Ranges Trader
Tuesday, 30 January, 2024
Lightning strikes outer east
Indigenous leader speaks on Libs treaty backflip
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Mail Trio of local baseballers gain victory
See Real Estate Liftout inside
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Cockatoo’s finest feted Some of Cockatoo’s best and brightest were honoured as part of the Connecting Cockatoo Communities’ annual Cockatoo Australia Day breakfast and awards ceremony last week. Just one of those people was former Cockatoo CFA captain Chris White, who was recognised with Citizen of the Year for his 18 years serving as a volunteer in the brigade. It was a great celebration of community achievement, passion and volunteerism. Find the full story on page 8
Former Cockatoo CFA captain Chris White (front) celebrated winning the Cockatoo Citizen of the Year award with Cockatoo CFA brigade members Marcus Harris, Connor Moore, Rhys Bennet, Ben Bonollo and Lukaz Lipnicki and Emerald SES members Matt Smith, Jim Paxton, Ben Owen and Eliza Owen. Picture: LJUBICA VRANKOVIC
Hills’ honour roll It was in the latter role that he helped in the push to have a police station built in Monbulk. “I didn’t expect anything really at all, but I was so surprised when I got the letter from the governor and I was appreciated very much,” he said. Vincent Feeney, Upwey local and principal of St Francis Xavier College, received an OAM for his service to secondary education. “It’s wonderful every time someone from a school receives an honour and I was fortunate
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enough to be that person on this occasion,” Mr Feeney said. It was Susan Riley’s career ranging from owning businesses in the media and publishing industries, to serving as Melbourne’s first female deputy mayor, that earned her an OAM recognising her service to local government and the community of Melbourne. Living in Upper Ferntree Gully, Ms Riley said while her soul has been in the Gully area, her head and heart have aligned with the CBD. “Having published ‘Lifestyle Magazine’ in
the city for 20 odd years, and then going into the Melbourne town hall to serve there for 15 years my heart has always aligned with the concern, ‘what about the people of Melbourne?’” Ms Riley said. “Living in the Gully, and having a business and a unit in the city really meant that I had the best of both worlds.” Read more on the locals named on the Australia Day Honours List in 2024 on pages 6 and 7
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Residents in the Dandenong Ranges and the foothills are some of the 1042 Australians recognised on this year’s Australia Day Honours List, receiving a medal of the Order of Australia for their efforts. Trevor Ricketts, of Monbulk, received a nod for his work as part of the Monbulk Men’s Shed, role of president at the Rotary Club of Monbulk and District in 2019 and his role as past president of the Monbulk Business and Traders Association among other achievements.