Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 19th December 2023

Upper Yarra

Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

Mail

McEwen MP weighs in on possible Casey abolition

See through the lens of William Wall with discovered photos

Rent reduced for Lyrebird College to reduce overheads

See Real Estate liftout inside

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Bernice’s artistic journey runs deep

By Dongyun Kwon A new Healesville resident Bernice Hanson, who is 98 years old, is showcasing her art pieces in the local cafe Mare. Hanson said she painted simple subjects around herself. “I always painted what I saw and I got a pleasure out of being able to make it look how it looked,” she said.

“For me, art is just sitting down and working out what to do, that’s why I had so many simple things.

“The important thing, while I was painting and designing cloth, was just the pleasure of putting it on.”

Hanson’s style is based on tonalism affected by her art teacher who was a student of Max Meldrum who is known as a founder of Australian tonalism. Hanson takes after her parents; her mother was a fashion designer and her father was a painter.

Turn to page 12 for more L-R: Andrea Hamer (daughter), Bernice Hanson (artist), Clare Hamer (granddaughter).

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Dingo debacle

By Callum Ludwig

the evidence from the new research.

On 1 October, the Victorian Government extended the Order in Council to unprotect dingoes in the three kilometre Livestock Protection Buffer (LPG) for a further 12 months while the review is ongoing.

“The 12-month extension to the order allows for a comprehensive assessment of the

dingo population across Victoria to inform the appropriate protections moving forward,” a Victorian Government spokesperson said.

“We will continue to work with Traditional Owners, farmers and private landholders to appropriately balance the protection of livestock and dingo conservation.”

Continued page 3

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New research has thrown the management of wild dogs and conservation of dingos into disrepute across the country with concerns arising from all sides of the issue.

A pair of recent studies in 2019 and 2021 from the University of New South Wales in Sydney found that most wild canine species

across the country are either pure dingoes or dingo-dominant hybrids (more than 50 per cent dingo genes).

This has prompted state governments, including Victoria, to review their management programs due to a conflict between the current policy and regulatory framework for wild dog management and dingo conservation and

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From us to you, happy holidays dear readers The Warburton Christmas Carols are scheduled to take place on Friday, December 22.

Picture: ON FILE

Fun event for families

By Gabriella Vukman Get your Santa hats ready for Warburton’s annual Christmas Carols on December 22.

Taking place at the Warburton Water World, the carols commence at 6pm and conclude at 9:30pm.

Brought to the public by The Warburton Advancement League along with the Yarra Junction and Warburton Community Banks, the carols are open to anyone keen on a generous serving of Christmas spirit.

Blankets, bathers and snacks are also encouraged at this year’s free carols event.

Carols artist and music organiser Chris James said, “it’s a fun, free, family event for everyone to come and celebrate Christmas together.”

Attendees can expect an array of performances from choirs and ensembles to circus activities and dr Jazz. A special guest aerial circus performance will also feature among the festivities.

Pizza and a sausage sizzle will also be available on the night.

Prepare the little ones for the arrival of Santa at 7:45pm. Mr Claus himself will be handing out lollies until 8pm.

Chris said, “we had a really amazing rehearsal the other night and it is sounding really soul filled.”

“I’m very excited about the night. There’s lots of kids activities as well as carols for everyone to sing along to,” Chris said.

As another year draws to a close, the team at Star Mail wish each and every one of our readers, advertisers and contributors a very happy and safe holiday season with family and friends.

Without the ongoing support for our six newspapers, local news wouldn’t be able to exist as it does in our communities.

Every copy that is collected, every advertisement that is purchased and every story told contributes to a better informed Yarra Ranges.

We will be taking a break over the Christmas period and so this will be the last edi-

tion of 2023 until our return in early January.

The office will also be closed from Wednesday 20 December until Wednesday 3 January.

We look forward to bringing you the heartwarming community stories and hard hitting news from Tuesday 9 January with the return of our print editions.

Take care of each other, stay safe if travelling over the New Year period and best wishes for 2024.

The team can’t wait to hear from you when we come back!

The team at Star Mail wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

IN BRIEF Motorbike owner sought

Protections needed

Horse cruelty concerns

A review into wild dog management and dingo conservation is currently underway. Picture: ON FILE cal given the industry’s own research shows that the vast majority of livestock deaths relate to farm management practices.

“Dingoes have been used as a convenient scapegoat by the government and agriculture industry for far too long. Through brutal trapping and poisoning methods, these animals have suffered immeasurably and now their very survival as a species is in question,” she said.

“What the Victorian Government is sanctioning in the ongoing killing of native dingoes is irreversible harm. Dingoes are apex predators who play a critical role in keeping ecosystems in balance. Once they are gone, they are not coming back.”

In a 2015 study, ‘Neonatal lamb mortality: factors associated with the death of Australian lambs’ (Refshauge G., Brien F. D., Hinch G. N., van de Ven R, Animal Production Science 56, 726-735) predation accounted for only seven per cent of 3198 newborn lamb deaths, which accounted for deaths due to any predator animal, including foxes.

Predation was the sixth-most common cause of death after a postmortem autopsy, topped by starvation–mismothering (25 per cent), stillbirth (21 per cent), birth injury (18 per cent), death in utero–prematurity (10 per cent ) and dystocia (nine per cent).

Campaign Director of wildlife defence initiative Defend the Wild Alix Livingstone said they would like to see dingoes recognised for both their ecological and cultural significance across Victoria and wild-dog terminology removed from policies in accordance with the latest science available.

“Currently, there is very little data available on the population demographics of the dingoes that exist in eastern Victoria, which is concerning in of itself when you consider the level of lethal control they are currently being subjected to,” she said.

“We would also like to see the Victorian government support landholders to adopt non-lethal alternatives and provide practical

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on-ground support to successfully implement them. Currently, governments primarily offer support to landholders adopting lethal control, without offering support to those who are adopting alternative methods to protect their animals.”

Through the Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty, a ‘single piece of skin and fur running from the snout, incorporating the ears, along the animal’s back and including the tail’ from a ‘wild dog’ can be collected for a $120 reward.

Following the 2019-2020 bushfires, the Victorian Government contributed 50 per cent of the cost of replacing fire-damaged fences for landholders of property bordering National Parks, State Parks or State Forests with an option to upgrade the fences to ‘exclude pests such as wild dogs’ where the government would pay half the cost up to $5 per metre.

The Star Mail’s research found this to be the only support from the Victorian Government that has been offered for non-lethal control specific to wild canines.

Ms Livingstone said research in Australia and around the world has now proven that non-lethal methods of management can successfully protect livestock from apex predators.

“In fact, the use of livestock guardian animals has been found to be more successful than lethal control if adopted correctly. A program in the Hunter Valley known as the Last Stop Donkey program is saving donkeys that would otherwise be killed in areas where they are considered pests, and retraining them to protect livestock from dingo predation,” she said.

“Sheep and goats are at a higher predation risk than cattle, and landholders understandably want to protect their animals,” “The use of non-lethal alternatives can have limitations if adopted incorrectly by landholders, which is why it should be led and supported by the Victorian Government to ensure its success, through providing on-ground support to landholders to transition.”

A major seizure of 110 horses on a Campaspe property and the prosecution of their owner has prompted the RSPCA to call out those committing acts of cruelty to horses, with the Yarra Ranges one of the worst regions for the offence.

RSPCA Victoria’s Chief Inspector Michael Stagg said it should send a strong message to those who think they’re above the law.

“If you want to own an animal in Victoria, you must take care of that animal,” he said.

“In this particular case, it’s incredibly disappointing to see someone not only fail to provide that care to so many horses despite orders to do so, but blatantly disregarding a court order as well.

“These horses will now receive the veterinary care they need, and we’re hopeful some will be able to be adopted while others may be suitable for rehoming via one of Racing Victoria’s post-racing programs.

Victorians made 1,000 reports of animal cruelty concerning more than 6,300 horses of varying breeds across the state to RSPCA Victoria in 2022/23.

The majority of cruelty reports related to underweight horses, husbandry issues (grooming, farrier, poor hygiene and living conditions etc) and insufficient treatment of a sick or injured animal.

Insufficient food, shelter and water made up the next three most common cruelty reports.

The top three LGAs for reports of horserelated animal cruelty were: 1. Yarra Ranges Shire Council - 73 reports 2. Cardinia Shire Council - 66 reports 3. City of Greater Bendigo - 56 reports Seized horses spend on average 262 days in RSPCA’s care, at an average cost of $18,000 per horse to get them healthy and well enough for their new home.

Reports from the community are vital to ensure animal cruelty and neglect are investigated.

It’s an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTAA) to commit an act with the result that unreasonable pain or suffering is caused to the animal. Anyone found guilty of such an act can face fines of up to $48,077.50 or 12 months imprisonment.

Anyone with concerns for the welfare of an animal, aware of illegal breeding, or suspicious animal sales is encouraged to contact RSPCA Victoria on 03 9224 2222 or submit a report at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report/ immediately.

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From page 1 Most of north-eastern Victoria, including outer parts of the Yarra Ranges, are included in the Order in Council, which allows dingoes to be treated as any other wild dog on all private land in Victoria and on public land within three kilometres of any private land boundary within the zone. Other than in some areas south of Mildura and near the border with South Australia, only north-eastern Victoria is factored in the Order in Council, meaning dingoes are still protected as a threatened species in large swathes of the state.

National Wild Dog Management Coordinator at the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions Greg Mifsud said any change to the wild dog management program is going to have severe implications on livestock producers and neighbours to public lands across most of Victoria.

“From my perspective, from a wild dog and dingo management perspective of limiting their impacts on neighbouring properties, the livestock protection buffer was implemented back in 2013 which allows us to undertake control of the dingo as an unprotected wild dog in that zone,” he said.

“My concern is that six months to obtain long-term ecological data is probably an insufficient timeframe,” “It’s extremely important because if this review finds that dingoes need to be protected across the entire state, it means that basically no one can undertake control of wild dogs and dingoes.

“Someone like (Don Valley resident) Mr Greenwood would be liable and be committing an offence by shooting those dogs that are attacking his sheep.”

The dingo’s protection, cultural significance to First Nations people as well as the wider Australian population and its ecological importance as a native top-order predator make any decision on management and its threatened status crucial, especially given the impact that wild canine species, both dogs and dingoes, can have on livestock. Nevertheless, dingoes also play an important role in managing the populations of wild cats, wild goats, foxes and kangaroos which can also be destructive.

Mr Mifsud said he would like the review to acknowledge that dingoes are protected, conserved and uncontrolled over a very large land mass within the public lands in north, western and eastern Victoria.

“If the Order in Council is removed, then you basically won’t have any control occurring proactively in that three-kilometre buffer, which means particularly in those peri-urban areas, the impacts will go through the roof,” he said.

“Dogs will just continue to spill out of those areas into what are, in terms of prey availability, extremely productive landscapes.

“Certainly there’s a whole range of exclusion fencing to prevent feral animals from moving through but the problem is you need a full perimeter or a complete line of fencing to avoid the impact.”

Animal protection organisation Animals Australia recently launched a challenge to the Order in Council in the Supreme Court.

Animals Australia Legal Counsel Shatha Hamade said to use ‘livestock predation’ as an excuse to justify the killing of dingoes is illogi-

The owner of a motorbike found in the Yarra Valley is being sought after by local authorities.

Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit is seeking the owner of a Suzuki motorbike located at an address in the Yarra Valley earlier in the morning of Tuesday 12 December.

Police are seeking the owner of the motorbike and encourage anyone with any information regarding the bike to please contact Yarra Ranges CIU on 9739 2401.

Proof of ownership is required to claim the property.

The Star Mail is published by Paul Thomas for Star News Group Pty Ltd ABN 98 238 557 339. All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible. Distribution numbers, areas and coverage are estimates only. For terms and conditions please visit www.mailcommunity.com.au Print Post Number PP33445700014.

Get REAL Respect Equally All Lives www.cmdinfo.info Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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NEWS

Labor proposes shake-up

By Callum Ludwig The redistribution of Victoria’s federal electoral boundaries could see a fairly significant change to the representation of the Yarra Ranges and outer-eastern Melbourne in the Federal Parliament.

The submission from the Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party would see the most significant change, proposing to abolish the seat of Casey and seeing the seat of McEwen take a big shift east and straddle large amounts of the Yarra Ranges.

McEwen MP Rob Mitchell, from the Labor party, said redistributions occur regularly and many suggestions in submissions are made.

“I haven’t made a submission to the AEC (Australian Electoral Commission), but I have read other’s suggestions with interest. That said, suggestions are just that – suggestions,” he said.

“This is a pretty lengthy process with many more steps to go, and I’m looking forward to seeing the draft boundaries when they are released next year.”

Currently, the seat of McEwen stretches a wide span of communities north of Melbourne, representing townships from Woodend and Macedon in the north-west to Kilmore and Wallan centrally and goes all the way across to St Andrews and Christmas Hills, which neighbour the Casey electorate.

In Labor’s submission, the seat of McEwen would lose all of its territory west of Mernda, Yan Yean and Whittlesea, gain Mill Park North and South as well as parts of Research, North Warrandyte and Eltham from Scullin and shift across to envelope the upper Yarra Ranges.

This would include Lilydale-Coldstream (north of the suburb of Lilydale), Yarra Glen, part of Kinglake and Healesville, across all of the Upper Yarra and taking all of the territory the Casey electorate has in the Dandenong Ranges, including the areas of Monbulk-Sil-

Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell MP. van, part of Emerald-Cockatoo, Belgrave-Selby and Mount Dandenong-Olinda.

The rest of Casey is distributed to neighbouring electorates; Aston takes Upwey-Teco-

Picture: SUPPLIED ma and Casey’s share of Lysterfield, Menzies takes Chirnside Park and Moroolbark north and north-west of Hull Road and Deakin takes Kilsyth, Montrose, Mt Evelyn and the entire

suburb of Lilydale.

“The redistribution process is important to our democracy and I would encourage everyone to have their say,” Mr Mitchell said.

“As the Member for McEwen I have represented Yarra Ranges under previous boundaries.”

Before the 2010 redistribution, the seat of McEwen used to lay claim to the Yarra Ranges north and north-east of the Yarra River and east of Woori Yallock Creek, including the townships of Yarra Glen and Healesville and the Upper Yarra towns from Woori Yallock eastwards.

Mr Mitchell was elected as McEwen MP on 21 August 2010. The Augmented Electoral Commission made its public announcement of the decision on 21 October 2010 and made its final determination on 24 December 2010 so Mr Mitchell represented parts of the Yarra Ranges for a total of 125 days.

The Victorian Redistribution Committee will release their proposed redistribution report in Quarter 2 of 2024.

In the submission from the Victorian Branch of the Liberal Party, the only change to Casey is that it takes the town of Emerald from La Trobe and transfers its parts of Narre Warren East, Belgrave South, Belgrave Heights, Lysterfield, and Upper Ferntree Gully to Aston.

In the Liberals’ submission, McEwen loses some of its western territory to Bendigo, moves south-west into Calwell and Hawke and loses some of its south and south-eastern parts to Scullin and Jagajaga.

In the submission from the Victorian Branch of the Australian Greens, McEwen is the abolished seat. Casey would take Panton Hill and Hurstbridge from McEwen’s abolition and shed the parts of the seat that fall in the shire of Cardinia (Avonsleigh, part of Emerald) to La Trobe.

Over 24,000 buildings and structures at bushfire risk

By Callum Ludwig AI-driven research has reaffirmed the threat of the disaster Yarra Ranges residents fear most, bushfire, which would hit the region as hard as expected if a severe blaze broke out.

Property technology company PointData’s Bushfire Risk Index used AI and machine learning to identify the number of buildings and structures at risk due to bushfire in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and the cost of rebuilding.

In Victoria, the Yarra Ranges was identified as the region with the most buildings at risk, making up 24,059 of Victoria’s total of 176,329 and almost 12,500 more than the next most at-risk LGA, the Mornington Peninsula. Cardinia was also listed in fifth with 7636 at-risk buildings.

PointData’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer George Giannakodakis said despite the initial relief provided by a wet commencement to summer along the east coast, the enduring threat of bushfire remains strong.

“The consequences of bushfire risk extend far beyond the immediate devasting impacts, as enduring costs are significant, with our analysis suggesting a risk of more than $504 billion to buildings and structures across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria this summer,” he said.

“The devastating consequences of previous bushfire seasons, such as those witnessed in 2019-2020, serve as a stark reminder of the potential impact on lives, property, and the environment,” “Adequate planning and understanding the risk on properties and buildings are crucial components of mitigating the potential financial risk of major events.”

PointData’s Bushfire Risk Index measured the building footprint and land parcels in bushfire-risk areas with eligible buildings and structures including residential, commercial and ancillary structures larger than 80 square metres.

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

The looming threat of bushfire in the Yarra Ranges remains strong.

CFA District 13’s, which covers the Yarra Ranges, Maroondah and Knox LGAs, Acting Chief Fire Officer David Renkin said it is a reaffirmation of what we already know of the risk in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.

“What it means is that it reinforces the need for property owners to consistently manage their fuel loads on their properties to maintain the safety of the property and their families living in these areas,” he said.

“Along with having an appropriate bushfire plan and ensuring that they’re connected to some form of communication so they can receive the community warnings right through the fire season,” “We utilise the ABC in a lot of these formats and a battery-powered radio is always advisable given the power outages.”

Alerts for serious emergencies can be found online via the VicEmergency app or website, on X (formerly Twitter) at @CFA_Updates or @VicEmergency and Facebook at facebook.com/cfavic or facebook.com/vicemergency, theVicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226).

With the Fire Danger Period coming into effect in District 13 from 1am Monday 18 December, Mr Renkin said it’s all about vigilance and people reporting fire starts quickly

Picture: ON FILE

and early.

“This enables us to respond with the appropriate amount of vehicle and personnel to assist in combating that fire and trying to keep that fire as small as possible, though obviously there are days where Mother Nature doesn’t assist us,” he said.

“This year, anything is possible. We’ve certainly had some significant rains in recent times, which is fortunately enough to dampen it down a little bit, but it will only take one or two weeks of decent hot weather to dry out those fuels,” “I understand the emotional connection people have to their properties, but no one’s life is worth risking to save a property, we can replace the properties but we can’t replace human life.”

6.6 per cent of Victoria’s buildings and structures, including 16.7 per cent of all regional buildings and structures are at high risk, with a potential rebuilding cost of $144 billion.

Yarra Glen resident and clinical psychologist Dr Rob Gordon OAM, who has specialised in supporting people through disaster recovery, said there is such a huge amount to do when someone has lost everything in a fire.

“People become very quickly focused on

the next thing for survival and that means they don’t have the opportunity to feel what it all means, that’s something we can do when we’ve got a bit of free time and opportunity to reflect but there will be so much to do for months after the loss of your house,” he said.

“For most people, it’ll be a few years before they’re settled in a new house and all of that time they’re working very hard and often have very strong feelings of frustration because they’ll be stressed and exhausted on top of if there aren’t tradesmen around or the insurance company delays,” “It is a very complicated set of feelings involving sadness for what you’ve lost as well as being pleased to have a new house and it takes a big chunk of a few years out of people’s lives.”

Dr Gordon OAM began his work in the field after the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, assisted with and was caught himself in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and has also been called upon for the Port Arthur massacre, the Bali bombings, Covid-19 pandemic recovery, floods and cyclones. Dr Gordon OAM said the most important thing in his opinion is not so much just the building of the house but keeping your eye on everything that makes the life you’re going to live in that house.

“Your family relationships, your health, your good mood, your engagement with hobbies, activities and interests and all of these things because it’s very common that when people spend a few years in a higher level of stress they don’t put energy into them,” he said.

“Whether it be their relationship with their family or their friends, or they let their golf membership slide because they haven’t got the energy for a while and so on and when they come out the other end, they’re leading much narrower lives,” “It’s a recipe for finding that at the end of all the recovery, the life you’re leading is not one that you chose and it’s not one that’s enjoyable.” mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Stunning artwork returns Two culturally significant artefacts created by renowned Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung artist William Barak returned to his descendants after they were purchased at a New York auction by Elders at the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

Members of the Wurundjeri community were the first to see the precious works of art at a special event at the State Library of Victoria on 9 December. The following day an event to thank those who contributed to the return of the artefacts took place.

The pieces, Ceremony (Women in Possum Skin Cloaks) and a carved Parrying Shield both created by Barak in 1897, were purchased last year at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for more $600,000.

The successful bids by were led by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder Ron Jones and a team of dedicated staff, who worked through the night to ensure the return of the artworks. A crowdfunding campaign was set up by Elders to help purchase the precious items – made possible through hundreds of individual donations, along with funding from the Victorian State Government.

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation Elder Ron Jones said the winning auction was a moment he would remember forever.

“That would have to be the best thing I could ever say that’s happened in my life. It felt to me like I was bringing my great, great grand uncle’s spirit back home to Australia,” Ron said.

“I was pumped, I tell you. It’s like we brought our Ancestor’s relic back to Australia, where it belongs.

“Uncle William was revered right through colonial Victoria by both black and white. He was a great negotiator for the rights of his people.

“Uncle’s artwork is a great learning tool to show that we didn’t have a written language.

Uncle William’s paintings were depicting our Culture and the history, and that’s how people told it through drawings.

“We acknowledge all the beautiful people who contributed to the campaign to get Uncle William’s treasures back.

“These generous contributions demon-

The State Library of Victoria opened the ‘beruk’ exhibition featuring the story and works of Wurundjeri man William Barak.

Pictures: JAMES BRAUND, BERUK, STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA strated to the Victorian Government the importance of the Barak artworks to Wurundjeri and to the Victorian people.”

Victoria’s Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson said, “It’s an honour to be part of such an important celebration, marking the rightful return of William Barak’s works to Wurundjeri Country.

“We’re proud to support bringing these historic art works home and congratulate the Wurundjeri Corporation, together with the many members of the Victorian community who supported their campaign.”

This is a proud moment for the Wurundjeri community, given the cultural importance of Barak’s artworks. Wurundjeri Elders also see this occasion as an opportunity to remind people that Barak’s works belong to community and its rightful place back on Wurundjeri Country.

Barak used his paintings as a way to preserve Wurundjeri Culture for future generations, after cultural practices were banned on Aboriginal missions across Victoria.

Following the return to community, the works will take centre-stage at an exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of William Barak at the State Library Victoria.

“We honour the determination of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to make sure that these important works were returned to Country and, in doing so, State Library Victoria commits to providing a safe resting place and ensuring safe care for William Barak’s recording of culture,” State Library Victoria CEO Paul Duldig said.

The exhibition, titled Beruk after his Woiwurrung language birth name, was led by a team of Barak’s descendants, Wurundjeri art-

The Parrying Shield on display at the State Library of Victoria with an image of William Barak in the background. ists and curators, and will feature prominent works by Barak and portraits of him by other influential artists.

Remembering William Wall through a camera lense

By Callum Ludwig The keen eye of William Wall, the 14-year-old boy from Launching Place who went missing and was found dead in 2020, is being displayed in a photographic exhibition.

Curated from photographs discovered on his personal and school cameras, ‘My Vision’ opened at his grandmother’s gallery, Gold Street Studios in Trentham East, on 6 December and will be on display until 18 February.

William’s mum Teresa Wall said they had no idea he’d even taken so many photos.

“That was three years ago and at the time we thought about how nice it would be to share with everyone but it’s been too hard and too raw,” she said.

“They are amazing photos and I think because he was on the spectrum, he would capture everything in such h detail as well, even droplets of rain on a leaf, he managed to take a photo of.”

At 6.45am on 22 September 2020, William left home, telling his family that he was going for a run as he often did. When he didn’t return, a search effort involving police, SES, Bush Search and Rescue and local volunteers got underway. Just before 5pm on 23 September 2020, police confirmed that William’s body had been found in bushland at the back of a property in Yarra Junction. His death was not treated as suspicious and was later ruled as a suicide.

Ms Wall said Will had been having a rough time leading up to his death but not for a minute did they ever think he would take his own life.

“We’d been in and out of eating disorder clinics for about a year and it had been a total of six weeks in clinics,” she said. mailcommunity.com.au

Emergency services and community members searching for William in 2020. Picture: ON FILE

Picture: SUPPLIED

William Wall loved animals, including his sister’s horse Diva.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Victoria, an organisation dedicated to supporting grieving families in the event of the death of a child, and the Victorian Brotherhood, which is focused on male suicide awareness.

Ms Wall said it’s been hard on the whole family, but it’s a message that needs to be put out there. “This is important for anyone, for the people that are experiencing depression

and for the families and friends too,” she said.

“The people of the Yarra Valley were amazing, the support, the way they came together, and especially those couple of days when we were looking for him, they were amazing, be it the police or the general public,” “There’s always support out there for anyone, for families and for kids and teenagers that are going through hard times.”

William Wall’s keen eye for detail can be seen in this photo of a book.

“But we went for a walk the day before and he was telling me how he wanted to join the Air Force for a long time and talking about all the things he wants to do, so there’s not always signs,” “I see a lot of the photographs, and I see a lot of Will and the way he was in them.”

All proceeds and sales from the exhibition will go towards The Compassionate Friends

Tuesday, 19 December, 2023 | MAIL 5

NEWS

Food hub trial underway

By Tanya Steele As Christmas approaches a large food resource hub has been established for a 12 month trial in Wantirna, offering a boon to local food agencies and communities in need.

The facility will allow better access and distribution for food relief agencies throughout Knox and the Yarra Ranges, and will be overseen by Outer East Foodshare.

Outer East Foodshare secretary Marilyn Lambert said the facility is something the organisation has wanted for some time and the group is rapidly learning ‘on the go’.

“We’re trying to service Yarra Ranges and Knox agencies – we’ve been around for 10 years and we’ve not had a base,” she said.

“We can now store some of the larger volumes and share it out, it has been an absolute godsend for us – it’s terrific.”

The hub officially opened on 3 November and the warehouse was established with assistance from Knox City Council.

Knox Mayor, Cr Jude Dwight said Council had responded to surging community need for food and other emergency relief by providing access to a Council building for the 12-month trial.

“Outer East Foodshare will use the building to store and distribute Foodbank supplies to 35 local services in Knox that support residents in need,” she said.

“This is part of the Council’s work supporting welfare agencies to provide much needed services in our community. As cost of living pressures are acutely felt in our community, Council is working hard to ensure our residents can access good quality, nutritious food.”

Outer East volunteers have been active in the centre and are now able to process larger quantities of food - sometimes up to 300 kg from supermarkets. The larger volumes of food support can then be divided out to agencies or be picked up.

“We’re encouraging agencies to do a combination of either pick up and some we’re delivering to - just because of the logistics of getting it out quickly and getting it out to as many agencies as possible,” Ms Lambert said.

There is an estimated shortage of 167,138

Food can be more rapidly distributed with the help from volunteer delivery drivers or picked up from the centre by food share groups.

The officially opening launch on 3 November with local food relief agencies and the team from Knox City Council.

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Casey MP Aaron Violi said at his visit that it is fortunate we have so many local organisations providing food relief to those in need, particularly with the high cost of living.

something different in on another day,” she said.

Casey MP Aaron Violi visited the centre on Friday 15 December and said it was great to visit the new hub, witnessing firsthand the work of the dedicated volunteers.

“From their hub in Wantirna, Outer East Food Share supports our community through supplying organisations right across the Yarra Ranges - from ADRA in Warburton, the Mustard Tree in Lilydale, HICCI in Healesville, Discovery Community Care in Mt Evelyn, Foothills Community Care in Upwey, Food is Free Tecoma, Tecoma Uniting Church, Montrose Pantry, Holy Fools, Monbulk Care Network and many others,“ he said.

“None of this would be possible without the volunteers at Outer East Food Share or the volunteers inside the many emergency food relief

organisations they support.”

The agencies will also save time and petrol money Ms Lambert said it will enable a lot more food to be rescued and avoid it going to landfill, while supporting people who need help.

“A growing number of people in genuine need are saying, ‘By the time I’ve paid for my rent, electricity, fuel for my vehicle and school costs, there’s not a lot left’. And so what gets scrimped is food,” she said.

The initiative is part of the Council’s ongoing work with food relief agencies in the outer eastern suburbs; the warehouse will not be open directly to residents seeking support.

“We’re very much learning and we’re hoping we’ll learn on the go and gear up for next year,” Ms Lambert said.

“In reality, a lot of us are not that far off struggling.” she said.

kilograms of food each year needed to support people experiencing food insecurity in Knox alone.

Ms Lambert said the volunteer group have been collecting rescued food, such as surplus products and ‘ugly’ farm produce for the warehouse.

“We’ll have the ability to bring several more tonnes of rescued food and we will help the agencies who give out the food,” she said.

Ms Lambert said that they have had to be flexible and move quickly to distribute the food - the centre has been using “whatsapp” mobile phone chat threads to do their best to equally distribute the donations.

“Recently, we got a large donation of spinach and another day we got in about 108, two kilo packets of ham – we needed to get that out as quickly as possible because we might get

Sustainable Civic Centre design nominated The Yarra Ranges Council Civic Centre redevelopment has been nominated for a state design award for its innovative and sustainable architectural features.

The collaboration between H2o architects, the council, Lucid Consulting, Meinhardt Bonacci and Ziebell Landscape Architecture has been recognised in the Victorian Premier’s Design Awards.

Upgrading and extending the 1980s building, the aim was to provide an “agile and flexible” working space in a cohesive way, to break the previous barriers between departments.

“The cultural and physical dividers between departments of staff have been dissolved with fantastic effect, supported by technology solutions, large breakout hubs and personal storage options,” the design summary reads.

The sustainable aspects of the design were too acknowledged, commending the collaboration of partners for the integration of the old building into the new structure.

“The Civic Centre is a benchmark for sustainable and circular design due to its reduced environmental impact utilising adaptive reuse, while initiating new energy saving and generating programs,” the summary reads.

“The creative adaptive reuse of existing buildings is critical for our society to achieve its targets to avoid catastrophic climate change.

“The construction of new buildings is currently responsible for 13 per cent of global CO2 emissions, and if the current trend is not addressed will only grow to be a greater proportion.”

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

Yarra Ranges Council Civic Centre has been named a finalist in the Premier’s Design Awards. 379657 with no fossil fuel connections; native vegetation; glazed facade; and a target of 1060kL water consumption per year, as well as a capture target of 1100kL per year in rain water tanks, this all adds up to the sustainable concepts of the project.

Announcing the finalists for the awards on Tuesday 12 December, creative industries

minister Colin Brooks said each project shows how design can tackle larger concerns like climate change.

“Good design has the power to change our lives and these finalists showcase the diversity of Victoria’s design industry – from vital medical advancements to products and services that are more efficient, safe and sus-

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

tainable,” he said.

“The Victorian Premier’s Design Awards recognise the work and ingenuity of the designers, architects and design-led businesses that make our state a world-renowned leader in the field.”

The winners will be presented at an award ceremony in March next year. mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

More funds for college

By Dongyun Kwon The Yarra Ranges Council accepted the request for a review of the lease fee by Lyrebird College at the Tuesday 12 December council meeting.

By accepting the request, the college will have to spend less on the lease which can free up funds for student opportunities.

Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister said a drop in the council’s financial ocean would make a huge difference to the lives of the children, their educators and families in the school.

“Lyrebird College is a special school for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the name was chosen very deliberately because it’s not only the name of a native bird but it is a unique bird aligned with children and people with ASD; socially shy, difficult to see, and beautiful,” she said.

“So, the request from them is to amend the lease arrangement to apply a reduced community lease rate in line with their focus, as a school, which is not-for-profit status, and to enable them to invest, even if it is only a small amount of extra money backing the development of the school and the children in the community that they serve.

“Not a huge ask and wonderful for us to be

Lyrebird College is a special school for children with autism spectrum disorder in Coldstream.

Picture: ON FILE able to continue to support what is a very special place in our community.”

In July 2019, Lyrebird College commenced a land-only lease on Council land at 12 Kelso

Street in Coldstream following an extensive community consultative process culminating in a Council resolution to grant a 9-year lease, later extended to a 19-year lease in April 2021.

The use of the site was viewed as complementary to the existing facilities, which include a primary school, kindergarten, Maternal and Child Health facility and community hall, adding to the precinct’s education focus.

All buildings and other improvements on the site were constructed by the school, which remains entirely responsible for the full ongoing maintenance of those assets.

Lyrebird College has approached the Council seeking a review of the lease fee, with the aim of reducing overheads to ensure the ongoing financial viability of the service, and on the basis that the lease is for land only, which means that full responsibility for the construction and ongoing maintenance of all improvements on the site sits with the school.

Lyrebird College principal Julie Kugler said the discounted rent is greatly appreciated and would help them in their never-ending quest to make up the shortfall of funding to operate the school.

“The reduced lease fee will assist us in putting more money back directly into the programs and the education of the students,” she said.

“Our plan would continue to staff our school with a higher ratio of staff so that we can run more personalised learning.”

$15.8m in draft nature plan New trail approved in Yering

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Ranges Council unanimously approved the future adoption of the draft Yarra Ranges Nature Plan following a period of community consultation at the Tuesday 12 December Council meeting.

With over 130 submissions received on the draft plan, new actions, reprioritisation of plans, efforts to improve accountability and increased financial investment have now been incorporated into the plan.

Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton spoke to the motion and said it is very exciting to have some very extensive goals and a real outline of what the community can expect in the realm of nature.

“I don’t think you’d find anyone in the Yarra Ranges who didn’t value our natural environment and, however scientifically or not they might refer to it, the biodiversity realm, they know that’s what makes this area special to live in,” she said.

“If you visit here or live here, you’ll see how much we care for country and I think the way that we do that this plan is really the pivotal piece in that puzzle.”

Two per cent of the land mass of the Yarra Ranges is owned by Council (including 550 hectares of reserves and 403km of roadside) with 30 per cent in private ownership and 68 per cent Crown land. A large portion of the Council’s role in biodiversity management and conservation will be in advocacy to the State and Federal Government.

Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar seconded the motion and said to hope Council can push the Federal and State governments to

contribute more.

“It’s so very important to move on this tonight, the plan itself revolves around the four key themes being landscape and ecosystems, land use and changing climate, people and nature and pest plants and animals,” he said.

“It’s around 19 and a half million over 10 years and that’s not an insubstantial sum, it’s around 13 million committed from Council, about 1.3 million a year and we spend more on fixing footpaths each year than we do on our whole environment overall, so it’s not a huge commitment in my view.”

In the draft Nature Plan, the council initially outlined an investment of $15.8 million.

Following the Federal Government’s decision to adopt a Global Biodiversity Framework at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in 2022, a goal was set to protect 30 per cent of our land and 30 per cent of our oceans by 2030, equivalent to 60 million hectares.

Billanook Ward Councillor Tim Heenan said for a very long time humans have gone about destroying biodiversity in many of the areas around the world and a lot of them aren’t coming back.

“The actions that we have in the nature plan, particularly 1.2 to develop a prioritization matrix to identify biodiversity and 1.6 to support the restoration of the waterway corridors, billabongs and habitat are very, very important, as are all the others,” he said.

“Overall, what we need to do as a council is we need to concentrate more on protecting, understanding and educating our public on our unique environment.”

Yarra Ranges Council have approved the updated Nature Plan following the 130 community submissions that were factored in.

Picture: ON FILE mailcommunity.com.au

By Dongyun Kwon The Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) will start off the Stage 1B of the Yarra Valley Trail (YVT) project soon.

The motion for the Stage 1B.1 tender, regarding the construction of a new 1.2km long shared path trail north of MacIntyre Lane in Yering, was approved unanimously at the Tuesday 12 December council meeting.

Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister said it is not just constructing 1.2km of track.

“It is also to restore, stabilise and strengthen two heritage timber trestle bridges which is a substantial undertaking as well as a 2.1km barrier and a number of gates and fences to protect livestock and to protect the abutting farmland,” she said.

The YVT project is a part of the Ridges and Rivers project which aims to connect local townships and provide convenient, easy access to walking, cycling and mountain biking opportunities, delivering significant health and wellbeing benefits for Yarra Ranges communities.

YVT Stage 1 aims to construct a 12km shared trail following the Lilydale to Yarra Glen rail corridor and is being divided into two stages.

Stage 1A, 7.5km from Lilydale to Yering, was completed in December 2019 and opened to the public in 2020.

The planning permit for Stage 1B, from Yering to Yarra Glen, was issued in February 2023 following a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing.

O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child said he would not hesitate to support all the projects under the Ridges and Rivers project.

“We’ve invested heavily in an investigation and our commitment over the years has been quite outstanding on behalf of the council but also the officers,” he said.

“To me, yes, it is a very significant milestone in that important YVT to get to Yarra Glen and then it’s on further.

“When we look at that project in its entirety, ultimately, connecting to the Lilydale Warburton Rail Trail will be just such an amazing outcome.”

It will also support the economic growth of the region by having a tourism destination that connects trail users to wineries, cultural attractions and tourism destinations as well as by creating jobs.

Cr McAllister said her family is enthusiastic about the use of the trail networks as well as many people in Yarra Valley.

“Continuing to invest to bring these

The motion for the Stage 1B.1 tender regarding the construction of a new 1.2km long shared path trail north of MacIntyre Lane in Yering was approved unanimously at the Tuesday 12 December council meeting.

Picture: DONGYUN KWON wonderful trails to life and, certainly, through Covid, we grew to love them even more, they are such an important and worthwhile investment of the council,” she said.

The council awarded the tender from Cope Ag for a total lump sum price of over $1.5 million dollars exclusive of GST (over $1.7 million dollars inclusive of GST) for the YVT Stage 1B.1.

Cr McAllister said the YRC only has funded $2.5 million dollars out of $8.5 million for overall Stage 1 funding.

“The vast majority of work has been funded through the State and Federal Government from a number of different [funding] rounds,” she said.

The Federal Government has funded $2.5 million through the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities and the State Government has funded $2.5 million through the Growing Suburbs Fund and $1 million through the Eastern Metro Partnerships for YVT Stage 1.

YVT Stage 2A from Yarra Glen to Tarrawarra, Stage 2B from Tarrawarra to Healesville, Stage 3A from Healesville to Seville East and Stage 3B from Healesville to Woori Yallock will connect to the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.

The Australian Government has announced funding of $4.9 million for YVT Stage 2A. The remaining stages are in planning and are not funded for construction yet.

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Drive on to Redwood Forest

By Gabriella Vukman After delays due to flooding and landslides, the restoration and upgrade of the Cement Creek Road Bridge is complete and East Warburton’s Redwood Forest has reopened open for vehicle access.

Closed since 2022 when initial works on the bridge commenced, the Redwood Forest’s immense popularity raises parking concerns for Yarra Ranges Council.

O’Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child said that now road access to the forest was available again, it was important that visitors to the area exhibited appropriate behaviours, particularly around parking.

“Vehicle access has been closed for quite some time so we’re expecting increased visitation to the area given the Redwoods Forest is one of the most visited locations in the Yarra Ranges,” he said.

“Like always, we ask that if you are visiting to please come with a backup plan in mind to see other areas of the Upper Yarra, if the Redwoods is too busy,“ “What we don’t want to see is unsafe and illegal parking behaviour in the area, as it creates a major safety issue to other road users, as well as the potential damage it can cause to vegetation on roadsides.“ The brand new pedestrian-and-vehiclefriendly bridge and sealing of Cement Creek Road was delayed due to a landslide on the Warburton Highway that prevented the transport of heavy machinery needed for the upgrade.

Funded by The Federal Roads to Recovery Program, The Federal Bridge Renewal Program and the Victorian Government, the $1.3m project was elicited to improve the bridge’s load capacity and attend to the

The newly upgraded Cement Creek Road Bridge for access to the Redwood Forest. 379711 forest’s increased popularity.

Next on the list is the improvement of the forest’s facilities, carried out by Parks Victoria.

Parks Victoria District Manager Brendan Sullivan said they’re expecting to appoint a contractor and start on-the-ground work early next year.

“At the moment we’re working through cultural heritage and planning approvals,“ he said.

“The redwoods will be busy this summer and we’d encourage anyone heading there to go to our website to help plan your visit and

get the best experience.“ Parks Victoria’s proposed visitor upgrades include upgrading the carpark from 80 to 125 spaces including six accessible car parks and two bus parking spaces, installing a public toilet with two 9000ml rainwater tanks beside, a weather shelter, barbecues, picnic tables and seating, a solar-powered visitor safety gate at the entrance and interpretive and wayfinding signage.

In April 2023, the Heritage Council Victoria determined that the Cement Creek Plantation in Warburton, including the Redwood Forest

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS site, is of state heritage significance, which brings the process of obtaining heritage permits under their jurisdiction. Prior to that, the site was already included in Yarra Ranges Council’s heritage overlay.

Permits from Yarra Ranges Council and Heritage Victoria are required before the works can be carried out, with Parks Victoria awaiting them in order to finalise the designs and decide upon a contractor to deliver them. It is anticipated that works will start in early 2024, subject to on-ground conditions and the assessments and approvals process.

Wandin North trail crossings a hotspot for concerns

By Callum Ludwig A pair of road crossings on the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail in Wandin North continue to attract the ire of cyclists with an ongoing national survey already cropping up complaints.

The Amy Gillett Foundation and CrowdSpot’s BikeSpot 2023 survey have created an interactive map where cyclists can point out ‘Unsafe Spots’ for upgrades or improvements or champion ‘Safe Spots’ where they feel safe when riding.

Director and Founder of CrowdSpot Anthony Aisenberg said it allows every Australian to mark and drop a pin where they feel safe riding their bike and where they feel unsafe riding their bike.

“This is the third time we’ve run the project, the first two times in 2016 and 2020 were just in metro Melbourne and Victoria respectively and this is the first time that we’re going national with the project,” he said.

“We’re engaging communities and collecting data around cycling safety until January 31, at which point we’ll produce a number of different reports and make the data publicly available so that planners and decision-makers have this important data set to factor into their decision making.”

The crossing of the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail at the Warburton Highway in Wandin North has multiple pin drops as an ‘Unsafe Spot’, with cyclists pointing out that the ‘heap of traffic’ makes for ‘long crossing times’ and that the speed of cars coming downhill, lack of visibility around the bends and no refuge in the middle’ make it dangerous without its own crossing.

A Department of Transport and Planning (DOTP) spokesperson said the safety of all road users is their top priority.

“We will continue to monitor the road network to determine where upgrades are needed most,” they said.

“We have delivered pedestrian controlled traffic signals at key points along the Warburton Highway, to improve safety at popular pedestrian and cycling crossing points including on the Warburton Rail Trail.”

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A warning sign where the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail crosses the Warburton Highway in Wandin North. 379664

Highway traffic travelling at speed concerns cyclists crossing the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Trail. 379664 leading up to 31 December 2022, there were no recorded crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists along the Warburton Highway at the crossing.

Mr Aisenberg said he has ridden the trail a couple of times and that is an amazing asset for the region.

“Anything that can promote usage of the trail, which includes safety because we know that people’s major concerns are about cycling safety, we should,” he said.

“These intersection points can cause stress and have an impact on people’s behaviour, so whether it be a priority crossing or a raised crossing, anything to promote priority for the trail would be really useful for the region and the community.”

The crossing of the trail on Sebire Avenue concerned other riders who face the challenge of running the gauntlet of a blind corner for traffic coming from Wandin North just before the trail crosses the road. Sebire Avenue is managed by Yarra Ranges Council.

‘We appreciate the community bringing this to our attention and we will investigate accordingly,” a Yarra Ranges Council spokesperson said.

Anyone can add a spot on the interactive map by visiting bikespot.org.

Mr Aisenberg said he thinks giving advanced warning to drivers at the Sebire Avenue site could help.

“Coming around the corner at such speeds, if there’s riders crossing, it’s going to make for

The trail crossing Sebire Avenue. 379664 potential incidents or close calls, so anything to make the road environment more predictable will be better for drivers and riders in the area,” he said.

“Often in the past, the human experiences have been left behind when making decisions, usually on historical crash stats or volume data, old engineering ways, but we need to take into account all forms of data sources and the human experience is a really important one,” “Crash stats will tell a top five locations in some respect, and then how people feel will tell a very different story but when we combine them, we’ve got a complete picture to better place priorities around future cycling safety improvements.” mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Lynette’s flying high

By Dongyun Kwon Don Valley resident, who volunteers for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria, Lynette Ward received the Bernice Jenkins Volunteer Award for her contribution to the Flying Doctor Memory Lane.

The Bernice Jenkins Volunteer Award is named in honour of the late Bernice Jenkins OAM, the Flying Doctor’s longest-serving and most influential volunteer.

The award was given to the recipients during the annual John Flynn Luncheon on Thursday 30 November.

Award winner Lynette Ward said she was amazed because she didn’t know she was going to receive an award.

“They told us that they were going to come in to do first aid and they were really pulling our legs because they wanted to give us the award surprisingly,” Ms Ward said.

Ms Ward and her pair Craig Watts have transported dozens of Victorians in end-of-life or palliative care to a place of personal significance with dignity, safety and empathy, allowing people one last chance to go down memory lane with family and friends throughout the Flying Doctor Memory Lane.

RFDS Victoria communication, brand and engagement manager Jonathan Green said people who are in palliative or end-of-life care want to get back home, beach or do something simple for the last time.

“Lynette is part of our patient transport team, so she works on the road with nonemergency patient transport, but she volunteers her time for Memory Lane transport,” he said.

“She’s giving up all of her time for free to be a person who’s got medical and paramedic ability to support these people when they go on these journeys.”

Ms Ward works for the Healesville Hospital

Mr Green said Ms Ward is a caring, generous and passionate person who is essential to run the Flying Doctor Memory Lane.

Bernice Jenkins Volunteer Award recipients Craig Watts (left) and Lynette Ward (right).

Pictures: SUPPLIED

Award winner Lynette Ward said she was amazed because she didn’t know she was going to receive an award.

as a nurse and for the RFDS Victoria as a patient transport officer and said she found the service very special and fun.

“Being on the road with taking palliative patients and other patients is a special thing to be able to give someone the last journey out of hospital taking them away from the medical scene, letting them have fun with their family,” she said.

“They welcome us into their family. Even though we are strangers to them, they still treat us like we’re one of them in their family.

“We just love seeing their happiness, smiles and their time spent with their family.”

Ms Ward has volunteered for the Flying Doctor Memory Lane for over a year.

She said she remembered one special moment when she helped a lady and her husband

the word.

Mr Green said Ms Ward is a caring, generous and passionate person who is essential to run the service.

“It is important to have volunteers for the Flying Doctor Memory Lane because we can’t take a standard ambulance and a staff member off the road that might be needed for something else, so we have special ambulances which look different and they (Ms Ward and Mr Watts) choose to do this in their own time,” he said.

“One of the transports that Lynette has done ended up taking 14 hours. They drove up to Rochester to pick a woman up to her son’s wedding which was an hour away and they waited for her for another four hours at the wedding and took her back to Rochester and back to Melbourne.”

enjoy a day at the beach where they could be husband and wife instead of carer and patient.

“We took the lady to a beach holiday, it was down at Port Fairy, we had the drive all the way from Mitcham to Saint Arnaud to collect her, then from Saint Arnaud to Port Fairy and on our way home from Port Fairy and we took her to Horsham Hospital where she had some cancer treatment,” she said.

“We were involved in everything that she needed to do for that one day including a hospital visit.

“As we left their beach home they hired in Port Fairy, she turned around and said ‘thank you very much for giving me my husband back after being my carer for the last 12 months’.”

The pair also actively help promote the service, speaking at conferences and events and taking part in media opportunities to spread

Upper Yarra community groups and volunteers recognised

By Callum Ludwig There were seven Upper Yarra winners from Casey MP Aaron Violi’s Casey Volunteer and Community Awards on Saturday 9 December.

There were among 39 individuals and 14 community groups from across the electorate to share in the awards recognising their efforts throughout the year. Mr Violi said volunteer and community groups are what make our community so strong.

“These volunteers and community groups are the backbone of our community. They are special people who go above and beyond to make the Yarra Ranges such a wonderful, tightknit place to call home,” he said.

“It was my pleasure to be able to reward and give back to our hardworking volunteers and community groups who do so much without ever asking for any recognition.”

Yarra Valley ECOSS received a Community Award and Executive Officer Chelsea McNab said they are very happy to receive an award that recognises their volunteers’ work.

“We hope this can help us attract more vitally needed funding to keep these programs going, we have achieved mountains this year at ECOSS,” she said.

“Next year we are building four new studios and inviting new Co-locators to the site.

We will grow thousands of plants to go into the local environment, we will have more of our crops mature to increase our donations to food relief and we will continue all our above activities,” “Volunteering and being part of community groups is vitally important for Not for Profit groups to thrive and survive. It’s very good for mental health, helps people gain skills and feel connected to their communities and it helps to give back and care for the planet as a whole.”

Some of ECOSS’ achievements include the expansion of the Community Garden, establishing a Co-farming area ‘Pollination Place’, expanding the Native Nursery, putting in deer fencing, holding four large festivals and an event every month and partnering mailcommunity.com.au

Casey MP Aaron Violi thanks the crowd of volunteers and community groups for their efforts.

Quilts for Orphans members with Casey MP Aaron Violi. with the BioChar project.

The Adcare Community Op Shop in Warburton also received a community award and team leader Kathy Kearns said the team were very surprised and honoured to be chosen for an award.

“Our Op Shop has been running for over 44 years serving the Warburton community and we were a little disappointed that none of our history was mentioned at the awards,” she said.

“We are very proud to provide goods at very reasonable prices to the community in this very stressful financial time,” “We are very proud to be part of the larger volunteer groups operating in the Upper Yarra area.”

The Adcare Op Shop has been providing financial support to Woori Yallock Primary School, Millwarra Primary School, Warburton Primary School, Women’s Refuge, Friday Night Soup Kitchen, interstate to tornado, drought and fire-stricken areas including in Queensland and overseas to efforts in Thailand, Cambodia and the Bhutan twins.

Other Upper Yarra Community Award recipients were Ben’s Shed Yarra Junction

Pictures: SUPPLIED

for the School Woodwork Program, Koha Community Cafe and Quilts for Orphans in Hoddles Creek while Rachel Hughes, Alison O’Brien, Michael Del Pol from Koha all received individual Volunteer Awards too.

President of Quilts for Orphans Annette Stone said it was exciting to join the crowd at the Casey Volunteer and Community Awards to recognise the work of an army of volunteers in our community.

“Quilts for Orphans’ regroup after Covid confinement, has been slow but steady, and our Gathering days are seeing a growing number of volunteers, busy at the machines and cutting tables again, and enjoying the company of other stitchers in a joint endeavour to bring comfort and encouragement to those in need,” she said.

“Our fabric hugs have been delivered to babes and the elderly, the displaced and distressed. From premature baby units to nursing homes, and re-settlers to those in refuges, our work reaches generations and across borders. Our global work will continue in 2024 as connections and networks allow,” “Stitching may not be your thing, but with a wide range of community groups locally,

The Adcare Op Shop team receiving their award. there is an opportunity to employ your skills and interests to help others, while enjoying the company of other volunteers in purposeful activity.”

The Millgrove Residents’ Action Group (MRAG) also received a Community Award, recognisng their efforts to support the township in disaster resilience, local amenities and community connection.

An MRAG spokesperson said they have had a very productive and rewarding year and along with their highly motivated and empowered group of volunteers, we look forward to achieving some of our larger projects in 2024.

“MRAG is looking forward to Millgrove’s first of four annual Light Trail events with the theme ‘History Exposed’ and we are progressing to establish a Community Emergency Hub and encouraging renewable power, with greater plans to assess the feasibility of a miniHydro on the Dee River which will help Millgrove to become more resilient,” they said.

“A plan for a community garden is developing and we have just been donated a miniature train which we hope can be located in the Millgrove Memorial Reserve Park.”

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A prized gift to remember

By Callum Ludwig As Grade 6 students across the country are finishing their final days of primary school, Wandin North Primary School’s graduates received a special gift to mark the occasion.

Specially made pens from the Treasuring Our Trees (TOT) program were presented to the students to take with them to secondary school, made from the timber of fallen trees in the Yarra Ranges since the June 2021 storm event.

Treasuring Our Trees Founder David Ferrier said he was very proud of the hard work they have put in.

“It was formed through a group of volunteers after the June 2021 storm and essentially our program wanted to salvage a portion of the trees to build some beautiful projects just like we have out the back here,” he said.

“This is the very first full project that we built and now we’re planning to build over 100.”

Earlier in the year, Wandin North Primary School had a sustainable bush tucker garden, a yarning circle, a wooden shopfront and ‘fairy houses’ delivered and built by TOT from their stocks of fallen timber for students to use for years to come.

Wandin North Primary School Principal Paul Bailey said they were very fortunate to have the opportunity to bring to life the space, which was quite dead and not very usable to a space they can use all year around.

“Dave did a lot of work for us at the beginning of the year, helping to set up our sustainability garden for HEROES,” he said.

“The power of work that we have done, the students and the teachers, to bring that space to life using the veggies and fruits for our cooking and the facility for our garden wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of Treasuring Our Trees and Dave.”

Other schools that have received TOT proj-

Wandin North Primary School’s School Captain Charlie, Vice Captains Chloe and Bray and School Captain Reid with their gifted pens.

Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG ects and pens include Montrose Primary School, Mount Dandenong Primary, Olinda Primary School, Sassafras Primary School and Emerald Primary School.

Casey MP Aaron Violi was in attendance and congratulated students on finishing their primary school journey, as well as thanking Mr Ferrier and Mr Bailey.

“It’s an exciting time for you, it’s great to be here to acknowledge you with these pens and these gifts and want to wish you all the best for

next year,” he said.

“Dave volunteered and dedicated a lot of time, and has got such passion and enthusiasm for our community and sustainability, turning what was a tough time and a really tragic event for so many in our community into something positive that can continue to be paid forward,” “As Mr Bailey said, you were very fortunate to be the first and you’ve played a key role in bringing this project to life and creating a template for many other schools.”

As well as local trees from the June 2021 storm event, TOT has received trees that were removed as part of the Victorian Government’s Level Crossing Removal Project ensuring no trees go to waste.

Melbourne Water representatives, who played a big role in the clearing of debris following the June 2021 storm event, were also in attendance to help hand out pens, congratulate students on their graduation and wish them well for their secondary schooling ahead.

Celebrating Upper Yarra Secondary College’s achievers

By Callum Ludwig Year 12 students across the state were up at 7am to receive their VCE results, awaiting what they achieved as their final ATAR score.

Upper Yarra Secondary College (UYSC) students were no exception, with some notable top acheivers.

Senior School Leader Katie Feagan said Upper Yarra Secondary College is incredibly proud of all their Year 12 students.

“They have achieved some amazing results and it is wonderful to see all the hard work put in by students and teachers, paying off. We have two students who achieved an ATAR of above 90, placing them in the top 10 per cent of the state and a further 3 students in the top 20 per cent of the state who only just missed out on achieving an ATAR in the 90s,” she said.

“We had a number of students who achieved Study Scores in the 40s and our top study score was 48, which is absolutely amazing and one of the highest study scores the college has achieved.”

“We wish all our Year 12 students all the best as they transition into this next chapter of their lives and look forward to hearing about your future achievements, we are all very proud of you.”

Four UYSC students achieved a study score, the final score for a subject calculated from assessment and exam results, above 40, which gets them a feature in the student honour roll.

The highest study score that can be achieved for a subject is a perfect 50.

Jarred Harvey achieved a 42 study score in General Mathematics and said the morning his results were released, he was feeling a little apprehensive, which was replaced with relief after seeing his ATAR. “I am pleased with my dedication and efforts throughout the year that have helped me achieve this result, some days were harder than others, however, seeing my hard work pay off has been worth it,” he said.

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UYSC Top Achiever Lucas Rush, who achieved a study score of 48 in outdoor and Environmental Studies. then enrolling in a bachelor of science at The University of Melbourne, majoring in chemical engineering. I would like to thank my teachers for the time and effort that they have put into every student.”

Reyd Coshutt and Jacinta Tait also excelled in General Mathematics at UYSC, achieving study scores of 43 and 40 respectively.

Lucas Rush was the recipient of the outstanding study score of 48, achieving it for his efforts in Outdoor and Environmental Studies and said he is planning to go to Deakin University next year to study sport science and continue in a life of sport and health.

“I wasn’t really nervous at all, just keen to finally see the results that I’ve waited to see for so long. I was more excited to see how I went,” he said.

“I’m very proud and happy about my efforts, especially seeing as they have paid off, the hard work was worth it, and now I am confident that I will make the course that I want to be in.”

UYSC Top Achiever Jarred Harvey, who achieved a study score of 43 in General Mathematics.

Pictures: SUPPLIED mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Sanctuary strikes gold

By Dongyun Kwon Healesville Sanctuary recently won the Gold Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences at the Victorian Tourism Awards on Thursday 30 November.

The Victorian Tourism Awards, hosted annually by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC), honours business excellence and performance within the industry.

The Awards encourage businesses to meet and exceed industry standards and play an integral role in acknowledging business excellence together with outstanding innovation, industry professionalism and collaboration.

Healesville Sanctuary director Ross Williamson said he was thrilled that Healesville Sanctuary has been recognised for a second year in a row at the VTIC’s annual Awards.

“It is an honour to be acknowledged for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences award and it is my hope to continue to provide opportunities to connect our visitors with Wurundjeri Culture,” he said.

“It’s great recognition for what we have built at Healesville Sanctuary over many decades, and we will continue to work with First Peoples into the future.”

The Victorian Tourism Awards recognise winners in 28 categories and three individual excellence categories.

Winners and Finalists of the Victorian Tourism Awards are determined by achieving a score of 70 per cent or above.

The winner is the highest-scoring entrant in each category.

Hall of Fame is awarded to an entrant that has won the same category over three consecutive years and the Highly Commended recognition is given to finalists that have not won an award but scored over 80 per cent.

Healesville Sanctuary became the Gold Award winner for its dedication to connecting Wurundjeri Country and Culture with its beautiful bushland setting with Indigenous plants.

Mr Williamson said he’d like to extend his gratitude to Wurundjeri elder Murrundindi for sharing his culture with the Sanctuary.

“He started a conversation that allowed for deeper understanding and appreciation of culture,” he said.

“Thank you to our events and tourism coordinator Donna Paterson for her efforts to make the awards submission and to everyone at Healesville Sanctuary who works to recognise Wurundjeri Culture.”

Healesville Sanctuary recently won the Gold Award at the Victorian Tourism Awards on Thursday 30 November.

VTIC chief executive Felicia Mariani said Healesville Sanctuary has received entry to compete at the Australian Tourism Awards.

“The Victorian Tourism Awards is actually a national awards process, so every state in the

country undertakes a very rigorous and comprehensive application,” she said.

“We have 34 judges in Victoria who evaluate the submission after site visit, full analysis and deliberation.

Picture: SUPPLIED

“The Gold winners in each category now progress on to the national Australian Tourism Awards which are going to be held in Darwin in March 2024 and they’ll compete against Gold winners from every state across the country.”

Seville Pony Club’s Emily Hudak wins top award

By Callum Ludwig A young star of the Seville Pony Club has been recognised for her achievements both atop and off the horse.

Emily Hudak was awarded the ‘Best Achievement by a Junior Rider (13-17 years)’ at the 2023 Pony Club Australia Annual Awards last month.

Emily said she was excited to have been nominated at all and so grateful to be the winner.

“I started happy crying because I was just so happy, it’s always been a dream to win something like this,” she said.

Emily has been busy in 2023, organising fundraisers for her own Seville Pony Club and for the Macclesfield Pony Club in support of them after their clubhouse was destroyed by a fire in June, organising a Freshman’s Showjumping Day to support them.

Emily said she was just happy to be helping another club out.

“I felt bad for the club that they lost their club rooms and I was just happy that I could put some money towards them helping fix it,” she said.

Emily has also been mentoring younger riders, assisting in the running of club events, holding a place on the Junior Committee and through all her efforts has twice won the Seville Pony Club’s Brenda Mitton Pony Club Spirit Award as a result.

She was also selected to represent Team Victorian in the 2023 Pony Club Australia National Championships in October, having mailcommunity.com.au

Emily Hudak has been busy arranging events, fundraisers and competing in 2023.

Picture: ON FILE

Seville Pony Club’s Emily Hudak with her award.

Picture: SUPPLIED

flew out to Perth for it and we came second,” she said.

“It was different to what I thought it was going to be but it was really fun to do it as a team and in person this time.”

The championships are held every to

years, with rides competing in dressage, show jumping, combined training, mounted games, tetrathlon and a quiz with the points totalled at the end to decide the winning state.

You can expect to see Emily gunning for a spot on the team again in 2025.

already competed in 2021, which was held virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Emily said she was happy that selectors thought she would be a good part of the team.

“It was lots of fun, especially because we

Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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MAIL 11

NEWS

L-R: Andrea Hamer (daughter), Bernice Hanson (artist), Clare Hamer (granddaughter).

Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Bernice Hanson, who is 98 years old, is showcasing her art pieces in the local cafe Mare.

Art runs deep for family

By Dongyun Kwon New Healesville resident Bernice Hanson, who is 98 years old, is showcasing her art pieces in the local cafe Mare.

Hanson’s granddaughter Clare Hamer found them when the family was clearing up their house when they were moving from Lower Plenty to Healesville about a month ago.

Hanson said she painted simple subjects around herself.

“I always painted what I saw and I got pleasure out of being able to make it look how it looked,” she said.

“For me, art is just sitting down and working out what to do, that’s why I had so many simple things.

“The important thing, while I was painting and designing cloth, was just the pleasure of putting it on.”

Her art teacher was a student of Max Meldrum who is known as a founder of Australian tonalism, a representational painting style that became popular in Melbourne during the interwar period.

Hanson’s style reflected that of Max Meldrum and tonalism. There were two big artistic communities in Eltham in the 60s and 70s.

One was Montsalvat in which Hanson was involved and the other one was Heide.

Clare said Hanson was interconnected with the artistic community throughout the

Eltham Rural Group.

“Eltham Rural Group has something called Paddy’s Market which still runs and the first thing they did was raise money for medical equipment for local hospitals,” Clare said.

“Grandpa was on the board of Diamond Valley Hospital, so granny’s work with the Eltham Rural Group helped to raise funds for the local community, but not through selling art.

“But that was the group that she was involved in and that route connected her with the artist community.”

Hanson takes after her parents; her mother was a fashion designer and her father was a painter. Hanson’s daughter Andrea Hamer said Hanson made all the clothes for her three children.

“We would buy jeans or some t-shirts but anything else, my mum made them,“ she said.

“What we actually wanted to do was go to the shop and buy clothes because that’s what everybody else did.

“When I became 17, I just left home to go to university and bought clothes off the rack.”

Andrea said it is interesting to see how the talent passes down throughout the generations.

“All of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have the same talent,“ she said.

“Liz is an architect artist and Kat is a dress designer.“

Andrea said it is interesting to see how the talent passes down throughout the generations.

Warburton author shares latest story with students

By Callum Ludwig A Warburton author has been sharing her latest story, hoping to make it accessible to as many children as possible.

Jo Rothwell recently published the latest in her Yelpie Kelpie series, ‘One Yelpie in a Sticky Situation’, and is visiting local schools and holding her usual charity ‘non-book launch’ to mark the release.

Ms Rothwell said she first started writing and publishing books in 2004.

“It’s been almost 20 years and I think the latest one is my 18th book, I started dabbling in writing when I used to work as a governess on a cattle station in the Northern Territory a long time ago,” she said.

“I found that instead of going down the traditional route using a publisher, I published my own books because most of the books are geographically able to be used by tourists as well,” she said.

“My very first book was ‘My Warburton Adventure’, then there was ‘My Phillip Island Adventure’, ‘My Melbourne Adventure’, then Syndey, the Grea Ocen Road and it just meant 12 MAIL

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that there was other outlets other than just bookshops that would stock the books for sale.”

Ms Rothwell’s notable lack of any book launch events is so that she can instead put the money that holding an event would cost towards donating books to charity, which she has done since the release of her first book.

Ms Rothwell said she’s not a fan of being in the limelight and sometimes people get a little bit disillusioned with becoming an author and selling books.

“I’d rather just get the book out there and my way of doing it is that instead of paying for the whole cocktails and canapes thing, I’d rather just go to schools and give them to the kids,” she said.

“I find there’s an awful lot of joy when you when you’re able to do that, I try and make it as entertaining as possible and I feel like I get probably more back from that than than anyone,” “One of the most amazing ones was when we went to the Royal Children’s Hospital when we did My Melbourne Adventure, we collaborated with the Starlight Foundation,

Carp Productions entertained the kids and we gave all the kids a book.”

Ms Rothwell has visited Warburton Primary School to give away some books and share the story with students and is also set to visit Millwarra Primary School.

Ms Rothwell said the bottom line for her is merely about having someone enjoy what she’s written.

“When you write a book for the reason of wanting a child to enjoy it, that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day, it’s not about sales,” she said.

“You get direct feedback from children when you’re reading the story so you learn from that as well, you’re always learning how kids react to certain things.”

Ms Rothwell’s relationship with local tourism has continued, with the Warburton Waterwheel Information Centre still stocking Ms Rothwell’s books, including One Yelpie in a Sticky Situation.

Anyone who picks up a copy can keep an eye out for a few signature features of Warburton that have found their way into the story.

Jo Rothwell with her new book ‘One Yelpie Kelpie in a Sticky Situation’.

Picture: SUPPLIED mailcommunity.com.au

YARRA VALLEY PRO RODEO

This year YV Rodeo is raising awareness for Ovarian Cancer.

Picture: SUPPLIED

There will be plenty of action to witness as riders take to the arena.

Picture: BR ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Saddle up for the rodeo The gates of the Yarra Valley Rodeo swing open at 3pm, marking the beginning of an unforgettable experience. The heart-pounding main action kicks off at 5pm, promising a spectacle of thrills and spills that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Bring the kids along for an early treat from 4pm to 5pm, as Andy’s Antics takes the stage to entertain, complemented by free face painting and the chance to experience an Australian Animal Zoo at no cost. Carnival rides add an extra layer of fun, while the Mechanical Bull beckons, daring you to channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl.

As the main event concludes, an awesome band takes the spotlight, ensuring that the entertainment continues well into the night. Fuel your excitement with a variety of food trucks and a fully stocked bar. To skip the queues and

secure your spot, be sure to book your tickets and bar passes online. Act swiftly, as this highly anticipated event is poised to sell out once again.

More than just a night of exhilarating rodeo action, the YV Rodeo is dedicated to raising awareness for two important causes—Ovarian Cancer and Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS). Join us in supporting these crucial initiatives as you revel in the electrifying atmosphere.

So, dust off your hats, strap on your boots, and fasten your buckles for a night filled with fast-paced barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, and the timeless favourites—Bronco and Bull riding. Visit yarravalleyrodeo.com.au to secure your tickets and prepare for a night of unforgettable moments.

There will be entertainment for the kids and food and beverages on offer.

Picture: BR ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Sat 20th Jan STRICTLY NO BYO ALCOHOL

Ovarian Cancer Awarness

12654330-RR51-23

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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MAIL 13

OPINION

A great privilege to serve Preparations are well underway this holiday season and I hope you’ve been able to take advantage of the many events around the municipality, whether that be joining in with carol singing or supporting our local businesses at the twilight markets.

As Mayor, I have had the great privilege in these past two months to meet more wonderful people in our community who give up their time to support and help others.

Indeed, at the last Council meeting I was honoured to thank Professor Arnold Dix from Monbulk for his involvement in saving the lives of 41 men in India back in November.

This makes me reflect on what is important at this time of year and think about how

From my

desk Sophie Todorov

Mayor of Yarra Ranges we care for one another, show kindness and embrace the spirit of togetherness.

I am proud of our community which values coming together to support one another – and not just at Christmas - as we have seen

over and over again in Yarra Ranges.

It is important to remember that this festive season means and represents different things to every one of us.

However, as we know, this time of year can also pile on the financial pressure and this can sometimes lead to stress, family violence or maybe loneliness.

If this sounds familiar, there are services that can help.

Council’s website has links to many services in the area: Community relief and support agencies Yarra Ranges Council.

In addition to that, Holy Fools also offers a Christmas Day meal for those in need - check out their website for further information.

If you have never met your neighbours, now would be a good time to pop around and say hi and reach out to those people in our community who are lonely and may not be surrounded by family and friends. Over the summer break you may want to take advantage of some of Council’s great services and facilities - personally I really enjoy walking along our fabulous trail networks, grabbing a coffee in a local cafe and spending time at one of our local libraries or community gardens. I also know that our water play parks are super popular at this time of year!

So I hope during the holiday season you all have the opportunity to be rested, enjoy quality time with family and friends and, above all else, be safe.

Looking back on history of The Basin Theatre Prepare the popcorn because film reviewer Seth Lukas Hynes has named his top films for the year.

Picture: ON FILE

Looking back on the best blockbuster films of 2023 This year was a year of strikes and box-office disasters, but also had its fair share of milestones and triumphs.

Everything Everywhere All At Once swept the Oscars, becoming the first overt science fiction film to win Best Picture, and Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian woman to win Best Actress.

For all the talk of blockbuster bloat and hubris last week, the few blockbuster successes, which include Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Barbie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, did gangbuster business (the latter two each made over a billion dollars at the global box-office). Barbie is the most successful film ever directed by a woman, Oppenheimer became the most successful biopic of all time ($947 million), and the Barbenheimer phenomenon was a rare case of audiences promoting two very different films together instead of pitting them against each other. Many pundits foresee the slow death of the cinema, but Barbenheimer got people excited for the movies again.

As for honourable mentions: Mission Impossible 7 is an extremely solid, creative, frequently funny, very sexy action movie.

Past Lives is a gentle yet deeply touching drama with lush, literary dialogue. They Cloned Tyrone is a fun, socially-aware scifi satire fizzing with chemistry. Talk To Me is an eerie, really well-crafted horror film (with kinda obnoxious energy). Sisu is a gruesomely-satisfying Finnish Rambo.

The Cost is a harrowing Australian thriller.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and Blue Beetle are exciting, affecting superhero adventures, and The Flash, despite its messiness, is highly enjoyable.

Here are my picks for the top 10 best films of 2023: 10. Linoleum. A cozy slice-of-life drama with a poignant, utterly ingenious narrative just under the surface. For reasons I won’t spoil, Linoleum would make a great double-feature with the time travel thriller Predestination.

9. Pearl. A macabre, hilarious slasher movie, this prequel builds upon X but tells its own story about family rebellion and longing for stardom. Mia Goth delivers one of her best, most deranged performances yet (and has the best monologue of the year).

8. The Creator. A visually-stunning, wellpaced sci-fi journey where the charac14 MAIL

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ter development and broader war conflict are in near-perfect symbiosis.

7. The Killer. A brilliant deadpan crime satire from David Fincher. Michael Fassbender leads a beautifully-shot comedy of errors on how a movie assassin’s mantras, rationalizations and meticulous plans don’t mean squat in the unpredictable real world.

6. JUNG_E. A wild-card that may not be on many people’s radar, I loved JUNG_E for its psychological intrigue, amazing art direction, fun villain, witty satire and enthralling bursts of action.

5. Saltburn. A fascinating, depraved visual feast. Like Midsommar for boys, or The Wicker Man with predator and prey flipped.

4. Killers of the Flower Moon. An entrancing historical drama from Martin Scorsese. A finely-crafted, morally-grey tapestry of conspiracy, love and prejudice.

3. John Wick: Chapter 4. One of the best American action movies ever made, John Wick 4 has immensely varied, impeccably choreographed action, but also a layered, moving plot about loyalty, sacrifice, friendship and toxic grudges.

2. Oppenheimer. A magnificent biographical epic. Vast yet intimate, this film grips you tight for the full three hours, and succeeds in being complex without being complicated.

1. Godzilla Minus One. Sure, I’m a lifelong Godzilla fan, but Godzilla Minus One would rank very highly regardless: it features thrilling monster action and effects, but also a superbly-paced, deeply moving story with compelling characters and anti-war themes.

It was a bumpy year, but one full of great movies, and I’m really looking forward to what 2024 has to offer.

In 1984 in The Basin, Edna and Fergus Chandler with some like minded friends produced a play under the banner of The Basin Drama Group.

The play was Quiet Weekend and it was held in The Basin Progress hall.

It was such a success they repeated it in the Boronia Progress Hall.

This led to the company producing three plays a year with rehearsals being held in the home of Edna and Fergus Chandler.

After rehearsals the company would move to the Hall where they borrowed seats from the Salvation Army.

At the time the Salvation Army was a prison farm for young offenders, and thanks to the borrowing of the seats the company had the young offenders as an audience for the final dress rehearsal in the Hall. As a captive audience as one could suspect they were a nightmare.

No hesitation in calling out suggestions if they did not consider the acting was not up to their standard.

But if the young audience liked the show the company knew they were on a winner.

In 1958, the groups formalised and with a constitution and management took the name - The Basin Theatre Group - which it is known to this day.

By 1966 the company outgrew the Chandler home so land donated by the Chandlers they built their first home, an Aframe building known as The Hut. As the company got bigger and The Hut had outlived its main use, a new theatre

Kemp’s curtain call was built and it was done with no financial help other than the volunteers of the company giving their time and energy on constructing a modern theatre in The Basin behind Doongalla, the home of the Chandlers.

The initial construction of the new theatre was the stage, auditorium, small foyer and storage room.

Over the years these facilities have been extended to include props/wardrobe, storage, rehearsal spade and modernisation of the kitchen and foyer space.

This family atmosphere has been indicative of the unity and dedication of theatre friends. Extraordinary devotion and unselfish service over a long period has been a feature of this fellowship.

To this present day members combine service with privilege and find pleasure in united efforts as an organisation.

The Basin Theatre Group produces four shows a year plus taking one-act plays to various festivals around the state.

TBTG also donates to various charities in the area.

A great theatre in the bush of the Dandenongs.

CARTOON

mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

Where to Connecting with see Santa nature this summer this year WOORILLA WORDS With summer finally here and the promise of warm weather, the draw of nature is strong.

Nature can come in grand packages of wilderness, national parks and other wide open spaces, but for many it’s their backyard, townhouse courtyard or inner city balcony that is their daily focus, Here in the Dandenongs, most of us still enjoy the privilege of space that lets us connect with nature and benefit from the positive effects it brings to a person’s physical, emotional and mental state.

Those with limited space to enjoy a garden should read Indira Naidoo’s The Edible Garden where she describes how she has managed to maintain a garden of vegetables and flowers on the balcony of her 13th floor apartment in inner Sydney.

Naidoo says there’s only one thing you need to be able to grow a garden and it has nothing to do with space. Instead, it’s all about sunlight. She recounts how she started with a small selection of plants in pots: tomatoes, coriander and basil. She recalls the excitement of watching seeds germinating and wonders what it was like when people were totally dependent on what they grew. In the age of supermarkets we often forget this and the fact that not that long ago backyards would have had an all year vegie plot, some fruit trees and a few chooks.

But backyards are now a threatened species as Australian Poet Paul Willason laments: ‘Back then, backyards were big enough to nurture a growing soul and provide a space for the earth to play out its seasons in full rehearsal.

There were wide tracks of grass, trees to climb, old sheds to rummage with their interiors full of tools and bric-a-brac webbed in history.’

Today the diminished backyard is more likely to have an elaborate barbeque set up, a pool or a hot tub.

Growing food is of course cultural and Indira advises to grow what you most like, in her case a curry tree in a pot on her balcony is indispensable for her cooking curries and flavouring rice etc. For those with limited space it

Connect with nature this summertime. is advisable to start small with herbs, loose leaf lettuces, silverbeet and cherry tomatoes.

Sadly, so often, the elderly are forced to abandon their gardens because it is so hard to get help but even a pot of basil, dill (or whatever is your preferred herb) on the kitchen or bathroom window sill is better than nothing.

While freshly picked vegetables nurture you, flowers too are needed for a healthy garden and also to delight. The sight of flowers can evoke pleasant emotions and contribute to a more positive outlook. No patio or veranda is too small to house an array of seasonal flowers that bring colour into your life. In Victorian times, Floriography, a study of the special symbolism of flowers, was a popular pastime. Poet Kathryn Reigel ‘s garden is full of flowers and vegetables that trigger memories, remind her of the impermanence of all things and also that we share our natural world with other creatures. So many will relate to her tone of resignation about rabbits. ‘so I have something left to look at when the rabbits come.

They always come. They are always hungry. And I think I am done protecting one sweet thing from another.’

Rabbits too have a right to exist even at the expense of our gardens. I’m not so sure about marauding sulphur crested cockatoos who will strip a fruit tree in a matter of hours.

Over recent years we have come to appreciate the subtle beauty of our native flora. There is a greater awareness of the importance of na-

Coldstream Post Office Cnr Killara Road and Maroondah Highway Coldstream Supermarket Cnr Killara Road and Maroondah Highway Coldstream Roadrunners Roadhouse Cafe 629 Maroondah Highway Healesville Real Estate Yarra Valley 299 Maroondah Highway Healesville BP Ultimate 66 Maroondah Highway Healesville McKenzie's Tourist Services 13 Old Lilydale Road Healesville Newsagent 195 Maroondah Highway Healesville IGA Supermarket 199 Maroondah Highway Healesville SW Hollis Butcher 209 Maroondah Highway Healesville Sanctuary House Resort Motel 326 Badger Creek Road Healesville Shell Service Station Cnr Harker Street and Maroondah Highway Healesville Coles Supermarket 251 Maroondah Highway Healesville Caltex 370 Maroondah Highway Healesville First National/Mark Gunther 189 Maroondah Highway Healesville Beechworth Bakery 316 Maroondah Highway Launching Place Charlie's Milk Bar 2 Centella Place Launching Place General Store 2200 Warburton Highway Launching Place Caltex Log Cabin Service Station 2000 Warburton Highway Lilydale Shell Service Station 469 Maroondah Highway Lilydale United Petrol Service Station 473 Maroondah Highway

Picture: ON FILE tive plants in supporting local ecosystems.

Many now incorporate native flora into their gardens to attract local wildlife, such as birds and butterflies. Back as early as the 1930s legendary garden and landscape designer Edna Walling incorporated Australian natives in her free flowing garden designs Nature and gardening have been muses for poets for centuries and still are today.

Australian poetry has a rich tradition of exploring themes related to gardens and nature.

Poets such as Judith Wright have been inspired by our unique landscapes, flora and fauna, and she often expresses a concern for the exploitation of the land and the need for conservation and appreciation of nature.

Whether your garden is a backyard, courtyard, balcony or a few pots of your favourite herbs on a window sill in your kitchen or bathroom (or wherever you can catch the sunlight), the act of tending to plants and seeing them grow can have a calming effect on our minds, helping to reduce stress levels.And there’s also something wonderful in getting your hands dirty (in the physical sense of course) and preferably in soil.

When thinking of a Christmas present for someone who seems to have everything, a gift of a packet or two of seeds of easy to grow plants: vegetable,flower or native, may bring unexpected and long lasting benefits and pleasure to that person.

‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.’ Albert Einstein

Santa Claus is coming to town and making stops throughout the Upper Yarra in the lead-up to Christmas.

Here’s where you can have an early catch-up with Father Christmas before the big day: Wandin residents are in luck, with the chance to see Santa at both the Rotary Club of Wandin’s Custom Car and Bike Show at Wandin East Recreation Reserve from 4pm on Wednesday 20 December and when he does a run around town on Friday 22 December.

St Nick popped into the Seville Pony Club recently and will be back in Seville again on Christmas Eve. On Saturday 16 December from 4pm, Santa will travel to Henry Street and Lester Street in Woori Yallock, proceed to Alpine Boulevard and the Warburton Highway and will visit all roads on the Allsops Road side.

Santa toured around the Hoddles Creek area on the back of the Hoddles Creek tanker saying hi to all the residents and giving out some small treats to all the kids on Saturday 16 December from 2.30pm onwards but if you missed it and still would like to catch up with Santa and members of the Hoddles Creek Fire Brigade, please let the brigade know via a message to the ‘Hoddles Creek Fire Brigade - CFA’ Facebook page or 0418 557 780 with a location and time that best suits and they will certainly try very hard to accommodate you in Santa’s busy schedule.

Yarra Junction has the pleasure of welcoming Santa on both Friday 22 and Saturday 23 December.

Warburton, East Warburton and Big Pat’s Creek will see Santa on Saturday 23 December, hitting the streets from 2pm to 5pm.

Santa is returning for another preChristmas tour of the Upper Yarra.

Picture: ON FILE

Warburton Shell Service Station 3458 Warburton Highway Lilydale 7-Eleven Lilydale Cnr Maroondah Highway 7 Cave Hill Road Warburton Professionals Andrew McMath Real Estate 3371 Warburton Highway Lilydale Lilydale Village News Agents Lilydale Village Warburton Bell Real Estate 3407 Warburton Highway Lilydale Coles Supermarket Lilydale Village Wesburn Local Fuel 2835 Warburton Highway Lilydale Lilydale Village Lilydale Village Woori Yallock Foodworks Woori Yellock 1/1585 Warburton Highway Lilydale Lilydale Aged Care 475 Swansea Road Woori Yallock Newsagency & Tattslotto Shop 4/ 1585 Warburton Highway Lilydale BP Service Station 87 Warburton Highway Woori Yallock Hillcrest Little Store Great Food 1745 Warburton Highway Lilydale Eastern Laundries 2/4 Williams Street East Woori Yallock Shell Service Station Foodies 1700 Warburton Highway Millgrove Newsagency Shop 5/ 3043 Warburton Highway Woori Yallock Australia Post LPO Shop 11 / 1585 Warburton Highway, The Centre Millgrove Millgrove Licensed Grocers 3039 Warburton Highway Yarra Glen Ritchies IGA Shop 1/38 Bell Street Millgrove Millgrove Village Bakery 4/3039 Warburton Highway Yarra Glen Caltex Petrol Station 66 Bell Street Seville Woolworths Seville 568 Warburton Highway Yarra Glen Newsagent 32 Bell Street Seville Woolworths Caltex Service Station 568 Warburton Highway Yarra Glen United Garage 6 Bell Street Seville Post Office 634-638 Warburton Highway Yarra Junction Woolworths Supermarket 82-84 Warburton Highway Wandin North Fast Fuel Wandin 389-391 Warburton Highway Yarra Junction Bottle O 2440 Warburton Highway Wandin North IGA X-Press Wandin North Plus Liquor 388 Warburton Highway Yarra Junction Bell Real Estate 2457 Warburton Highway Wandin North Landmark Harcourts Wandin Real Estate 1/362 Warburton Highway Yarra Junction Newsagency 2454 Warburton Highway Wandin North Wandin Newsagency Shop 18/2 Union Road Yarra Junction Professionals Andrew McMath Real Estate 2460 Warburton Highway Warburton IGA Supermarket 3465 Warburton Highway Yarra Junction Yarra Junction Community Link 2442-2444 Warburton Highway Warburton K G Thomas Ply Ltd Insurance 1/3395 Warburton Highway Yarra Junction Gladysdale Bakehouse 2568 Warburton Hwy Warburton The Valley Bakery Warburton 3415 Warburton Highway Yellingbo Central Store 1942 Healesville-Kooweerup Road

12527817-BL51-21

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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MAIL 15

PUZZLES Slump (6) Support (4,2) Purchaser (5) Everyday people – literally ‘the many’ in Greek (3,6) Spaciousness (9) Bumbling (5) Habitations (6) Stopper (4) Show sullenness (4) Large monkey (6) Beautiful maiden in Muslim paradise (5) Competitor (9) Heights (9) Happen (5) Guarantee (6) Knowledgeable (6)

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

O

Today’s Aim: 18 words: Good 27 words: Very good 37 words: Excellent

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No. 164

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No. 164

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

15

No. 164

14

SUDOKU

22-12-23

This week’s crossword proudly sponsored by

The Heritage Family

HERITAGE & HERITAGE FUNERALS Lilydale 9739 7799 Healesville 5962 1600 HERITAGE PIONEERS CHAPEL 1414 Healesville/Koo Wee Rup Road, Woori Yallock 5964 6500 Head Office: 733 Boronia Road, Wantirna 9800 3000 info@ heritagefunerals.com.au www.heritagefunerals.com.au 1157336-CB40-14

16 MAIL

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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PROPERTY

YOUR PRIVATE SANCTUARY AWAITS mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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MAIL 17

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

ACREAGE BLISS – YOUR PRIVATE SANCTUARY SECLUDED in its court location and surrounded by peaceful landscapes, this expansive lifestyle property is perfectly positioned on over 2 acres with established native gardens and stunning gum trees admired from the winding driveway that leads to the grand ranch style home. The gated entrance ensures privacy, while established trees dot the landscape, creating a natural canvas ready to bring your design ideas to life.

The home commands attention with a wrap around verandah that extends a warm invitation. Inside, discover stunning hardwood floors, wide hallways, and beautiful high ceilings.

The open plan kitchen, living, and dining areas seamlessly interconnect, offering both shared and private spaces for family activities. The well-appointed kitchen features ample cupboard space, an island bench, and a butler’s pantry.

The living room, designed around a wood fire heater, opens seamlessly to the undercover entertaining area, perfect for all seasons. Ceiling fans complement the ducted wood fire heating and cooling, ensuring comfort year round.

The primary bedroom, with verandah access, boasts a spacious walk-through robe leading to a luxurious ensuite complete with a spa bath, shower, and vanity. Two additional bedrooms with built in robes, along with a versatile study that can serve as a fourth bedroom or home office, offer flexibility. A shared bathroom and a separate toilet cater to practical living.

Outside, a fabulous undercover entertaining area calls for gatherings, complemented by a pool during the warmer months. A generous barn style shed with amenities, roller door access, and ample carport storage beside stands ready for various uses.

The expansive grounds provide a canvas to create your sanctuary, offering ample space for exploration, play, and even cultivating your vegetable garden for a selfsustainable lifestyle.

This property presents a unique opportunity to breathe new life into a home with immense potential that does require some attention and repairs, embarking on its next chapter as the quintessential Australian dream.

Enjoy the luxury of spacious living while remaining conveniently close to everyday resources, primary schools, Yarra River, Warburton Rail Trail, and all that the Yarra Valley has to offer.

Don’t miss the chance to bring your vision to life – Call 5967 1800 to book your inspection. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 5 Greygum Court, LAUNCHING PLACE Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Inspect: By appointment Auction: Forthcoming auction Contact: Ashleigh Hall 5967 1800, PROFESSIONALS YARRA VALLEY 18 MAIL

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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HOME FOCUS

EXCELLENT FAMILY HOME COMMANDING an elevated position to take in the beautiful treed vistas, this residence is as functional as it is appealing.

Set amongst a near ¼ acre allotment that has been beautifully landscaped.

Families will enjoy the safe child friendly court position and the efficient floorplan which blends communal family zones and still offers parental privacy when required.

You are spoilt for choice with three separate living spaces. This young home built in 2013 is light, bright, and airy, the current owners have meticulously maintained it. It is the perfect property to enjoy the indoor/outdoor lifestyle we all love.

The residence offers: 4 bedrooms all with robes Zoned master suite with bathroom and walk in robe New carpets Superbly appointed kitchen, Caesar stone benchtops, walk in pantry, SS appliances, and lovely views to the rear yard.

3 separate living areas Spacious bathroom with bath and separate shower Roomy laundry with excellent storage Remote double garage with interior access. Sealed road access.

Outdoor covered dining, extended paving makes for easy entertaining Abundant storage throughout Secure rear yard for pets Gas ducted heating If you are looking to escape to a quieter existence in a welcoming township of community minded people, Gembrook will really be a pleasing tree-change. Somewhere you can see yourself living for a long time, raising the family, or just having room to move in beautiful surrounds, 9 Kookaburra Court, Gembrook should be on the top of your list. ●

· · · · · · · · · · · ·

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 9 Kookaburra Court, GEMBROOK Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $880,000 - $968,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Erin Davies 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL, 9754 6111 mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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MAIL 19

HOME FOCUS

COUNTRY ESCAPE ON 24 ACRES YOU will find country charm and classic farmhouse elements in the 1950s home perched at the top of the hill enjoying a magnificent north and westerly outlook with stunning sunsets and views over your 24 acres of rolling hillsides, surrounding bushland and beyond.

The home consists of 3 or 4 bedrooms, an open plan living area including large lounge with a wood heater, central kitchen and separate meals area and windows highlighting the views beyond. There is a central bathroom as well as a second almost complete bathroom. The home has been recently painted and newly carpeted.

The property could accommodate horses, sheep or cattle or other animals if you desire with 5 paddocks. There is a magnificent 3 bay barn with attached side carport along with additional undercover storage and 2 shipping containers. The land is beautiful with it being mostly cleared except for trees along the creek lines.

Great for those that want to escape the rat race, the home has the potential of being ‘off-grid,’ with tank water, bottled gas, and septic tank.

All you need to do is add solar, and you will have yourself an off-grid set-up. All this located within an hour of Melbourne and under 15 minutes from all the major facilities of Pakenham and the Pakenham bypass. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 120 Mann Road Court, PAKENHAM UPPER Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $1,100,000 - $1,200,000 Inspect: By appointment Auction: XXX Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Erin Davies 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL - 9754 6111 20 MAIL

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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A3 B1

FOR SALE 29 Allsops Road, Launching Place • Spacious kitchen & dining area, with modern amenities.

• The living area with a fireplace offers panoramic views of the property.

• Freshly painted wonder blends comfort, style, and functionality.

• Boasting a beautiful deck for year-round entertainment.

• Explore the two sheds plus 6.6 kilowatt solar panels.

FOR SALE $640,000 - $690,000 LAND 1055 sqm (Approx.)

INSPECT See website for available times

A3 B2 D5

FOR SALE 4 Old Dalry Road, Don Valley • High ceilings & expansive hallways are complemented by luxurious finishes throughout.

• Open & inviting living, dining, & kitchen spaces seamlessly connect, plus a separate formal living.

• The undercover entertainment area is a fabulous space plus the lawn is enhanced by a shed & veggie beds.

• Easy to maintain gardens & mountain views.

FOR SALE $960,000 - $1,000,000 LAND 1369 sqm (Approx.)

INSPECT See website for available times

A6 B3 D4

FOR SALE 17 Harberts Road, Don Valley • Breathtaking panoramic views of the nearby mountains.

• The kitchen has a walk in pantry, dishwasher, bar fridge, electric oven, & gas stove with stone benchtops and tasteful black accents.

• The patio, featuring a fireplace, is perfect for entertaining, and the residence is bordered by a dog run and vibrant gardens.

FOR SALE $1,300,000 - $1,380,000 LAND 3197 sqm (Approx.)

INSPECT See website for available times

A4 B2 D2

FOR SALE 38 Clarke Avenue, Warburton • The open-concept living space is complemented by the galley-style kitchen that’s flooded with natural light.

• An undercover entertaining area overlooks a lap pool with a spa beside it.

• Fenced paddock, home to the chicken run & veggie gardens, adds a touch of sustainable living.

• Access via Laneway next to 162 Old Warburton Rd.

FOR SALE $1,000,000 - $1,100,000 LAND 13.5 Acres (Approx.)

INSPECT See website for available times

FOR SALE Timberbelle Place, Yarra Junction • Brand new premiere land release.

• Comprises 13 generously sized vacant lots from 569sqm to 915 sqm.

• All services provided including NBN. • This address will be an enviable location. Wide streets & feature stone walls create a feeling of elegance & sophistication.

FOR SALE $380,000 - $440,000 LAND 569sqm - 915 sqm (Approx.)

INSPECT See website for available times

A3 B2 D2

FOR SALE 6/37 Little Yarra Road, Yarra Junction • Tri-level home offers a perfect blend of city style living with a wonderful country outlook.

• Family room provides a retreat, while the open plan kitchen & dining area serve as a central space.

• The main bedroom is equipped with a WIR & an ensuite.

• Tiered grassed backyard is accessible from the dining room.

FOR SALE $680,000 - $720,000 LAND 402 sqm (Approx.)

INSPECT See website for available times

Professionals Yarra Valley Yarra Junction 5967 1800 Warburton 5966 2800 mcmath.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

Ashleigh Hall Director

Chris Lord Sales Manager

Matthew Devisser Sales Consultant

Jean Ting Sales Consultant

Jadie Grayling Sales Consultant

Leanne Chapman Sales Consultant

Lyndal McMath Hall Melinda Darwall Kristen Johnson Teonii Hoy-Fooks Licenced Estate Agent Licenced Estate Agent Photographer & Concierge Client Services

Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

Erin Mithen Client Services

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MAIL 21

HOME FOCUS

ROOM FOR THE FAMILY WITH DUAL LIVING SITUATED in a quiet court location next to a park, this turnkey contemporary brick home has everything to suit your needs and the bonus of a self-contained two-bedroom unit potentially for extended family, income or a phenomenal work from home set up.

The Residence: 5 bedrooms, 2 ensuited, the choice of upstairs or downstairs for the main bedroom The remaining bedrooms are all spacious and have BIR’s Luxurious family bathroom, walk in shower and soaking tub Stylish crisp white and stone kitchen with scullery, Meile and Chef appliances, designed with the avid home chef in mind, huge prep spaces and amazing storage Hardwood floored dining and living spaces, natural light streaming through the large windows. Upstairs has a relaxing living area and study nook on the landing.

It is certainly a home for entertaining, indoors, and out are ideal for year-round get togethers. The sunroom and large deck are fabulous.

Ducted heating and split systems x 4 The Unit: Separate entry 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one ensuite) 2 living spaces Rear deck looking towards the Dandenong Ranges.

2 split systems Currently leased at $1955.00 per calendar month In addition: 12 KW solar and 10 KW battery Double carport Attic ladder to storage room Repainted throughout and roof restored New carpet ●

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 4 Pellong Court, BAYSWATER NORTH Description: 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,200,000 - $1,320,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Janet Hawkins 0409 117 432, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL, 9754 6111 22 MAIL

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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Ranges CENTRAL LOCATION

GEMbROOk 5/13 VISTA COURT Community Feel & Walk into Town.

COUNTRY ESCAPE ON 24ACRES

$540,000 - $580,000 2A 1B 1C

Looking to downsize or expand your property portfolio? This over 55’s unit offers two bedrooms, one en-suite effect bathroom, open-plan living, ample storage, low maintenance courtyard, and a single garage with internal access. A fabulous location where you can walk into Gembrook Township, pick up a few groceries and meet a friend for lunch.

Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

Erin Davies 0493 136 937

LEASED! MORE WANTED!

ShERbROOkE 5 MIzMAzE ROAD IMMACULATE RESIDENCE ON 1.3ACRES

9754 6111

rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

PAkENhAM UPPER 120 MANN ROAD COURT SUNSETS AND VIEWS!

$1,100,000-$1,200,000 4A 2B 3C

Classic farmhouse with charm from the 1950s perched at the top of the hill with stunning sunsets & views. The home offers open plan living, lounge with a wood heater, separate meals area, recently painted & newly carpeted, 5 paddocks, 3 bay barn with attached side carport & additional undercover storage, 2 shipping containers, beautiful mostly cleared land except for trees along the creek lines. Great for those that want to escape the rat race with the potential of being ‘off-grid,’ with tank water, bottled gas & septic.

Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

Erin Davies 0493 136 937

INCLUDES PLANS AND PERMITS

$690 PER WEEk 3A 3B 7C

Immaculately presented residence of lavish gardens, scenery & flooded with natural light. The main residence offers 1 main bedroom with ensuite, 2 large living areas, powder room & a spacious kitchen. The first studio downstairs offers 1 main bedroom, with a WIR & ensuite. The second studio, offers 1 bedroom space with an ensuite, S/S. Perfect as a third bedroom or a work from home space! Other features includes a large shed with a mezzanine, double carport, veggie patches & garden beds & full gardening included!

krystelle Rush 0415 544 493

We put you first

COCkATOO 8 DOONAhA ROAD TWO PLUS SUPERb ACRES AWAITS!

$600,000 - $660,000

Sounds like a dreamy spot! 8797sqm of lightly treed, private land in a serene, quality neighbourhood close to Cockatoo Township, offering that laid-back lifestyle away from the busy buzz of residential living. Quality schools nearby is a significant perk for families.

Only a 20 minute drive to train connections & within an hour via the M1 to Melbourne CBD opens so many possibilities and allows for that perfect balance between tranquility & accessibility. PLANS AND PERMITS are ready and waiting for a two-storey family home.

Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

‘We Put You First’

Erin Davies 0493 136 937

1660 burwood highway, belgrave Shop 2/24 Mcbride St, Cockatoo Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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MAIL 23

HOME FOCUS

PRESTINE HOME WITH VIEWS SIMPLY move in and unpack, as there is nothing left to do in this gorgeous home.

A spacious and inviting environment with native plantings, stunning mountain views and a very convenient location add to the instant appeal of this property.

The home proudly showcases a large deck where the beautiful northerly views to the mountain range are a magnificent feature of this already lovely home.

Internally you will enjoy quality furnishings, a spacious lounge and dining area with adjacent galley kitchen, great storage and a lovely outlook from your many windows.

The master bedroom has doors to the deck where you can enjoy a nightcap under the stars and offers excellent storage in the walk through robe and into the stylish full ensuite.

The light filled main bathroom services the further 2 spacious bedrooms, which enjoy quality carpets and double built in robes.

Off street parking is in abundance, so bring the caravan, the trailers and the extra cars and still have room for your friends to park when they come to visit.

This is a delightful home that will be a treat to inspect and an absolute joy to live in. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 2/4 Douglas Parade, YARRA JUNCTION Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Price: $680,000 - $740,000 Inspect: Saturday 12 noon - 12.30 pm Contact: Samantha Price 0438 795 190, BELL REAL ESTATE - YARRA JUNCTION, 5967 1277 24 MAIL

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

mailcommunity.com.au

P 5966 2530

3407 Warburton Highway, Warburton

15 Hillview Street, Yarra Junction

$700,000-$770,000

P 5967 1277

2457 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction

80 Rosella Road, Wesburn

$1,800,000-$1,980,000

Charm and Character in abundance!

‘WARREEN’ – A Craftsman Masterpiece on 47 acres

This captivating property is set to tug on your heart-strings. Inside polished timber floors, high ceilings and decorative features just start the picture of what living in this home will truly be like. A beautiful country kitchen showcases ample bench and storage, 900ml country cooker, dishwasher and a beautiful outlook through your casement windows, this space is divine! There are three generous and pretty bedrooms, the master has direct access to the gorgeous main bathroom and provides triple robes. A stunning bathroom, where you will love the pedestal basin, and the bath to soak in after a day pottering in the garden. Outside there’s a lock up workshop & double carport tucked behind a remote roller door and privacy fencing, the corner block creating a wonderful space to use and enjoy every square meter of the 693m2 block!

Escape to a serene paradise where family, both human and equine, thrive amidst pristine nature. This architect-designed home, nestled privately, exudes warmth with Californian Redwood doors, French doors, and timber accents. Immaculate wool carpets, top-notch insulation, and fittings showcase quality. Three bedrooms with robes, a fourth as a home office, offer ample space. The master suite boasts timber-lined raked ceilings and a spa bath. The spacious kitchen with a Jarrah bench top is the heart of the home. Equine enthusiasts will appreciate the six paddocks, bushland, and quality infrastructure including tanks, dam, stables, and machinery sheds. A unique property offering complete privacy and tranquility.

Samantha Price M 0438 795 190 Inspection: Sat 1.00-1.30pm

3

60 Blacksands Road, Three Bridges

A

1

B 2 C

$1,400,000-$1,500,000

Samantha Price M 0438 795 190 Inspection: Sat 2.00-2.30pm

5 Salisbury Avenue, Warburton

4

A

2

B 2 C

$700,000-$770,000

Magnificent family home on a 19 acre secluded paradise

A brick veneer home in peaceful oasis

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and discover the allure of “Iron Bark Lodge” – an impressive family residence nestled on a secluded 19-acre retreat. On the main level, you’ll find three bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the downstairs area offers a spacious bedroom, bathroom and living area, complete with a wood fireplace. In total, the residence offers four bedrooms, three toilets, and three showers. Adding to the appeal is a fantastic triple bay shed with a mezzanine and bathroom, complemented by an additional double garage. An enclosed vegetable garden, a pool entertaining area with decking and gazebo, and a relaxing spa provide a variety of choices for enjoyment. This property is a rare find, tucked away with a substantial frontage to the Little Yarra River, discover a lifestyle that’s often sought but seldom found in this secluded piece of paradise.

Nestled amongst the picturesque landscape of the Yarra Ranges, this property offers a unique blend of tranquility and urban convenience. The interior of the home is bathed in natural light accentuating the spacious living areas. The open plan living and dining areas, provide plenty of space for everyday living and entertaining. Retreat to the three spacious bedrooms all with built in robes, where large windows frame stunning views, creating a peaceful sanctuary to unwind. The bonus sunroom overlooks the undulating hills and valleys. Outside, the expansive backyard offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities. A generous double garage and sealed driveway allows for ample parking and storage. Conveniently located just a short wander from town amenities, this property is perfect for those looking to enjoy everything the Warburton lifestyle has to offer.

Leah Bannerman M 0448 924 266 Inspection: Sat 2.00-2.30pm

Rebecca Doolan M 0401 832 068

4

A

4

B 12 C

Rebecca Doolan M 0401 832 068 Inspection: Sat 1.00-1.30pm

3

A

1

B 2 C

bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

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MAIL 25

HOME FOCUS

SOPHISTICATED AND SLEEK DESIGN WITH a smart, sophisticated and sleek design, this two-storey home has been well presented and built with an eye for detail.

Boasting three spacious bedrooms, the master with walk-in robe and full ensuite, there is nothing you wont love about this property. Only a short distance to Eastland, Tintern Grammer, Maroondah Hospital and with quick access to Eastlink, location is an A+ in anyone’s book.

Open living is at its finest with a sun filled lounge and dining area off a modern, contemporary kitchen and indoor /outdoor living is an added bonus with a spacious timber decking. There are two bathrooms in total and three toilets giving this floorplan a big tick of approval for any growing family.

The fully fenced rear yard is great for kids and pets alike and has direct undercover access to the double garage with remote access that can be found at the rear of the property giving safe and easy off-street parking. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 7 Evon Avenue, RINGWOOD EAST Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $895,000 - $985,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Rachel Eastwood 0401 117 761 or Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 26 MAIL

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

mailcommunity.com.au

Real Estate you can trust!

We ’ r e h e r e t o h e l p FOR SALE

48 Grey Street, BELGRAVE POTENTIAL PLUS ON ALMOST HALF AN ACRE!

$730,000 - $800,000 4A2B

Situated in the heat of Belgrave, within an easy walk to the train station, main street and local schools, this home boasts a history of just on 100 years and is now an exciting renovation project for its next family.

FOR SALE

13 Nugent Street, MONBULK

$765,000 - $840,000 3A1B2C

PERFECTLY POSITIONED IN HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER LOCALE

This charming residence at 13 Nugent Street in Monbulk offers a comfortable and inviting living space with a perfect blend of convenience and tranquility. Featuring three bedrooms and one bathroom, this solidly built and well-maintained property is complemented by a range of desirable amenities.

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

Sharyn Chandler

Daniel Steen

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

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

FOR SALE

10 Banool Road, SELBY FAMILY HOME WITH SPECTACULAR TREETOP VIEWS

$880,000 - $950,000 4A2B4C

This peaceful property within easy reach of Belgrave township is packed with style, space, and versatility. Ideal for large families and those who love to entertain, this 1,846sqm (approx.) property offers a lifestyle second-to-none.

FOR SALE

1A Black Hill Road, MENZIES CREEK

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

20 ACRES - A PEACEFUL, PRIVATE & PICTURE PERFECT LIFESTYLE Privately positioned on 20 glorious acres and boasting a beautiful mix of gently forested areas and cleared, useable land, this quality property is ready and waiting for its next owners to build (STCA) and enjoy the peaceful lifestyle that awaits. With two road frontages (School Road and Black Hill Road) and convenient access to both Wellington Road and Burwood Highway, the location of this property is second to none.

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

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SPORT

Maiden ton for captain

By Bryce Edwards Wandin 1st XI vs Heathwood 2nd XI - by David Thorne Wandin’s 1st XI hosted Heathwood’s 2nd XI for the last round of the year.

Wandin won the toss and chose to bat first.

Getting off to a slow start with Wandin skipper David Thorne getting out early, the remaining batters for Wandin would have to dig deep and that they did. With many contributing with the bat. Like Falkingham and Ben Galante would both score 33, Tim Thorne with 21, Eden Van Beek with 20 and Hamish Lamont with 26, it would be a great all-round team batting performance with Wandin scoring 184 after 39 overs. Heathwood would start the batting innings nicely with Wandin struggling to get their first wickets but it would eventually come from Leigh Curwood and then a run out the very next ball from Lachlan Alderman.

Wandin had Heathwood at 4/90 after 20 overs, but after the drinks break Heathwood would bat well going on to win the game chasing down 184 after 36 overs.

Lusatia Park 2nd XI vs Wandin 2nd XI by Rick Painter Wandin would travel to the Woori Yallock oval, win the toss and elect to bat. The openers got off to a solid start and were 50 before the first wicket fell.

With Edwards once again holding up an end the scoreboard would continue to tick over but key wickets of Galvin and Bruzzese saw Wandin at 4/112. Edwards would finally be dismissed for 77 and Garner quickly followed with the score on 6/160. A 49-run partnership between Painter and Trembath would make sure a competitive score of 213 was reached with the spin of P Broussard 2/21 and S Morgon 2/35 the pick of the bowlers.

Lusatia Park would also start steadily and be on 50 before the loss of D Worelly. With the score on 2/60 K Cantwell (61) would partner up with opener C Reynolds (117) and together

would steer Lusatia Park to a comfortable 8 wicket win in the 36th over to stay on top of the ladder.

Wandin 3rd XI vs Lusatia Park - by ‘The Don’ Wandin got sent in to bat and opened up by trying a few different things with M Polido and T Day. They both looked settled playing well and scoring freely before T Day went out for 14 at 1/32. P Laws came in at first drop, joining M Polido before he popped one up and was out for 11. P Laws looked really good opening solidly as Wandin were 2/37 before he exploded with three fours and a six to start moving along nicely with M Rayner. Mr Rayner fell for 8 though he also was solid and M Owens joined P Laws at 3/60 after 11 overs. P Laws mistimed one and was out for a fine 22 and Wandin were 4/64 after 12 overs.

At 5/97, B Christfield joined M Owens and copped a cracker of a ball which knocked him over and left Wandin 6/97 after 20 overs.

A Brown joined M Owens, whacking a couple shots to the boundary before he unfortunately got caught by a diving fingertip catch.

J Dowthaite joined M Owens and was looking great but popped one up and was out for 6.

Lusatia Park was chasing 177 and Wandin set a deep defensive field as their top order were big fellas and big hitters. C Foden and J Dowthaite fired away bowling pretty tight and J Dowthwaite picked up first wicket. M Rayner was bowling superbly and picked up the big hitter for 32. M Rayner then sent down a bullet and clean bowled a pretty handy batter for 7 in a great breakthrough. M Rayner finished with bowling efforts of 2/26 off 6 and couldn’t as for anything more from him as he pegged them right back. After drinks, Wandin fired with two spinners as Lusatia Park went defensive and Wandin slowed them right down with a superb spin combo of G Foden bowling very tidily and young C Kneebone bowling the best Wandin have seen him bowl in the situation of a tight game. G Foden 1/33 off of 7 was awesome and C Kneebone 1/27 bowled beautiful-

ly. Lusatia Park got to 5/161 off 20 overs and to Wandin’s credit, it wasn’t finished. T Day came on and straight away picked up a wicket before J Dowthaite and B Christfield came back on, B Christfield bowling a treat and Jack couldn’t do anything better as the pair picked up a wicket each. J Dowthwaite’s caught and bowled was unbelievable, diving forward and taking an absolute blinder. It came down to the last over, bowled by B Christfield with the scores level.

Lusatia Park got a run on the second last ball to win.

Wandin Womens vs Bayswater Park - by Charlotte Edwards The Wandin women’s cricket team took on Bayswater Park at Bayswater for the final game before the Christmas break.

Captain Olivia Edwards lost the toss and Wandin was sent into bat.

Wandin padded up and was ready to go out and make some runs. The first wicket fell in the second over, not to stress though. Skipper Olivia Edwards came out to bat, with a quick few fours and some hard running between the wickets it was clear Edwards was in for a big innings. Olivia consistently worked hard, the strike ticked over and there was great communication between herself and her teammates.

Olivia played her ‘only shot’, as quoted by Bayswater Park, incredibly well all innings.

Olivia batted beautifully all day, her shot selection was perfect and Olivia Edwards finished on 101*.

To make it even more special two Edwards girls were out batting together when Olivia tonned up.

Wandin finished their batting innings on an incredible 2/211 as Wandin produced their highest-ever total!

The bowling innings was absolutely amazing, the team collectively worked together to bowl out Bayswater for 67 runs. Wandin got the win and are off for the break on an extreme high and sitting second on the ladder.

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SPORT

Strong form on the course

By Ron Hottes Wednesday 13 December, Stableford: A smaller-than-usual field took on the hot and steamy conditions to battle for the available prizes. The A-Grade winner was the muchtalented Ian ‘Junior’ Garside. Junior posted a 37-point round to grab the top voucher ahead of runner-up, Allan ‘Old-Man-River’ Hubbard, who showed a welcome return to form, with 36 solid points. Ross Machar won the B-Grade voucher also with 37 points. Just to keep the ladies in the picture, Deb Hamment, grabbed the runner-up prize with 36 points. Both grades saw the ball rundown reach 34. NTP prizes were taken home by Neil ‘Mr. Scotland’ Leckenby (3rd), Dale Horrobin (5th), David Hatt (9th) and Junior Garside (15th).

Twilight: The penultimate Twilight before the Christmas break, was played in far more pleasant conditions than the day before. Making the most of

Warburton Golf Club results. these favourable conditions was Jack Sheehan (again), who added a valuable 10 points to his Shootout total ( Jack must be leading by now,

Picture: ON FILE after a couple of recent wins). This week’s runner-up is another perennial Shootout finalist, Ashley Hall. He posted a 20-point round. Balls

reached 18 points. The 3 NTP winners were Sean ‘Bruno’Kennedy, (10th), the not-to-be outdone Jason ‘Kenno’ Kennedy (12th) and Seth ‘Junior’ Spenceley (15th).

Saturday 16 December, 4-Person Ambrose: This event was held in conjunction with the Club’s Presentation Day (Trophy winners will be published in the new year when the Star Mail returns).

The Ambrose championship team on this day consisted of Peter, Michael and Danny Fox joined by Roger Mataele. Their final posted score of Nett 49.12 was another ‘outof-the-box’ result. Although, you will notice, dear readers, that the runner-up team’s score was not too shabby either. Michael Batten, Chris Leighton, Shane Ford and Ryan Wilson achieved that with a Nett 50.75 result. Finally, individual winners were the NTP group of P.K. (3rd), Danny Fox (5th), Neil Leckenby (9th) and ex-member Chris Fall (15th).

Good signs before break

League fixtures announced

By Peter Brennan

The Outer East Football Netball League has announced the 2024 fixtures for the Senior Men’s football and Open netball competitions. Once the league has a clearer understanding of which teams are competing in the Women’s football, Junior Netball, U19/ U18 football, Veteran’s and all Junior football competitions, they will begin fixturing these competitions post the 1 March team entry, cut-off date.

Premier Division fixture highlights Round one kicks off with two traditional rival matches which will be played a week earlier than the remaining games. Narre Warren will host Pakenham on Saturday 6 April and Wandin host Mt Evelyn on Sunday 7 April. Emerald will unveil their Senior footy and A grade Netball flags in Round Two vs Narre Warren.

Three traditional rival matches will be played on Anzac Round: Upwey Tecoma vs Olinda Ferny Creek; Gembrook Cockatoo vs Emerald; Pakenham vs Officer. The 2023 Grand Final replay for both Senior Football & A Grade Netball will be playing on Anzac Round as well, with the premiers of both – Wandin taking on Narre Warren at Narre Warren.

Officer will host Monbulk in a special Sockit2MND clash in Round Nine. The 2023 Division One football Grand final replay will take place in this round as well, with premier Emerald taking on Berwick Springs at Mick Moreland Reserve.

Emerald celebrates the club’s 1000th

Christmas is almost upon us, as you have probably noticed. With it comes the midseason break in Pennant, and for the Yarra Junction Bowling Club midweek team a break will be welcome, to allow the chance to regroup and attack the run home with confidence. Although last on the ladder they are only twelve points behind fifth, with sixteen points on offer each game.

They are closer than they might at times feel. It was a difficult game this week, travelling to Croydon to play the second-placed team on a slow grass green, and although they failed to win they acquitted themselves well. They won one rink, lost one narrowly, and lost the third by enough to give Croydon the overall win. It was by no means a forgone result, and although the two points they received will not lift them up the rankings, winning matches will. They are not too far behind, and have a home game to come before the break.

The weekend team is in a good place, sitting comfortably in second place on the ladder. True, the last two games were dangerous away games and both were washed out, with equal points allocated, so who knows what the situation would be if they had played out to a result. This week they were back home, which is always nice, playing fourth-placed Mooroolbark. The conditions were ideal, not too hot, not too cold, a bit of breeze to make it interesting, and the green playing fast with a lot of turn in it.

Yarra Junction Bowling Club results.

Picture: ON FILE Junction went out to an early lead and then had to battle to hold it. Mooroolbark fought back well, threatening to take the lead on a couple of rinks. It took some big ends for Junction to fight them off and ultimately run away with it, winning all four rinks by handsome margins for maximum points.

Second place is secure for the time being, and with the Christmas break now upon them the view looks good for the weekend team.

The semi-finals for the ladies’ club championship have been decided, and Liz Luckhurst and Carol Beaumont will play off for the title. It should be a cracker of a game.

Both championship deciders will be played next Saturday, and then it will be Christmas and New Year and Barefoot Bowls and the run home for the Pennant finals. Yarra Junction Bowling Club wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season and a new year in which all your bowls run true.

match (since the YV and MD competitions combined) with a home match Vs Olinda Ferny Creek in Round 12.

Division One fixture highlights Starts with Yarra Junction hosting local rivals and 2023 Premiers, Powelltown on Saturday 13 April. Seville aims to unveil their new level playing surface in Round One vs Warburton Millgrove. This will be the clubs’ first time meeting each other since 2006.

Yea’s comeback into the competition after a couple of tough years will be complete by taking on Alexandra at Rebel Park.

Powelltown aims to celebrate the opening of their new facilities and unveil their 2023 Premiership flag in Round 2 vs Healesville. This will be the first time the two clubs have played each other since 2013. Warburton Millgrove’s A grade team will also unveil their 2023 Premiership flag at home vs Alexandra in Round 2. Anzac Day will see Seville take on Belgrave and Healesville hosting Warburton Millgrove. To cap off the round Alexandra host Powelltown in a Grand Final replay and the battle of the Yarra’s will take place as Yarra Junction hosts Yarra Glen.

Yarra Glen will host Healesville for the Pride Cup match which will be held during the Pride round in season 2024 during Round 6. Warburton Millgrove celebrates the club’s 1000th match (since the YV and MD competitions combined) with a home match Vs Yarra Glen in Round 8. Multiple matches will celebrate the competition’s First Nations round in Round 12.

Weather warms up for the final bowls games of the year

By Garry Lewis Finally, some fine weather for bowls on the weekend for the final game before the break.

The top side recorded a solid victory, while the seconds trailed off in the second half to go down in another disappointing finish to a game.

The weekend Warburton 1 side played a struggling Boronia 1 away and shared the rinks winning two each. However, thanks to the efforts of the Burras’ successful rinks, they had a good win away, 83 shots to 62.

Rink scores were as follows: C. Lord 13/ 15; C. Neale 30/ 11; S. Lord 16/ 20 and T. Appleton 24/ 16. Despite the win, they dropped to third place on the ladder in a very tight battle for finals’ places. They next play the second-placed Upwey-Tecoma 1 at home on January 20 after the break in an important game for the team.

Warburton 2 played Ringwood 2 at home and scores were close for most of the game.

However, the Burras failed to keep the momentum going and disappointingly allowed the opposition to score some big ends in the finish to eventually go down 67 shots to 98.

Getting numbers in the head was a major 30 MAIL

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Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

Warburton Bowls Club results. Picture: ON FILE problem for the Burras in the finish and something the team must all work on.

Rink scores were as follows: P. Summers 17/ 21; G. Lewis 12/ 23; D. McConachy 24/ 21 and P. Woods 14/ 33.

The Burras look forward to the break following a disappointing start to the season and next play Heatherdale 1 away.

The Midweek side went to Upwey-Tecoma trying to overcome another finals contender.

On a hot and steamy day, the Burras bowled

very well and overcame stiff opposition from a good side to win, 70 shots to 55.

New skip, Dean Thomas, enjoyed success, 25/ 23. Greg Walsh’s rink won convincingly, 25/ 11. Rod McKail’s rink had an absorbing battle before going down by one shot, 20/ 21.

They remain in second place on the ladder and face Heathmont 3 at home this week before the season break.

The festive spirit was in full force, during the Wednesday Night Barefoot Bowls Triples Competition, with many people dressed up in Christmas gear with Christmas Songs playing in the background.

A Double Header was played with several close games highlighted by the new team, Three Amigos, winning their first game in the competition.

Mat Stoesigger, from the Bowls to the Walls team, started the evening well by winning the prize for being the first player to touch the jack with his first bowl of the evening.

After seven rounds the Pensioners are still on top with 12 points. They are closely followed by Can’t Remember on 11 points and the Burra Boys on 10 points. Then there is a big

group all on 8 points including Wessie Wonders, Giddy Gout, Thomos, Bolters, Gunners and Sheep Assist.

The competition re-commences on Wednesday 24 January in the new year.

This season’s Pink Ribbon Day will be held on Sunday 11 February next year with all funds raised going towards Breast Cancer Research.

Sponsored by Professionals Yarra Valley Real Estate, the annual event is always extremely enjoyable and raises valuable funds for a worthwhile cause.

Entries are $10 per head. ($30 per Team) and bowlers will play three games of two Bowl Triples. There will be a raffle, prizes and a sausage sizzle with entries of all abilities and genders welcome including beginners. Entries are required to be in by 30 January 2024, contact Michelle at 0437 566 238 if you would like to enter a team. Currently, about 8 teams have registered so there is room for another 8 more teams of 3 players.

Social Bowls continues to be played on Mondays from 12 midday with everyone including new and beginning players encouraged to attend. Come along and give bowls a try. mailcommunity.com.au

SPORT

Tough contest at home

By Ian Milgate Tuesday’s Team 1 were at home against Mooroolbark.

This was expected to be a tough game and it was.

Early in the piece we got away on them when Steve Bulled’s rink picked up an 8 shots on one end which by the half time break gave us a lead of 23 shots overall.

Well done to Steve, Barry, Judy and Ian for their 8 ender.

After the break due to too many cream puffs, the team lost our way and allowed them back in the game.

To their credit they hung in there and it came down to the last end where Mooralbark needed 2 shots to draw the game but they picked up one shot and in the end won by three shots 66 - 63.

Fitzy’s most valuable player award went to Chris Hawting.

Effie Laban, Chris Hawting, Damian Key, Rob Ayres 22/15 Steve Bulled, Barry Parker, Judy Veermann, Ian Milgate 28/23 Steve Graham, Rob Broadhurst, Hilda Gurney, Gerda Otto 16/25 Tuesday’s Team 2 played away at Eastwood Golf and Bowls Club.

They expected the grass green to be very slow after all the rain we have had and at first it was hard to get use to.

Karl Tok was putting some great bowls down along with Glenda Graham, Colin Jarvis and Jodie Ward, in fact Jodi won Fitzy’s most valuable player award for the day.

Mick Featherstone was back on the green after a long break.

Mick Featherstone, Mike Adams, Leonie Fitzpatrick, John Howard 19/18 John Fitzpatrick, Colin Jarvis, Glenda Gra-

The players should all be proud of their efforts, not only on the green but off the green, as volunteers helping out around the club.

Picture: ON FILE ham, Karl Tok 19/17 Len Cosson, Russell Smith, Anne Holland, Jodie Ward 12/21 Saturday’s Team 1 played away at Mooroolbark and the team was hoping to win again as they beat them convincingly at home in the second round.

This would also cement our second place on the ladder going into the Christmas break.

In the first half with very windy conditions,

Girls claim state relay gold

By Jamie Strudley The annual Little Athletics Victoria State Track Relay Championships brings the very best little athletics teams from throughout Victoria to compete over 4x100m, 4x200m and medley relays. Yarra Ranges Athletics qualified 27 teams through to the state finals, making for an exciting team across all ages travelling to Lakeside Stadium on Saturday. Most teams improved on their qualifying times and placed better than their ranking coming into the event. Only one team went in with the number one ranking and they did not relinquish it with a dominant team effort. The Under 15 Girls team of Brookley, Kayla, Emily and Zoe combined to win gold in the U15 medley relay, a relay involving 100m, 300m, 200m and 400m. Outstanding runs from Brookley, Kayla and Emily gave Zoe a lead going into the final 400m leg, one Zoe never gave anyone a chance of catching her on.

Relay team results are: 4x100m Girls U 09 69.73 (10th); 72.02 (20th); Girls U 10 67.61 (20th); Girls U 11 62.45 (16th); Girls U 13 59.31 (22nd); Girls U 14 58.59 (23rd); Girls U 15 54.75 (7th); Boys U 09 68.74 (14th); Boys U 11 59.02 (11th); Boys U 14 59.67 (21st); Boys U 16 53.74 (9th); Mixed 09 69.19 (20th); Mixed 11 61.45 (18th); Mixed 14 55.14 (16th); Mixed 16 55.11 (9th); 4x200m: Girls U 09 2:32.98 (10th); Girls U 11 2:15.15 (14th); Girls U 15 2:09.39 (13th); Boys U 11 2:06.17 (11th); Boys U 16 1:51.07 (9th); Mixed 09 2:27.39 (5th); Mixed 16 1:55.87 (8th); Medley Relay: Girls U 11 3:12.73 (15th); Girls U 15 2:25.50 (1st); Boys U 09 3:17.67 (12th); Boys U 12 2:43.97 (13th); Boys U 16 2:27.08 (9th); Some of the senior team competed at the Collingwood Classic on Thursday night. Results are: 5000m: Olivia Twining 17:59.22; Jared By-

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rne 18:02.67; Grace Muller 19:13.15; Katrina Winger 19:22.94; 10000m: Max Savill-Bentley 31:36.51; Matt Morrison raced over 1000m at the Zatopek Challenge last weekend running 38:39.9h. The little athletics competition was moved to a Friday twilight this week to accommodate the State Relays on Saturday.

Competition was temporarily interrupted by a visit from Father Christmas. The little athletics competition returns on Saturday 13 January. The senior team were back in action at round seven of AVSL. Three club records this week to Ash Rooke (U20 Discus), Anne-Marie Ebbels (W50 Hammer Throw) and Kathi Hewitson (W50 Triple Jump). Results are Women 150m: Ashleigh Rooke 19.95 (-2.0); Shani Bullard 22.00; Kathi Hewitson 27.09; 1000m: Rori Jones 3:21.42; Kristina Nackovski 3:28.08; 3000m: Carolyn Rosenbrock 13:59.50; 100m Hurdles: Shani Bullard 20.35 (1.5); Discus: Ashleigh Rooke 32.32m; Hayley Wilkins 28.28m; Meg Sparkes 27.23m; Sharon Cook 16.31m; High Jump: Shani Bullard 1.34m; Javelin: Shani Bullard 12.83m; Hayley Wilkins 32.91m; Anne-Marie Ebbels 14.98m; Kathi Hewitson 8.19m; Shot Put: Hayley Wilkins 8.77m; Ashleigh Rooke 7.88m; Sharon Cook 6.91m; Meg Sparkes 6.08m Hammer: Sarah Ebbels 31.30m; AnneMarie Ebbels 29.88m; Kathi Hewitson 22.42m; Triple Jump: Shani Bullard 9.19m; Kathi Hewitson 6.53m; Men 150m: Joseph Johnston 21.17; Craig Hewitson 21.45; 1000m: Craig Hewitson 3:38.03; 110m Hurdles: Ash Almond 23.37 (0.1); Discus: Ash Almond 26.54m; High Jump: Ash Almond 1.54m; Javelin: Ash Almond 50.00m; Shot Put: Ash Almond 8.73m; Triple Jump: Craig Hewitson 7.56m

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the game went into the break even and the team was in with a good chance, but the second half didn’t go to plan and they went down by 12 shots 65/77.

Steve Graham, Rob Broadhurst, Ian Milgate, Rob Ayres 13/18 Adrian Beales, Effie Laban, Barry Parker, Gerda Otto ` 11/29 Steve Bulled, Chris Hawting, Colin Jarvis, John Howard 19/14

Mark Ward, Colin Lowe, Judy Veermann, Russell Smith 22/16 Saturdays Team 2 played at home against Upwey Tecoma.

The team was currently second on the ladder with Upwey Tecoma fourth so it would be a good win to get, although they knew it was going to be a huge ask with three new players playing their first pennant match.

A warm welcome to Jude Wallace, Kenneth Gallacher and Sarah Gallacher who have just joined the club and for putting their hands up to play Pennant.

It was also great to see the Featherstone’s back on the green especially Rita after a long layoff, due to illness.

Well, the team didn’t have to worry as all the Healesville players were on song and came out all fired up to beat Upwey/Tecoma by 29 shots 69/40.

Great game by Leonie Fitzpatrick, Anne Holland, Rita Featherstone and our three new stars Sarah, Kenneth and Jude, well done all.

John Fitzpatrick, Leonie Fitzpatrick, Rita Featherstone, Jude Wallace 26/13 Len Cosson, Anne Holland, Jill Cookney, Kenneth Gallacher 21/12 Mick Featherstone, Mike Adams, Karl Tok, Sarah Gallacher 22/15 The club would like to thank all the players for their efforts during the first half of the competition, considering it has had a lot of players out due to illness.

The determination of the players when the chips are down is second to none.

The players should all be proud of their efforts, not only on the green but off the green, as volunteers helping out around the club.

May everyone have a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New year.

See you all on the 20th. January when competition starts up again.

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