Shock for CFA
By Callum Ludwig
Mooroolbark CFA were flabbergasted to find an unwanted and uncontained amount of dumped asbestos material at its station last week, not only potentially harming members but delaying them from responding.
Video footage captured by the brigade’s cameras showed a small car entering the CFA station and leaving moments later on the evening of Tuesday 15 July, allegedly illegally-dumping asbestos-riddled waste.
Brigade Captain Craig Turner said “it’s very upsetting” that these people didn’t do their research beforehand and passed the problem over to others to deal with.
“It’s always cheaper and easier for everybody concerned to do the right thing, make the phone calls, do a bit of research and get the items re-
moved safely for everybody,” he said.
The EPA confirmed it was investigating the incident, with its officers working with the brigade and police.
“There’s detailed information on asbestos, how to dispose of it legally, what to do if you find it dumped, the levels of risk from different types of asbestos, and health advice, at the Victorian Government’s asbestos website asbestos.vic.gov. au,” EPA North Metropolitan Regional Manager Chloe Bernett said.
Mr Turner said the most disappointing part was the time wasted and hinderance the asbestos caused the brigade.
The Art Quilt Australia 2025 exhibition has launched at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, showcasing an array of talent and subject matter among the 22 designs of layered and stitched textiles.
Story on page 11
Each quilt displays a high level of detail in showcasing the skill of these artists. (Sean Paris Photography)
‘Revolving door’ for victims
By Maeve Bannister, AAP
Women and children escaping family violence are being “ping-ponged” between services, as support sectors try to manage inadequate resources and critical underfunding.
In Victoria, family violence is the biggest driver of homelessness.
In 2022/23, more than half of all women, young people and children who visited a specialist homelessness service reported they were experiencing family violence.
Yet a report by Council to Homeless Persons and Safe and Equal found about one in five victim-survivors receives two referrals to homelessness or family violence services, but ultimately ends up with no crisis accommodation.
Chronic underinvestment in social housing is being blamed for increasingly long waitlists with women, young people and children who have family violence prioritisation waiting 19 months for accommodation.
“What homelessness looks like in Victoria today is a woman aged between 25 and 39 with a child under the age of 11 with her,” Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Deborah Di Natale told AAP.
“Imagine fleeing violence with your children, knocking on two different doors, and still sleeping in your car that night.”
Ms Di Natale said a staggering 20 per cent of women fleeing violence experienced a “revolving door” of referrals to various services but ultimately were not able to access accommodation.
“Often because the crisis and emergency accommodation isn’t there, services end up referring people to hotels and motels which aren’t set up to respond to family violence,” she said.
But women were opting to sleep in their cars or return to their violent partners rather than stay in motels and caravan parks.
“People with lived experience say staying in motels is often scarier than staying in a violent household ... they worry they are not safe from the person using violence,” Ms Di Natale said.
“Being crammed in a hotel with kids after fleeing your home without any wraparound supports like counselling is isolating.”
The report makes 10 key recommendations to the Victorian government to enable immediate and long-term change.
These include building 7990 new and additional social homes every year for 10 years and funding services that provide immediate and appropriate responses to people experiencing family violence and homelessness.
It also recommends the state government invest in perpetrator interventions and advocate for all social payments to be brought above the Henderson poverty line of $612.18 per week, per single person.
psychological
Consumer win in debit, credit card surcharge cut
By Alex Mitchell, AAP
Removing surcharges fees on debit and credit card transactions could save consumers more than $1 billion, but small businesses say the changes will just hide the costs in increased prices.
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s review of merchant card payment costs recommends the fees be scrapped on EFTPOS, Mastercard and Visa card transactions because they don’t help consumers make more efficient payment choices.
Consumers are estimated to pay $1.2 billion in surcharges on payments each year, the equivalent of $60 per card-using adult. Lowering the cap on interchange fees paid by businesses - another recommendation - would save Australians $1.2 billion.
The fee is paid by a business to a customer’s card issuer when a transaction occurs.
But the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association slapped down the proposal, and suggested the “tone deaf” policy would simply drive up menu prices.
“Who the hell does the RBA think will bear the cost of this ridiculous decision?”
chief executive Wes Lambert said.
“A blanket ban on surcharging will undermine small businesses, reduce price transparency and mandate price hikes across ev-
ery menu in Australia.”
The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia said businesses would just raise their prices and the changes would hide, rather than remove, surcharges.
The Independents Payment Forum - a body that represents small businesses including retailers, cafes, service stations and convenience stores - said other merchant fees would still eat into profit margins.
“The proposed regulatory options fail small businesses and the local communities they serve,” co-founder Bradford Kelly said.
“They benefit big business, big banks and big offshore companies.”
The RBA’s proposals go further than previous federal government suggestions and are likely to be pushed through by the central bank, pending the outcome of a short feedback window.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers had said the government was prepared to ban fees on debit card transactions from the start of 2026.
But the RBA has included credit cards.
The government will consider the recommendation, but Dr Chalmers on Tuesday noted the RBA expected to be able to make the changes under its existing powers.
The central bank proposed removing prohibitions on “no surcharge” rules to achieve scrapping the fees.
It expected the card networks would then follow by implementing “no surcharge” rules based on historical experience and arrangements in other jurisdictions.
If that did not occur, the RBA would recommend the government legislate to ban surcharge fees.
Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said consumers were fed up with being slugged with extra fees at the checkout.
“Our research shows the vast majority of Australians want this annoying bugbear off their backs for good,” she said.
Banks and other payment systems backed the changes because they kept pace with the reality of the modern-day transaction.
“It makes sense that consumers know the final price before they get to the checkout,” an Australian Banking Association spokesperson said.
“Banks will work with the government to provide Australians with more certainty and transparency on the costs of digital payments.”
RBA governor Michele Bullock said consumers and businesses would benefit as fewer and fewer Australians made cash payments.
“The time has come to address some of these high costs and inefficiencies in the system,” she said.
Lowering the cap on interchange fees by businesses is predicted to benefit small businesses the most, because they often pay higher fees.
The central bank found small businesses would be $185 million better off under the changes, with 90 per cent of them benefiting.
Better transparency achieved by forcing card networks and large acquirers to publish what fees they are charging has also been recommended to foster competition between networks.
Any changes won’t kick in until July 2026.
“Women and children are disproportionately affected by homelessness brought on by threats to their physical and
safety,” Ms Di Natale said. “We must improve our systems to protect them.”
Women, young people and children fleeing family violence face a 19-month wait for accommodation. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele)
Dumped asbestos impacts brigade
By Callum Ludwig
Mooroolbark CFA received an unwelcome surprise as brigade members sought to turn out for an incident on the evening of Tuesday 15 July.
Someone had illegally dumped a pile of asbestos-riddled waste in front of the fire station befre driving off in small silver car.
Brigade Captain Craig Turner said it forced members to change their entrance to the fire station and delayed their response.
“It also put our members and the community at risk by having the asbestos dumped in a public thoroughfare so yeah it’s very upsetting,” he said.
“Particularly as the volunteers are there to support and look after the community and somebody’s taken upon themselves to take a cheaper option and leave the rubbish where they didn’t have to deal with it.”
The CFA referred the matter to the Enviornment Protection Authority (EPA), Yarra Ranges Council and Victoria Police.
EPA North Metropolitan Regional Manager Chloe Bernett said the EPA is actively investigating the dumping of scraps of suspected asbestos cement roofing and other waste in the car park at the Mooroolbark CFA station on Tuesday evening 15 July 2025.
“Our officers are in contact with the fire brigade and Police have been notified,” she said.
“There’s detailed information on asbestos, how to dispose of it legally, what to do if you find it dumped, the levels of risk from different types of asbestos, and health advice, at the Victorian Government’s asbestos website asbestos.vic.gov.au,”
“Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution.”
Mooroolbark Fire Brigade is located on the busy Hull Road, a short distance from the Mooroolbark town centre and near local parks, meaning the dumped waste could have exposed local pedestrians too.
Mr Turner said hindering the brigade was the most disappointing component.
“We have a four-minute response time where we have to be from home or our place of employment to the fire station, and then four minutes from the fire station to the call, the delay delayed members to actually get into the station by minutes,” he said.
“When you’ve only got four minutes, it’s not very long to hinder or slow us down and then there was several hours of phone calls and notifying lots of people to deal with the event afterwards.”
Building materials from before the mid-1980s are highly likely to contain asbestos, are likely to contain asbestos from the mid-1980s to 1990 and are unlikely to contain it after 1990.
Mr Turner said it definitely exposed the people that dumped the rubbish because of the small car that they were in would have exposed them to airborne particles of the asbestos.
“It’s always cheaper and easier for everybody concerned to do the right thing, make the phone calls, do a bit of research and get the items removed safely for everybody,” he said.
“On a better note, we’d like to thank our com-
we can’t be there to help look after them.”
Schools zones return
Drivers on the road in the mornings and afternoons are urged to take care as school zone speed limits are in place again this week as term three of the school year commenced Monday 21 July.
Commuters are reminded to be patient around school zones as speed limits return and there is an expected increase in road, pedestrian and bicycle traffic at drop-off and pick-up times. Some school speed zones are permanent, while others operate from 8am to 9.30am, and from 2.30pm to 4pm on weekdays, with reduced speeds of 40km/h or 60km/h in school zones until the end of the school term.
The Hardest Share campaign
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has launched a powerful new initiative highlighting the profound and lasting impact of road trauma.
The Hardest Share calls on Victorians to come forward with their own stories of losing a loved one or suffering a life-changing injury, helping to build a collective community-driven voice in support of road safety that reminds us of all of the human cost of road trauma.
Acting TAC chief executive officer Jacqui Sampson said The Hardest Share is important in supporting Victorians to share their stories to influence positive behavioural change on our roads.
“The ripple effects of road trauma are devastating and far-reaching. Through The Hardest Share, our goal is to encourage people to open up, share their stories of personal loss and hopefully prevent others from experiencing road trauma in the process,” she said.
So far this year, 159 lives have been lost on Victorian roads, 17 more than at the same time last year , representing countless families, friends and communities forever in mourning. Sadly, there are thousands more people seriously injured in road crashes every year, many requiring TAC support for life.
More than half of the lives lost on Victorian roads last year involved illegal behaviours such as speeding, mobile phone use and failing to wear seatbelts – all of which are preventable and major factors in road trauma this year.
As part of the TAC’s ongoing efforts to prevent road trauma, The Hardest Share underscores the safe choices we can all make to protect ourselves and others every time we use our roads: slow down, take breaks, don’t drink or drug drive, wear a seatbelt and put the phone away.
If you’ve been impacted by road trauma, your story can be the reason someone else makes it home safely.
Anyone wishing to share can go to tac.vic. gov.au/road-safety/tac-campaigns/the-hardestshare
munity for supporting the brigade and assisting us in putting two new vehicles online for this upcoming fire season, without the support of the community,
The illegally dumped asbestos at Mooroolbark’s fire station. (Supplied)
The harmful waste hindered the brigade’s emergency response on Tuesday evening. (Supplied)
Hunt for masterminds
By Allanah Sciberras and Callum Godde, AAP
An accused car thief’s arrest has been hailed as a breakthrough, amid mounting pressure on police to pinpoint the evasive “masterminds” of a synagogue firebombing.
A 20-year-old man has been charged with the theft of a car from Croydon linked to several high-profile incidents, including the alleged “politically motivated” arson attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue in December.
Detectives arrested the man in Williamstown before executing a search warrant at a home in Melton South on Wednesday, where they seized multiple items.
The man was charged with motor vehicle theft, along with failing to provide access to applications on his phone.
Victoria’s acting premier Jaclyn Symes suggested it could lead to further arrests.
“A breakthrough such as this and getting to an arrest demonstrates that the investigation is at a critical point,” she told reporters on Thursday.
“It’s presumed there are others involved and once you have an arrest you have the ability to obtain more information.”
No one has been charged with carrying out the firebombing and the accused car thief is the first person to be accused of any offence linked to the attack.
Ms Symes would not be drawn on whether a joint counter-terrorism task force’s efforts to uncover who ordered the attack were being stifled by criminals using encrypted messaging apps.
The ability of police to find “small criminals” at the end of the chain instead of the “masterminds” was frustrating, Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion KC said.
“There is clearly more going on and no doubt the police are doing their best but we are not getting to the people who are planning these attacks andarrangingforthemtobecarriedout,”hesaid.
“Until we find those who are ultimately di-
recting these violent crimes, we have no prospect of stopping them or delivering justice for the victims.”
Police allege the 20-year-old, granted strict conditional bail ahead of a scheduled court hearing in early October, stole a blue 2020-model VW Golf sedan at Croydon between 12 and 13 November and was later spotted driving the vehicle in Melton on 29 November 2024.
The stolen car was used in other offences, including the Lux nightclub arson at South Yarra in November, as well as an arson and shooting at Bundoora.
It was then used in the synagogue arson attack on 6 December, police allege.
Investigators do not consider the Bundoora and South Yarra incidents politically motivated attacks.
Two of the synagogue’s three buildings in Ripponlea, in Melbourne’s southeast, were gutted.
Inside at the time were two congregants preparing for morning prayers who escaped, with one suffering minor injuries.
Photos and CCTV footage released by counter-terror police in May showed a Golf sedan repeatedly passing the synagogue before parking directly outside its main entrance.
Three people donning hoodies and masks got out of the vehicle and used an axe to damage the entrance of the building.
Investigators have combed through CCTV from more than 1400 locations and believe multiple offenders are directly and indirectly linked to the incident.
Detectives have also been investigating several more recent alleged acts of anti-Semitism across Melbourne, including an incident at the Israeli restaurant Miznon and the alleged arson attack on a East Melbourne Synagogue on 5 July.
A group of worshippers fled when a man allegedly set the building on fire during weekly services.
Police later charged Angelo Loras, 34, from
Sydney’s west with multiple offences including reckless conduct endangering life and criminal damage by fire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
condemned the “reprehensible anti-Semitic attacks” and demanded the federal government “take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law”.
Teens flee after altercation
By Mikayla van Loon
A group of teens allegedly fled after an altercation with a fellow shopper at Chirnside Park Shopping Centre on Wednesday.
Victoria Police confirmed officers responded to reports of an affray on 16 July.
“It is understood a group of youths assaulted a man outside a shopping centre on Maroondah Highway about 4.10pm,” a spokesperson said.
7News Melbourne reported that witnesses saw a group of youths get into a violent altercation with a man in his thirties outside Kmart.
This forced the retail giant to go into lockdown as a precaution, with video footage showing the roller doors closed and people huddled outside the shop. The police spokesperson said the male victim declined medical assistance at the scene. The group fled the scene prior to police arrival and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppers.vic.com.au.
Patience pays off big time
A Lilydale woman who spent years telling her husband, ‘One day I’ll win TattsLotto’, has been proven right after scoring a life-enhancing $900,000 win in the weekend’s draw.
The Melburnian held one of the seven division one winning entries nationally in TattsLotto draw 4591, drawn Saturday 19 July 2025. She looks forward to a total prize of $913,127.93.
“Bloody hell! Bloody hell!” she exclaimed when an official from The Lott confirmed the winning news.
“I didn’t check this ticket at all!
“This is definitely a surprise. You’ve made my day!
“I’ve always said to my husband, ‘One day! One day I’ll win TattsLotto!’, and he would always respond with, ‘Yeah, yeah!’.
“He’s right next to me now and I’ve proven him wrong!
“We’ll have to have a lovely dinner tonight to celebrate.”
With more than $900,000 set to land in her bank account, the generous Lilydale mum admitted she couldn’t wait to share her good fortune with those closest to her.
“I’ll be giving some to my daughters to help them out,” she shared.
Her winning 12-game QuickPick was purchased via The Lott app – the official home of Australia’s lotteries.
The winning numbers in TattsLotto draw 4591 on 19 July were 7, 42, 36, 17, 15 and 22, while the supplementary numbers were 34 and 9.
Across Australia, there were seven division one winning entries in TattsLotto draw 4591 – four in Victoria, and one each in South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania.
A man has been arrested over his alleged role in the theft of a car in the synagogue attack. (Victoria Police)
Vape war far from over
By Sebastian Tan, AAP
Shifting social norms are slowing the number of young people being hooked on vapes, but Australia isn’t out of the woods yet, an expert has warned.
A survey of almost 15,000 14 to 17-year olds found the number of teens vaping fell from 18 to 15 per cent since February 2023.
The report released by the Cancer Council’s Generation Vape Project on Wednesday 16 July found rates of e-cigarettes among 30 to-59-year-olds have halved, while fewer than one-in-five 18 to 24-year-olds used vapes.
But despite the lowering rates, Cancer Council chair Alecia Brooks said the work to reduce smoking rates were far from over.
“What this data shows us is that we can’t really be complacent around this, we have to keep the pressure on,” she told AAP.
“People should not be able to make a profit off somebody else’s health.”
Vape shops and tobacconists are leading a rise in black market sales of vapes, Ms Brooks said.
The report found the number of vapes being bought by young people at stores surged to almost 35 per cent of all sales.
This is despite laws only allowing vapes to be sold in pharmacies.
But the number of people vaping is shrinking and one reason is because of social media, according the report.
What was once a place that painted a fantastical snapshot of the flavoured air devices now is exposing less of the products online.
Feelings of shame and embarrassment are poignant and the term “vaper” has became increasingly stigmatised, the report said.
The report’s chief investigator Becky Freeman said young people were realising the “harm it’s doing to their wellbeing”, which had led to a decline in vaping rates.
Health Minister Mark Butler said education
and prevention campaigns also helped deter people from taking up vaping or smoking.
“Vaping rates for young Australians have now turned the corner,” he said.
“It may take time to see a big decrease in vaping and smoking, but we are here for the
long haul for a healthier Australia.”
The Australian Border Force and the Therapeutic Goods Administration have also seized almost $500 billion worth of illicit vapes since January 2024.
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of
preventable death in Australia and is estimated to kill more than 24,000 Australians each year.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged five to 25)
The use of vapes among young people has fallen from 18 to 15 per cent. (Diego Fedele/AAP)
Pensioner reform calls
By Callum Ludwig
An Outer East resident is leading the push to reform the Work Bonus system for pensioners looking to continue working.
The Work Bonus was first introduced in 2009 and aims to help pensioners reduce the amount of any employment income that counts towards the income test to their pension by adding it to a Work Bonus balance.
Initially set at 50 per cent of the first $500 or less of income, it was simplified to the first $250 in 2011, and a concession bank was introduced and it took until 2019 for the threshold to be increased to the current $300 and self-employment to count as ‘gainful income’.
As a result, a single pensioner could currently receive a total of $518 (adding current income free area for age pension of $218) income a fortnight and receive the maximum age pension rate, with anything over reduced by every 50 cents in the dollar. For couples, this is a $680 combined income threshold and is reduced by 25 cents in every dollar over that.
Ferntree Gully resident Greg Jarvis has formed the Fair Go for Working Pensioners movement and said the goal is to increase the Work Bonus to $500 and index it alongside the age pension itself, which he believes will save the government money and increase employment participation among pensioners who wish to work.
“These days ($300 a fortnight) is three quarters to seven eighths of bugger all, anything over $300, your pension is reduced by 50 cents in the dollar… the incentive for someone on a pension to go out and work is just eroded, this $300 isn’t indexed, and it hasn’t changed since July 2019,” he said.
“What we’re aiming to do is get it indexed, to get a price increase to catch up a bit, so that it will improve the participation rates and now if we improve the participation rates to pre-Covid levels, according to my figures and modelling and everything, though I’m not an accountant or a politician, it could generate $200 million nationally every year,”
“If the $500 threshold is enough to regain preCOVID participation, which I’m not sure if it is, I don’t know what that figure will be, but there’s got to be a sweet spot there somewhere that can increase the participation rate, you’re going to decrease the welfare bill for pension and increase PAYG tax and GST revenue because of additional spending and the like.”
Mr Jarvis’s calculations can be found on the ‘Information’ page of his workingpensioners. com.au website and used a scenario where either an individual in a couple or a single pensioner was working an average of 16 hours a week, 48 weeks a year and earning $40 per hour.
A Department of Social Services (DSS) spokesperson said the Work Bonus benefits Age Pensioners who can and want to work, by disregarding the first $300 of employment income a fortnight from the income test.
“Work Bonus operates in addition to the fortnightly income free area of $218 for a single pensioner or $380 for a pensioner couple, the income free area is indexed each year on 1 July to increases in the Consumer Price Index, allowing pensioners to earn more before their pension is affected,” they said.
“Pensioners are able to build up any unused amount of the $300 in a Work Bonus income bank, up to a maximum amount of $11,800,”
“From 1 January 2024, permanent changes were made to provide all new pension entrants of Age Pension age with a $4,000 Work Bonus starting balance, allowing pensioners to have an extra $4,000 of employment income disregarded from the income test from the start, rather than accumulating these credits over time.”
The 2024 reforms also made the $11,800 maximum balance permanent for all new and existing recipients.
Mr Jarvis said himself and other supporters put a petition to the House of Representatives in mid-2024, but felt the responses so far have mainly stated what the current situation is without addressing the issue.
“You can tell it’s pretty much a cut and paste because you get different responses from different departments with the same phrases, the same attitudes,” he said.
“Currently, I’m just trying to get numbers together so we’ve developed the obligatory website and there’s a section on there where people can fill in their postcode, name, email and register their support, their details aren’t listed on a public list, but it’s their first name and suburb basically and an email is also sent to their local MP,”
“We’re in the throes of trying to get numbers because obviously one voice doesn’t go anywhere.”
There are other potential offsets for elderly Australians that can be accessed:
The Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax
Offset (SAPTO) is available both pensioners as well as people of pension age who also meet the Age Pension residency criteria. In the last financial year, the SAPTO was worth a maximum of $2,230 for a single senior and $1,602 for each member of a senior couple.
This is on top of the statutory tax-free threshold and the low income tax offset (LITO), where eligible senior Australians with incomes up to $35,813 (or $31,888 for each member of a couple) pay no income tax in 2024-25 while single senior Australians with incomes up to $43,020 paid no Medicare levy.
Comparatively, most single people below pension age had to start to pay income tax once their annual taxable income exceeds $22,575 and the Medicare levy once their income exceeds $27,222 in the same year.
Mr Jarvis said he works part-time and when he explains his thought process, the common response is that he’s told to work for ‘cashies’, or undeclared income paid in cash.
“That leaves the employer and the employee open for you know litigation and the like but I think a lot of people are heading that way, to avoid your pension deductions and taxation and all that because it’s just not worth working,” he said.
“My personal situation is that I need to work financially to maintain my lifestyle and that’s my choice, I could probably get away with not working but if you go into retirement and not everybody has the funds to be self-funded, especially when you think about when the retirees of today who started work there was no such thing as the superannuation guarantee,”
“Since 2009, Australian wages have gone up 64-65 per cent, the inflation has been 50 per cent and the work bonus has gone up 20 per cent.”
Mr Jarvis believes an increase to the Work Bonus threshold could help boost participation rates in the workforce among pensioners, particularly in industries with high demand.
When the Work Bonus was last boosted in June 2019, 4.29 per cent of aged pensioners reported earnings according to DSS data, which is down to 3.48 per cent as of the most recent figures in March 2025.
Mr Jarvis said there a lot of industries, like his own in truck-driving, that are screaming out for employees.
“Hospitals are screaming out for nurses, there’s a lot of industries like catering, for instance, where they’re having difficulty finding people to work and there’s a dormant workforce out there of experienced qualified people that are just sitting at home,” he said.
“The workforce skill shortage could be alleviated a little bit through one or two or three days a week rather than full time, because us old buggers might have a bit of difficulty with five or six days,”
“As far as the individual goes, activity’s a good thing for your mind and body and if you’ve got, got something to get up for in the morning, that’s probably a healthy thing and that is one thing that even in the responses from government departments,they acknowledge the benefits, financially and socially, of pensioners working.”
You can register support for Mr Jarvis’ cause at workingpensioners.com.au/register-support/.
An Outer East resident wants to see the Work Bonus system for pensioners reformed. (Jane Dempster/AAP)
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Life changing program
By Tanya Steele
Residents in Knox and surrounding areas have recently completed a life-changing trauma recovery program in Boronia.
Bringing immense vulnerability and strength, the recovery program combines both physical and mental approaches to processing trauma in the body.
A participant of the Boronia program, who will be known as JR for confidentiality, said the recent program hasn’t changed them per sec, but has permitted them to use their voice.
“Which I shut down for years,” they said.
Left Write Hook uses both creative writing and non-contact boxing to empower survivors of childhood sexual abuse and gendered violence to reclaim their lives, a cause more vital than ever.
In Australia, one in three girls and one in five boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 18.
Running the program throughout May and June in Boronia, academic and peer facilitator Mish said she came to Left Write Hook through a lived experience with trauma herself, and had initially signed up to be a participant for research.
Mish was initially part of a trial which studied the results from boxing only after reading about it in the media.
“I have what’s called somatic flashbacks – you get a physiological response,” said Mish.
“Little things would set me off.”
Mish said that as soon as she read about it, she had to be a part of it.
“What it does is it brings everything to the surface in a safe way with people who are in the same boat. So there’s a community and connection, and then you get to process it out through the boxing,” she said.
Coming together for eight weeks, the Boronia program ran through May and finished up on 25 June.
Left Write Hook originally began in 2019 in Ferntree Gully as a grassroots initiative and has since garnered widespread recognition.
The program is the subject of a multi-awardwinning documentary film (leftwritehook.film) and part of a major research trial at the University of Melbourne - it continues to make a powerful impact on trauma recovery.
Delivered through EACH, the program in Knox was led by Mish and involved both writing prompts, sharing and a boxing session.
“It’s really interesting to observe what happens,” said Mish
“Everyone comes into the room, and it’s a little bit awkward, because everyone knows why you’re there, but no one knows anyone else,” she said.”
“The start is often really heavy, so people will tell a little bit about who they are and their story, but they actually don’t have to tell their story, which is a really key point.”
The group respond to creative prompts, and could be things like ‘If I could scream, I would’ and or another might be ‘something broke inside me.’
The group work up to longer stints of writing, and Mish said that what’s really important is that they keep writing.
“If you don’t know what to write, you just write ‘what I really want to say is’, and then you write that over and over and over until whatever comes out comes out,” she said.
“So it’s a way of actually dipping into the subconscious in a way that has safe parameters around it.”
“There’s always a choice, because it (the therapy) has to be trauma-informed.”
Body language in the room changes at this time, and Mish has held space and witnessed people going through a range of moments.
“People will cry - and we allow people that experience,” she said.
“Bodies are quite heavy – shoulders might be hunched.”
“People might be a bit quiet, depending on how some people might be louder, because that’s that’s how they manage their trauma.”
The program then switches to the physical, and participants go into a boxing session, and Mish said it’s a key part of the process.
“You watch the change happen, and you see participants go from bent over to standing upright.”
“You see them. They leave smiling often, even if they’re complaining about their muscles hurting.”
“I’ve done 2 LWH programs and got more out of this in those sessions than I ever did from tra-
ditional talk therapy,” said JR.
“You can’t explain the shame and all the complexities in a few sessions of counselling, but to be in a room with others who get it, and don’t judge you, has been so validating and healing,” they said.
Mish said that there is something to the program, participants are brave and vulnerable and there is something about the boxing.
“Boxing it allows space for anger - trauma is sh*t trauma, be angry,” she said.
More and more research points to using a range of physical exercises to help process trauma, from weightlifting to trauma-informed yoga practices.
In a modern gym situation, sometimes spaces can be somewhat threatening to survivors, and Mish said that while Left Write Hook isn’t trying for technique and focus – it’s instead on getting the tools to help participants safely move through the trauma.
“Even with the best of intentions, in a normal gym there’s a lot of big dudes, there’s a lot of loud music, and there’s a lot of particular kinds of bodies,” she said.
“In boxing have to focus as you’re moving, it allows you a breathing space from your trauma –It’s a way to enter a flow state.”
JR said that coming through the program meant that, yes, they felt that they could speak up but didn’t have to explain the impacts.
“Everyone else knows already,” they said.
Mish will now continue as a facilitator for
Left Write Hook, delivering the program in other parts of Melbourne and said that one of the differences with this program is that they are not afraid of the trauma.
“We don’t pretend you won’t be triggered. But being in the world is triggering.”
“You’ll probably be triggered, you’ll probably cry, you’ll probably be scared, and that’s fine.”
The participants show what Mish describes as absolute vulnerability, but incredible strength.
“The best way to describe it is it’s like sitting down after you’ve been standing for a long time,” she said.
With over 600 people currently on the waitlist, Left Write Hook is set to expand, offering new programs for men, as well as LGBTQIA+ specific programs. The program is currently open to women and gender-diverse survivors, providing a safe and supportive space for healing.
Participants were invited to write and share about their experience. (Supplied),
Donna Lyon is the founder and CEO of Left Write Hook. (Supplied).
The Boronia program finished last month. (Supplied).
$14B social cost for state
By Callum Ludwig
A study released last month by the Victorian Government has revealed the shocking impact gambling has on the state’s population just a year.
The ‘Social costs of gambling to Victoria 2023’ report estimated that gambling resulted in loss of $14.1 billion in Victoria in 2022-23, consisting of both tangible (eg: financial losses) or intangible (eg: detriment to personal relationships) costs.
Executive Clinical Director of Turning Point and Professor of Addiction Studies and Services at Monash University Professor Dan Lubman AM said this shocking $14.1 billion figure tells us we’re falling a long way short when it comes to protecting people from gambling harm.
“Gambling is an inherently risky activity and gambling harms don’t discriminate - they affect people across all backgrounds, ages, and income levels. This isn’t just about money. Behind these figures are real people and families experiencing serious harm,” he said.
“Fewer people are gambling but they’re losing more than ever. And many are losing their lives –every year 25 Victorians die by suicide as a result of gambling harms.”
EACH is responsible for running the free local Gambler’s Help services for the Outer East, with locations in Healesville, Yarra Junction, Lilydale, Boronia, Ringwood, Box Hill and Glen Waverley.
EACH Gamblers Help Therapeutic Counsellor Diana Casis said unfortunately, the figure is not surprising to them, though disheartening and very disappointing.
“Gambling harm can really impact our clients in every area of their lives if we think about it, for example emotionally, financially, socially, and often lowering their self-confidence and isolating them from others,” she said.
“This can create a lot of shame and isolation with clients often not wanting to discuss it further with their wider community due to the stigma, so we notice that it can become a cycle that is really hard to break free of by yourself without help.”
The last report for 2014-15 estimated a social cost of $7 billion, which accounting for inflation and population growth, would be $10.5 billion, still $3.6 billion short of the 2023 estimate.
The study’s authors hypothesise that this mainly reflects an increase in spending from people at risk of gambling harm rather than those who gamble without experiencing gambling harm.
Prof Lubman said while most Victorians play lotteries and scratchies, these account for just 10 per cent of losses, with poker machines and sports betting generating over 80 per cent of losses from far fewer people.
“The cost of living crisis has also meant that some people have been able to reduce gambling as non-essential spending, but for others, financial pressure and uncertainty actually drive them toward gambling hoping to improve their situation, only to face greater harm,” he said
“Meanwhile, gambling advertising is everywhere - on TV, radio, and our phones. Victoria has nearly 1000 gambling ads daily, and online gambling is growing fastest of all,”
“We’re seeing particularly alarming trends among young men who can now gamble anytime, anywhere on their phones.”
The study estimated the following costs caused by gambling:
• $5.2 billion on financial impacts, such as high-
er-than-average spending and bankruptcy.
• $3.3 billion towards emotional and psychological harm, such as depression, suicide attempts and fatalities of people who gamble.
• $2.5 billion on impacts to relationships and family such as divorce or separation, violence and the impact of suicide on loved ones.
• $1.5 billion on lost productivity or impacted work or study such as impaired performance, job loss and absenteeism.
• $1.3 billion in costs to the state and local governments such as their health, mental health and human services systems, policy, regulation, and research costs.
• $289.4 million related to crime, including costs to corrections, court and police systems.
• $3.2 million of costs to non-profit organisations.
• $1.5 million in costs to the federal government.
Ms Casis said there possibly needs to be a lot more compassion and understanding around addiction not being something that someone just chooses to have or to do.
“The pervasive nature and the amount of pokies venues in our local communities, for an example, can continue to normalise and perpetuate gambling harm in the community, the fact that there is multiple pokies venues in almost every suburb is quite problematic,” she said.
“The fact that there are a thousand gambling ads on TV and radio per day continues to normalise the really harmful narrative that gambling is part of our Aussie culture,”
“Even if we talk about gambling-like elements in games targeted at really young kids as well, as young as eight years old or younger, this is really hugely problematic and continues the cycle of normalising gambling, which we see is a big problem with our clients.”
Financial impacts saw the biggest rise from the 2014-15 study, up from $2.0 billion (adjusted for inflation and population growth) with the vast majority of this cost ($4.8 billion) attributed to excess spending by people who gamble.
Prof Lubman said given the wide-ranging social costs revealed in this study, addressing gambling addiction is absolutely critical, with harms devastating entire families and communities.
“While it’s positive that the Victorian Government has committed to important reforms like mandatory carded gambling, we need these implemented quickly and we need to go much further with both state and national reforms,” he said.
“We need a total ban on gambling advertising, as well as the introduction of mandatory precommitment, and maximum loss limits. Most importantly, the industry profiting from this harm must be held accountable through a legislated duty of care that requires them to actively protect people experiencing gambling harm,”
“This is ultimately about the kind of community we want to be. We aspire to be a society where everyone is valued and supported, especially when they’re struggling.”
For support with gambling harm, Gambling Help Online offers a number of different support options, from helplines to counselling, financial counselling, email support, SMS support and online forums.
Support is available on their website - gamblinghelponline.org.au - or via their 24/7 helpline on 1800 858 858.
Chirnside Park Country Club has brought home prestigious recognition, winning the Best Sustainability Initiative at the 2025 Community Clubs Victoria (CCV) Gala Dinner and Awards Night. The local club triumphed over more than 1,000 licensed clubs across Victoria to claim the coveted award on Saturday, July 5th.
The club’s innovative approach to environmental responsibility impressed judges with cutting-edge technology including a glass crusher that significantly reduces landfill waste and a Wastemaster system that converts organic waste into renewable energy. These technical innovations work alongside more familiar sustainability measures like large-scale solar panel systems and 100% recycled water for irrigation.
Barbara Kelly from Chirnside Park Country Club said the club has “embedded environmentally conscious practices into every aspect of its operations” over the past year. “These actions reflect the Club’s genuine commitment to sustainability and community involvement,” she said.
CCV Chief Executive Andrew Lloyd praised the club’s leadership within both the industry and broader community, noting their contribution to Victoria’s social and economic fabric.
The achievement showcases what makes this local club a standout destination for environmentally conscious community members.
A study released last month has estimated Victoria’s social cost of gambling hit $14.1 billion in 202223. (Tracey Nearmy/AAP)
College is powering up
Working towards greater sustainable outcomes and reducing its CO2 output, Mount Lilydale Mercy College has taken the leap to upgrade its solar power system.
Founded in 1896 and serving the needs of more than 1500 students, the College recognises the importance of sustainable practices—not only for its future but for the environment.
As part of Mount Lilydale Mercy College’s commitment to sustainability in the learning environment, the school has installed water tanks for recycled water use, rolled out waste recycling upgrades, and expanded green spaces.
In recognition of these recent efforts, the College has achieved a five-star rating from the ResourceSmart Schools Awards by Sustainability Victoria and was awarded the title of 2024 Secondary School Winner in the Community Leadership School 2024 - Fostering Responsible, Community-Oriented Citizens category.
With a primary goal to reduce daytime power consumption and offset carbon emissions, Mount Lilydale Mercy College partnered with Solahart Eastern Ranges to upgrade its existing solar infrastructure.
Being a family-owned and operated business, the team at Solahart Eastern Ranges are passionate about supporting the local community and were delighted to help Mount Lilydale Mercy College on its journey to a more sustainable future.
As part of its pledge to green solutions and building an energy-conscious cohort, the College enlisted Solahart Eastern Ranges’s expertise to explore efficient ways to monitor the school’s energy usage and report to the Sustainability Victoria ResourceSmart Schools Program.
“Our College has been working towards becoming more sustainable with initiatives such as building outdoor learning spaces, reducing waste and water usage, and creating more green spaces with our annual tree-planting day,” Mount Lilydale Mercy College’s assistant business manager Cathy Pote said.
“In partnership with Yarra Valley Water and Yarra Ranges Council, the students have been actively involved in a regeneration program to revive the natural ecosystem on the College’s leased sports ground, including indigenous vegetation, to increase native wildlife.
“Given our energy consumption as a large College, we knew monitoring our usage and creating better energy efficiency was important, which is why Solahart was the clear choice as a partner.
“As well as upgrading our solar power, Solahart Eastern Ranges consulted on how we could monitor the patterns and peaks in our usage to conserve energy and identify waste.”
With an existing solar power (PV) system, the College wanted to bolster its capacity and explore options for upgrading. Solahart Eastern Ranges began with a full audit of the current PV setup before providing recommendations.
However, with the College comprising 14 separate buildings, the team needed to take into consideration operations across two separate electrical main feeds. This meant a large-scale solution would be required.
The team installed an additional 167 Solahart SunCell® panels paired with GoodWe three phase Inverters, to bring each system to 99kW capacity, resulting in 198kW of solar power across the campus.
To complement the solar upgrade, Solahart Eastern Ranges collaborated with Combined Energy to design a comprehensive energy management system to further support the College’s focus on sustainability.
Providing real-time energy monitoring and
cost-saving insights, the solution would support the College’s reporting needs for Sustainability Victoria’s ResourceSmart Schools Program.
Keeping these unique requirements in mind, Solahart undertook one of the largest energy management system installations in Australia and the largest Combined Energy installation ever undertaken with 14 Power Meters installed on a single site.
“This project required a robust energy man-
agement system. The Combined Energy solution is simple, efficient and smart, and will allow Mount Lilydale Mercy College to monitor the grid and its solar energy usage in real time,” Solahart Eastern Ranges’ general manager Mark Baker said.
“Smart energy management is fundamental in the move towards a renewable future as no amount of solar will save you money at nighttime without supporting technology. Resources, such
as energy management systems, are designed to complement renewable energy and maximise efficiencies.
“With the right tools, the College will be able to further improve its savings by identifying where energy is being used. Armed with accurate information, Mount Lilydale Mercy College can now focus on educating staff and students about the impact they can make with small changes in behaviour.
“It’s been fantastic to see how the College has adopted this technology to not only save costs but also to teach students the importance of energy conservation and how we can all play a part in this.”
Mount Lilydale Mercy College has seen substantial cost and carbon emission savings since switching to solar and installing an energy management system.
With an additional 75 kW of Solar PV installed, the College is set to achieve anticipated combined savings of $21,475 and 77 tonnes of CO2 in the first year.
Ms Pote, explained that the College is exploring ways to integrate the new energy management system into the school’s curriculum.
“We couldn’t be happier with this project and the seamless experience with Solahart Eastern Ranges. Incorporating this new technology provides students with first-hand experience of the benefits of renewable energy,” she said.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we are excited to engage students in learning about energy consumption strategies using the monthly energy management system reports. We also look forward to growing our energy efficiency potential with the installation of additional PV panels in the coming years.”
Yering Primary School joins Water Watchers program
Primary school students across the Melbourne’s north and east are learning about the importance of saving water, with Yarra Valley Water’s fast-growing Water Watchers education program.
Led by expert facilitators, the school incursions feature fun, interactive activities that teach students where water comes from, why it matters and how they can help to save it.
Since launching in 2022, the program has reached 250 primary schools, more than half of those in Yarra Valley Water’s service area, with many more still to come.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director Natalie Foeng said the program was an effective way of teaching students how to sustainably manage water.
“The Water Watchers program introduces water saving messages with the help of fun intergalactic aliens. It’s helping raise a generation of students who understand what a precious resource water is, and know how to use it wisely,” she said.
“It has been great to see how eager schools have been to embrace the incursions. We couldn’t have achieved these results without their support.”
Yering Primary School was one of the most recent schools where an incursion was held.
Teacher Brenda Bailey said the Water Watchers visit had been a valuable experience for the students.
“We were pleased to have the program come
to our school,” she said.
“The students were really engaged. There were a lot of activities and the instructor did a
great job of getting the students to discuss water and different ways of saving it.”
Ms Foeng encouraged other schools in the Yarra Valley Water region to join the program.
“We have now reached over 40,000 students through the program and we’re keen to reach even more, with feedback from participating schools being overwhelmingly positive,” she said.
“With hotter, drier weather and a growing population putting pressure on our water supplies, it’s important to teach children water-saving habits now to conserve water into the future.”
Teachers in the Yarra Valley Water service area can book an incursion and find out more at: yvw.com.au/water-watchers-education
Mount Lilydale Mercy College is proud of its five-star ResourceSmart Schools rating. (Supplied)
Mount Lilydale Mercy College engaged Solarhart Eastern Ranges to upgrade its solar power system for better effiency. (Supplied)
The Water Watchers program has been adopted by hundreds of schools in the Yarra Valley Water catchment. (Supplied)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Exceptional talent of art
By Matilda McDermott and Mikayla van Loon
The Art Quilt Australia and Expressions: The Wool Quilt Prize exhibition has once again arrived at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum in Lilydale.
The exhibition features over 20 quilted works that range in technique as part of a collaboration with the Oz Quilt Network and the National Wool Museum.
“This is the fourth time we’ve presented it, so it’sanicecollaborationbetweenallofusandthere are other galleries that come into the 25 years that they’ve been exhibiting for,” Yarra Ranges Regional Museum curator Maddie Reece said.
The 22 quilts that are on display were part of the 69 that were in contention for the Oz Quilt Network Award of Excellence.
The selected quilts were chosen for their excellence in contemporary quilt making through originality and technique, already attracting an audience since launching on 9 July.
“Art Quilt does have its own audience, we have been overwhelmed by quilters in the past week. It’s got its following,” Ms Reece said.
The quilts were made with no theme in mind, however, many of the artists took inspiration from real events such as Covid, bushfires, science and the environment, with each work carrying incredible detail.
“When you walk into the show you’re like, ‘oh yes, quilts’. But the closer you get to the works is where you see that detail and that artistry and talent,” Ms Reece said.
Some quilts follow the traditions of layered and stitched textile but artists like Margery Goodall really pushed the boundaries with her work Safety Net employing the use of medicine boxes sewn together to highlight how the pandemic changed people’s thinking about personal safety.
The artists and their works come from all over Australia and New Zealand. Artists such as Greg Somerville had two pieces selected, taking a microscopic lens approach, using machinery to complete the works.
He was awarded the coveted Expressions Wool Quilt Prize, meaning his work will be acquired into the National Wool Museum collection.
Other artists in the exhibition such as Anna Brown hand quilted their piece and Linda Steele improvised her piece, layering brightly coloured fabrics with freestyle stitching seeing her win the Oz Quilt Network Award for Excellence.
“It’s a real combination of machine stitched, hand stitched, eco dyes and commercial dyes. You’ve got works that are all hand stitched versus those that a machine stitched,” Ms Reece said.
“So you can really pick up that difference. A lot of the artists in this show are employing different materials.
“The longer you spend with each art piece, the more detail (you see). And the more visits you have, each time you walk in you see something different. That is what is exceptional about this exhibition.”
The exhibition was created back in 2009 to showcase how quilting can be used as a technique to create works of art. The works celebrate the art of quilting and how it’s universal.
“Every culture has quilts, it’s like a tea cup. Like a universal object in that sense,” Ms Reece said.
The exhibition isn’t just for quilters, it’s for those who can appreciate the extreme detail and work that went into the pieces on display.
“I think fundamentally as someone who is
not a quilter I’m coming to really appreciate the detail and the effort that has gone into them. Because I don’t understand how they can do it. So I think I’m just in awe of what they’ve been able to
Vital support sessions for local musicians
By Tanya Steele
Support for the arts is more vital than ever and a supportive, community-focused, and grassroots initiative has been launched to encourage and develop talent across the region.
Free and vital support sessions for emerging and working musicians across the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley will be offered across August.
From what to write in your emails, how to get noticed by promoters and how to fill out a festival application and get booked, the practical approach sessions are open and free to all.
The two sessions (both with a different focus) will run in August.
‘Radio and Media: How to Get Played’ will run on Tuesday 19 August, from 7pm to 9pm at the 3MDR Homestead in Upwey and ‘Gigs and Festivals’ will run on Tuesday 26 August from 7pm to 9pm at the Sooki Lounge in Belgrave.
Local Dandenong Ranges musician and President of 3MDR’s radio stations committee of management, Ben Langdon said that as a younger musician starting out, sessions like these were game-changing.
“There’s so much about the music industry that no one really tells you,” he said.
3MDR Station Manager Nat Grant said 3MDR’s commitment to artist development extends beyond airplay.
“The Yarra Ranges and Cardinia Shires are home to a vibrant music community, with APRA data identifying 1,065 registered songwriters in the region,” they said.
“Despite this wealth of creative talent, local artists face significant barriers to sustainable ca-
reers, including limited industry knowledge and professional networking opportunities.”
The workshops will cover learning how to pitch to radio, who to approach for gigs, and what makes a good electronic press kit (EPK).
“It’s not that people are gatekeeping that info, it’s just stuff you don’t know until someone shows you – these sessions are a way to shorten that learning curve,” said Langon.
“This program will equip participants to improve their skills, gain new knowledge and network for future collaborations with industry professionals,” said Grant.
The sessions offer an added bonus to participants - networking and creative partnership in real time.
Langdon said people may come for the advice, but they will leave with new contacts and new collaborators.
“It’s putting faces to the names, and that’s what keeps a local scene alive,” he said.
“Music is about connection, and that starts by being in the room.”
The sessions have been launched as part of
another resource - the Dandenong Ranges Music Directory. In it’s beginning stages, the directory began after Langdon decided to pull together resources for hills musicians.
“Life’s easier with a map,” he said.
“I kept going to networking events and hearing the same questions - how do I find venues? Who’s running what? How do I get involved in the hills music scene? So I thought, let’s draw a map.”
The directory is now a growing resource in development designed to make it easier for musicians to connect with the local industry and the personal development sessions are part of it.
“The more connected we are as a community, the stronger and more sustainable our local music scene will be,” said Langon.
Similar sessions were run last year and Langdon said at the time the response was amazing.
“People were excited to be back in a room together post-COVID, sharing ideas and advice,” he said.
Langdon said so far as someone in the development space for musicians in the local scene, the smaller wins that have stuck with him.
“It’s younger artists linking up with new venues, getting their first radio plays and building confidence,” he said.
Since the last workshops, the ripple effects have spread, with local musicians landing gigs and releasing music.
“A local artist Bec Sykes released a phenomenal debut album and played some amazing shows,” said Langdon.
“Rebellious Bird has been releasing some fantastic, passionate new music, and the Mast Gully Fellers have been taking the folk festival circuit by storm,” he said.
This year’s sessions at 3MDR will be run by local talent, and Langdon said they have been blown away by the generosity of local music professionals volunteering their time to support local artists.
“The line-up is stacked with people who really know their stuff, with presenters, publicists, bookers, musicians who are all keen to share what they know,” said Langdon.
Industry pros such as Anya Hynninen from On The Map PR, Simon Winkler the Music Coordinator at Triple R, Freo from 3MDR’s Mad Mile Music Club will be on hand, as well as two self-managed artists - Max Donohue from Band Booker at The Tote and Last Chance and Maggie Alley and XANI.
“The sessions are super practical, so expect tips and advice you can actually use,” said Langon.
“You can really feel the momentum growing in the hills right now, and it’s so exciting to be part of that.”
People can sign up for free at the 3MDR website.
achieve in individual works,” Ms Reece said. The exhibition is showing until 12 October at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum in Lilydale.
The Art Quilt Australia 2025 exhibition launched on Wednesday 9 July at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum. (Sean Paris Photography)
From the abstract to the colourful, the art quilters showed exceptional talent. (Sean Paris Photography)
The high level of detail in each piece highlighted the skill of these artists. (Sean Paris Photography)
Langdon (middle) with bandmates from Grand Baxter said said that as a younger musician starting out, sessions like these were gamechanging. (Supplied).
The two sessions will run in August. (Unsplash).
Exciting events coming up
The Yarra Ranges Youth Development team are hosting their second Council Career Open Night on Thursday 24 July 4.30 to 7.30pm at the Lilydale Civic Centre.
The night is about young people aged 12 to 25 years having the opportunity to learn about the different types of career pathways into the Council. The night is also an opportunity for young people to meet Yarra Ranges staff and ask questions about their career journey into Council and what it is like working for a local government.
To be eligible for a door prize please register at: trybooking.com/events/landing/1404243.
Nominations are also open for the Yarra Ranges Celebrating Youth awards.
Each year, the council partners with local young people to celebrate the achievements of 12 to 25-year-olds in the Yarra Ranges through a youth-led awards night on Thursday 27 November.
There are five award categories: Resilience and Perseverance, Young Entrepreneur, Arts, Music and Culture, Passionate Advocate and School/Community Improvement.
Nominations can be made by family, friends, professionals or by young people themselves.
To nominate a young person go to: yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Our-services/Young-people/ Youth-Team-Programs#section-2.
community drop-in sessions to
Yarra Ranges Council is running a series of drop-in sessions for residents to come and chat directly to staff, ask questions, get clarification and report an issue.
You can register to attend online at au.openforms.com/Form/c8cb2ec3-2daa-4710-bb723a30553b21a9
Although not the most exciting topic, the Yarra Ranges local road network is extremely important and a priority for both residents and the council.
Yarra Ranges’ road network is one of the largest in the state, with the council managing ap-
proximately 1764 kilometres of roads, including 708 kilometres of unsealed roads.
Yarra Ranges Council also knows road-related issues can be complex and often it can be hard to know who is responsible for which road.
The sessions run from 5.30pm to 7pm and residents can drop-in anytime.
These are the topics that will be included:
■ how Council manages and maintains the local road network that it is responsible for
■ unsealed roads and the Special Charge Scheme
■traffic and road safety
■interacting with Council and reporting an issue
There are four drop-in sessions being held in different location across the municipality. Make sure you register to attend at au.openforms.com/Form/c8cb2ec3-2daa-4710-bb723a30553b21a9
■ Drop-in 1: Yarra Glen Memorial Hall, Wednesday 30 July, 5:30pm - 7pm.
■ Drop-in 2: Warburton Arts Centre, Thursday 7 August, 5:30pm - 7pm.
■ Drop-in 3: Lilydale Civic Centre, Thursday 14 August, 5:30pm - 7pm.
■ Drop-in 4: Monbulk Living and Learning Centre, Wednesday 20 August, 5:30pm - 7pm.
Get a sneak peek of the lifestyle you could enjoy at our free Open Home events. Explore our communities, inspect our display homes, discover our social activities, chat with our friendly team and find out if retirement living will suit you.
Cherry Tree Grove
67-81 Maroondah Highway, Croydon Wednesday, 6 August (10-11am) Domainé
37-43 Victoria Street, Doncaster Thursday, 7 August (10-11am)
The second Yarra Ranges Council Career Open Night is coming up on Thursday 24 July. (Supplied)
The Yarra Ranges Council Career Open Night gives local young people the opportunity to explore career pathways for them with local government. (Supplied)
Yarra Ranges Council is running a series of dropin sessions for road issues. (File: 365408)
Cigarettes always a risk
Victoria’s fire services are issuing a strong warning about the serious risks of smoking indoors, as it remains the leading cause of fatal house fires across the state.
Half of the 18 fatal fires in Victoria in 2024 were attributed to discarded cigarettes and smoking materials, such as lighters, matches, or open flames, while smokers remain over-represented in residential fire fatalities.
Smoking in bed is the leading cause of smoking-related fire deaths, as falling asleep with a lit cigarette in hand can easily set fire to soft materials such as bed linen.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) Chief Fire Officer Jason Heffernan said smoking while affected by alcohol, drugs or medication can also increase the risk of fire.
“All it takes is a small ember from a cigarette to ignite a fire and you could be facing a life-changing event that puts yourself and others in harm’s way,” Chief Officer Heffernan said.
“We urge all smokers to properly extinguish and dispose of your cigarette in a heavy glass or metal ashtray to prevent any more major fires from occurring.
“As Victorians know, to help safeguard your family, you must have a working smoke alarm in your home. However, if smoking occurs inside your home, please have one in every room.”
In addition to the fire fatality figures, more than 10 per cent of residential structure fires that Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded to between May 2024 and March 2025 were caused by smoking materials.
In May this year FRV also responded to two significant house fires in Melbourne within days of each other caused by cigarettes. On May 6, a brick unit in Moorabbin was destroyed by a fire originating from an incorrectly extinguished cigarette, with an elderly resident in a neighbouring property assisted to safety after their house was affected by smoke.
FRV Commander Julian Bisbal, who led the response to the Moorabbin fire, said the incidents should serve as a wake-up call to the devastation
unattended cigarettes can cause.
“It’s imperative you make sure your cigarette is disposed of in an area that cannot catch or spread fire. It was a ferocious, fast-moving fire because of the wind on that day.” Julian said.
“People think a cigarette is tame and safe, because it’s in your hand, but in reality, it can cause devastation. You’re holding an ignition source.”
Just days later, another unattended cigarette was the cause of a significant fire in a Box Hill North weatherboard home.
FRV Deputy Commissioner, Community Safety, Joshua Fischer said the statistics reflected the gravity of the danger of cigarettes.
“The numbers don’t lie – cigarettes are dangerous when misused or used while drowsy, and must be handled with extreme caution,” Deputy Commissioner Fischer said.
“If you notice burn marks on a friend or family member’s carpet, furniture, clothing, or nightwear, speak up. Let them know the dangers and encourage them to take action.
“Quitting smoking is the safest option from both a health and fire safety perspective, but if that isn’t possible, firefighters recommend smoking outdoors.”
Victorian fire services recommend:
If you can, smoke outside the home in a single location.
If smoking occurs in the home, there should be a smoke alarm in every room.
Never smoke in bed.
Don’t smoke when affected by alcohol, drugs or medications that may cause drowsiness.
Use heavy, high-sided, non-combustible ashtrays to dispose of cigarette butts. Pour some water on the ash and butts to make sure they’re out.
‘Stick it don’t flick it’ – never flick cigarette butts, either inside or outside.
Never leave a lit cigarette unattended and butt out your cigarette before you walk away.
Keep matches and cigarette lighters out of reach of children.
CHIRNSIDE PARK Meadowgate Milk Bar3 Meadowgate Drive
CHIRNSIDE PARK Coles Supermarket239-241 Maroondah Highway
CHIRNSIDE PARK Woolworths Supermarket239-241 Maroondah Highway
CHIRNSIDE PARK Caltex Safeway239-241 Maroondah Highway
CHIRNSIDE PARK EG Fuelco Service Station Chirnside Park Shopping
CHIRNSIDE PARK 7 - Eleven 242 Maroondah Highway
CHIRNSIDE PARK Chirnside Park Country Club 68 Kingswood Drive
CROYDON NORTH Croydon Hills Milk Bar158 Nangathan Way
CROYDON NORTH Eastfield Milk Bar11 The Mall
KILSYTH Woolworths SupermarketChuringa SC, Russo Place
KILSYTH Woolworths SupermarketCanterbury Road Kilsyth
KILSYTH Kilsyth Laundrette Unit 7/87 Colchester Road
LILYDALE Yarra Valley Soul Cafe 8 William Street East
LILYDALE Aaron Violi MP Office 110 Main Street
LILYDALE Lilydale Marketplace SC33-45 Hutchinson Street
LILYDALE Lilydale Village SC51-59 Anderson Street
LILYDALE Woolworths SupermarketMarketplace, 33 Hutchinson Street
LILYDALE Coles Supermarket Lilydale VillageCastella Street & Maroondah Highway
LILYDALE Lilydale Community Centre7 Hardy Street
LILYDALE Lilydale Lakeside Conference and Events Centre1 Jarlo Drive
LILYDALE United Petrol Service Station473 Maroondah Highway
LILYDALE Caltex Lilydale346 Main Street
LILYDALE Caltex Woolworths31 Hutchinson Street
LILYDALE BP Service Station87 Warburton Highway
LILYDALE Shell Service Station469 Maroondah Highway
LILYDALE 7 - Eleven LilydaleCnr Maroondah Highway & Cave Hill Road
LILYDALE Coles Express469 Maroondah Highway
LILYDALE Hutch & Co Cafe251 Main Street
LILYDALE Round Bird Can't Fly170 Main Street
LILYDALE The Lilydale General110 Beresford Road
LILYDALE Yarra Valley Smokery96 Main Street
LILYDALE Bee Seen Cafe178 Main Street
LILYDALE Blue Turtle Cafe222 Main Street
LILYDALE Gracious GraceCastella Street
LILYDALE Melba Coffee House33-45 Hutchinson Street
LILYDALE Lilydale Munchies7/75 Cave Hill Road
LILYDALE Point of View CafeLilydale Lakeside - Jarlo Drive
LILYDALE Freda's Cafe2 Clarke Street
LILYDALE Barry Plant Real Estate88 Main Street
LILYDALE Ray White Real Estate164 Main Street
LILYDALE Hello Harry245 Main Street
LILYDALE Noel Jones Real Estate 281 Main Street
LILYDALE Professionals Real Estate111-113 Main Street
LILYDALE Grubs Up1 Industrial Park Drive
LILYDALE Mc Donalds RestaurantMaroondah Highway
LILYDALE Olinda Creek HotelMaroondah Hwy
LILYDALE Crown HotelMaroondah Hwy
LILYDALE Yarra Ranges Council 61 - 65 Anderson Street
MONTROSE Montrose Authorised Newsagency 912 Mt Dandenong Road
MONTROSE IGA Supermarket Mt Dandenong Road
MONTROSE Bell Real Estate 896 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road
MOUNT EVELYN Fast Fuel 1 Hereford Road
MOUNT EVELYN IGA Supermarket 38- 40 York Road
MOUNT EVELYN Post Office 12 Station Street
MOUNT EVELYN Authorised Newsagency 1A Wray Crescent
MOUNT EVELYN Red Robyn Milk Bar 35 Hereford Road
MOUNT EVELYN Library 50 Wray Cresent
MOUNT EVELYN Milkbar 28 Birmingham Road
MOUNT EVELYN Bendigo Bank 2/35-39 Wray Cres
MONTROSE IGA Supermarket916 Mt Dandenong Road
MOOROOLBARK Coles Supermarket15 Brice Avenue
MOOROOLBARK Bendigo BankUnit 19/66 - 74 Brice Ave
MOOROOLBARK Corner Milk Bar38 Bellara Dive
MOOROOLBARK Fang & Yaoxin Mini Mart108 Hayrick Lane
MOOROOLBARK BP Mooroolbark103 Cardigan Road
MOOROOLBARK Coles Express2 Cambridge Road
MOOROOLBARK Professionals Real EstateBrice Avenue
MOOROOLBARK L J HookerBrice Avenue
MOOROOLBARK Fletchers Real Estate 1/14 Manchester Road
MOOROOLBARK Mc Donalds RestaurantManchester Road
MOOROOLBARK 7-Eleven Manchester Road
MOUNT EVELYN York on Lilydale138 York Road
WANDIN NORTH Wandin Newsagency Shop 2 /18 Union Road
Crime continues to soar
Crime in Victoria has soared to a record high.
The most recent data published by the Crime Statistics Agency is deeply troubling: a criminal offence is committed every 50.3 seconds; a car is stolen every 17 minutes; and youth are over-represented in violent attacks.
Crime is increasingly impacting our local community, with criminal incidents up 22.1 per cent in the Yarra Ranges.
Over the last 12 months, 8,236 criminal offences were reported, with Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Chirnside Park, Coldstream and Montrose suffering significant increases.
A deep dive into the data reveals that in the Yarra Ranges, aggravated robbery is up 82 per cent, motor vehicle theft is up 79 per cent, residential non-aggravated burglary is up 43 per cent, and residential aggravated burglary is up a staggering 177 per cent.
CARTOON
State of Affairs
Bridget Vallence Evelyn MP
Our community has seen the Lilydale Football grandstand set on fire, several bus shelters smashed, the Seville tobacco shop firebombed causing serious damage to adjoining businesses, armed robberies at the Wandin pharmacy and at supermarkets in Mooroolbark and Montrose, and a sharp rise in theft from people’s homes, cars, and farms.
The situation is alarming and comes as the
Melbourne rare books PASSION FOR PROSE
First held in 2012, the Melbourne Rare Book Week is an annual celebration of “the importance of books, publishing, book production and collecting” as proudly declared by its official website. Taking place from Thursday 24 July to Saturday 2 August, this year’s program offers 46 events across the city, covering a wide range of free talks, workshops, exhibitions and tours on book-related topics for all tastes. As usual, the bookish week is heralded by State Library Victoria’s “World of the Book” exhibition, which marks its 20th anniversary this year.
The more than 300 historically significant items on display showcase the history of book design, production and illustration throughout the past four centuries. Next, the Parliament Library – the second oldest library in our state – will introduce “William Strutt’s Victoria the Golden”, a collection of sketches that captured events in the colony from the gold rush to the departure of the Burke and Wills expedition.
The History Council of Victoria’s “Hearing the News” event will explain how the happenings of the pre-modern world were conveyed to the commoners by ballad singers, pamphleteers and public orators. Meanwhile, Museums Victoria’s “Women in Natural History” event will explore the work of past and contemporary female natural history artists.
Also worth noting is the “Mysteries with History” event, where a panel of Melbourne crime writers will “delve into the swirl of history, murder and intrigue”.
Equally interesting is the “Joseph Furphy on Settler Violence” event, which will discuss the author’s admiration for the Indigenous people and his resistance against race-based prejudice. Other fascinating events include “Scapegoats of the Empire”, which will examine the memoir of George Witton, the third defendant in the military trial for murder brought against
WITH CHRISTINE SUN
Breaker Morant and Peter Hancock; and “From Convict Printers to Book Arcades”, which will shed light on Australia’s contribution to a unique international project seeking to document global histories of the book.
A special children-focused event is “Come into Moominland”, which will explore the world of Moomintroll, Snork Maiden and Snukkin created by Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson. Another artistic event is “Travelling to Art”, which will investigate the art of creating travel diaries combining memory and imagination. Finally, two particular events caught this reviewer’s eye, with the first being “The Archaeology of an Archive”, which will tackle the myriad ways in which researchers and creators can find inspirations in retained materials and their “preserved patterns”.
The other event is “Le Mort or La Mort”, which will scrutinise the origins and cultural context of the Danse Macabre.
The “Melbourne Rare Book Week” program concludes with the Melbourne Rare Book Fair at the University of Melbourne’s Wilson Hall, which will run from Thursday 31 July to Saturday 2 August.
More details can be found at: rarebooksmelbourne.com/events-2/
Allan Labor Government cut nearly $50 million from the Victoria Police budget despite a shortfall of over 1100 police officers occurring on their watch.
Our local Yarra Ranges Police do tremendous work in difficult conditions but are let down by government mismanagement and financial incompetence leaving frontline officers overstretched and under-equipped.
Furthermore, the Labor Government’s softon-crime policies, including weakening Victoria’s bail laws, have allowed offenders to walk free with no consequences, being bailed only to repeatedly re-offend, leaving victims of crime devastated.
One of the highest priorities of any government should be community safety.
Yet, Labor has been reluctant to ensure laws are strong enough to deter crime, or respect and resource our police properly to tackle the crime
crisis and keep residents and small businesses safe.
Under Labor, police have less powers than previously to arrest people for disorderly and antisocial behaviour, and currently 43 police stations are understaffed or closed.
Victorians deserve better than this.
Underpinned by a deep commitment to community safety, the Victorian Liberals will strengthen bail laws if elected in November 2026 as well as strengthen powers to tackle antisocial behaviour and violent protesters.
Only our Break Bail – Face Jail policy will restore penalties for breaching bail, end Labor’s exemption for youth offenders who breach bail, and apply tougher bail rules for burglary and robbery.
There must be a focus to arrest the rise in crime and put community safety first.
Boring sequel light on action
The Old Guard 2 Starring Charlize Theron, Ngo Thanh Vân and Uma Thurman MA15+ 3/5
Heavy on lore and light on worthwhile action, The Old Guard 2 is a flat, boring sequel to the 2020 first film.
Immortal mercenary Andy/Andromache (Charlize Theron) and her team must grapple with a powerful threat from her past.
Like the first film, The Old Guard 2 is beautifully-shot and the cast has strong chemistry, but this sequel features contrived dialogue, blunt exposition and a slow, uneventful plot that feels like an unfulfilling middle chapter.
The villains (especially Uma Thurman as Discord) are paper-thin, and Quynh’s (Ngo Thanh Vân) grudge against Andy for leaving her trapped at the bottom of the ocean for centuries feels silly for someone who can literally live forever.
The action is a severe downgrade from the first Old Guard film, with the cool choreography marred by quick cuts, sloppy framing and even foreground obstacles.
There are only a couple of decent fights toward the very end, but ‘it gets better later’ doesn’t mean much when “later” is 80 long minutes.
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre
The Diary of Anne Frank Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre chose the story of The Diary of Anne Frank for the July season. A moving play about a young Jewish girl and her family who were hiding out from the Nazi invaders in Amsterdam.
LATC did a remarkable set of the secret upstairs apartment of a factory, whose door was hidden behind a bookshelf. There were two families in hiding there, then later another man joined them temporarily but stayed. One can imagine the strain of living with eight people in such dire straits. The cast did a wonderful job, really capturing the feeling of the time and the cramped conditions.
The play opened after the war with Otto Frank, the only survivor, returning to the apartment where he found Anne’s diary. Then the play moved back in time to when it all happened.
Anne Frank was given a superb performance by Emily Barnes-Read. A delightful performance with Emily catching all the correct nuances of a thirteen-year-old who was telling the story through her diary. She covered difficulties of teenage years, fighting with her sister and mother, then falling in love with the boy from another family. A wonderful portrayal. Otto Frank, Anne’s father, was played by David Spencer-Gardner. Who also gave a great performance in the role of occasional peace maker, father, and husband. A difficult role, but well handled by David. Edith Frank, Anne’s mother, was played by Elizabeth van Spronsen. A moving role well handled by Elizabeth. As a mother and wife, Elizabeth projected well, giving a moving performance.
Margot Frank, Anne’s sister, played by Em Beggs, gave a good performance as the quiet one
This is a very minor issue, but I dislike the tacky iMovie-looking location title-cards. If Megan 2.0 is the Terminator 2 of its franchise (and even invites this comparison), then The Old Guard 2 is the Highlander 2: The Quickening of its franchise: a bigger, lore-expanding, inferior follow-up (though The Old Guard 2 isn’t nearly as bad as the legendarily bad Highlander 2).
As a medium-budget genre flick released to Netflix during lockdown, the first Old Guard in 2020 received more attention than it normally would have, but The Old Guard 2 can’t stand out with the cinemas back open or on its own merits.
The Old Guard 2 is streaming on Netflix, but you’d be better off rewatching the first film or any number of more competent action films starring Charlize Theron.
of the Frank family.
Peter Van Daan, the boy who Anne used to tease, then fell in love wit,h was played by Jackson Langelaan. Jackson also captured the fine nuances of a 16-year-old boy being teased by a 13-year-old girl. A good portrayal by Jackson. His mother, Mrs Van Daan, was played by Elizabeth Matjacic, who also met the high standard of the play. Her husband, Mr Van Daan, played by Mark Crowe, added to the standard of the production. He was not quite the man to be in this position, as he was not quite what he seemed. Mark handled the role with finesse and was quite believable. Mr Dusselm, played by Jonathan Edwards, was themanwhohidtheJewsinhisfactory.Asmallbut vital role and was handled excellently. Miep Gieps, played by Alexandra Carter, who also helped the Jewish families, gave a good performance in her role. The stranger who came in after the others and was only going to stay for a short while but stayed on was Mr Kraler, played by Jason Triggs, who captured the character of such an inverted man who did not get on with the other families.
A good evening of theatre by Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre and definitely a company not to be missed.
Capturing
Alternative pathway
Ranges TEC offers Years 10-12 students an alternative to traditional VCE through hands on vocational education and training. Located in Lilydale, the school caters specifically to students pursuing trade pathways or seeking practical learning approaches.
With class sizes capped at 15 students, Ranges TEC provides individualised attention in a supportive learning environment focused on character development and service. The curriculum designed by tradespeople, focuses on real world
applications and industry partnerships that bridge education and employment.
Students develop technical skills while preparing for apprenticeships, TAFE, or direct entry into the workforce. The schools mission centres on helping students discover and develop practical skills.
Parents and students interested in learning more about Ranges TEC’s enrolment process can contact the school on 9738 7100.
Find alternative education opportunities at Ranges TEC. (Supplied)
FAMILY HOME WITH OPPORTUNITY GALORE!
THIS substantial family home offers not only one of the most prized locations in Upwey but also multiple options for extended family living. Situated on a generous corner block, it comes with approved plans and permits to subdivide and build a second dwelling at the rear.
Brick veneer construction and featuring an open-plan design, the home sits on a large, near-flat 1484m² sun-filled block. It boasts three separate living zones, including a spacious main lounge, a cozy TV area, and a dining space. A standout feature is the oversized home office with its own inviting sitting area and wood fire-perfect for running a business or working from home.
There are four bedrooms in total, including a main bedroom with an ensuite and walk-in robe. The fourth bedroom offers access to the double garage, making it ideal for teenagers seeking a ‘home away from home’ vibe. Ducted heating throughout and ceiling fans provide comfort year-round.
The modern, well-maintained kitchen offers ample bench space and is conveniently positioned between the meals and TV areas. It overlooks a spacious, paved undercover entertaining area at the rear-perfect for outdoor gatherings.
Adding even more versatility is a selfcontained one-bedroom studio with kitchenette and bathroom, ideal for a teenager, elderly parent, or guest accommodation.
Tradies and hobbyists will love the fantastic 6m x 11m shed with side road access and a 3m x 11m attached verandah-ideal for caravan/trailer storage or extra undercover space.
A sealed driveway, beautiful gardens, and abundant off-street parking make this property a rare find for large or extended families-or anyone needing extra space.
This property must be seen to be believedthere are so many opportunities you won’t find anywhere else.
WHATS GREAT ABOUT THIS PROPERTY:
• Plans and permits for subdivision and build
• Flat, corner block with dual access
Large shedding, double garage and plenty of parking options
Self contained separate studio
• Four bedrooms plus spacious home office
WALK EVERWHERE- BRAND NEW HOME
PERFECTLY positioned in the centre of Yarra Junction, this brand new architecturally designed home offers an exceptional lifestyle for those looking to downsize, invest, or simply enjoy easy, low-maintenance living in a peaceful yet convenient location.
Set within easy, near-level walking distance to local shops, cafes, gym, ambulance & police stations, swimming pool, medical centre, and the scenic Warburton Rail Trail, this stunning home blends comfort, quality, and accessibility.
Property features include: 2 spacious bedrooms & 2 bathrooms
• Main bedroom with elegant bay window, walk-in robe, and full ensuite
• Light filled open plan living and dining area
Stylish kitchen with stone benchtops, quality appliances, and breakfast bar
• Step outside through sliding doors to a generous private courtyard - perfect for:
Entertaining guests
• Growing your own garden
• Providing room for pets to play
Added bonus: a rear gate opens directly onto a small laneway, offering a convenient shortcut into town.
Additional features:
Single carport for off-street parking
High-quality finishes throughout
• Thoughtfully designed for easy living Homes of this calibre in such a central location are increasingly rare. Call us today to arrange your inspection – you won’t be disappointed!
• Chris Lord - 0408 148 861
• Professionals Yarra Valley – 5967 1800
Address: 7/2414 Warburton Highway, YARRA JUNCTION Description: 2 bedrooms, 2
Contact: Chris Lord - 0408 148 861, PROFESSIONALS YARRA VALLEY – 5967 1800
REFLECTING timeless elegance with a Wisteria wrapped return verandah that invites you to sit back and relax, this unforgettable home lovingly built by the vendors will take your breath away with its spacious design, alfresco entertaining and beautiful views of the Yarra Valley and manicured garden.
Beaming with bright sunshine, the huge lounge room conveys a welcoming ambience with plush carpet underfoot, 9ft high ceilings soaring overhead and the flickering glow of a wood-burning fireplace warming those cool winter nights.
Hardwood polished floorboards flow through the adjoining meals zone and kitchen where quality appointments include 900mm oven/gas cooktop, corner pantry plus an island breakfast bench adorned with a Mountain Ash benchtop.
Creating a casual atmosphere for entertaining, French and sliding doors open out onto the wide verandah and covered alfresco deck, allowing friends and family to gather for a summertime BBQ, while children play amongst the picturesque gardens.
Quietly tucked along the hallway, you’ll find the three robed bedrooms, including the lavishly sized master suite boasting a Siemens heater, large walk-in-robe, ensuite and French door access onto the verandah.
Further serviced by a bright family bathroom with garden outlook, separate toilet and well-sized laundry.
Quality finishes include 9ft ceilings throughout, split system heating/air conditioning, ceiling fans, solar panels, excellent storage, Crimsafe flywire doors, wood shed, storage shed, double carport plus a large driveway with ample space for guest, trailer and machinery parking.
Poised on a magnificent 3.5 acre (approx) allotment, with excellent connectivity to the local primary school, cafe, hotel and of course the Iconic Rail Trail - all just a walk away! And don’t forget Wesburn Park Trail HeadWarburton Mountain Bike Destination also circa 1km away!
Rumour is the first trail opening is not too far away! Yarra Junction township is a short drive for your additional needs including Woolworths, GP Clinic, Yarra Centre, Police, Little Yarra Steiner School and Upper Yarra Secondary College.
This magic parcel is just waiting for you to call it your own! ●
$2,300,000 - $2,530,000 OFI
MICHELLE JONES 0411 085 631
LEAH BANNERMAN 0448 924 266 BARRY PLANT LILYDALE 9735 3300
$1,200,000 OFI Saturday 26th July 1-1:30pm
LEAH BANNERMAN 0448 924 266 MICHELLE JONES 0411 085 631 BARRY PLANT
9735 3300
26th July 10-10:30am
BANNERMAN 0448 924 266 MICHELLE JONES 0411 085 631
BARRY PLANT LILYDALE 9735 3300
$580,00 - $620,000 OFI Saturday 26th July 2-2:30pm LEAH BANNERMAN 0448 924 266
MICHELLE JONES 0411 085 631
BARRY PLANT LILYDALE 9735 3300
HOME FOCUS
FAMILY, GUESTS OR INCOME: DUAL HOMES
LESS than 15 minutes from Pakenham, this exceptional property truly delivers the whole package. Tucked away on a quiet no-through road, it features two impressive homes, loads of undercover parking, a dream workshop with hoist and racking, plus fantastic horse facilities — including 10 post-and-rail paddocks, a round yard, two covered day yards, and a handy lean-to. This is a rare find with space and versatility galore.
The main residence greets you with a lush front lawn and a light-filled open plan design. Polished hardwood floors sweep through the living areas, while the kitchen comes complete with gas cooking, a dishwasher, and breathtaking views over the valley. The adjoining lounge and dining zone wraps around a cosy wood fire and also offers split system cooling. Step out from here to a generous covered deck — the ultimate spot to soak in the sweeping outlook. There’s an updated bathroom with walk-in shower, bath and toilet, plus three bedrooms. Two have built-in robes, while the master enjoys a walkthrough wardrobe and private ensuite. Between the two homes sits the impressive lock-up garage with workshop — all concrete floors, power, storage racking, and hoist which stays. There’s also a double carport beside it, serving the second home, with a laundry to the rear.
The second residence has its own driveway and separate power, making it ideal for extended family, guests or rental income. This light-filled, open plan home offers two bedrooms, a modern kitchen with gas cooking, spacious living/dining with split system, and a huge bathroom with skylight, walk-in shower, and toilet. A wraparound deck provides a sunny perch to relax and watch the horses roam. Beneath, there’s even more parking with another double carport.
Set on a parcel approximately two-thirds cleared and fully fenced along the boundary, this property is ready for you, your family, and all your four-legged friends to simply move in and enjoy.
This property has it all so don’t miss out - CALL TO ARRANGE A PRIVATE INSPECTION TODAY! Call Aaron Day 0407 365 994 or Brennan Mileto 0422 996 451. Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS
ComfortableFamilyLivingClosetoTown.
Perfectlyplacedona quietstreetnearCockatoo’stownship& schools,thisdelightful3-bedroom homeon asecure830sqmblockisallsetforfamilyadventures.Openthefrontgate& you’llfind plentyofspaceforkids &petstoplay.Stepinsidetofreshnewcarpets& stylishvinylplankfloors, withexposedtimberceilingsadding asplashofcharactertothelounge.Gasductedheating,a split system,& ceilingfanhavecomfortcoverednomattertheseason.Theopenplankitchen& dining zoneis abright,socialhub,completewithelectriccooktop,integratedwalloven,D/W &a garden outlookthatmakesmealprepa breeze.Slideopenthedoortothebackverandah,perfectfor weekendBBQsora quietmorningcoffeewhilethekidsplay.There’sa WIRforthemastersuite,BIRin theotherbedrooms, acentralbathroomwithseparatetoilet& spaciouslaundrywithstorage.
AaronDay M 0407365994 BrennanMileto M 0422996451
Family-SizedHavenwithSpaceforEveryone-EventhePony!
Setona sprawling3,035sqmincharmingCockatoo,thissuperbfive-bedroom,two-bathroomhome isallaboutrelaxedfamilyliving. Acirculardrivewayleadstoaninvitingfrontverandah— perfectfor morningcoffee.Inside,enjoypolishedtimberfloors,9ftceilings,gasductedheating,anda spacious kitchenwithloadsofstorage, acornerpantry,andgascooking.Theloungefeaturesa woodfireand ceilingfanforyear-roundcomfort.Parentswilllovetheprivatemasterwithwalk-inrobeandlarge ensuite,whilefourmorebedrooms, afamilybathroom,and aseparatetoiletsitattheotherend.A generousrumpusoffersextraspaceforplayora gym.Outdoors,entertainonthehugedeck,watch kidsandpetsenjoythefullyfencedyard,orsaddleupintheponypaddock.A doublegarageand solarcompletethiscountrydream.
16BondLaneGembrook $840,000-$880,000
“Lou-Mar”– QuietCountryLivingwithGreatShed! Tuckedawayattheendof ano-throughroad,“Lou-Mar”offerspeaceful,practicallivingonjust underanacreinGembrook.Thischarmingthree-bedroom,two-bathroomhomefeaturesTassieOak floors,gasductedheating,a woodfire,and alight-filledkitchenwith900mmgasstovetop,island bench,skylight,andamplestorage.Themasterenjoysgardenviews,built-inrobes,and arenovated ensuite,whiletwoadditionalbedroomsshare acentralbathroomandEuropeanlaundry.Outdoors is atradie’sdream,witha huge9m x9mshedcompletewithpower,mezzanine,hoist,andconcrete floor,plusdoublecarport,hothouse,garden/woodshedsandplentyofparkingforcaravansor trailers.Whetheryou’retinkeringintheshedorrelaxinginthegarden,“Lou-Mar”deliversspace, lifestyleanda wholelotofcharmjustmomentsfromtheheartoftown.
SamanthaScott M 0438680032
3 A 2 B 4 C
APrivateCountryEscapewithBigViews& EvenBiggerPotential. This3bedroom,2bathroomhomeofferstheperfectbalanceofserenecountryliving &modern convenience. Adrivewayleadstoundercoverparking,completewithadjoiningstorageshed. Inside,polishedtimberfloors& naturallightseta warm &invitingtone.Theopendiningareaflows intothelounge,wherea slowcombustionwoodfire,s/scooling&GDHensurecomfortinevery season.Expansivewindowsshowcasethestunningruraloutlook.Thekitcheniswell-equipped, featuringabundantstorage,a cornerpantry &D/W.2 bedroomsincludeBIR,whiletheprivate masterretreatofferstruesanctuary. AgenerousWIRleadstoa spacioussuitewithbuilt-incabinetry &updatedensuite.Stepoutside& you’llfind aseriousbonus, ahuge9mx 9mgaragewithpower, plumbing &mezzaninelevel, ahigh-clearancecarportidealforcaravans/haystorage& 3.5kWsolar.
FAMILY LIVING AT ITS FINEST – SPACE, COMFORT AND STUNNING GARDEN SETTING
SET on a beautiful 5,960m² (approx.) block in a sought after, family friendly neighbourhood, this property is larger than meets the eye and offers a perfect blend of space, comfort, and versatility.
Ideally positioned just a short stroll to Belgrave Lake Park and conveniently located halfway between Belgrave and Belgrave South townships, this home will be a standout for those needing family sized and family focused living.
Spanning over two levels, the flexible floorplan is designed for those needing extra space or extended living options. Featuring five generous bedrooms, a home office nook plus a spacious open plan living and dining zone with an updated kitchen, there’s room for everyone!
Downstairs, a dedicated TV/rumpus room and kitchenette make it ideal for teenagers, guests, or multi-generational living.
Stay comfortable year round with ducted heating throughout, a split system heater/ cooler and the cosy charm of a crackling wood fire, whilst expansive windows frame tranquil views of the lush, park like garden around you.
Outside, entertain and relax around the inground pool, or let kids and pets explore the expansive backyard.
There’s ample space for all your lifestyle needs with a double garage under roofline, additional parking for cars, bikes, trucks, or trailers, and veggie gardens almost ready for your home grown produce.
Sit back and relax on the spacious wrap around verandah and soak up your private oasis that is filled with plenty of sunlight and surrounded by nature, all while being just minutes from train stations, schools, and essential amenities.
*Solar pool heating pool not in working order
PERFECT FIRST HOME IN A PEACEFUL SETTING
NESTLED in a peaceful and private setting, this charming 3-bedroom home offers first home buyers a chance to enter the market just a short walk from the beautiful Emerald Lake Park.
Nature lovers will be in their element with native wildlife and beautiful scenic walking tracks all around.
The 3 bedroom home is tucked away and surrounded by established gardens which offer a leafy outlook from every window and privacy ensuring you can enjoy a calm and tranquil hills lifestyle.
The open plan living area flows onto the outdoor covered decking which is an ideal space for entertaining or relaxing in solitude. With public transport nearby, and a short drive to Emerald’s vibrant township, this is the perfect place to start your home ownership journey.
Don’t miss this rare gem – affordable, peaceful, and full of potential.
FAMILY LIFESTYLE LIVING ON A GRAND SCALE
A beautiful property with an impressive street appeal boasting plenty of space inside and out, set on just over 3/4 of and acre. This property is sure to please the growing family with something for everyone! The classic homestead style home offers 4 big bedrooms plus an ensuite and walk in robe in the main bedroom. The open plan kitchen area has loads of bench and cupboard space plus a separate meals/dining area. Expansive lounge/living and family rooms ideally zoned to give the whole family plenty of space to spread out. Head outside and enjoy and explore the outdoors with big wide open spaces all round - it’s a kids and pets paradise. Covered veranda’s front and rear plus a separate covered entertaining area offer year round outdoor entertaining. A large garage and workshop provide plenty of car accommodation and with established gardens all round, this is an impressive property from every aspect. A great property designed with family space in mind and set in the glorious and semi rural surrounds of East Warburton - yet only a short drive to the Warburton township and public transport just a short walk down the road.
FamilyLivingatitsBestwithLoadsofExtras
SittingonoverhalfanacreofflatusablelandandbackingontothepicturesqueHoddlesCreekthis locationissuperb.Thelargefamilyhomeboasts 4bedrooms, 3bathroomsand 2living/loungeareas with afunctionalandflexiblefloorplantosuitthegrowingfamily,thefreshmodernkitchenboasts qualityappliancesandfittingsthroughoutwithamplebenchandcupboardspace.Headoutside andenjoythefantasticoutdoorsanytimeoftheyearfromthecoveredentertainingBBQareato theingroundpool.Plentyofcaraccommodationwith ahugelockupgarage/workshopplusloads ofextraspacefortrucks,trailersandcaravans, aseparatebungalow/studioistheidealspotfor teenagers,weekendguestsorthedependentrelatives.A sensationalpropertyina gloriouslocation withjustminutesawaytolocalschools,shopsandtransport.
DavidCarroll M 0419539320
ClassicWarburtonHomewithFantasticViews
StepbackintimewiththisclassicWarburtonhome,boastingalltheperiodfeaturesoftheearlydays goneby ,mostlyoriginalthroughoutandfeaturinghighceilings,decorativecorniceandfloorboards. Offering 2goodsizedbedroomsand aseparatedownstairsoptional3rdbedroom,studyorgames roomplus aseparatelounge/livingroom.Headoutdoorsandenjoythebeautifulestablished gardensandthepicturesquelocationwithfantasticmountainviewsbathedinsunlightandsituated on alargefamilysizeblockofapprox.1000sqmwithplentyofspaceforeveryone.Convenientrear yardaccessandwithampleparkingand alockupgarageandbonussolarpower, agreatlocation just ashortstrolltotheYarrariverandWarburton’smainstreeteateriesandattractions,it’s agreat spottobe.
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To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
ACROSS
1 Assail (5)
4 Keep trying (9)
9 Ancestry (7)
10 Stinging plants (7)
11 Deliverance from harm (9)
12 Restore (5)
13 Stun (3)
14 Entitlement (11)
16 Impossible to rectify (11)
19 Be in debt (3)
20 Of them (5)
22 Helper (9)
25 Japanese paper art form (7)
26 Instructs; improves (7)
27 Without paths (9)
28 Varieties (5)
DOWN
1 Girdles (5)
2 Plant with large yellow head and edible seeds (9)
3 Jewelled coronet (5)
4 Officiate (7)
5 Encounter (3,4)
6 Pull up by the roots (9)
7 US comedian,
– DeGeneres (5)
8 Not here (9)
13 Sleeveless garment worn over a shirt (9)
14 As opposed to hardcover (9)
15 Quarantine (9)
17 Understand clearly (7)
18 Woven containers (7)
21 Nickname of Eva Perón (5)
23 Deft (5)
24 Check-ups (5)
Men’s three in a row
By Peter Stephenson
The Kennel was cold and windy on Saturday as Barkers (sixth) hosted Doncaster Rovers (twelfth). Barkers were looking for their third win in a row but were forced to make changes for the first time in four games. Out were Ross Clark (injured) and Tristan Walker (suspended), replaced by JohnPaul Cooper and Anthony Di Crea.
An early chance came to Danny Aye in the third minute as he hit a low drive, which keeper Gabriel Vallese did well to turn round his post. Then a good Donny crossfield ball to the right wing was crossed in, but Ryan Smith beat his attacker to the ball. Sadly for Di Crea, his return to the starting lineup ended after only 11 minutes when he went off with a knee injury, to be replaced by Mario Rivera.
On 23 minutes, Ray Markley floated a freekick to the far post, which Sean Perrin headed wide. Then keeper Vladi Velikin was called on to stop a shot from a through ball by Max Bonaddio. Two minutes later, Marcus Watson crossed
from the left, but Smith’s head didn’t quite connect.
Watson was looking dangerous, and seven minutes from the break, a long ball from Perrin eventually led the striker to hit a shot which fizzed past the post. A couple of free-kicks right on half time saw Perrin hit a long shot over, then Aye blaze a shot over. Half time 0-0, with Barkers doing reasonably well after a slow start.
The second half saw the wind drop, and Barkers began well, with Markley working very hard to win a number of 50-50 balls. On 52 minutes, Rivera did well to win a corner, which Cooper hit from the right, and Smith headed wide at the far post. On the hour, Markley again won the ball, and a ball to Rivera saw his shot well parried by Vallese.
With 20 minutes left, many were wondering if Barkers would, typically, fail to put away the bottom side. Enter Aye, who was proving a real handful for Donny. Aye went on a lovely solo run before finding Markley on the right. He played in Watson, who made no mistake from close range
Barkerettes’ winning run continues
By Peter Stephenson
Reema Reserve a mudheap? Not on Sunday, as glorious sun shone on two sides seeking to break free of mid-table anonymity. Barkerettes (sixth) visited Endeavour United (fifth), on a run of three unbeaten and hoping to get back to winning ways after a draw against Berwick. An almost fullstrength squad was missing only Miranda Jackson. Barkers began well, but it was United who had the first chance when they hit the post in the fifth minute. They had another shot wide before Barkers, with more of the territory, created their first threat. This came on 16 minutes when a corner from the left saw Kelly Butera have a header blocked.
Endeavour had a shot saved comfortably by keeper Ash Fraraccio, before home keeper Jennifer De Baize lost the ball, allowing Charlotte Martin to shoot over. Then on 20 minutes, a Martin corner from the right was volleyed over by Alizah Jones.
On 26 minutes, an Endeavour corner on the left was sent into the six-yard box. A forward headed it from a couple of yards out – goal? No! Fraraccio not only got herself in the way but tipped the ball over the bar. How she did so, nobody knows – pure instinct and reflexes are my guesses. Either way, it was an amazing save. Seven minutes before the break, Emily Stokes sent a high ball into the box but De Baize got to the ball first. Then, right on half time, Barkers won a corner on the right. Laelah Gundry sent the ball in, De Baize spilled the ball, and Eleanor Ridley stabbed the ball home from close range to give Barkers a deserved lead at a crucial point. Except that the half was not quite over…
Endeavour went straight back up the park and hit a cross in from the left wing. Confusion in the Barkers’ defence led to a defender deflecting the ball past her own keeper for an instant equaliser, so frustratingly, the sides went in 1-1 at half-time. A slow start from Barkers, but they had played themselves into it before getting careless.
to make it 1-0 Barkers.
Donny almost replied three minutes later when Zach Nasso found Stefan Cardamone, who brought a brilliant save from Velikin, who tipped the ball wide. Donny’s Andrew Tucci hit a corner from the right to the far post, where a header brought a flying save from the Barkers’ keeper. Barkers were living a little too dangerously for comfort.
Not to worry. They say the only certainties in life are death, taxes, and a Smith goal against Donny. Aye played a corner from the left, short to Watson. Watson hit back to Aye, who crossed to the far post. It looked overhit, but Smith leapt prodigiously to head the ball beyond Vallese into the net to make it 2-0.
Barkers now had the game tucked away, but not before Velikin gave us another magnificent double save to preserve his clean sheet. Full time 2-0 and Barkers deserved this…eventually. Still sixth but putting a little more pressure on the sides above them. Next is a trip to Bentleigh United Cobras.
If you think this is another tale of Barkers throwing away a lead while dominating, there’s good news. They began the second half well, while the United defence was looking shaky under pressure. Six minutes in, a Barkers corner from the left was again dropped by De Baize, and this time it was Jones on hand to mop up the crumbs to restore Barkers’ lead at 2-1. The rest of the game was almost all Barkers. Kaity Farrance was again mopping up everything in the air at the back. Jones and Stokes, whose crossing was better this week, were tormenting the life out of the home defence, and United just didn’t know how to counter Amy D’Ortenzio’s aggression.
Fraraccio made a good double save on the hour, and the only real scare came six minutes from time, when complacency at the back allowed Endeavour to curl a shot just wide of the far post. Full-time: Endeavour United 1-2 Mooroolbark.
A well-deserved win puts the in-form Barkerettes fifth in the 10-team ladder with six games left. Next is Skye United at home.
Ryan Smith scoring Mooroolbark’s second goal in the men’s game against Doncaster. (Alistair Livingstone)
The Barkerettes continued their winning streak after defeating mid-table side Endeavour United. (Unsplash)
Victories abound
Mooroolbark Mustangs registered three wins from four games on the weekend, with the Senior Women starting proceedings with the long trek to Beaconsfield. The girls held an eight-point lead at the first change and increased the margin as the game progressed, running out 52-point winners at the final siren. Skipper Jordy Doevelaar led by example and was judged best on ground. She was ably supported by the Haberfield sisters, Sarah and Ruby, who also got plenty of the ball. Danielle Carrucan was amongst the goals once again, top scoring with four majors.
Final Score: Mooroolbark 12 – 13 – 85 d Beaconsfield 3 – 5 – 23
Goals: Carrucan 4, Smith Anderson 2, Brown 2, Doevelaar 2, Hayman 1, S. Haberfield 1
Best Players: Doevelaar, S. Haberfield, R. Haberfield, Carrucan, Delaney, Brown
The Veteran Women, who are now sitting second on the ladder, travelled to Miller Park to take on Boronia and managed to keep their opponents scoreless for the entire game. It was a
great team effort with goals shared around.
Final Score: Mooroolbark 8 – 14 – 62 d Boronia 0 – 0 – 0
Goals: Nguyen 2, Hoare 2, Gledhill, Wilson, Mitchell, Still 1 each.
Back at the Heights Reserve, the men’s teams hosted Bayswater in fine but windy conditions. With a couple of players back from injury, the Reserves looked a little stronger this week but unfortunately fell short of the Baysie boys by 49 points. Aden Stares and Cal Toner worked hard all game in defence, repelling many of their opponents’ attacking moves. Matt Graham put in his best game so far, while Max Batten, Kynan Kowalski and Mason Sheedy continued their recent good form.
Final Score: Bayswater 11 – 4 – 70 d Mooroolbark 4 – 7 – 31
Goals: Logg, Andrews, Kowalski, Spicer 1 each
Best Players: Stares, Toner, Graham, Batten, Kowalski, Sheedy
With many sponsors, life members and dedicated volunteers enjoying the President’s Lunch, the Seniors were determined to put on
Coldstream FNC weekend wrap-up
By Hannah Chappell
There was plenty of excitement in Coldstream on Saturday as Coldstream Football Netball Club hosted a full day of home football followed by its annual 10k draw, highlighted by the EFNL Match of the Round featuring the Women’s team in a top-of-the-table clash against the undefeated Heathmont.
From the opening bounce, it was clear the match would live up to its billing.
Coldstream matched Heathmont’s pressure and intensity across the first three quarters, going goal-for-goal in a physical, finals-like contest. With both sides showing their class and desperation, the game remained in the balance until the final term.
It was in that last quarter, however, where Heathmont found another gear and kicked away to secure the win.
While the result didn’t go their way, Coldstream showed they belong among the league’s elite and took plenty of positives from the contest.
Following the Women’s game, the Reserves took on a strong Scoresby outfit and found themselves under pressure early.
Scoresby controlled the game from the outset, leading at every change and eventually running away with a comprehensive win.
Coldstream struggled to find rhythm against the visitors’ polished ball use and physicality, and while the effort was there, the Cougars were unable to match Scoresby’s four-quarter performance.
The Seniors rounded out the day against top-of-the-table Scoresby and started strongly, matching the competition’s best in an impressive first quarter that had the home crowd fired up.
The contest was tight early, but as the game wore on, Scoresby began to take control.
Their class and structure shone through in the second half, pulling away to record a solid win.
Despite the loss, there were promising signs, particularly in the first term.
As a club, all three teams will take important learnings from the weekend, from how they prepare and respond to pressure, to how they execute for four full quarters.
While results varied, the commitment to improvement remains the same across the board.
Coaches and players alike will now shift their focus to the final rounds of the season, fine-tuning their structures, building on the positives, and addressing the gaps exposed by top-tier opponents.
a good show for them. Jackson Gilbee returned to the side after recovering from injury, chipping in with three goals, while Jak Ryan was also back after missing the last game with illness. In a topsy-turvygame,theMustangshelda13-pointlead at the first change but Bayswater fought back in the second to lead by five points at half time. The third term was very even with Baysie holding a slender one-point advantage at the last change. A strong final term saw the Mustangs draw away to run out 25-point victors. Josh Amiet played his best game for the club with three goals and numerous possessions and strong tackles. Jett Hartman was again strong across half-back. He was well supported in defence by Shane Kennedy and Andrew Barker, who returned to us from Eastern Ranges. As usual, skipper Kane Noonan provided drive from the midfield. Sam Gebert was lively down forward, top scoring with four goals. Overall, it was a great team effort and just reward for all the hard work put in by the players and coaching staff.
Final Score: Mooroolbark 11 – 10 – 76 d Bayswater 8 – 3 – 51
Goals: Gebert 4, Amiet 3, Gilbee 3, Wright 1
Mustangs’ women’s captain Jordy Doevelaar dominated leading to best-on-ground. (Supplied)
By Geoff ‘Joffa’ Newstead
Aden Stares avoids the tackle thanks to some back up.
Senior player Matt Langdon kicking the ball.
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