Light descended on the Main Street of Belgrave last weekend as crowds lined the streets for the Belgrave Lantern Festival.
Celebrating the longest night known as the winter solstice, the street came alive despite the chill. This year’s event was about bringing some different ideas and creativity to the centre of the town, putting on a large display of community spirit.
To see more from the 2023 Belgrave Lantern Festival, turn to page 13
A complete “lack of respect” is the verdict around the latest news about the future of local kinder providers in the Knox City Council area. Following a recent announcement made by Knox Council about the upcoming closure of several kinder services across the municipality, the future of early childhood education appears bleak.
In light of this, the Australian Education Union (AEU) is calling for the council to “re-
consider” its proposal to cut its kindergarten services for local families and children, with redundancies, job loss and staff shortages expected to come from this decision. Several local community members, teachers, and concerned parties have voiced their concern to the council, as the people who know and understand their local community more than anyone else, however, people are gearing up to see closures of the majority of local kinder providers by 2025.
Knox City Council officers have recommended that the council cease providing stand-alone kindergarten services and “relinquish Council’s role as an Early Years Manager from December 2024 in line with the expiry of the current kindergarten service agreement”.
The decision has been in the works since a review in 2022, after the council announced a evaluation of its 29 sessional services throughout the local government area.
Earlier this month, AEUVictoria launched a petition, saying the families of three and fouryear-old children in the Knox area would no longer be able to access Knox Council-delivered free kindergarten programs.
Deliberation is expected to be made later this year once the council has reviewed feedback provided.
To read more about the developments, turn to page 5
The cost of living is the topic on the tip of everyone’s tongue at the moment as rising consumer prices, interest rates and homelessness affect people near and far.
Federal Member for Casey Aaron Violi is keen to hear how it is affecting residents in his electorate and is inviting all who can to come along to a forum to discuss cost of living concerns in the Wandin North Public Hall on Thursday 13 July from 6pm to 7pm.
MrVioli said it is the biggest issue and challenge that everyone in the electorate is facing.
“Whether it’s individuals, families, community groups or businesses, particularly small businesses, it’s really important,” he said.
“I’m a passionate believer that my role in Canberra is to be the community’s voice and the only way to be the community’s voice is to be out there listening and understanding firsthand the challenges they’re going through.”
Liberal Senator and Shadow Minister for Finance Jane Hume will be attending the forum. Ms Hume is the Chair of the Australian Parliament’s Select Committee on the Cost of Living established in late September 2022.
Mr Violi said the committee will be bringing forward strong recommendations to the Government.
“It will be based on what they are hearing, not just from communities, but from businesses, the energy sector and lots of experts on what they can bring to the table, the main for us is just to hear and listen to the challenges people are facing,” he said.
“We also want to hear some of the ideas they have on how we might be able to constructively engage with the government to provide some solutions to the challenges we face, as well as provide some material for people on services that are available, like free financial counselling.”
The Select Committee on the Cost of Living released their interim report on May 3 2023, making 11 findings from 70 accepted submissions and five public hearings including one in Box Hill on 1 March.
Mr Violi said he expects rising consumer
wedge and it’s so important that we keep and protect the green wedge, but what it does mean is that we are limited in how and where we can build new houses,” he said.
“We are thinking about interest rate rises, but also homelessness even among people with well-paid and secure jobs which is a new phenomenon we are seeing and I know is a big issue in our community,”
“Obviously there’s also the cost of groceries, energy bills and fuel which is mitigated but particularly for us, our public transport isn’t quite as good as it could be, a lot of people need to drive to work and to community events, so it is always a big issue for our community as well.”
Mr Violi also recently marked his first year in Parliament following his succession of longtime Casey MP Tony Smith at last year’s election.
MrVioli said it has come up quick and been a busy 12 months, but he’s enjoyed it.
“I’ve really enjoyed the role, and as a thirdgeneration local that spent my life here, there’s no greater honour than being the representative in the Federal Parliament of my family’s community, so I take that responsibility very seriously,” he said.
“It’s been rewarding to be able to advocate and represent the community and provide grants to community organisations. Talking to people about the money I’ve been able to provide and the difference it makes to the community has been a real highlight.”
Anyone who wishes to attend the forum can register their attendance here: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1074604.
prices, interest rate rises and increasing homelessness to be three issues mentioned a lot at the forum.
“One of the challenges we have in the electorate which is also one of our greatest strengths is that we are a part of the green
MrVioli encourages anyone who cannot attend but wishes to share their thoughts to contact him at www.aaronvioli.com.au/contact/. Wandin North was chose for the forum as it is the geographical centre of the Casey electorate, but further forums are anticipated.
Infringement notices will be sent this week to over 220,000 Victorians who either didn’t respond to theVictorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC’s) request for an explanation or didn’t have a valid reason for failing to vote in the 2022 State election.
Close to 300,000 Victorians were sent an ‘Apparent failure to vote notice’ by the VEC in April. Of those, almost 70,000 have been excused for valid reasons.
People who did not respond to the ‘Apparent failure to vote notice’, or who did not provide a valid and sufficient excuse, will be issued an infringement of $92.
Almost 95% of the infringement notice recipients had not responded to the ‘Apparent failure to vote notice’, which gave them an opportunity to explain why they appeared not to have voted.
People who receive an infringement notice must respond within 35 days – by either paying the fine, requesting an internal review, or electing to go to court.
Acting Electoral Commissioner Dana Fleming is urging people who receive an infringement notice to take it seriously.
‘The most important thing is that you respond to the notice before the deadline – otherwise you could be issued a penalty reminder notice, which carries the original penalty plus an additional administration fee,’ Ms Fleming said.
The VEC encourages non-voters who are unsure what to do, or require assistance throughout any stage of the infringements process, to call 1300 551 575 or visit vec.vic. gov.au/voting/fines-and-reviews
Voting in State elections is compulsory inVictoria, and to make sure no-one misses a future election, the VEC encourages all enrolled voters to sign up forVoterAlert, our free SMS and email reminder service.
The service alerted 2.4 millionVictorians about key election dates in last year’s State election. To sign up visit vec.vic.gov.au/ voteraler
Knox man returned from Queensland on sexual offences
A joint investigation with Victoria Police and Queensland Police Service has led to the arrest of a man wanted for historical child sex offences.
The man was arrested by virtue of a Victorian arrest warrant at a shopping centre in Cairns on 21 June, following a nearly fouryear investigation into his whereabouts. It is alleged the 53-year-old man failed to appear before the Victorian courts relating to more than 30 child sex and indecent assault offences between 2009 and 2012. He appeared before Cairns Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where his extradition to Victoria was granted.
Detectives from Knox Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team travelled to Cairns to escort the man back to Victoria yesterday afternoon. He has appeared before Melbourne County Court earlier this week.
Search for ring owner
By Tyler Wright
The state’s Conversation Regulator has confirmed it is investigating an incident between a dog and a kangaroo in Upwey which was filmed and circulated on social media last week.
The video, which was shared by news outlets on Thursday 15 June, shows what appears to be whippet off leash, barking and walking towards the kangaroo while running back and forth on a suburban street through oncoming traffic.
Onlookers filmed the altercation between the two animals.
“I don’t care if I miss the train,” one viewer said.
A Conservation Regulator spokesperson told the Star Mail officers are looking to speak with the owner of the dog and are urging the people who filmed the incident, or anyone else who may have witnessed it to report any information they have to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.
“Unfortunately, interactions between dogs and kangaroos are becoming more common
in Victoria which is dangerous for both animals,” the spokesperson said.
“It is the responsibility of dog owners to have their pets under control on public land and keep them away from native wildlife.”
A Crime Stoppers spokesperson told the Star Mail “everyone can play a role” in keeping wildlife safe.
“If you see someone behaving suspiciously or illegally while interacting with wildlife, you can share this information anonymously with Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au,” the spokesperson said.
Police have charged a man after he allegedly rammed a police car before setting a stolen car on fire in Cockatoo on Wednesday 21 June.
Boronia man Michael De Angelis, 25, has been hit with more than 35 charges, including two counts of aggravated offences, recklessly exposing a police officer to risk by driving, and dangerous driving while being pursued by police.
De Angelis has also been charged with criminal damage by fire and attempted burglary.
The charges follow an incident just after 12.30pm when police spotted the allegedly stolen car on Manchester Road in Mooroolbark.
During the incident the driver allegedly rammed a police vehicle before he sped off travelling through several suburbs to Cock-
The male driver came to a stop on Stringybark Road in Cockatoo, where he allegedly set the car on fire and fled the scene on foot. 343220
atoo where he dumped the car and allegedly set it alight. He was arrested by police nearby.
The charges also relate to several reported thefts over the past month, other
incidents of driving off from police and the theft of a motor vehicle from Hampton.
He has been remanded in custody and appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 22 June
A ring which was handed into Emerald Police Station in December last year is still to find its owner. Found in Gembrook, the gold banded ring with seven diamonds sitting atop remains in the safe hands of police. If this is yours and you can provide proof of ownership please contact Emerald Police on 5954 0200 and quote PALM#202303-S-0430
Sexual assault offence in Narre
Warren
Dandenong Sexual Offences and Child Abuse
Investigation Team detectives are investigating after a man sexually assaulted a girl at a Narre Warren shopping centre in April.
The 10-year-old victim was inside a store at the Overland Drive complex with family and friends when an unknown man walked past and grabbed her backside about 6.55pm on 21 April. The man repeated the behaviour a short time later before leaving the store.
The young girl told an adult, who was accompanying her, what had occurred and the incident was reported to shopping centre security but the man was unable to be located. Investigators have released CCTV footage and an image of a man they believe could assist with enquiries. He is perceived to be Caucasian, aged in his early 20s, about 188cm tall with short, sandy-brown hair. He was wearing a red Tommy Hilfiger hooded long sleeve jumper, tan knee length shorts, dark belt, black and white runners and white socks.
Anyone who recognises the man or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Council phone problem
Yarra Ranges Council fought issues with their main phone line (1300 368 333) on the morning of Monday 26 June.
The council advised over social media that people calling may not be able to get through on this line.They are currently following the issue up with Telstra, but advised the public that if people need to call through to use their alternate office line on 9294 6905.
People can also message on Facebook, or email mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au anytime.
The council apologised for any inconvenience, and will update their social media when the phone line is back up and running.
The Australian Education Union is calling for Knox City Council to “reconsider” a proposal to cut its kindergarten services for local families and children.
In a statement released on Tuesday 20 June, the council announced it will consult its kindergarten staff on whether the council will remain a standalone sessional kindergarten provider or lease its buildings to other providers from January 2025.
Up until recent years, the body has directly operated up to 30 kindergarten services.
“Victorian Government reforms over the last 10 years have placed increasing pressure on kindergarten providers and it is no longer feasible for Council to run kindergartens at the scale we have done,” Mayor, Cr Marcia-Timmers Leitch said.
“We have also seen declining numbers in our services as more families choose other options, such as long day care settings which offer longer hours and greater flexibility.
“Reviewing our services is the responsible thing to do when there are such significant impacts for council, our services and our community.”
Australian Education Union Victorian Branch Vice President for Early Childhood Cara Nightingale said the decision to lease council facilities to other providers “does not stack up,” particularly when the council’s kinder review states early years facilities are on average 50 to 70 years old and not all fit for the state government’s future vision of kindergarten in the state.
“We know that the overwhelming majority of local councils in Victoria do provide early childhood education, despite Knox saying otherwise,” Ms Nightingale said.
“Kindergarten is an essential service, best provided by the people who know and under-
stand their local community more than anyone else. There are more than 1100 children in Knox who rely on their local government for high quality, play based early learning in the years before school.”
Under the proposed changes, the council would continue to run sessional kindergarten at the Knox Children and Family Centres in Bayswater and Wantirna.
“Knox is one of very few councils left in Melbourne that directly provides kindergarten on the scale that we do, so the ongoing changes to this sector affect us more than other councils,” Cr Timmers Leitch said.
“There are many services we provide on behalf of state and federal governments where funding has not kept up with the cost of providing services over time, and that is a risk that
Council has to consider very carefully.”
According to the council’s statement, the decision was informed by several years of service analysis and review, staff and community consultation as well as the input of a representative community panel which provided feedback on each option for the council to consider.
“We want to support all local children to thrive, and Council is best placed to do this by supporting, planning and advocating for kindergarten in Knox – not through direct service delivery,” Cr Timmers Leitch said.
“Our priority throughout this process has been to ensure all local families can access high-quality services in their local area, regardless of who is delivering them.”
Cr Timmers Leitch said the council is “committed to providing our buildings and spaces for new providers to offer local services for families”.
“There will always be kindergarten in Knox and choices for local families to support their children’s growth, development and care,” she said.
However, Ms Nightingale said the council’s decisiontoissueredundancyestimatestostaff, when they indicated previously there would be a period of consultation - shows a “complete lack of respect” for staff and families.
“Not a single member of City of Knox Council was elected with a mandate to withdraw from provision of council run kindergarten,” she said.
Staff consultation is currently underway and the council will meet in August to review this feedback and make a final decision.
“Council is currently in consultation with staff as required under our staff awards,” Cr Timmers Leitch said.
Knox City Council has invested $26 million in early years facilities since 2014.
Cardinia Shire residents are reminded that no burning off is allowed across the shire during the month of July without a permit.
This regulation applies every year to all zones across Cardinia Shire.
Lighting open-air fires in July has been prohibited since a new local law relating to open air fires came into effect last year.
This rule is in place to prevent excessive smoke being produced due to wet fuel.
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) data indicates that on average, a combination of weather factors cause bushfire fuel to be wetter in July than in other months of the year. These factors include high rainfall, low temperatures and high relative humidity.
The wetter your bushfire fuel is, the more
smoke it tends to create. This poses a risk to people’s health.
At all times of the year, residents should consider using one of these methods to reduce fuel loads:
· Kerbside food and garden waste bin collection
· Hard waste collection
· Waste drop-off days
· Composting or mulching (Council offers waste reduction rebates)
· Take green waste to a local tip, transfer station or waste facility
If you believe you still have a good reason to burn off in July, you can apply for a permit via Council’s website.
For more information about burning off or to apply for a permit to burn off visit www. cardinia.vic.gov.au/burningoff
As a Labor Senator, my office is available to assist you with any Federal Government issues.
By Tyler Wright
Motorists are bearing the brunt of road conditions in the Dandenong Ranges, with costly repair bills to show for the damage.
Hills local Michelle Bosua’s wheel was ripped after her car drove into a deep pothole on Wellington Road on Monday 19 June, taking to social media to air her frustrations.
“Please be aware of two deep potholes, Wellington Rd Eastbound lane near Courtney’s Rd Belgrave South,” Michelle wrote in a Facebook post..
Ms Bosua told the Star Mail she was quoted $180 to get the alloy wheel machine out, with tyre replacement set to cost her around $900 for four wheels.
“I also drive Belgrave-Gembrook Road, and there’s lots of potholes there...there was a crater in the middle of Belgrave for months last year.
“It reaches a point where I got angry and wrote that note... it was more to warn people, but I was just frustrated and thought, ‘I’ve got to say something and warn people about the spot.’
“The problem is, at night it’s exceptionally difficult to spot potholes, and if you’ve got a car directly in front of you, you’re going to see it at the last minute.”
On her way home from work in Kallista, Berwick local Rachel Eastwood also hit a pothole on Wellington Road; for her, it was near the Clematis CFA Fire Brigade Station on Monday 19 June.
She will fork out an estimated $300 to replace a flat tyre.
“I had a spare in my car and the guy from RACV put that on for me so I could get home. I’m getting a new tyre tomorrow morning and hoping there is no further damage or out goings.
“I have never encountered car incidents with pot holes in the past.”
A Department of Transport and Planning (DoTP) spokesperson said crews have been deployed to fix and maintain Wellington Road in the last week.
“Our crews have fixed eight potholes along Wellington Road between Lysterfield and Clematis in the past week,” they said.
“We regularly check our arterial road network, including weekly inspections along Wellington Road.”
The DoTP said alongside the 2022/23 Victorian Budget commitment of more than $780 million to repair, rebuild and resurface over one thousand roads, an additional $165 million has been put towards an emergency road repair blitz because of extreme rainfall.
According to RACV’s Head of Policy, James Williams, there has been a “marked increase” in reported potholes on Victorian roads since late 2022.
“Heavy rain is often the biggest contrib-
utor to potholes on regional roads, presenting hazards for car drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists,” Mr Williams said.
“Large potholes have the potential to cause severe damage to your tyres, wheels, suspension, exhaust and/or vehicle body, and in some cases can even lead to drivers losing control of their vehicle.”
The DoTP spokesperson said due to periods of above average rainfall, potholes and road surface damage has occurred but crews have been mobilised to inspect every kilometre of Victoria’s road network, including Wellington Road.
“As part of our maintenance program, we’ve invested more than $155,000 in delivering maintenance works along Wellington Road, this includes resurfacing works between Summit Road and Cornish Road,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Williams said drivers should avoid sudden braking when they encounter a pothole because it can cause dangerous swerving into oncoming traffic.
“Keep a firm control of the steering wheel – which can be jolted with impact,” he said.
“Some puddles can be hiding large potholes underneath them, so you should avoid driving over puddles where possible, and never drive through floodwaters.
“If you do hit a pothole and you’re concerned about potential damage to your vehicle, pull over to a safe space and contact RACV Emergency Roadside Assist on 13 11 11 for assistance.”
DoTP encouraged people who notice potholes or defects in the road surface to contact the VicRoads customer service hotline on 13 11 70.
Parks Victoria has launched an operation targeting illegal activities in parks and reserves around Gembrook, Tonimbuk and Labertouche, including Bunyip State Park and Kurth Kiln Regional Park.
These parks are a popular day trip destination for visitors from Melbourne’s southeast suburbs, Mornington Peninsula and Latrobe Valley. The start of the seasonal road closure period often sees a spike in destructive activities, such as gate breaches and off-road driving.
Seasonal road closures are important to protect roads and tracks over the wetter months and allow for rehabilitation and other maintenance works.
Illegal activities, particularly off-road driving and illegal firewood collection, can have devastating impacts on the natural and cultural values of these parks, including damage to known cultural sites, destruction and removal of vegetation, soil degradation and erosion affecting waterways and aquatic life, removal of vital habitat trees for native animals, and damage to park visitor facilities.
This operation will see increased vehicle and trailbike mounted patrols and surveillance across Bunyip State Park and Kurth Kiln Regional Park over the next four months, particularly during the seasonal closure period. The on-the-spot fines for breaching a seasonal closure and for interfering with or damaging a gate or sign is $925 per offence.
Gembrook Area Chief Ranger Jack Dinkgreve said there is a “real community cost to the damage being done”.
“Replacing gates, signs, padlocks and rehabilitating damaged areas takes Parks Victoria rangers away from visitor services and protecting the environment,” Mr Dinkgreve said.
“There’s also a risk unsuspecting or inexperienced drivers will enter an area where a gate has been breached and find dangerous track conditions, leading to vehicle damage or being bogged and needing to be rescued.”
Last year’s operation resulted in 51 infringements - 27 for off-road offences- and 30 official warnings. Some investigations are ongoing.
“People should get involved in groups like Four Wheel Drive Victoria, who often run volunteer events in the parks and are invaluable in helping us clear tracks after storm events, remove rubbish and dumped vehicles, and participate in animal surveys. They also have great advice about safe and legal enjoyment of
4WD activities in parks,” Mr Dinkgreve said.
“Information from the community is a key part of our intelligence and evidence gathering and we encourage community members to report any suspicious behaviour to Parks Victoria on 1319 63. But please remember your safety is most important- don’t put yourself at risk to gather information.”
When planning to visit a park, visitors should be aware of activities that are permitted and where there may be restrictions. For example, Bunyip State Park has different regulations to nearby state forests.
Dogs and firewood collection are not permitted within Bunyip State Park. If you are planning on having a campfire, you need to bring your own firewood with you.
Firewood for personal use can only be collected from domestic firewood collection in the autumn and spring firewood collection seasons. For details of where, when and what firewood can be collected, visit: https://www. ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/firewood-collectionin-your-region
As hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers wait aimlessly in Australia’s visa system this Refugee Week, a local advocacy group came together to highlight the need for change.
Casey Grandmothers for Refugees gathered earlier this week in Kilsyth to both celebrate and commemorate World Refugee Day on Tuesday 20 June.
In an effort to acknowledge the continued suppression and plight of refugees, as well as discuss the current situation, the group invited Sister Brigid Arthur from the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP) to speak about her work housing and supporting displaced persons.
“It’s really important that the community becomes aware of what is actually happening to asylum seekers, in particular in Australia today,” Sister Brigid said.
“What I’m passionate about is how asylum seekers have been vilified and treated inhumanely at an official level by successive governments and hopefully that’s changing and hopefully we can enshrine some of those changes in new laws so it doesn’t happen again.”
Casey Grandmother’s coordinator Prue Licht said despite the new Labor government making some great headway when it comes to visa changes, there’s a long way to go.
“[The government is] in the process of changing the visa status for a very large group of people but there’s still a lot of people left behind, whose visa status is still uncertain, and they still have no certainty,” she said.
“There are still people in [Papua New Guinea], some who have been there for nine or ten years, there are not many but there are still some people in PNG.”
Despite talk of all remaining asylum seekers on Nauru being resettled by the end of June, Prue said there is still a backlog of people the government hasn’t yet assisted.
“There’s a legacy caseload, they are the people who came between 2012 in July 2013. Kevin Rudd on July the 19th 2013 said ‘nobody who comes by boat would ever be able to settle in Australia’, and that still holds today,” she said.
On behalf of the Home Affairs Minister, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt told Guardian Australia in May that Labor “would’ve preferred that the legacy caseload have been dealt with well before now, but it wasn’t”.
At a cost to the Australian taxpayer of $350 million per year, the detention facility on Nauru will be kept open as a deterrent but with the expectation that no one will be sent there.
“If there’s a place where that policy can be re-started, it will be sometime in the future.We will have a change of government or we will have a change of people arriving and that will happen again,” Sister Brigid said.
Prue said around 450 people are currently held in community detention centres in Australia, with hundreds of people arriving by air regularly in search of safety.
Working as a small team of volunteers, BASP are currently helping to accommodate 300 people either through houses they rent or through individuals paying someone else’s rent.
Sister Brigid said the rest of their work is dedicated to supporting these individuals and families with food, legal assistance, English teaching, job applications and financial support.
“The government doesn’t give any actual income to people seeking asylum,” she said.
“If they can work, then it’s good to help them get a job but if they can’t work for all sorts of reasons, then they need not only a roof over their head, they need some minimal, at least, money to survive on.”
With the cost of living rising, Sister Brigid said at the moment the situation was “pretty dire” as people try to make ends meet on very little.
Moving forward, Sister Brigid said employment has to be made a focus for BASP and its volunteers because it is one of the most freeing aspects of living independently.
“The biggest need I think in our program,
besides what we’re doing, is the need to intensify the employment stream.
“We do a bit, we try to do as much as we can, but we need more people working on employment, because it’s all very well to say there are a lot of jobs out there, but they’re not automatically available to our folks.”
While World Refugee Day is often a celebration of the strength and resilience of refugees and asylum seekers, it is also an opportunity to engage in conversation and build advocacy networks.
Sister Brigid said by speaking at events like the one hosted by Casey Grandmothers broadens the scope of what groups of people can do when working together.
Her message to others is “use your voice”, something that was echoed by Prue, particularly when it comes to advocating for change in parliament.
“If you really do feel passionate, use your
voice and in particular, visit local MPs and tell them that you just want to see change and you want change to things like permanently shut down detention centres,” Sister Brigid said.
“The more people who ring their MP, who write to the immigration minister, to the home affairs minister, write to these people and tell them how you feel whether and you believe that people who are there should be allowed to stay,” Prue said.
An appropriate income support stream and the public perception of asylum seekers and refugees are two other things Sister Brigid would like to see fought for.
“We [need to] counter [vilification] by being humane and we don’t speak in a way that makes people think they have to fear people who are coming here from war torn countries or places where they are persecuted, they’ve been through enough.”
Emerald’s Jeffery Latter did not expect to win this year’s Stan Henwood award for his volunteer work, but his achievements and experience reveal a more than worthy recipient.
There were nine nominees for the 2023 Stan Henwood award, an achievement which acknowledges the highest efforts of volunteers in the Cardinia Shire area.
Jeff Latter was nominated by the John Hills Landcare Group, on which he serves as secretary. When he learned of his nomination, Jeff thought it was neat but genuinely didn’t expect to win.
“I was very pleased when the land group said they were nominating me for it,” he said. “I had a quick look and found out who else has got them and it’s quite an amazing collection of people and I thought about myself, ‘yeah sort of, nearly’. Most of them came from very strong community infrastructure and I haven’t really had that role, the scout hall yes, but more environmental and particularly longterm-vision projects.”
Jeff has been the group leader for the Emerald Scouts Chapter for almost a decade and has been pivotal in conservation and environmental efforts across the hills since the ‘90s. He is a foundational member of many groups such as the John Hills Landcare Group and the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area. While his leadership of the Scouts saw the achievement of a much needed new scout hall.
When speaking to Jeff, one would expect this commitment comes from a unique passion for the community and volunteering. However, Jeff rather gives the impression of a small town man whose knowledge and skills made him fall into it, so to speak. He was an avid scout when he was younger getting to the level of Rover throughout his schooling at Emerald Primary, Monbulk High School and Melbourne University, at the very same Emerald chapter he is leader of now.
He studied Forestry Science, but spent a lot of his electives branching out to other areas of environmental science. Having grown out of Scouts, he would be employed in local and State governments in Forestry and Environmental Management offices. It was in 1984, months after the Ash Wednesday Fires, where he was employed by the then Sherbrooke Council to fill the new, all-important, role of Fire Management Officer.
Through these roles he gained a lot of experience working with the assortment of Government bodies and interest groups, their conflicts and how to achieve what was needed in the sometimes messy affair.
In 1990, while still working for Sherbrooke Council, he helped initiate the predecessor of John Hill Landcare Group, called ‘Meander’ although not a member.
“Meander was one of the groups that I identified the need for and the community interest from articles appearing in local papers and so on,” he said. “So I say we can step in here, help them to form and then they take over, so I was the liaison for Meander and then when I left Local Government I actually joined them.”
Jeff only gave advice when needed while he was a council officer to avoid the conflict of
interest, but when he finally joined he quickly became an influential member. Jeff would be apart of the creation of a new public park called the Liwik Barring Landscape Conservation Area.
In 2005 Jeff and the President of Meander, Kate, would run a forum to address the concerns about proper management of the land the group overseas. The group mainly covers the area of Menzies Creek Stream Reserve, which at the time was a part of a collection of separate pieces of public land squeezed between the larger parks of Dandenong Ranges and Bunyip State Park.
“We were in the sort of negative space between the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Kurth Kiln and Bunyip State and Yarra Ranges, in this bit in between there is all these little bits of crown land that are being managed and not being managed,” Jeff said. “One part of it was notionally under Parks Vic, one part of it was notionally under DWELP, never would the two would talk together, Melbourne Water had some other responsibilities.You started to look at each group along the streams and realise everyone had the same sorts of problems, so we said there has to be something better.”
Through the forum, they achieved the Woori Yallock Creek Park Alliance, which united all 18 landcare groups which covered these public park areas. Jeff was the convenor of this alliance, where he presented the plan for ‘Yellingbo State Emblems Park’ which proposed a united protection and management of these lands as a single park. Through advocating for the proposal they got political commitments.
“Running into elections, everything becomes politics,” Jeff said. “Labor said they will refer it to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) for study, then we went to the opposition, and said here we are, soon after the elections they said yes we will refer it.”
Through getting all sides on board commitment was assured, some years later the proposal would be accepted as the first new park under the National Parks Act.
Area was created in 2020, encompassing 1700 hectares of 3000, the rest is to be incorporated in the future. Jeff’s long-term patience and political savviness is an unique attribute to projects like these, which are prone to delays and political infighting.
“You can only lose, if you allow them to play just politics, if you are there and saying the community wants this and you’re our representative, we don’t care what your spots are, we just want to move along with this project.”
Getting bipartisan commitments is something Jeff has done many times, and is part of him and others in the community’s success.
Possibly the best example of his work is the rebuild of the local Scout Hall. Jeff joined the Scout Group Support Committee in 2005 after decades away from Scouting.
“This was my scout group when I was a youth member, then when my kids joined I rejoined as an adult member on the committee,” Jeff explained.
“First thing I knew was the place was broke, surprise, surprise, most scout groups are. And secondly, the hall needed lots of money, those are two things that are just telling you, you are wasting your time. That’s what people said, you can’t do it, you’re just wasting your time, it’s not that we can’t do it, we have to do it, it will take 10 years.”
Through his long-term vision and patience, Jeff and the committee preserved to achieve a rework of the aging scout hall.
“Part of it was pure dumb luck if you like, but I started a process,” he said. “I looked at whatever grant was available, there were some larger grant available, but we quickly found out that scouts were not eligible and no one, including Ministers, could explain why we were not eligible, we just weren’t.
“So when we found that out we just started playing a bit of a backwards and forwards game until someone makes you an offer. “Leading into one of the state elections, the Government announced they were going to give $4m to scouts state-wide for hall upgrades.
“And the Scout association did a very wise thing and went to the opposition and got them to match it.”
The Emerald chapter was fortunate to get funding in the first round for the hall upgrade, where Jeff took a leading role in updating the hall to work for the bustling activities happening at the hall almost every night. In 2013 the new hall was unveiled and Jeff would become the group leader.
Jeff sees the myriad connections in volunteer work that make projects happen, which leads him to downplay his own influence and rightly acknowledge the work of entire communities. However, he has a keen eye for how every situation is unique and must be driven by the capabilities and wants of those involved.
“Often now I get asked to talk to other scout groups and I say ‘work how your group wants to work’,” he said. “You talk to people you find where you can get some money and assistance from, and use it.”
Jeff is also a part of the Committee of Management for Hogan Park, becoming so through an experience that became regular for Jeff.
“Yeah I got pressured by some other people in the community who said ‘yeah you, you know about these things you can do that,” Jeff said with a smirk.
Another important achievement of Jeff’s is his work with Emerald Quarry Reserve. The reserve is owned by Cardinia Shire Council and is a significant site for it is the home of Emerald Star Bush, an exceptionally rare floral local to only the surrounding area. A private property to the south of the land gave a significant part of its property connected to the Reserve to the Trust for Nature. Jeff advocated for proceeds from the land sale to be put aside for conservation and when the rest of the property itself was put on the market, he advocated from the Trust for Nature to purchase it.
Jeff convinced the Trust to subdivide the property, giving over the existing bushland to the Council to become a part of the Reserve, adding 2.1 hectares. The land was renamed as Bob James Emerald Quarry Reserve after the historical owner of the once private bushland. Jeff revegetated the Quarry itself, which had long been overgrown with weeds as it was used to dispose of table drain cleaning. He worked his magic to acquire soil to cap the quarry and allow for revegetation, waiting until 2019 for a new development to spring up in Emerald so he could take the soil from there. All these projects took years, patience and many people volunteering their free time to achieve.
“For the Woori Yallock Creek Park Alliance, all we knew was it was going to take decades and we doubted that the groups could supported,” Jeff said. “But the stars aligned and we achieved it, same with the scout hall.”
Jeff’s biggest concern now is the worrisome drop in people committing to volunteer work.
“Community groups generally, even in scouts, it’s really hard to get the parents of the current scouts to volunteer, it’s just we lost that and I don’t know how we are going to recoup that,” he said. “Obviously the cost of living now, people are saying, ‘I can’t do it, I’ve got to support my family and finances first’. Covid was the change but it probably reinforced a thing that was happening beforehand.”
Ferntree Gully locals with a passion for animals and giving back to the community are being encouraged to donate some time to support our four-legged friends.
RSPCA Victoria is looking for nearly 200 new volunteers to help run its op shops after numbers dropped during the pandemic.
RSPCA Victoria volunteer program manager Nadine Hutchins said they rely on their op shops to fund their work caring for and protecting animals.
“Like many other charities, our volunteer numbers dropped during the pandemic which is why we’re calling on locals to sign up and help us out,” she said.
RSPCA Victoria is looking for locals aged 18 years and over from all walks of life to volunteer at one of eight op shop locations around the state, including the Ferntree Gully branch.
Op shop volunteers are asked to commit to regular weekly or fortnightly three to four hour shifts where possible; however casual volunteering is also appreciated.
Ms Hutchins said all volunteers receive full training and perform a range of tasks including customer service, sorting goods and merchandising.
“We’re looking for people with a few hours to spare each week or each fortnight who love their community and are passionate about helping animals in need,” she said.
The op shops are also looking for more donations of winter clothing and some homewares.
RSPCA Victoria cares for over 14,000 animals every year and by volunteering in our op shops you can make a real difference for them.
RSPCA recognises that volunteering isn’t suitable for everyone, and there are other ways to support the organisation’s op shops.
To apply to be a volunteer please visit: https://rspcavic.org/rspca-victoria-op-shopsvolunteer/
Fireside celebrates all the great things about winter in the Yarra Valley: moody skies, cosy fires, crisp nights, smoky feasts and beautiful wines.
2 x tickets – Smoke + Salsa at Rob Dolan Wines Saturday 15 July (valued at $270)
2 x tickets – Cabernets & Canapés at Boat O’Craigo any date throughout the festival period 8 – 23 July (closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays) (valued at $100)
St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Olinda will celebrate 120 years since its dedication on Sunday 9 July.
Parish councillor Peter Adams said the church was erected in 1903, and is one of the earliest remaining timber churches on its original site in the Dandenong Ranges.
“Being a very old church, we have recently had a restoration project and spent some money in a number of things,” Mr Adams said.
“A lot of the foundations were not in very good condition, so the renovation has included restumping it and levelling the church.”
St Matthew’s Anglican church was erected by a ‘small but determined’ congregation of a Olinda pioneers.
Archdeacon A.W. Handley celebrated the dedication of the church on 9 July 1903.
Early services were conducted by Lay Reader W.R. Newton.
After his ordination in 1904, Reverend Newton continued to travel from Clergy House in Ferntree Gully; the base from which lay readers and the clergy lived.
The Parish in Olinda had its first resident Vicar in 1931, when it could afford to build a Vicarage.
The hall which sits next to the church was originally the former Mernda Methodist Church; the first church in the district built in 1901.
It was purchased by St. Matthew’s in 1935 and brought to the church site by horse drawn cart to become the Parish Hall.
Since its dedication, Mr Adams said the church, alongside St Michael’s and All Angels’ Anglican Church in Kalorama, has become an “integral” part of the local community by outreaching to locals and organising events in charitable work.
“For instance, we have a pantry at St Michael’s and on a Tuesday afternoon we have a drop in centre; so people donate non perish-
able goods, we store them in the church hall and people can come along on a Tuesday afternoon and pop in and grab a cup of tea or a cake,” he said.
“St Matthew’s actually holds an Autumn fair once a year. St Michael’s holds a cup day fair.”
Under current Vicar, Reverend Andrew Smith, the congregation will celebrate the
church’s 120th anniversary by gathering for a light lunch.
“There will, no doubt, be mixed feelings as this will also be the last day of Rev. Smith’s tenure as he is moving to take up a position at Panton Hill,” Mr Adams said.
St Matthew’s underwent an extensive renovation, completed in 2022, to bring it back to
its original glory.
“I have put out a note to a couple of local historians to find out if there’s any further information that we can add,” Mr Adams said. Services are held at St Matthew’s every Wednesday at 10am and Sunday at 9am. St Matthew’s is located at 17 Monash Avenue in Olinda.
The Rotary Club of Emerald & District held their President’s Changeover event at The Independent restaurant in Gembrook before over 80 attendees on Saturday 17 June.
The outgoing president Marcus Adams, Partner of Falcone & Adams Lawyers, handed over the reins to incoming President Sangeeta Bajaj, Director ofThats Right Bookkeeping.
Moving into the 2023–2024-year, incoming president Ms Bajaj and club members are hitting the ground running with sizzling the BBQ for the Puffing Billy Train of Lights marathon from 22 June to 8 July at the Gembrook Railway station.
“We’ve got lots of stuff planned for this year and obviously Marcus has left a beautiful club to us and he’s worked really hard, so big shoes to fill,” Ms Bajaj said.
“Last year we donated $50,000 to the Monash Children’s Cancer Ward, so we’re planning to do the same this year, if not more.”
Ms Bajaj said her main goal for the club is to focus on the “Rotary experience,” promoting fellowship and meaningful opportunities for members.
“We also are going to invest in the youth in our area, emphasising the young people through Rotary’s various programmes like Interact, Rotaract, and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. “
Rotary International granted the Charter to launch the Rotary Club of Emerald & District on 28 March 1980.
At a function held at the ‘Windsor,’ Melbourne Road, Dandenong on 27 May 1980, Bruce Schwennensen became the charter president and the club launched with 28 members.
Saturday’s event moved the club into their 44th year and inducted 40th member Sid Umesh (whose first duty was as MC) after having inducted a total of seven new members in the last five months.
In the years since the club was established, members have been fully immersed in the
community working with local primary and secondary schools, the elderly, CFA and SES, business groups, churches, Salvation Army, Emerald Arts Society and Johns Hill Landcare Group among others.
The club has assisted greatly through the local disasters of Ash Wednesday in 1983, through the Covid period with care vouchers and with the Help for the Hills project responding to assist with the recovery effort after the Dandenong Ranges’ terrible storm in June 2021.
Key events include the Kids Fun Run with Puffing Billy (which has raised over $700,000
for Children’s charities), the Annual Debutante Ball which just held its 33rd event on 10 June and the All American Car Show and Man Cave Alley which will be back at Gembrook in February 2024.
In the past Rotary year, the club has run the annual Primary Schools Speech Competition; the Pride of Workmanship Awards; providing scholarships to five medical students via the Macleod Murphy Trust.
The club has also run the monthly market in Emerald, sorted coal with Puffing Billy, assisted the Salvation Army with their Red Shield Appeal, cleaned up for Clean-Up Aus-
tralia Day with Johns Hills Landcare Group and the Emerald Scouts, and has held two Brushstrokes and Bubbles nights with the Emerald Art Society.
The group has run the RYDA (Rotary Youth Driving Awareness) course for Emerald Secondary College students and assisted the local churches with Christmas Hampers and many more youth, community and international projects.
Anyone interested in attending a meeting or event can contact the Rotary Club of Emerald & District on 0408 769 491, or info@ emeraldrotary.org.au
Monbulk Smash Repairs, a renowned establishment that has graced the local community for over two decades, has recently undergone an exciting transformation. With immense pride, we, Kane Chapman and Daniel Benson, have taken the reins of this esteemed business, assuming ownership just three months ago. As the new custodians, we are dedicated to upholding the exceptional standards set by our predecessors while infusing our own unique flair into every aspect of our operations.
What sets us apart from the rest? At Monbulk Smash Repairs, we are committed to providing an unrivaled experience for our valued customers. Offering an extensive range of topnotch services, our skilled team specialises in panel beating, spray painting, ceramic coating, paint protection, cut and polish, detailing, restorations, and complementary quotations. Our passion lies in restoring vehicles to their former glory, ensuring that each car that enters our premises leaves looking as pristine as the day it rolled off the assembly line.
However, it’s not just our comprehensive array of services that makes us stand out; it’s the unparalleled level of care and attention we invest in every project. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff possess an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, going above and beyond to exceed expectations. Whether you require minor repairs or fullscale restoration work, our team of experts is well-equipped to handle any challenge that comes their way. With Monbulk Smash Repairs, your vehicle is in the hands of seasoned professionals who treat every repair as a work of art. We cover all insurance work.
In celebration of our recent ownership transition, we are thrilled to announce exclusive limited-time offers for our esteemed clientele. From the 26 June until the 26 September, we
are delighted to extend a generous 10 per cent discount on all insurance excesses. Additionally, we are hosting an exhilarating competition on our vibrant Facebook page, where you have the chance to win a coveted Cut and Polish Voucher valued at an impressive $600. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to experience our unparalleled craftsmanship firsthand.
Expanding our horizons beyond automobiles, we are also pleased to offer our renowned ceramic coating services to boat owners, caravan enthusiasts, and motorcycle aficionados. With our meticulous application techniques, your prized possessions can enjoy the same level of protection and aesthetic enhancement that our automotive clients have come to expect.
Conveniently located at 14-16 Main Road, Monbulk, our state-of-the-art facility is primed to cater to all your automotive needs. You can reach out to us via email at sales@monbulksmashrepairs.com.au or simply give us a call at 8736 8238 to discuss your requirements or schedule an appointment. We understand the
value of your time, which is why we operate from Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and on Saturdays from 8.30am to 1pm.
Monbulk Smash Repairs: Where craftsmanship meets passion, and your automotive dreams come to life. Experience the difference today!
By Tyler Wright
Ferntree Gully local and high school teacher
KelWhite has released his debut novel, written through the state’s Covid lockdowns.
White’s A Curiosity of Consequence follows illiterate farm girl Kjara Chedderheart, who finds herself entangled in a political conspiracy.
As Kjara navigates the complexities of city life, she also embarks on a quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding the magical markings adorning her skin.
Inspired by his interactions with young adults, White began crafting engaging short stories that resonated deeply with his audience.
“That was in response to spending so much time working with young people and seeing some of the stuff that they were reading and some of the stuff that they’re exposed to... a lot of it’s quite grim, and I wanted something to combat that,” White said.
“Back in 2019… my wife and I got pregnant, and I needed a project to alleviate some of that pre-parental anxiety to distract myself.”
Drawing inspiration from fantasy games, White established the first draft of A Curiosity of Consequence within eight weeks.
“It was awful,” he said.
“I knew how to tell a story, but I didn’t know how to write a book because a lot of my storytelling was through music, when I used to write music and play music or when I wrote plays and performed in theatre.
“I knew about what made a good story, but I didn’t know what made good writing.”
Pianos are renowned for their intricacy and grand appearance, often made with over 12,000 parts, thousands of them moving just to make music.
A creative Olinda resident has found an impressive and similarly majestic way to repurpose and salvage pianos that are out of use, including one that he recently picked up after it was spotted off theWarburton Trail.
David Cox makes decorative ‘phoenixes’ from pulled-apart pianos and said he’s been a collector of junk for as long as he could remember.
“As a kid, I used to collect junk and make stuff out of it, I’ve grown up making all sorts of bits and pieces but it was probably two years ago, I got my hands on a set of piano keys and wasn’t sure what to do with them,” he said.
“A friend of mine is an acapella singer for a group called Suade and was building a recording studio and wanted a bit of a decorative sound baffle and hit me up, so I took the piano keys and thought I’d glue them together as a wall feature but wanted to make something interesting from them.”
The recently discarded piano became a bit famous on Facebook after residents noticed it on the Warburton Trail and wondered where it came from and where Mr Cox expressed an interest in it. Mt Dandenong band Open Kamodo came out to clear the air, informing everyone they had been using it for a music video but couldn’t transport it back off the trail after they finished in the dark, returning to pick it up in daylight instead. Mr Cox got in touch and popped over to dismantle the piano on Wednesday 21 June.
Mr Cox said the first incarnate of the ‘phoenix’ seemed completely preposterous.
“I’ve since made about 40 of them for different people and the designs seem to be getting more and more elaborate,” he said.
“I’m not militant in promoting that every single piano part should be recycled because it’s just not possible, but it’s nice for something to be treated in the way that it should be for something that’s 100 years old and would have entertained for many years.”
While he has had suggestions from some to see what could possibly be made from the neck of a cello or thought about if he could repurpose drums, his instrument of choice, Mr Cox has kept to pianos and organs so far, finding them to be like a‘goodie box’ to open up. Mr Cox said he likes that he can help people hold on to memories associated with a piano.
“When I pull apart the piano I like to get to know the person and who it belonged to, for example, if it was Nonna’s piano that has been sitting around, I want to make it an ode to Nonna and the memories of her playing it,” he said.
“A lot of people wanted a piano in their house in the late 1800s and early 1900s so we have a massive quantity of pianos in Melbourne, it’s definitely the place to be if you’re wanting to experiment with pulling one apart and doing something magical with it.”
Mr Cox generally works with people who come to him wanting to repurpose their personal pianos but on occasion will frequent a business in Braeside called Pianos Recycled that similarly salvage unusable pianos and have an abundance of parts if someone requests a phoenix but has no piano.
Turning to YouTube, White sought out videos that helped him learn to write better, and took feedback from anyone willing to read his work.
“Every time I met a goal with it, I just was like, ‘well, what’s the next step? Let’s give that a shot,’” he said.
“I started pitching it to agents, and I had one Australian agent really like it, but they had another author who was writing similar stuff, so they couldn’t take me on.
“I just kept submitting it until Vulpine Press picked it up. They said ‘we love it. Can we have it?’ And I was like ‘sure’; and it’s been a long and interesting story along an interesting journey.”
White’s storytelling weaves together elements of adventure, intrigue, and self-discovery, offering readers an immersive and unforgettable reading experience.
Commissioning Editor at Vulpine Press, Rowan Thomas, said the quality of White’s writing is something the company expects to see in an author’s “third or fourth” book.
“It’s rare to find writing of this standard in a debut. I enjoyed working on this story so much!” he said.
Three years after the inception of White’s idea, with the help of Vulpine Press, White’s novel was published on Tuesday 20 June.
A book launch at Belgrave Library on Saturday 24 June will mark the occasion, with attendees encouraged to embrace their love for fantasy literature by dressing up as their favourite characters from beloved novels.
“[I’ll] try and ignore the Amazon ranking,” White said.
“I’m really excited because I’ve spent so much time in that world of that story with those characters, and I’m really interested and excited to see how other people respond to them, for other people to meet my main character and all of her friends.”
White said one of the messages of the book is altruism; using what is special and unique to you to make the world a better place.
“I think that anyone who uses their own talents to make even their community a bit better feels better as a result,” he said.
“None of the teenagers I know have magical powers, but whatever gifts they do have, I think that they should share and I think they should use to make the world a little bit better.”
A Curiosity of Consequence is now available for pre-orders in both e-book and paperback formats through Amazon.com.au.
For further updates and insights from Kel White, follow him on Twitter and Instagram (@ kelwhitehere) or visit his official website at www.kelwhite.com.
Artist Stephen Glover is set to present his exhibit “Fragments of Experience” from Saturday 1 July until Sunday 6 August at the Yering Station Art Gallery.
Glover said the work is in essence about memory and his expression of experiences moving through the world as he sees it.
“It’s about being around for a couple of months and just soaking up what I see where I go and what interests me,” he said.
Glover’s work provides visual conversation and feasts the eyes with urban grunge colour palettes in winding patterns that the viewer can play with.
“It is about play and intuition and trusting your gut,” he said.
This is the first time his work will be exhibited in this gallery and Glover said it is such an excellent location and he is looking forward to installing his work there.
“My main purpose of exhibiting is really to get all of these pieces in a space where they can be seen at their best and they can speak to each other in the room and not distracted by all the ephemera,” he said.
Despite the natural scenery in his home in Kalorama, the artist is drawn to the urban landscapes and grungy vibe that encapsulates Melbourne.
“I love the patinaed surfaces of rusty old dump trucks and industrial bins with all the metallic surfaces and layers of paint,” he said.
This exhibition’s form of abstract style was developed by Glover through Covid, where he experimented with almost a jigsaw style of using cut up canvas on wood then moved on to several different abstract college styles.
“Collage and placement and working small was a really, actually a really good thing because it kept the cogs turning,” he said.
The work is subjective and Glover said it poses questions and truth to the viewer.
“Your memory of something will be different to mine and how you tell it,” he said.
“There’s this sort of philosophical arching kind of bent to it.”
Glover said inspiration could come from sitting at the lights and looking at the world around him.
“There may be a truck next to me and I’ll just look at it, it has this narrative attached to it that tells a story because of where those scratches and marks come from,” he said.
The artist has a studio he shares with Rain White at Stain Studio at the Burrinja Cultural Centre and he enjoys the collaborative aspect of having a shared space.
“It’s quite rare with an artist, you’re often in the studio alone, here you have people around all the time,” he said.
Staying in this abstract space is on Glover’s horizon for the time being and he said in the future he would like to scale up and continue experimenting.
“I would like to do some larger works, which take more work with composition and planning,” he said.
“So I have intentions to work in a similar aesthetic, to keep exploring and I think there’s a fair way to go.”
Fragments of Experience will feature at Yering Station Art Gallery from Saturday 1 July until Sunday 6 August.
Victorians flocked to Belgrave to celebrate the longest night of the year, and experience the arts culture of The Hills.
Every nook and cranny of Belgrave’s main street was alive with creativity and connectivity as part of the annual Lantern Festival, packed with locals and visitors alike, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the variety of lanterns on offer for the evening.
Large crowds of people of all ages were treated to bright works of art, with a replica Tardis, Australian native wildlife, and childhood movie characters brought to life in the form of vibrant lanterns marching down the street.
Alongside the famous lantern parade, those who ventured out in the cold were also treated to live music from several local artists from around The Hills, the Artisan Night Markets with a wide selection of treats and treasures to warm up the festivities.
Belgrave Traders Events Coordinator Jeremy Angerson said it was a big lead up into this years’ event, experimenting with some new entertainment and opportunities for locals to experience Belgrave and what the festival has to offer.
“We had multiple entertainment areas around the town for people to enjoy, including a DJ down Blacksmiths Way around the new mural artworks,” he said.
Leading this years’ parade was Belgrave’s own CFA crew with their new celebratory torch Lantern, in celebration of 100 years supporting the community, which Mr. Angerson said was a first.
“We had the local CFA lead the parade and
they did a lap of the street before the actual lantern parade commenced,” he said
In a post on Instagram, CFA member Renate Crow said it took over 3 workshops, working with the youth team to build their centenary lantern.
Amongst the parade were other local community groups and schools, including Raqs Sharqi/Oriental Style DancerJanelle and her troupe, fire dancers and bagpipes, and community members of all ages with their handmade creations.
Thousands of people participated in the parade, with thousands more packing the street full from top to bottom.
“It was packed wall to wall along the whole street, similar to last years’ parade, and it was great to see big numbers turning out for the second parade since Covid,” said Mr. Angerson.
Overall the event was a big community effort, with several local sponsors backing the festival for another year, some jumping on board for the first time, and good will from locals doing a lot of kind and caring things to help bring the night to life.
In the lead-up to the weekends’ festivities, several lantern-making workshops were hosted within the Belgrave community to inspire local creatives and pitch in to make some fantastic works of art.
Mr. Angerson said it’s good to see people coming together and enjoying the festivities, and enjoying what Belgrave is famous for.
“Overall the feedback from the community and on social media has been really positive, with a lot of comments about the size and people asking for a longer event, which has been great to see,” he said.
Cold weather and less daylight mark winter solstice celebrations each year as the south pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun.
The shortest day and longest night of the year in the southern hemisphere fell on Thursday 22 June in 2023, with the sun rising at around 5am and setting at around 7pm.
The earliest sunset of the year already occurred on Sunday 11 June, with the latest sunrise set to occur on Friday 7 July; officially marking the day the earth is furthest from the sun in its annual orbit - a point called aphelion. Mount Burnett Observatory committee member Jacquie Milner said the southern hemisphere will start coming back into the sun after aphelion.
“It’s like you’re watching the sun move along the horizon, it’s that day where the
the sun more or less turns around and starts moving in the other direction,” she said.
Ms Milner said the winter solstice has had “long cultural significance” throughout history.
“Historically, people needed to know when the seasons were changing so they could plan when to put their crops in.
“There are many recorded instances where societies would be watching for particular
stars or star groups...that’s why the Pleiades are so important across Europe; they would be watching them to know when to sow crops.
“The Egyptians would be looking for Sirius in the morning sky to know when the Nile was going to flood, and the Indigenous people in Australia also looked at certain stars to know when it was the right time to hunt things like fish or when certain animals were breeding and to leave them alone and when it was okay to go and hunt them.”
The latest sunrise is set to occur on Thursday 29 June, with Venus and Mars setting in the west and Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn visible from the east of the country in July.
Perihelion - the point at which the southern hemisphere will be closest to the sun - is expected to occur in early January, marking the opposite end of the earth’s orbit.
Have you heard of leptospirosis?
There has been some concern online regarding this bacterial disease, in dogs in our community.
While not common in the area, understanding this serious illness is crucial for protecting our furry mates.
Here, we’ll cover key points about leptospirosis, including transmission, symptoms, treatment, vaccination, and the importance of preventative measures.
Leptospirosis thrives in warm, damp environments, often after flooding.
Dogs typically contract the bacteria through contact with infected rats’ urine, which contaminates soil and stagnant water. The bacteria enter the body through the mouth or skin wounds.
Symptoms of leptospirosis may appear around a week after infection, including fever, lethargy, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, bruising, liver disease, and difficulty breathing.
If you suspect your pet is unwell, consult a vet for timely diagnosis and testing.
While some cases have mild symptoms, leptospirosis can be fatal. Treatment involves antibiotics and may require additional care.
Vaccination is available for certain strains of Leptospira, although it’s not part of routine vaccinations in Melbourne.
If your pet is at risk due to exposure to contaminated water, infected animal urine, or wildlife like rats, discuss vaccination with your
vet.Though it doesn’t guarantee complete protection, it can reduce symptom severity.
Leptospirosis is zoonotic, meaning it can spread from dogs to humans.
Practising good hygiene, such as regular handwashing, is important to minimise the risk of transmission. Consult your doctor if you’re concerned about exposure.
Animal Aid’s Veterinary clinic is ready to assist with any health concerns you may have. Their dedicated team can address questions about leptospirosis or your pet’s wellbeing. Contact them for professional advice and guidance.
While leptospirosis is not common in Melbourne and surrounds, being informed and taking preventative measures is vital.
Avoid contaminated water, minimise contact with infected animal urine, and consider vaccination if necessary. Trust Animal Aid’s Veterinary clinic to support you in prioritising your pets’ health and wellbeing.
Writing the second book is hard, especially when your first book is an international bestseller. The expectation for another triumph, from your supporters and particularly from yourself, can be crushing.
But Pip Williams did it, convincingly and with so much grace and compassion. The Bookbinder of Jericho is the companion novel toWilliams’ debut The Dictionary of Lost Words, praised as an “imaginative, delightful, charming and clever book” by Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Mad Man (1998)..
Extraction 2
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh
Farahani and Adam Bessa
Rated MA15+ 4.25/5
The sequel to 2020’s Extraction, Extraction 2 is a filling action banquet and a compelling expansion of the first film’s foundations.
Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth), an elite Black Ops mercenary, is dispatched to Georgia to rescue a mother and her children from the father’s brutal gang.
The Extraction and John Wick series are both a resounding testament to the quality of action movies directed by stuntmen (Sam Hargrave and Chad Stahelski, respectively).
JohnWick is more stylised and Extraction more gritty, but both series show an outstanding understanding of timing, geography, fatigue, exciting but efficient choreography and rising tension.
John Wick: Chapter Four from earlier this year has a phenomenal overhead action sequence, but Extraction 2’s first act features a gobsmacking one-shot gauntlet, running approximately 23 minutes, with hand-to-hand combat, gunplay and even a gnarly helicopter shootout on a train. This sequence has a 1917 or Birdman-level finesse in how it seamlessly stitches together hundreds of takes into the illusion of a single take, and I will be very disappointed if Extraction 2 is ignored for Editing at the Oscars. Hemsworth is a dependable gruff action lead, but is given more depth this time. Golshifteh Farahani, as Tyler’s mercenary partner Nik, has a far more proactive role in the action than in the first film, and Adam Bessa is amusing as fellow partner Yaz, a wisecracker with a heart of gold. Extraction 2 has engaging threads of vengeance, family loyalty, regret and innocence, but these themes never overshadow the action.
While the first Extraction is mostly set in Bangladesh, Extraction 2 jumps between several countries, full of varied locations and inventive set-pieces, but never returns to the staggering intensity and technique of the aforementioned one-shot. An enthralling action extravaganza, Extraction 2 is available for streaming on Netflix.
- Seth Lukas Hynes1812 Theatre
Lord of the Flies
At the dawn of the next World War, a plane crashes down on an charted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult su pervision, freedom is something to celebrate so far from civilization the boys can do anything they want. Anything. They attempt to forge their own society, failing, however, in the face of terror, sin and evil. And as order collapses, as strange howls echo in the night, as terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far from reality as the hope of being rescued.
· Season: June 27 – July 6
· Bookings 9758 3964
· Produced by Centrestage Youth Theatre.
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre
Switzerland
Somewhere in the Swiss Alps. A grande dame of bestselling crime literature lives with an impressive collection of books, and a somewhat collection of guns and knives. She finds solace in her seclusion, her carts and cigarettes. But when a mysterious international visitor barges into her home unannounced, will her love of fictional murders become a dangerous reality.
· Season: June 29 – July 15.
· Bookings: 9735 1777
· Office hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday
Burrinja and Rucci’s Circus presents Burrinja Circus Festival
Aerial – Kinds, 5 to 13 years
Perfect for students wanting to get up in the
air! Build your strength and learn basic shapes and climbs in the tissue and trapeze. Suitable for all abilities.
· Wednesday 28 June at 1.30pm.
Circus Mix – Kids 5 to 13 years
Try a little bit of everything in Circus Mix. These classes are the perfect place to explore general circus skills like juggling, tumbling, hula hoops, trapeze, tightwire and more.
· Wednesday 28 June at 11.15am
Tumbling
Kids 5 – 13 years
For the budding this class will cover rolls, jumps, flips and saults using the floor and minim tramp. Suitable for all abilities.
Globe and Tightrope
7 – 16 years
Covering all things balance, you’ll be standing tall on the tightrope and walking the globe in no time. Plus learn complimentary balancing tricks on roller boards and balance boards.
· Thursday 29 June at 12.30pm.
All the above at Burrinja Theatre.
Setbetween1914and1918,TheBookbinder of Jericho tells the story of Peggy and Maude, twin sisters who work in the bindery at Oxford University Press. Peggy is intelligent and ambitious, dreaming of making a difference with her own words, yet she often feels duty-bound to watch over her vulnerable sister.
The story picks up the threads of The Dictionary of Lost Words with Peggy playing an important role in the production of Women’s Words, composed by Esme Nicoll and lovingly printed by her sweetheart Gareth Owens. Also reappearing is Esme’s friend Tilda, the talented actress and fierce supporter of the women’s suffragette movement.
However, the dominant and omnipresent character in the story is the war. It sends Tilda to the frontline, and turns the world upside down. It brings Lotte and Bastiaan to Jericho, two refugees from Germany’s invasion of Belgium in 1914. It sends fathers, sons and husbands to the bloody battles and leaves women behind to live in grief, fear and despair.
At times, various details of the war are almost too bleak to bear. Further contributing to the misery is the influenza pandemic, which kills mercilessly and relentlessly. The vivid first-person narrative provided by Peggy draws readers deep into that morbid world. Thankfully, her capacity to see the possibility of a different future gives us hope.
Throughout the story,Williams subtly explores the myriad ways in which words can impact on individuals, communities and even nations. Not just when words and their definitions are preserved or discarded, but how they are deliberately used to expose or disguise, uplift or repress. Peggy, for example, is an expert of hiding her true thoughts and emotions.
Which is the reason why Maude and Lotte are two extraordinary characters, as their actions speak louder than their words. In Maude’s case, her sister articulates well:
“She understood, I think, that most of what people said was meaningless. That people spoke to fill the silence or pass the time; that, despite our mastery of words and our ability to put them together in infinitely varied ways, most of us struggled to say what we really meant.”
Meanwhile, we as readers may find it fascinating to imagine the life of a book before it is put in our hands. To this reviewer, even more delightful is Peggy’s discovery that what impresses one reader is never the same as what impresses all others. “Each book, once read, will have told a slightly different story.” What does The Bookbinder of Jericho mean to you?
LOCATED in a highly desirable pocket of Emerald, relish in complete luxury and privacy at this spectacular residence.
The elevated setting provides one of Emerald’s best outlooks, enjoy the always changing views of the rolling valleys and treetops across to the Warburton Ranges.
Immediately upon arrival the sophisticated design elements will capture your attention; the grand foyer entry with impressive curved staircase takes you to the second storey living where floor to ceiling double glazed windows flood the home with natural light and on a cold winter morning, capture the views through the dawn light of the breathtaking valley vista in the distance filled with fog and the spectacular Warburton ranges rising above.
Spacious in design entertain your extended family and friends with ease, the open plan kitchen with Caesarstone benchtops, soft-close cabinetry, and bar seating oversees the dining and living space with direct access through bi-fold doors to the sprawling sandstone balcony.
For the growing family a generous second spacious living room with equally as impressive views could be enclosed to create a private sitting room, parents retreat, kids hang out or enjoyed as it is. Also, on the second floor the master suite boasts a private sitting area and luxurious ensuite bathroom complete with spa bath. The remaining bedrooms are located downstairs in the “kids wing”, all are serviced by the family bathroom, bedrooms three and four both have walk in wardrobes. An additional powder room downstairs is a welcomed addition.
Also under roofline the double garage features a powder room, workshop space
and internal access. Special additions include gas ducted heating, evaporative cooling, timber flooring and a bright neutral colour scheme throughout.
Outside the features continue, the 2,682m2 allotment boasts terraced and
landscaped gardens that are filled mature plantings and established shade trees that burst with colour in the Autumn months. Secure off-street parking and bitumen driveway are both added bonuses. Located only a short driving to the
bustling Emerald township, quality cafes, restaurants, Primary and Secondary schools, public transport and parkland are all at your fingertips.
This property should be at the top of your list, inspection is an absolute must. ●
LOCATED in the heart of Emerald this sundrenched property offers something for the whole family and is sure to tick all the boxes.
Sitting proudly on an expansive flat one-acre allotment, this impressive home is spacious in design and offers a familyfriendly floor plan.
Located in the heart of the home, is an expansive open plan living area, boasting an enormous kitchen, complete with Belling oven, dishwasher, excellent cupboard and storage space, and an oversized island bench.
The adjoining dining and living room are equally as spacious, offering opportunities for both intimate and large social events with family and friends. There are four bedrooms in total, the master suite features built-in robes and a huge ensuite bathroom, enjoy the private garden views from your spa bath. The three secondary bedrooms are all an excellent size and are serviced by the family bathroom. The family laundry completes the residence. Special features include ducted heating, split system heating and cooling, internal vacuum system, timber flooring, brand new carpet, and a fresh neutral colour scheme throughout.
Outside is sure to impress and delight, the paved and covered outdoor entertaining area is perfect for year-round enjoyment, direct access to the kitchen via the servery window makes entertaining your friends and family a breeze.
While you kick back and relax, the kids can run and play on the expansive lawned areas and between the variety of fruit trees. Ideal for the lucky teenager, extended family, or guests, there is a great-sized studio complete with kitchenette and bathroom.
For the toys and tools, there is a covered double carport and a secure double garage.
The entire property is securely fenced. If country living with all the urban facilities is what you are looking for then search no further! Inspect with absolute confidence. ●
10StewartRoad, Emerald
2 B
T
FORSALE.
GUIDE $1,450,000-$1,595,000
INSPECT ByAppointment
CONTACT JustinBarrot 0438683781
BarryPlantEmerald 59684522
A T 5 B T 5
6OldGembrookRoad, Emerald 4 A T 2 B T 4 C T
FORSALE. GUIDE $1,200,000-$1,300,000 INSPECT ByAppointment CONTACT JustinBarrot 0438683781 BarryPlantEmerald 59684522
STYLISHENTERTAINERINAPICTURESQUESETTING
18LeggRoad,
Emerald
ALWAYSBUYINAGREATLOCATION!!!
4
T 3 B T 4 C T
GUIDE $1,150,000-$1,225,000 INSPECT ByAppointment CONTACT JustinBarrot 0438683781
BarryPlantEmerald 59684522
CENTRALEMERALDSWEETIEON1009m2
2
A
FORSALE. GUIDE $650,000-$695,000
INSPECT ByAppointment
CONTACT GayleBarrot 0408195767
BarryPlantEmerald 59684522
FORSALE.
GUIDE $680,000-$748,000 INSPECT ByAppointment CONTACT JustinBarrot 0438683781 BarryPlantEmerald 59684522 3 A T 1 B T 2 C T
FORSALE.
GUIDE $775,000-$810,000 INSPECT ByAppointment
CONTACT LanaMaher 0408535075 BarryPlantEmerald 59684522
4 A T 2 B T 3 C T
FORSALE.
GUIDE $1,050,000-$1,150,000 INSPECT ByAppointment CONTACT LanaMaher 0408535075
BarryPlantEmerald 59684522
Lot4,130GembrookTonimbukRGembrook TonimbukRoad, Gembrook
5PICTURESQUEACRESTOMAKEYOUROWN
LAND
FORSALE.
GUIDE $910,000 INSPECT ByAppointment
CONTACT JustinBarrot 0438683781
BarryPlantEmerald 59684522
THIS property has it all – 4 spacious bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an open plan kitchen and dining room, a generous lounge and an elevated, north facing deck where you can unwind, and enjoy the sunshine with your favourite beverage and look across to the rolling hills as you listen to the surrounding wildlife.
There is a welcoming under cover front verandah, so you can stay dry when trying to get home, from which you enter into the spacious foyer, the perfect place to drop your bags, kick off your shoes or hang your keys. The home then flows into the open plan dining area, located adjacent to the well-appointed kitchen with stainless steel appliances and plenty of storage. The dining room spills into the generous lounge room with toasty wood fire, a big enough space for entertaining family and friends, which opens onto that deep undercover deck with those lovely views. Upstairs there are 3 sunny, robed bedrooms, (2 of which have lovely distant views), and for the ultimate comfort and convenience there is a reverse cycle split system upstairs, along with evaporative cooling and gas ducted heating throughout. Downstairs is a further big bedroom, perfect as a Master Suite, (or make it a further living area if you prefer), with its own external access to a large under-cover entertaining area leading into the back yard, a 2nd bathroom/ensuite with a walk-in shower and toilet and good under house storage.
Externally this property is privately located off the road, has a fully fenced back yard to keep your fur babies and children safe, established, irrigated gardens complete with fruit trees, a double carport, a further single off street parking space and all just a short walk to town.
Call to arrange a private inspection today. Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●
18VistaCourt,Gembrook$750,000-$820,000
Perfecthomeforwalktotownconvenienceandlowmaintenanceliving!
Thisgorgeous3bedroom,2bathroomhomeismoveinready.Withabitumendriveway&DLUGwith entrydoortothehome,thefrontyardislandscaped&lowmaintenance.Themasterbedroomhasa ceilingfan,&WIRaswellasanensuite.ThefurthertwobedroomsbothhaveBIRs.Thekitchenisfully equippedwithalargeislandbench,electricoven,gasstovetop,&stainless-steeldishwasher.Being openplanwiththeloungeroomforseamlessentertaining,&therearetwoslidingdoorsfromthe loungeouttotherearentertainingareaordirectlytothebackyard.Relax&unwindinthelounge roomasyouenjoythewoodfireplace,orusethesplitsystemairconditionerorductedgasheating that’spresentthroughoutthehome.Thereisalsoastudyforyourworkfromhomeconvenience.This propertyisashortstrolltoalltheamenitiesofGembrookmainstreet.
14aBlackwoodLane,Gembrook$950,000-$1,040,000
Sensationalandprivateapprox.4+acreparcelwithMainswater&Electricity available!
Thisfantasticapprox.1.78hectareparceloflandpresentsanexcitingopportunityforyoutobuild yourdreamhome(STCA).Thefullyclearedblockisprivatelypositionedfromthestreet,offeringlovely viewswhilstbeingonlymomentsfromGembrooksamenities.
Thisoutstandingblockoflandisinwalkingdistancetotheponyclub,Gembrookplaygroundand Gembrookmainstreet!Relaxandunwindwithnatureandthenstrolluptothemainstreetfora coffee!
5BelvedereCourt,Gembrook$900,000-$990,000
MudBrickdelightsoakingin19acresofGembrooknature!
Thispicturesquemudbrickhomefeaturesacathedralceilingloungeroomwithlargewoodfire& masterbedroomintheloft!DownstairsthereisasecondmasterbedroomwithalargeWIR,&office/ secondloungeareawithabathroomwithbath&shower&separatetoilet.Thekitchenhasagas oven&woodfiredstove.Thereisafullyfencedpaddockperfectforapony/goat.Thereisadouble carport&aseparateteenagersretreat/officebuildingwithtoilet,shower,kitchenette,loungearea, laundryarea,bedroom,twostoragerooms&fencedyard.Thereisalsoafreestandingroomperfect asacraftroom/officespace.Featuringa3carlockablebarn/workshopwithpower&concreted floors.Thishomeistotallyoffgrid,witha9kWsolarsystem&batterysetup,supportedbyagenerator. Thereisapproximately55000Loftankwaterstoredinthreelargewatertanks,&asepticsystem.
TheUltimateFamilyHomeintheHeartofGembrook!
Thisstylishcharacterhomefeatures4bedrooms,2largelivingareas&greatoutdoorentertaining spaces.Withhighceilings,qualitylightfittings,&polishedfloorboardsthroughout.TheMaster BedroomhasWIR&ensuitewithdoublevanity.Theformalliving/diningroom,allowsyoutoentertain guestswhilstthekidshangoutintheopenplanfamilyroom/kitchen/mealsspace.Orenjoyacosy nightbythewoodfireinthelivingroom.Thekitchenhaswhitecabinetry,arangehood,stone benchtops,SMEGgascooktop&oven,SSdishwasher,&walkinpantry.Thereisapitchedceiling overthekitchen&themealsarea,creatingabright,airyfeelingofspace.Outside,isareardeckin thefullyfencedrearyard&aswimspa.Withmainsgasductedheating,5kWofsolar,alargeDLUG withworkbencharea&bothrearyardaccess&internalaccess.Thereare2gardensheds.
LOCATED at the Foothills of the stunning Dandenong Ranges, only a short walk to the famous 1000 Steps and the Upper Ferntree Gully train station, this perfectly presented family home has been meticulously cared for and loved since being built by the current owners in 2007.
Extending over 17sq’s, the home boasts 4 spacious bedrooms (or 3 plus large home office) – This includes an oversized master bedroom with ensuite and extended wardrobe space.
Upon arrival, the entry foyer leads you to two separate living zones, one being a spacious, front lounge and the other, a more relaxed, oversized living room with a charming wood fire that flows easily off the large meals area. The timber kitchen has been well designed with a 900ml upright stove, dishwasher plus a great amount of work space.
With character features throughout, the home has a warm and inviting feel with its timber finishes and leadlight features. Along with this, gas ducted heating and evaporative cooling create instant temperature control no matter what the weather is like outside.
Stretching nearly the length of the home, the rear, undercover decking is simply outstanding. Whether it’s a small or large crowd, entertain in style with all the room you need. This is the perfect indoor / outdoor living that we all enjoy.
Sitting on a flat, useable and well fenced 1297m2 block, there is an abundance of parking that includes a double brick garage with toilet and water access plus a double carport and extra parking bays. This is the ideal property for tradies or those who are looking for a space to park their van, trailer or extra cars!
With a stunning backdrop of the Dandenong Ranges National Park this perfect property offers character, convenience and a great community feel all in one package! ●
Enjoytheprivacyofaquietcourtandtheconvenienceofbeingpositionedcloseto Upwey’svibrantcentralhubofshops,cafesandeateries.Apeacefulambiencefeaturing gardensburstingwithcolourandspectacularviews,this2-bedroomhomeiswaitingforyou tomakeityourown.
BradConder M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au
DanielSteen M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au
Withallthecharacteryoucouldhopeforandabackdropofbreathtakingviews,this charmingweatherboardcottagewillbringasmiletoyourface.Fromthepicketfence lineddrivetothecoveredverandahentrywithintricatelacework,thisperiodresidence encouragesyoutomakeyourselfathome.
BradConder
M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au
DanielSteen
M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au
3 A 1 B
Withadesirablelocationonly750mfromcafes,shopping,andUpweyStation,this2,015sqm (approx.)propertyhasthepotentialtobeaveryprofitableinvestment.Alreadyadorned witharesidencereadyforrentalorrenovationplusexclusiveNRZ2zoningforsubdivision (STCA),thisisanexceptionalopportunityinanoutstandinglifestylelocation.
BradConder
M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au
DanielSteen M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au
7NettletonRoad,MONBULK $1,150,000-$1,250,000 HANDCRAFTEDHOMEON10SCENICACRES 4 A 1 B 2 C
Thismagnificent10-acrepropertyculminatingatscenicWooriYallockCreekisa breathtakingportionoftheDandenongRangesnottobemissed.Punctuatedbyaquality craftedmudbrickandweatherboardresidence,thisisacountry-feelpropertyimmersedin exquisitelocalfloraandfauna.
BradConder
M 0422639115| E brad@chandlerandco.com.au
DanielSteen
M 0434979142| E daniel@chandlerandco.com.au
SUDOKU
No. 75 9 2 3176 4958
ACROSS
1 Feudal workers (5)
4 Assumes the worst (9)
9 Awe-inspiring (7)
10 Progress (7)
11 Yellowish-green colour (4,5)
or copying machine (7)
8573 4167 3 47 9
12 Body of troops (5)
13 Film special effects (acronym) (3)
14 Insect before butterfly
16 Agreement (11)
19 Type of fish (3)
20 Former US president (5)
22 Man-made (9)
25 Refractory (7)
26 Visuals (7)
27 Named for office (9)
28 Support (5)
DOWN
1 Actress, – Sarandon (5)
2 Armed resistance to authority (9)
3 Throw (5)
4 Ostensible reason (7)
easy 38 52 18
92 14 4 836 46
71 692 7 27 53
5 839 79 92
84 58 258 3
hard
medium 265 7 61 9 625
1 14
2 15
3 16
4 17
5 18
6 19
7 20
8 21
9 22
10 23
11 24
12 25
13 26 KW
K L
Y F
A P
D Q Z U
O V
G H
J B
T C
X N
R M
1415 1617181920212223242526 I
12 345678910111213
E S
892543176
573961428
657198243 721359864
149236587 985624731
416782395
364817952
329518476
816925734
573461892
157346289 761832945
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”.
294783651
648297513 982154367
easy medium hard
435679128
M
816935274
741586923
569243718
238475619 392651847
425817639 154728396
I B N R G 3 LETTERS ADD ALL ASH ATE COD CUP DEN EGO ERA ERR EVE EYE HUM MEN MOP ONE OVA SEA SKI SPY TOO TOT USE WAD 4 LETTERS AEON APES AWAY BABE BAWL BEEN CYST DART HOSE INNS OATH ONES SCUM SHES 5 LETTERS AISLE
937462581 678394152
283179465
begun, bruin, brume, burg, burin, burn, burning, ennui, enuring, erbium, grub, gunmen, gunner, imbrue, imbue, inure, menu, numb, number, NUMBERING, numbing, ruin, ruing, rumen, rune, rung, umber, urge, urine
ALIKE ALONE AMASS AMBOS ANGER ARISE AROMA ARROW BALMY BARES BEAMS BLASE CARVE DAUNT EATEN ENSUE EVENT GRUEL IOTAS MESSY MOTOR
OLIVE OUSTS PERIL RISEN ROACH ROARS SANDY SCENE SCENT SEEPS SERUM SHEEN SHEET SMITH SNOOP STAND STUDY SWEPT SWOOP TESTY TIRES
William Matthews Funerals
24 HOUR SERVICE - ALLAREAS
9739 6868 45
Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale
UDDER VISIT WAVES WEAVE WORST WROTE YESES 6 LETTERS EDDIES ODDEST SENSES TETHER
7 LETTERS BAGGAGE GUESTED MOTTOES NURTURE ORDAINS PRESENT 8 LETTERS GIGANTIC OVERLONG OVERSTEP PATIENCE
W 30-06-23 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com
12567433-SN37-22
1. The proposed 5G upgrade will consist of:
•The removal of two (2) existing Vodafone and Optus shared panel antennas to be replaced with two (2) new Vodafone and Optus shared panel antennas (each measuring not more than 2.8m in length);
•The installation of ancillary equipment including mast head amplifiers (MHAs), remote radio units (RRUs), GPS antennas, antenna mounts, feeders, cabling, combiners and other associated equipment; and ancillary works within the existing equipment shelter.
2. Vodafone and Optus regard the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above.
3. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to:
Ben Lavery at Service Stream Limited, 0497 833 252, TPG.Submissions@servicestream com.au or Level 3, Tower B, Zenith Centre 821 Pacific Highway, Chatswood NSW 2067 by 5.00pm Friday 14 July 2023
4. If you would like to know more about this site, further information can be obtained from www.rfnsa.com.au/3787004
Ferntree Gully is being put on the map, as two locals are set to represent Victoria at the upcoming School Sports tournament for 2023.
Wattle View Primary School teacher Michelle Letts, and Lachlan Boncher from St Joseph’s College will both venture to Western Australia, to represent their respective schools in basketball.
Ms Letts said over 1200 athletes tried out for the 12 years and under boys Basketball team, in which Lachlan was successfully selected, through a series of regional tryouts and state basketball trials in Bendigo, Ballarat, Cranbourne, Wantirna and Waverley.
She said herself and Lachlan are both involved in domestic basketball at Knox Basketball and are involved in the representative basketball program at Knox Raider, who encouraged and supported them in pursuing this opportunity.
For Lachlan, basketball has been a big part of his childhood since he started school, and he’s looking forward to this next step in his sporting career.
“I have been playing basketball since the age of 4, that’s 8 years. The things I love about basketball is it keeps me fit, I make lots of friends and I love the competitive nature of it,” he said.
After being selected, he said his parents and friends at school were very proud, and he’s already eyeing up the competition in Western Australia.
“I’m looking forward to expanding my skills against the best kids in my age group in the country and being taught by the best coach in ‘Lettsy’!” he said.
Ms Letts, the tournament brings together her two passions of teaching and basketball, and said it’s an amazing opportunity to be representing her school as Head Coach for the
Victorian basketball team, after a lengthy process to be accepted.
“I submitted a 6 page written application to apply for the 12 boys School Sports Victoria 12 years and under head Basketball coach. I was shortlisted for an interview, and later had a phone call and an email to tell me I was the successful applicant for this Head coaching position,” she said.
Similar to Lachlan, basketball has been a part of her life for several years, with this tournament marking her second year as a basketball coach for School Sports Australia.
“I have played Basketball since I was 5 years old and started coaching domestic Basketball at 14 years old. I am currently in my 12th year
of coaching representative basketball,” she said.
The School Sports tournament is being held in Perth from Saturday 19th August – Friday 25th of August, where the Victorian team will play all states in Australia and are hoping to bring a Gold Medal back for 12 years and Under boys basketball.
The team will participate in a 7 day basketball tournament, which includes 1-2 basketball games a day, an opening and closing ceremony, finals basketball games, as well as a day of an educational experience as a team, and team bonding sessions with our boys teams, the 12 years and under girls team as well as the 16 years and under boys team.
Leading up to the tournament, their team will have 6 x 3 hour training sessions, 2 training sessions with the 16 years and under boys team as a‘mentor program’, will play a practice game against the 2022 School Sports Victoria 12 years and under boys team and against an under 14 Victorian Championship Basketball team to prepare for the big trip.
Ms Letts said, while winning a gold medal is the overall goal, the pair are looking forward to experiencing Perth and making memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
For more information on the School Sports basketball tournament visit schoolsportaustralia.edu.au/basketball/
PHONE BASE STATION WITH 4G/5G AT GEMBROOK
1.The proposed works consists of: 2905 Gembrook-Launching Place Rd, GEMBROOK VIC 3783 www.rfnsa.com.au/3783009
The proposed works on the existing monopole facility consist of:
The removal of six (6) existing panel antennas
The installation of six (6) 4G/5G panel antennas, (each 2533mm(h) x 350mm(w) x 208mm(d)), attached to existing mounts
Upgrading ancillary equipment, including RRUs, TMAs, feeders, and cabling
Internal works within the existing equipment shelter
2. Telstra Limited (A.C.N 086 174 781) regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above.
3.In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2018 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to: Matthew Tang on behalf of Telstra, 0413 194 303, matthew.tang@ericsson.com by 14 July 2023.
Calling all government agents, corporations, corporation principals, man and women, to make all aware and known that the estate for ASCHENBRENNER registration 06644/1983 with the registrar general on the date of 10th February 1983within the State of Victoria and country of Australia that Ruegen born alive and healthy on the date 26/01/2023, underwriter for the legal person ASCHENBRENNER registration 06644/1983 (Australia) claims the estate and all related proceeds, property, patents, data, intellectual property, real property, intangible and tangible property and done so in good faith within the laws of the land and the almighty god, and places in trust which goes by the trust name of “THE JOHANNELORE PRIVATE TRUST” for the benefit of current & future bloodline heirs and those Ruegen deems. Therefore, Ruegen claims children held in custody as property of the trust, the children persons reference registration numbers 57272/2018 (Australia), 811680/2020 (Australia) and 230183-5-1121-4 (Germany). The estate claim dated from 10/02/2001 thus any Adverse Claimants shall come forth with prima facie evidence of their right and or claim and or interest of the estate in order to settle any outstanding matters before the date of 30 July 2023 by sending their claims to the postal address PO BOX 148, DIMBOOLA VICTORIA [3414]. Bona fide.
12616065-KG26-23
The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 makes it unlawful for an advertiser to show any intention to discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, race, age, marital status, political or religious belief or physical features, disability, lawful sexual activity/sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status or on the basis of being associated with a person with one of the above characteristics, unless covered by an exception under the Act. As Network Classifieds could be legally liable if an unlawful advertisement is printed, Network Classifieds will not accept advertisements that appear to break the law. For more information about discrimination in advertising, contact your legal advisers or the Equal Opportunity Commission.
Seniors
Monbulk travelled to Upwey for their round 9 clash to bring the first half of the season to a close.
While Wandin and Narre Warren have established a three game break over the rest of the field, the remaining seven clubs in Premier Division are separated by just two wins. After receiving a severe defeat last week, and losing three more players to injury, facing the Tigers at Upwey would mean that Monbulk would find themselves either last or just out of the Top Five depending on the outcome.
Conditions were close to ideal for the middle of June with sunny breaks and a crosswind. Upwey began well to lead comfortably at the first change after scoring four goals to one and maintained a 15 point buffer at the long break.
A short shower during the half-time interval left the ground slippery on resumption of the second half. Monbulk handled the conditions better for most of the third quarter with pressure football to get within a goal but two late Tigers goals left the margin unchanged heading into the last term. Monbulk resumed their attack and reaped the rewards late in the last term with three goals with some good running and ball movement. They hit the front for the first time with less than three minutes to play and were still attacking as the siren sounded for a euphoric win over their traditional rivals. Upwey-Tecoma 9.7.61 def by Monbulk 9.10.64
Best: Lochlan Beecroft, Glenn Strachan, Joshua Spencer, Lachlan Sheppard, Thomas Taylor, Ben Grimes
Goals: Harry Fleming 2, Mackay Bateson 1, Glenn Strachan 1, Ziggy Hatherley 1, Lewis Oliver 1, Brodie Emmett 1, Joel Wensley 1, Thomas Taylor 1
Reserves
Coming into this weeks’ match, the UpweyTecoma Reserves were undefeated on top of the ladder with a percentage of around 350.
The nearest that any opponent had gotten to them this year was 28 points. Monbulk were still sitting inside the Top Five, but only just as the points lost from one of their wins due to an accidental administrative issue left them precariously balanced.
The game ended up being an engrossing encounter with Upwey holding on to a slender lead for most of the time. Two late goals by Monbulk brought them to within a goal but the siren sounded just as the Hawks were again attacking and trying in vain to level proceedings. Upwey-Tecoma 6.11.47 def Monbulk 6.5.41
Best: Hamish Emmett, Cameron Griffiths, Ryan Pentreath, Joshua Iacuone, Jayden Mauchline, Beau James
Goals: Michael Langworthy 3, Brandon Shambrooke 1, Jayden Mauchline 1, Michael Davies 1
Under 19s
After winning five of the opening six games of the season, Monbulk went into this match
against Upwey having lost their last three straight. They were again short on players and only had 16 to Upwey’s 22.
The Tigers gained an early ascendancy of 19 points by quarter time but the Hawks fought out the game and it was a fairly even contest from that point until the final siren.
Upwey-Tecoma 7.9.51 def Monbulk 3.8.26
Best: Nick Taylor, Tait Colee, Riley Finlay, Jacob Defina, Coby Passingham, Noah Rutherford
Goals: Charlie Barge 1, Thijs Koelewyn 1, Jai Farmer 1
Womens
Monbulk’s women’s team put up a spirited effort against the second placed Tigers and in the second and final terms combined restricted them to just a single goal and a handful of behinds.With the ball hovering in Upwey’s half of the ground for most of the match it was determined effort by the Hawks defenders to restrict the Tigers for long periods but ultimately the weight of forward entries told on the scoreboard.
Upwey-Tecoma 8.16.64 def Monbulk 0.1.1
Best: Josie Ford, Maddison Dodd, Ayla Short, Hannah Joy, Kathryn Gow, Shaye McLean
NETBALL
A Grade
Monbulk are starting to show some good form heading into the halfway mark of the season. The Hawks controlled the play after the first term and it was again a dominant third quarter that set up this match, scoring 16-4, allowing the team to run out comfortable 19 goal winners eventually.
Upwey-Tecoma 37 def by Monbulk 56
Best: Tiana Mancarella, Jen Dewhurst, Sophie Stubbs
Goals: Peri Reid 52, Jen Dewhurst 4
B Grade
This match was largely decided in the opening quarter when the Tigers made better use of their opportunities and opened up a seven goal lead. After this the game was fairly even but the damage had been done. Monbulk have dropped to eighth but are still within striking distance of theTop 5 as they enter the second half of the season.
Upwey-Tecoma 53 def Monbulk 45
Best: Paige Rondinella, Siobhan Munday, Rihanna Kelly
Goals: Paige Rondinella 39, Dayna Walsham 3, Chloe Schmidtke 3
C Grade
Monbulk and Upwey had a close encounter for most of the day where the defenders of both sides deserve credit in restricting scoring. It was a 10-4 second term by the Tigers which ultimately secured them their win as the Hawks had the better of the scoring for rest of the game but could not recover from that setback
Upwey-Tecoma 32 def Monbulk 29
Best: Laura Del Biondo, Cody Sharp, Jamie Sands
Goals: Jamie Sands 22, Laura Del Biondo 5, Chloe Schmidtke 2
D Grade
This game was a chance to claim some pride as the two sides were both yet to open their accounts for the year. Monbulk was bolstered by the return of Shayne Broekhof, who had missed almost 2 years since having a knee reconstruction, and her experience was an invaluable addition to the team. It was an absorbing game and a great reward for this team that has been reformed this year with a new young squad.
Upwey-Tecoma 17 def by Monbulk 20
Best: Caitlin Utting, Sammi Kelly, Kate Smith
Goals: Sammi Kelly 13, Kate Smith 7
Senior Women
Olinda Women’s team pencilled in Saturday’s match against Pakenham away as a “must win” game, but Pakenham didn’t receive the memo, overrunning the visitors in the last quarter to win by 17 points.
There was a 3 goal wind blowing towards the southern end. After winning the toss, Olinda opted to kick with the breeze in the first quarter.
The team started slowly, struggling to judge the length of Pakenham’s kicks as Pakenham continued to mark uncontested. The spark was lit when young gun Tobi(Killer) Monkhorst toe poked the ball through from the goal square, then goaled again in similar fashion 5 minutes later.
Olinda went into the first break with a 9 point lead.
The game was probably lost in the second quarter when Olinda failed to score against the breeze and Pakenham piled on 4.1. Pakenham continued to lead Olinda to the ball, whether in the air or on the ground, and continually gained first use of the football.
Kicking with the breeze in the third quarter, Olinda played some of it’s best footy for many weeks.
The pressure and tackling ramped up and Olinda’s ball movement was slick. Another Young Blood Ruby (Barb) Gilson chimed in with 2 goals, the first a classy snap from the forward pocket.
Chelsea (Big Kahuna) Wilson had been out for many weeks with an injury, and came back looking ominous at centre half forward. Chelsea looked dangerous all game roaming the half forward line, and kicked a running goal herself in the third.
Olinda didn’t have an answer for Pakenham’s rampaging full forward Chelsea English who finished the game with 6 of Pakenham’s 7 goals, and was eventually the difference between the 2 sides.
Overall it was another frustrating finish against a side Olinda defeated 3 times last season, and leaves Olinda’s finals placing in
a tenuous position. Olinda will be fighting hard against reigning Premier Upwey next Saturday night to balance the ledger.
Juniors
U9s v Gembrook
It was back home for the mighty 9’s as they hosted a talented Gembrook side. The message this week was simple…..first to the footy, pressure the opposition and enjoy the experience.
The young bloods did this and more, creating opportunities to score and defending tirelessly in the slippery conditions. U’9s football can be a wonderful spectacle, this week was one of those, with both teams entertaining the crowd having a blast in doing so.
U11 v Wesburn
It was a classic winters day with gusty winds and the odd shower as Olinda’s U11s headed up the highway for our clash with the dangerous Wesburn.
With gale force winds favouring the bottom end of the oval, it was a master stroke by the captain to kick with the wind in the first quarter. This proved a pivotal move as Olinda booted 3 goals to none in the first term.
The second quarter was a superb defensive effort, stopping Wesburn from scoring with the wind, and some kicks out of defence almost blowing backwards. The second half was similar, with both teams adding a single goal when kicking with the wind.
With 8 players unavailable, it was great to
see the depth of the team on full display, and a solid win against good opposition.
Final score
· Olinda 4.0.24 def Wesburn 1.0.6
U12 Girls v Wesburn
With sideways wind and the slope of Wesburn oval, Olinda had some variables to contend with. Kicking with the wind was the key to this game and Wesburn really capitalised on this the first quarter.
Olinda had a bit to do to make it up and as much as they tried, they were unable to get the win, missing out by a couple of goals. It was a great effort by the team with the extra conditions, and a stellar performance by all with a bit of fun and laughter thrown in.
U13 Boys (Whites)
Tough day out on Sunday in windy and freezing cold conditions.
Olinda were not far off the mark, rushed kicking that would be kicked to the opposition let us down. They had their opportunities but the Brookers showed more depth and willingness.
The boys played hard with their head over the footy, however missing a few key players made it hard. Fletcher kicked the one goal in the last quarter, from a great tackle and we celebrated like we won a grand final.
All in all fought hard all game and did not give up.
U13 Boys (Reds)
A great game of Under 13 football between two very good teams in Mt Evelyn and Olinda. The Rovers got off to an excellent start playing some strong, attacking football to take a 25 point lead into the half time break.
The Olinda lads hadn’t been in this position all year, so it was super pleasing to see the boys respond so well in the third quarter kicking 4 goals to 1. Blake Wood was instrumental across half back and Travis Vernon was rock solid at full back.
Louie Barry was creating great contests up forward and Liam Eisenegger was finishing well in front of goal.
The Olinda comeback continued in the last quarter thanks to work of Ned Monkhorst, however the boys came up short by 8 points in what was a great game of junior footy.
Final Scores
· Mt Evelyn 6.2.38 def Olinda 5.0.30
U14 Girls v Mt Evelyn Whites
Olinda turned up to Mt Evelyn on a sunny winter’s day looking forward to a great challenge playing another development team.
The weather gods had different ideas and promptly dropped all manner of precipitation to test our young charges.
Credit to the mighty Bloods, they didn’t blink, and both sides challenged each other with some great tough footy. The girls are learning every week and are placing opposition teams under enormous pressure.
On Sunday, the proof was in the pudding as we were able to win the last quarter. They had some great link up play, teamwork and skills in moving the ball forward. Olinda didn’t get the win, but it was great also to see new players still coming to the team.
U15 boys v Wesburn
Round 10 saw Olinda head to a very cold and windy Wesburn.
Olinda won the toss and kicking with the wind scored 4.2 toWesburns 1 point. The 2nd quarter saw Wesburn fight back, but a 4 goal to nil 3rd term saw Olinda with an unassailable 3 quarter time lead.
With offensive weapon Aden Bates unwell on the bench for the 4th quarter Olinda was down to 17 players and whileWesburn kicked 3.3 to 1 point, a comfortable win was had by Olinda. The one way wind meant that a combined 13 goals were scored at one end versus 1 goal at the other.
A special mention to James Dixon, who kicked his first goal in footy.
Final scores
· Olinda 9.6.60. d
· Wesburn 5.5.35.
· U17 Boys had a bye
