Mail - Mt Evelyn Star Mail - 24th October 2023

Mount Evelyn

Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

Mail

How suburbs voted in the referendum

Underinsurance prevalent in high risk areas

Yarra Hills hosts annual art show

Real Estate liftout inside

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Clubhouse left in ruins Yering’s Eastern Golf Club went up in flames last week, leaving nothing but rubble of the former club house.

Crews from across the urban fringe and the valley were called in to help put out the blaze, with the wind causing havoc and sending the smoke towards Yarra Glen.

All staff and guests were evacuated and no one was injured.

Photographer Jason East captured the aftermath of the fire just the day after, showing the complete destruction of the flames.

To read more, turn to page 3

Eastern Golf Club was left in ruins after a major fire spread throughout the entire building.

Picture: JASON EAST PHOTOGRAPHY

EV court tax win Electric vehicle (EV) and plug in hybrid car drivers have been given somewhat of a reprieve after the High Court of Australia ruled Victoria’s tax on electric vehicles ‘unconstitutional’.

The decision was delivered last week after the case was brought to the national court by two Victorian EV drivers who claimed the tax was unlawful.

It was ruled that individual states cannot

implement a tax on EV drivers as it is essentially an excise which can only be introduced by the Federal government.

Mount Evelyn EV driver Tony Stevenson said the 4-3 split decision was the right judgement to make but it does come with some challenges now for the State government with less drivers paying the fuel excise.

Prior to the decision, electric and hydrogen vehicle owners were charged 2.8 cents for each kilometre they travelled during the year and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners 2.3 cents.

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It was an ad hoc, piecemeal policy which undermined our collective efforts to reduce emissions from transport,” he said.

“We hope that today’s (18 October) decision is a step in the right direction towards a cleaner, lower emissions future.”

With some states said to be introducing their own EV taxes, it has caused some upheaval in what will happen now and whether the Federal government will step in to enact a countrywide tax.

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Motorists were required to submit photographs of their vehicle odometer to the state government each year and, if they failed to do so, could be charged for driving 13,500km or have their registration suspended or cancelled.

One of the constitutional challengers, Chris Vanderstock, said this was a great outcome for all EV drivers across the country.

“We believe that Victoria’s electric vehicle tax discouraged people from buying EVs, and punished existing EV owners who are trying to do the right thing.

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By Mikayla van Loon, with AAP

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IN BRIEF Multi-agency search for Daniel

The clubhouse erupts with flames.

Picture: LILYDALE CFA

The Eastern Golf Club was devastated by the fire.

Picture: BAYSWATER CFA

Firefighters fought from above to combat the burning building.

Picture: BAYSWATER CFA

‘Heartbreaking’ fire

By Callum Ludwig The Eastern Golf Club in Yering lays in ruins after a fire ripped through the building on Monday 16 October.

The blaze was so significant that CFA crews remained on site overnight and into the following day to monitor and extinguish hotspots.

Incident Controller and Coldstream CFA Captain Sean Bethell arrived with the first appliance on the scene and said in the end they had about 26 different appliances from CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) turn out.

“Two of those were aerial appliances to make access for water streams into the top of the building, and we also had a number of pumpers for pumping water from two different static supplies on the property,” he said.

“It was quite hectic at the start trying to get a water supply due to the building having internal mill clocks we couldn’t access so we had to come from the 72,000-litre storage tanks at the rear of the property and run hose lines to the appropriate appliances to get lines into the building.”

CFA crews from Chirnside Park, Lilydale, Yarra Glen, Bayswater, Nillumbik, Scoresby, Coldstream, Hillcrest, Gruyere, Yellingo, Mooroolbark and Mt Evelyn as well as FRV stations 25, 26, 27 and 87 fought the fire.

Victoria Police blocked the entrance to the club, Ambulance Victoria remained on standby and the relevant power and gas companies also attended.

Mr Bethell said at this stage, the cause of the fire is possibly electrical.

“It looks like it may have started in a storage area for holding their golf buggies and that type of thing,” he said.

“We had it radioed to us while on route to the place that all staff had been evacuated, 12 personnel, I believe it was, so it was really top work done by the management by the golf club to ensure that all their staff and all the public that were there were all properly accounted for.”

With the alert first issued at 1.43pm, it wasn’t until 5.05pm that the incident was deemed under control. A smoke warning had also been issued for the file as thick plumes of smoke were caught by the strong winds and carried in the direction of Yarra Glen.

In a media statement, the Eastern Golf Club declared the course would still reopen to be played the following weekend, with plans for temporary clubhouse facilities and amenities

Aerial shots captured the full impact of the blaze. getting underway immediately.

“As a Club with a history that extends back a 100+ years, the loss of our clubhouse is devastating, but it is the loss of irreplaceable trophies, photographs, artworks and memorabilia that hurts most deeply”, Club Captain Fred Jones said in the statement.

“Whilst this is undoubtedly one of the darkest moments in the rich history of The Eastern Golf Club, we are resilient and I know that our Club will come back better and stronger.”

The Eastern Golf Club also has the Yering Gorge Cottages on site, a popular accommodation choice among golfers and other Yarra Valley holidaymakers, which while undamaged, were temporarily closed for Tuesday 17 October due to power supply issues.

Eastern Golf Club staff member Nikeeta Schroder wasn’t working at the time of the fire but said it was absolutely heartbreaking.

“It is more than a job, with the members and everything, it was like a big family, so it’s more than just a place burning down to us,” she said.

“My main concern was that everyone got out and I was happy to hear that they did.”

Club members raced down to Victoria Road

Picture: JASON EAST PHOTOGRAPHY in their droves to see the scene for themselves.

Eastern Golf Club member Peter Burbidge said he first heard about it when another member shared the news on WhatsApp. “We weren’t sure at first that it was Eastern, but when we saw more videos, the guys in the club were playing and they sent through some videos and we recognised it was our club,” he said.

“A lot of guys have got their clubs and other personal effects in the locker room which are all gone, then there’s the functions that are all organised with Christmas coming up and running the seniors in there in December which will all be cancelled, so it’s going to have a big impact.”

Mr Burbidge said he had faith that the course would probably be opened somehow.

“They’ll probably put up a marquee of some sort I assume, so the course won’t be affected but the general operations will be greatly affected because of all the competitions that they’ve got running at the moment,” he said.

“Some of those are just kicking off, some of the other ones have been finished but all of the memorabilia and honours for them are all gone.”

Police have continued the search for missing man Daniel over the weekend, who disappeared when walking his dog in Warrandyte last week. The 35-year-old Warrandyte man was last seen leaving work on Heidelberg-Warrandyte Road about 1pm on Wednesday 18 October.

It is understood he returned to his home on West End Road, before taking his Jack Russell for a walk along the Yarra River. Daniel’s belongings were located on the riverbank, just off Taroona Reserve, about 6pm. The dog had already returned home and appeared to be wet.

Warrandyte Police Sergeant Stewart Henderson said Daniel was quite well known within the community and he knows the area well.

Police and family have concerns for Daniel’s welfare as his disappearance is out of character. Local police along with Water Police, Air Wing, Search and Rescue and SES searched the river and the surrounding area on the night Daniel went missing, as well as over the weekend on Saturday 21 October.

“We focused our search primarily in the area where his items were found and we focused on the river,“ Sgt Henderson said on Thursday 19 October.

“We’ve had SES on the ground searching on foot. We’ve had police in boats on the river and we’ve also had a drone up in the air being flown over. So we’ve pretty much canvassed the river as much and as best as we can.“ Sgt Henderson said locals who were familiar with the river had also offered support in the search.

“The river is running very rapidly, so much so, we’re reluctant to put any of our people into the water. It is quite dangerous conditions and that is a concern,“ he said.

“At this stage we’re not planning on packing up any time soon, we’re going to continue our search as long as we can.“ Daniel is described as Caucasian, of thin build with brown eyes and short brown hair. Investigators have released an image of Daniel in the hope that someone can provide information on his current whereabouts.

“If people have anything they might know or think might be useful to us, call Crime Stoppers or Triple Zero,“ Sgt Henderson said. Anyone who sights Daniel or has information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Doncaster Police Station on (03) 8841 3999.

Daniel has been missing since Wednesday 18 October in Warrandyte. Picture: VICTORIA POLICE

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High Court rejects EV tax

By Mikayla van Loon, with AAP The Australian High Court has ruled Victoria’s electric vehicle (EV) tax is ‘unconstitutional’ in what has been noted as a landmark decision.

EV drivers Chris Vanderstock and Kathleen Davies took the State to court in September 2021 after the introduction of the 2.3 to 2.8 cent tax per kilometre travelled by Zero and Low-Emission Vehicles (ZLEVs).

On Wednesday 18 October the decision was handed down that under constitutional law, states cannot charge what is in essence an excise on EVs. Mount Evelyn EV owner Tony Stevenson said “it’s a fair judgement” but is not without its challenges now for the Victorian government.

“The government will need to reassess its road taxes to provide safe roads for drivers,” he said.

While Mr Stevenson was never opposed to paying the tax for his use of an EV, he said it wasn’t fairly done.

“It was inequitable that someone who was driving on NSW roads still had to pay per kilometre,” he said.

“It will cause a challenge going forward as the fuel excise will be reduced as more people take up electric vehicles.”

Incentive for Victorian’s to buy an EV had been somewhat quashed by the imposed tax, the cost of EVs as a luxury vehicle and cutting the $3000 subsidy in the May budget.

Ms Davies said she was “thrilled by [the] judgement” and hoped it steered Victoria in the right direction after it “went out alone in taxing electric vehicles, and recently scrapped its electric vehicle subsidy”.

“Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world on electric vehicle uptake,” she said.

“Now is not the time to be taxing electric vehicles - it’s the time to be doing everything we

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Mount Evelyn resident Tony Stevenson said the High Court decision was a fair judgement. 268973 can to encourage people to make the switch to cleaner cars.”

The Electric Vehicle Council’s (EVC) State of EVs report released in July 2023 showed the uptake of EVs in Victoria sits at 8.5 per cent within the vehicle market.

EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari said the High Court’s decision will provide the Federal government an opportunity to introduce a fair levy across the board.

“There is nothing inherently wrong with road user charges but they should never be calibrated to discourage the take up of electric vehicles,” Mr Jafari said.

“The electric vehicle industry warned the Victorian Government this policy was muddle-

headed years ago, and the offer has always been on the table to work with the state on a more sensible approach.

“Any road user charge scheme should be national and we now look forward to working with the Federal government on sensible road funding reform, without singling out drivers who are trying to do the right thing.”

Equity Generation Lawyers senior associate David Hertzberg, who represented Ms Davies and Mr Vanderstock in court, called the ruling “a landmark constitutional decision”. “[The] judgement means that Victoria’s electric vehicle tax is invalid. It also sets a precedent which will likely prevent other States from implementing similar legislation,” he said.

The outcome is expected to affect more than just Victorian drivers as attorneys-general for all states and territories intervened to argue for the right to tax road users, with NSW and WA announcing plans to do so in 2027.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said he would seek legal advice on whether electric vehicle drivers were entitled to a refund.

“You’d have to say it’s clearly a very contentious matter,” he told reporters at the state parliament.

“It was a fair charge. It was a charge that meant that everybody paid their share of the cost to the road network.”

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Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

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What’s behind the vote?

By Tanya Faulkner The votes are in and a decision has been made on the first Australian referendum since 1999.

Despite The Voice referendum returning an overall ‘No’ vote, with 61 per cent of Australians voting No to the altering of the constitution to create a voice to parliament to represent Indigenous communities, several regions had other results at the end of polling day.

Across the Casey electorate, the Nos only just held the majority, with only 58 per cent of locals making up the majority, and a close 42 per cent voting yes.

However, several polls said otherwise, with an overwhelming majority of Knox polls proving a majority in acceptance of The Voice.

From the polling results in the Knox municipality, Boronia and Rowville were the only locations turning a ‘No’ majority.

Boronia had the biggest turnout of voters in the municipality, with the results favouring the no’s 1997 to the yes’s 1846 votes.

In the Yarra Ranges, Tecoma had the greatest count in favour of The Voice, with 1,154 votes for The Voice versus only 639 against.

Most other polls returned similar results, seeing a vast majority of Hills residents actually voting in favour of the change.

Further in the Dandenong Ranges, however, the overall result was vastly different to that of the foothills, with the No majority much more prominent across the polls.

Healesville voters flocked to the polls over referendum weekend, with the No’s holding a strong majority over the Yes vote - 2,854 to 2,256 respectively.

The polls in Menzies Creek, Mount Dandenong, and Warburton were the only polls to show a Yes majority, the rest of Upper Yarra voting against the change.

Across the Ranges, Lilydale provided the greatest polling numbers, with 4,350 yes votes trampled by the 9,750 who voted against, showing almost a 50 per cent divide.

For one local woman, the results are ‘devastating’.

Hills Walking Together founder Shakti McLaren said she feels “completely disregarded as an educated person who understands Australia and First Nations issues”.

“I spent four days after the referendum with some elders in GunaiKurnai country in East Gippsland.

“One of the leaders, Rob, said they ‘didn’t expect a yes, we never get a yes, we always get a no’.

“I’m not sure if every First Nations person feels that way, but they never do expect a yes.

“As a white privileged woman, I expect countrymen to do their research and find out what is true - 60 per cent did not bother to find out what is true,” she said.

AEC staff counting votes from the recent Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.

While Ms McLaren understood that some people would have been very conflicted when casting their vote, she felt the matter was very simple.

“It was simply First Nations people to nonFirst Nations people asking for a sentence to recognise their voice in the constitution,” she said.

Monbulk MP Daniela de Martino said her love and thoughts go out to every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander who sought Constitutional recognition and a voice to parliament.

“Aboriginal friends and colleagues of mine have been deeply distressed and devastated by the result.

“Although the results from the AEC are yet to be finalised, we can see a strong support for the referendum across the electorate of Monbulk.

“As the local member, it is heartening to see that across the hills and foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, collectively we voted ‘Yes’.

“As a state, we’ll keep working towards a

stronger, fairer future for Aboriginal Victorians - led by, shaped by and driven by Aboriginal Victorians,” she said.

Federal Member for Casey Aaron Violi said while there are differences of opinion, the referendum result shouldn’t divide us as a community.

“There’s no doubt many people are struggling at the moment and will be disappointed by the result.

“I will continue to engage with and work constructively with the Indigenous community and organisations, at a local and national level.

“I will continue to do my utmost to lead with courage and do what is right to implement the practical solutions required to improve outcomes and close the gap.

“I am a proud brother and nephew to Indigenous Australians and I, like all Australians, want to see Indigenous disadvantage addressed and reduced with practical solutions developed with local Indigenous communities at their centre,” he said.

Picture: CON CHRONIS/AAP The biggest Yes vote in the state, and also the whole of Australia, was counted at Carlton North Primary School, with the local seat held

by Greens leader Adam Bandt.

Out of the 1860 people who cast their vote there, only 129 - or seven per cent - voted no, with a whopping 93 per cent voting Yes in the area.

Overall, Victoria was the most divided state overall when it came to the final decision, showing only a 10 per cent difference between the no and the yes voters, 55 per cent to 45 per cent respectively.

The greatest split came out of Queensland, with 69 per cent of residents voting against The Voice, and only 39 per cent in favour.

Every other state had at least a 60 per cent majority in favour of the No vote.

The Federal government, who have returned for a sitting week in Canberra following The Voice, will now have to face questions on how it plans to approach Indigenous affairs without the overarching policy of the Voice being implemented.

Rise in lithium-ion battery fires is a safety reminder

By Callum Ludwig With the recent fire at the Eastern Golf Club in Yering revealed to have been caused by lithium-ion batteries charging in the storage area for electric buggies, it’s an important reminder to be cautious with them at all properties.

As recently as 5 October, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) urged consumers to safely use and store lithium-ion batteries in a public report as they had received 231 product safety reports linked to lithium-ion batteries since 2017.

Scott Bennett was on the phone to his renew his insurance policy with his broker for his bed and breakfast property in Healesville when he was asked if he allowed guests to charge electric vehicles at the property.

“He asked me all the normal questions and then asked if I allow guests to charge electric vehicles, I said no, he said good, and I asked why,” Mr Bennett said.

“He told me ‘Well if your house burns down from an electric car charging and you haven’t disclosed on your house insurance that you’re allowing charging at your house, you are no longer insured’ and I had no idea.

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Thick, dark smoke billows from the Eastern Golf Club fire, common for lithium-ion battery fires.

Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG “My advice is if you’ve got an EV vehicle and you’re charging it at home, check your insurance policy.”

The ACCC has also recorded 20 recalls of

lithium-ion battery products from suppliers due to fire risk from overheating or shortcircuiting since 2017, including LG Energy Solution Australia’s recall of almost 17,000 home solar batteries in Australia that had the potential to overheat and catch fire.

ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said they were concerned by increasing reports of lithium-ion battery fires resulting in property damage and serious injuries, including burns, chemical exposure and smoke inhalation.

“Our report makes recommendations to better protect consumers, and includes practical advice to reduce the risks associated with these batteries,” Ms Lowe said.

“Consumers should avoid mixing and matching chargers, unplug products when fully charged and charge batteries in a cool, dry place and away from combustible materials like beds, lounges or carpet.”

One Australian, a 54-year old man in NSW, is believed to have died due to a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery in an incident in February 2023.

RACV’s head of home and business insurance Kirsty Hayes said lithium-ion batteries had the potential to overheat due to their high energy density, which could cause a cell

inside the battery to short-circuit.

“Lithium fires require different extinguishing methods to a traditional fire. You should not attempt to extinguish a lithiumion fire yourself, because the vented battery gases, vapours and smoke are highly toxic to inhale,” she said.

“If your device or charger feels extremely hot to touch, or if you notice odours, leaking, case discolouration, blistering, bulging or swelling, or abnormal popping, hissing or crackling sounds emanating from a battery or battery-operated device, the CFA advises immediately turning the power off, unplugging the device from the power outlet and moving it outside away from anything that can catch fire, if it’s safe to do so.

“Then, evacuate the house and call 000 for a fire brigade. Even if there is no fire, the toxic fumes from a damaged lithium battery can be dangerous to inhale, and an overheated lithium-ion battery may reignite.”

Lithium-ion batteries can be found in a number common household items, including most mobile phones, laptops, tablets, escooters, e-bikes and power tools as well as solar appliances and some electric vehicle models. mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Business surety rank falls The Yarra Ranges has dropped in its ranking of business surety according to the latest data from CreditorWatch.

Over the three month period from June to September, the municipality fell six spots in the business risk index (BRI) figures released on Wednesday 18 October.

Despite dropping from third to ninth, the Yarra Ranges still rounded out the top 10 best performing regions with over 5000 registered businesses in the country, with Knox taking out tenth place.

It is however, a far cry from this time last year with the data placing the region in top position of having the lowest risk of insolvency.

The BRI for the Yarra Ranges has decreased from 73.8 in June to 68.1 for September, with the default rate now sitting at 4.26 per cent.

Analysts are continuing to see an upward trend in payment defaults, with a year-on-year increase of 57 per cent and is a key indicator of business failure.

CreditorWatch CEO Patrick Coghlan said easing inflation is a positive sign for business activity going into 2024 but conditions remain challenging.

“Rents, energy prices and the cost of services are keeping the heat in inflation but it’s encouraging to see some of the other drivers normalising,” he said.

“However, our forecast is still for the business failure rate to increase over the next 12 months.”

The data has also shown an ebb in business-to-business invoicing with an average 30 per cent reduction in the value of invoices, noted as being well below the pre-Covid levels.

Although a slight improvement was made between August to September, CreditorWatch said a reversal in this downward trend is a long way off and is influenced by a low consumer trend, a concerning combination in a high inflation environment.

Yarra Ranges businesses have fallen in the business risk index rate for the three months from June to September. 360828 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS CreditorWatch Chief Economist Anneke Thompson said business conditions, particularly among small businesses which are more

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NEWS

Insurance costs skyrocket

By Tyler Wright After two of Rose Ryan-Jones’ friends lost their homes due to fire in the space of 12 months, she decided to check her insurance policy.

Approaching the 2023/2024 bushfire season, what the Healesville local came across was overwhelming; with quotes from her insurance company and the Insurance Council of Australia estimating it would cost around $800 a month to cover home and contents.

“The quote was 977,000 to rebuild my house and my insurers’ quote through their calculator wasn’t too dissimilar, it was 947,000,” Ms RyanJones said.

“It just blows my mind, it’s just so much money.

“It just changes everything... it’s actually really overwhelming to even contemplate being able to pay the insurance; you’ve got insurance [and] you’ve got interest rates through the roof.”

Ms Ryan-Jones and her husband are now paying over $500 a month for home and contents insurance for their 1970s standard build, and are underinsured - simply because they can not afford to pay the quoted amount.

“We had to do it because I know two people that have lost everything,” Ms Ryan-Jones said.

“I know people that have lost their homes and I’m watching what they’re now going through. Your house burns down, you lose all these things and then the reality is your insurer puts you into an Airbnb or a hotel and you wake up the next morning you think ‘I don’t have deodarant, underpants, socks, any other shoes. I have whatever’s on me at that moment.’”

According to Professor Michael Sherris from the School of Risk and Actuarial Studies at University of New South Wales Business - bushfires are becoming “more prevalent”.

But at the same time, high insurance costs are posing a major challenge for Australians, with insurance giants QBE and Suncorp both forecasting home insurances to increase by 10 per cent to cover insurance claims as a result of the rising number of natural disasters.

“With increased temperatures, this is something that is going to be more significant over coming years. We know that it is going to be hotter, drier, and bushfires will unfortunately become more common,” Professor Sherris said.

“While most insurance companies should pay out, there are some issues and challenges that result in policyholders being underinsured or not insured at all. “The current cost-of-living crisis is not helping.”

According to UNSW, all home insurance

Rose Ryan-Jones (pictured), is underinsured for her home and contents due to exorbitant costs.

367984 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS policies cover bushfire, and premiums reflect the bushfire risk for the property usually based on BAL (bushfire attack level).

Fire damage is normally included in home insurance, but people are encouraged to know what they are covered for and if their home insurance is up-to-date and reflects the cost of a new rebuild.

“As bushfires are becoming more prevalent, the BAL for properties is becoming higher, which results in higher home insurance costs.

This is a factor that insurance companies use to assess home insurance,” Prof Sherris said.

The suburbs of Mount Evelyn and Montrose have some of the highest risk according to the Climate Council’s Climate Risk Map of Australia, with 99.95 per cent and 96.8 per cent of properties respectively at risk.

Mooroolbark, Kilsyth and Croydon still ranked in the high risk category but with percentages in the 30s. Lilydale wasn’t far behind with a lower risk of 29.34 per cent of properties.

In the Dandenong Ranges, every property in the towns of Selby, Sherbrooke, Emer-

ald, Avonsleigh, Ferny Creek, Upwey, Olinda, Mount Dandenong and The Patch is classified as at a high risk of experiencing climate influenced hazards, according to the Climate Council’s Climate Risk Map of Australia.

Cockatoo was close behind with 99.89 per cent of properties at high risk in the town, a number on par with Kallista, and Monbulk following at 98.87 per cent. Over 90 per cent of homes in Gembrook and Silvan are also at high risk.

In Healesville, over 67 per cent of properties are at high risk, while 100 per cent of properties in the neighbouring towns of Warburton and Don Valley are at high risk.

Insurance Council of Australia acting CEO Kylie Macfarlane said the ICA was urging all property owners, especially those in high-risk areas, to ensure they have adequate insurance to cover the cost of any potential disaster.

“While not all insurers enact coverage embargoes during bushfires or when an area is at risk, property owners must not gamble on their insurance protection,” she said.

“We want communities to be better pre-

pared, particularly those that remain vulnerable and are still recovering from the damage and destruction of past catastrophic events.”

Locals are advised to use the following steps as a guide to bushfire preparation: Inspect your property and take practical steps to reduce risk such as cleaning your gutters, keeping lawns and gardens maintained and cleaning up green waste items around the property. Use a building and contents insurance calculator to ensure your insurance cover adequately covers estimated costs to repair, rebuild or replace home and contents, vehicles and any outbuildings on your property in event of a disaster. Prepare a room-by-room inventory of the contents of your home. This list helps determine if your assets are adequately protected and can save time when making a claim.

Review all building, contents, and landlord insurance policies. Make sure you understand what cover you have, as well as any exclusions or limits that may be a part of your insurance policy. It is important to be aware of these exclusions and to query your insurer about any part of a policy you do not understand.

Ensure you are covered now before bushfire threats are heightened, as some insurers may place a temporary embargo on the purchase of new policies if bushfires are imminent.

Further information on what to do before, during, and after a bushfire event can be found on the Insurance Council of Australia’s website.

“Now is not the time to be complacent when it comes to bushfire preparedness, with El Niño already showing signs of a hot and dry summer,” Ms Macfarlane said.

For now, Ms Ryan-Jones has her own plans in place to flee in case of an emergency in the hotter months.

“Houses were lost very close to where we are during Black Saturday, so we’re currently removing items and fireproofing where we can,” she said.

“We wouldn’t stay and try to defend where we are - it would be too dangerous, before it starts to get really hot, we’re removing things like photographs... going through the process of getting actual old photographs digitised and getting everything onto USBs and having those in other locations, as well as in the safe that’s fireproof.

“We’ll just leave and having go bags at the door ready to go so that we would at least have some clothes.”

Further information on what to do before, during, and after a bushfire event can be found on the Insurance Council of Australia’s website.

FFMVic bolstered ahead of drier, warmer fire season

By Callum Ludwig Fire season draws nearer with each passing day, but for Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) the preparation for the next fire season starts as soon as the last one ends.

It comes as the Victorian Government announced $21.7 million to create 100 ongoing and 54 fixed-term Forest Fire Operations Officer positions on 13 October, on top of the 550 seasonal firefighters appointed for the upcoming season.

Director of Forest and Fire Operations at DEECA, which oversees FFMVic, Tamara Beckett said they have been working all year round to undertake bushfire preparation work.

“We are really well prepared, along with our partners, for a potential earlier start to the season though the last couple of weeks of rainfall might have given us a bit of breathing room,” she said.

“We’ve still got an El Niño forecast, meaning that we’re anticipating a dry and warmer spring and summer, particularly in comparison to previous years, which everybody would be aware have been wetter and cooler than average and certainly not really severe summers.”

The recent recruitment drive has built a force of 1800 FFMVic personnel including more than 62,800 people in fire and emergency roles in Victoria this year.

Ms Beckett said it has bolstered their 8 MAIL

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Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

Forest Fire Management Victoria has an 1800-strong force ahead of the fire season.

Picture: ON FILE numbers significantly.

“FFMVic has over 300 firefighters across the Greater Melbourne area, including in the dedicated crews in the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges at Powelltown, Gembrook, Olinda and Woori Yallock,” she said.

“The government’s recent investment has enabled us to put on a hundred new full-time

firefighters and we’ve got our usual seasonal staff who’ve in the majority just started this week as well.”

Over the three months from 1 July to 30 September of this year, FFMVic firefighters responded to 142 fires, with the 10-year average for the same period at 148.

In recent times, residents may have no-

ticed planned burns at Toolangi and Gembrook, patriot of fuel reduction efforts while weather conditions were suitable.

Ms Beckett said in the last 12 months, they have conducted six planned burns in the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges.

“It’s really critical to enable us to have fuel-reduced areas which help us to manage fires better and have strategic areas where we can respond,” she said.

“We don’t just undertake fuel management through burning, we also have a whole range of mechanical works like mowing, mulching and removing hazardous trees to make sure we’ve got safe access in key areas for our firefighters and maintaining strategic fuel breaks.”

For more information on how you can prepare yourself, visit www.emergency.vic. gov.au/prepare.

Ms Beckett said it’s absolutely critical that private landholders and property owners can do their part in preparing their property.

“Making sure that they’re considering what their bushfire plan is and how to get information on how to protect their property, how to prepare it, making sure they’ve got the plan in place,” she said.

“Also staying up to date on emergency information and warnings, know what the channels are to look for those and listen for those, and consider things like fire danger ratings and the forecast are all really key things for community members to do.” mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

TRIP drives safety program

By Callum Ludwig A program with the potential to save young lives is getting back up and running in the Yarra Ranges with a sombre session at the start of December ahead of the Christmas holidays.

Back by community request after Covid interruptions, local emergency services are urging young drivers and their families to attend the Yarra Valley TRIP (Teenage Road Information Program).

Former Hillcrest CFA Captain and the Chairperson of Yarra Valley TRIP Fiona Burns said the program started back in 2011.

“It was driven by the fact that we had had several serious fatalities and serious injuries on the roads which involved our young people and most of those crashes were actually avoidable,” she said.

“There were things such as speed, not wearing a seatbelt, distracted driving and alcohol use that contributed to those crashes occurring and essentially we wanted to put together a program that made young people aware of the consequences of their actions.”

The event has historically been held every two years, with representatives from local CFA, SES, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police involved.

Ms Burns said the session is also about empowering young people to ‘Stand Up’, the theme of this year’s event.

“What we’ve seen is the conversation that young people have had with each other or with their parents that’s resulted in them being more mindful about their driving behaviour and their willingness to hold their friends to account for their driving behaviour,” she said.

“We talk extensively about what we call the ripple effect; you might have the crash and be involved, but then there are the first responders who attend your crash, then there’s your immediate family, your friends from school, friends you play cricket, football or netball

Representatives of Ambulance Victoria, Heritage Funerals, SES, Police and CFA at the 2018 TRIP session. with, the hospital staff, the doctors, the rehab, the legal system in some cases. One crash impacts 200 or 300 people,” “I can’t sit here and say we’ve not had a fatality since it, because we have, but I certainly think we’ve seen a reduction, particularly in our young people, being involved in serious fatalities.”

Attendees are warned that the session will be hard-hitting, at times graphic and heartbreaking as well as guest speakers including a person who went to prison for a serious crash

and local first responders who’ve been at the scenes of fatal crashes.

Ms Burns said even if they only make an impact on one person’s driving behaviour and that changes the outcome of a crash, it’s a success.

“If we can get the message across to young people about the consequences but also empower them with tools to help them talk to their friends, that’s where the success of the program comes from,” she said.

“It becomes generational because then they talk to it to their younger sister or brother, then

Picture: ON FILE

they talk to their kids when they become parents about their driving behaviour and it creates a multi-generation change because we accept it’s not going to happen overnight.”

The session will be held at Heritage Funeral Homes in Woori Yallock on Wednesday 6 December. Attendees are asked to arrive at 6.30pm for a 7pm start, finishing at 8.30pm with supper served after.

The event is supported by the Wandin/Seville and Woori Yallock and District branches of the Bendigo Bank.

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Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

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Power in the pampering

By Mikayla van Loon A group of students from Cire Community School’s Lilydale campus have been making a big impact in women’s lives through the power of beauty.

As part of their VCE VM subject personal development the students have been volunteering at various locations across the Yarra Ranges providing manicures for women experiencing challenges in life.

Teacher Megan Small said it’s something she had done with students for roughly 10 years now but had always had students visit aged care homes and dementia patients.

“The aged care facilities, the kids loved it but they weren’t getting a response, like a to and fro response but they were getting the responses of making people happy,” she said.

“So we delved a bit further and we looked into women’s health and we looked into places like Benwerren, which is a retreat in Yarra Junction.”

Alongside Benwerren, the students have visited the Maroondah Addictions Recovery Program (MARP) in Healesville, a residential rehabilitation facility, where they have pampered the women while having open and honest conversations.

“They go in there, they do the lady’s nails, they talk to the ladies about their lives and about what made them get to this point,” Megan said.

“The students show these people their own resilience because a lot of them have mental health issues themselves and they have to take breaks or they support each other or encourage each other.

“But it’s just an opportunity for students with their own problems to step out of their own head and actually see a different perspective from somebody else that’s also going through a hard time.”

The messages of thanks in return have been heart warming and powerful.

A mother of four boys, two of which have additional needs, wrote a letter in appreciation to the students who pampered her at Benwerren.

“I often don’t get time to myself. I burnt out last year and it was during that time I found Benwerren,” she said.

“We could see that you young women were out of your comfort zone during the session, yet you still chose to come and serve us...You went out of your way to make us feel at ease and left us feeling valued and important.

“I can tell from the conversations I had with

Sitting across from women they have never met to do their nails has been a heart warming experience for all.

Cire Community School’s senior students from Lilydale have been using the power of beauty to have an impact on other women’s lives.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

The students have really enjoyed getting to do something impactful in their local community.

other women we all gained something from the experience. I know for myself, it will stay with me for years to come.”

In the five sessions the students have done across the two locations, Megan said she has seen her group develop an understanding, compassion and empathy from these women.

The intimacy of doing someone’s nails and giving them a hand massage Megan said is a “beautiful experience” that has a twofold impact for both the person receiving and the one giving.

“When you’re actually giving somebody that experience, it’s beautiful for yourself, it’s not just about giving, you’re receiving as well.

“Beauty is quite a selfish area if you take a look at it broadly but when you’re actually turning it into something like a volunteering

“One of my other classes, they make meals for them, and we deliver them once a month.

It’s been a beautiful commitment from several classes actually just thinking about somebody other than themselves and working really well within the community.”

For the first time in a few weeks students will also have the opportunity to serve meals at the shelter where they can engage with people, while also expanding their own skills.

“If it changes or enhances anything for them, it’s a bonus, let alone if they actually do something further with those skills or with those opportunities or experiences later in their life as well.

Megan said her students should feel “proud of themselves that they’ve been involved in something that’s so, so important”.

experience, that can be a really beautiful giving and intimate experience to share with a stranger and just to have a connection that you may never connect with again, but is meaningful and stays with you.”

Adding to their volunteering experience, Cire students have also made care packs for 35 homeless men to be handed out at the Winter Shelter at the Lutheran Church in Croydon Hills.

“The kids made survival kits for them and they had razors and ear buds and shaving cream and soap and deodorant and beanies,” Megan said.

“We had the other campus junior class’s parents knit beanies and scarves for them in winter and we got letters from them and photos from them.

College is showcasing individuality through artworks

By Mikayla van Loon Yarra Hills Secondary College in Mount Evelyn hosted its annual community art show on Friday and Saturday 20-21 October, displaying the talent of students and year’s worth of work.

Bringing together techniques of pottery, photography, painting, graphic design and sculpture, art show coordinator David Lloyd said it was a show of individuality and personality.

“Pulling all the kids together in all different year groups and trying to show the individuality the kids have because the whole idea of us is not to teach them one thing but to let them be themselves,” he said.

“So we’re trying to be as inclusive as we can and to point them in all different directions.”

Not only does the annual art show display the work of high school students but that of students from both Birmingham and Mt Evelyn primary schools.

“Our school sends staff to those schools to do an art extension program,” campus principal Leighton O’Donnell said.

“We are a STEAM school and we work with our primary schools about what their curriculum looks like and how we can match it into a Year 7, all the way to Year 12, program.”

Mr Lloyd said one of the best displays of everyone working together to create something unique was a mural, pieced together by 10 MAIL

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Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

The mural was a collaborative project from students in Year 8 to Year 12 showcasing individuality.

Pictures: MIKAYLA VAN LOON individual artworks.

“The mural is really good because it speaks a little bit about all the variety in the room and about how many kids are involved because it was Year 8s to 12s and few teachers, it got everybody involved,” he said.

“What we do best is allow kids to be themselves and to explore their own creativity. We deliver a curriculum, but we also, alongside

curriculum, we actually teach kids how to be kids and how to do things.”

Awards were presented on the opening night to students for the best artworks, as well as for encouragement and effort.

The winning artworks will also be put on display for the broader Mount Evelyn community to see at the street party on 29 October.

Yarra Hills Secondary College encourages students to take the subject or topic to their own place.

“We take some of the art pieces that actually win and we’re putting them up as part of the community street party,” Mr O’Donnell said.

“So we’ll have our other STEAM things as well as our artwork there. We’ll open our flight simulator and more robotics and then put the art side to it so we can really showcase what we really stand for.” mailcommunity.com.au

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Praise for building women in trades

Nominate an excellent person or group for this year’s Civic Awards.

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By Mikayla Van Loon

In times of crisis, you can give

Nominate community achievers

EWIT has given women and students the chance to explore different trades. are out there for our students.

“Which is fantastic because there’s that change in perception towards trades actually being a viable career pathway.”

Ms Atherton said the program seemed to have been especially useful for disengaged young people with lots of examples where students have had an incredible transformation in attention, interest and willingness to learn hands-on skills.

“That’s the really exciting thing about expanding the programs into the school environment because so many of these young people that don’t fit into the traditional curriculum pathway of doing well in your academic studies, go to university or do well in your sport go off and have a sporting based career.

“Now there’s a pathway to do well with the hands-on trade style activities and go off and

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become a tradesperson.”

Seeing the success of the schools program in Victoria, Ms Atherton said she was working on growing it to each state across the country to fit within each individual education system.

Honing her skills in psychology, Ms Atherton said wellbeing was also a focus, as well as creating resources for businesses to help employ and retain women in trades.

“I really want to start scaling up the work we’re doing with organisations around their organisational well being to ensure we can retain these women that are coming in and creating environments with higher psychological safety and creating environments where all can thrive.”

The Victorian arm of the Telstra Best of Business Awards for 2024 will be held on Friday 3 November, with the winning state finalist going on to the national finals in Sydney.

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Community members are encouraged to call for the recognition of those who tirelessly help others, with nominations opening for the annual civic awards.

The awards recognise people and groups who serve their communities in volunteering, environmental work, advocacy and helpfulness.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child said serving the community took many forms, all of which were important.

“We know that there are countless volunteers, community groups and community advocates who work every day to make this one of the best places in the world to live,” Cr Child said.

“To put it quite simply, without the thousands of volunteer hours every year – planting trees and improving the local environment; taking calls, donating items and helping people in need of a hand; providing events and education and information; advocating for positive change – we would all be much worse off as a community.

“These awards are a chance to give some of these wonderful, passionate people some well-deserved recognition – a reminder that we see their work and appreciate it deeply.

“I think most of us could think of someone who, in the last 12 months, has done something incredible in their community, without thought of thanks.

I encourage all of our community members to nominate someone they think is exceptional.

“All it takes is 10 minutes to fill out a form, and you’ll get to make someone’s whole year.”

Awards are handed out for environmental volunteering, including a young environmental achiever award, community leadership and an award for citizen of the year.

Nominations close at 11.59pm on Sunday 12 November.

Empowered Women in Trades chief executive officer and founder Hacia Atherton has been growing the program across the country.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

12593943-MS11-23

From the humble beginnings of a pilot program in the Yarra Ranges to a national company recognising the impact Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT) is having, the program has gone leaps and bounds in just 18 months.

EWIT was recently named as one of the 35 Victorian finalists in the Telstra Best of Business Awards for 2024, something chief executive officer and founder Hacia Atherton said was “game changing”. “[It’s] amazing for the landscape, how society is starting to shift their mindsets around women belonging in trades,” she said.

“For Telstra to see the work we’re doing as being so meaningful to become a finalist, it’s great to have such an important Australian company with incredible judges behind it really recognise that this is a really meaningful problem that Australia is experiencing.”

Nominated in the Accelerating Women category, Ms Atherton said she hopes, whether EWIT wins or not, it elevates the uptake of women in trades.

“I really hope that having this award also changes the mindset of women in Australia,” she said. “[I hope they realise] ‘this is a career that I could be considering or I should explore or I need to get out there and find out more information’ because that’s something we see, a lot of women are like, ‘Oh, I don’t belong in that industry. I’m not going to go and explore that industry’.”

Having just completed a Masters in positive psychology, Ms Atherton said EWIT wasn’t just about giving women practical skills but about creating a better, more welcoming work environment.

“The deeper excitement is the landscape out there and the mindset out there is really starting to shift.

“Once you see mindset shift, then everything else really starts to happen at a much faster pace.

“It’s a lot harder to change hearts and minds than it is to upskill a woman to teach her how to be an electrician or a plumber.”

Ms Atherton has seen that not only locally now but across the country with EWIT now in NSW, South Australia and, soon, Queensland.

More importantly, EWIT has expanded to working in and with Victorian schools to introduce female and non-binary students to trades at an earlier age.

“We’re not just educating the students, we’re educating the career counsellors,” she said.

“Almost 100 per cent of the career counsellors we’ve gone to and who have been involved in our programs were like ‘we have no idea about fitters and turners or sheet metal workers’ and all these different opportunities that

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Brian, Al and Dave find a spot in the shade for a bite to eat.

It was all smiles from the Lilydale members.

Lilydale members Bill and Ann bask in the sunshine.

A picnic for Probus month

By Mikayla Van Loon To celebrate Probus Month in the Yarra Ranges, the Lilydale Probus Club hosted a picnic in the park for its fellow clubs, with a visit from a local pipe band.

On Thursday 19 October, members from Olinda, Lilydale and Croydon Probus clubs gathered at Lillydale Lake to first do a lap of the walking track, before settling in a shaded spot for some lunch, followed by a special performance from the Ringwood Highland Pipe Band.

Organised by Lilydale president Rhonda Watson, she said the day was designed to be “a social day for everybody”.

“It was such a happy occasion for the members from Lilydale, Croydon and Olinda Probus clubs,” she said.

“The weather was beautiful and the musical performance by the pipers and drummers from the Ringwood Highland Pipe Band was an added bonus. Their attendance was much

appreciated and enjoyed by everyone.”

It’s one of the first times clubs from across the region have come together but it’s something the collective groups want to do more of, with another event for Probus Month being held by the Olinda group on Saturday 28 October, where the Singularity Choir will sing.

For Croydon Probus Club members Carol, Karin and Audrey, getting to enjoy the sunshine and company was enough of a hook to attend.

“That’s what Probus is all about. It’s about meeting new people,” Karin said.

“It’s about friendship and fellowship and fun,” Carol said.

But the most exciting part of the day was the visit from the pipe band, something everyone eager to see and listen to.

“I could listen to them all day,” Karin said.

Having received a small grant from Yarra Ranges Council of $250, Rhonda presented the cheque to pipe band president Mike Taylor as thanks for their time and performance.

Bea, Rhonda, Sue and David enjoyed their picnic lunch and conversation.

Pictures: MIKAYLA VAN LOON

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The sound of the bagpipes brought much joy to the Probus members.

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Back to school!

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School students across Victoria made their return to school following summer holidays, while 2021’s preps got their first taste of primary school life. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy conducted a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony for Badger Creek Primary School students and staff.

See page 7 for more back to school excitment.

Back to school!

Croydon Probus Club members Carol, Karin and Audrey joined the picnic because ‘that’s what Probus is about’.

School students across Victoria made their return to school following summer holidays, while 2021’s preps got their first taste of primary school life. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy

By Jed Lanyon

$8400 to help make the lives of children better.

The four recipients of the funds included: Backpacks 4 Vic Kids, A Better Life For Foster Kids, HeartKids and Chum Creek’s Good Life Farm. The organisations shared how the funds had already been put to good use.

Backpacks 4 Vic Kids CEO and founder Sally Beard told Star Mail the donation came as a “delightful surprise”.

“We’re very, very grateful on behalf of the children, whose lives that it will impact,” she said. “We have absolutely put that money to good use.”

Ms Beard shared that the $8400 donation from Branded is aiding 112 children in need with care packs filled with toiletries, spare changes of clothes, a toy and more.

Continued page 2 12477022-SN06-21

It’s February, but Santa Claus’ gifts keep on coming for several charity organisations who benefited from a partnership between Saint Nick and Seville’s Branded Burger Bar. The burger bar came to the rescue when they partnered with Santa, who had seen his role replaced at Chirnside Park Shopping

Centre in the lead up to Christmas. Many locals far and wide were able to keep up their Christmas tradition in getting a family photo with ‘The Real Santa’ who they had grown to love.

The unlikely tandem tallied upwards of $30,000 from their family Christmas photos and then selected four charities to each receive

Ringwood Pipe Band getting into position.

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A worthy brand

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Lilydale Probus President Rhonda Watson thanked the pipe band for performing. mailcommunity.com.au

Animal Aid will showcase their state-of-the-art facility which has 54 kennels for unwanted and abandoned animals on Sunday 29 October.

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Kick off fun

By Dongyun Kwon Animal Aid’s new space will finally unveil its face to locals on Sunday 29 October.

The state-of-the-art facility has 54 kennels for animals without a loving home including heating and cooling systems.

“It is easy to clean and we will make sure the dogs are happy and healthy in this place,” Communications and Engagement Manager Elle Ammann said.

The building was successfully constructed thanks to donations from a number of donors.

Animal Aid is inviting locals under the name of Kennels Kick Off to show their newly built shelter along with fun activities and food that will give special memories to visitors.

Furry family members are also invited to the event.

“Dogs are invited too! We believe it’s a day of celebration for them as much as it is for us,” CEO Mark Menze emphasised.

Animal Aid has been in operation for 75 years to provide a haven for four-legged friends.

“This event marks a momentous step in our journey but it is also a joyous celebration of the remarkable progress we’ve achieved as a community,” Mr Menze said.

“Our new shelter kennels represent our unwavering commitment to providing a safe haven for animals in need and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished together.”

Animal Aid was first established in Croydon in 1948 after the end of the war and it moved to Kilsyth in 1950.

After 50 years of services in Kilsyth, it decided to relocate to Coldstream in 2000, due to the ever-growing encroachment of residential development which hindered them from providing services in the location.

Kennels Kick Off is not just to showcase a new shelter but it is also a great chance for locals to get to know about Animal Aid’s services.

“We want to show our beautiful new space to everyone but also invite the community to come and see the rest of the area,” Ms Ammann said.

“Each one of our departments is going to have a stall at the front so that they can showcase what they do.”

The event will also be a great chance for dogs to find their new forever family.

“We have about 40 dogs waiting to get their home, they have been waiting over 100 days, 200 days, even 300 days,” Ms Ammann said.

“It’s a situation we haven’t been in and it’s really hard for us to see the dogs waiting for so long.”Animal Aid is located at 35 Killara Road in Coldstream.

The event is free without requiring bookings but some activities will charge $2 coin donations.

Visitors will enjoy a delightful array of carnival food trucks, free family fun festivities, one day only adoption specials, a spectacular dog show, Teddy Bear Animal Hospital with a real vet and tour all of Animal Aid departments to see behind the scenes.

For more information, contact Elle Ammann at ammann@animalaid.org.au or 0423 970 375. mailcommunity.com.au

Aurora is a seven-month-old Whippet and waiting for a new family.

Ellie is a two-year-old Bull Arab and will be part of ‘Kindest Eyes’ dog show on event.

Finn (middle) with Ellie (left) and Aurora (right)

Finn Walley experienced Teddy Bear Animal Hospital with his Teddy Bear Mango checking his temperature and ears and he loved it.

CHIRNSIDE PARK Meadowgate Milk Bar 3 Meadowgate Drive CHIRNSIDE PARK Coles Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway CHIRNSIDE PARK Woolworths Supermarket 239-241 Maroondah Highway CHIRNSIDE PARK 7 - Eleven 242 Maroondah Highway CROYDON NORTH Croydon Hills Milk Bar 158 Nangathan Way CROYDON NORTH Eastfield Milk Bar 11 The Mall KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Churinga SC, Russo Place KILSYTH Kilsyth News & Lotto 520 - 528 Mt Dandenong Road KILSYTH Kilsyth Laundrette87 Colchester Road KILSYTH Woolworths Supermarket Canterbury Road Kilsyth KILSYTH TSG Tobacco Churinga Shopping Centre Mt Dandenong Road LILYDALE Lilydale Marketplace SC 33-45 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE Lilydale Village SC 51-59 Anderson Street LILYDALE Coles Supermarket Lilydale Village Castella Street & Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Lilydale Community Centre 7 Hardy Street LILYDALE Eastern Laundries. 2/4 Williams Street East LILYDALE Lilydale Lakeside Conference and Events Centre 1 Jarlo Drive LILYDALE United Petrol Service Station 473 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Caltex Lilydale 346 Main Street LILYDALE Caltex Woolworths 31 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE BP Service Station 87 Warburton Highway LILYDALE Shell Service Station 469 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE 7 - Eleven Lilydale Cnr Maroondah Highway & Cave Hill Road LILYDALE Coles Express 469 Maroondah Highway LILYDALE Hutch & Co Cafe 251 Main Street LILYDALE Round Bird Can’t Fly 170 Main Street LILYDALE The Lilydale General 110 Beresford Road LILYDALE Yarra Valley Smokery 96 Main Street LILYDALE Bee Seen Cafe 178 Main Street LILYDALE Blue Turtle Cafe 222 Main Street LILYDALE Gracious Grace Castella Street LILYDALE Melba Coffee House 33-45 Hutchinson Street LILYDALE Lilydale Munchies 7/75 Cave Hill Road LILYDALE The Mustard Tree Cafe 3/28 John Street LILYDALE Freda’s Cafe 2 Clarke Street LILYDALE Ray White Real Estate 164 Main Street LILYDALE Stockdale & Leggo Real Estate 281 Main Street LILYDALE Professionals Real Estate 111-113 Main Street LILYDALE Grubs Up 1 Industrial Park Drive LILYDALE Olinda Creek Hotel Maroondah Hwy LILYDALE Crown Hotel Maroondah Hwy LILYDALE Yarra Ranges Council 61 - 65 Anderson Street MONTROSE Montrose Authorised Newsagency 912 Mt Dandenong Road MONTROSE Bell Real Estate 896 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road MONTROSE IGA Supermarket 916 Mt Dandenong Road MOUNT EVELYN Fast Fuel 1 Hereford Road MOUNT EVELYN IGA Supermarket 38- 40 York Road MOUNT EVELYN Post Office 12 Station Street MOUNT EVELYN Authorised Newsagency 1A Wray Crescent MOUNT EVELYN Red Robin Milk Bar 35 Hereford Road MOUNT EVELYN Library 50 Wray Cresent MOUNT EVELYN Milkbar 28 Birmingham Road MOUNT EVELYN York on Lilydale 138 York Road MOOROOLBARK Coles Supermarket 15 Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK Corner Milk Bar 38 Bellara Dive MOOROOLBARK Fang & Yaoxin Mini Mart 108 Hayrick Lane MOOROOLBARK BP Mooroolbark 103 Cardigan Road MOOROOLBARK Coles Express 2 Cambridge Road MOOROOLBARK Mooroolbark Coin Laundrette28 Manchester Road MOOROOLBARK Professionals Real Estate Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK L J Hooker Brice Avenue MOOROOLBARK Fletchers Real Estate 1/14 Manchester Road MOOROOLBARK 7-Eleven Manchester Road

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NEWS

The new building.

Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

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NEWS

Around the world for birds

By Gabriella Vukman Upon first encountering Chris Doughty, his northern English twang and occasional scoffing chuckles paint a relaxed, jovial and eccentric character.

It doesn’t take long to realise that he has a blazing enthusiasm for all things birds, a passion which has taken him on tremendous birding trips around the world, to writing his own book.

Born in the ‘50s and growing up in the industrial county of Lancashire, Chris described a class system, wherein hobbies such as bird watching were not blue-collar activities.

“My father didn’t like it. He would say, ‘I’ve got five sons. Four sportsmen and a bloody bird watcher’,” Chris said.

“He didn’t think it was the sort of thing a working-class boy should do. He told me once that it was for retired army officers. If I mentioned bird watching around the dinner table he’d say ‘tosser’.”

While Chris maintained that he “never got any encouragement” for bird watching from his father as a youngster, he said his mother was quite OK with his fascination.

“Our parents would take us out into the countryside to collect blackberries, one day my mother showed me an English Robin, the red-breasted kind you see on Christmas cards,” Chris said.

“I was amazed at how beautiful it was. Previously I thought there were only sparrows and starlings because I came from an industrial town.

“The following day I went and got the observer’s book of British birds. It was the first book I ever bought. Now I have hundreds of books and have been hooked on birding ever since.”

Having written the first ever published field guide for the birds of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia in a 12-month period, Chris’ achievements swayed the attitude of his father from ‘you’ll never make any money from a published book’, to being proud of his son’s achievements.

Travelling between the three countries and the British Museum in London, Chris assembled a team including one of Australia’s leading bird artists and a children’s book illustrator to capture the plumage of birds for his field guide.

“I wrote the whole thing in 12 months. An Englishman had already started a field guide on Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands a few years before me. This guy published his book 20 years after I’d published mine. The text is better in his book but the illustrations are better in mine,” Chris said.

Multiple species in Chris’ field guide had only previously been described, now illustrated for the first time.

Chris was 19 when he immigrated to Australia in the 1970s.

“One day my father called a family council meeting and said, ‘I’m thinking of immigrating to either South Africa, New Zealand or Australia.’ Deciding on Australia was the best decision he ever made,” Chris said.

Arriving via boat being the last of the ‘10-pound poms’, Chris instantly began to warm to the tribulations of Aussie life.

“Things were just so much better in Australia for someone who had a bit of ’get up and go’ who was prepared to work hard. Australians will give you a fair go. I got three jobs the first day I arrived. They’d say, ’look mate if you can do the job, it’s yours. If you can’t do the job we’ll fire you.’ That would never happen in England.”

Chris also celebrated the vast and eclectic species of birds that call Australia home.

“We decided to settle in Melbourne because my parent’s friends from our hometown in England had settled in Preston. We went to a migrant hostel in Springvale.

“My parents were inspecting a home in Bayswater and we were looking around the garden when I spotted a Tawny Frogmouth.

It was then I knew I had to convince my dad to buy that house. I never saw a Tawny Frogmouth there again but it became like an omen to me.”

After renting their first house in Croydon, Chris and his wife bought a home and are still settled in Mooroolbark.

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A Hodgson’s Frogmouth.

“It was just luck that we settled in the Yarra Valley,” Chris said.

“I now know Melbourne like the back of my hand and this is a fantastic place for a birdwatcher to live.

Having worked in multinational corporations, Chris decided to turn his bird obsession into an entrepreneurial venture.

“My wife and I discussed it and she agreed to let me start my own bird tour company. If it didn’t work I could always go back to middle management,” Chris said.

“We had to make a decision. Do we go and borrow money from the bank or do we offer my services to an established travel company in Melbourne? My wife decided on the second option because she’s a bookkeeper. She didn’t like the idea of borrowing money from the bank.“ Chris conducted some research and decided to approach a company called Peregrine Expeditions.

Diverging from the company’s main focus on trekking in the Himalayas and white water rafting, Chris paid the company’s “flash little office in Little Collins St” a visit.

Chris requested admission to speak to then managing director Mr Ashford, before pushing past the secretary into his office.

Mr Ashford asked if he had an appointment to which Chris replied ‘No, but I’ve got an idea on how to make money.” From there Chris built up a worldwide birding travel opportunity, making the name ‘Peregrine Expeditions’ his own when the company went bankrupt three years later.

“I put all the tours together and I approached overseas ground operators. I would offer one tour to each continent, so six tours a year. I had a mailing list which had been Peregrine’s mailing list,“ he said.

“I went out on my own 38 years ago and it’s just grown ever since.”

Chris also showed overseas bird-watching groups around Australia, as well as taking book writing and binocular selling.

“I conducted three-week bird watching tours up the east coast of Australia starting in Tasmania and progressing up to Cairns.

We’d fly to Melbourne and have a 20-seater

Pictures: CHRIS DOUGHTY

Many-Banded Aracari. bus booked and then off we’d go. Then we’d fly from there to Brisbane and then we’d fly to Cairns,” he said.

Being held up at gunpoint in New Guinea was one of Chris’ most gripping stories.

“A group felled a tree across the road and came out with machetes and guns. We couldn’t drive over the tree nor go around it because there was jungle on either side. They asked for money. And they know about money belts.

Luckily I only had a little bit of money under my shirt to give them. I had the rest in my boot and had hidden my binoculars in a sack of rice.”

Coming up in November, Chris is leading his final tour trip to West Papua to see the birds of paradise.

“I’m going to retire from Peregrine bird tours because I’m 70 years of age now and my health is still good. I’ve seen most of the

world’s birds so anything I haven’t seen is just a variation of something I have seen.”

“The vast majority are found in New Guinea and they’re just spectacular. The local natives of New Guinea shoot them and wear the feathers in their headdresses. These headdresses are passed down from father to son for generations.”

Having seen over 8200 of the world’s 10,000 species of bird, only 11 people in the world have seen more birds than Chris. Further, having observed 830 species of bird in Australia alone, Chris has seen the fourth-largest number of birds in the nation.

“I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and now it’s time for me to start to slow down a bit. It doesn’t mean I will stop bird-watching overseas, it just means that I’ll go with my wife and my eldest son.” mailcommunity.com.au

SECURE YOUR FAMILY LEGACY AT LILYDALE MEMORIAL PARK At Lilydale Memorial Park, we strive to provide a peaceful resting place for your loved ones, a sanctuary for quiet reflection and a sense of belonging for all visitors.

A very special opportunity is now available to secure your legacy at the Yarra Valley Mausoleum at Lilydale Memorial Park, the region’s only public mausoleum.

Nestled between fragrant wisteria and the new Olive Grove Memorial Garden, the mausoleum is encircled by majestic bronze portrayals of the Stations of the Cross. It promises to be a place of comfort, serenity, and remembrance.

The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust is now planning Stage 2 of this iconic, open-plan mausoleum, and crypts will be available in the future for pre-purchase for you or your family. They are arranged in single and double configurations, with options available to suit all families. With the current building nearing capacity, this new wing, to be built next to the existing structure, will be the last extension for some time.

As is the case for all our cemeteries and memorial parks, you have the peace of mind that the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust will care for this sacred place for generations to come.

To register your interest in purchasing a crypt(s) in the new addition to the Yarra Valley Mausoleum or for more information about the All Souls Mass, please contact our Customer Care team on 1300 022 298 or email community@gmct.com.au. You can also get more information or make an expression of interest online at gmct.com.au

Join us at this year’s All Souls Day Mass, Thursday 2 November Federation Chapel, Lilydale Memorial Park at 10am.

The Mass will be followed by a blessing at the Yarra Valley Mausoleum at 10.45am.

The commemoration will then move to Lilydale Lawn Cemetery, 120 Victoria Road.

LILYD ALE MEMOR I AL PAR K

Yarra Valley Mausoleum NE W ADDI T ION

JOIN US FOR A

Mass for All Souls’ Day L I LY DA L E M E M O R I A L PA R K

We’re pleased to offer families the opportunity to register their interest to purchase a crypt(s) in the new addition.

This is a special opportunity to create a new legacy for your family. For families who have already purchased crypts, it may be an opportunity to purchase additional crypts near your loved ones.

To register your interest or find out more, call 1300 022 298, email enquiries@gmct.com.au or visit gmct.com.au/yarra-valley-mausoleum

Thursday 2 November 2023 10am Mass at the Federation Chapel 10.45am Blessing at the Yarra Valley Mausoleum Move on to the Lilydale Lawn Cemetery afterwards

Lilydale Memorial Park 126-128 Victoria Road, Lilydale Lilydale Lawn Cemetery 120 Victoria Road, Lilydale

For more information, please call 1300 022 298, or email community@gmct.com.au or visit our website gmct.com.au.

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NEWS

Advertorial

Mountain Pygmy Possums are critically endangered with decreasing numbers.

Pictures: ZOOS VICTORIA

Ann Peters and John Stroud with Year 10 captains Lily, Madie, Bella and Conner

Help track Good luck year 12’s Bogong moth The Mt Evelyn Bendigo Community Bank believes that having stronger, more connected communities is better for everyone.

And we’re a BIG supporter of schools because we know the critical role they play in creating connected communities for students to learn, connect and thrive in.

Over the past 21 years we have given over $3.5million back to the Mt Evelyn, Montrose and surrounding communities, making good things happen, through grants, donations and sponsorship.

These student leaders from Yarra Hills Secondary College in Mt Evelyn are standing in front of a mural the school commissioned, through a grant from the bank, as part of the school’s program to improve the facilities and grounds so that they better reflect the great work that is taking place in the school.

“Yarra Hills Secondary College is an integral part of the community,” said John Stroud, Chair of the Mt Evelyn Bendigo Community Bank.

“It was great to speak with the student leaders about their roles, which included leadership across the school and in speciality areas like wellbeing, and we enjoy working with John Stroud and Ann Peters with Bella Campus Principal Leighton O’Donnell and his team, hearing of the many great programs taking place at the school.”

Spring has sprung, which means Healesville Sanctuary’s critically endangered Mountain Pygmy-possums are waking from their winter slumber with big appetites.

These precious possums are Australia’s only hibernating marsupial and can spend up to seven months under the snow in the Bogong High Plains and Mt Buller in Victoria, and Mount Kosciuszko in New South Wales.

Healesville Sanctuary’s possums live in temperature-controlled habitats that mimic the alpine environment.

However, while the Sanctuary’s possums have food provided to them daily, the wild populations have to wait for their key spring food source – the endangered Bogong Moth, which migrates from breeding grounds to the alps and back again.

Worryingly, the severe drought in 2017 saw Bogong Moth numbers plummet by an estimated 99.5 per cent, prompting Zoos Victoria to launch the conservation project, Moth Tracker.

This citizen science Moth Tracker website maps the migration of Bogong Moths across Australia, thanks to photo submissions that can be uploaded by anyone who has a potential sighting of a Bogong Moth. The images are then verified and mapped on the Moth Tracker website.

Bogong Moths are small and mostly brown, with a body length of around 2.5 – 3.5 centimetres. They have a dark stripe that runs down each wing with a circular spot at the top of the stripe and a kidney-shaped spot at the bottom.

Bogong Moths were added to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Endangered Species list in December 2021.

Healesville Sanctuary Threatened Species Keeper Paula Watson said Mountain Pygmypossums’ body weight changes dramatically during their hibernation.

Have you spotted a Bogong Moth? Here’s how to tell.

“Each week the possums shed weight and, come springtime, they weigh around 40 grams – half their autumn weight - which means they are hungry and ready to breed when they wake,” she said.

The Moth Tracker website is: mothtracker. swifft.net.au/ A QUICK GUIDE TO HELP POSSUMS AND MOTHS: 1. Keep a look out for Bogong Moths during spring.

2. If you think you have seen a Bogong Moth, take a photo and upload it to the Moth Tracker website.

3. The sighting will be verified on the map by a moth expert.

4. This data helps scientist track migratory patterns and make future conservation decisions.

Mountain Pygmy-possums are classified as Critically Endangered with a decreasing population according to the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 2,000 left in the wild.

Enid’s playing on at 99

To the Classes of 2023 across the entire region, our team from the Mt Evelyn Bendigo Community Bank wish you all the best as you prepare to sit your final exams. And remember - all you can ask of yourself is to do your very best. This moment in time does not define you, it is simply part of your story.

At the Mt Evelyn Bendigo Community Bank, it’s your local banking supporting local people, making good things happen.

John Thomson, president Lilydale Croquet Club They say croquet is good for the mind, body and spirit, this must be true in relation to one Lilydale croquet club member, Enid Swain.

Enid celebrated her 99th birthday last week with a morning tea at the croquet club.

There was standing room only in the club rooms as many of her fellow members came to celebrate her birthday.

Enid comes to the club once or twice a week to play croquet and is still a formidable opponent able to draw on her vast experience in playing croquet.

As Enid, and many others will attest to the fact that playing croquet is a perfect non-contact sport that gives you plenty of body movement, hand eye coordination and keeps your brain active working out different tactics during the game.

Happy 99th birthday Enid, looking forward to our next game of croquet.

Lilydale Croquet Club player Enid Swain celebrated her 99th birthday.

Picture: SUPPLIED

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NEWS

Apply to showcase arts

By Callum Ludwig The exciting opportunity for artists to showcase their works next year has arrived with nominations open for Yarra Ranges Council’s Regional Exhibitions Program 2024.

The program gives the artist the chance to exhibit in The Gallery at The Memo in Healesville or in The Studio at the Arts Centre, Warburton.

Regional Exhibitions Officer Bronwyn Ward said they’re open to any ideas and suggestions.

“They are each really vibrant spaces suited to different types of artworks and approaches so we’re looking for a broad range of mediums, including installation-based works, or whatever people want to present,” she said.

“It’s a great time if you’re a local artist to put together an idea and to pop a submission in.”

An information night is being held online on Thursday 6 November where artists interested in the opportunity can have any questions they have about the program answered.

Ms Wad said the response this year was extraordinary and they were really overwhelmed by the applications they received.

“It’s meant that we’ve been able to deliver a really strong and varied program which has been fantastic, and for next year we would really hope for more of the same; to have some artists who really want to showcase their work and provide something that’s really interesting and engaging for our community,” she said.

“Our incredible team working in the background has added in points where we can suspend work from the ceiling and a state-ofthe-art lighting system has just been installed in The Memo, so these spaces are operating at their best at the moment and have that flexibility for ideas to be expanded on.”

Artists can find out more about the specifics of the gallery spaces at www.yarraranges. vic.gov.au/Experience/The-Arts/Our-creative-community/Regional-Exhibitions-Program-2024/Gallery-spaces.

Ms Ward said it’s definitely worth having a go, whether you are a local artist or from elsewhere.

“It’s something that you need to have a really good balance of, we need to be using these spaces to celebrate and showcase our extraordinarily talented artists that live within

Relationship to Play by Samantha Thompson.

Canopy by Makers Merge. the Yarra Ranges but I think there’s also a place within these spaces to bring in really exceptional work from outside the region,” she said.

“I spend a lot of time one-on-one with artists

Pictures: SUPPLIED to help them work through their design concept and discuss how they’re going to present their work to make sure that when their exhibition is up, it looks as good as it possibly can.”

A Lifetime of Artistry by Jane Fitzherbert.

Anyone interested in applying or finding out more can do so at: www.yarraranges.vic.gov. au/Experience/The-Arts/Our-creative-community/Regional-Exhibitions-Program-2024.

Dark message behind poem taking pride in trades

By Maria Millers We call them Tradies, those men and increasingly women we turn to when the toilet is blocked, the tap drips, the kitchen drawer collapses and there’s a paint job to do. We see them on the roads in their Isuzu D maxes or Ford Ranger utes.

We grumble about them not replying to our messaging or complain about the high cost of a call out. But we need them in our lives just as we discovered during the pandemic how certain people, so long overlooked, ignored or taken for granted were necessary for our well being Sometimes, we don’t appreciate their skills or indeed that the nature of their work can lead to them having serious health problems.

We have all been made aware of the dangers of working with hazardous materials and well remember the James Hardie asbestos case with the inspirational Bernie Banton as the public face of victims of asbestos related diseases.

More recently the manufacture of highly popular ‘must have’ kitchen and bathroom reconstituted stone products was shown to cause silicosis: a permanent and untreatable lung disease in those breathing in the silica dust.

Paint no longer contains dangerous amounts of lead but this doesn’t mean that there are no other additives for inhibiting bacterial and fungal growth and preserving shelf life.

But in the main when we think of industrial dangers we primarily think of accidents on building sites or with machinery, and not so readily would consider the dangers of bemailcommunity.com.au

WOORILLA WORDS ing a painter.

Often it is the language of poetry that is more effective than prose when it comes to conveying a message and increasing awareness.

In Kevin Brophy’s poem Painters he is not talking of painters as artists. They are Tradies. And they stand for anyone who loves and takes pride in their work. They are not painting the ceiling of a Sistine Chapel. More mundanely they are painting walls, roofs and removing peeling, flaking paint and breathing in dust and fumes.

Just as we overlooked tradies and essential workers, the speaker in this poem seems to be seeing the painters with new eyes beyond their ordinariness. They are compared to elves as if they were magical characters who when sitting out some rain in their van or ute have their ladders folded above them like wings.

But despite this portrayal of the painters as almost fairy-like the poem has a darker message. The work they are doing may be magical in transforming a dingy room, a corridor or giving the outside of a house a facelift but the paints they work with ,though

no longer heavy with lead, nevertheless still contain highly toxic ingredients.

Many tradies have early starts and little time for good nutrition. The constant fix for flagging energy is fast food, sugary coffee, doughnuts. You see them ‘refuelling’ for energy at fast food outlets as they travel from job to job.

The stress of juggling work seems to impinge on sleep and ultimately health suffers The speaker feels we are complicit in these workers’ health deteriorations. We are such slaves of passing fashions and fads, not just in clothing but also in keeping up with ever changing home colour palettes decreed by advertising, influencers and home renovation reality shows.

The painters are aware of the environmental consequences of what to do with leftover cans of paint. I’m sure that most of us have faced this same problem of how to dispose of leftover paint, congealing in tins in garages. The painters in the poem are aware that disposed indiscriminately there will be environmental damage but also realise that it has to be disposed of regardless.

There are places, deep and foul, where paint must go when its colour is no longer favoured, they will say, but they have a living to make, families to support, mortgages to pay and Their elf hearts move inside them at each slap of colour on a wall or fence or seedy chair.

This is a poem about painters but it’s also a poem about our values and how some sections of our society pay a heavy price to make our lives feel deeply real.

Painters It is as if each one had been sent to colour in

the world, and to do it between the showers of rain so that colours will have time to fix themselves on walls and pipes and window ledges.

When it rains the painters in their speckled overalls and spotty shoes sit quietly in vans with ladders like folded wings above them.

They drink white coffee with two sugars and treat themselves to doughnuts from the local bakery, sugared cinnamon.

At night they dream of edges of immaculate neatness.

They admire leaves and what autumn does to them.

Their lives are short, for each painted colour releases a poisonous fume like a sigh as it spreads and dries and makes our lives feel deeply real.

The painters speak less and less as the fumes take hold.

Their wives and children watch the painters going like elves to another kind of existence.

You ask them what to do with leftover cans of paint and they tell you it’s not easy, for paint would stain the sea and kill the fish if you let it go.

There are places, deep and foul, where paint must go when its colour is no longer favoured, they will say, and you will feel they are the enemies of the paint they love.

Their elf hearts move inside them at each slap of colour on a wall or fence or seedy chair.

Emeritus Professor Kevin Brophy is a prize winning poet, essayist and fiction writer. He is the judge for the Judith Rodriguez Open category of the Woorilla Poetry Prize.

The Woorilla Awards Event will be held on 19 November 2-4pm at The Hub, Emerald.

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OPINION

Hear voices of Lilydale An exciting new project in Lilydale has recently been launched at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum. The new initiative offers community members an opportunity to engage in a range of creative events and share their own stories.

Aptly named Lilydale Voices, the project will feature five exciting events that invite community members to share and listen to stories, while celebrating the diverse range of voices in the community.

The first Lilydale Voices event is ‘Heart: Finding Home’ - an interactive letter writing activity that invites people to share what home means to them.

People can share their thoughts through written words or drawings and display their work publicly at the Museum. The event includes translated material and community members are welcome to share their contributions in their chosen language.

ECLC’s CEO Michael Smith said the centre was excited to be leading these community events that are focussed on community connectedness and engagement.

“ECLC is thrilled to be running Lilydale Voices over the next six months and is pleased that the letter writing activity has been so well received in the community,” he said.

“Lilydale Voices really looks to create engagement within the Lilydale community and surrounds, and also support local businesses in and around the area,” he added.

Curated by artist Alisa Tanaka-King, the events have been designed to be as accessible and inclusive to encourage positive engagement and community connectedness.

Alisa Tanaka-King said that she was thrilled to have been engaged by ECLC to curate these series of events for Lilydale Voices post pandemic.

Legal

matters Anita Koochew Eastern Community Legal Centre “Post-Covid -19 we are still looking for opportunities to connect in meaningful ways, and the events that are part of Lilydale Voices offer creative platforms for that,” said Alisa.

“The invitation to participate in the events is open to a wide range of community members, spanning age groups, cultural backgrounds, and experience,” added Alisa.

Future events include a family-friendly story time with Indigenous Australian didgeridoo artist Ash Dargan, a recipe swap where some of the recipes will be compiled into a recipe book and launched at a separate event and an exciting dining event. The community-based project is being run by Eastern Community Legal Centre with support from project partners Oonah Health & Community Services Aboriginal Corporation, Anchor, Inspiro, Migrant Information Centre, Yarra Ranges Council and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum.

Lilydale Voices is funded by the Victorian State Government and proudly supported by the Lilydale Suburban Revitalisation Board.

For more information, visit https://eclc. org.au/what-we-do/partnerships-and-projects/lilydale-voices/

Wicked shows coming up Wicked The untold true story of the wicked witch of Oz The Broadway blockbuster is heading for the Regent Theatre Melbourne from March 6, 2024.

Almost 20 years since its premiere on Broadway, Wicked remains one of the most successful and popular musicals in the world.

Winner of over 199 major awards including the Grammy Award, the Olivier Award, six Helpmann Awards, three Tony Awards and six Drama Awards, Wicked is a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry and think.

Season opens at the Regent Theatre in March 2024.

Eltham Little Theatre Clue Six guests are invited to a dinner party thrown by an anonymous host. They are given aliases – Colonel Mustard, Mrs White,

Kemp’s curtain call Mr Green, Mrs Peacock, Professor Plum and Miss Scarlet.

Though discouraged from revealing personal information, it is soon discovered that all of them have fallen victim to the same blackmailer, their very host of the evening.

Book a seat at a table, or better yet, book a whole table and bring some friends! With the table seating, you’ll be able to bring some food and beverages and alcohol can be purchased at the theatre.

Season: November 19 – 25. Ticket inquiries, tickets@elthamlitletheatre.org.au

CARTOON

Wicked cast members (left to right) Jun Woodfield, Courtney Monsma, Sheridan Adams and Joseph Donovan with Lord Mayor Sally Capp (middle).

Spanish survival thriller, Nowhere, deserves notice Nowhere Starring Anna Castillo and Tamar Novas Rated MA15+ 3.75/5 Nowhere is a very solid Spanish survival thriller driven by a riveting central performance.

Fleeing an authoritarian regime, a pregnant woman named Mia (Anna Castillo) finds herself adrift inside a shipping container in the middle of the ocean.

An effective “bottle film” (a film with a small, confined setting), Nowhere creatively mines tension (and some humour) from Mia’s plight.

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mance of desperation, tenacity and tenderness as Mia. After Mia gives birth, the film draws some amusement from her dealing with

the stress of motherhood in an extreme situation. Mia’s hunger, dwindling supplies and the rising water level, caused by bullet-holes in the container’s hull, generate strong ongoing suspense, but as Mia figures out ways to survive, the damp, desolate setting becomes almost cozy as she bonds with her newborn Noa. It’s also fun to watch Mia find uses for the seemingly useless junk inside the container.

Nowhere stumbles slightly in its opening and ending. The world-building stretches credulity: a totalitarian regime rounding up pregnant women and children is implausibly evil.

The first act, which draws clear visual in-

spiration from Children of Men, has a very tense scene of a regime officer searching for a shipment of scared refugees, and when he finds them, the resulting massacre would have been more shocking if the film hadn’t shown us; as with horror, sometimes our imagination is scarier than what we can see.

A time-jump in the final act undermines the film’s pacing, and the climax has a miraculous turn of events that feels downright silly after such a grounded narrative.

A compelling bottle movie with an outstanding lead performance, Nowhere is available for streaming on Netflix.

- Seth Lukas Hynes mailcommunity.com.au

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12643821-KG43-23

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1800 778 637 Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

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MAIL 19

PUZZLES No. 156

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

easy

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

9

8 2 7

7 6

QUICK CROSSWORD Clients (9) Land measure (imp) (4) Insect before butterfly (11) Circus (8) Strut (6) Cross-cultural internet joke (4) Disregarded (7) They’re found in laksa or pho (7) Small case for small articles (4) Heavenly body (6) Aligned (8) Diversion (11) River in Hades (4) Sounds made to indicate an incoming call (9)

14 19 20

1

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

24 25 27 28 29

8 9 7 1

7 8 3 5 7 6 6 1

4

Flower (6) Apart (9) Slave (4) Arrest (6) Merited (6) Sea robbers (7) Action (9) Limb part (7) Male horse (8) Ways of speaking (8) Playing suit (6) Swampy (6) Type of nut (6) Mark left by a wound (4)

DOWN Subterranean burial chamber (8) Medical term (8)

1 2

medium

3 4 5 7 8 9 15 16 17 18 21 22 23 26

ACROSS 1 6 10 11 12 13

No. 156

DECODER

No. 156

5 2 3 1 9 3 6 4 7

6 2

1 5 4 hard

3

4

5

6

8

10 11 12 13

T W 15

16

17

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24

25

26

1

2

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

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

I

Today’s Aim: 21 words: Good 31 words: Very good

E

L

M

T

C

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

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

P

I

A

acme, calm, came, camel, camp, cape, caplet, celt, cilia, ciliate, cite, claim, clam, clamp, clap, cleat, climate, clime, clip, eclat, elicit, epic, ileac, iliac, impact, IMPLICATE, italic, lace, laic, lice, licit, mace, malice, mica, mice, pace, pact, pica, place, plaice, plicate, talc

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

9

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

42 words: Excellent

hard

7

F G Y AME S N C O D B V

medium

2

3 LETTERS ADD ADO AGE AIL APT BOA CUE DUO EBB EGG EKE GOP HUE NEE NET PEG PER PRO TNT TWO WEB YES

14

easy

1

Z KH R U I L J Q P X TW

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

WORDFIT

4 LETTERS ANEW DEEP EELS MUGS RIFE SLAY SLIP SNOB STEM TUGS 5 LETTERS AGILE ALIBI ALOUD APART BOSSY CARAT COMBS

No. 156

( / 9 ( 6

CUTER DEEDS EDGER ELUDE ELVES ENTER FACED FIVER FROGS GENES HARED HOVEL IDEAL IMAGE MACHO MATED NAIVE NESTS NOTED ODDER OMEGA OUNCE

PACTS REVUE RIVAL SEEDY SHOPS SHOTS

6 LETTERS CALLER HARROW KETTLE NOBLES PASSER TRUCES

SOLED SPENT STRAY STYLE THERE TIERS TIMED TRACE TRAIL TRIBE UNITS VERGE WOODS

7 LETTERS CAREFUL CONFINE ENTRIES OVEREAT PATTERN VERTIGO

8 LETTERS AMERICAN DEPORTED DESERVED HOMESPUN 10 LETTERS DISTRESSES PRETENSION

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

SUDOKU

27-10-23

William Matthews Funerals 24 HOUR SERVICE - ALL AREAS

9739 6868 45 Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au 12567382-JW37-22

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PROPERTY

CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN AT KINLEY’S VILLAGE See page 22

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN AT KINLEY’S LIVING COLLECTION DISPLAY VILLAGE KINLEY, in Lilydale, invites you to join in the spooktacular fun at its Living Collection Display Village Grand Opening this Sunday, 29 October, from 11am to 4pm.

The Living Collection Display Village is a showcase of quality, innovation and mastery from Australia’s leading builders across 21 stunning homes. As one of the largest display villages of premium home designs in Melbourne, it features the very latest in architectural and interior design, and sets the stage for inspired, modern living that seamlessly blends high tech with high comfort and timeless style.

To celebrate the launch of this amazing milestone at Kinley, Intrapac are throwing a Halloween party that you don’t want to miss! A day of fun, food and entertainment awaits home hunters and prospective buyers with roving entertainers, magicians, witches, optical illusions, food trucks, face painting, and more!

Plus, you can enjoy the Kinley Ghost Tour, where you can discover the rich history of Kinley as you visit the display homes. Simply scan the QR code once you’ve located a ghost to learn about a historical Lilydale building or icon. Once you have collected enough ghosts, you can collect your treat (lolly bag) from the Kinley Land Sales and Discovery Centre and enter the draw to win one of four $250 gift cards*!

Maxwell Shifman the Chief Executive Officer at Intrapac Property, the developer of Kinley, said: “We are thrilled to welcome everyone to our Living Collection Display Village, which is a testament to our vision of creating inspiring environments for our residents. We have partnered with some of Australia’s most reputable home builders to offer a diverse range of home designs that cater to different lifestyles and preferences.

Whether you are looking for a family home, or your first home, you will find it at Kinley.”

He added: “We also want to celebrate the rich history of Kinley in a way that is fun and engaging for our guests. Our Kinley Ghost Tour is a unique way to explore the display village and learn more about the heritage of this site, which was once home to the historic Lilydale Quarry. We hope everyone will join us for this spooktacular event and discover why Kinley is the perfect place to call home.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Kinley’s Living Collection Display Village and join the Halloween festivities. For more information, visit kinley.com.au or follow Kinley Facebook page. *Conditions apply. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: Gallagher Crescent, LILYDALE Contact: KINLEY.COM.AU OR FOLLOW KINLEY FACEBOOK PAGE 22

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HOME FOCUS

BRING THE FAMILY AND PREPARE TO STAY A WHILE FULL of much love and over 35 years of happiness, this beautiful home is now being offered to a lucky new family to enjoy.

The pretty as a picture home has a French provincial vibe and offers 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with a gorgeous lounge and a kitchen to tug at your heart strings, a dining room that has a built-in buffet with excellent storage for all of your special crockery and French doors leading outside to your lovely gardens.

The master bedroom is privately ensconced away from the further 3 bedrooms, through French doors off the lounge, and has a lovely full ensuite to enjoy, walk in robe, views to the mountains and even a fancy chandelier. One of the extra bedrooms even has its own private access from external French doors, so if you have guests staying, this is the ideal room for a bit of privacy from the rest.

If you enjoy entertaining outdoors, this home is for you with a fabulous undercover entertaining zone, pizza oven and intriguing gardens for the kids to explore and play.

There are fruit trees, veggie gardens, English gardens, succulent gardens, and I’m sure through the seasons you will enjoy other special plants as they pop their heads up.

Other features include natural gas ducted heating, split system heating and cooling, a 2-year-old solar system, double carport, ceiling fans in the bedrooms, dishwasher and this is all in walking distance the local primary school… you could literally stand on your front deck and watch the kids walk into the school grounds.

Prepare to make this your new home for the next 35 years. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 13 Woodleigh Court, LAUNCHING PLACE Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $695,000 - $760,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Samantha Price 0438 795 190 and Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513, BELL REAL ESTATE - YARRA JUNCTION, 5967 1277

Display Village Grand Opening FREE SPOOKTACULAR ENTERTAINMENT! 21 STUNNING HOMES ON DISPLAY FOOD TRUCKS AND GIVEAWAYS KINLEY GHOST TOUR

kinley.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

12640881-ET42-23

SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER 11AM - 4PM

HONOUR AVE & GALLAGHER CRES LILYDALE VIC 3140

@kinley3140

Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

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HOME FOCUS

EXQUISITE FAMILY HOME STEPS FROM TOWN SITUATED in prime position and spectacular inside, this impressive family home is the ideal blend of convenience and comfort.

Held by the same family for 36 years and now ready for new owners to move right in, this is the Dandenong Ranges lifestyle you’ve been waiting for.

Walk to Upwey township and train station from this home’s landscaped 2,005sqm (approx.) allotment. Highlights including a double carport, silver birch grove, fernery, paddock, open and covered patio, and terraced lawn create an established feel and leafy outlooks from every window.

The architecture of this residence affords a wow-factor moment from your first step in from the covered verandah. Double-storey cathedral ceilings and a wall of windows saturate the living area with natural light while relaxing in front of the open wood fire in cooler months is the only place you will want to be. On the upper level, the dining area, family room, and newly refurbished kitchen with shaker cabinets, Germania 900mm cooker, and Miele dishwasher all capture exquisite elevated views through the lower level gable windows.

Enviable accommodation is also provided

with 3 generous bedrooms on offer. The family bedrooms feature quality carpet, floor to ceiling windows, and built-in robes.

They share a stylish bathroom with soaking tub. The main bedroom is equally appealing while also enhanced with a walk-in robe and modern shower ensuite. Add to this an updated laundry with ample storage, linen storage, gas ducted heating, evaporative cooling, and an under-house storeroom/ workshop, and this prized family home is guaranteed to provide exceptional liveability.

Designed for houseproud buyers in a pocket position rich with local history, this property promises to impress. Plan your viewing today. · 2,005sqm (approx.) property with lush landscaped gardens · Stunning brick home with double carport and covered verandah entry · Lower level lounge with open wood fire, cathedral ceilings, and double-storey windows · Newly refurbished kitchen with shaker cabinets and quality appliances · Beautiful bedrooms including main with modern ensuite and walk-in robe ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 4 St Kilda Avenue, UPWEY Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $990,000 - $1,085,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 or Daniel Steen 0434 979 142, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 24

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HOME FOCUS

LOG HOME WITH LANDSCAPED GARDENS THIS lovely log home on a lush 3,032sqm (approx.) allotment may be just the private and picturesque Hills retreat you have been looking for, on the market for first time in 40 years. Framed by manicured lawns, a double carport, greenhouse, huge array of fruit trees and scenic garden outlooks, this home is at one with its magnificent surrounds.

French doors lead from the covered verandah into this open plan living area of this bright and inviting home. Comprising the lounge, dining area, and quality timber kitchen with freestanding cooker that is accentuated by an expansive bank of floor to ceiling windows and doors, indoor-outdoor living is achieved in style.

With exposed timber walls and thatched ceilings, this home is enriched by natural elements that elevate the warm feeling throughout.

Light and spacious bedrooms are also offered. One features a built-in robe and shower ensuite while the main bedroom boasts a curved open wood fire, private sitting area, enviable walk-in robe, and ensuite-effect connection with the tub bathroom.

The floorplan is finished by a family-size laundry and split system heating/cooling for practicality.

Situated in prime position within walking distance of bus transport, The Patch Primary

School, and The Patch General Store, a wonderful lifestyle is waiting. Plan your viewing today. · 3,032sqm (approx.) property double carport and greenhouse · Single-level home framed by lush gardens with manicured lawns · Open plan living, dining, and kitchen with floor to ceiling windows · 2 generous ensuite bedrooms including main with open wood fire · Perfect position within walking distance of local amenities · Bob Mann creek to bottom of property · On market first time in 40 years ●

Opportunity Awaits You to start or branch out on an existing business at the Iconic Warburton Golf Club.

There are 2 rooms available to lease which can be used as Consulting Rooms or Office space.

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 79 Kallista-Emerald Road, THE PATCH Price: $685,000 - $750,000 Description: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 or Daniel Steen 0434 979 142, 79 Kallista-Emerald Road mailcommunity.com.au

• Toilets & Showers available to be used • Utilities included • Lease Term Negotiable

12643487-FC43-23

Perfect for those who work in the Sports Medicine, Chiropractic or Physio fields.

2/2460 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junctiion | Ph: 5967 2688 Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

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HOME FOCUS

UPWEY TOWNSHIP STEPS AWAY THIS unique property situated within an easy stroll of Upwey township and train station is the perfect blend of indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy. Boasting a rare level allotment spanning 956sqm (approx.) that has been lovingly landscaped to feature full fencing, over 30 species of fruit trees, veggie beds, lawn areas, an aggregate drive with ample off-street parking, a large on-slab powered shed, and a secure dog run, this is a lovely property laden with lifestyle features.

For those who love to entertain, the wraparound verandah that frames this home is ideal. Covered to create shade in summer and enhanced with a warm wood fire and zip track blinds for cooler months, this space is a superb extension of this enticing home.

Inside, new owners will appreciate the family-focused floorplan that features 4 generous bedrooms, including main with modern ensuite and walk-in robe, plus a beautiful bathroom with walk-in rain shower.

The high ceilings on show throughout also feature in the 2 living areas. The lounge with polished timber floors neighbours the spacious home office with pocket doors for privacy. At the rear of the residence, a gourmet kitchen with 900mm Smeg gas cooker, stone benchtops, matte black tapware, and soft-close cabinetry overlooks the meals area and family room with rich floorboards that flows out to the second deck.

With a long list of supplementary features including gas ducted heating, evaporative cooling, double-glazed windows and doors, plus cost-saving solar power, every element has been considered with care. Inspection will impress. · 956sqm (approx.) level, landscaped, and fenced property with large shed, ample off-street parking, and enviable outdoor entertaining areas · Beautiful single-storey weatherboard home with high ceilings · Dual living areas and a gorgeous gourmet kitchen with Smeg cooker · Spacious study and large bedrooms including main with modern ensuite · Gas ducted heating, evaporative cooling, double-glazing, and solar power ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: Kumbada Avenue, UPWEY Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $1,195,000 - $1,295,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 or Daniel Steen 0434 979 142, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 26

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Real Estate you can trust!

We ’ r e h e r e t o h e l p FOR SALE

106/1172 Burwood Highway, UPPER FERNTREE GULLY

$350,000 - $380,000 1A1B1C

CONVENIENT APARTMENT LIVING

On the fringe of the Dandenong Ranges National Park and with the famous 1000 Steps almost at your front door, this beautifully presented apartment gives you the best of both worlds – A city living feel with convenience and within a friendly Hills community.

FOR SALE

$670,000 to $690,000

1 James Street, SELBY

WHIMSICAL HOME IN WONDERFUL POCKET POSITION

3A1B2C

This whimsical residence will alight imaginations with its charm, potential, position, and 1,435sqm (approx.) property. Filled with handcrafted elements and enriched with a double carport and abundant off-street parking, this property near bus transport and local shops is a joy to behold. From the sunroom entry, the interior branches to an ample home office/ study and the open plan dining area and kitchen.

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

Rachel Eastwood

Suzie Brannelly

M 0401 117 761 | E rachel@chandlerandco.com.au

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

FOR SALE

78-78A Hume Street, UPWEY

$1,650,000-$1,790,000

TWO TITLES AND THREE DWELLINGS IN PRIME POSITION

8A4B3C

This unique property offers an outstanding opportunity for investors and buyers searching for multi-generational space. Boasting a sprawling 8,586sqm (approx.) allotment with 2 tiles, 3 dwellings, and potential to subdivide (STCA), this is a one-off chance to secure a multiresidence property of impressive proportions.

Contact Brad for an inspection today!

FOR SALE

1 Vista Road, BELGRAVE HEIGHTS

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

‘GREENWOOD’ – QUALITY, SIZE & TIMELESS APPEAL

4A2B4C

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

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

Daniel Steen

Sharyn Chandler

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

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

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

Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

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HOME FOCUS

WELCOME TO YOUR DREAM HOME INTRODUCING this stunning 4-bedroom home with masterful design and modern elegance situated in the prestigious Range Estate amongst other quality homes.

The low maintenance landscaped gardens welcome you, as well as the beautiful parklands opposite with its abundance of bird life, a modern barbecue pavilion and children’s playground all in a parklike setting, perfect for the family to enjoy year round.

Step inside and you will discover the generous master bedroom with its beautiful plantation shutters, walk in robe, private ensuite with double vanity and stone benchtop. The remaining three bedrooms all with built in robes, have flexibility for use, a home office or gym, and share a central main bathroom with a semi frameless shower, generous bath and a wall hung vanity with a stone bench top.

The open plan design offers duel living zones with the living and dining directly opposite the stunning hostess kitchen, which features stone bench tops, a large island bench, Bosch dishwasher, double pantry, and overlooks the fabulous outdoor

entertaining area.

The generous sized lounge room has Bremworth stain resistant and hard-wearing carpet great for a family, as well as beautiful plantation shutters. Stepping outside through double glass doors you will discover landscaped raised garden beds, a generous covered alfresco area with a wood fired pizza oven, large side access for a boat or trailer, and a fully fenced back yard, safe for children and pets alike.

Additional features include: Beautiful Hybrid timber look flooring in this seasons latest design, quiet underfoot and scratch resistance, ducted evaporative cooling and heating, remote double garage with internal access as well as rear access into the backyard and the garden shed.

The home is located within minutes to the main street of Croydon with its bustling cafes, shops, Croydon Station, as well as primary and secondary colleges such as Yarra Valley Grammar, Oxley Christian College, and Croydon Hills Primary, and is a short drive to Eastland shopping precinct. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 68 Evans Drive, CROYDON Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,150,000 - $1,260,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Jan Brewster 0409 558 805, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL, 9754 6111 28

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Ranges EMBRACE TRANQUIlITY

SASSAFRAS 20 MIllS AVENUE COmFORT ON A QUIET NO THROUGH ROAD

We put you first

3 STOREY HOME & UNIT ON 6884 SQM

$795,000-$855,000 3A 2B 1C

Nestled amidst enchanting hills in Sassafras & Olinda, a hidden gem awaits those seeking the perfect blend of tranquility and functionality. Features a spacious lounge, timber kitchen, study, a family area that flows onto the deck, Tasmanian Oak floors, 2 fireplaces, GDH, split system, garage, solar panels, ample parking & a landscaped yard without the upkeep. Overlooking a captivating backdrop with a low-maintenance garden and forest lighting leaving you more time for nearby adventures and leisure in your new abode.

Jan Brewster 0409 558 805

EmERALD 22 ClEMATIS PARk ROAD ‘CLEmATIS PARk’ Circa 1910

$2,400,000-$2,640,000 6A 4B 2C

Constructed when quality and workmanship was paramount, this attic-storey gabled lathe and textured stucco house is architecturally significant and commands a captivating view over rolling hills, Cardinia Reservoir and Port Phillip Bay. Set amongst superb grounds with mature gardens that feature Camellias, Magnolia Grandifloras, Norfolk Island, Monterey Pines also Californian Redwood. Includes a self-contained unit (currently tenanted) shedding, swimming pool, large fruit & veggie garden & a pergola.

mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

Erin Davies 0493136937

PANORAMIC VIEWS & AN ENORMOUS SHED!

SEPARATE HOME OFFICE. SHED AND HOIST

GEmBROOk 265 MOUNTAIN ROAD THE LIFESTYLE YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!

COCkATOO 54-56 WOORI YAllOCk ROAD SPACIOUS FAmILY HOmE ON OVER ONE ACRE

$1,600,000-$1,725,000 5A 2B 8C

The views here will take your breath away, looking out over valleys and stretching to the Warburton Ranges. Flat and gently sloping just over 4 acres with established gardens. The residence offers 9ft ceilings, three truly separate living spaces, formal lounge with ornate cornice & ceilings, a contemporary kitchen with granite benchtops, circular driveway, a double remote garage with interior entry, paved entertaining area, an enormous shed that has a hoist, 3 phase power and security system and a double carport.

mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

9754 6111

rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

Erin Davies 0493 136 937

$800,000-$880,000 4A 2B 4C

This established property offers a peaceful & private lifestyle and as you approach the front verandah you will be greeted by the beautiful elegant wisteria. Features include several living spaces, parquetry flooring throughout, split system heating & cooling, gas & wood fireplaces, separate office connected to the house, two-car garage with workshop including a car hoist, double carport, 3 phase power, off-street parking, sealed driveway, new fencing, near new Colorbond roof and outdoor entertainer’s area with kitchen.

Erin Davies 0493 136 937

‘We Put You First’

mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

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

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HOME FOCUS

STUNNING HOME IN PEACEFUL LOCATION SURROUNDED by majestic trees and with a spring fed permanent creek running through, this is Yarra Valley living at its best. Set on 1 1/2 acres approximately in the most picturesque setting is this beautifully renovated home.

The recent renovation means almost everything in the home is brand new and never used. This includes new carpets in the four large bedrooms and all new fixtures in the two well equipped bathrooms.

There’s two large living areas, one on each level, both with beautiful new hardwood flooring. The brand new kitchen is well appointed with stainless steel appliances including large 5 burner stove, rangehood and dishwasher. A complete repaint inside and out tops off the stunning presentation.

Filtered mountain views can be enjoyed from the full length deck upstairs with access from the master bedroom and living area. Summer nights sitting here listening to the whispering of leaves in the magnificent gum trees will be bliss. Or perhaps enjoy an open fire outside in the park like setting in the cooler months.

Two sets of impressive double steel gates lead you into the bluestone bounded driveway which encircles the home and offers an abundance of outdoor parking space plus there’s a double garage and double car port.

Extras include air conditioning in both living areas, slow combustion wood heater with transfer kit and probably the only property I’ve seen with its own mine! Truly a unique and special property ideal as a permanent family home or for weekend enjoyment for all your family and friends.

Just 5 minutes from cafes and shops of Warburton Main Street along the Yarra River and offering easy access to Yarra Ranges National Park with an abundance of tracks for walking or riding. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 225 Big Pats Creek Road, BIG PATS CREEK Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $850,000 - $935,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Samantha Price 0438 795 190 and Tony Fanfulla 0419 870 513, BELL REAL ESTATE - YARRA JUNCTION, 5967 1277 30

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P 5966 2530

P 5967 1277

3407 Warburton Highway, Warburton

14 Gibsons Parade, Warburton

$591,000 - $650,000

2457 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction

95 Milners Road, Yarra Junction

Expressions of interest

Warburton Cottage with Yarra River Views

130 acres of magnificence!

Sitting on over 1/3rd acre of prime Warburton real estate, and over looking the pristine waters of the winding Yarra River is this 1940’s style character cottage bursting with character appeal. The spacious open plan cottage offers 2 good sized bedrooms and a study, and would be ideal for a beautiful first home, a downsizer or the quintessential weekender B&B. A modern kitchen comes complete with dishwasher, electric cooking and a lovely view from your kitchen window, and an adjacent open plan dining space also with a view will delight. Creature comforts include a wood fire to complete the ambiance and a reverse cycle heater and cooler for ease. Stunning gardens surround the property offering lovely spots to sit and picnic on your own land. With the river a short stroll, walking around the township will be not only a joy, but a breeze.

A mind blowing, gob smacking majestic mountain vista is what you will experience from this special land holding. Of the 130 acres, approximately 30 are of cleared pasture with 2 dams and the balance being beautiful lightly forested areas, all providing something pretty exceptional for you to plan your new lifestyle property. Imagine the kids being able to have their horses in the paddocks and then explore either under saddle and/or motor bike or mountain bike the tracks at the back to have loads of fun, whilst you relax and gaze at the mountains to the north. With only a 4 minute drive to the main township of Yarra Junction, and 2 minutes to a primary school and a high school, this property gives you the delights of a rural existence, yet the convenience of a bustling township so close. The ultimate lifestyle is on offer here, just start planning and realize your dreams.

Tony Fanfulla M 0419 870 513 Inspection: Sat 10.00-10.30am

Samantha Price M 0438 795 190

5 Grand Panorama Court, Launching Place

2

A

1

B

$790,000-$850,000

Tony Fanfulla M 0419 870 513 Inspection: Sat 1.30-2.00pm

Samantha Price M 0438 795 190

2 Hazford Street, Healesville

$900,000-$990,000

Views with Family Space and convenience

Stylish 4 bedroom home on over half an acre

Sensational views are just the beginning of this fantastic family home and situated in a quiet court area with an elevated, picturesque and sunlit location. The home features 3 good size bedrooms all with built in robes plus an optional 4th bedroom/study/office, spacious family/living and lounge areas bathed in sunshine and ideally orientated to admire and enjoy the ever changing Yarra valley views.

The open plan kitchen has ample bench and cupboard space plus a separate meals/dining area, downstairs features great space for the growing family with a huge rumpus room/ games room ideal for large family gatherings or summertime entertaining. A great family home featuring loads of space inside and out and conveniently located in a popular and sought after area and just a short stroll to local schools, shops, transport and the walking trail it’s a great place for the growing family.

Situated at the end of a no-through road, where you will enjoy peace and tranquility is this contemporary 4 bedroom home, beautifully appointed, and a floor plan that is versatile. A vast and functional kitchen provides several amenities, from the huge stone work bench, to the ample storage and quality appliances, and overlooking the dining room with feature wood fire. Four spacious bedrooms cater for the large families with the master providing a walk in robe and light filled ensuite with a serene outlook to your garden, and a lovely main bathroom with a luxurious spa. Built over 3 levels, the appeal of the home continues with soaring ceilings, feature windows, a 2nd level retreat that would be a beautiful spot to work from home. Ideally positioned about 5 minutes from the bustling main street of Healesville, a special home in a lovely quiet location awaits your inspection.

David Carroll M 0419 539 320 Inspection: Sat 10.30-11.00am

3

A

2

B 1 C

Tony Fanfulla M 0419 870 513 Inspection: Sat 10.00-10.30am

Samantha Price M 0438 795 190

4

A

2

B

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HOME FOCUS

AN OUTSTANDING PROPERTY ON APPROXIMATELY NINE ACRES AND HOME THIS property is a must to see. Privately positioned adjacent to Kurth Kiln Regional Park – this is a nature lovers paradise.

Offering approx. 9 acres of flat to gently sloping land with an area of bush and then large cleared and well fenced paddocks with electric fencing. This is the place for your equine pursuits or other four legged friends.

There is a large round yard, and a scenic dam also on the property.

The home is conveniently laid out, with a double car port at the front entry and then a cosy wood fire heater in the lounge room for your arrival home. There is a also a built in bar in the loungeroom and the lounge has a vaulted ceiling and is open plan with the kitchen. The kitchen enjoys private views out across the paddocks towards the shedding.

There are two bedrooms located downstairs as is the family bathroom. Then meander upstairs to discover a large master bedroom with exposed rafters and complete with Juliet balcony overlooking the well maintained paddocks.

Externally is a double lock up garage with glass sliding doors and three internal rooms, that could potentially be a work from home opportunity or teenagers retreat – complete with a wood fire heater.

There’s also a convenient working outhouse between the shed and home and then there are numerous miscellaneous sheds and fenced dog yards. This home has mains electricity and tank water.

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

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 200 Soldiers Road, BEENAK Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 garage Price: $1,000,000 - $1,100,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Bethany Day 0438844968 or Aaron Day 0407 365 994, BELL REAL ESTATE, EMERALD 32

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P 5968 6222 311-313 Main Street Emerald

8 Berrys Road, Emerald

$900,000 - $990,000

If You Want to Walk to Everything this Family Home is the One for You! Literally 150m from the heart of Emerald, this 4+ bedroom, family home has gorgeous views & room for all! The Master Bedroom is downstairs with ensuite & WIR, with a dressing room/potential 5th bedroom. Downstairs are 3 internal & 2 external living areas, an open plan kitchen/dining area with pantry/utility room & a spacious family room/rumpus room. There is an entertaining deck & an undercover entertaining area with built in bar. Upstairs are 3 freshly painted, robed bedrooms with new carpets, a renovated bathroom & views from every window. With gas heating, air conditioning, a split system upstairs, a study/home office & elegant plantation shutters throughout. Outside is a 6x8m lock up garage/workshop with remote door & adjacent, high bay 7x8m double carport perfect for the caravan or boat & plenty of extra parking for the trailer, guests and family.

Samantha Scott M 0438680032

A

3

$730,000 - $770,000

Beautifully renovated home with gorgeous treed outlook, and so close to town!

This fantastic family home has 3 bedrooms, all with BIRs, & 2 lovely bathrooms. The freshly painted home with open plan kitchen/dining/lounge & plush carpet in all bedrooms is the epitome of move in ready! The kitchen is equipped with Induction electric stove & oven, stone benchtops & a great Laundry/ butlers pantry. This home will be cosy & comfortable year round, with zoneable reverse system ducted heating & Refrigerated Cooling throughout & efficient Heat Pump for hot water. Enjoy the views across to the Cockatoo trees, & the convenience of being only moments from Cockatoo main street. Extensive landscaping has been completed outside, with plenty of off street parking available. The garden beds are freshly planted, & there is a garden shed. This block has dual access.

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

4

25 Currawong Drive, Gembrook

49 Pakenham Road, Cockatoo

Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451

B 3 C

$845,000 - $895,000

3

100 Gembrook-Tonimbuk Road, Gembrook

A

2

B

C

$1,400,000 - $1,520,000

Mud Brick delight soaking in 19 acres of Gembrook nature!

Stylish Equine Property on approx. 5 acres!

This picturesque mud brick home features a cathedral ceiling lounge room with large wood fire & master bedroom in the loft! Downstairs there is a second master bedroom with a large WIR, & office/ second lounge area with a bathroom with bath & shower & separate toilet. The kitchen has a gas oven & wood fired stove. There is a fully fenced paddock perfect for a pony/goat. There is a double carport & a separate teenagers retreat/office building with toilet, shower, kitchenette, lounge area, laundry area, bedroom, two storage rooms & fenced yard. There is also a free standing room perfect as a craft room/office space. Featuring a 3 car lockable barn/workshop with power & concreted floors. This home is totally off grid, with a 9kW solar system & battery set up, supported by a generator.

There is approximately 55000L of tank water stored in three large water tanks, & a septic system.

The expansive 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom home has a formal loungeroom & a master bedroom with a large WIR & ensuite. Near the master bedroom is a further bedroom with ceiling fan & BIRs. The home has high ceilings, double glazed large windows, & reverse cycle AC. The central open plan kitchen/ dining/lounge area is flooded with natural light, & offers a wood fire heater, & kitchen with a large walk in pantry. The kitchen has a 900mm gas stove/oven, & SS appliances including dishwasher & Caesar stone benchtops. There is a laundry with it’s own external access, a study/office area, & then 3 further bedrooms, all with ceiling fans & BIRs. These bedrooms are serviced by the family bathroom & separate toilet. Externally the acreage is divided into 5 fully fenced paddocks. This home utilizes gas bottles, tank water, has 4kW solar with 18 solar panels, & mains electricity.

Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

3

A

2

Bethany Day M 0438 844 968

B 5 C

5

A

2

B

C

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SPORT

Racing into titles

By Jamie Strudley Yarra Ranges Athletics members continued their preparation for the Victorian All Schools Track and Field Championships which start this coming weekend.

Held over two weekends, the championships bring together the best secondary school athletes from throughout Victoria.

Our club athletes continued their preparation with some scintillating performances at school, little athletics and AVSL competitions.

The week started with athletes competing in the School Sport Victoria Track and Field Championships held at a windy, cold Lakeside Stadium on Monday.

Results: Zoe Clarke 800m 2nd 2.26.69, 1500. 2nd 5.07.87; Bradley McMeeken 800m 2nd 3.26.10; Maddie Laven 800m 1st 2.24.92, 1500m 1st 5.04.94, 3000m 4th 10.57.25; Ky Harris 800m 5th 2.11.97, 1500m Tuesday night saw club members competing at the Box Hill Twilight meeting.

Results: 800m: Rori Jones 2:30.83; Mitchell Pointon 2:16.43; Craig Hewitson 2:37.23; 1500m: Harry Norman 3:56.00; 3000m: Brigitte Rice 10:03.05; Saturday morning was round three of the Little Athletics season and was a busy day of athletics with close to 300 athletes having fun.

Athletes had their first race walking competition for the season, receiving excellent tuition from our senior club members.

We also challenged our athletes to some track relays in preparation for upcoming relay events.

It was great to see so many athletes wearing the club tops and LAV patches clearly visible.

Our seniors competed at Casey Fields and Aberfeldie athletics tracks in round three of AVSL. Windy conditions at both venues made PB’s and records hard to come by.

Our team still managed four club records to Ash Rooke (Women U20 200), Lis Coffee (Women 40+ 400 Hurdles), Anne-Marie Ebbels (Women 50+ Shot Put and Brad McMeeken (Men Para 1500m).

Results: Women 100m: Ashleigh Rooke 13.07 (-0.2) 200m: Rori Jones 30.32 (-2.2); Elisabeth Coffey 31.11 (-1.7); Shani Bullard 31.22 (-2.1) 800m: Rori Jones 2:31.87; Kristina Nackovski 2:34.91 1500m: Emilie Garside 7:44.7h

Tim Bassett and Levi Daly played a very exciting match against Heathmont.

Picture: SUPPLIED

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· · · ·

Yarra Ranges Athletics team competing at AVSL in Aberfeldie. Brad, Em, Meg, Ash and Hayley.

Picture: SUPPLIED

· 400m Hurdles: Elisabeth Coffey 78.72 · 1500m Walk: Emilie Garside 8:57.2h Ashleigh Rooke 30.73m; Hayley · Discus: Wilkins 28.15m; Meg Sparkes 26.28m Hayley Wilkins 32.86m; Ashleigh · Javelin: Rooke 24.04m; Meg Sparkes 18.67m Put: Anne-Marie Ebbels 7.18m; Shani · Shot Bullard 6.95m; Kathi Hewitson 5.86m Sarah Ebbels 34.31m; Anne-Marie · Hammer: Ebbels 24.98m; Kathi Hewitson 22.11m Jump: Shani Bullard 8.62m; Kathi · Triple Hewitson 5.91m.

Men 200m: Mitchell Mullens 22.91 (-0.8); Liam Russell 24.72 (-0.2); Oliver Duncan 25.02 (0.4); Joseph Johnston 28.12 (0.6) 400m: Bradley McMeeken 1:30.31 800m: Mitchell Pointon 2:15.62; Craig Hewitson 2:59.82 1500m: Bradley McMeeken 6:38.4h 4x400m: (Joseph Johnston, Mitchell Pointon, Ash Almond, Mitchell Mullens) 4:06.57 Discus: Ash Almond 29.68m Hammer: Ash Almond 23.76m Javelin: Ash Almond 49.26m Long Jump: Ash Almond DNS Shot Put: Ash Almond 9.63m; Craig Hewitson 7.63m Triple Jump: Liam Russell 10.73m; Oliver Duncan 10.50m; Craig Hewitson 8.24m.

It was a very busy Saturday morning of little athletics at Morrison reserve as our club mem-

· · · · · · · · · · ·

bers enjoyed another fun morning of athletics.

Some persistent drizzle made high jump competition difficult, and some waterlogged sand forced a modification of the long jump and triple jump events.

Finally, Kellie Emerson was back in action, this time winning the Vietnam Jungle 70km Marathon. Kellie was first finisher overall beating all men and women over the 70km course which included 3000m of climbing. Kellie’s winning time was 8 hours, 8 minutes.

Good luck to all our athletes competing at Lakeside Stadium this weekend at the All Schools Championships. Follow our results updates on the socials.

Training for our six-12yo continues on Tuesdays from 4pm. Seniors training (13yo plus) is on Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30pm at Morrison Reserve. Check the socials and website for more details and sessions available with our throws and jumps coaches. Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability.

If you, or someone you know, wants to join in the fun of track & field registration is now open. Go to lavic.com.au or athsvic.org.au or email info@yarrarangesathletics.org.au for information about events and registration.

For information on training, how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit the website at yarrarangesathletics.org. au or check us out on Facebook. Run, Jump, Throw…too easy!

Lilydale swims to win inaugural Cup

By Mikayla Van Loon Lilydale Swimming Club walked away winners from the inaugural Yarra Ranges Cup, a friendly competition with Monbulk and Healesville swimmers last week.

Bringing together swimmers from under eight to over 16 years old at the Yarra Centre on Sunday 15 October, various heats were drawn, with points awarded for each race.

“We ran 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly, 50 breaststroke, and then 50 freestyle. So in the short pool, it was good, that was up and back for everyone,” Lilydale Swimming Club president Andrew Lynch said.

“There were some great competitions and really close calls on some of the races. The closest one was 0.6 of a second between first and second.

“So some of the races were really tight and it looked like all the spectators got involved. The kids were yelling and cheering. It was pretty, pretty loud at some points but it was really good to see that.”

This was the first time the three clubs have competed in a friendly sense, despite Lilydale and Monbulk doing a cross club event and sometimes getting to verse each other at larger competitions, as well as Lilydale’s own tournaments.

“Every month, we run our internal club competition, where they get to compete in two different strokes and then we do different ones mailcommunity.com.au

Lilydale Swimming Club won the inaugural Yarra Ranges Cup on Sunday 15 October.

Picture: TRACY LYNCH PHOTOGRAPHY for the year. We then gather points and award the best swimmers for the year,” Lynch said.

“But this one was definitely just a fun environment for the kids to just get in there and have a go.”

Pleased with how the event ran and the social interaction it gave the participants, as well as the competition, Lynch said was encouraging and hopes the clubs can continue the tradition each year.

“It was good, especially for the younger ones who haven’t competed in any district

events to actually have a go at what it feels like,” he said.

“But also, even for the older kids who do local district events and then the state events to just come somewhere that the pressure is not really on, you can just have fun.

“Normally in a state event it’s all regimented, there’s people up in the stands, it’s a little bit less personal and less friendly. This was a great chance, especially for Healesville who don’t compete very often, to see what that’s like.”

Winning streak continues

By Joanna Campe Round three results for Lilydale Tennis Club in the Eastern Region Tennis Competition.

Junior Open Doubles (JOD10) Lilydale v Seville After round 2 Lilydale was sitting outside the top 4 on the ladder.

Lilydale was represented by Haady Aziz, Nenuka Withanage, Lachie Sweet and Ivy Pieper.

Lilydale played at home this round against Seville. Well matched teams with Seville taking the match 4 sets to 2 – winning 33 games to 23.

Result: 4-6, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-5, 1-6 Junior Open Singles Doubles (JOSD4) Lilydale v Gracedale Park After round 2 Lilydale was sitting in fourth place on the ladder.

Lilydale was represented by Ari Marappan, Alex Paladino, Adam Paladino and Rishabh Chowdhury.

Lilydale played away this round against Gracedale Park. Lilydale was too strong on the day and won the match 7 sets to 1 – winning 43 games to 20.

Result: 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 4-6, 3-6, 0-6, 1-6, 0-6 Open Rubbers 19 (OR19) Lilydale Blue v North Ringwood After round 2 Lilydale was sitting on top of the ladder.

Lilydale was represented by Adam Johnson and Alex Jerin.

Lilydale played at home this round against North Ringwood. In a very close match, it was Lilydale that came away eventual winners 3 sets to 2 – winning 23 games to 22.

Result: 6-2, 0-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 Open Rubbers 25 (OR25) v Heathmont After round 2 Lilydale was sitting in third place on the ladder.

Lilydale was represented by Tim Bassett and Levi Daly.

Lilydale played at home this round against Heathmont. In a very exciting match, it was Lilydale that won the day overall 4 sets to 2 – winning 28 games to 20.

Result: 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-10 (super tiebreak), 6-3, 6-4 Lilydale Tennis Club welcomes all players of any age and ability. For information on how to join Lilydale Tennis Club please visit play.tennis.com.au/ lilydaletennisclub For all coaching enquiries (Juniors and Adults) please contact Andrew at Pro Touch Tennis Academy ptta.com. au/contact Tuesday, 24 October, 2023

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