle was the Labor candidate at the 2022 federal election, where she saw a strong swing towards the party against the recently retired Alan Tudge.

Tom, volunteering for the Fusion Party, said as a long-term Greens and Labor voter, he was feeling disenfranchised and unheard and decided to support an amalgamation of a number of smaller independent parties.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything politically,” he said.

“It’s the first time ever I’ve felt galvanized to actually say I can’t complain in private if I’m not actually doing anything.”

Fusion Party candidate Owen Miller is a programmer who said he wants to see the government keep up with technological advancement and trends.

Will, the youngest of the volunteers at 18, said he had previously supported independent candidate Maya Tesa at last year’s state and federal election.

“I wouldn’t be doing it if she wasn’t a great woman that really cares about the constituents of the area in which she intends to represent,” he said.

“A few years ago, you could just live your life but and not be involved but with so much gov-

Picture: PARKER MCKENZIE ernment interference in individuals’ everyday lives.”

Ms Tesa is a Libertarian candidate who previously ran in the Upper House for the Liberal Democrats in the state election last year.

For a list of all early voting centres and election day voting options, visit aec.gov.au/aston/voting 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.

Candidates put themselves and their beliefs to the test ANGELICA DI CAMILLO GREENS 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. Ms Di Camillo said she decided to run as the Greens candidate 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 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,” she said. “There are so many opportunities to create thousands of jobs in renewables and exciting opportunities there and the Greens have really solid plans for a clean transition there and making sure the workers are included in that conversation.“ OWEN MILLER FUSION PARTY Fusion Party candidate Owen Miller nominated for the Aston by-election because “the major parties are just wasting our time.”

The software engineer said his decision to run was because “there are all these opportunities being squandered in society for us to create a happier, wealthier and more harmonious world.” “I would argue that these days, it’s money and software that’s running the 6 MAIL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

world,” he said. “Unfortunately, governments around the world still haven’t been keeping up with the technological trends happening.”

He said if the government embraced open source communities and software projects, society would see the right incentive structures “not just maximising GDP.” “I’ve been in the software industry ever since 2012 and I see how powerful it is at scaling human thought and how it can think deeper than us as well,” he said. “At the moment, software has this incredible power and it’s not being put to use in improving our society. The people putting software to use are exploiting us, squeezing us and lying to us.”

The Fusion Party’s policies include drug legalisation, universal basic income and climate action.

MAYA TESA INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE Maya Tesa is running as an independent candidate in the Aston by-election on a libertarian platform of lower taxes and less government oversight. The Eltham-based business owner said she decided to nominate as a candidate because she didn’t see anyone she would vote for. “Libertarianism means living your life the way you want, without causing harm,” she said. “We believe in free markets and small government.”

Ms Tesa, who was born in Lebanon but grew up in Victoria, previously ran in the 2022 state election as a Liberal Democrats candidate in the Upper House. She said she wants to reduce the amount of taxes being taken out of everyone’s purse and let people live their lives. “Right now, we can’t turn around or move without the government being in our lives.” Policies listed on her website include lower taxes, education reform, reducing the cost of living, affordable and reliable energy, voluntary superannuation contributions and legalising cannabis.

Independent candidate Maya Tesa.

Greens candidate Angelica Di Camillo.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Fusion Party candidate Owen Miller. mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

‘Local’ does it for Doyle

By Parker Mckenzie Labor candidate for Aston Mary Doyle was motivated to run for the seat because she believes politics needs to be more representative of the local community in the outer-east.

“I really wanted to see more women represented in Parliament, especially more women who’ve had real-world experiences,” she said.

“We’ve got a lot of lawyers and barristers in Parliament already, especially men with that background.”

After seeing “some shenanigans going on in Canberra at the start of 2021 from the menfolk,” she was motivated to try to make a difference with the encouragement of her friends.

Ms Doyle said her family influenced her to support the Labor Party and she has been a member since 2015.

“Growing up in Echucha in the 1970s and being the youngest of nine, my brother Kevin was a very big influence on me,” Mr Doyle said.

“He was 17 years older than and he was a huge fan of Gough Whitlam because when he got in he ended conscription, and if that hadn’t happened, my brother would have gone off to Vietnam.”

Another defining moment for Ms Doyle was being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 at “such a young age,” something she has spoken about on the campaign trail.

“I was able to go to a bulk billing GP the very same day I found the lump,” she said.

“I want to be able to be part of an Albanese government that brings Medicare back to its former glory, because it isn’t much chop at the moment.”

The by-election triggered by Alan Tudge’s retirement is in a different climate from Ms Doyle’s first tilt at the seat at the 2022 federal election, with Labor in government and the Coalition as the opposition.

She said while there’s a lot more focus and spotlight on the electorate, she is glad to see some familiar faces from last year who helped swing the seat drastically towards the Labor Party.

“I remember meeting this wonderful lady Fiona on a hot February morning in 2022 outside Woolworths, she turned up to door knock for me this Saturday gone,” Ms Doyle said.

“The wonderful thing about last year was

that going out and doing street stalls at little shopping strips around the place was that was how people got to meet me, and now they are saying how can we help, how can we volunteer?”

In 2022, Mr Tudge won a close victory that saw a 7.32 per cent swing towards the Labor Party, taking Aston into marginal territory.

Ms Doyle said while she thought there might be a “bit of a swing” towards an antiMorrison government sentiment, she didn’t expect it to be as large as it was.

“I’d like to think that wasn’t all ant-Morrison or anti-Tudge, I think we worked very hard as a team and we just didn’t stop,” she said.

“I was working at the NTU — the National Tertiary Education Union — back then full time, so every moment outside my full-time working hours I dedicated to the campaign.”

Ms Doyle now works for a Superannuation fund and is facing a different political landscape compared to the federal election.

“People are telling me that the government has hit the ground running, they’re delivering cheaper medicines since the first of January and other things are coming to play, like the cheaper childcare plan on the first of July,” she said.

“It’s not that long ago that the Morrison government was in power, less than a year, so there’s still a lot of residual anger.”

When asked if the funding attached to road projects throughout the electorate was an issue raised by people to her, Ms Doyle said the projects were never fully funded and had no business case.

“They were promised and promised and promised and nothing happened between 2019 and 2022,” she said.

“I don’t think that you can lay the blame on Labor and say that Labor scrapped these, it was never properly funded, to begin with.”

Ms Doyle said if given the opportunity to be the member of Aston, she would represent everyone, not just those who voted for her.

“I’d like to be able to advocate for the people of Aston who’ve been neglected for a very long time,“ she said.

“There’s a lot of people in this community who have been neglected, forgotten and have fallen through the cracks.“

Liberal candidate for Aston Roshena Campbell.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Campbell motivated to aid small businesses

By Parker McKenzie Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell’s motivation for entering politics is underpinned by watching parents struggle as small-business owners.

“They were hit really hard by the recession in the 90s and I just remember the toll that the economy was having on families like ours,” she said.

“There were tough conversations around the dinner table, I remember tougher ones when they thought I was asleep.”

She said realising that the people who run the country make a real difference in the daily lives of families was an influence on joining the Liberal Party.

“When John Howard and Peter Costello came in, it was the first time that my parents as small business owners, who’ve been since the 70s, felt like the government had their back,” Ms Campbell said.

“The Liberal Party was a natural choice for me because I believe if you work hard to get ahead, government should help you do that.”

Ms Campbell has been a City of Melbourne councillor since November 2020 and a barrister since 2016, after completing a master’s of Law at Melbourne University in 2010.

She said as a councillor, she was proud to have supported small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Cutting fees, cutting the amount of red tape, we delivered a rates discount for every resident and ratepayer across Melbourne when other councils increased rates,” Ms Campbell said.

“As a barrister, I got the privilege of fighting for people at their lowest moment and when the stakes were the highest.”

Ms Campbell said the two biggest issues people have expressed to her while doorknocking and at pre-polling are the rising

cost of living and local infrastructure projects.

“We’re supposed to have $275 off our energy bills, they’ve gone up by $800 to $900 on average around Knox and now the Victorian regulator says they’ll go up over 30 per cent more, and grocery prices keep going up,” she said.

“The cuts to road-rail in the seat, it’s making life harder when people made the case for those projects.”

Partial funding for three infrastructure projects, the Wellington Road duplication, the Dorset Road extension and the Napoleon Road upgrade, was removed by the Federal Government after the Labor Party won the 2022 federal election.

She said “the stakes are incredibly high right now,” and the voters of Aston deserve someone who has energy, experience and can deliver for them.

“It will be the greatest privilege to do that, to be able to listen to voters to understand what matters to them,” she said.

“This by-election is a chance for people to send Labor a message if the cost of living is hurting you and hurting families.”

Ms Campbell is a mother of three children and is married to Newscorp weekend political editor James Campbell.

She said the best part of being a councillor has been supporting community groups and wants to continue to do the same on a federal level.

“One of the best things over the past few weeks is getting out and meeting with community groups and sporting clubs and I think one of the most important things you can do as a local MP is supporting them,” Ms Campbell said.

“We know volunteers do such important work in communities like Knox, so I’m really excited to keep speaking to them and fighting for them.”

BE SUPPORTED IN EMPLOYMENT Support. Employment. Empowerment YOUR NDIS PLAN

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Kids’ chance to perform

By Tyler Wright Primary school students across the Dandenong Ranges will be able to participate in drama, dance and circus workshops thanks to a $10,000 boost by the state government.

The ‘Play, Imagine, Create’ workshops facilitated by Upwey local Mikhaela Ebony, which bring performers into schools on a rotational basis, was given the funding in the second round of VicHealth’s $7.25 million JumpStart! initiative for local ideas across the state.

“With the dance workshops, we developed a workshop that enhances body confidence and the idea of emotional expression through your bodies, and the drama workshop is specifically catered to the needs of that school,” Ms Ebony said.

“Because last year we were running them as COVID recovery, every school we went into we approached the school and we gave them a questionnaire about what they found they were facing with their kids after having come back from two years of lockdown, and we developed a drama workshop that was specifically catered to those kids.”

Having already visited schools including Ferny Creek Primary School and Menzies Creek Primary School, VicHealth’s Jumpstart!

Initiative will now allow the program to expand to various other storm-affected school communities throughout the Dandenong Ranges; including Monbulk Primary School and Upwey South Primary School.

“We received feedback specifically from

Primary School children at The Patch Primary School were able to participate in the Play, Imagine, Create workshops in 2022. one staff member saying ‘we’ve had a child at school that has experienced some trauma and we’ve never seen this child engage in anything, and after the first 15 minutes in the first workshop, this child was smiling and this child was able to relax and let go’.

“To know that we were able to break through and connect with this child and give this child an outlet that they otherwise wouldn’t have had is really quite special.

“I make all of the staff members join in, even though it’s the kids, I turn around and I say, ’all right, guys, you’ve all got to step out of your comfort zone today, which means your

teachers have got to as well.’“ Ms Ebony also said it is important to help children to understand the impact of the arts on the economy. “[I] say to them ‘what did you guys turn to over Covid? Books, music, movies, TV’…everything that was the arts kept everyone going,” she said.

“It’s a great way to encourage a love of the arts, and it’s so great that we’ve been given this extra funding to continue and reach more schools.”

Upper Ferntree Gully’s Coonara Communi-

Picture: SUPPLIED

ty House also received funding through JumpStart! to support its ’Strive to Thrive’ young parents playgroup. Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino said the programs have been created by local organisations across the district to “help improve the health and wellbeing of young people in our community“.

“I encourage young people and their families to see what’s on offer near them – these projects are a great chance to try a new skill and make new friends along the way,” Ms De Martino said.

JumpStart! is an investment in VicHealth’s Future Healthy initiative.

Inspiro’s food system school program gets cash boost Yarra Ranges school children will soon have the opportunity to learn more about where their food comes from in a newly funded Inspiro program.

The Lilydale based community health service received just under $10,000 from VicHealth’s JumpStart grant program to get its Paddock to Plate and Waste learning materials into local schools.

Health promotion officer Tracey Higgins said Inspiro saw an opportunity in the grant program to focus on childrens’ understanding of the food system.

“The grants are aimed at getting young people to have a healthy future basically and one of the categories is to learn about their local food system and encouraging connection through food,” she said.

Knowing that less and less, young people in particular, are unaware of where their food is being grown, produced and being transported from, it seemed like an important topic to introduce to Prep to Year students.

Wanting to provide students with a basic knowledge of the food system and where it comes from, whether it be a farmer, super-

ed

Publish

y

Tuesda

Inspiro community health service is asking schools to take on its new program about food systems.

Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON market or factory, Ms Higgins said it is about connection.

“We know food has such a big connection to family, friends, sustainability, mental health, physical health, all of those different

things. It’s trying to capture all of that, that whole connection and that understanding.

“We see more and more that understanding our local food system or improving our local food system, means we are more sustainable in the long run and it’s more affordable for people.”

Having developed a 10 minute video about food security a couple of years ago, Ms Higgins said the team were looking to include the video in a school program.

“This was a really good opportunity to then expand that and just share that video to a wider audience.

“We established some lesson plans around understanding the food system based on the video and the lesson plans then culminate in the students designing a poster about their local food systems.”

Ms Higgins said by ending the students’ learning in a poster exhibition, it allows them to apply their knowledge, answer questions about where their food comes from and have discussions around healthy food habits.

Hopeful schools get involved in the program, Ms Higgins said during the September school holidays, Inspiro would like to host

two or three poster exhibitions to display student work, with the tentative locations being Mooroolbark, Belgrave and Healesville.

Up to 30 classes in the Yarra Ranges will also have the chance to receive $60 in poster making materials, to help ease cost pressures of participating.

Asking schools not only in the local region but across Victoria to take up the free learning material, Ms Higgins said she would like to see the Paddock to Plate and Waste initiative go far and wide.

“We’re looking for as many [schools] as we can, anybody all around Victoria is an option because we’re just asking them to use the lesson plans,” she said.

Partnering with Yarra Ranges Council, Eastern Health and Yarra Ranges Food Connections, as well as other organisations like ECOSS and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, up to $3700 worth of prizes are available to students and schools.

To get in quick and register a school or class’s interest, go to www.surveymonkey. com/r/PaddockPlateWaste.

Enquiries about the program can be sent to health.promotion@inspiro.org.au

Where to pick up a FREE printed copy of your...

Mail

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

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

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

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

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

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

BELGRAVE First National Real Estate 1660 Burwood Highway Belgrave BELGRAVE SOUTH Belgrave South Motors 138 Belgrave-Hallam Rd BORONIA Boronia Mall Newsagent Corner Floriston Road & Chandler Road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By Mikayla van Loon

mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Four Hawks recognised

By Tyler Wright Four Monbulk Football & Netball Club representatives were given life memberships by the Outer East Football & Netball League at the organisation’s season launch on Friday 17 March at Rochford Wines in Coldstream.

One recipient, 65-year-old Mark Seamer, started his football career at the cub in the Under 17s team in 1970.

“My dad started it off when I was a kid, he was coach for the Under 16s and reserves, so I naturally followed,” Mr Seamer said.

“My dad was one of 13 kids...there was five brothers all played football and I was one of five children, my two brothers played and myself...other sides that we played against had similar big families that played in it.”

Mr Seamer played midweek football while working in the police force, took to the field for about 120 games for Monbulk in the ‘80s, and had the role of club vice-president from 2000 to 2007 before a stint as president from 2016 to 2019.

He then went on to coach Under 15s, coach the reserves in 1996 and 1997, and then the Under 18s in 2012.

At 59 years old, the football veteran played his last game as a fill in for the reserves team.

“The head was willing, the body didn’t know what it was doing... It was a bit of a laugh for the boys,” Mr Seamer said. “[I] mainly finished playing as a 40 year old in the reserves...[I’ve] had a long history with the club, the league has been great... I’ve seen the change from Yarra Valley Mountain District to Outer East, seen the highs and lows of footy when we win premierships and then struggled

Grant Dennison (left), Billie Hicken second from left) and Shane Van Seters (right) also received life memberships from the league. to have sides.

“It’s been a great journey...football has been a big part of my life, I’ve had my boys play and my daughter who captained our inaugural women’s senior team [in] 2019.”

Mr Seamer said he was “surprised” to receive a life membership. “[I] was very appreciative of the thought of the award... surprised and flattered, to be honest,” he said.

“I understand there’s a lot of sides in our competition now that are struggling to get [teams], and it’s one of those things that goes in generations...sometimes you have a lot of players and sometimes you don’t.

“I might have given a fair bit myself over the years, but I’ve got a lot more back from it... [I] appreciate what I got out of footy.”

Monbulk’s Billie Hicken, Shane Van Seters and Grant Dennison also received life memberships at the season launch, alongside Gembrook-Cockatoo’s Dean Allcott, Woori Yallock’s Trevor Spicer and Powelltown’s Peter Podolinsky.

Mark Seamer was given a life membership to the Outer East Football & Netball League on Friday 17 March after decades on involvement at the Monbulk Football Club.

Pictures: OUTER EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL & BH PHOTOGRAPHY

Team meets challenge

By Parker McKenzie A Ferntree Gully-based team took on the 100km Oxfam Walk through the Dandenong Ranges over the weekend, having already raised over $5000 for charity.

Natasha Orfanidis, Rosemary James and Betsy Hoebert have been training for their first Oxfam Trailwalker, after the three friends met at a local gym in Upper Ferntree Gully.

Ms Orfanidis said she suggested the idea to her teammates because the challenge was a “bucket list thing.”

“It’s a great challenge, but it’s also amazing to be able to raise money for charity as well,” she said.

“There’s a leaderboard and we’re quite high on it too, which is amazing.”

At time of publishing, the trio — under the team name the Awty Girls — have raised $5806 for Oxfam projects around the world, which aim to alleviate poverty in developing countries.

Ms Orfanidis said the plan was to walk for 24 to 27 hours straight, with the only stops being small 20 to 30-minute pit stops.

“We had a pretty decent fitness level going in, but it’s just a different kind of physical challenge that you don’t really do in your everyday life,” she said.

“Mount Dandenong itself will be the most challenging part because it’ll be 60km into the walk and 1100 meters elevation.”

One member of the team, Ms James, had also been training for her first triathlon at the same time.

Ms Orfanidis said training together for such a monumental challenge has strengthened the trio’s friendship.

“Getting to know people from different walks of life, they are well-traversed people, has been really fascinating because we’ve done hours upon hours of training walks,” she said.

“The last one took up 14 hours with stops, you learn a lot about them and it’s really cool.”

L-R: Rosemary James, Natasha Orfanidis and Betsy Hoebert celebrate on Sunday after the Oxfam Trailwalker.

Pictures: STEPHEN JAMES

Rosemary James and Betsy Hoebert cross the finish line arm in arm.

She said the Awty Girls will celebrate eventually after the walk, but not after a long sleep.

“We’re going to do some sort of celebration dinner in the week following,” she said.

“First we’re going to go to bed because we don’t plan on sleeping while we’re doing it.”

Starting at 7am, the AWTY girls finally completed the walk after an astonishing 26 hours and 23 minutes. Unfortunately, at the 75km mark Ms Orfanidis was unable to go on, vomiting non-stop and being taken to hospital where blood tests revealed she was suffering from muscle breakdown and in need of a two-litre IV transfusion. Not willing to give up on the accomplishment, however, Ms Orfanisids got up on Sunday and completed the final 25km around Lysterfield Lake.

12596421-KG13-23

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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MAIL 9

NEWS

Rural Rainbows receive grant to support LGBTQIA+

By Callum Ludwig The Yarra Ranges branch of the Rural Rainbows group is set to receive a boost with a grant from the Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) and the Victorian Government.

Started in early 2022, Rural Rainbows has provided a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth in the Yarra Ranges over the last year and will receive a share in $102,000 along with ten other organisations from the Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) Grants program.

A spokesperson from Rural Rainbows said they are so thrilled to have received the grant and really excited to be able to use it to continue to support the LGBTQIA+ young people of the Yarra Ranges.

“It really is a reflection of the wonderful hard work and passion of our young volunteers, who created the group from the ground up in order to provide a safe and fantastic space for their peers,” they said.

“Having these local safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ young people is incredibly important, it gives them a chance to share their experiences with their peers, find information on other services they might need, and build a community and support network together all while having fun and laughs.”

The grant is set to support the group to continue to run the existing Lilydale peer group, create a brand new Upper Yarra Group in Yarra Junction, and look at trialling a Healesville group as well as provide activities, events and resources.

A Rural Rainbows spokesperson said they are so grateful to the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria for acknowledging the importance of providing these local groups.

“As well as improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people, the increased visibility of the group and the advocacy done by our young participants and volunteers also contribute to reducing stigma and discrimination in the general

The Yarra Ranges branch of Rural Rainbows has received a grant to help continue its work with local LGBTQIA+ youth. community,” they said.

“Our groups are run by and for local young LGBTQIA+ people, and we know what it’s like to need a space for us to be exactly who we are, it’s a super creative, safe and fun group and totally accepting of all diversity and uniqueness.”

The Rurail Rainbows group participate in everything from relaxing art and craft sessions and group discussions to celebrating queer events such as IDAHOBIT and Pride

Month and even attending the Minus 18 Queer Formal together, as they did in 2022.

YACVic Rural Manager Derm Ryan said the HEY Grants make a real difference to the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ young people across Victoria.

“YACVic is proud to work alongside the Victorian Government in delivering this Australian first-of-its-kind program, which empowers and celebrates all aspects of LGBTIQA+ identities,” he said.

Picture: ON FILE

Any LGBTQIA+ young people aged between 12 and 25 and welcome to get involved with the rural Rainbows group, either the existing one in Lilydale which meet fortnightly on a Wednesday evening, or with the new Yarra Junction group starting on April 19.

Anyone who would like more information or who has any questions are welcome to get in touch with the group via their email address ruralrainbows@each.com.au.

Artists needed to think big Kalorama is set to become home to a largescale artwork as part of Yarra Ranges Council’s RidgeWalk (ngurrak barring) project.

The council seeking expressions of interests from teams of multidisciplinary teams of local, national or international artist to design, supply and install the work.

Director of Communities at the council, Jane Price, said the land artwork at Kalorama Park will “complement the cultural history and character of the Dandenongs, creating a unique and iconic destination for local residents and visitors to ngurrak barring”.

“The location of the artwork will be the grassed area below the Silvan Dam lookout, an underutilised part of Kalorama Park that will be able to be experienced at ground level via a path running through the site, as well as from the lookout,” Ms Price said.

Using the site will create a trail connection between the May Moon track and the Silvan Dam lookout, Ms Price said, which has the “required amount of space to host a large-scale environmental artwork”.

“Expressions of interest are currently open

to local, national and international artists to apply, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what creative submissions we receive,” she said.

The budget for the artwork project is up to $360,000.

Expressions of interest close on 5 April.

Ngurrak barring is one of the council’s Ridges and Rivers projects, alongside the Yarra Valley Trail and Warburton Mountain Bike Destination.

All projects have received significant funding from the State Government (Growing Suburbs Fund), Federal Government and investments from the council.

Works are expected to be completed by the end of 2024, as the council conducts maintenance works on existing trails on Parks Victoria-managed land in Kalorama, Ferny Creek, Mount Dandenong and Sherbrooke.

For more information, and to sign up for updates to the project, visit https://shaping. yarraranges.vic.gov.au/consultations/ridgewalk

Yarra Ranges Council is looking for expressions of interest from artists to design, supply and install a large-scale work at Kalorama Park as part of the RidgeWalk (ngurrak barring) project.

206423 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Passionate about Emerald, clean-up to be annual event

By Parker McKenzie Rotary Club and Emerald & District and Johns Hill Landcare Group’s Clean Up Australia Day event on Sunday 19 March saw 34 people get involved in the first clean-up of Hogan Park since 2019. Emerald Rotary President Marcus Adams said he expects the event will now be held annually due to the success in 2023.

“We’re all passionate about Emerald, the amount of rubbish and other stuff that we found was pretty ordinary,” he said.

“I think our members would say that’s something that we can do on a yearly basis and make a bit of a difference to our township.”

The event was held two weeks after the ‘official’ Clean Up Australia Day and was an initia10 MAIL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

tive organised by the Emerald Rotary Environment and Sustainability Committee.

President of John Hill Landcare Jenny Lyndon the event couldn’t have happened without the work of the Rotary Club.

“We’d love to do future events because they’re newly into sustainability and the environment because we are baby boomers and tired out really,” she said.

“It’s a fantastic national event, even though it is one day lots of groups do Clean up Australia Days all the time.”

Rubbish collected during the event was removed by Cardinia Council by the next morning, which Ms Lyndon said was “brilliant.”

“I have to give a little shout-out to the Car-

dinia Council because it was a registered Cleanup Australia Day and that means the council agrees to pick up the rubbish,” she said.

“The next morning when I was walking the dog, the rubbish was gone.”

The rubbish included old chairs, bottles, other assorted litter and drug paraphernalia.

Mr Adams said in addition to the Landcare and Rotary volunteers, other community members joined in to help clean up Hogan Park.

“That was fantastic too, to see that there were other people who were passionate about cleaning up the local community,” he said.

“This year, we’ve really focused on collaborating with a lot of the local other local community clubs.”

Some of the rubbish cleaned up during the Clean Up Australia Day Event at Hogan Park.

Picture: SUPPLIED mailcommunity.com.au

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Selby singer goes out with a bang

By Tyler Wright Local powerhouse Anya Hynninen went out with a bang before being eliminated off the 2023 season of Australian Idol on Monday 20 March.

Having reached the top six, the 19-year-old Selby resident sang ‘It’s a Man’s World by’ James Brown in her last performance in front of the panel of judges.

“It was an important song for me to perform because for me, it was powerful, and with all the comments from Harry [Connick Jr]...it felt like a good way to end the [show],” Hynninen said.

“When I first auditioned, I didn’t even know if I’d get through, so to get this far, It’s like, ‘oh, my God, thank God I’m still here,’ and I was completely shocked and so grateful.

“I wasn’t really even shown that much on TV compared to the others, so the fact that I had people still voting for me saying that I was their favourite was insane.”

For Hynninen, the Idol experience was the “most full on thing” she has ever done; more intense than working four jobs while studying full time and gigging.

“There’s a part of you that wants to get to top three, but I’m happy with where I’m at and I don’t think I could have done next week anyway, I think I would have just probably had a mental break down because it’s full on and you don’t get any breaks, so it’s really challenging,” Hynninen said.

Online criticism of the singer’s performances also ramped up towards the end of her time in the competition - something that was her “biggest fear” going into the show.

“Some people comment like they know exactly who you are and they comment, telling you who you are and coming up with all these traits that just aren’t true...if they ever spoke to you in person, that would never come out of their mouth,” Hynninen said.

“So much of your personality is edited and cut and pasted on these shows so it’s really hard to connect and show your true self because so much of it is squashed down...

“It was constant towards the end... there wasn’t any apps that I could go on that I could hide from it.”

Coming out the other side, Hynninen said the support she has received from family, friends and her home town in the Hills is something she couldn’t even expect, with staff from Babaji’s Kerala Kitchen in Belgrave dressing in pink wigs as the singer’s lookalikes, and Belgrave South Primary School and Belgrave South Hardware filming videos of support for the musician.

“I reckon a Selby coming home show is definitely on the cards,” she said.

Eddie Rawk Band performed on Sunday 26 March.

Picture: THE BASIN MUSIC FESTIVAL, FACEBOOK

Basin Fest strikes note Anya Hynninen sung ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s World’ by James Brown in her final performance on the 2023 season of Australian Idol.

Pictures: CHANNEL SEVEN

After her Australian Idol journey, Hynninen is preparing to release an EP, with 2000 songs sitting on her laptop.

Switching up roles from on-stage performer to a supporter in the crowd, Hynninen will be cheering for the final three contestants - including Mount Evelyn local Josh Hannan - who will perform on Sunday 26 March.

“It’s going to be really tight,” she said.

“I love Josh, he’s like my bestie, but I do hope Royston makes his mark and really brings it home because of his community.

“He’s just so lovely, and there’s going to be so many people looking up to him” Upon returning home, Hynninen is preparing to re-visit the catalogue of songs she left behind on her adventure to Sydney.

“I’m a writer before I’m a singer...I’ve got lit-

erally 2000 songs on my little MacBook, so there’s a lot to release... all I’m focused on is singing and working to get my name out and touring and releasing an EP of five or six songs and making my mark,” she said.

“After the show, Harry said ‘you just have to not stop....the key to success is just that sheer determination...’”

“One of the vocal coaches, Brydon, said the same thing; ‘it doesn’t matter basically how good your voice is, all of those things don’t really matter, but if you have something to say and you have perspective and you just have that determination and you don’t stop, then you’re just always going to succeed.”

Indie rockers British India return to Sooki

By Parker McKenzie Indie rockers British India are back on tour for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic and the Star Mail caught up with drummer Matt O’Gorman ahead of their Sooki Lounge show on Friday 28 April.

“It’s probably the first big one since Covid-19, we’ve all developed a newfound appreciation for just being able to play, like a lot of bands too,” Mr O’Gorman said.

“We had a bit of a line-up change with Nick, our original guitarist, and getting Jack in. We had a lot of energy at the backend of 2019 and early 2020, so it’s good to get back out there and do what we want to do.”

The band, which is celebrating a recent ARIA gold and platinum accreditation for their songs I Can Make You Love Me and Suddenly, first formed in 2004.

Mr O’Gorman said connecting with the crowd during live performances is “one of mailcommunity.com.au

The Star Mail caught up with drummer Matt O’Gorman ahead of British India’s Sookie Lounge show on Friday 28 April.

Picture: SUPPLIED those things you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”

“Sooki Lounge is one of the greats, we played one of our first ever shows there — I can’t quite remember the year, but I think it was 2004 or 2005 when it was still Ruby’s — and we love it,” he said. “Getting in the car,

driving to Belgrave, having a bite there beforehand and playing; we’ve got a lot of friends that live in that area, so it’s always a highlight.”

The band has released six albums, had five ARIA top 10 debuts and eight entries into the Triple J Hottest 100 and is currently midway through a 23-date Rolled Gold national tour.

Mr O’Gorman said now that the band members all work full-time, the opportunity to get together on the weekends and play live music is something they all love. “We’ve got older, we’ve got wiser, this tour has really spurred us, really given us some motivation to get back in the studio and write,” he said. “We had a two-year break, we didn’t really see each other. Living in Melbourne with lockdowns, it was a couple of years. It’s one of those things, missing an old friend and missing something you love doing.”

For more information on the gig, visit tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/dff29d37-c9bf4957-8d60-73055a7043a9

The Basin Music Festival ran from Friday 24 March until Sunday 26 March, featuring a wide variety of acts and talent across multiple stages throughout venues and locations in the town.

At the main stage on Friday 24 March, located at The Basin Triangle, volunteers were busy getting ready for the opening act at 6pm.

Committee member John Mortimore opened the festival, and said it has seen it become a much more professional production since it was first ran 18 years ago.

“It’s initially it was done by borrowing gear, all the gear, all the sound gear, and everything we needed was borrowed,” he said “This is all about community. It’s not about big production. It’s not about the industry that thrives on, masses of information about people and that kind of thing. This is just music.”

He said he was looking forward to being introduced to some new performers and bands he’d never heard of before.

“Thank you very much also to any anybody who’s associated with the formation of this festival, which was done as I said on a shoestring and it’s grown from that for what we see it now here tonight,” Mr Mortimore said.

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.

One attendee, named Jim, said it was it was the first time he and his wife had come to The Basin Music Festival.

“We were just passing by and decided to call in, after seeing it last year,” he said.

“We are going to come tomorrow as well, we know one of the guys in the bands so we’ll come down to support him.”

2023 is the 18th year the three-day festival has be held, and is only four months since the 2022 TBMF. TBMS committee president Mark Grondman said the aim is to provide a platform for the musicians to perform that is worthy of their time.

“We are trying to showcase what they’re doing, so by simply improving the production all the time and getting professional sound guys involved as well,” he said. “Getting funding for it is the hardest part, and it’s the huge effort required because we’ve got a very small committee putting it together.”

He said he would like to see further collaboration with local Indigenous groups and performers to showcase their talent in the future. “It’s all about trying to promote the culture, but it’s all about making everyone in the community feel welcome,” Mr Grondman said “Whether that be indigenous people, whether it be people with mental health issues or gender identity differences, we’re just trying to create an artistic and inclusive platform.”

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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HAPPY EASTER

Mad Easter at the Garden The Blue Lotus Water Garden have teamed up with Mad Hatter Theatrics from Warburton and the Easter Bunny to provide a magical experience for children this coming Easter.

Eggcellent Egg Hunts - The Easter Bunny and his storybook friends will be in the Fairy Garden to conduct eggcellent Easter hunts on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Children will be invited to search for artificial eggs to give the Easter Bunny who will swap the artificial eggs for 4 x hen sized chocolate eggs. The egg hunts run for 40 minutes followed by the storybook show. For more details and session times, please see below (note: all egg hunt tickets are limited and must be booked online).

Storybook Show – Following each egg hunt session, the children will be invited to take part in a wonderful roving pantomime featuring everyone’s favourite storybook characters including Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland, Queen of Hearts and others as they help celebrate Alice’s special surprise birthday. The interactive show is preformed among the audience. The shows run approximately 20 minutes.

Online Bookings Essential – Tickets for the egg hunts and storybook show sessions are limited and must be booked online. Egg hunt tickets are available to purchase for children aged 0-15 years only. All children must be accompanied by an adult with a paid admission ticket. Child Egg hunt tickets include garden admission and entry to one egg hunt session only.

EGG HUNT AND STORYBOOK SESSIONS Saturday 8 April AM Session: 10:30am – 11:30am PM Session: 1pm – 2pm Sunday 9 April AM Session: 10:30am – 11:30am

·

PM Session: 1pm – 2pm

· Monday 10 April

AM Session Only: 11am – 12pm EASTER TICKET PRICES Adult Ticket: $21.00 Senior/Pensioner Ticket: $18.50 Child Egg Hunt Ticket (Includes egg hunt, storybook show and garden admission): $9.00 Child Ticket - Admission Only (does NOT include Easter activities): Free CONDITIONS: A Child Ticket is only available to children aged 0-15 years and must be

accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket.

Child Egg hunt tickets include garden admission and entry to ONE egg hunt session only.

Good Friday - The Blue Lotus Water Garden is open from 10am-5pm on Good Friday 7th April. Although there will be no special entertainment for children. All facilities will be open including the Flower Fairy Garden, Ice Cream Shop and our new tree house, we also offer kids our Garden Spotto activity which keeps them occupied during their visit.

The Gardens in April - The Blue Lotus Water Garden offers a fantastic destination for fami-

Picture: BLUE LOTUS WATER GARDEN lies over April with over 14 acres of stunning lakes, waterfalls and amazing plant exhibits to explore. Thousands of autumn flowers including, impatiens, petunias, begonias, salvias and many others provide colourful vistas as visitors wander the grounds. Highlights include the amazing Giant Amazon Waterlily with its huge lily pads. The gardens also contain fantastic facilities including dozens of picnic huts, BBQs, Lily Pond Cafe, Ice Cream Kiosk, Plant Nursery and Giftshops.

Bookings Essential: To book tickets please visit our website www.bluelotus.com.au

12595898-SN13-23

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The Blue Lotus Water Garden is hosting a spectacular Easter weekend of fun and games.

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Scan QR Code to view Ranges FN Facebook Account

EASTER COMPETITION 2023 Ranges First National are running an easter coImpetition from the 24th of March - 6th of April. Videos will be posted on their social accounts, where you will be able to guess the location of where the video has been filmed.

The winner will receive a chocolate bunny as well as a voucher to a local business.

Head to their Facebook - RangesFN or Instagram - ranges_first_national, to place your guesses! GOOD LUCK & HAPPY EASTER

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

‘We Put You First’

1660 Burwood Highway, Belgrave Shop 2/24 McBride St, Cockatoo Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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12596007-JC13-23

Local Businesses involved include - Bam Bam Italian, Monbulk Aquatic Centre, Kallista Tea Rooms, Cafe Have Ya Bean, Cameo Cinemas, The Hair Dog Cafe, Chieftans Smokehouse, Storehouse Roastery, Emerald Lake Model Railway & Rustic Cafe.

MAIL 13

HAPPY EASTER

Craft tips let you sparkle If the thought of getting the craft supplies out to make a beautiful creation for the upcoming Easter period has you running for the hills, then you’re not alone.

“Many parents feel overwhelmed by the mess and time spent cleaning up caused by paints, glue and glitter at Easter time,” craft expert, Shannon Wong-Nizic, from Oh Creative Day said.

Shannon said by taking a simpler approach, it’s possible to reduce the headache and still have some fun crafting with the kids this Easter: Low-prep projects Ever spent 30 minutes prepping a creative experience only for your child to declare, “I’m done!” after 30 seconds? Projects that take a lot of prep time can lead to grandiose expectations of what the project will produce. Take the pressure off by looking for simple, open-ended projects with minimal supplies.

Rely on those staple items You do not need to own the entire craft aisle to be a crafty parent. It is easy to become overwhelmed by all that is on offer - for adults and children alike! Have a well-kept supply of the staples so that you can easily pull them out and pack them away. We have a small tub filled with paint markers. Whenever we need to add a splash of colour to a project, we pull the tub out - easy peasy.

Reuse and recycle How can you use what you have around the house to get creative this Easter? Easter Bonnet Parade? Use an old cap or sunhat as the base for your bonnet. Need to make an Easter basket? Hit the pantry and decorate a cereal box.

Don’t put all the supplies out all at once If mess is your number one reason for finding Easter crafting a chore, this tip is for you! When

Oh Creative Day founder Shannon Wong-Nizic shares her tips for busy parents wanting to do some Easter craft.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Shannon tries to use the same materials and equipment for each craft activity to keep things simple.

children happy and enjoying the moment.

Make it easy for them by keeping it simple with one straightforward project they can use in many different ways.

This Easter, Shannon has created a free, quick and easy ‘Hoppy Easter’ project featuring a cute Easter Bunny that can be transformed into Easter cards, bunting, decorations for bonnets or baskets, and signs for Easter egg hunts.

“The Hoppy Easter project can be stopped

and started over many creative sessions, it is low mess and features one simple craft template that can be used across many projects, making it perfect for mess-averse, time-poor parents and guaranteed to put a smile on the kids’ faces this Easter,” Shannon said.

Shannon Wong is a teacher, mum of three and avid crafter. An enthusiastic fan of pom poms, PVA and paint, she runs popular blog and online parenting resource dedicated to all things creative, https://ohcreativeday.com/ and has 39,400 followers on Instagram.

all the supplies are out from the beginning, this heightens the chance of crafty things flying everywhere! Think of the project in layers and do a staggered release of materials. This helps to keep the workspace tidier and organised.

Use one project, many ways There is nothing sweeter than when a minimaker hits creative flow. Their hands are busy, they’re relaxed and engaged with whatever it is that they are making. It is a win when one project can lead to a variety projects, keeping

Church services for all All Saints Anglican Church, Selby Maundy Thursday: 6 April, 7.30pm Eucharist of the Lord’s Supper and stripping of the Altar Good Friday: 7 April, 10.30am Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts. (Holy communion from the reserved sacrament) Easter Sunday: 9 April, 6am Service of Light, renewal of baptismal vows and first Eucharist of Easter, 9am Sung Eucharist Tecoma Uniting Church The Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees 2023 is happening on 2 April.

Tecoma Uniting Church invites its patrons to attend by joining in the walk leaving from the State Library in Melbourne/ Naarm at 2.45pm.

St Michael’s and All Angels’ Anglican Church, Olinda and Kalorama Good Friday: 7 April, Service of Prayer and

Reflection 10am at St Matthew’s Olinda and 3pm St Michael’s Kalorama Hot Cross Buns and a cuppa to follow the service.

Easter Sunday: 9 April, Family Communion Service at 9am St Matthew’s and 11am St Michael’s Please bring small bunches of flowers with you to decorate the Easter Cross.

Easter Egg Hunt after 9.30 and 11am.

Discovery Church - Monbulk Road Mount Evelyn Good Friday: 7 April 9am service Easter Sunday: 9 April, 9am and 11am services Mt Evelyn Christian Reformed Church Birmingham Road Mount Evelyn Good Friday: 7 April at 9.30am Easter Sunday: 9 April at 9.30am

12595641-AV13-23

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Easter Services

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THURSDAY 30TH MARCH 5pm until 8pm

All Welcome 14 MAIL

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Cnr Moxhams and David Hill Rds Monbulk Contact us Erimus Jewellers 0448 319 713 10 Main St, Upwey | Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 5:00pm Saturday: 9:30am - 2:30pm | Sunday: Closed 12596248-RR13-23

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OPINION

Pool strategy call Now the outdoor pool season is starting to wind down – and the days get too cold to zip out to a water play park – it’s time to tell us about how you use our local aquatic facilities.

We’ve had a survey open since the end of February, asking community members about how they use pools and water play parks locally, and how you’d like to use them in the future.

We know that pools and water play parks are local hubs – it’s where you meet with friends, where you learn to swim, where you host school carnivals and where you make memories, whether you’re at an outdoor pool event in the middle of summer, or swimming in a heated pool in the depths of winter.

They’re also community assets that require a lot of planning, a lot of funding and a lot of

From my

desk Jim Child care as they’re managed over the years, balancing the social, environmental and financial impacts of the facilities with the needs of the community.

We’ve already heard from hundreds of people in the Yarra Ranges, but it’s important we get as many voices as possible, so we know that our Draft Aquatics Strategy, to be released later

this year, aligns with those needs and carves a clear path forward for coming years.

All the comments you provide in our survey will help inform that draft strategy – which will also be open for community comment when it is presented. There is plenty of time, and plenty of opportunities, to share your feedback.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete, which is an incredibly small amount of time to help us shape the next few decades of aquatics in the Yarra Ranges.

The survey closes on 26 April. I strongly encourage all community members to visit shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au to have their say, and see what other engagements are open for comment.

The survey is also available at our Community Links in hard copy, for whose who want it.

John Wick 4 Lost words tender yet fierce is action PASSION FOR PROSE excellence A review of The Dictionary of Lost Words

By Pip Williams

By Seth Lukas Hynes John Wick: Chapter Four Starring Keanu Reeves, Bill Skarsgard and Donnie Yen Rated MA15+ 4.25/5 John Wick: Chapter Four is a phenomenal action movie and an outstanding conclusion to the John Wick series.

As the global hitman community closes in on him, legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) issues a challenge to Marquis De Gramant (Bill Skarsgard), a nefarious elite member of the High Table.

John Wick 4’s action is excellent as ever. The set-pieces are incredibly creative and feature clear, wide framing and plenty of long sustained shots, and while the fight choreography is quick and stylised, it still has a realistic sense of force and fatigue. The highlights include a really fun skirmish in a speeding Paris roundabout and a brilliantly-composed gun battle shot from overhead (resembling the video game Hotline Miami, as many other critics have pointed out).

John Wick 4 revels in the brutal beauty of great action but still tells a moving story about destructive grudges and how violence can destroy relationships.

The plot never lags despite the nearly three-hour runtime, and themes from earlier in the series – John’s deceased wife, bulletproof suits, pencils as weapons, John’s affinity for dogs – come fullcircle.

The world-building is greatly refined, expanding effective elements from John Wick 2 and 3 and discarding details that didn’t work.

Skarsgard plays a cold yet pompous villain whose wrathful ego causes chaos and makes enemies of his employees.

Donnie Yen brings deadly skill and wry charm as Caine, a blind assassin and conflicted old friend of John.

John and his pursuers fight and work against each other but gradually come together against a common enemy, all building to the crystal-clear dramatic goal of John’s duel with De Gramont.

A deliriously satisfying action banquet with engrossing drama and characters.

John Wick: Chapter Four is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

– Seth Lukas Hynes mailcommunity.com.au

With South Australian author Pip Williams’s second book The Bookbinder of Jericho published earlier this month, it is time to revisit her thought-provoking debut novel The Dictionary of Lost Words.

Published in March 2020 to international fame, the book tells the story of fictional Esme Nicoll, who grew up around a garden shed endearingly called the Scriptorium, where the Oxford English Dictionary was compiled by a team of lexicographers led by Sir James Murray.

Motherless, Esme learned from her father the English words and how their meanings had changed over time. Words, both spoken and unuttered, defined her. She knew the importance of those words submitted by embers of the public and carefully preserved in the Dictionary – how they would shape the English language and those who use it.

But Esme was increasingly drawn to those words not included in the Dictionary, either accidentally or deliberately. Indeed, a great number of words used by women and common folk were deemed vulgar and/or insignificant by the editors – despite the fact that these words give substances to how ordinary people live, think and feel.

Every single word recorded by Esme was a testimony to the real-life inequalities between social classes and genders, between those voicing and voiceless, and between those privileged and forgotten. This journey of learning lost words was also one of self-discovery, as Esme encounters the turmoils of being a woman.

“I realised that the words most often used to define us were words that described our function in relation to others. Even the most benign words – maiden, wife, mother – told the world whether we were virgins or not. What was the male equivalent of maiden? I could

CARTOON

WITH CHRISTINE SUN not think of it.

What was the male equivalent of Mrs, of whore, of common scold? I looked out the window towards the Scriptorium, the place where the definitions of all these words were being bedded down. Which words would define me? Which would be used to judge or contain?”

While these words from Esme were expressed at the height of the women’s suffrage movement, The Dictionary of Lost Words is not and should not be seen as a feminist work. Instead, it is an extraordinary exploration of who gets to decide which parts of human history are to be written and in what manner. As words are powerful in their myriad ways to shape our experiences of the world, to deny the existence of certain words is to disrespect and discard parts of humanity.

This is particularly well-illustrated in the book’s depiction of the First World War, where soldiers were told not to describe the suffering and slaughter in their homebound letters so that their loved ones could “continue to think the war a glory and a good fight”. The English language is burdened with wars. “Their words are ordinary, but they are assembled into sentences that are grotesque.”

Full of tender yet fierce words, this is an important book to be cherished and celebrated.

Highly recommended.

The Shoehorn Sonata was a moving and emotional production by The 1812 Theatre according to Peter Kemp.

Picture: THE 1812 THEATRE

Moving Sonata Kemp’s curtain call The 1812 Theatre A review of The Shoehorn Sonata The 1812 Theatre’s second production was John Misto’s The Shoehorn Sonata.

A story of the fall of Singapore during WWII and deals with the imprisonment of the women who were interned by the Japanese. In this instance John Misto concentrates on two people.

An Australian nurse in her late 20s and an English school girl as a 15 year old. They come together after 40 odd years for a TV interview.

A dramatic, moving and historical play and not one for the downhearted.

Bridie, the Australian nurse was played by Genevieve Ryan and Sheila the schoolgirl was played by Stephanie King. Blake Stringer played the Interviewer.

A very moving production enhanced by the strength of the players.

Genevieve Ryan captured the essence of the Australian nurse and Stephanie King gave a wonderful portrayal.

A very taut experience of theatre with both actors capturing the feel of life in a POW camp. An harrowing tale lightened with touches of humour.

The actors really captured the anxiety, desperation, and feelings of women in such a position.

For one to learn about some little known facts of history this is a show not to be missed.

The play was in the Bakery@1812 an intimate theatre most suitable for this three-hander.

The set was that of a hotel room with a central entry door and walls on each side which acted as two screens where pictures from the relevant parts of the story were projected.

The space was also used as the interview room of a radio station complete with an On Air sign above the door and the interviewer, Blake Stringer.

Stringer gave a good portrayal of the Interviewer.

The play was set in two parts, the interview and the hotel room.

A great evening of theatre and being in the Bakery@1812 gave the audience more feeling of the story.

Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Coming up: Barefoot in the Park Season: April 36 – May 6 Paul Bratter, a conservative lawyer, marries the vivacious Corie, but their highly passionate relationship descends into comical discord in a five flight New York apartment contending with a lack of heating, a leaking roof, several long flights of stairs, the oddball neighbour, telephone repairman and Corie’s wellmeaning mother.

Bookings: 9735 1777 Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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MAIL 15

ADULT • Up to 8mm long • Reddish-brown body • Distinctive yellow markings • Narrow ‘waist’ between the thorax (the middle section of the body, between the head and the abdomen, with the legs and wings) and the abdomen • Transparent wings • Female has an obvious ‘ovipositer’ ‘sting’

EGGS • Usually not visible

LARVAE • 3 stages or ‘instars’ • Up to 10mm • White body • Difficult to distinguish from other fruit fly larvae

PUPAE • Brown shell • Usually in the ground (not seen)

LOOK OUT FOR • Puncture wounds • Rotting near wounds • Larvae in fruit

12595562-AV13-23

• Adult flies

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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MAIL 17

PUZZLES No. 126

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

easy

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

5 1 4 3

9

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS

DOWN

People from Bagdad, Mosul etc. (6) Written words (8) Grub (5) Used to restrain criminals (9) Genius plural (5) Buttress (9) Plant yielding fragrant oil (8) Asserts the truth of it (6) Country of mounties (6) Confirming (8) From Oslo, e.g. (9) 'I don’t know' (colloq) (5) Particular events (9) Japanese camera company (5) Prize (8) Slows (6)

1 4 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 18 23 24 26 27 28 29

No. 126

1 2 3 5 6 7 8 10 14 16 17 19 20 21 22 25

Against the law (7) Brother of Moses (Biblical) (5) From Rome or Florence (7) Sour (6) Discreet (7) Egyptian queen (9) Siblings (7) Steed (5) Anatomical chamber of the heart (9) Monarch’s spouse (7) Clothes (7) Tips (5) Rhythm (7) Reasons (7) Diligence (6) Finnish phone maker (5)

DECODER

No. 126

5 2

1

7

3

6 9 4

6 5 9 4 4 5

3 8 4

7

5 6 2 1 hard

3

6 1 2 6 8

9 4 1 8 1 9

5 3

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 11 12 13

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

Q V

2 6

L T C P A U Y H B S I QV 14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

1 8 7 9 6 4

WORDFIT 3 LETTERS ALE ARE AWE DUO DYE EEL EKE ERA GNU HER HUH IDS LSD MEN NET NUN OUT PRO SUE TIP TOE TOO VAN VIE

26

N O D F MW X K J G Z E R 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”.

T

H

Today’s Aim: 17 words: Good 25 words: Very good

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

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

34 words: Excellent

hard

3

medium

E

E

C

Y A

P

R

achy, ARCHETYPE, chary, cheery, creepy, crypt, cypher, earthy, eatery, eyre, harpy, hearty, party, patchy, payee, payer, peachy, pray, preachy, prey, pyre, racy, repay, retype, teary, therapy, they, tray, trey, type, tyre, yacht, yachter, year

3 7 6 1 9 4 5 8 2 5 2 1 6 8 7 3 9 4 8 9 4 2 5 3 1 7 6 4 5 3 7 6 2 8 1 9 9 6 2 3 1 8 4 5 7 1 8 7 9 4 5 2 6 3 2 3 9 5 7 1 6 4 8 6 4 5 8 2 9 7 3 1 7 1 8 4 3 6 9 2 5 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

2

easy

1

2 9 3 6 9 5

4 LETTERS BETS BOOS CAME CASE CATS GENT HEED LADE LESS PASS SNAP SOUP SWAN WEED 5 LETTERS ALERT APPLE

No. 126

6 8 $ 9 (

ARENA AREN’T ARISE AROMA ASSET AURAL AWAKE AWARE CAPER CARTS CHAPS COURT EDGED EERIE ELITE ELUDE ENEMA ERODE HALLS LEADS LEAPT MEDIA

MELON OPTIC PACES PANDA PAPAS PAPER PATES PIPES RATES RENTS ROSES SANDY SECTS SELLS SLATE SLOPE STALL START SUAVE TEENS THETA TREAD

TWINE USERS VENUE WIPER 6 LETTERS SERVED SERVER SPURTS UPROAR

7 LETTERS APPLAUD ARSENAL ENTAILS INTENSE REDHEAD RORTING 8 LETTERS DETERRED DWINDLES RELENTED TRIALLED

3 $ & ( 6 & $ 5 7 6 & + $ 3 6 $ / ( 5 7 $ 8 5 $ / $: $ . ( 0 ( ' , $ 7 + ( 7 $ 3 $ 3 ( 5 9 , ( + $ / / 6 1 ( 7 $ 5 ( 6 ( / / 6 & $ 6 ( 6 ( 5 9 ( ' $ 5 6 ( 1 $ / ' 8 2 6 : $ 1 / $ ' ( 6 8 $ 9 ( 6 2 8 3 ' ( 7 ( 5 5 ( ' 7 , 3 5 2 5 7 , 1 * $ 3 3 / $ 8 ' 5 ( / ( 1 7 ( ' % 2 2 6 6 8 ( : ( ( ' + ( ( ' 7 5 ( $ ' ' < ( , 1 7 ( 1 6 ( / ( 6 6 5 ( 1 7 6 8 3 5 2 $ 5 3 $ 1 ' $ * 1 8 3 5 2 ( ( / ( / , 7 ( 5 $ 7 ( 6 $ 5 2 0 $ 0 ( / 2 1 7 : , 1 ( 3 , 3 ( 6 7 ( ( 1 6 $ 6 6 ( 7 6 ( & 7 6

SUDOKU

31-03-23

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IMMACULATLEY PRESENTED HOME THIS stunning four-bedroom home plus study nook, is situated in a quiet street amongst quality homes and within walking distance to the primary school, bus stop, main street of Upwey and train station.

Upon entry to this prestigious home, you will love the warm Tasmanian Oak floorboards, high ceilings with ornate cornice, the stunning hostess kitchen with stone bench tops and servery to the covered alfresco dinging area and deck, being the perfect place for a dinner party or family gathering.

The master bedroom incorporates a stunning coffer ceiling as well as wall to wall sliding robes and a glamorous ensuite complete with spa and private balcony which enjoys sweeping views. The other three generous sized bedrooms all with large builtin robes are serviced by the family bathroom and there is also a separate powder room well positioned within the home.

Outside you will discover the 4 small car garage, with a workshop and storage under house, as well as water tanks for the low maintenance gardens which frame the back yard, being the perfect place for children and pets alike.

Additional features include: large walkin pantry, dishwasher, ducted evaporative cooling and heating, a security system, quality window furnishings, 3 toilets, freshly painted, and beautiful natural light which floods the home through the glass sliding doors and large windows. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 35 Griffiths Road, UPWEY Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $1,270,000 - $1,390,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Jan Brewster 0409 558 805, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL, 9754 6111

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

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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MAIL 19

HOME FOCUS

HOME WITH STUNNING VIEWS THIS home is fantastic.

With a grand verandah entry, this home opens up to offer 5 bedrooms, 2 lounge rooms, a formal dining room, and 3 bathrooms.

Freshly painted and updated throughout with quality floor coverings and lovely carpet in the bedrooms.

The open plan kitchen is a delight with stone benchtops, gas stove top, electric oven, dishwasher, a large butlers pantry, and gorgeous private views across your cleared and spacious backyard. The stone benchtops continue in the laundry and around the lovely fireplace. There is a split system air conditioner in the lounge room, and ducted heating throughout the home.

All bedrooms are generously sized with built in robes, ceiling fans, and flooded with natural light. The master bedroom with ceiling fan, has a luxurious ensuite complete with double vanity, shower and toilet. The family bathroom offers a free standing bath, shower and then separate toilet. Whilst the second family bathroom has gorgeous wooden shutters, with a shower and vanity, and separate toilet.

The backyard is an entertainers delight, with the block being fully fenced, there is plenty of space for your pets to enjoy. There is a rear entertaining area to relish in the peace and quiet as you watch your children enjoy the play equipment, or simple soak in the view.

The landscaped garden beds are waiting for you to plant to your liking, and there are approved permit plans for a 3 bay American Barn shed at the front of the property.

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

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 2979 Gembrook Launching Place Road, GEMBROOK Description: 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms Price: $1,300,000 - $1,380,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Bethany Day 0438 844 968 or Aaron Day 0407 365 994, BELL REAL ESTATE, EMERALD 20 MAIL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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P 5968 6222 311-313 Main Street Emerald

5a Old Beaconsfiled Road, Emerald

$1,380,000 - $1,480,000

‘Tudor-Leigh’ – Timeless Elegance in the Heart of Emerald!

Gorgeous Bluestone Gates set the ambience for the lifestyle that awaits you and your family at the Tudor -Leigh Estate. Situated on nearly 3.5 park like acres, there is room for whatever your heart desires, whether it be the pool, the tennis court or the ponies, and all with lovely views and absolute privacy, just a stone’s throw from Emerald Village. At a Glance:• Immaculate and elegant 5-bedroom home plus Study • Quality fixtures and fittings throughout • 9-foot ceilings • Ornate cornices, ceiling roses & lead light windows & doors • Amazing Master Suite with dressing room & ensuite • Almost 3.5 Acres of beautiful, flat, private, & useable land • Pony paddock potential with existing shelter • Circular drive • Abundant parking with a 3rd access perfect for Tradie trucks • Dual access on the corner block • Netted igloo • Close to Puffing Billy Railway & Emerald Park Lake Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451

A

3

$1,300,000 - $1,380,000

Exceptionally updated 5 bedroom family home with stunning views on over an acre!

This home has 5 bedrooms, 2 lounge rooms, a formal dining room, & 3 bathrooms! Freshly painted & updated throughout with floor coverings & carpet in the bedrooms. The open plan kitchen has stone benchtops, gas stove top, electric oven, dishwasher, & a large butlers pantry. There is a split system AC in the lounge room, & ducted heating throughout. All bedrooms are generously sized with BIRs, & ceiling fans. The Master bedroom has an ensuite. The family bathroom offers a free standing bath, shower & separate toilet. The second family bathroom has wooden shutters, shower & vanity, & separate toilet. The backyard is a delight, with the block being fully fenced. The landscaped garden beds are waiting for you to plant & there are approved permit plans for a 3 bay American Barn shed.

Bethany Day M 0438 844 968

5

165 Rainy Hill Road, Cockatoo

2979 Gembrook-Launching Pl Rd, Gembrook

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

B 2 C

$1,050,000-$1,150,000

5

3 Luke Place, Guys Hill, Beaconsfield

A

3

B

C

$695,000 - $760,000

Stunning 2 Year Young, 4 Bedroom + Study Family Home!

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

Situated on just under an acre, built by HB Custom Homes less than 2 years ago & has a 6.1 star energy rating. All bedrooms are generous in size with BIRs & ceiling fans. The Master Bedroom has a WIR, split system AC, ensuite with walk in shower & double vanity. There is a large office with barn door that flows into a 4th bedroom. The kitchen features a 900mm free standing Falcon gas stove with double electric ovens, stone benchtops & lovely open play layout & a butler’s pantry. Add to this, double glazed windows throughout, quality floor coverings, wood heater & split system in the open plan kitchen, dining, family room, a stylish main bathroom with a nice big bath, & a practical laundry with an abundance of storage. There is a DLUG with remote door & additional workshop space to the rear & large under house storage, sealed drive & mains gas & water is connected.

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

Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032

Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451

4

A

2

B 2 C

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

2

A

1

B

C

bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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MAIL 21

HOME FOCUS

ENTERTAINER’S DREAM ON OVER ONE ACRE IT’S very much a case of more than meets the eye in this spacious home that just keeps showing you more and more. Every window frames ever-changing garden vistas with seasonal bursts of colour amongst intense greens. No wonder the birds and wildlife love visiting here, there is even a pair of Tawny Frogmouths that are long term residents. The current owners have treasured living here for 40 years and now move on for new adventures, but Menzies Creek will always have a special place in their heart.

The Residence Features: 4 bedrooms, the main with luxurious ensuite, private deck and WIR Spacious dining area and a lounge room with cathedral ceilings Stunning timber kitchen, leadlight windows and a meals area that captures the essence of the home, the indoors welcoming the outdoors to your chairside The main family bathroom and laundry are both updated An entry foyer and study nook complete the interior Gas central heating system, cosy wood heater, plus a split air conditioning unit.

6.5 KW solar Studio/Work from Home?

The studio will be the most ‘Zen’ space you have ever worked in, looking out over the lush garden. You may even choose for this to be a yoga/meditation room. Perfect for artistic pursuits or even a teenagers chill out zone.

Outdoors: You can be quite self-sufficient here, the vegetable garden is thriving, there are fruit trees, berries, and many herbs as well.

The setting of this home is hard to put into words, the beautiful gardens, fabulous entertaining options, the courtyard, deck, and spa area, they all come together to create a wonderful place to live.

Also, off-street undercover parking for 2+ vehicles plus ample space for a caravan, boat, truck and a large utility shed.

Location: Menzies Creek is delightful, a great community, supportive and active. There are both senior and primary schools nearby.

Puffing Billy chugs through town and is always a comforting sound. Lysterfield Lake and Cardinia Dam are also close by.

Wellington Rd is at the end of the road and takes you into the city in less than an hour (depending on traffic). Both Monash and Eastlink freeways run off Wellington Rd. It’s 10 minutes to both Belgrave and Emerald by car.

Contact Mick Dolphin on 0429 684522 or Janet Hawkins 0409 117 432 to arrange your inspection now. ●

· · · · · · ·

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 24 Aura Vale Road, MENZIES CREEK Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,150,000 - $1,250,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Jane Mortimer 0457 620 542, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL, 9754 6111 22 MAIL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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Ranges

We put you first

iMMACULATE hOME iN A BRiLLiANT LOCATiON

Ranges First National - Awards Night 2023 UPWEY 35 gRiFFiThS ROAd $1,270,000-$1,390,000 SET in A QUiET STREET AMOngST QUALiTY hOMES 4A 2B 4C

Prestigious home within walking distance to all amenities, features a study nook, Tasmanian Oak floorboards, high ceilings, ornate cornice, ducted evaporative cooling & heating, security system, quality window furnishings, 3 toilets, freshly painted, hostess kitchen with stone bench tops & servery to the covered deck. The master incorporates a stunning coffer ceiling, wall-to-wall sliding robes and a glamorous ensuite with a spa & private balcony. Outside includes a 4 small car garage, workshop & under house storage.

Jan Brewster 0409 558 805

USEABLE ¼ ACRE ALLOTMENT

AvOnSLEigh 19 WRighT ROAd 4 BEDROOMS PLUS A STUDY

9754 6111

rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

We are so proud of the team, the results outline all the hard work that is put in.

Keep up the great work everyone.

ENTERTAiNERS dREAM ON OVER ONE ACRE

$750,000-$820,000 4A 2B 1C 1E

This home features a fabulous renovated ensuite and a great study (home office/ playroom) The living space consists of an updated white and timber kitchen with 900mm oven/gas hotplates and a dishwasher, adjoining dining area and a lounge room with a wood fire. The property has a circular driveway, with carport access, a fenced flat backyard and a rear deck. There are 3 split systems & ducted heating. Only minutes to Emerald Township, schools and walk into town on the trail and explore Wright Forest.

Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

The Ranges First National office won the #9 office award for Victoria in the First National Network, Grant Skipsey & Jan Brewster got GOLD sales awards, Amy Carson in our rentals team got Platinum & Elite (top 15) for her work in rentals, Mick Dolphin got DIAMOND sales award & #5 Sales Agent for the 2022 year.

Janet hawkins 0409 117 432

MEnziES CREEk 24 AURA VALE ROAd AnD A PRivATE STUDiO WiTh A TOiLET!

$1,150,000-$1,250,000 4A 2B 2C 1E

Situated on gently sloping land, this light-filled immaculate home where modern meets character is the perfect blend for today’s lifestyle. With a welcoming vibe, other features include a separate master with WiR & ensuite with a freestanding bathtub & own private deck. Other inclusions are a study nook, sun-filled kitchen with WiP, decked entertaining area, spa & automated shade sail, gas central heating system, wood heater & split A/C and 6.5kw solar. Outside has amazing gardens, paved & grass areas & double carport.

Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

‘We Put You First’

Jane Mortimer 0457 620 542

1660 Burwood Highway, Belgrave Shop 2/24 McBride St, Cockatoo Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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MAIL 23

HOME FOCUS

YOUR 37 ACRE LIFESTYLE DREAM OWNED, loved and beautifully maintained by the one 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, showing the high standard of care it has received over the years, both inside and out.

Behind the solid brick façade, you will discover spacious living over two levels, with a slate tiled entry foyer leading to a large ground floor billiards / rumpus room giving a wonderful space in which to entertain. This level also features a home office/bedroom, bathroom and a spacious laundry.

Upstairs, a meticulously detailed kitchen, featuring Meile appliances and handmade tiles, has been built with functionality in mind yet also boasts a classic design to suit the most discerning family chef.

The relaxed meals and family area is filled with natural light and looks out to the stunning pool and lush green gardens. The deck over the carport, accessible from the kitchen, is the perfect place to enjoy lovely views of the hills beyond.

For more formal occasions, a large

lounge/dining room leads to another, even larger alfresco deck and BBQ patio.

Three bedrooms (inc. master with ensuite) plus home office/fourth bedroom provide plenty of space which, along with three sizeable bathrooms, create a floorplan to envy. The copious storage areas throughout the home will also delight.

Hydronic heating, a gas log fire and solid wood Jetmaster heater will keep you warm through the cooler months while in the warmer weather, simply open the beautiful French doors to let the cool hills breeze filter through. There is also air conditioning in the kitchen/family area for those warmer days.

Outside, the solar heated pool creates a fun filled environment in the summer with its built in spa that can be enjoyed year round.

A sealed driveway leads to a large lockable garage with workshop & internal access plus a double carport and plenty of extra parking, making this property ideal for those looking for space for trailers, boats etc. With a colourful garden full of established trees and pretty pathways, there is plenty to love about this unique property.

Adjoining land of 2311m2 is also available for purchase. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 21 Maskells Hill Road, SELBY Description: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $1,220,000 - $1,350,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442 and Glenn Chandler 0418 410 689, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 24 MAIL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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Real Estate you can trust!

We ’ r e h e r e t o h e l p FOR SALE

1 Vista Road, BELGRAVE HEIGHTS

$1,480,000 - $1,600,000

‘GREENWOOD’ – QUALITY, SIZE & TIMELESS APPEAL

4A2B4C

FOR SALE

30 The Crescent, BELGRAVE HEIGHTS

$1,050,000 - $1,150,000 5A2B2C

FABULOUS FAMILY HOME WITH SEPARATE STUDIO

A picture of perfection awaits at ‘Greenwood’, a much loved, Federation Harkaway home, built and engineered to an outstanding level of detail and offering a traditional, period style home that boasts elegance on every level. Spacious and solid, there has been no compromise on quality, offering 4 bedrooms, home office (or 5th bedroom), dual bathrooms and a versatile floorplan to meet any family’s requirements.

A much loved family property, this beautiful home boasts 5 bedrooms plus home office/ 6th bedroom whilst spanning over two levels of living, giving quality and timeless appeal throughout. Beautifully detailed with warm timbers and exposed beams, the floorplan has been thoughtfully designed to be extremely versatile and allows for either generous living for the entire family or, separate levels for in-law accommodation, or work from home options.

Sharyn Chandler

Sharyn Chandler

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

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

FOR SALE

5 Mizmaze Road, SHERBROOKE

$1,100,000 - $1,150,000

SPECTACULAR RESIDENCE WITH 2 UNIQUE STUDIOS

3A3B2C

FOR SALE

26 Heath Road, BELGRAVE HEIGHTS

$720,000 - $790,000 3A1B2C

A FAMILY HOME IN AN A+ LOCATION

This spectacular property’s scene is set over 1.3 acres of enchanting gardens.

Boasting an everchanging backdrop of seasonal colour at this uniquely charming home with 2 impressive studios, this is a lifestyle property with immense small business potential all in one. Paired with a prized position only 50 minutes from Melbourne CBD and moments from shopping, schools, transport, and world-class parkland, this property is a rare opportunity to embark on an entirely new way of life within the lush landscape of the Dandenong Ranges.

Within walking distance to Belgrave South Township, local schools and bus stop, this property offers not only an A+ location but plenty of space to run and enjoy on this 1488m2 fenced block. The modern kitchen comes complete with stainless steel appliances, dishwasher and great storage while flowing easily into the meals area and TV room.

Brad Conder

Sharyn Chandler

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

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

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

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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MAIL 25

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A.G & E. WILLIAMS

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CALL FRANK: 0419 894 596

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NEWS

Safety films welcomed The State Government is encouraging young Victorians to help tackle road safety challenges by coming up with a short film that will boost safety on our roads and help save lives.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne today joined the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) at Australian Centre for Moving Image (ACMI) to launch the 2023 Split Second Competition.

The short film competition gives young creatives an opportunity to produce impactful road safety campaigns addressing issues relevant to their age group.

This year, the competition is calling on Victorians aged between 18 and 25 to develop a script addressing either the risks associated with drowsy driving or the importance of vehicle safety.

On top of a $5,000 cash prize, the winner will receive a $70,000 production budget to have their script produced by leading production studio Sweet Shop, before appearing in cinemas across the state.

For the first time, Split Second will also award a runner-up with a $30,000 budget to have their idea produced and promoted across social media.

The competition comes as Victoria experiences a horror start to the year on the state’s roads, with 77 fatalities, this is compared to 57 at the same time last year.

The number of young drivers and passengers dying on the state’s roads has increased, with 16 people aged between 18 and 25 killed, up from 11 at this time in 2022.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said everyone needs to play their part in

keeping our roads safe.

“Far too many tragedies happen on our roads,” she said.

Vehicle safety and drowsy driving are both critical issues when it comes to improving the safety of young people on Victorian roads.

Over the last five years, more than 70 per cent of driver and passenger fatalities aged between 18 and 25 have been in vehicles more than 10 years old, and 54 per cent of drivers in this age group admit to driving while very tired.

The Split Second Competition is one of a suite of Government initiatives aimed at promoting safer travel behaviours from a young age, and aims to empower young people to become part of the solution to road safety.

2021 Split Second competition winner Felix Barnett said the competition gave them greater understanding of filmmaking and the experience was invaluable.

“Following the screening of my film, many old high school friends reached out to tell me how powerful they thought it was,” he said.

Applications are now open until 4 May, with the winning film to premier at ACMI in October.

For more information on how to apply, visit tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/split-second.

Young Victorians are encouraged to tackle road safety in film.

Picture: UNSPLASH

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ESCORTS R US Ladies Welcome.

Mention this ad for $10 discount New Ladies from 5pm www.escortsrus.com.au

9775 3210

Tuesday, 11th April issue of the Ranges Trader Star Mail as follows:

THURSDAY 6th APRIL at 4pm

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

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

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

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MAIL 27

SPORT

Upwey FTG hits heights

By Parker McKenzie Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club has won the Division 1 firsts for a second consecutive season, bringing home the Victorian Club Championships in the process.

In a three-game series against Glen Waverley Baseball Club, the tigers had to go the distance, winning game one and game three to bring home the club’s fifth championship.

First-team coach Donovan Hendricks said the premiership win and Club Championships were a phenomenal achievement for the playing group across the entire club.

“Our club has now won five premierships and the first set was a threepeat and now we’ve gone back to back,” he said.

“The Club Championship takes into account the whole club, how good you are from your firsts, seconds, thirds and fourths.”

He said Glen Waverley Baseball Club deserved a lot of credit after a tough three-game series in the semi-finals.

“You try and take the semifinals in two games to give yourself the best chance of one rest and recovery and then preparedness for the grand final series,” Hendricks said.

“We were fortunate enough to do that in two games, which means we had Sunday off to get ourselves ready for the Tuesday game.”

Upwey Ferntree Gully won game one 3-1 on Tuesday 14 March, before Walverly clawed back to game two on Saturday 18 March.

The decider, played on Sunday 19 March, saw the tigers beat Waverley 6-3 to clinch the premiership trophy.

Club president Dwain Richardson said the goal was to follow up last season’s premiership with a Club Championship win.

“Obviously we always want to go back to back which we managed to do as well, but our goal was to become Club Champions which means that we’ve got depth in the club,” he said.

“We’ve got a great community of people that just love each other, love coming down

Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club celebrated winning back-to-back premierships on Sunday 19 March. and playing for each other; if you can get that right, you’ll get success on the field.”

He said the junior program is continuing to expand at the club, which is highlighted by the success of junior players in the premiership team.

“Jack Ratcliffe and Ryder Wilson, they were both 16 to 17 years old,” Richardson said.

“They boys played absolute blinders, and Jarred Turner, our pitcher, was a standout in game three.” Hendricks said Ratcliffe played in last year’s grand final, while Ryder played in his first senior grand final series this season.

“Ryder was a bit younger, he came up this year and is one of our starters,” he said.

“He was on base four times during Sunday’s game, batting as well and played a really good left field, making a great catch.”

He said his message to his players ahead of next season was for the moment to enjoy being a part of something special, and to try and continue building on what they’ve already achieved.

“Over this long journey from where our clubs come from in the last ten years — from a Division Two club which got relegated to now backto-back champions — there’s a lot of hard work which goes in which even some of our players don’t quite realize,” Hendricks said.

“The boys de serve all the plaudits and their trophies, but I also want to make sure families, friends and loved ones are included in the thank you because we want this to be as of a community club as possible.”

Upwey Ferntree Gully play at Kings Park, Ferntree Gully.

Pictures: COREY EVERITT

The club won a tight three game series against Glen Waverley Baseball Club.

Sherbrooke Suns women enter state championship

By Tyler Wright The Sherbrooke Suns will see their women’s Big V side compete in the state championships this season, with two imports set to make waves on court.

American Porsche Poole will play for Sherbrooke as well as returning New Zealand import Alicia Carline.

Stephanie Pal and Tanarly Hood will also represent the Dandenong Ranges in the women’s championships competition after playing for the respective Pakenham Warriors and Southern Peninsula in 2022.

“Our two imports spectators seem to like because they’ll score the most points,” coach Chad Burton said.

After a loss of against reining premiers Bulleen on Sunday 19 March, scoring 51 to their opponent’s 85, Burton said the team will have to get used to the increased tempo and physicality of games at the top level.

“We didn’t shoot well at all, when you shoot at 20 per cent in a game you’re not going to win many games, so it wasn’t a good first start but the team will bounce back and we’ll get better...we should win the next few games hopefully,” Burton said.

The team’s goal, Burton said, is to make finals after moving from division two, to division one and now the top level in the sport since he became coach four years ago.

“If we can make finals and the girls play well and they improve and get better as the season goes on, then I’ve done my job,” he said.

“The main thing is for me to develop the players and to make them better than what they were at the start of the year.”

The Sherbrooke Basketball Association has also put up a division two men’s team, a youth league men’s team and a youth league 28 MAIL

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Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

The Suns will welcome American Porsche Poole. women’s team in the 2023 Big V season.

“From a club point of view, it’s probably one of our best years,” Burton said.

“We’re progressing, we’re getting bigger, we have more junior teams...

“Hopefully we win some games and everything will be perfect.”

Sherbrooke Suns’ Division One women’s side won the grand final against Warrnambool after a season with 14 wins and only two losses.

Sherbrooke will take on Wyndham at Upwey High School’s Bell Real Estate Stadium on Saturday 1 April.

Tanarly Hood will play for the Sherbrooke Suns’ women’s championship team after competing with Southern Peninsula last year.

Picture: SUPPLIED mailcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Lots of laughs on dark day

By David Waters A very pleasant but dark morning welcomed players to the last home round for the season.

Good conditions at the Endeavour Hills site of the Churchill/Waverley golf club (formerly Churchill Park golf club) saw many contests going through the 18 holes for their result.

Fairways in excellent condition provided plenty of run. Matches were played hard but with plenty of humour. Who was that laughing and rolling on the ground, while at the same time consoling an opponent for his missed putt.

Bad luck mate, my hole.

As the day wore on, blood pressures rose.

As the results today were to affect who was to top the ladders. The top green team and the top gold team are to play off for the match play championship.

The remaining twelve teams play an aggregate stableford event for the Teams Challenge trophy.

On Friday 24 March the host club being Churchill/Waverley performed very well, pushing the strong Box Hill contingent to a 6 to 2 loss in gold and 4 each tie in green. All home clubs have held a significant advantage over their opponents winning nearly every time during the season.

Heritage gold held sway throughout the season and even losing on Friday held on because they had more wins by individuals than the nearest rival (Eastwood). They are match play finalists.

It has been a tight contest for top spot all year in the green group. Eastern and Heritage won and joined Yering Meadows on four wins.

Andrew Kerr prepares to take a shot on the 6th tee.

Pictures: SUPPLIED Bill Harvey aims to putt for a birdie but just missed.

These three teams were separated by the wins and halves by individuals. Fortunately for Box Hill, halving this last game lifted them to top

on the ladder. A loss would have let Eastern take the chocolates.

The finals will be held at Eastwood on Fri-

day 31 March.

Match play championship will be played between the Heritage gold team and Box Hill green team.

Have fun and play good golf.

Yarra Ranges Athletics excited to earn promotion

By Jamie Strudley Yarra Ranges Athletics started week two of the AVSL playoffs in second position behind a dominant Preston Athletics Club.

Despite some exceptional performances from Yarra Ranges athletes, the points differential was too great to claw back and win the flag. So we settle for second place which is still good enough to earn promotion to Div 3 in 2023-24. A fantastic effort from the entire club over a long season that began in early October 2022.

We now look forward to all the excitement of XCR23 with both our Open teams in Division 2.

Results from week two are: Women 200m: Ashleigh Rooke 27.36 (-0.5); Zoe Clarke 28.49 (-0.7); Sasha Carroll 29.10 (-0.8); Rori Jones 29.26 (-0.7); 800m: Zoe Clarke 2:24.94; Kristina Nackovski 2:25.76; Mia Strudley 2:33.91; Rori Jones 2:36.14; Sasha Carroll 2:38.58; Ashleigh Rooke 2:43.60.

400m Hurdles: Rori Jones 73.81.

2000m Walk: Emilie Garside 12:50.81.

4x400m: (Zoe Clarke, Rori Jones, Ashleigh Rooke, Mia Strudley) 4:27.61.

Shot Put: Hayley Wilkins 9.30m; Sasha Carroll 9.08m; Ashleigh Rooke 9.03m; Sarah Ebbels 7.46m; Meg Sparkes 7.12m; Sharon Cook 6.48m; Anne-Marie Ebbels 5.93m; Emilie Garside 5.11m; Elisabeth Coffey 4.91m.

Hammer: Sarah Ebbels 33.75m; Anne-Marie Ebbels 26.30m.

Men 200m: Mitchell Mullens 23.01 (-3.1); Oliver Duncan 25.80 (-2.6); Liam Russell 26.03 (-0.9); Bailey Van Bert 26.58 (-2.6); Joseph Johnston 27.03 (-2.0); Craig Hewitson 29.26 (-2.3).

800m: Liam Russell 2:08.43; Bailey Van Bert 2:18.11; Mitchell Pointon 2:25.00; Craig Hewitson 2:28.16.

3000m: Max Savill-Bentley 8:58.37.

2000m Walk: Lucas Taylor 12:16.32.

4x400m: (Mitchell Mullens, Liam Russell, Bailey Van Bert, Craig Hewitson) 3:48.80; (Joseph Johnston, Mitchell Pointon, Max SavillBentley, Lucas Taylor) 4:21.97.

Hammer: Lucas Taylor 32.00m; Ash Almond 26.98m.

High Jump: Oliver Duncan 1.68m.

Shot Put: Ash Almond 8.80m; Lucas Taylor mailcommunity.com.au

Little athletes were congratulated on their season of athletics with awards.

8.74m; Craig Hewitson 7.17m.

Triple Jump: Liam Russell 10.89m; Ash Almond 9.81m (2.8); Liam Russell 10.89m; Craig Hewitson 7.64m.

The Little Athletics athletes were presented with end of season trophies and awards on Saturday morning. The club recognised outstanding performances and PB’s throughout the summer track and field season. Another fun morning with plenty of food and applause as each age group was presented. Special congratulations to our perpetual award winners: Petra Sank – Acacia Anderson-Bonsor Don Cruse – Tobyn Harris Rob Belli – Uli Homann Family Award – Yorke Family Distinguished Service Award – Dannie McKinnon Presidents Award – Kayla Cannon and Micah Friend Congratulations also to our discipline awards winners: Sprints – Jesse Pettet and Zoe Knapman Throws – Ilikimi Tove and Georgia McKinnon

· · · · · ·

· ·

· Jumps – Lanni Aborowa and Koby Stephens – Sasha carroll and Kristian Sul· Hurdles tana · Distance – Bailey van Bert and Zoe Clarke · Walks – Baau McKinnon and Holly Yorke Good luck to our four athletes heading to Brisbane next weekend for the Australian Open and U20 Track and Field Championships. We will watch with interest and excitement to see how Olivia Twining (3000m Steeplechase), Rori Jones (400m Hurdles), Harry Norman (5000m) and Joseph Johnston (Para 100m) go.

Training continues for all club members on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5.30pm with the emphasis changing to prepare for cross country. Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability.

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

Yarra Ranges Athletics little athletes Kayla Cannon and Micah Friend were awarded the Presidents Award on Saturday.

Pictures: SASKIA GRANGER Tuesday, 28 March, 2023

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MAIL 29

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