Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 7th May 2024

A smashing success

By Dongyun Kwon

The Coldstream Boxing Club (CBC) had an opening day with a special guest on Thursday 25 April. Many community members have supported the free training facility through donations. “We had a barbecue thanks to The Meat-Inn Place Lilydale Butcher who sponsored sausages and the parents who helped cook the sausages,” coach Hayden ‘H-Bomb’ Wright said.

“Every kid got a pair of boxing gloves thanks to the donation from the Bosker Boxing Equipment.”

The CBC will have a boxing ring soon thanks to the donation from Robyn and David from Coldstream Cafe Roadhouse. The special guest was Harry Garside who is a bronze medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Garside said it’s “exceptional” to have a gym in Coldstream free for kids.

“I remember how many lives boxing saved, growing up at the Lilydale Community Youth Club,” he said.

“A lot of kids from broken homes in the area came to the boxing gym and that was their safe space.”

Turn to page 10 for more

Painful memories

By Callum Ludwig

An arsonist responsible for contributing to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires has been released from prison, with a local trauma psychologist advising that local residents affected by the disaster can be ‘taken back’ to the expe-

rience by this news.

Brendan Sokaluk was released on parole on Tuesday 30 April, having served 14 years of a 17-year and nine-month sentence on the condition he stays in secure accommodation 80km or more away from his former town of Churchill in the LatrobeValley.

Yarra Glen resident and clinical psychologist Dr Rob Gordon OAM has dedicated his life’s work to supporting victims of disaster and said the news of Mr Sokaluk’s release can stir up the feelings from that day for the victims.

“They probably put it aside, hopefully for all this time but there are probably very

strong feelings of anger and helplessness about such a thing happening which, presumably for many people, caused a huge change in their life in various ways and it’ll take them back to those really raw, painful feelings,” he said.

Continued page 3

Opening day of the Coldstream Boxing Club.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Climate change on the map

By Dongyun Kwon

Yarra Valley Water (YVW) has unveiled a new map-based tool to show the threat climate change may have on its infrastructure in the future on Wednesday 1 May.

The water utility has warned that extreme weather events, including bushfires, flooding and droughts, are increasingly impacting its water supply and essential infrastructure.

YVW resilience and liveability manager Dr Lisa Ehrenfried said this work marks a significant step towards YVW proactively managing climate-related risks and ensuring the resilience of its infrastructure.

“Victoria’s climate is already changing, becoming hotter and drier in recent decades, but with more intense rainfall bursts,” she said.

“This means we can’t rely on traditional risk assessment methods, which are based on historical data. Understanding what our climate may be like in the future, will help us to plan and adapt.”

The Climate Resilience Risk Assessment tool uses data from a number of sources, including the Bureau of Meteorology and the Department of Energy, Environment and Cli-

mate Action, and overlays it in YVW’s service area.

YVW has integrated relevant layers from Victoria’s future climate tool into its own mapping systems, which allowsYVW to see its asset locations against various climate change hazards across different time scales and climate change scenarios.

Dr Ehrenfried said the tool shows climate change hazards such as projected hot days, which enables YVW to assess how dangerous that heat is to its assets or people.

“To assess this risk, we conduct a separate assessment that considers factors like asset exposure and vulnerability,” she said.

“This process is informed by leading climate change risk guidance from Australian Standards and our own corporate risk framework. It looks at the key climate change hazards and then analyses exposure and vulnerability to calculate the risk.

“By understanding the potential future climate change hazards, we can better plan and adapt to safeguard our infrastructure.”

The interactive tool covers a vast service area spanning fromWallan in the north toWarburton in the east.

Native timber support available now

Native timber harvesting has ended in Victoria but support is still available.

Native timber businesses, workers and communities can continue to access a range of support including:

• The Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program –including payments and training, 1:1 case management, employment services, health and wellbeing support.

• Business support

– including exit packages and funding to help diversify.

• Community support

– health and wellbeing services and community development planning and funding.

For more information:

• Forestry Transition hotline1800 318 182

• Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program - 1800 122 001 vic.gov.au/forestry

It allows users to view future climate information, including temperature, bushfire risk, rainfall and heatwaves, as maps and charts.

It was designed to compare climate data for specific locations across different time periods and climate scenarios, crucial for assessing infrastructure assets with varying service life.

YVW assets such as pipes, tanks and pumps have an operational life of anywhere between five to over 100 years.

The map-based tool will be used to assess the climate impact on YVW’s assets so that it can determine the appropriate interventions.

Interventions can be made to reduce these hazards, including changing a building design or upgrading electric assets to make sure they can cope with rising temperatures.

“Early identification of vulnerable assets and mitigation opportunities are key to building a resilient network,” Dr Ehrenfried said.

“By addressing and implementing proactive risk mitigation measures, we can reduce potential water and sewerage service disruptions and costly repairs in the future.”

YVW has partnered with Nation Partners to develop the tool tailored to address asset-related climate hazards, vulnerability and expo-

sure.

“Nation Partners was selected, following an extensive tender process, for its ability to deliver on the technical requirements as well as a proven track record on risk assessment and adaptation plans,” Dr Ehrenfried said.

“It took around six months to develop the first version of the tool, we then tested it internally and made minor adjustments.”

Dr Ehrenfried said adopting a forwardthinking approach to climate change adaptation is critical to safeguard its essential services.

“Climate change is happening and we need to be prepared for it. The tool has given us valuable new insights to climate change risks and mitigation actions required,” she said.

“It is also a great way to engage our team on climate change risks and facilitate the conversations we need to have. Understanding the mitigation actions needed is crucial for future planning cycles.

“This approach helps us to build our resilience to climate change and implement actions that reduce our vulnerabilities, and support long-term planning for an uncertain future.”

Dr Lisa Ehrenfried.

Pictures: SUPPLIED Climate change.

Emotions still raw

From page 1

“The problem is the legal process is usually not very satisfying for the victims, and the natural feeling is that the legal process should be a bit of a solution for the victims but it usually isn’t.”

In 2012, former CFA volunteer Mr Sokaluk was found guilty in the Victorian Supreme Court of ten counts of arson causing death by deliberately starting fires in multiple locations that contributed to the Black Saturday disaster on 7 February 2009.

AVictoria Police spokesperson said they are aware of the release from prison on 30 April of a 54-year-old man.

“The man has been released on parole and is subject to a range of conditions,” they said.

“The man was charged with a range of offences following a fire in Churchill in 2009.”

“Victoria Police is always pro-active in monitoring those in the community who are subject to these conditions and have a history of high-risk offending,” the Victoria Police spokesperson said.

“It would not be appropriate to comment further on specifics, however the safety of the community remains our number one priority.”

The jury in Mr Sokaluk’s case heard that he had sent an anonymous email to Crime Stoppers saying he witnessed a firefighter in a fourwheel drive deliberately lighting fires that day, made a Triple Zero call to report the rapidly growing fire and later told police in his interview that he had accidentally started the fire by flicking cigarette ash from his car.

Dr Gordon said the punishment for an of-

fender has to be related to things like the legislation, the penalties that can be given and the possibility of rehabilitation which don’t mean much to the people who have been hurt by it.

“People think that it’s really important that justice is done and that people who cause such a lot of harm have some serious consequences,” he said.

“I think it’s really important that the people who’ve been hurt don’t make their recovery depend on what happens to that person (the offender) because it’s never going to be exactly what’s needed,”

“What’s important for them is to actually reconnect with their lives and rebuild their future plans with whatever changes have happened, that’s the recipe we know to a good recovery.”

The Black Saturday disaster killed 173 people, burnt over 450,000 hectares of land and destroyed 3500 buildings including more than 2000 houses.

Mr Sokaluk’s starting of the Churchill fire was found to be directly responsible for 10 deaths and is believed to have resulted in the burning of over 36,000 hectares of land and razed more than 150 homes in the Churchill area.

Dr Gordon said there are a few things he recommends victims of the disaster do at this time if they are distressed by Mr Sokaluk’s release.

“Try and work out who you can talk things over with friends, family or other people in the community because when we communicate our feelings about things and our thoughts

and attitudes, putting them into words makes them clearer, and in making them clearer we can think about them and get them into a better perspective,” he said.

“The second thing I’d suggest is, during the time of heightened emotion like this, try to make sure that you can do things to really value life, do some nice things for yourself, be with the people important to you and if people have rebuilt, celebrate what you’ve been able to achieve,”

“The third thing I’d suggest is to think about some really tangible ways of taking care of your health and your emotional life; making sure that you eat well, get plenty of rest and schedule some outings over the next few weeks.”

Dr Gordon himself fled his home in Yarra Glen to escape the Black Saturday fires.

Dr Gordon said it’s better for victims to let go of thoughts about perpetrators like Mr Sokaluk.

“It’s never enough is a feeling that people can have, but it must be a big chunk of a person’s life now and they’ll probably be a different person now, but you won’t know that,” he said.

“We have to let go of that, there would have been some good people working in the judicial system that have hopefully done some work with this person and maybe they’ve had a chance to think about what they did and learned from it,”

“This is where we get into a loop, when we start chewing over something that we don’t really understand.”

THE MIDDLE EAST

IN BRIEF

Search uncovers $250,000 worth of cocaine, 35 year old Silvan man arrested

A major drug bust has seen over $250,000 in drugs seized at a residential home in Silvan after a compliance search for weapons was performed by an outer east police response unit.

Police arrested a man after seizing more than 725 grams of cocaine and smaller quantities of other drugs in theYarra Ranges on Tuesday 30 April.

Detectives from the Croydon Divisional Response Unit (DRU) attended a residential address in Silvan to execute a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance search.

While attempting to enter the property, a man allegedly fled from police before disposing of multiple items in a neighbouring property.

Police quickly arrested the man, before recovering and seizing an alleged commercial quantity of drugs which included: Approximately 725 grams of cocaine valued at more than $250,000, thirteen vials of anabolic steroids and a large zip-lock bag containing what police believe to be ecstasy pills.

The 35-year-old Silvan man was arrested and charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of cocaine, possession of steroids, and a failure to update an address with the FPO registry.

The man was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday 1 May.

FCA Australia recalls two different Jeep Cherokee models

FCA Australia has recalled Jeep KL Cherokee with a year range of 2013 - 2015 and Jeep WL Grand Cherokee with a year range of 20212023.

10,160 KL Cherokee models have been recalled due to a manufacturing defect in the power liftgate module (PLGM) which may fail due to an electrical short circuit and result in a vehicle fire with the ignition turned on or off.

A vehicle fire could increase the risk of an accident, causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users, bystanders, and/or damage to property.

2,854 WL Grand Cherokee models have been recalled because the upper control arm retaining bolts may have been damaged during vehicle assembly.

This may cause the wheels to detach from the vehicle while driving, resulting in a loss of control.

A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of an accident, causing serious injuries or death to the driver and/or vehicle occupants or other road users.

Owners of affected vehicles can contact their nearest authorised dealership as soon as possible to have the work carried out, free of charge.

For more information, owners are welcome to contact Stellantis Australia by phone on 1800 870 714 or via email at auscustomercare@stellantis.com.au

Tips to stand for council

By Callum Ludwig

An opportunity for aspiring council candidates is coming up close to home in preparation for this year’s local government elections.

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is visiting Yarra Ranges Council on Thursday 9 May for a Community and Candidate Information Session.

Director of Corporate Services at Yarra Ranges Council Andrew Hilson said this session is an amazing opportunity for anyone who is passionate about their community and has a desire to create change in the Yarra Ranges.

“No prior knowledge is required to attend, as the session covers off all of the basics around the role of local government and the responsibilities of a Councillor,” he said.

“The session will also cover things like the election process, requirements for candidates, Councillor training and development opportunities,”

“It’s not often that these sessions are run in the Yarra Ranges so we’d love to see as many people as possible registering and coming along to find out what standing for Council is all about.”

Candidates intending to run in the neighbouring eastern metropolitan councils of

Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash and Whitehorse are also welcome to attend the event, which will run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm in the Council Civic Centre on 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale.

MAV CEO Kelly Grisby said the MAV Stand for Council campaign is designed to encourage and support a diverse range of candidates from across the Victorian community including first nations, and new and emerging communities.

“If you are thinking of nominating for council as a candidate, these sessions and resources will help you to further consider the broad responsibilities of a councillor, the

wide range of issues you will be required to make decisions about and the time commitment,” she said.

At the event, MAV will also be providing its Citizen to Councillor Guide 2024 to help prospective candidates to further understand the roles and responsibilities of a councillor and importance the role plays in the community.

In order to run for Council, you must be an Australian citizen over 18 years old who is enrolled to vote in the LGA you wish to stand and must have completed the mandatory Local Government candidate training.

Local government elections will be held in October.

Tax cuts for every taxpayer

Strict parking

Yarra Ranges Council has continued its stricter enforcement of parking restrictions in Warburton to encourage cars to move on and assist with traffic flow.

The increased enforcement came after feedback from the community that they were becoming frustrated with the amount of motorists overstaying the car park time limits.

Since increasing enforcement in Warburton over a one-month period during weekends and public holidays, there has been a significant increase in infringements, as Council tries to encourage more free flowing traffic while minimising illegal parking.

Most of the infringements were due to either overstaying timed parking limits or parking in no stopping zones, highlighting the need for more enforcement to encourage vehicles to move on and improve the fairness and safety of parking in Warburton. Other infringements included wrongly parking in disabled zones or illegally on nature strips.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Sophie Todorov said that the increased enforcement was just one way that Council were trying to improve parking conditions around Warburton and theYarra Ranges.

“We know that Warburton is an increasingly popular spot for visitors to come to, particularly over weekends and public holidays, so we need to look at ways to encourage better traffic flow and make things fair for everyone,” Cr Todorov said.

“It also becomes a safety issue when there are vehicles that might be illegally parked in no stopping zones or taking up parks that are designed for people with special needs,”

“While we’ve received positive feedback from the community since more strictly enforcing the parking restrictions duringbusiertimes,weknowitwon’tsolve all issues which is why we’ve incorporated other initiatives to try and relieve some of the parking issues within the town.”

Yarra Ranges Council recently proposed some changes to the current parking restriction time limits within the town, and following community feedback, made some alterations to those proposals.

A Community and Candidate Information Session will be held at the Yarra Ranges Council Civic Centre on Thursday 9 May. 379657

Picture: ON FILE

Ambos stretched too thin

By Callum Ludwig

An ambulance crew was subjected to an arduous trip out to Warburton as the sky-high demand for emergency responses and the prevalence of non-emergency calls continues to put a strain on paramedics.

The Beaconsfield 2 crew were dispatched from their base at about 7.10pm on Sunday 28 April out to Warburton to respond to a callout as all other ambulances were tied up in the region.

Paramedic Chloe Brennan was part of the crew who responded to the call and said there would have been 16 ambulances based closer to Warburton who were unable to respond.

“There’s at least eight ambulance branches closer toWarburton and most of these branches would have at least 2 operational ambulances staffed at this time of day,” she said.

“It took the crew one hour to arrive at the job, a Code Two, which in normal circumstances AmbulanceVictoria (AV) would expect to have a crew on scene within 25 minutes and after being assessed, the patient declined the crew’s offers of transport to hospital.”

Over the course of this one night shift, the Beaconsfield 2 crew travelled over 420km, with the Warburton trip there and back accounting for about 120km alone.

“It then took the crew another hour to drive back to Beaconsfield, this meant the crew were unavailable to respond to other emergencies for approximately two and half hours,” Ms Brennan said.

“The crew also completed their 14-hour shift without receiving their meal break.”

A number of unions, including the Victorian Ambulance Union and theVictorian branch of Ambulance Employees Australia are carrying out protected industrial action on behalf of paramedics and other ambulance workers to improve working conditions, reduce work-

loads, address the inappropriate coding of jobs and better allocate ambulance resources, while also having been negotiating new bargaining agreements with 000VIC for over a year.

Ms Brennan said they commonly find that periphery and urban fringe branches such as Yarra Junction, Emerald, Healesville and Montrose get sent to respond to jobs in inner metro areas, which frequently get inappropriately coded as high acuity or emergency jobs only to find on arrival, the patient is not particularly unwell.

“We have examples of crews being sent lights and sirens to complaints such as toothaches or sore shoulders after going to the gym,

these crews then get ramped for hours at hospital leaving them unavailable to respond to their local communities, this is where we see instances similar to Sunday night where crews are required to travel excessive distances to reach jobs because the local crews are ramped at hospitals,” she said.

“Paramedics are completing 800 hours of forced overtime every day because of the inefficiencies in the system and as a result of this we are seeing hugely detrimental effects on paramedic fatigue, mental health and burnout rates,”

“Paramedics are dedicated and passionate about providing the highest level of care possible to their local communities, however,

frustratingly they are often restricted by the systems and processes in place.”

15 minutes is the target response time for ambulance crews to Code One jobs, with AV’s latest performance data for the last quarter of 2023 the first time in over two years that the average response time to Code One calls was under the 15 minute target, despite it being the busiest in AV’s history with 154,267 emergency cases. This included 99,833 Code 1 cases – the second most on record – and 54,434 Code 2 cases.

As previously reported in the Star Mail, this is what the performance data told about responses in the Outer East:

· 73.6 per cent of the 2160 callouts in Knox were responded to within 15 minutes, down 0.2 per cent but the average response time improved by 20 seconds to 13 minutes and 34 seconds.

· 71.3 per cent of Maroondah’s 1567 callouts were responded to within 15 minutes, down 1.7 per cent while the average response time improved by 6 seconds to 13 minutes and 49 seconds.

· 51.4 per cent of callouts in 1759 Cardinia were responded to within 15 minutes, up from 50.8 per cent and the average response time worsened by 31 seconds to 17 minutes and 51 seconds.

· 55.5 per cent of the 2190 Yarra Ranges callouts were responded to within 15 minutes, improved from 53.7 per cent with the average response time also improving by 19 seconds to 16 minutes and 52 seconds. The demand on ambulance services also comes as The Herald Sun reported on 3 May that a patient died while waiting in the emergency department of the Maroondah Hospital, the nearest hospital with an emergency department to service the Maroondah and Yarra Ranges regions.

RACV call for Slow Down, Move Over laws to expand

By Callum Ludwig

The RACV is putting pressure on the Victorian Government to match the moves of every other state in the country and change a road rule to better protect emergency roadside assistance workers and two truck drivers.

Following the South Australian government introducing legislation recently, Victoria is the only state (the Northern Territory also doesn’t) without reduced speed limits when passing roadside breakdown and recovery vehicles.

RACV’s General Manager of Automotive Services Jackie Pedersen said it is now time for the Victorian Government to ensure RACV emergency roadside assistance workers and tow truck drivers are provided the same protection asinotherstates.“Itishearteningtoseethatour colleagues in RAA are now protected just like workersdrivingvehicleswithredandblueflashing lights,” she said.

to

“Following this development, we continue our call for theVictorian Government to urgently introduce a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit for passing vehicles with yellow flashing lights, including RACV patrol vans and tow trucks,”

“RACViscommittedtoachievingasafeenvironment, not just for our service providers, but alsoourmemberswhentheyarestrandedatthe side of the road and we look forward to a positive response from theVictorian Government.”

RoadRule79A,otherwiseknownasthe‘Slow Down, Move Over’ rule, enforces that motorists are to slow down to 40km/h when passing vehicles with flashing red and blue lights such as slow-moving or stopped police and other emergencyvehicles,andtomoveoutofanapproaching vehicle’s path when safe to do so.

A Department of Transport and Planning (DOTP) spokesperson said they are working withstakeholdersonhowwecanimprovesafety for roadside crews and other motorists. “Roadside incident crews are often the first to arrive at crashes, breakdowns, and unplanned situations onourfreeways,andit’stheirrighttoalwaysfeel safewhendoingthisimportantwork,”theysaid.

The DOTP has carried out research into how to protect incident response workers working on busy roads and roadsides, with a study commissioned to look into how drivers react to different coloured flashing lights and seeing various response vehicles, such as emergency services, on the road and their adherence to the appropriate road safety rules.

The study found that the average passing speeds of motorists were lower with red and blue flashing lights associated with emergency vehicles but drivers were still not slowing down anywhereclosetotherequired40km/h.Assuch, the DOTP is looking at alternative methods to encourage drivers to slow down when passing incident response workers and reminds motorists that is the responsibility of every driver to slow down and drive to conditions - especially when potential hazards exist like during roadside incidents. Yarra Valley Towing was contacted for comment.

RACV is calling for Slow Down, Move Laws to be applied

other roadside workers like emergency roadside assistance workers and tow truck drivers. Picture: RACV

The Beaconsfield 2 crew were dragged out to Warburton for a call that didn’t even require transport to a hospital. Picture: SUPPLIED

NEWS Students set the standard

By Callum Ludwig

Wandin North Primary School has been named as a finalist in three categories of the Sustainability Victoria’s 2024 ResourceSmart Schools Awards.

Despite only jumping onboard the ResourceSmart initiative in 2023, Wandin North Primary School’s progress has earned them nominations for Curriculum Leadership School of the Year and Emerging School of the Year, as well as the Teacher of the Year (Primary) nomination for Sustainability and Environment Teacher Laura Attrill.

Ms Attrill said they joined ResourceSmart Schools so that they could measure the school’s resource use and monitor changes and improvements over time.

“At the start of 2023 we implemented a new specialist class based around sustainability and we called it H.E.R.O.E.S which stands for Harvest, Eat, Record, Observe, Environment and Sustainability but is also a play on words as our students refer to themselves as heroes for the planet,” she said.

“Since starting the program we have developed and built a huge kitchen garden, a citrus patch, a school orchard, an Indigenous garden and a pollinator garden. The children love working in the kitchen garden, harvesting their crops and then cooking their produce, and this has linked to their Sustainability learning as they know the importance of eating seasonal, local produce,”

“The students at Wandin North Primary School built the pollinator garden after learning about the critical role our pollinators play in food production and the need to encourage pollinators to come on our school grounds to pollinate the kitchen garden and orchards.”

Wandin North Primary School has risen up the ResourceSmart ranks in record time, already having achieved two-star status (maximum of five stars).

Ms Attrill said she is so proud of all of the work they have done in the past year since joining ResourceSmart Schools and it is fantastic that they are being recognised for their efforts.

“They are passionate about caring for and preserving our local environment and fundraised for the Helmeted Honeyeater and the Leadbeater’s Possum in 2023,” she said.

“They have become junior citizen scientists and participated in larger scale environmental efforts such as the Platy-Project, Backyard Bird Count, Clean Up Australia Day and love doing our Resource Smart School audits to collect data about our school,”

“The students themselves have completed the biodiversity, waste and litter audits to help us achieve our results so they need to be so proud of themselves.”

To achieve two stars,Wandin North Primary School has established a sustainability plan involving the whole school and gone to actively

engage the whole school in sustainability issues and opportunities and who can help.

Ms Attrill said there is always something exciting happening in HEROES.

“This term we are focussing on organic waste which doesn’t seem exciting to some but we are loving learning about all the different ways we can dispose of it,” she said.

“Our junior years are making ‘wormeries’ in recycled jars to take home in the coming weeks using wormlets from our school worm farms. The children are very excited to have their own worm farms at home.”

To continue to ascend in star status, Wandin North Primary School can strategically plan to integrate sustainability education into the campus, curriculum and community, with students actively involved in a creating a system approach to the school’s resource use.

Then, they need to measure, monitor and document learning and improvements to

the system and a facilitator can come out to check and make suggestions to help the school achieve five-star Leadership School status, wherein the school is mentoring others through sharing their sustainability journey.

Wandin North Primary School Principal Paul Bailey said the program at Wandin North would not be what it is today without the time and commitment Laura puts into it.

“Laura’s passion and persistence for sustainability has influenced a change in thinking and ways of working at Wandin North Primary School,” he said.

“Laura has introduced lunchtime clubs, school chickens, harvest-to-plate cooking and strong curriculum theory and our students have strong connections with theory and practical lessons that has lead to an increased proactivity outside of the Sustainability program such as looking for litter to pick up at playtimes, ensure the chickens are looked after, monitoring our two orchards to ensure the students continue to respect the areas.”

Wandin North Primary School’s sustainability journey has also taken them to the 2023 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and the 2023 Victorian Schools Garden Awards.

Mr Bailey said being a ResourceSmart school has increased the awareness of staff and students of the impact they have on our environment.

“Our school has reviewed and edited key policies to ensure our practice is embedded and aligns with ResourceSmart. We have reduced the amount of landfill staff and student are bringing to school through our Sustainability Captains monitoring and collecting house points and all classes have compost buckets for our worm farms,” he said.

“We now have a better understanding of the biodiversity of our site and how we can continue and enhance our environment.”

L-R: Summer, Everley and Isla.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Indigenous led symposium

By Dongyun Kwon

The Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) hosted a national symposium to discuss the Indigenous knowledge systems building resilience.

The symposium Our Country - Our Way was held in The Memo Healesville on Tuesday 23 April.

YRC Cultural Recovery Coordinator Nelson Aldridge, a Taungurung man, said the symposium was an Indigenous-based event on the effects of natural disasters.

“We have this symposium to bring in Indigenous knowledge systems in regards to how to possibly make Country more sustainable and be proactive instead of reactive,” he said.

“Resilience has been in Aboriginal culture for thousands of years, and we’re going through that at the moment getting an understanding of Country and how we can work with Country that has a sustainable way going forward.

“YRC is very passionate about these topics of events that are trying to lead the way with the Indigenous development team ensuring

that we’re always looking at how to look after the Country. It was a fantastic day and we’re looking forward to the next steps.”

The event started off with the Indigenous musical instrument performance followed by a Welcome to Country presentation in an Indigenous language by Samantha whose family descended on Coranderrk.

Aileen Blackburn and Buzzy Hewat from Moogji Aboriginal Council based in Orbost were the first guest speakers who spoke about the Black Summer bushfires.

“They spoke about how it was. It was just a disaster in terms of how agencies communicated with the community afterwards,” Mr Aldridge said.

“We then heard from Dr Carlie Atkinson about trauma-informed practices and the Lismore flood. At the lunch, we had Dr Andrew Peters who talked about resilience and reciprocity.

“And then we had Oonah which is an Aboriginal health organisation in Healesville talking about the services they offer to the community and the role they played in the recovery process of the storm.”

Tune your wood heater for more heat, reduce pollution

EPA Victoria encourages everyone to avoid burning wood to heat their homes if they can, to reduce pollution and effects on people’s health.

If a wood heater or stove is your only option,theEPArecommendsgettingittunedsoit produces less smoke and more heat.

EPA Northeast Regional Manager Ben Kneebone says wood smoke and calm winter weather can reduce air quality, but there are simplewaystomakeyourheatersafer,cleaner and cheaper to run.

“A wood heater or fireplace provides valuable heating for many Victorians, but maintenance is important and one of the best things you can do is have the flue or chimney professionally cleaned,” Mr Kneebone said.

“That can help to prevent flue fires and ensure the heater produces more heat and less smoke,” he said.

“Checking the wood heater’s operating manual can help you to get the best out of it and give you the knowhow to choose the right fuel.”

The best fuel is dry, seasoned, untreated hardwood, which burns longer and produces more heat and less smoke.

“Using even slightly damp wood means your wood heater will not operate at its best. You wind up paying for heat that is lost in drying out the timber before it can burn, and you getless efficient combustionthat creates more smoke,” Mr Kneebone said.

EPA Victoria’s Chief Environmental Scientist, Professor Mark Patrick Taylor, added that reducing wood fire smoke will also help to minimise any health impacts.

“Wood smoke contains very small particles and gases that contribute to air pollution.This can cause problems for anyone with cardiovascular, breathing difficulties and respiratory conditions, resulting in symptoms for some people.”

Professor Taylor encouraged people to reduce their use of wood heaters and fireplaces on still days, and to go outside occasionally to check their chimney for smoke to make sure the heater is working as well as it can.

“Overall, Victoria’s air quality is very good. This is mainly due to initiatives introduced over the years that have reduced emissions from industry and motor vehicles. Another contributor to cleaner air has been the banning of backyard incinerators in residential areas,” he said.

“While the impact of a single wood heater may be small, the cumulative effect is significant, particularly through autumn and winter, andtuningyourwoodheaterformostefficient operation helps reduce impacts on air quality, optimises heating your home and minimises health risks.”

Tips for reducing smoke pollution include:

· Getahotfiregoingquicklywithplentyofpaper and small dry kindling;

· Keeptheaircontrolssethighenoughtokeep the fire burning hot;

· Never overload a wood heater with too much wood; and

· Make sure you never leave the wood heater tosmoulderovernight,asthisstarvesthefire of oxygen, producing more smoke.

Yarra Ranges Council

The Indigenous musical instrument performance.Dr Carlie Atkinson.

Buzzy Hewat (left) and Aileen Blackburn.

The symposium Our Country - Our Way was held in The Memo Healesville on Tuesday 23 April.

Pictures: DONGYUN KWON

Locals feature in awards

By Callum Ludwig

Volunteers groups from Melbourne’s east and beyond came together on Wednesday 1 May for the inaugural EV Strengthening Communities Inclusive Volunteering Awards.

The event aimed to acknowledge and recognise the efforts of local community groups, including a few in the Outer East, in encouraging people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to volunteer.

CEO of EV Strengthening Communities Viv Cunningham-Smith was the MC for the event and said they want the community groups to share their expertise on inclusive volunteering with each other.

“Through Volunteering Victoria funding, we were funded to break down barriers to volunteering for initially three priority groups; people with disabilities, First Nations people and newly-arrived migrants, and now we have some additional groups; young people, vulnerable women and the unemployed,” she said.

“The focus of the work is you, the organisations who are offering volunteering opportunities and who are delivering vital services through volunteers, whether you are solely a volunteer workforce or you have a mix of volunteer and paid workforces,”

“Those that met 80 per cent of the criteria and above were deemed to achieve an inclusive volunteer workplace, but those who didn’t are still committed and on that journey of working towards an inclusive volunteering workplace and we celebrate and wish to recognise all of that work today.”

28 volunteer organisations were nominated for their efforts, either set to receive an award or an acknowledgement for their efforts in providing an inclusive volunteering opportunity.

The award recipients were:

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Baptcare, Feed One Feed All, Foothills Community

Care Inc, the Melbourne AMEP Volunteer Tutor Scheme, the Newhope Baptist Church, Puffing Billy Railway and Wellways Australia.

The organisations that were acknowledged for their inclusivity efforts were:

Living and Learning at Ajani Inc, Maroondah Winter Shelter, MiCare Ltd, Mountain District Radio Inc 3MDR, Carenet, MVC Boxing, Yarra Ranges Council TAC L2P Program, Ferntree Gully Tennis Club, Community First Responders Foundation Ltd, Temple Society Australia- CHAMPION Community Hub, Manningham Walking Group For Carers, Mooroolbark Community Garden, Ringwood Church of Christ, Community Support Knox, Yarra Ranges and Surrounds, Neuma Church, Benwerren, Melbourne All-Abilities Lions Club, The Boroondara Family Network, Australia Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne) Inc, Women Support Incorporated and

Keynote speaker AJ Kulatunga came to speak about the ‘superpower’ and challenges of cultural diversity and said he was aware he was speaking to the converted but hoped to help flip the script and amplify what the organisations are already doing and take it out into the rest of the world.

Mr Kulatunga told two stories of a similar experience he had; once in a takeaway store where he was mistaken for an UberEats driver and another 10 years ago, where he had been told to ‘dress up a bit more’ so he didn’t ‘look like a taxi driver’ but an established professional speaker at his first professional speaker conference.

Mr Kulatunga said these incidents had gotten him thinking about how some of the challenges that he’d had in his career maybe weren’t always related to his competency.

“So looked into what is Australia comprised of, we’ve got 25.8 million people, 22.3 per cent speak a language other than English at home, which gives us around 5.7 million culturally diverse people and then we look at the workforce, we’ve got 14.2 million people in it and when you apply the percentages, it works out to about 3.1 million culturally diverse professionals,” he said.

“I didn’t quite understand why I wasn’t seeing people who looked like me on stage.”

Mr Kulatunga pulled up images of the lineups or boards at a number of speaking conferences and events, highlighting the ‘sea of sameness’ in the people on screen and while they are all experts in their field, were clearly lacking diversity.

Mr Kulatunga said one or more people have a decision to make in a very acute moment of space and time, which he calls the point of impact, people make a decision based on their identity.

“Our identity drives our thoughts and drives our actions and our identity is influenced by stories and lived experiences, occasionally you will create a great story that becomes a lived experience because you’re there with the people sharing the story,” he said.

“This is why it’s so important that we learn how to tell better stories, strategic storytelling is so important for all of us here if we really want to drive inclusivity and change instead of trying to throw information, data or facts at people,”

“If you influence a person’s lived experiences, magical things happen, if you influence a person’s stories, magical things happen.”

Six of the award-winning organisations, including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Baptcare and Feed One Feed All, were also invited on stage after the awards to give a presentation on how they achieve inclusivity in their organisations.

Healesville Biggest Morning Tea is back again

By Dongyun Kwon

An annual fundraiser to support the Cancer Council is coming back to Healesville on Wednesday 22 May.

The Healesville Biggest Morning Tea was first organised nine years ago in collaboration with Tarrawarra CWA and Le Pine Funerals Healesville in honour of the past president of Tarrawarra CWA Maria Graham who was struggling with breast cancer back then.

Tarrawarra CWA president Anne Faulks said the event is a perfect fit for her organisation.

‘When we were approached by Jenny [Le Pine Funerals Healesville manager] about collaborating, it was perfect for us because it was something close to our heart,” she said.

“Maria was going through the cancer issue. We were there with her and supported her and her family.

“Within the branch, we call it Maria’s Morning Tea.”

The high morning tea event will have cakes, tea, coffee, games and raffles.

Le Pine Funerals Healesville manager Jenny Smith said there would be lots of prizes.

“People will get prizes from the games and lucky door prizes,” she said.

“Everyone goes home with something. We always make sure everyone gets something.”

The cakes will be made by Tarrawarra CWA while raffles and prizes will be prepared by Le Pine Funerals Healesville.

“Men are more than welcome to come too. It’s not just women’s morning,” Ms Faulks said.

The event will start at 10am.

For more information, please contact Ms Smith at 03 5962 4141.

Anne Faulks (left) and Jenny Smith.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Middle Ground Cafe.

Representatives of the award-winning volunteer organisations receive their accolades.

Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG

‘H-Bomb’ lands at club

By Dongyun Kwon

The Coldstream Boxing Club (CBC) had an opening day with a special guest on Thursday 25 April.

Over 50 people turned up on the day.

Coach Hayden ‘H-Bomb’ Wright said the event was to let the community know about the free training facility in theYarraValley.

“It was to meet the parents and get to know each other,” he said.

“We had a barbecue thanks to The Meat-Inn Place Lilydale Butcher who sponsored sausages and the parents who helped cook the sausages.

“Every kid got a pair of boxing gloves thanks to the donation from the Bosker Boxing Equipment.”

The kids did sparring and some games, and kicked the footy during the event.

The special guest was Harry Garside who is a bronze medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“All the kids got his signature,”Wright said.

“It was great to have a champion like him to give his support and backing and who is of note someone in my field of boxing that is wishing me all the best and commending my work with the youth.”

Garside started his boxing career at the Lilydale Community Youth Club at the age of nine with his coach Brian Levier, who is still working together.

He said his brother let him know about the new boxing gym in Coldstream.

“I came down to Melbourne to visit my family for my nephew’s first birthday and I managed to get there [the opening day event],” Garside said.

“It was awesome. There were more young girls than boys which is unusual.”

Garside said it’s “exceptional” to have a gym in Coldstream free for kids.

“I remember how many lives boxing saved, growing up at the Lilydale Community Youth Club,” he said.

“A lot of kids from broken homes in the area came to the boxing gym and that was their safe space.”

The bronze medallist is currently training to win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

When Star Mail asked the young boxer if he was going to visit the gym again, he said “Of course.”

Vibrant beginning

By Dongyun Kwon

Yarra Glen RSL’s new president finally made his debut in front of the public on the Anzac Day service.

The new president is Michael Watkins who was recommended for the position by the former president Stephen Shortis. MrWatkins said becoming a president is a “big step” for him.

“I’ve been with this branch of the RSL for some years and the previous president Steve asked me to take over his position before he moved to Mount Evelyn,” MrWatkins said.

Mr Watkins served for the British Royal Air Force for 22 years and participated in several conflicts.

“The last one [the war I was in] was the Falklands War in 1982,” he said. The president said he has been focusing on two main projects.

“The main project that we have at the moment is the Huey helicopter project that is made by George Miller [The vice president of theYarra Glen RSL],” he said.

“We’re in the final stages of getting approval to erect it. All RSLs are beset by the usual problem.We are getting old, so it’s a battle to try and attract younger members into, and that’s also one of our main focuses.”

“I plan on bringing the gold medal to show everyone that I met there,” Garside said.

“I hope there will be a few more people as well.”

The timetable for the CBC is confirmed now, one and a half hour classes from 5.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 10am on Saturdays.

“Every kid in the Yarra Valley is welcome to

train for free,”Wright said.

“It’s like a social club. We have some games and watch movies as well.”

The date of Wright’s boxing match for the Victorian heavyweight title has been changed to 22 June because his opponent got injured. The CBC will have a boxing ring soon thanks to the donation from Robyn and David from Coldstream Cafe Roadhouse.

Pavers to be reinstated

Pavers commemorating the 150th birthday of Healesville will soon be re-installed, thanks to a partnership between Council, the community and a property developer.

The pavers, which feature names of local families and details of local businesses, were organised by the community as part of the Healesville 150th celebrations in 2014.

During the course of works to develop land adjacent to Healesville ALDI, the pavers had to be temporarily removed to accommodate footpath works.

Unfortunately, several pavers were damaged as part of these works.

Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister said a condition of the building permit for the site required the pavers to be reinstalled when works were complete.

“The Healesville 150th pavers are an incredibly important part of Healesville – the culmination of a fantastic community effort to help tell the story of Healesville as it is, for future generations,” Cr McAllister said.

“We know there’s been some nervousness and uncertainty in the community since the pavers were temporarily removed – especially with some of the pavers being damaged.

“Our teams have been in touch with the community members who organised the pavers, and the property developer, to ensure that all the pavers would be restored or replaced, and put back in their rightful place.

“I’m pleased to say that pavers have been remade and are ready to be reinstated. We’re working on a schedule with our contractor and expect all the pavers to be reinstated by the end of May.

“As part of these works, we have a spare set of pavers for the Yarra Valley Railway –the railway group is taking the opportunity to use these spare pavers at their Yarra Glen Station, which I think is an excellent result.” The works to restore, replace and reinstate the pavers will be paid for by the property developer.

During the course of works to develop land adjacent to Healesville ALDI, the Healesville 150th pavers had to be temporarily removed to accommodate footpath works. Picture: ON FILE

The scale model of the Huey helicopter with its sculptor George Miller.

Opening address by Mr Watkins at the Anzac Day service.

Yarra Glen RSL secretary and treasurer Edward Bartosh (left) and Mr Watkins. Pictures: DONGYUN KWON

Opening day of the Coldstream Boxing Club.

Pictures: SUPPLIEDGarside (left) and Wright.

Garside teaching a kid.

EMBARK ON A LUXE EXPERIENCE

Take a seat with MJD...

Embark on a journey of opulence and innovation as you step into the realm of Wired by MJD, meticulously curated by the visionary duo, Michael and Dr. Hailey Daly. Nestled in the picturesque embrace of Yarra Valley, their showroom transcends mere technological exhibition to unveil an unparalleled fusion of sophistication and functionality, redefining the very essence of modern living.

Founded over two decades ago by the discerning Michael, Wired by MJD has evolved into an epitome of excellence within Australia’s elite circles, crafting bespoke lifestyle solu-

tions where cutting-edge design harmonizes seamlessly with state-of-the-art technology.

From the moment you traverse the threshold, a symphony of innovation unfolds, inviting you to immerse yourself in a realm where every element is meticulously tailored to elevate your existence.

Envision human-centric lighting cascading around you in a choreographed dance of luminescence, while avant-garde TV installations transport you to realms unexplored. Landscapes illuminated with precision, accompanied by a symphony of audio solutions that

resonate with perfection. Behold the majesty of 2-Channel Hi-Fi systems, interwoven with contemporary record players, seamlessly integrated into an architectural marvel of automation and security offerings.

Prepare to be enraptured within the bespoke cinematic oasis, known affectionately as Aladdin’s Cave, where every frame unfolds with unparalleled clarity, inviting you to immerse yourself in a realm where reality and fantasy intertwine in harmonious union.

Witness the astonishment that ensues as whispers of awe escape the lips of those who dare to venture into this sanctuary of luxury and innovation. The Wired by MJD Showroom and Experience Centre stands as a testament to their unwavering commitment to redefine the boundaries of technological integration.

As the grand unveiling approaches on the 25th of May, seize the opportunity to witness firsthand the culmination of Michael and Hailey’s visionary endeavour. Reserve your place by scheduling a personalized demonstration, where every detail is tailored to cater to your discerning tastes. Contact us at 1300 468 634 to embark on a journey that transcends the ordinary and embraces the extraordinary.

L-R: Michael and Dr. Hailey Daly.

Pictures: SUPPLIED Step into the realm of Wired by MJD.

Revved up for motorcycles

By Dongyun Kwon

A Healesville resident is about to hold a motorcycle show to make Healesville a destination for bike lovers.

The event Machine on the Green will be held at the corner of Green Street and River Street, Healesville from 9am on Sunday 12 May

Event organiser Clifford Overton said he has wanted to put on a motorcycle show in Healesville for a few years.

“So many bikes come through town on a weekend, some stop for a coffee but there is not much else here for them,” he said.

“It seems like a natural place to put on a show and put some people on the footpaths in the main street rather than just ride through on their way to Marysville or wherever else they ride to.

“It’s about making Healesville a destination for riders, not just a stop on the way.”

Since he shared his idea with his friends and on Facebook, he has found many locals who are interested in his idea.

“I had not ever applied to run an event through council and it was pretty easy, so I got the date sorted and all the right permissions to run it fairly quickly,” Mr Overton said.

Power!

Any motorcycle can enter the show on the day and every motorcycle will be entered for the Most Popular Machine award.

“There’s no fixed entry price, so a gold coin donation will get you on the green. We have a few old bikes coming to the show, maybe some race bikes too, so it should be interesting,” the event organiser said.

“The Most Popular Machine will be decided by the public who can come and look at the bikes for a gold coin donation and buy a vote for $2, which has a smiley face on a stick, and they can stick their vote in the grass in front of their favourite bike.

“Just before noon we will count up the votes and the winning bike will get a $50 cash prize.”

The money raised at the event will be donated to prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs with the money raised by another fundraiser The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride which Mr Overton will participate in on 9 May.

“If we do Machine on the Green again, and we hope to, then next time a different charity will be chosen to receive any money we raise,” Mr Overton said.

The money raised at the event will be donated to prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs.

Mr Overton (second from left) and his mates who will participate in the event. Pictures: DONGYUN KWON

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Dry Eye Syndrome extends beyond mere eye dryness, originating from insufficient tear production or an imbalance in tear film components. Various factors, such as environmental triggers, hormonal fluctuations, and the natural aging process, contribute to this condition’s complexity.

In addition to the common dry feeling, individuals afflicted with Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) may experience sensations of grittiness or stinging in their eyes, sporadic blurred vision that clears upon blinking, a sensation akin to having a foreign object in the eye, and heightened sensitivity to light.

Dry eyes may manifest naturally due to aging or hormonal shifts, particularly affecting women during pregnancy, while taking oral contraceptives, or undergoing menopause. Women over 50 face a 50 per cent higher risk of dry eye disease compared to men of the same age. Certain medications that diminish tear production, such as antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants, can also contribute. Environmental elements like air conditioning or heating systems, as well as prolonged screen time with inadequate blinking, exacerbate symptoms by drying out the eyes.

Individuals with medical conditions like diabetes, blepharitis, lupus, arthritis, and thyroid disorders are more susceptible to developing DES. Other triggers include eye surgeries like LASIK, eyelid malfunctions, or prolonged contact lens use.

Contrary to popular belief, Dry Eye Syndrome doesn’tt always present with red, itchy eyes; surprisingly, watery eyes can also indicate this condition, causing confusion among many associating dryness with its name. If you recognise any of these symptoms, it’s imperative to schedule an eye examination with

dry eye

our optometrists.

At Yarra Junction Optical, we take a special interest in Dry Eye Syndrome treatment. Our gentle, non-invasive Blephasteam treatment offers significant relief from Dry Eye symptoms, providing both immediate and

lasting comfort. We offer a range of treatment options, including eye drops and heat compresses. Don’t endure discomfort silently; allow us to help identify the causes and tailor a solution to meet your specific needs.

Give us a call on 5967 2065 or head to our

website for more information yarrajunctionoptical.com.au Pamper your eyes with $50 off our Blephasteam Dry Eye treatments at Yarra Junction Optical. Simply mention Star News during the month of May and June to receive your discount.

Don’t let dry eye cause you discomfort.

Picture: SUPPLIED

Millgrove lights up

350 attendees were intrigued and entertained as they were told the historical tale of Millgrove in the moonlight last month.

Organised by the Millgrove Resident’s Action Group (MRAG), entry free due to funding from Yarra Ranges Council and the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise and spectacularly performed with the talents of The Dreaming Space and The Misfit Project Theatre Group, the Millgrove Light Trail was a resounding success.

“I was so thrilled to have Millgrove so lit up on Saturday night 20 April and to see so many locals and others from further afield connecting and learning so much of Millgrove’s history,” MRAG President Maureen Halit said.

“This support gives us the courage and motivation to present more of Millgrove in lights in the future.”

Welcomed with music from local harpist Amy Shafer, seven groups were taken on a 45-minute guided walk between dusk and 9pm.

Stories were told of the first Millgrove settlers in modern history, to the last train coming through Millgrove. Re-enactment by local artists contributed to understanding the hardships endured in those earlier days. This was followed by a moment of reflection at the Avenue of Honour, where a solemn silhouette of the ANZAC soldier reminded us of sacrifices given.

Near the shopping precinct pictures told the story of yesteryear.The walk followed along the sawmill, which represents a rich history of local timber milling. Along the boardwalks memories came back about the Millgrove Lake that once was used for Sunday afternoon boating.

The audience were surprised there once was a saloon in Millgrove on the corner of Gillis Street and Warburton Hwy and that the first primary school was opposite Dee Road.

Following the flow of the Birrarung, a moment of silence was all that was needed to imagine how our First Nation’s people once lived along the banks of the Yarra River.

Further on the Dee Road walking trail members of The Misfit Project theatre group presented a scene from the goldmining days and

it was not always fool’s gold that was found.

While the group moved on there was music in the distance performed by the Wandering Arc band, which set the scene for a glimpse into the Kennedy’s household.

While singing the group arrived at Nadire’s walk, where the last station presented future plans for Millgrove. The walk finished at the Millgrove Shops.

To add to the experience everyone was invited to dress in period costume, with a prize awarded in each of the seven tour groups for the best costume.

Attendees shared that they ‘hope this becomes an annual event’, that the Light Trail was a ‘terrific community event’ and made for a ‘fantastic evening’ with ‘wonderful performances’ which the made the experience ‘really engaging’.

String orchestra is visiting Healesville

By Dongyun Kwon

The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) is presenting at The Memo, Healesville on Saturday 11 May.

ACO Collective is the ACO’s critically acclaimed string ensemble that brings together musicians of the ACO with Australia’s most talented young professional string players to create a high-energy string orchestra.

ACO Collective’s new tour ACO Collective: The Lark Ascending is landing in Victoria in May.

ACO principal violin Helena Rathbone, who is also the director of the tour, said she’s excited to come back to Victoria.

“Every year, we go around the country auditioning young players and we accept between six and eight young players that are mentored by ACO musicians and then we invite a few alumni and make a group into 17 string players,” she said.

The string ensemble will take the audience on a journey of many different emotions.

Ms Rathbone said the concert will start with Hugo Wolf’s Italian Serenade which is very exuberant sparkling Italian music.

“Max Richter [On the Nature of Daylight] is very ethereal, you can close your eyes and drift off. It’s very relaxing. Let the music wash over you. It’s a very different feeling from the very first piece,” she said.

“And Henry Purcell [Fantazia upon One Note] is a little calming piece. It’s extraordinary to think that this music can be played alongside something that was written so many centuries afterwards and it still works.

“Then the completely brand new piece Anne Cawrse [Falling Upward (World Premiere)] has a lot of movement.”

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending is the last performance before the 20-minute interval, which is the most well-known

piece of the whole program.

“It’s British folk music which is a violin solo with string accompaniment and it’s very beautiful and ethereal,” Ms Rathbone said.

After the interval, the concert will have two more performances, Josef Suk’s Serenade for Strings, which is the principal violin’s favourite string orchestra piece, andWojciech Kilar’s Orawa.

The tour will start from Melbourne, through Bendigo and Healesville to Cowes, and move to New South Wales to have a few more concerts.

Ms Rathbone said the young players would learn a lot throughout the tour.

‘There are a number of concerts. It means that the young players can play this program a number of times and it’s a good way for them to learn to play in a group,” she said.

Open studios are back

Artists from the Yarra Valley region are invited to participate in this year’s Yarra Valley Open Studios, held over two weekends in October 2024. Yarra Valley artists will open their doors on 12 and 13 October.

Artist studios in the Upper Yarra Valley, around the Warburton Highway, will be open on the weekend of 26 and 27 October.

All participating artists will contribute artwork to the Open Studios Exhibition at YAVA Gallery and Arts Hub and online.

The exhibition will run from 26 September to 27 October.

Yarra Valley Arts has produced Open Studios weekends since 2017 and now art lovers from across the state and even interstate look forward to their annual exploration of the Yarra Valley and its artists.

Participating artist Christine Cafarella-Pearce believes the Open Studios ”have a unique and important role to play in the wellbeing of artists and art lovers alike, whilst providing a unique experience for our local and wider community.”

Healesville artist Cecilia Sharpley “was surprised to discover how many people had come all the way from the city and other far regions” to attend Open Studios.

Warburton artist ZoraVerona said she “welcomed over 100 visitors, sold over $1000 of artwork and had a number of people discover [her] work for the first time.”

Artist get togethers are held in the lead up to Open Studios to offer the chance to deepen connections with other artists and to provide support for new participants.

The first of these meetings will be held at 7pm, Wednesday 8 May at YAVA Gallery, Healesville.

More information on how to apply can be found at: yava.org.au/openstudios2024applicationform

Yarra Valley Arts appreciates the support of Yarra Ranges Council for the Open Studios weekends.

· For more information please contact: openstudios@yava.org.au

· Gabby Higgins: 0452 540 664

· Reggie Clark: 0418 851 819

“It’s good for them and their development.

“That development is very important for the young players and it’s very important for us to go into the regional venues and play in the regions in Australia rather than just the capital cities.”

The ACO has concerts and a masterclass at the TarraWarra Museum of Art every year.

ACO Collective is going to take the masterclass instead of students from the Australian National Academy of Music who usually take it.

“During our rehearsal period in Melbourne, we’re going to have a short trip down to Healesville and play at the beginning of the TarraWarra Festival,” the tour director said.

Tickets are available at the Yarra Ranges Council’s website, yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/ACO-Collective-The-LarkAscending

Millgrove was lit up for the Light Trail.

Picture: ELLENA BIGGS

Dressed for the occasion. Picture: SUPPLIED

Gold miners cooking a meal. Picture: ELLENA BIGGS

The Kennedys.

Picture: SAM RYE

YAVA is inviting local artists to participate in Open Studios. Picture: SUPPLIED

ACO Collective.

Picture: MARIA BOYADGIS

Budget is an opportunity

Today the State Budget will be handed down, just hours after this Star Mail News edition goes to print. It is a real opportunity for the government to ease cost-of-living pressures and maintain frontline services our state desperately needs. A real opportunity to tackle the housing and health crises, and upgrade dangerous and potholed roads in our community. A real opportunity to arrest the financial mismanagement and reckless waste that we have seen under the Allan Labor Government.

After a decade of state Labor budgets, we ask ourselves: is life getting any easier?When Labor was elected in 2014, Victoria’s net debt was $22 billion. Today it’s $135.5 billion and by 2026/27 is projected to be $178 billion (which could be higher once today’s Budget is revealed).

That’s a sevenfold increase in net debt in 10 years and more than NSW, Queensland and Tasmania combined.

While the government continues to blame the COVID pandemic for this extraordinary debt that our grandchildren will be burdened with, that’s not true because there’s $43 billion new debt being added over the next three years due to inner-city infrastructure projects (over budget and years behind schedule), and interest repayments on the debt projected to reach a staggering $24 million per day.

With debt at record highs, the government has only two options: cut services or increase taxes. Troublingly, we are hearing they will do both. Over the past 10 years Labor has added 53 new or increased taxes on Victorians including new taxes on rent, jobs, health, schools, and tourism.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures con-

From my desk

Evelyn MP

firm that Victorians pay the highest state taxes in the country at $5,795 per person. Instead of new taxes, Victoria needs tax reform to encourage investment, growth, and economic opportunity. Today’s Budget is a real opportunity to axe taxes instead of raising them, and to end project blowouts and waste, ease cost-of-living pressures, and have a credible plan to pay down debt and growVictoria’s economy.

Today’s Budget is also an opportunity for transparency about Maroondah Hospital upgrades (promised in 2018), or if the Maroondah Highway at Killara Road in Coldstream will finally be duplicated and made safer (funded in 2019).

We will be scrutinising the Budget closely to see if funding is allocated to make Warburton Highway in Seville East safer, to improve bus services across Mt Evelyn and the Yarra Valley, to upgrade drainage infrastructure to mitigate flooding, or to improve health services and access to housing.

In Parliament I’ll continue fighting for a Budget that provides what our community needs and deserves.

A stunning stunt movie

The Fall Guy

Starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson M 4/5

Loosely based on the eighties TV show of the same name, The Fall Guy is an energetic, highly endearing action-comedy.

Eighteen months after a career-ending injury, stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) reconnects with his director ex-girlfriend Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt) on the set of her debut film, and must track down her missing starTom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).

Buoyed by Gosling and Blunt’s extraordinary chemistry as estranged people slowly falling in love again, the script is witty without being too quippy, moves at a brisk pace and weaves Colt and Jody’s rekindling romance with a fun mystery plot.

The unfolding conspiracy has some muddled motives and lapses in logic, but it’s hard to care when the film is so touching and exciting, and Hannah Waddingham is delightfully deranged as Jody’s producer Gail. The film also dips into sci-fi with amusing glimpses of Metalstorm, Jody’s schlocky space war epic.

The Fall Guy is suffused with respect for stunt performers: many of the inventive, well-

shot action sequences, including the bonkers climax, make overt use of stunt techniques and equipment, and the film is even bookended with stunt montages: stunts from recent blockbusters in the intro, and this film’s own stunts in the credits.

The Fall Guy even broke a real-world stunt record of the most car cannon-rolls (eight). For Gosling, The Fall Guy marks a more lighthearted return to a stuntman persona after the 2011 noir masterpiece Drive, and as an invigorating combination of romance, laughs and thrills, The Fall Guy pairs well with 2008’s Get Smart, which is another action-comedy adapted from a classic TV show.

A funny and heartwarming thrill-ride, The Fall Guy is playing in mostVictorian cinemas.

In the previous two articles, we discussed the “Discovering a Good Read” report from Australia Reads, which examines reading trends among Australian secondary school students and how book-related social media are influencing their reading habits.

Support our libraries now PASSION FOR PROSE

This article, in turn, focuses on the use of public and school libraries by teenage readers.

According to the report, nearly half (47 per cent) of those secondary schoolers surveyed used resources from public libraries in 2023.

Their main purposes for use are to “study for school”, “borrow books to read for recreation”, “borrow books or other material for schoolassignments”,“hangoutwithfriends”, and “use the Internet”. Other reasons for using public libraries include reading magazines, comics, newspapers or listening to music, attending art and craft classes, and participating in library activities.

In comparison, the report finds that school libraries are mainly used for study, with two thirds of Australian secondary students having studied at their school library.

About one third of those students surveyed have a reading session fortnightly or more often, although “schools tend to arrange library sessions primarily for younger students”, i.e.Year 7 and 8.

As for leisure reading, our teenage readers are less inclined to ask their school librarians for book recommendations, with 60% choosing not to do so.

Some students admit “they can’t be bothered”, while others say they either already have enough books to read or do not borrow books from the school library at all. The good news is, when asked how helpful their school librarians are regarding book suggestions for leisure reading, students give them a high average score of 7.74 out of a scale of one to ten. Perhaps unsurprisingly, younger students (aged 11-13) are more likely than their older peers (aged 16-18) to ask for reading advice from their school librarians. The report concludes that “enhancement

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

in library services” is one of the potential solutions in our continuous efforts to help teenagers“find books that captivate their interests and motivate them to read”.

Based on this report, Australia Reads recommends seven ways to support teen reading, and one of them is to “invest in school libraries and librarians”.

Specifically: “School libraries have a positive influence on reading behaviours – providing access, community, and recommendations for teen readers. Libraries need to be funded in schools across Australia, with dedicated and knowledgeable librarian staff, and suitable and appealing options for teenage readers.”

Furthermore, Australia Reads suggests “keeping teens engaged with the library space through their schooling may help maintain a positive and regular relationship with reading”.

Indeed, school libraries provide a safe and convenient environment for teenage readers of diverse backgrounds to talk about books and share recommendations with their peers.

Finally, those parents wanting to support teenage reading can establish positive reading habits by taking advantage of the rich and free resources offered by public libraries, thus helping to create a reading culture at home.

Make an effort to explore what teenagers are reading, and you’ll be surprised how much you can learn from them.

Special friendship in play

Kemp’s curtain call

Comedy Theatre

Melbourne

The Odd Couple

Two suddenly single pals – a sloppy sportswriter and a fastidious fashion writerstrain their friendship by becoming roommates and unconsciously repeating the same mistakes they made in marriages they just left.

Neurotic and neat freak Felix Ungar is thrown out by his wife, and meres in with his slovenly friend Oscar MadisonThe characteristics that drove each of them to leave their wives soon have them at each other’s throats in thus classic comedy.

Starring as Oscar and Felix are Shane Jacobson and Todd McKenney, the archetypal odd couple, as different as chalk and cheese, but best mates and constant collaborators.

Since they met on the Channel 7 TV series The Real Full Monty several years ago, the friends have worked together on TV in Mates on a Mission and The All New Monty, and on stage in The

Rocky Horror Show and Hairspray (as husband and wife).

Your correspondent was invited to a rehearsal of The Odd Couple where the two, Osscar (Shane Jacobson) and Felix, (Todd McKenney).

The pair worked brilliantly together and were a delight.

The play was written by Neil Simon and is a must see.

It opens at the Comedy Theatre Thursday May 23.

REMEMBER:

· Comedy at The Basin. Saturday May 11. Bookings at www.thebasintheatre.org.au

· Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Suite Surrender opening June 27.

· The 1812 Theatre The Great Gatsby May 16 – June 4 Bookings 9758 39644.

Tod (left) and Shane. Picture: SUPPLIED

Bridget Vallence

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the

or

ACROSS

1 Kitchenware (4)

3 AD (4,6)

10 Non-professional (7)

11 Japanese paper folding (7)

12 A sweet cold drink (8)

13 Excuse (5)

14 Spindle (4)

15 Agitated (10)

18 Gratification (10)

20 Duster (4)

21 Adage (5)

23 Ponder (8)

26 US state (7)

27 Pirate’s sword (7)

28 Child of one’s child (10)

29 Principal (4)

DOWN

1 Worship (4)

2 Journeyed (9)

4 Account of events (9)

5 Layer that absorbs most of the sun’s UV radiation (5)

6 Largest of the Ryukyu Islands, south of Japan (7)

7 Baghdad native (5)

8 Started (9)

9 Note (4)

14 Annoying (9)

16 Relating to a specific discipline (9)

17 Neighbour of Mexico (9)

19 Member of ancient Germanic tribe (7)

22 Country (5)

23 Collision of one or more vehicles (5)

24 Very small amount (4)

25 Book ID (1,1,1,1)

5 LETTERS ABIDE ABOUT ACRES ALBUM ALIEN ALONG ANNUL BADGE BULGE CANOE CAUSE CLOTH DOONA EATER ELOPE EMAIL ENACT EVENT GENES GREED HUMAN

INPUT KNACK KNOWS LAGER LAUGH LENDS MAPLE MELON NOBLY OMITS OPIUM PESTS PORTS POSTS RHINO RINSE RISEN ROUGE RULES RUSTS SHOCK SIEGE SNEER SPOON STAGE SWEAT TAMER TROOP

CHARMING FAMILY HOME CLOSE TO TOWN

CHARMING FAMILY HOME CLOSE TO TOWN

Boasting great space, convenience and easy care living for the growing family, this fantastic home is positioned to please in a quiet and picturesque location close to all facilities.

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A superb family home conveniently situated just a short stroll to Yarra Junction’s busy shopping precinct, local schools, transport and the Yarra Centre, it’s a great place to call home. ●

PENTHOUSE IN THE PARK

RARELY do you get to enjoy such a highend finish with cutting-edge design, coupled with breathtaking views. As you climb the stairway to reveal a clever multi-level design, stunning spotted gum flooring, square set plaster work and huge expanses of glass.

There are three distinct levels where you will discover four comfortable bedrooms, with a luxury ensuite and walk-in robe to the master. The huge central room is open plan and incorporates living/dining and kitchen that is fully integrated with top of the range Meile appliances, including the fridge freezer.

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Complete with ample under house and attic storage and a remote control double garage.

This could be your chance to call 77 Kaola Street Belgrave home. ●

HOME FOCUS

ROOM TO MOVE ON 3/4 ACRE

INTRODUCING your dream home nestled on a serene ¾ acre parcel with breathtaking treetop vistas. This spacious split-level sanctuary boasts 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, including a secluded master suite wing for ultimate relaxation.

Work from home in style in the study (or 5th bedroom) with views, featuring a charming mezzanine level. The living spaces are bathed in natural light, courtesy of expansive walls of glass that seamlessly blend indoor-outdoor living.

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With extensive storage, a 2-car garage, and plenty of parking, this home ticks all the boxes. You are minutes to both Emerald and Cockatoo Townships, Avonsleigh General Store nearby as are fantastic walks, rides and adventures to be had.

Don’t miss the chance to make this your own slice of paradise. Welcome home. ●

A beautifullymaintainedhome, perfect for those enteringthe propertymarketorwill makeanideal investment Situatedonjustover a 1/4 acrealonga sealedroad this propertyoffers a harmoniousblend ofcomfort& convenience and offersBIRstoall bedrooms,spaciousopenplanliving& dining newly renovated kitchen,polished floorboards, DGH,S/System, two new double-glazed windows for energyefficiency & sound insulation, spaciousdeck, established gardens, a veggie patch anda chookrun.

ErinDavies 0493136937 MickDolphin 0429684522

CUTTING-EDGEDESIGNWITHBREATHTAKINGVIEWS

Rarely doyou get toenjoy such a high-end finishwithcutting-edge design Asyouclimb the stairwaythe homerevealsaclevermulti-level designand featuresstunningspotted gumflooring,squaresetplaster work hugeexpansesof glass, a hugecentral room incorporating theliving/diningand kitchen thatisfully integratedwithMeile appliances, splitsystemheating& cooling,DGH anda featurefireplace.Outdoors features a paved BBQ/entertaining area, ample under-house and attic storage anda double garage

GrantSkipsey 0418528102

BREATHTAKINGTREETOPVISTAS

Yourdream homeisnestled on a sereneparceloflandwithbreathtakingtreetopvistas Thisspacioussplit-levelsanctuary boasts a secludedmastersuite wingfor ultimate relaxation,a study/5th bedroomwithviews&a charmingmezzaninelevel,expansive wallsofglass thatseamlessly blend indoor-outdoorliving,spaciousdeckspanningthe lengthofthe home, extensive storage, a 2-car garage, plentyofparking and landscaped grounds which feature tieredgardens withhidden nooks waiting tobediscovered

$600,000-$660,000

Overlooking lushestablished gardens,this charmingcottage has muchtooffer.Freshly painted throughout,polished timber floors sashwindows,wood fire &a gas heater spaciouskitchenwith a meals area The gardens,adornedwithagedferns, clivias& a majesticPowtontree & winding pathways createaninvitingatmosphereand from the reardeck, you can overlookthispicturesque scene.Withoff-streetparking and the convenience ofstrolling intotown, this propertypresentsanenticingopportunity 3 A 1 B 2 C

ErinDavies 0493136937

MickDolphin 0429684522

HOME ON A BIG BLOCK, HUGE LIVING SPACE

YOU will be surprised by the size of this home and the family room that is separate to the lounge room offering great space for the growing family. 3 bedrooms, 2 living areas plus a large outdoor entertaining barbecue area all situated on a huge block approx. 1183 sq.m in size.

Nestled in a lovely neighbourhood, where you are close to the local bakery for a coffee or a walk along the Yarra river trail, this home represents excellent value for money and an opportunity to renovate and improve. The brick home is solid just needing some updating to add your own homely touch.

Boasting a spacious layout catering to various needs, two living areas including a family room at one end of the house complete with an open fire, convenience is key with internal garage access and a quiet no through road. Situated on the high side of the road with windows to frame the picturesque mountain scenery, ensuring every glance is met with inspiring views. Bring your TLC and creativity to transform this home into a gorgeous Warburton gem. ●

UniquelyWarburtonVibeonover1/2acre

Stepinsidetodiscover ahavenofcharmandcharacter.Multiplelivingzonesofferendless possibilitiesforrelaxationandentertainment,fromthecozywarmthofthewoodfiretothecharm ofanopenfireplace.Whetheryou’reinneedof 3or4bedrooms,thishomeadaptstoyourlifestyle withease.Ascendtotheupstairsloftroomandbecaptivatedbypanoramicviewsfromthepicture windowandenjoyfreshairfromtheJulietbalcony.Downstairs,twogenerouslysizedbedroomsand twobathroomsawait,completewithpedestalbasins,baths,andtoilets.Themasterbedroomenjoys awalkthroughrobetotheensuite,lovelysashwindowsandviewsofyourgarden.Theversatile layoutoffersendlessoptions-astudy,library,formaldining,orsimplyleaveitopenforextraliving spacethechoiceisyours!Don’tmissthechancetomakethisextraordinaryhomeyours.

SamanthaPrice M 0438795190

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RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068 Inspection:

Experiencesecurefamilylivingwithanabundanceofspace You´llbeimpressedbythisdelightfulfamilyhomefullofcharacterandcharm.Offeringanopen kitchen,diningandfamilyarea,3 bedroomsincludingmasterwithensuiteandspaciouswalk-in robe,and adoublecarportatthefrontallowseasyundercoverparking.Bothbathroomsboasta delightfulfeaturewindowwhereonecantakeinthelushgreeneryinabsoluteprivacy!Thissecure fencedpropertyissurroundedbyestablishedgardens,a largegrassy,flatyardallsafelybehinda charmingfrontpicketfencewithremotecontrolgates.Inadditiontothecarports, alockupgarage andtoolshedattherear.ThepavedcourtyardwithbuiltinBBQmakesanidealsettingforanysocial gathering.Additionalfeaturesincludegasductedheating, 3splitsystems,ceilingfans, acrackling woodfireintheloungeand ahugeblockofapprox.1114sq.m Agreatplacetocallhome.

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THIS scenic 3.4 acre property in the peaceful hamlet of Selby is the ideal family retreat. Featuring a private and picturesque dam, paddock, veggie beds, level lawns, hen house, and dog fencing, this very special property is what semi-rural living is all about.

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In addition, the corridor accentuated

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· Generous living area with wood fire and modern kitchen with quality appliances, tin splashback, and sunny skylight

· 4 lovely bedrooms with ample storage and large windows

· Expansive under-house workshop/storeroom with potential for further development. ●

SPORT Strong wins for Burras

By Alex Woods

Warburton-Millgrove was at home this weekend and hosted Yarra Junction for Netball and Men’s Footy and Monbulk forWomen’s Footy.

D Grade started the day, they managed a strong start of 20-6 at half time. They kept YJ to only 4 goals in the third and left them scoreless in the last quarter to take home a 35-10 win.

Holly Cole shot up 14 goals, Maddie Loveless with 15, Sienna Muir and Brooke de Pedro both contributed 3 each. Maddie Loveless, Sienna Muir and Tamin Crunden were the top performers for the match.

The Women’s footy started the morning on the field with a tough battle against also undefeated, Monbulk. They started strong, kicking 2.1 to Monbulk’s 1 goal. Monbulk started to pick up their momentum and secured a few scores to only be 2 points behind the Burras at threequarter time.

Unfortunately, Monbulk came strong in the last and secured a goal after the siren to take home the win. The final score was 4.4-28 to 5.434. Lillian Pagels and Jasmine Enever both secured 2 goals each. Sarah Wilcox, Ann Ito, Katelyn Ruehmer, Madi Ward and Sally McIntosh were all top performers for the day.

C Grade also had another strong game this weekend. They had a nice lead of 23-11 at halftime and continued on throughout, only allowingYJ to score 7 goals in the second half. The final score was 47-18, with Mel Hancock shooting 26 goals, Cam Holland with 12 and Ashlyn Hermansen with 9. Mel Hancock, Courtney Lever and StephWhite were all the stars of the match.

A Grade began just after mid-day. Continu-

ing on as the other grades did, they had a nice halftime score of 26-13. They continued as the game went on and finished the day off with a score of 31-59 to continue their win streak. Kar-

all had big games. Reserves took the field after the women. The

Scoreboard for Outer East Round 4

By Armin Richter

FOOTBALL

PREMIER DIVISION

· Seniors: Olinda-Ferny Creek 17.9.111 def Monbulk 9.17.71; Upwey-Tecoma 11.16.82 def Berwick Springs 6.3.39; Pakenham 16.11.107 def Emerald 10.11.71;WooriYallock 14.15.99 def Wandin 12.16.88; Narre Warren 19.12.126 def Officer 3.10.28; Mt. Evelyn 9.11 65 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 6.12.48

· Reserves: Monbulk 5.11.41 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 6.3.39; Upwey-Tecoma 6.11.47 def Berwick Springs 4.7.31; Pakenham 13.10.88 def Emerald 5.12.42; Wandin 11.16.82 def Woori Yallock 8.5.53; Narre Warren 9.7.61 def Officer 6.6.42; Mt. Evelyn 11.5.71 def GembrookCockatoo 9.11.65

DIVISION ONE

· Seniors: Belgrave 15.17.107 def Healesville 11.4.70; Yea 23.12.150 def Yarra Glen 10.6.66; Warburton-Millgrove 20.9.129 defYarra Junction 5.7.37; Seville 33.32.230 def Powelltown 3.4.22; Alexandra bye

· Reserves: Belgrave 8.7.55 def Healesville 6.7.43; Yea 14.19.103 def Yarra Glen 3.1.19; Warburton-Millgrove 12.12.84 defYarra Junction 3.8.26; Seville 21.14.140 def Powelltown 1.0.6; Alexandra bye

UNDER 19s

· Pakenham 22.9.141 def Wandin 7.9.51; Narre

Warren 10.15.75 def Officer 6.3.39; Gembrook-Cockatoo + Upwey-Tecoma bye

UNDER 18s

· Healesville 16.18.114 def Seville 2.4.16; Woori Yallock 10.20.80 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 7.6.48; Upwey-Tecoma 12.7.79 def Mt. Evelyn 11.3.69

SENIORWOMEN

· Division 1: Upwey-Tecoma 12.9.81 def Berwick Springs 0.3.3; Healesville 4.14.38 def Belgrave 0.0.0; Pakenham 7.11.53 def OlindaFerny Creek 4.5.29

· Division 2: Wandin 4.4.28 drew Woori Yallock 4.4.28; Officer 6.9.45 def Seville 3.4.22; Emerald 9.15.69 def Thornton Eildon 1.0.6; Monbulk 5.4.34 defWarburton-Wesburn 4.4.28 NETBALL PREMIER DIVISION

· A Grade: Monbulk 75 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 32;Upwey-Tecoma63defBerwickSprings13; Pakenham 60 def Emerald 50; Wandin 65 def WooriYallock58;NarreWarren63defROC32; Mt. Evelyn 75 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 33

· B Grade: Monbulk 57 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 37; Upwey-Tecoma v Berwick Springs

· (result pending); Pakenham 57 def Emerald 40; Wandin 62 def Woori Yallock 58; Narre Warren 62 def ROC 38; Mt. Evelyn 71 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 36

· C Grade: Monbulk 43 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 26;Upwey-Tecoma38defBerwickSprings16;

Pakenham 29 def Emerald 25; Wandin 51 def WooriYallock16;NarreWarren38defROC28; Mt. Evelyn 33 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 17

· D Grade: Olinda-Ferny Creek 30 def Monbulk 23;Upwey-Tecoma28defBerwickSprings17; Pakenham 40 def Emerald 16; Wandin 33 def Woori Yallock 26; ROC 32 drew Narre Warren 32; Mt. Evelyn 43 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 1

DIVISION ONE

· AGrade:Seville99defPowelltown17;Healesville 51 def Belgrave 50; Yarra Glen 73 def Yea 13;Warburton-Millgrove59defYarraJunction 31; Alexandra bye

· B Grade: Seville 114 def Powelltown 5; Belgrave 71 def Healesville 36; Yarra Glen 57 def Yea 17; Warburton-Millgrove 56 def Yarra Junction 30; Alexandra bye

· CGrade:Seville79defPowelltown5;Belgrave 38 def Healesville 14;Yarra Glen 42 defYea 15; Warburton-Millgrove 47 def Yarra Junction 18; Alexandra bye

· D Grade: Yarra Glen 36 def Yea 4; WarburtonMillgrove 35 defYarra Junction 10; Alexandra, Belgrave + Seville bye

· 17 & Under Premier: Pakenham 36 def Berwick 7; Wandin 46 def Woori Yallock 12; ROC 33 def NarreWarren 31; Mt. Evelyn bye

· 15 & Under East: Monbulk 33 def Woori Yallock 19; Pakenham 20 def Beaconsfield 17; ROC 47 def NarreWarren 13; Berwick bye

Superb score secures May Monthly Medal

By Ron Hottes

TheV.V.V’s comp did not happen this week as a number of the regular ladies are away, or otherwise engaged. Hopefully there will be a competition next week.

Wednesday 1 May, Stroke and M.McGrann ‘Bag Day’ qualifier: Plenty of good scores were posted on this day, in this time-honoured event. But the score that topped them all was a Nett 69, posted by Your Loyal Scribe. The runner-up in B-Grade was the current Ladies B-Grade Champion, Deb Hamment. Deb’s Nett 70 was a fine result. In A-Grade, the winner was Neil ‘Mr. Scotland’ Leckenby, also with a Nett 70. Allan ‘Old Man River’ Hubbard was the runner-up with a Nett

71, just proving that he is defying his age and showing why we also call him ‘Mr. Consistent.’

In A-Grade balls extended to 71, but Nett 73 was the cut-off in B. NTPs went home with Darryl Ward (3rd), Laurie Doyle (9th) and the recovering Alan Johnston (12th).

Saturday 4 May, Stroke and Monthly Medal: Each month, dear readers, the Monthly Medal invariably brings out the best in some of our golfers. Medal day is a tough assignment, so most times, the toughest come to the fore. This month, the May medal is going home with Barry Maltman, who posted a superb Nett 66.

This won, for Barry, the May Medal and the top B-Grade voucher. Well done, Baz. The BGrade runner-up was rising star, Matt Maloney, with a solid Nett 67, a result that would have

won most Saturdays. In A-Grade, another rising star, Josh Hin, posted a great Nett 67, giving him the top prize there. Sean ‘Bruno’ Kennedy was the runner-up in this Grade with a Nett 69. Balls in both divisions stretched down to 72.

The NTP winners were as follows on the tough, downhill 143m third, new Club Champion, Clinton Toohey took the honours. On the toughest Par 3, the 201m 5th, Liam Kay found the green for that prize.

On the 115m ‘postage stamp’ 9th, Paul Kennedy grabbed that prize ( P.K. also grabbed the NTP on the very tough 165m 15th, so a good day’s work there). Finally, on the wickedly deceiving 192m 12th, Robert-Scott hit a beautiful hybrid to finish 30 cm from the hole for that NTP.

first half was a bit closer but still had a nice lead at halftime of 7.6-48 to 2.3-15. They brought the momentum and ran the game out, only allowing Junction to score 10 points in the third and 1 point in the last quarter, whilst finishing off with a total score of 12.12-84 for themselves. Brett Winzer kicked 3 goals, Matt Sidari with 2 and Nate Lucas, Damien Egan, Marcel Kocher, Raymond Lord, Jackson Jones, Ricky Andueza and Daniel Hewitt all kicked 1 each. Tyler Bert, Nate Lucas, David Barnes, Jackson Jones, Zayden Crunden and BrettWinzer all were stars of the match.

B Grade finished off the netball. Finishing off the day just like the other netball games conducted theirs, with a nice halftime lead of 26-14. They continued on nicely as the quarters went on and finished off the day with 56-30 point game. AlexWoods shot 22 goals, Jordana Butcher with 19 and Tayla Ferguson with 15. Chelsea Barnard, Monique Lee and Zoe Timoney were the top performers of the game.

Seniors finished off the day and ran out for Tom Marr’s 150th game. The secured 5.4 in the first quarter, allowing YJ to secure 1.1 for themselves. They continued on with another strong second quarter and went into halftime with a score of 71 to 22. The momentum went on right until the end and they secured a nice win of 20.9-129 to 5.7-37. David Lever kicked 4 goals, Nelson Aldridge, Tom Barr, Lachlan Hewitt and Liam Westlake with 3, Hudson Semple, Tyson Henry, Brayden Woolridge, Trent Elliott and Tom Marr all secured 1 each. Dylan Walker, Tyson Henry, Trent Elliott, Tom Marr, Dale Morris and Josh Sharp were all top performers for the game.

Top events

By Anita Prowse

Spectacular weather is giving us all a smile, and plenty of time outside with our furry friends.

The Upper Yarra Pony Club is gearing up for a huge weekend at Wesburn Park, with the final Dressage Day inYarra Glen ARC’s Dressage Friday Fun Series on Friday. Good luck to everyone up for series prizes.

Then we have UYPC’s annual Dressage Jackpot Weekend, which is super special this year as we have the awesome volunteers from

Forever Friends Animal Rescue joining us for some fun and to raise some much needed funds for all their rescued animals. There will be some great gifts available for Mother’s Day and some fun activities for the kids. A fabulous weekend out for all our local families. Plus we have the ‘Fill the Float’ challenge on site, so don’t forget to bring your saved cans/ bottles to get us over the line. Lots of prizes and great food available over the weekend so bring Mum along and have some fun while supporting such an amazing charity.

Happy Riding everyone.

lyWappett shot 27 goals, Bianca Daniels with 23 and Ashlyn Elliott with 9. Ally Langdon, Jessie Hare and Bianca Daniels

TomMarrdishesoffahandballinhis150thgame. Picture:SUPPLIED

Rivals go head to head

The Kennel was once again in perfect condition for a day of community sport as Wandin welcomedWooriYallock.

Firstly, the Unders teams for each side played off against other opponents.

The Woori Under 18s played Olinda away early in the day and came away with the win, the boys have started the year very well with great numbers and buying into coach Scott’s game plan.

Best players for Woori were Archie Spencer, Lucien Primavera, Jake Dare, Roy Ray, Ronan Taylor and Noah Dare with goals coming from Max Rees, Taylor and Spencer each with 2 and one apiece from Jack Freedman, Mason O’Neill and Ray.

Wandin’s U19s had a tougher task in welcoming Pakenham, going down 7.9, 51 to 22.9, 151. Best players for Wandin were Joshua Atkins, Jack Van Dreumel, Bailey Yelland, Luca Van Dreumel and Benson Dunn with goals to Atkins 3 and one each from Riley Borthwick, Tristan Morris andYelland.

The Women’s footy played out a thrilling 4.4, 28 draw, with Woori retaining their undefeated status as a result.

The Top Dogs on the Day were Lauren Sullivan, Maddison Gray, Chloe Waterhouse, Alysha Henskens, Hailee Stokes and Georgia Krueger with goals from H Stokes 2 and one each from Madeline Stokes and Stella Beyer.

Top Tigers were Emily Spicer, Piper Crymble, Sky Wilson, India James, Sienna Mills and Catrina D’Couto with goals from Michelle Brown, Holly Gray, James and Spicer.

The Reserves was a great contest, as Woori kept hanging around until a late surge from Wandin sealed the deal 11.16, 82 to 8.5, 53. Woori was nonetheless encouraged by the great improvement within their group in terms of training standards and buying in the coach’s vision.

Wandin’s best were Harry Mitchell, Mitchell Dall, Joshua Dymond, Aaron Mandl, Alistair Gra and Max Nazzari with goalkickers being Mitchell and Mandl with 3, Gray 2 and one each from Jarrod Hartman,Tom Page and Nazzari.

Woori’s best were Jack Collette, Caleb Lee, Hamish Gemmill, Tom Kear and Luke Cottier while the goalkickers were Thomas Rogers and Ronan Taylor 2 and one each from Aaron Cakuls and Mathew Cotton.

The netball across the day was a typical Wandin-Woori rivalry, with the girls compet-

ing hard and building over the first month.

17 and Under: Wandin 46 defeated Woori 12. Wandin’s best were Claudia Semos, Libby Earney and Sophie Papadopoulos while Woori’s best were Charlotte Hubbard, Ella Wood and Oliver Stenhouse.

D Grade: Wandin 33 defeated Woori 26. Wandin’sbestwereKealeyEarney,KiaraSemos and Erin Foot while Woori had no best players selected.

C Grade: Wandin 51 defeated Woori 16. Wandin’s best were Corinne Bogle, Marlee Smart and Bianca Zoric while Woori’s top performers were Tahlia Thornton, Kasie Pitts and Melanie-Rose Jakobs.

B Grade: Wandin 62 defeated Woori 58. Wandin’s best were Ella Tweedale, Ava Upton and Kate Campbell while Woori had not selected their best players.

A Grade: Wandin 65 defeated Woori 58. Wandin’s best Kyah Kimpton, Zoe Tweedale and Maddy George while Woori’s best players had not been selected.

The Senior Men’s footy was always shaping as a heavyweight contest and certainly proved to be with a strong Woori Yallock side coming toWandin looking for a scalp.

Before play, the players came together in an act of solidarity opposing violence against women, withWandin Senior Coach Nick Adam taking the microphone to deliver an address on the issue.

Wandin hit the scoreboard early though Woori was able to wrestle back the midfield play and went about earning a healthy lead at halftime.

Woori Yallock’s first half probably proved to be the difference, though it was no surprise that Wandin responded in third quarter and got themselves in a strong position with key playmakers Patty Bruzzese and Aaron Mullett hurtingWoori around the contest.

Three-quarter time saw not much separating the teams with Wandin having the slight upper hand for the most part though the Tigers held a 1-point lead.

Enter Kane Thompson who kicked 2 Nick Daicos-like goals in the dying minutes to put Woori in front and record a tough win at the Kennel, finals scores reading 12.16, 88 to 14.15, 99 and the Tigers unbeaten run continuing.

Top Dogs on the day were Cody Hirst, Patty Bruzzese, Aaron Mullett, Clinton Johnson, Sam Mutsaers and Samuel Hodgett with goals scored by Patrick Hodgett and Mullett each 3, Charlie Wood 2 and one apiece from Harrison Byrne, Cody Hirst, Harrison Van Duuren and Johnson.

Top Tigers were Taylor Gibson, Kane Thompson, Blake Muir, Angus Smith, Oscar Simpson, Bradd Arnold with goals kicked by Gibson 4, Kynan French, Alex Marsh, Joshua Neal and Thompson 2 and one each from Christian Cameron and Harvey Smith.

This week Woori hosts an improving Emerald who are sure to bring their best contested footy while Wandin heads across to Gembrook-Cockatoo.

Yarra Glen battle it out at home against Yea

By Dongyun Kwon

Yarra Glen played against Yea at its home, Yarra Glen Recreation Reserve.

Both Yarra Glen footy teams found it hard to play againstYea while all the netball teams dominated the games.

Football Seniors: Yarra Glen 66(10.6)150(23.12) Yea

Yarra Glen Seniors struggled from the first quarter from the strong push by the opponent and finished the second quarter

with a score of 31 - 67. Although they put their best efforts in the next two quarters, they couldn’t change the result.

· Best players: Josh Hawkins, Sam Wood, Ky Hawkins, Nicholas McKenzie, Kenny Barden and Chris Beattie.

· Goal kickers: Josh Hawkins (5), Kenny Barden (2), Heath Chamberlain (1), Daniel Kelly (1) and Nicholas McKenzie (1).

Reserves: Yarra Glen 19(3.1) - 103(14.19) Yea

The Reserves had a hard time too. Yarra

Glen couldn’t score any goal until the end of the second quarter. Finally, in the third quarter, the team scored two goals and one behind, but it was already too late to come back to win.

· Best players: Tom Matthews, Matthew McKenzie, Ryan Bastian, Kyle Kime, Max Murphy and Joshua Dick.

· Goal kickers: Jarrod Exton (2) and Kyle Kime (1)

Netball A Grade: Yarra Glen 73 - 13 Yea

· Best players: Kim Williams, Gemma Ryan

and Alana McGurgan.

· Most goal scorer: Madeline Hargrave (60). B Grade, Yarra Glen 57 - 17 Yea

· Best players: Ellie Estcourt, Edana Lacey and Abby Page.

· Most goal scorer: Georgia Crugnale (33) C Grade, Yarra Glen 42 - 15 Yea

· Best players: Natasha Bennett, Michele Young and Sarah Orlandi.

· Most goal scorer: Sarah Orlandi (31)

Wandin Coach Nick Adam addresses the issue of violence against women pre-game.

Picture: ADAM SYKES

The Woori Yallock Seniors huddle up.

Oscar Simpson gets a kick away.

Woori’s Senior Captain Kody Busoli.

Gaby Clarke dishes off a pass.

Last minute push pays off

By Anne-Marie Ebbels

The A grade netball game provided the game of the round with a nail-biter after a big comeback from the Healesville team.

Belgrave jumped out to big lead of 14 goals at quarter time.

Healesville started to find their groove in the second quarter winning the quarter by three goals to go into the half time break 11 goals down.

A brilliant third quarter by Healesville with both ends of the court getting the job done reduced the margin to two goals at the final break.

Belgrave increased their lead early in the final quarter to four goals but a determined Healesville defence turn the ball over to bring the scores level in the final minutes, two quick goals in the final two minutes put Healesville in front to win by the barest of margins.

B grade had a tough week being reduced to seven players early in the first quarter which limited rotation throughout the game.

The team battled hard but Belgrave was too strong and were able to keep their players fresh with rolling rotations in the mid-court.

Healesville were reduced to six fit players for the final two minutes of the game and Belgrave ran out by 35 goals.

In C Grade, Healesville stuck with Belgrave in the first quarter, to into the first break two goals down.

Belgrave come out firing in the second quarter and a series of turnovers gave Belgrave the ascendency and increased their lead to 13 goals at half time.

A stronger defence effort by Healesville in the third quarter couldn’t make dent on the scoreboard with the lead increasing to 18 goals

by three quarter time.

Belgrave won the game by 24 goals in the end.

In the football fixture, the U18s played Friday night at Seville, the Healesville team got out of the Bock’s quickly with a three-goal quarter to be 21 points in front at quarter time, they didn’t let Seville have too many scoring opportunities and increased the lead to 54 points by half time. Seville were goalless in the last quarter and Healesville ran out winners by 98 points.

The Reserves let Belgrave get the jump on them in the first three quarters with Belgrave going into the final break 30 points up. Healesville put in a spirited final quarter keeping Belgrave goalless and scoring three goals, but ran out of time to overcome the deficit with Belgrave winning by 12 points.

In the Men Senior game, the first half was a tight tussle with the half time margin only 7 points to Belgrave, despite Belgrave have seven more scoring opportunities than Healesville.

Healesville were accurate in front of goal but the weight of scoring opportunities created by Belgrave saw Belgrave increase their lead to 17 points at three quarter time and Healesville couldn’t get their hands on the ball enough to create scoring opportunities in the final quarter to run down Belgrave who were winners by 37 points.

In the final game, the Senior women took on Belgrave. Healesville dominated the play from the first bounce going into the first break 11 points up.

Healesville continued to generated lots of

scoring opportunities throughout the game and could have won by more if they kicked straight.

Belgrave remained scoreless for the game and Healesville ran out winners by 38 points.

Home games this week against Alexandra for the netball and senior mens football and U18s and Womens team play Olinda-Ferny Creek. Football starts from 9am and netball from 11.20am.

Football

· Senior Men Healesville 70 defeated by Belgrave 107 Best: N Mende, S Donkin, C Warren, L Daly, D Plozza, D Senior.

· Reserves Men Healesville 43 defeated by Belgrave 55 Best: K Jones, D Ebbels, J Simnett, M Renouf, T Campbell, O Benedick.

· U18s Healesville 114 defeated Seville 16 Best: B Rutley, J Handasyde, O Moreton, J Ferris, Ga Houlihan.

· Womens Healesville 38 defeated Belgrave 0 Best: M Willemsen, C Wilsmore, P Stock, I Watson, A Bryan, M Cameron.

Netball

· A Grade Healesville 51 defeated Belgrave 50 Best: K Farrow, B Erickson, A Stanley.

· B Grade Healesville 36 defeated by Belgrave 71 Best: S Maile, L Rogers, A Stanley.

· C Grade Healesville 14 defeated by Belgrave 38 Best: K Bromilow, K Deuart, E Cameron.

White Wolves display great team work on the field

By Sarah Bailey

Healesville U8 White Tigers 1 – 5

Croydon Ranges FC

The White Tigers had a loss 5 to 1 but it was an awesome game and Healesville was very proud of them.

Better luck next week.

Healesville U9 Lions 1 – 2

Berwick Churches SC Blues

The U9 Lions went down 2-1 to a more physical Berwick Blues. Healesville had a couple of unlucky misses but played well with the firstseason players starting to find their rhythm.

Looking forward to next week!

Healesville U9 Falcons 5 – 5

Berwick Churches SC Thunder

The U9 Falcons had a slow start to the game and were 4-0 down at half time, but they came out strongly in the second half with much improved defence that helped create opportunities up forward.

Finished 5-5. Bryce S scored three goals, Ethan S one goal and an own goal.

Healesville U9 Redbacks 4 – 1

Berwick Churches SC Spirit

The U9 Redbacks were at their Don Rd home on Saturday, up against Berwick Spirit.

It was a very tight first half and the Redbacks held good shape with lots of clean passing and teamwork.

The defence stood strong and continually sent the Redbacks into attack until Louie put one in the back of the net just before half time to make it 1-1.

The second half was again an even contest, but the Redbacks gradually got on top and ran out eventual winners 4-1.

Once again, the team worked really well together and ran the game out strongly. Special mention to Louie who slotted all four of the Redbacks’ goals.

Healesville U10 Ninjas 16 - 0 Falcons FC

Under 10s Ninjas had a very strong win over quite a young opposition away against the Falcons this week.

The boys did well to hold their shape, play as a team and pass the ball into good spaces for most of the game.

Leroy P was lively down the wing setting up chances and kicking goals. Milos K, Max H and Ollie T were active in midfield. Hayden T (now known as Hayden Ibrahimovic) was a

beacon in the central forward position.

Healesville U10 Goats 6 – 5

Croydon Ranges FC U10 Blue

It was an epic game away at Croydon for the U10 Goats. With the Goats going into halftime 0-4 down they didn’t look defeated and instead took away some excellent collective advice from their super sub-coach and their captain Percy and after some position changes they started the second half a completely different team.

This may have been partly due to the lolly snakes but the Goats grouped together and switched on their unbreakable team spirit.

An excellent striking duo between Griff and Ryder, a couple of sweet goals from Reggie and a rock-solid defence, the Goats made a remarkable comeback, heading home victorious with a 6-5 win!

Healesville U10 Girls 0 - 5

Berwick Churches SC Blues

Healesville U10 Girls travelled to Berwick to play the Berwick Blues. The Healesville girls worked hard and had fun, with the final score 0 for Healesville and 5 for Berwick.

Healesville U11 Boys White Wolves 2 - 1

Berwick Churches SC Blues.

Berwick Churches Soccer Club brings a strong brand of football, and Saturday’s game was no exception.

The tough opening half saw Healesville level at nil all going into the break.

Although Healesville dominated play for most of the half finding a goal proved to

be tricky.

Healesville looked to be the more disciplined of the two teams maintaining the shape of their structure on the pitch, and having numbers evenly spread for majority of the game.

This was complemented by the eagerness to share the ball around and putting their bodies on the line to win those 50/50 chances.

Healesville went ahead early.

A great team build up to what has become a regular ‘tip of the spear’ for the Wolves in Ardi C.

A call on a tackle in the box gave Berwick their first goal via a penalty from the spot which hit the post and rebounded back to the striker who made sure of it on his second strike.

With a great deal of tension in the air, the Wolves surged again, and it was Austin A who broke the lines and found, yes… Ardi C, who made no mistake in sealing the win.

A great hard-fought victory against a top team.

Healesville U13 Hearts 0 - 5 Falcons FC Healesville U13 girls travelled to Cranbourne to take on league leaders the Falcons.

The much older, stronger and very physical Falcon team showed their domination going up four goals to nil at the main break.

Some girls may have crumbled at this point, but the girls stayed true to their team’s name and showed a lot of heart and deter-

mination in the second half to only concede one more goal with tackles flying in left right and centre and the girls had most of the possession and chances.

Isla LF was a rockstar in defence and Henrietta IM also had a mighty game.

Healesville U15 Mixed 1 – 3 Maroondah United FC U15 Courage Healesville U15 boys took to the field to a bigger but under-manned Maroondah United FC this week at their first home game for the season.

After a good start, Hamish M scored for Healesville, however they unfortunately weren’t able to capitalise on the numerical advantage, going into half time 1-1.

The second half played out much the same as the previous week, Healesville on top of most if not all stats, but failing to convert chances, with the MUFC keepers not allowing any further goals.

MUFC adjusted their tactic to just kick long to a very strong striker who scored a few more.

The final score was MUFC 3-1 Healesville. The team moves onto next week keen to turn their good performances into a win.

Healesville U15 Girls Flames 1 – 6 Knox Churches SC U15 Strikers

The Flames hosted the very talented Knox Strikers on Saturday. Right from the outset the Knox side passed their way through the Flames defence scoring 4 - 0 heading into halftime.

The Healesville team kept positive and with some outstanding performances from wing backs Evelyn and Evie, the second half was a lot tighter. The Flames eventually lost 6-1.

Healesville Senior Women Reds 0 – 4 Yarra Valley SC

The Healesville Senior Women Reds travelled across the flats for the local derby against Yarra Valley at Millgrove.

In what can only be described as an odd senior game of 9 vs 9 with four substitutes for the home team and three for the Reds, the Yarra Valley side were too experienced running out eventual winners 4-0.

A special mention to two of our more senior players Leah, captain for the day and playing central defence for the first time and Sally who ran up and down the wing all game taking some massive hits.

The White Wolves had a hard fought victory against the Berwick Blues. Picture: SUPPLIED

B grade’s Chelsea Bouma with an intercept.

Picture: KYLIE ROWE

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