Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 12th August 2025

RSL honour

By Dongyun Kwon

Brian Luscombe, who accomplished many milestones for the Healesville RSL while taking different leadership roles, received the life membership certificate on Monday 4 August.

One of the many achievements by Mr Luscombe, Healesville RSL’s former general manager Gary Slater pointed out, was changing the Healesville RSL to be more accessible to every community member, not just to veterans.

“Brian made it easier for community groups to join and come to the RSL, and he initiated programs within the RSL members and the community could participate in, and he ensured the RSL supported a wide range of community events,” Mr Slater said.

Looking back on his journey with the Healesville RSL, the award recipient could come up with many memories, from renovating the club, Anzac badge sales, to bus trips.

“You can’t do anything unless you’ve had a lot of people help you. We’ve got a good committee. The staff are terrific, and you’ve got that backup,” Mr Luscombe said.

Turn to page 9 to read more

Anger bubbles up

By Oliver Winn

A $31 million plan to transform the old Warburton Hospital into a spa health resort has sparked robust discussion among the community.

While some are angry the old site won’t be used for its original purpose as a hospital, others are glad it will be utilised after 25 years of disuse.

The Star Mail reached out on local Facebook noticeboards to gather the opinion of Warburton locals and its surrounds.

Amid a lack of healthcare services in the outer

east, those against the development believed it would be missed opportunity that’d only exacerbate the issue.

Warburton local Peter Downey said the proposed spa health resort would be a “white elephant in the cost of living crisis”.

But those who were for the spa health retreat and resort saw the redevelopment as an opportunity to boost the tourism economy and provide employment.

“A brilliant development which will bring jobs

and opportunity to Warburton. You only have to look at the Mornington Peninsula Spa example and the tourists that visit then stay on the peninsula,” Ally Troth said.

The planning permit application was submitted by Villa Spa Pty Ltd, which stated it would transform the old hospital into a “sustainable oasis showcasing the unique character of the local community”.

Many pointed to an expected increase in injuries with the opening of the Warburton Bike Park

as a need for a hospital in Warburton.

However, Warburton Advancement League (WAL) president David Pratt pointed to the fact that the old Warburton Hospital was privately owned and shut down due to financial losses and that establishing a new one would be unviable.

“I believe the economics paints the picture more than anything. The hospital wasn’t economically viable in its operation back 20 years ago. It most certainly isn’t in the current state.”

Read more on page 2

Looking back on his journey with the Healesville RSL, the award recipient could come up with many memories, from renovating the club, Anzac badge sales, to bus trips. (Dongyun Kwon: 494993)

Old hospital plan is divisive

By Oliver Winn

A $31 million proposed spa health retreat at the old Warburton Hospital site has stirred a strong response from locals and community leaders, both for and against the planning permit.

While some welcomed the utilisation of the long abandoned site, others were disappointed it wouldn’t be used as a hospital amid a lack of health services in the outer east.

The Star Mail reached out on local Facebook noticeboards to gather the opinion of Warburton locals and its surrounds.

Warburton local Peter Downey said the proposed spa health resort would be a “white elephant in the cost of living crisis”.

“It would be great to return it to its origins as a mental health respite and hospital, which would create jobs for the community like it was always intended. Not for over consumption of a finite town already over capacity in the holidays.”

But those who were for the spa health retreat and resort saw the redevelopment as an opportunity to boost the tourism economy and provide employment.

“A brilliant development which will bring jobs and opportunity to Warburton. You only have to look at the Mornington Peninsula Spa example and the tourists that visit then stay on the peninsula,” Ally Troth said.

Meanwhile, a smaller portion of respondents preferred to have a hospital but acknowledged it was unlikely to happen., due the State Government’s unlikelihood in funding a new public hospital.

“I would much prefer it be turned into a hospital or at least emergency doctors but hey - it will create local jobs and give it a purpose at least,” Jen McIntyre said.

The planning permit application was submitted by Villa Spa Pty Ltd, which stated it would transform the old hospital into a “welcoming and sustainable oasis showcasing the unique character of the local community and the site-specific history pertaining to health and wellness”.

The applicant has conducted a bushfire risk assessment, traffic impact assessment, waste management plan and a sustainable manage-

ment plan to support the application.

Its architectural statement also promised to retain the building’s character and look.

Many pointed to an expected increase in injuries with the opening of the Warburton Bike Park as a need for a hospital in Warburton.

“With the amount of tourism in the area, the new bike trail and outdoor recreation that happens out this way, we really need a hospital, the amount of serious injuries that can happen in the bush this far out from proper medical care is scary,” Nicole Pretty said.

Ursula Harris-Grubb said the number of visitors who would be engaging in “high risk sports”

would

A new urgent care clinic in Lilydale was promised by the Federal Labor Government, though bi-partisan support from Liberal and Labor candidates and the Yarra Ranges Council could see the location change to Healesville.

However, Warburton Advancement League (WAL) president David Pratt pointed to the fact that the old Warburton Hospital was privately owned and shut down due to financial losses.

“I believe the economics paints the picture more than anything. The hospital wasn’t economically viable in its operation back 20 years

ago. It most certainly isn’t in the current state.”

But Mr Pratt said the need for additional medical facilities between Warburton and Lilydale was dire, and that a primary care clinic in Yarra Junction for emergencies was a better approach.

“Nothing would be worse than to hearken back to history and we get a hospital… and then in five years time it shuts because it’s proved unviable again,” Mr Pratt said.

If anything, the discourse demonstrated the need for better medical services in the Upper Yarra - what that would look like remains a mystery.

The application now sits within the council who will decide to approve or reject it.

Speak up on the Yarra Ranges flood mapping updates

By Callum Ludwig

Melbourne Water are calling on Yarra Ranges residents to help guide the updating of flood maps in the region.

Community engagement is open until 24 August and with the rise of floodings events in the region in recent years, will be important for management and preparation for future flooding events.

Melbourne Water’s general manager of service strategy Anna Lucas said once finalised, these updated maps will underpin Municipal Emergency Management Plans, land-use controls and investments in climate-ready infrastructure.

“We’re calling on Yarra Ranges residents to share their observations where floodwaters reached their street or home, what caused the flooding and when it happened. We are also looking for any photos of historical flooding in Yarra Ranges,” she said.

“Your insights will help validate our risk projections for new maps, uncover new hotspots and inform emergency planning. It’s your local knowledge that brings the real picture to life.”

The following flood maps are being updated, and Melbourne Water are seeking feedback for: Cardinia, Toomuc, Deep and Ararat creeks. Corhanwarrabul Creek.

Dandenong Creek and tributaries (Mordialloc, Eumemmerring, Monbulk & Ferny creeks). Stringybark and Woori Yallock creeks. Brushy Creek. Little Yarra River. Hoddles Creek. Olinda Creek. Steels and Pauls creeks. Watts River. Stormwater drains. Yarra River.

Residents who have recently submitted information and/or photos as part of the Yarra Ranges Shire Council stormwater engagement have already had their feedback passed on to Melbourne Water and do not need to submit it again.

A summary of the information that was passed on by Yarra Ranges Shire Council

can be found here: hdp-au-prod-app-mwyoursay-files.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws. com/4117/5428/1633/Yarra_Ranges_residents_ stories_about_flooding_.pdf

On the engagement website, Melbourne Water are asking residents to describe their past experiences with flooding, including the location, the depth of the water, what they think caused the flooding, the date of the flooding (exact or approximate) and to supply any photos or videos they may have.

The engagement is part of Melbourne Water’s

efforts to update flood information across the entire Port Phillip and Westernport region, partnering with local councils to better understand current and future flood risks.

To update flood information, Melbourne Water uses flood models to help them understand where the flooding might occur, with over 1000 flood models to be replaced with 250 new, more accurate models.

Yarra Ranges residents can provide their feedback by visiting: letstalk.melbournewater.com. au/flood-information/yarra-ranges

massively increase with the new mountain bike tracks.

The application would cost $31 million. (Stewart Chambers: 494529)

Olinda Creek’s flood map is one set to be updated. (File: 303428)

Kallista has had consistent concerns with flooding and stormwater. (File: 295256)

Airlifted after blaze

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

A woman in her 70s is in hospital with serious injuries after a house fire tore through her Hoddles Creek home on Saturday night, 2 August.

Emergency services were called to Grover Road at 9.31pm, with Hoddles Creek CFA first on scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found the single-storey weatherboard house fully engulfed in flames.

Hoddles Creek CFA first lieutenant Brett Kerford said the fire was already well established when they arrived.

“As we came along Grover Road and around the bend, we could see the red glow coming from the house,” Mr Kerford said.

“We saw a small car in the gutter at the neighbour’s driveway, and a man waving us on. When we reached the property, the house was completely involved. We got off the trucks and started to attack the fire, but unfortunately, at that point there wasn’t much chance of saving anything.”

In total, nine CFA units attended the scene.

Hoddles Creek CFA was supported on scene by crews from Yellingbo, Gembrook, Hillcrest, and Little Yarra (Gladysdale) CFAs, as well as Emerald SES and Victoria Police.

At 10.17pm, Bayswater BA was paged to support Hoddles Creek CFA with breathing apparatus logistics, while on scene, their team filled 20 air cylinders to support firefighters working in hazardous conditions.

Mr Kerford said the resident had escaped the home before firefighters arrived, suffering burns and smoke inhalation while attempting to contain the fire herself.

She managed to reach a neighbour, who called Triple Zero.

“It appears she tried to do something about it, but by then the fire had taken hold,” he said.

“Her injuries and smoke inhalation were likely sustained in the process.”

Ambulance Victoria dispatched two Advanced Life Support (ALS) units, one Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA), and an Air Ambulance to the scene.

The woman was airlifted in a serious condition to Angliss Public Hospital.

Victoria Police said the 70-year-old made her way to the neighbour’s property before emergency services were alerted at around 9.40pm.

Detectives and an arson chemist were expected to attend the scene on Sunday.

The fire was brought under control at 10.15pm and declared safe by 11.25pm, with crews remaining on site until 2am.

Mr Kerford said the cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but early signs point to a wood heater.

“There’s nothing suspicious, it appears to be an accident. Whether the door wasn’t closed properly or something else occurred, it looks like the fire originated from the Canara,” he said.

Mr Kerford said the loss of two pet puppies in the blaze made the tragedy even harder.

“Losing pets is nearly as bad as losing a person,” he said.

“She’s lost her home, likely 95 per cent of her belongings, and now her dogs, which were like family to her, it’s really heartbreaking.”

He also commended the quick-thinking ac-

tions of the neighbour and the broader community.

“The neighbours did a brilliant job, raising the alarm, helping her, and even supporting her afterwards,” Mr Kerford said.

“They buried the puppies the next day. That

kind of compassion in a time of crisis means the world.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic. com.au.

Looking for Ford ute

Lilydale Police are seeking the public’s assistance to locate the following vehicle stolen from the carpark of Supercheap Auto at 489 Maroondah Highway in Lilydale on Saturday 9 August between 12.35pm and 1.30pm.

The vehicle is a 1985 Ford F-100 utility with registration OBM100.

This vehicle holds extreme sentimental value to the owner who would love for it to located and returned.

A comment on the Facebook post said it was spotted on Warburton highway going through Seville East hill on Sunday 10 August.

Any information can be passed to Lilydale Police on (03)97392300 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

Reference 250040560.

Community information sessions regarding road closure

Transport Victoria is holding information sessions in Yarra Glen, Kinglake and Yea to share details on upcoming road maintenance works in the region.

This includes strengthening the Maroondah Aqueduct bridge on Eltham-Yarra Glen Road and repairing two landslips on the Melba Highway at Dixons Creek.

There’ll be temporary closures and changed traffic conditions, so now’s the time to learn what’s happening and ask questions.

Community information sessions: Yarra Glen Memorial Hall

When: Tuesday 12 August, from 6pm to 7pm

Where: 45 Bell Street, Yarra Glen 3775

Kinglake Community Centre

When: Thursday 14 August 2025, from 6pm to 7pm

Where: 436 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake 3763

Visit the following link for details and to register your interest, transport.vic.gov.au/ news-and-resources/projects/yarra-valley-maintenance-works?fbclid

Yarra Centre maintenance works to take place throughout August

The Yarra Centre has announced resealing works will be taking place in the stadium over the coming days, potentially causing a noticeable odour in the area for a short period.

The odour is harmless though it may be unpleasant for some.

“We appreciate your understanding and patience as we carry out these essential maintenance works to improve the facility,” the Yarra Centre said in a Facebook post.

Flooring works will also commence from Monday 11 August which may require alternative entry and exits to the gym, group exercise, and childcare space for up to four days.

Those with concerns or questions are encouraged to reach out to the Yarra Centre’s staff.

Bayswater BA firefighters filled 20 breathing air cylinders on scene to support crews tackling the Hoddles Creek house fire. (Supplied)

A woman in her 70s was airlifted to hospital after a fire destroyed her Hoddles Creek home on Saturday night. (Supplied)

Call to protect at-risk adults

By Callum Ludwig

State Coroner John Cain has used the case of a 78-year-old woman, who died in Maroondah Hospital in 2020, to highlight the need for an adult safeguarding framework.

The woman, identified only as YTR, was cared for by one of her two children (IJN) and was living in their family home in a regional Victorian town.

At the time of her death, YTR had a large lymphoma (cancer in the lymphatic system) in her right abdominal area, was malnourished and was suffering from sepsis, with large pressure sores having developed. YTR’s medical history also included schizophrenia, depression, underactive thyroid, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and potassium deficiency.

IJN called Triple Zero at 6.18am on 3 November 2020, reporting that YTR’s legs were swollen, had a sore neck, had not been eating or drinking and groaned in pain when her shoulder was touched.

Paramedics arrived to find YTR sitting on the couch with her head slumped forward and a strong smell of faeces and urine. It was later clear that her clothes where encrusted with faecal matter and urine and had stuck to the couch where she was sat, with IJR confirming she had been sat in the same spot for about a week. YTR also presented as confused, in a low conscious state, with low blood pressure and had a body temperature of 35 degrees.

After arriving at a regional hospital, YTR was administered antibiotics and painkillers and had multiple bruises on her back, swollen legs, pres-

sure ulcers on her buttocks, lower back and each heel and maceration (skin softening and breakdown) in the perineal area.

YTR was later transferred to Maroondah Hospital’s intensive care unit after beds weren’t available at the Royal Melbourne or Austin hospitals, and staff there notified Victoria Police due to their concerns about her condition.

Detectives from the Croydon Family Violence Investigation Unit (FVIU) visited the hospital and spoke to one of the treating clinicians, and received information about YTR’s condition, with uniform officers from the regional police station and the FVIU later executing a search warrant at the family home.

IJN showed police around the home, including YTR’s old mattress in the backyard which he claimed had been urinated on, the laundry which been flooded by an overflowing sink and a toilet which police assumed was out-of-order due to the toilet bowl being black.

IJN was arrested and taken for interview, where he said YTR had not taken her tablets for a week but he was unsure why, could not recall the last time she visited her GP, was uncertain what her prescriptions are for and that he believed she hadn’t eaten since AFL Grand Final day that year on 24 October, though she may have eaten a bit of ice cream on 2 November and he had encouraged her to drink through a straw.

IJN said YTR’s condition declined from September 2020 when she became unable to mobilise and didn’t want anyone to come to the house to help with cooking and cleaning. She had been on the couch for about a week and he was unable

to move her, but she refused when he offered to call an ambulance and refused to see a doctor. IJN claimed he had tried to wash her face and hair as she had not had a shower since September and that when she was previously in her bed, had lifted her into a chair and pushed it to the bathroom for her to relieve herself in the bathtub.

Police applied for a Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) against IJN and YTR’s daughter PLK became the point of contact for Maroondah Hospital.

A CT scan revealed the cancer YTR was suffering from, and YTR began to fall in and out of consciousness and her condition deteriorated. After the decision was made to transfer YTR to palliative care, she died on 11 November 2020.

Police comprehensively investigated whether IJN’s actions or omissions contributed to YTR’s condition and eventually, no charges were laid in relation to the death. In response to a request for comment from the Coroner’s Court, IJN said IJN he did not know there was anything wrong with his mother and she did not mention that anything was wrong.

An expert report from a geriatrician later opined that at the point YTR presented to the regional hospital, her frailty meant that she was unlikely to tolerate any treatment other than palliative care by the time her lymphoma was discovered.

The geriatrician also concluded the extent of the pain and suffering YTR experienced was dependent on potential nerve damage suffered as a result of the lymphoma, which may have led to the development of her pressure sores.

Mr Cain said in the report that this case highlights the need for a comprehensive adult safeguarding framework to protect at-risk adults.

“Victoria does not have a comprehensive adult safeguarding framework for protecting atrisk adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Therefore, if PLK or YTR’s GP wanted to raise concerns about YTR’s wellbeing, there was no specific agency that they could contact,” it reads.

“If adult safeguarding legislation and/or an agency were implemented in Victoria, YTR would have likely met the criteria for an adult safeguarding response due to her care and support needs, her mental health conditions, her immobility, her risk of experiencing neglect and the fact that her care and support needs likely would have prevented her from protecting herself.”

“At-risk adults, particularly those who live in their own homes, continue to experience abuse and neglect at the hands of people known to them, and the service sector is not equipped to respond to this risk.”

Mr Cain cited a previous finding of his where he made 10 recommendations to the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) under similar circumstances. The DFFH responded that those recommendations had been taken into account and that the Victorian Government is working with the Disability Reform Ministerial Council in responding to the Disability Royal Commission, which also recommended adult safeguarding legislation. Mr Cain endorsed recommendations four to 10 of his previous finding in relation to YTR’s case.

State Coroner John Cain has called for an adult safeguarding framework to be implemented in a finding into the death of a 78-year-old woman. (File)

Ambo times were not all bad

The average ambulance response times have been released for the last quarter of 2024/25, with mixed results in the Outer East.

Ambulance Victoria (AV) crews responded to 98,874 Code 1 incidents (requiring urgent paramedic and hospital care) between April 1 and June 30 2025, with official targets aiming to attend to these within 15 minutes for 85 per cent of incidents state-wide and within 15 minutes for 90 per cent in centres with populations greater than 7500.

AV‘s acting executive director of regional operations Michael Georgiou said demand for ‘lights and sirens’ ambulances fell by 3.5 per cent between April and June, compared with the same time last year, coinciding with an AV community information campaign to save paramedics for emergencies.

“April to June last year was AV’s busiest three months on record – with 102,419 Code 1 emergencies,” he said.

“I thank our highly skilled paramedics and first responders who do a remarkable job providing best care to their communities, each and every day,”

“We’re grateful to Victorians who are choosing to use alternative care for non-urgent issues — it means ambulances are available faster for emergencies. That community effort is helping us save lives.”

Here’s how response times have changed since the same time last year and the last quarter in our local government areas:

In the Yarra Ranges, 52.5 per cent of the 2045 Code 1 incidents were responded to within 15 minutes, with an average response time of 17 minutes and 51 seconds. This is an improvement from the same time last year (49.7 per cent of 2141 incidents, 18 minutes and 10 seconds) but worse than the previous quarter (54.7 per cent of 2012 incidents, 17 minutes and 19 seconds).

In Maroondah, 69.6 per cent of the 1595 Code 1 incidents were responded to within 15 minutes, with an average response time of 15 minutes and three seconds. This is worse than both

the same time last year (71.8 per cent of 1610 incidents, 14 minutes and seven seconds) and the previous quarter (71.6 per cent of 1548 incidents, 14 minutes and 18 seconds).

In Knox, 69.2 per cent of the 2071 Code 1 incidents were responded to within 15 minutes, with an average response time of 14 minutes and 43 seconds. This is an improvement from the same time last year (67.6 per cent of 2104 incidents, 14 minutes and 57 seconds) but worse than the previous quarter (72.1 per cent of 1963 incidents, 13 minutes and 55 seconds).

In Cardinia, 55.6 per cent of the 1661 Code 1 incidents were responded to within 15 minutes, with an average response time of 17 minutes and four seconds. This is an improvement from both the same time last year (50.2 per cent of 1814 incidents, 18 minutes and 21 seconds) and the previous quarter (54 per cent of 1615 incidents, 17 minutes and 18 seconds).

Mr Georgiou said from April to June 2025, the state-wide average response time to Code 1 emergencies was 15 minutes and 27 seconds – down from 15 minutes and 37 seconds a year ago.

“There has also been an improvement in the percentage of Code 1 cases responded to within 15 minutes,” he said.

“We’ve already seen a 3.7 per cent jump in Code 1 demand since the first three months of 2025, winter is always our busiest time. Our paramedics are focused on reaching the sickest patients first — but every day, more than 500 calls to Triple Zero (000) don’t need an emergency ambulance.”

“There are many options people can access when they need timely medical care and health advice but don’t need an emergency ambulance, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and Urgent Care Clinics.”

During the most recent quarter, AV crews across Victoria responded to 65.3 per cent of Code 1 cases within the state-wide target of 15 minutes, up from 64.2 per cent a year ago, but slightly down from 65.6 per cent in the three

months prior.

In the Metropolitan Region crews responded to 69,275 Code 1 cases between April and June 2025, down from 71,907 last year, but up from 66,442 three months ago.

Compared with the same time last year, performance improved in 53 of the 79 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Mr Georgiou said the new Standards for Safe and Timely Ambulance and Emergency Care are already making a difference — improving patient flow in hospitals and helping our crews get back on the road sooner.

“Our expert Secondary Triage team — made up of nurses and paramedics — plays a vital role by connecting people with the right care and freeing up ambulances for life-threatening

emergencies. Between April and June alone, they redirected 46,015 non-urgent cases away from an emergency response,” he said.

“And our Medium Acuity Transport Service (MATS) crews dedicated for less-urgent calls have attended more than 100,000 cases since starting in September 2021, freeing up more ambulances to respond to the most critically-ill patients,”

“We’re grateful to our hospital partners for their efforts — it’s helping us reach more patients, faster.

117 new graduate paramedics have joined Ambulance Victoria since June and earlier this year, the largest-ever single intake of 30 Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) intern paramedics were also employed.

The latest Ambulance Victoria response times have been released. (File: 460041)

HOMELESSNESS WEEK

Action needs over advocacy

By Mikayla van Loon

A prominent sentiment of this Homelessness Week was action over advocacy, as local services feel the brunt of rising rents and family violence.

This was the purpose of the Eastern Homelessness Network’s (EHN) Homeward Bound Walk on Tuesday 5 August, to bring community, government representatives and leading support organisations together.

In the five years to the most recent Census in 2021, homelessness in Victoria increased by 24 per cent to over 30,000 people.

In the year 2023 to 24, over 13,000 people in Melbourne’s inner and outer east sought assistance from homelessness services.

Support services have noted that they are unable to respond to the increasing number of households that lack a safe place to live.

Uniting VicTas’ homelessness and support services senior manager, Maidie Graham, said it is becoming evident that a lack of social housing and higher rents is exacerbating the situation.

“With more and more people struggling to afford the private rental market, the demand for affordable private rentals is outstripping supply,” she said.

“Combine this with a chronic shortage of public and community housing, we are seeing record levels of homelessness.”

Anchor Community Care chief executive officer Heidi Tucker said homelessness services are seeing more working couples who typically wouldn’t have required support in the past.

“There are less supports. There are less places to catch people, and people are falling out of their housing much more than they ever were. So many people are in rental stress,” she said.

“And it only takes one thing for them to drop completely out of their private rental. Often, there can be a couple, and if they break up, neither one of them can afford the rental.

“So I think there’s that stress and pressure that’s actually on everyone. I mean, there are very few people who are getting out of this, out of the stress of it all.

“What we’re seeing, certainly in homelessness services, is that the workers are incredibly pressurised and are just seeing more and more crises and having people coming in where two people are working, and we’ve never seen that before.”

EHN Coordinator Jo McDonald said that in supporting the Victorian Homelessness Network’s Houses at Parliament Campaign, it calls for State and Federal government investment in the construction of 60,000 social and community houses.

“Homelessness is not inevitable. With enough public and community homes and the right support, everyone in the community can be permanently housed,” she said.

“The community support shows Victorians are demanding that the State and Federal Governments step up to end homelessness.”

A gathering of outer eastern support organisations like The Salvation Army, Family Access Network and Fvree, as well as people who are or have experienced homelessness, cemented the call by walking laps of Ringwood Lake and placing an origami house on display.

One third of Australians seeking homelessness assistance are in Victoria, yet the state has the lowest proportion of social housing.

Council to Homeless Persons chief executive officer Deborah Di Natale said with 66,000 ap-

Laneway

By Dongyun Kwon

plicants on Victoria’s social housing waitlist, it’s imperative that governments heed calls and act sooner rather than later.

“Every single person in Victoria and, in fact, across the country deserves the dignity of a home,” she said.

Ms Di Natale said homelessness is often hidden, but it “spans geographies, spans generations, and spans cultures”.

From research and personal stories, however, women are emerging as a large cohort of those without a home.

“It looks like a woman who is between the ages of 25 and 39, who more often than not, has a child with her under the age of 11, coming to a frontline service,” Ms Di Natale said.

“And sadly, the reality…is if that woman is living in her car, she’s not seen, nobody’s doing the advocacy piece, she’s waiting about 19 and a half months before she can get social housing.

“We need to ask ourselves as a community, what kinds of decisions is she needing to make

to enable her and her child, or children, to feel safe? This should absolutely not be happening in a country like ours, and certainly should not be happening in Victoria.

“So we, at Council to Homeless Persons, are saying it’s time for us to end it.”

Another cohort, Ms Tucker said, she is particularly concerned about is young people.

“What we know is that if a young person or a child becomes homeless, it stays with them for the rest of their lives, and can affect the rest of their lives,” she said.

“Anchor is absolutely moving towards preventing youth homelessness, whichever way we do it.

“Making sure that kids who have been in care don’t exit into homelessness, young people who have experienced family violence are taken care of because, at the moment, often they’re not seeking support because they don’t see themselves as victim survivors. They think that’s somebody else,

so the first time we see them is in homelessness.”

With Infrastructure Victoria highlighting a need for 60,000 social homes in the state, Ms Di Natale said there is a “road map to make it happen” and to end homelessness.

“We have to acknowledge that we’ve been saying the same thing for a long time, and it isn’t working, so we’ve had to do a lot of internal navel gazing and ask ourselves, in terms of our advocacy piece, what can we do to change this story?”

Ms Di Natale said it begins with bipartisan commitment from both sides of government and the continued push from grassroots groups.

“What we know creates change is working with local communities, our educators, our volunteers, our local services and councils who are really connected to the grassroots of your community,” she said.

“I just want us to all get together to solve it…I feel confident and optimistic that we’re going to be able to make change.”

Healesville cafe has bean busy for a good cause

The Laneway Healesville joined the other 850 local cafes across Australia for a national campaign to support homeless people on one day in Homelessness Week.

CafeSmart is an annual coffee-led campaign that unites roasters, cafes and coffee enthusiasts around the country to raise awareness and drive donations for local organisations tackling homelessness.

On Friday 8 August, those participating cafes donated $1 from every coffee sold to fund local homelessness services, with every dollar raised staying local to where it’s donated.

“It’s a fun, bright, cheerful way to donate for a great cause,” The Laneway Healesville owner Heather Alcock said.

“I love all the social media parts of it. Everything gets re-shared.”

Besides the $1 donation per coffee they sold on the day, the local cafe set up a jar on a bench where customers could make cash donations.

People also purchased the next 10 coffees upfront to raise more funds for the charity.

In its third year, The Laneway Healesville aimed at raising another $500 to donate to the Yarra Ranges-based homelessness service Anchor.

Over the past two years, the Healesville-based

cafe has successfully raised $300 to $400 each year for the same organisation.

Now in its 15th year, CafeSmart is an initiative of StreetSmart Australia and has become a trusted channel for hospitality venues and their customers to give back, locally and directly.

Since its inception, CafeSmart has raised over $2.2 million, funded over 1100 grassroots organisations, mapping funds back into the communities where they were raised – a unique model like no other in Australia, and supported tens of thousands of Australians experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

In 2024 alone, funds raised helped provide direct support to 9300 people across the country, including meals, shelter, hygiene supplies, healthcare, phone credit, and emergency relief.

StreetSmart Australia chief executive officer Alan White said after 15 years of brewing for change, CafeSmart has never been more critical.

Eastern Homelessness Network coordinator Jo McDonald and Council to Homeless Persons chief executive officer Deborah Di Natale stand in front of the origami houses display. (Mikayla van Loon: 494773)

Uniting VicTas’ homelessness and support services senior manager, Maidie Graham led proceedings. (494773)

Aunty Julie Coombes led the Welcome to Country. (494773)

Maroondah City Council deputy mayor Linda Hancock had the honour of cutting the ribbon. (494773)

“In the face of growing need, cafes and coffee drinkers are stepping up in a simple but powerful way—by turning an everyday ritual into tangible support for people doing it tough,” he said.

Latte art by Ms Alcock. (Dongyun Kwon: 495130)

Barista Alita Aleksandra (left) and owner Heather Alcock. (Dongyun Kwon: 495130)

Youth are feeling loneliness

By Oliver Winn

Last week was Loneliness Awareness Week, which helped shine a spotlight on the shared experience of loneliness in the Yarra Ranges and the ways in which we can combat it.

Yarra Ranges Council mayor Jim Child said “Loneliness is a significant issue in the Yarra Ranges, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds.”

The week is organised by national organisation Ending Loneliness Together. This year’s theme - Moments Matter - focused on the increase in youth loneliness from 16-25 and highlighted that while forming connections takes time and effort, it often starts with a small moment.

But these moments can only occur through real-world interactions - something which young people are lacking in, according to University of South Australia behavioural scientist Nadia Corsini.

She said the digitisation of socialisation had slowly replaced face-to-face interactions for young people.

“I think the digitization of the digital landscape is affecting how we connect.

“So that’s having an impact… for young people who have grown up with that and are socializing online as well through online communities. That’s partly why we’re seeing young adults reporting that they’re lacking these connections,” Dr Corsini said.

But there’s a cruel “convenience” to loneliness, Dr Corsini said, where people simply find it easier to interact on social media from the comfort of their homes rather than get out, due to a variety of factors.

This certainly affects youth in the Yarra Ranges who lack the ability to get around due to a mediocre public transport network.

Cr Child said the region’s characteristics posed unique challenges when it came to loneliness.

“Young people in the region face unique challenges, including the physical distance between towns and suburbs, which can make it harder to build and maintain social connections,” Cr Child said.

A decline in places where one can go and socialise, that’s not their home or workplace, adds another obstacle to in person connection for Yarra Ranges youth.

The potential closure of the well-loved communal space at the Yarra Junction Shopping Centre is an example of this decline.

If a planning permit application is approved by the Yarra Ranges Council, a Woolworths expansion would swallow up a well-loved communal space.

American sociologist Ray Oldenburg referred

to these places as third places, and the phenomena has been recognised to play a crucial role in maintaining our wellbeing and happiness.

River Valley Church pastor Adam Killeen said in MIllgrove there was an “epidemic of loneliness” due to a lack of third places to bring the community together.

But events such as the Millgrove Meals night held by the River Valley Church on the last Wednesday of every month helps alleviate that loneliness.

Groups such as the Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG) have also been tirelessly providing third places for community and interaction for decades.

The Millgrove Meals event provides a free dinner for all who attend - but Mr Killeen said it wasn’t just food the community was hungry for.

“What we’ve discovered is that the real hunger is just for connection.”

Third places where people come together for a shared interest are another space for Yarra Ranges youth to build more connections.

Cr Child said the council had many programs and initiatives for young people to partake in.

“The Yarra Ranges Youth Development team works closely with young people to foster friendships and community connection which are key protective factors for mental health.

“Through co-designed programs and events like the Youth Advisory Group, Queer Writers Collective, and Defrosted, young people can build friendships and develop skills in areas they’re passionate about,” Cr Child said.

Ending Loneliness Together’s 2023 State of the Nation report looked at social connection in the country and found that loneliness affects almost one in three Australians, with one in six experiencing severe loneliness.

And in June this year, the World Health Orga-

nization declared social disconnection a global public health priority, citing an estimated 100 loneliness-related deaths every hour worldwide.

Chronic loneliness doubles the risk of longterm illness, increases the likelihood of depression and anxiety by over fourfold, and is linked to heart disease, stroke, dementia, and even early death.

Cr Child said services were available for those dealing with loneliness.

“While occasional loneliness is normal, persistent feelings of isolation can negatively impact overall wellbeing, making early support essential.

“Services like headspace offer young people a safe space to talk through worries and get professional help,” Cr Child said.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, reach out to: Lifeline - 13 11 14, Kids Helpline - kidshelpline.com.au, or Parentline – 13 22 89.

Skewed expectations spelling trouble for truffle growers

By Callum Ludwig

It’s been a tumultuous time for truffle growers in recent years, with Covid, economic conditions, weather patterns and the rise of synthetic truffle products toying with the market for the delicacy.

The ABC recently reported that despite Australia growing as one of the largest truffle producers in the world, consumer expectations are being skewed by synthetic flavours, often found in products like truffle oil.

Stuart Dunbar of Yarra Valley Truffles toils over his truffiere in Woori Yallock, with the help of truffle dogs Lani and Jäger, and said products like oils as well as under-ripe truffles have created an unrealistic perception.

“They ran so many products through the supermarketsoverthepast12-24months,atthestart of this year I was surprised that they cancelled nearly all over the lines, everybody’s over-saturated they’re expecting and don’t breathe too deep they’re expecting that type of aroma (like garlic),” he said.

“It’s never present (the garlicky aroma) in black truffles, white truffles do have that aroma, but black truffles don’t,”

“It’s fairly large problem I think, I’ve cooked using truffle oil and there are about eight compounds in the makeup of an artificial truffle oil, while there’s about 360 in the aroma of a fully ripe truffle.”

Mr Dunbar has been growing truffles on his one-hectare property since 2006, harvesting his first Perigord black truffle in 2011 and refining the craft of growing truffles ever since, something he said he hadn’t even perfected until the last five

years.

Mr Dunbar said another key giveaway that a consumer hasn’t experienced a ripe truffle is if they describe it as an ‘earthy, mushroomy smell’.

“That’s an unripe piece of junk, there’s nothing in the earthy and mushroomy about that tantalising, romantic, warm molasses and umami, truffle’s the definition of umami,” he said.

“People who experience their product, it’s even worse when they are expecting that (the truffle oil flavour) because that’s what the market’s taught them, but do you really think $5 truffle butter on top of the steak in the supermarket actually has real truffle in it,”

“Mostly I’m providing people with cooking advice, and then providing them with a free truffle on top of that, and for that once a year, they’re expecting that wow expectation, if they get that good experience, they come back for it.”

The last time the Star Mail spoke to Mr Dunbar, Covid’s impact on the export market for truffles, the closed hospitality industry and travel restrictions limiting farm gate sales were painting a dark picture for small truffle growers.

Mr Dunbar said in the years since, it’s been up and down.

“From 2022-23, hospitality’s been very much dead but there’s been a slight return of interest this year, which is a surprise, I had to shift to driving the direct farm gate retail sales and export,” he said.

“The exports has gone up and down, some of it was associated with Israel, so the last two years there went that supply, I tried to pick up a new customer for South Korea and Italy last year, but he hasn’t taken anything this year,”

“It’s been a slow season, very much a repeat of weather patterns from last year, there’s always some different environmental factors before all the economical and political ones, but the sustained dry last year was a big problem, so I changed my irrigation patterns this year which has definitely improved it, but it’s definitely a far later start to the season this year.”

Mr Dunbar expects to have truffles into the middle of September this year.

Since the first Australian truffle was harvested in Tasmania in 1999, Australia’s truffle industry has continued to grow, becoming the fourth-largest producer in the world according to the Australian Truffle Industry Association.

Loneliness affects one in three Australians. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele)

Synthetic products and under-ripe truffles have skewed customer expectations for the fungus, including those grown at Yarra Valley Truffles. (Callum Ludwig: 494963)

L-R: Lani, Stuart Dunbar and Jäger in front of the truffiére in Woori Yallock. (Callum Ludwig: 494963)

Hard work for student growth

By Dongyun Kwon

Yarra Glen Primary School’s education support team has been awarded the Highly Commended in the 2025 Australian Teacher Aide Team of the Year.

The team comprises five members: Kay Corless, Alli McVicar, Belinda Russell, Kai Martin, and team leader Danielle Joseph.

At a school assembly on 8 August, the award recipients officially received a personalised certificate acknowledging their achievement.

Assistant principal Jessica Amey explained how each education support staff member met the criteria for the award.

She said the criteria for the written nomination included improving professional knowledge, impact on student learning and wellbeing, and collaboration with teachers and colleagues.

“Alli and Kai have learnt a new program called NESSY, which supports students in reading and spelling. Alli and Kai have both been working towards a degree in education at their own pace. Kay and Belinda completed training in the MiniLit Sage program, and Kay is set to complete training in MacqLit to provide further support in phonics, reading, spelling and writing. Dani completed her certificate IV in community services and just this week, attended a workshop for helping students with diverse needs,” the assistant principal said.

“Dani’s dual role of education support in classrooms and wellbeing officer ensures students are supported in their social/emotional wellbeing as well as their learning. The team rotate to facilitate Mindful Makers, a calm and inclusive indoor space during playtimes. Alli keeps on top of our library resources and books and works with our student library leader. Kai has facilitated sporting tournaments for the students and monitors sports at playtimes. Kay and Dani are dedicated members of the school’s wellbeing team and are trained in SWPBS (School-wide Positive Be-

haviour Support).

“All of the aides work directly with our classroom teachers, specialist teachers, and leadership to implement targeted academic and wellbeing adjustments. The aides attend student support group meetings to share student progress and advocate for the students they support. The team have helped to develop many of the

‘Thank

you, Principal Tracey’

resources you see around our school, including behaviour expectation matrices, student schedules, timetables, zones of regulation kits - the list is endless really.”

The education support team leader said she felt really honoured.

“I love the team I work with, and I absolutely love Yarra Glen Primary School,” Ms Joseph said.

“It’s great to get recognition because teachers’ aides do a really great job and are vital in all schools. It’s just really nice to be acknowledged for the work we do.”

With the recognition on the national stage, the team members are now determined to continue their good work in support of students’ growth and development.

From trauma to supporting

By Dongyun Kwon

A local firefighter has shared his story to help others for five years through Beyond Blue, a mental health organisation focused on supporting people affected by anxiety, depression and suicide.

Saturday CFA Memorial Service. I spoke candidly about my experiences, my illness and how it nearly killed me,” he said.

By Dongyun Kwon

While the principal was busy preparing for the two events, the Prep 100th day and Grandparents Day, Healesville Primary School students gave her some surprise presents.

It was Australian Primary Principals Day on Friday 1 August, which was to acknowledge principals and share the appreciation for the incredibly valuable work they do every day.

At the local primary school, Tracey is not just a principal, but a friend, mentor, educational leader and crisis navigator for the whole school community.

She is well known around the school for her caring and friendly personality.

Two school captains Matilda and Macey handed gifts to Tracey on behalf of the students.

“It’s good everyone’s chipped in to make something special for Tracey and seeing how much everyone appreciates her,” Macey said.

“She’s helped all of us be very confident. She’s just really amazing … the way she speaks to you, talks to you and greets you.”

“She’s very deserving of it,” Matilda said.

“She makes you want to come to school.” They gave a bouquet of flowers, cards writ-

ten by each class and special artwork done by Grade 5s and 6s.

“We’ve been looking at a book that has a lot of Aboriginal artwork in it, so we thought that we could take some of the things we learnt from that book and put them into it,” Matilda explained about the artwork.

Tracey has led the school on an important change journey, building a positive school culture based on the school’s values and implementing significant change in the school’s teaching practices based on the Science of Learning, leading to improved student outcomes.

Tracey inspires the staff and students to be their best, and she lives out her motto of ‘Together we make a difference’.

As a result of her hard work in making a warm school atmosphere, many students choose to have lunch and a chat with Tracey as a reward for the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support initiative, where students can choose rewards for tokens they earn.

The principal was touched by the special presents.

“It was lovely. The girls brought this to me on Friday, and it’s just beautiful,” she said.

Healesville CFA firefighter Cliff Overton, who’d been on the frontline during the Black Saturday bushfires, suffered from a mental illness after the traumatic firefighting experience in 2009.

The local firefighter was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) nine months after the Black Saturday bushfires.

“I was still performing the role working for the fire service, so there was a lot of expectation to continue to perform, but personally, I was quite relieved when I got the diagnosis because then I understood what was going on,” Mr Overton said.

“I took some action with the support of the psychiatrist and thought back then, in late 2009, that was enough.

“Years later, in about 2014, I realised that I was still dealing with it, and then I needed to go and find another psychiatrist and spend probably six to eight months dealing with it.”

Mr Overton changed the hardship he went through into a tool to support others through sharing his experience.

“Back in 2015, when I was off work and dealing with my PTSD, I did some fundraising for Beyond Blue to support their research into emergency worker mental health. Then in 2019, I was asked to speak at a 10th Anniversary Black

“I remember the CFA chief at the time coming up to me after I spoke and saying, ‘That’s one of the bravest things I have ever heard.’ I realised that sharing my story could help others, so I did a bit of research and discovered that Beyond Blue had a lived experience speaker program that I could support.

“I joined that program and I have been supporting Beyond Blue as a lived experience speaker for five years now, talking at workplaces and community groups.”

Not only volunteering for Beyond Blue as a lived experience speaker, the firefighter has run a small charity, Good Deed Garage, to raise funds to support organisations such as Beyond Blue for 10 years by rebuilding broken down motorcycles and selling them through raffles.

Good Deed Garage has donated nearly $30,000 to different charities over the past 10 years.

Tinkering with motorcycles has been good for recovering his mental health, along with other relaxing activities like veggie gardening.

When asked about some messages for people with mental health issues, Mr Overton would like to advise them not to hide it but to talk about it.

“If you hide it, it will get worse,” he said.

“It’s the same as if you hurt yourself physically, and you hide it and don’t get any help from anyone, it won’t get better.”

(L-R) Belinda Russell, Kai Martin and Danielle Joseph with school’s well-being dog Daisy. (Dongyun Kwon: 495317)

School captains Matilda (left) and Macey handed presents to Tracey on behalf of the students. (Dongyun Kwon: 494453)

Good Deed Garage founder Cliff Overton. (Dongyun Kwon: 490756)

RSL’s life honour for Brian

By Dongyun Kwon

The dedication of many decades to the local RSL sub-branch has been recognised through a lifetime RSL award presentation.

Brian Luscombe, who accomplished many milestones for the Healesville RSL while taking different leadership roles, received the life membership certificate on Monday 4 August.

“It’s a big honour,” Mr Luscombe said.

Mr Luscombe’s military journey kicked off locally, serving in the Australian Army’s Medical Corps based in Healesville.

He was a member of the Sergeants’ Mess in Healesville.

“I served in the Australian Army’s Medical Corps in Healesville for about three years in the early ‘60s,” he said.

“I did training for everything, but I ended up doing a lot of driving.

“When the army camp in Healesville was closed, I walked into (the Healesville RSL). I’ve been here on and off ever since.”

Summerleigh Lodge, a large guesthouse built in the ‘20s for travellers from Melbourne at 152 Albert Road, Healesville, was purchased as the new home for the Corps School in 1951 and became the Army School of Health.

In 1986, in a re-organisation of Army facilities, the minister of defence announced that the School of Army Health would be relocated to the former Officers Training Facility at Portsea.

Colette Shaw, the current Healesville RSL president, assumed the presidency in 2022, succeeding Mr Luscombe, who had held the role for 10 years.

“The Healesville RSL is what it is today, largely due to Brian’s presidency over the ten years prior to me. There were several issues prior to Brian taking on the presidency, and it’s fair to say that had Brian not stepped into the role, the Healesville RSL would not be the vibrant, communitybased club that it is today, welcoming of everyone, whilst supporting our local veterans,” Ms Shaw said.

“Brian has become a great friend, confidant and someone whom I can go to for advice and support. It was Brian’s advice and confidence I sought out after Anzac Day 2022, when I was approached by our local Indigenous community to have their flag permanently installed in honour of local Indigenous veterans. With Brian and the committee’s support, we did install this at our 2023 Anzac Day Dawn Service.

“It is a legacy I remain forever proud of, and something that I’m not sure I could’ve achieved without Brian’s support and confidence. Brian’s lifetime RSL award is very much deserved for a man who puts others before himself time and again.”

Gary Slater, the former general manager of the Healesville RSL, worked together with Mr Luscombe for over 10 years until Mr Slater’s retirement in 2022.

Mr Slater said Brian came to the presidency with a long history of involvement at Healesville as a veteran member, RSL committee member, in various roles, and with an enormous public profile within the Healesville community.

“From general manager/driver of the local bus company, operator of the local cinema, president of the football club and on just about every committee involved with any community endeavour in Healesville over the past 30 years, Brian was connected and loved in the community,” he said.

“Brian and I rapidly developed a mutual respect and admiration for each other’s abilities and skills, and together we set forth on a mission to establish Healesville RSL sub-branch as the best for its size.

“Brian led from the front, developing strategic master planning to provide clear directions for the next 10, 20 and 50 years, infrastructure development to significantly upgrade the RSL facilities, enhancing and expanding veteran support services and instilling a positive community profile.

On all of these issues, Brian would canvass opinion widely, listen with intent and act with integrity and openness.”

One of the many achievements by Mr Luscombe, Mr Slater pointed out, was changing the Healesville RSL to be more accessible to every community member, not just to veterans.

“The Healesville RSL profile in the community

was pretty poor, with it being closed to everyone but veterans. It was pretty shabby inside and not a place to take your mum or kids,” the former general manager of the Healesville RSL said.

“Brian set about changing that perception by renovating the inside rooms, opening up the ‘Members Bar’ to a multipurpose function room, renovating the outside decking area to include children’s playground equipment and making quiet lounge areas outside of the gaming room and bars.

“Brian made it easier for community groups to join and come to the RSL, and he initiated programs within the RSL members and the community could participate in, and he ensured the RSL supported a wide range of community events.

“As a consequence, now Healesville supports U3A, Probus and other community group meetings and events, state primary and high school excursions and end of year celebrations, civic art display events, community charity fundraising events and has created its own scrabble, mahjong, day club, golf and billiards clubs open to members and community alike. The RSL now has a well-deserved good community citizen reputation thanks to Brian’s work.”

Looking back on his journey with the Healesville RSL, the award recipient could come up with many memories, from renovating the club, Anzac badge sales, to bus trips.

“Back in the old days, the community wasn’t allowed in, but over the years, we’ve put our hands out to the community, and they’ve come in,” Mr Luscombe said.

“I also started up bus trips for the RSL members about 10 years ago, and we still do it all over the place. We have at least one or two trips every month.

“You can’t do anything unless you’ve had a lot of people help you. We’ve got a good committee. The staff are terrific, and you’ve got that backup.”

Yarra Valley Red Cross members awarded for dedication

By Oliver Winn

Decades of dedication to the Yarra Valley Red Cross was honoured at its 4 August Annual General Meeting through multiple long service awards.

The awards were delivered by Australian Red Cross Society board member Professor Brendan Murphy which recognised the work of seven loyal and hardworking members.

The 20 year award was handed to Dawn Dowdney, while 10 year awards were handed to Bella Lee-Tet, Frank Preyer, Meryl Knoll, Siobhan Hedderman, Glenda Pearson and Sally Ann Clarke.

Yarra Valley Red Cross treasurer Jennifer Seabrook said the loyalty of the members showed the community enjoys being apart of the Yarra Valley Red Cross.

“It says that our members enjoy being part of Yarra Valley Red Cross,” Ms Seabrook said.

“They have a commitment to their local community because the activities that we do whilst raising money for Red Cross add value to local events.”

Ms Seabrook lauded Ms Pearson’s extensive contributions and described her as a person

who “doesn’t know how to say no”.

“She does all the rostering for all of our events and makes all the marmalades for our stalls. She attends almost every stall to help with the setting up.”

Ms Hedderman was described as the “master coffee maker” who cranks out coffee orders at all of the stalls.

Ms Dowdney, Ms Lee-Tet and Ms Knoll would always be ready to help out no matter the circumstance.

“The thing they all have in common is that they say yes whenever we ask them,” Ms Seabrook said.

She said people felt fulfilled by contributing to the community while the work wasn’t too hard or time consuming.

“It’s not onerous of a commitment because they wouldn’t stay if it was asking too much of them.”

These members of the community have poured their time and energy into events through their involvement at the Yarra Valley Red Cross.

This was highlighted when the branch raised just under $24,000 through a monthly stall Launch Fresh, which supported the Yellingbo and WHYLD mini-markets and Winter Warming events.

It also supported the Crank Up Festival at the Upper Yarra Museum and helped out at several community expos - these are just a few examples out of the 23 stalls hosted by the branch in the last financial year.

But the branch also provides support through its stalls which can often be seen at community events in the Yarra Ranges.

“People know that we take our coffee

machine and that we make terrific jams and really great little toys and things like that.

“So if people know there’s going to be a Red Cross stall at one of those local events that helps to attract people to that event, which then helps whatever that community group is trying to do,” Ms Seabrook said.

The Yarra Valley Red Cross will have a stall at the ADRA Community expo in Warburton in September and the Yellingbo Christmas Fair later this year.

With the presence of a Red Cross stall, Ms Seabrook said the benefits flowed three ways: more people come to these community events, which in turn meant the Red Cross could raise more money and the event’s success was bolstered.

“It’s a win-win-win.”

Underpinning the Red Cross’ cause though, was its dedication to help anyone regardless of their background.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re gay, straight, religious, not religious, fat, skinny, what colour your skin is, rich, poor - Red Cross helps everybody regardless of what category they’re in.”

Yarra Valley Red Cross members are awarded their long service awards. (Supplied)

Looking back on his journey with the Healesville RSL, the award recipient could come up with many memories, from renovating the club, Anzac badge sales, to bus trips.

(Dongyun Kwon: 494993)

Ms Shaw (left) presented the lifetime RSL award to Mr Luscombe. (Supplied)

Build up to major fundraiser for CFA

By Dongyun Kwon

Leading up to a major fundraiser in Melbourne in September, Badger Creek CFA is hosting another event to raise money for the main fundraiser.

Fire brigade members, their families, and other local emergency crews will be cycling for 24 hours.

The 24 hour spinathon will kick off at 5pm on Friday 22 August.

Federal Casey MP Aaron Viloi will be the first person jumping on a bike to open the ride.

“(After Aaron,) we’ll take it in turns. We’ve got a roster of CFA members, families, Healesville SES and possibly another brigade,” Badger Creek CFA community safety coordinator Sally Wannet said.

“We’ll just continue to ride the cycle for 24 hours, and close it up at 5pm on the following day.

“We plan on doing some live crossovers to promote us, the SES, and any local businesses that make any large donations.”

All of the proceeds raised from the 24 hour spin athon fundraiser will go directly to Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb (MFSC), where firefighters and emergency services personnel will battle 28 floors in up to 25kg of turnout gear and breathing apparatus, or similarly weighted operational equipment of their emergency service.

Four firefighters from Badger Creek CFA will participate in the event on Saturday 6 September at the Crown Metropol to support raising funds for Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, Lifeline and the 000 Foundation for their cancer research and crisis support.

This will be the first time the four firefighters join the climb, which is on its 12th anniversary.

Ms Wannet joined the Badger Creek Fire Brigade two years ago after having been involved with CFA with other brigades since 2004.

The firefighter with over two decades of experience said the funds which MFSC are raising will be used for something close to her heart.

“But it is also to give myself a goal to keep myself moving physically because firefighting is a physical job,” Ms Wannet said.

“For me, it’s motivation to keep moving and active for the upcoming summer, the fire season.”

Amanda Redwood joined the Badger Creek CFA relatively recently and became a qualified firefighter in March.

Ms Redwood said being in her first year in the brigade, she wanted to get involved in the CFA’s events.

“I like a challenge, and the stair climb seemed like a pretty good challenge to get involved in; it’s not a marathon or a half-marathon,” she said.

“Being able to give back to the charities that are involved in cancer, depression and suicide is a pretty big deal.”

Lyndall Parsons has been volunteering for the local fire brigade for seven years.

Ms Parsons said she wanted to use this climb event as a momentum to get back into the brigade because she hadn’t been active last year while looking after her grandson.

“I want to get back into the brigade, I’m wanting to get fit,” she said.

“I’ve always been very community-oriented, and I feel like it brings the brigade out into the community more.”

Firefighter Joey Slootman has volunteered for the local CFA for two and a half years.

He said since being a firefighter, the secondary things that he comes across are mental health and people with cancer, which made him think more of participating in the event.

“There are a whole array of things that come at you as an emergency worker, but also in general life, a lot of people struggle with a lot of things you don’t know about,” Mr Slootman said.

“This is just a little thing you can do to help.”

The firefighters have tried hard to get them prepared physically for the upcoming two challenges.

Ms Wannet has attended spin classes, gone swimming, and got out with a weighted vest walking around paddocks.

Ms Redwood has gone to the gym and is going to do it more regularly.

Ms Parsons has joined a line dancing class, has gone for a walk with weights on her back and

has run up and down stairs at work.

Mr Slootman has pushed himself to train more, including bike riding, running and swimming.

“Doing a challenge like this is the little push that you sometimes need to go a bit harder,” the firefighter said.

“Training with the brigade is also a decent exercise: rolling up hoses, running around with hoses with water in them.

“I wish more people would be volunteer fire-

Yellingbo’s nursery bolsters safety with AED

By Oliver Winn

The Woori Yallock and District (WYD) Community Bank have donated and installed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater (FOHH) Indigenous Plant Nursery.

WYD Community Bank branch manager Justin Hall said he was glad to be able to make an impact in the local area.

“The Woori Yallock and District Bendigo Bank is proud to be getting this out to the community and it’s going to make a quite massive contribution to improving the survival rate, particularly of our more rural townships that aren’t always close by,” he said.

“Being able to support people in the worst moments of their life makes a huge difference, whether that is our local firies responding or just good Samaritans in the community.”

FOHH president Sue Bendel said an AED at the nursery was crucial.

“Having an AED is essential for all who work and volunteer at the nursery.

“Although the majority of the tasks are not very strenuous, many of our volunteers have been active in our nursery for over ten years, and so as older adults, having an AED in very close proximity is essential,” Ms Bendel said.

The new AED provided by the WYD Community Bank replaced the nursery’s previous one as it had expired.

Ms Bendel said the FOHH were grateful for the bank’s donation as it meant the nursery staff could perform their work in an environment where some medical emergencies can be accounted for.

fighters because it’s good for them mentally and physically.”

The MFSC organiser provided a recommended five-week training program, and the Badger Creek crew are also planning to organise team training based on that program.

The Badger Creek CFA members are aiming to raise $4000 to support the cause.

To support the firefighters’ journey, please visit the following website link, firefighterclimb. org.au/station/cfa/badger-creek

“It is incredible that the Bendigo Bank has provided our nursery with a new AED, as our old one has passed its useful life.

“We are very fortunate to bank with a community bank, who are very community minded and have provided us with the AED. It is an essential piece of equipment in all workplaces, and especially for us due to the older demographic of our volunteers,” Ms Bendel said. AEDs are intended for use by any person, but formal training can also help you to feel more confident and comfortable if you need to use an AED.

Badger Creek CFA firefighters Lyndall Parsons, Sally Wannet, Amanda Redwood (L-R) and Joey Slootman (not in the photo) are participating in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb in September. (Dongyun Kwon: 494990)

Badger Creek CFA firefighter Joey Slootman. (Supplied)

The Yellingbo Indigenous Plant Nursery received its AED on Tuesday 5 August. (Supplied)

NEWS Keep waterwheel turning

By Oliver Winn

Following a significant show of support by the community, the Warburton Waterwheel is looking for new board members to help continue its ongoing legacy.

With only enough funds to last until the lease’s expiry in May 2026 and not enough full-time members to apply for grants, the Warburton Waterwheel risks going under if it fails to recruit any new members.

Warburton Waterwheel Steering Committee chair Nikki Murray said Warburton would lose an important piece of history were the Waterwheel to shut down.

“The waterwheel… and the place was built from donated wood many years ago, all with a vision that it was going to become a hub… a space where people would all gather.

“If we were gonna lose that to tender... [it’d be] a real pity,” Ms Murray said.

The provisional Steering Committee formed after a meeting on Tuesday 18 March which saw over 85 people attend.

The meeting demonstrated a strong desire from the community to keep the Warburton Waterwheel in the hands of the locals - but now the board are in need of new members to support the organisation and “carry the baton”.

“Some of the existing board finally wanted to hang their hats up, and they wanted to bring more blood, more ideas, more vigour,” Ms Murray said.

The board needed new members: specifically, new permanent board members and other parttime members with expertise in specialised fields.

In order to be able to apply for grants, the Warburton Waterwheel needs more permanent members to meet grant requirements.

Otherwise, the business won’t have the financial means to continue into the future.

“There are a lot of people who have retired potentially out of a business career who could really help, so we’re interested in finding more of those people,” Warburton Waterwheel supporter John Ridley said.

Aside from permanent roles, the board wanted to establish what it called subgroups: people who don’t have the time to commit to a full-time role but can still contribute through smaller, more specialised jobs.

“So we only need them for a short amount of time, and then they can go back to their lives,” Ms Murray said.

“But subgroups are really helpful in the fact that people are still offering their experience, they’re still offering where they’ve come from.

“They’re helping and they’re still part of it.”

Ultimately, the Warburtoon Waterwheel’s future relies on the community as a whole rather than a couple of individuals.

“We need everyone in the community to help. We don’t just need the people who can stay forever. We need the people who can stay for a little amount of time.”

Ms Murray explained the importance of the Warburton Waterwheel through the metaphor of a tree.

“It’s the root of the tree. So the tree has many

branches, which is already out there, but people don’t realise that they need to come back to the root to unify it all,” she said.

The other branches of the tree represented the different community groups around Warburton and its surrounding towns, and the Waterwheel represented the root.

Ms Murray was hopeful the Yarra Ranges Council would recognise the significance of the Warburton Waterwheel and not remove it from the community’s hands.

“I think the council really just want to know that we have a direction, that we’re pursuing a vi-

sion and that we’ve got feet on the ground, ready to move.”

Mr Ridley said he hopes the community’s support for the Warburton Waterwheel will show the Yarra Ranges Council the value they place in the information centre.

“We might be able to persuade council that they don’t need to go to tender, although… they might be obliged, in fact, to go through a tender process,” Mr Ridley said.

“But they aren’t obliged to accept the highest bid.”

Celebrating 60 years since the Warburton train ended

By Oliver Winn

Upper Yarra locals, historians and train enthusiasts celebrated the 60 year anniversary of the iconic Warburton railway’s last ever service.

The special train run by the Australian Railway Historical Society from Flinders Street to Warburton – and return – on 1 August 1965, was a formal goodbye, the regular passenger train service having closed on 13 December 1964.

Railway historian and author Nick Anchen said while many railway lines around the country had a celebration for its last service, nothing matched the sense of occasion that surrounded the final train from Warburton.

“There was 500 people on the train and I think there was another 300 people on the waiting list to get on the train.

“Hundreds of hundreds of people were following it by car, waiting in all the different towns and level crossings along the line and in Warburton itself,” Mr Anchen said.

Mr Anchen is the author of Whistles Through the Tall Timber which told the legacy of the Warburton, Powelltown and Noojee railways.

He said the send off was quite emotional as many Warburton residents came to terms with the loss of the railway that practically shaped the town to how it is today.

“It caused a lot of sadness. There was a lot of people crying when they train left Warburton.”

Pictures from the last day show legions of Warburton locals from all walks of life crowded by the side of the railway and a brass band with its instruments at rest.

One report from the day, taken from a Star Mail article in 2015, recalled “many tearful faces among the large crowds who farewelled the last train”.

“Especially as the ARHS Special steamed out of Warburton to the tunes of Will Ye Nay Come Back Again and Auld Lang Syne played by the local brass band amid the deafening sound of exploding detonators,” the report continued.

Mr Anchen said the Warburton line’s picturesque scenes meant it was dubbed the name, The Puffing Billy of the Broad Gauge - a nod to-

ward the Puffing Billy’s narrow gauge tracks and its similarly beautiful sights.

The Warburton line begun in Lilydale, where it would struggle up a steep incline to reach Mount Evelyn, before calmly weaving through pastoral farm land down to Wandin.

As it moved past Yarra Junction, a canopy of deep green mountain ash forest engulfed the train, before it finished off the final stretch to Warburton, accompanied by the soft trickle of the Yarra river by its side.

The Warburton line opened in 1901 where it

served the local timber and fruit industries.

“There was a tremendous volume of timber coming through the line. It was Victoria’s number one railway in terms of volume of timber traffic by a considerable margin,” Mr Anchen.

The timber industry would become the economic backbone of the Upper Yarra, bringing in jobs and money to the townships in the region.

But, various factors such as improved roads and the invention of plastic contributed to the decline of the railway line, where it would eventually close in the 1960s.

Mr Anchen felt the Warburton line didn’t receive as much appreciation as it should get today.

“They just look at it as being ancient history, and a nice place to go for a bike ride or whatever,” Mr Anchen said.

But, he was happy that the railway line’s original formation had been preserved as some other decommissioned railways had lost its original path completely.

“I’ve had a look at lots of the old railways around Victoria, and some of them are virtually invisible in parts, which is really kind of sad, because that history has just gone completely.

But with the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail following its original formation, Mr Anchen was appreciative the line was acknowledged in some capacity.

“Railways were the framework or the scaffolding on which the whole society was built.

“It was extremely important to the economy and without railways, areas couldn’t really have been successfully opened up and settled.”

It’s been 60 years since the Warburton railway line closed on 1 August 1965. (Supplied)

The Warburton Waterwheel’s lease is set to expire in May 2026. (File)

Public art in the outer east

By Callum Ludwig

The Outer East is abound with talented artists with plenty of opportunities to admire and enjoy their works, and it also attracts may artist from far who wish to exhibit in the local galleries and creative scene.

Some of the best can even be found all around us in our townships, through a number of eyecatching public and street art displays.

Grand Designs feature artist Elizabeth Gleeson has now completed 18 murals in the Yarra Ranges and Dandenong Ranges region and said getting to create her art on a large scale is a privilege and honour she never takes for granted.

“To my surprise, my unique, patterned, folknouveau style of artwork has really resonated with a large and varied audience, and I feel incredibly privileged and grateful that the kind of art I love to create, is one that people are connecting with and want on their walls,” she said.

“One of my favourite aspects of creating large scale art in public, is the distinct connection to the place and people you develop as you create.

“I’m often spending a whole week or two in one distinct spot, and you become really familiar with the specific birdsong, the way the light falls at every time of day and the locals with their ‘doggos’ who check in on your progress on their daily walk.”

Some of the public art Ms Gleeson has contributed to include the Graff Street project on Blacksmiths Way in Belgrave, the mural on the wall of the SSU Studio and Gallery in Ferny Creek, ‘Flower Child’ (with Stampz) in Ferntree Gully and the floral tribute mural on Main Street, Monbulk.

Ms Gleeson said she is consistently humbled by the vulnerable nature of the conversations she has with passers-by.

“People seem to open up to me quite quickly when I’m painting, and I think it’s due to an exchange of openness; I’m already imparting a deep part of myself onto the wall, and the things people share with me are equally deep and personal,” she said.

“Great public art will encourage a sense of community pride, ownership and connection, it will enhance the visual and cultural landscape, and can provide a unique avenue for important societal conversations and advocacy.

“In doing all this, public art generates effective place activation and a general sense of vibrancy, wonder and inspiration, where once may have been a dreary, unused corner.”

Artist and graphic designer Paul Sonsie of Sonsie Studios has contributed to a wide range of public works, including numerous in Healesville as well as in Lilydale and Chirnside Park.

Mr Sonsie said the mural he’s most proud of is his latest work — a 37-metre-long kangaroo painted on the side of the Coles car park in Healesville titled Marram (the Woiwurrung word for kangaroo).

“The project was called A Giant Leap Forward, paying homage to the creative energy and cultural progress happening throughout the Yarra Valley, I wanted the mural to be bold and instantly recognisable — something everyone could relate to, from young kids to the elderly, locals to tourists,” he said.

“One of my early murals in Healesville’s East End featured an ibis — a bird often misunderstood or dismissed, but still striking in its form and presence. That artwork, now hidden behind a new apartment building, was about finding beauty in the everyday and challenging public perceptions.”

“Another meaningful project was the graphic artwork at Chirnside Park (flight-themed) playground, which celebrates local biodiversity with digital illustrations of native species such as the Kestrel, Black Swan and Grey-headed Flying Fox. It was a chance to connect children and families with the environment through playful and educational design.”

Mr Sonsie has also done works on the front facade of the Healesville Aldi, the digitally designed mural on The Memo in Healesville and the mural at Locavore in Lilydale song others.

Mr Sonsie said what he loves most about public art is that it brings the artwork directly to the people.

“Don’t get me wrong — I enjoy seeing work in galleries — but for many, that’s not something they regularly engage with, public art breaks down those barriers and makes the experience accessible, immediate and part of everyday life.

“It also has the power to help culturally brand

a community. A mural can transform a blank, often-tagged wall into something vibrant and meaningful. It can activate underused spaces, create new layers of experience in a town, and even inspire other creatives in the area.”

Another unique public art project that has taken place in recent years include the water tank project, where local CFA water tanks received a makeover.

Gunditjmara/ Kirrae Whurrong artist Fiona Clarke, who also has strong ancestral ties to the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung through her Granny Louisa Briggs, designed the tanks in McMahons Creek and Kalorama and said she loves creating art and as a strong proud Aboriginal woman, she enjoys sharing her culture and stories.

“I also love working with communities Indigenous and non-Indigenous to create special places and spaces for them to enjoy,” she said.

“It adds a big sense of community and happiness through local stories, and lots of colour which helps brighten up an area and lifts morale in the town or space, would like to see more.

“I love how my Sista Mandy Nicholson does her public art/street art projects she always does such deadly inspiring Aboriginal art and lives her culture, her public artwork on the water tank beside mine at Kalorama Recreation Reserve tells the narrative of Buln’ Buln’ (the lyrebird), the keeper of language.”

Ms Clarke also worked on the McMahons Creek tank with her husband Ken McKean who is also an artist.

Brad Colling of Buzzart is a local artist who has worked on various murals in and around the Outer East and said he likes to make art that everyone appreciates, whether they are two or 102.

“I just want it to be something that means something to people, I try to research everything as much as I can before I paint something and generally people give me free license to paint what I want to paint,” he said.

“I tend to go and research history or what’s important in the local area and try to capture that so there’s something in it for everyone,”

“I also like painting with young people because I think when someone believes in you more than you believe in yourself, that’s when you grow, so if you trust a young person to be a part of something bigger and something that everyone loves,it gives them a sense of pride but they also grow as people because I trust in them.”

Mr Colling has painted the murals on the wall of the florist in Wandin, contributed to some along the trail at the old Wandin station, in the Anzac garden at Mt Evelyn RSL, murals at various

local schools and a bit further afield at Maroondah Hospital as well as the bridge on Ringwood Street in Ringwood for Ringwood RSL.

Director of Blender Studios Adrian Doyle has ventured out to the Outer East for a pair of works, responsible for murals in Mooroolbark and Lilydale and said he thinks public art is really good for our communities because of the memories it can create.

“I remember as a kid driving past something like ‘The Skipping Girl’ and always thinking ‘Oh man, Dad look at that’ and it becomes an icon of

suburbia or an icon of childhood,” he said.

“Kids are pointing it out as ‘Oh look it’s that big face girl’ or ‘Oh look it’s the cat piece’ or and they tend to have their own stories or their own ownership over it that goes beyond me.

“Once I come and I make the mural, in a strange way it becomes property of the community, not necessarily mine.”

Blender Studios works can be found alongside on Brice Avenue in Mooroolbark and Lions Park in Lilydale.

Continued page 13

Adrian Doyle working on the foundations of the Mooroolbark mural. (File)

Goanna Fella by Fiona Clarke. (Supplied)Elisabeth Gleeson on the staircase in Blacksmiths Way. (Elisabeth Gleeson)

The Lions Park mural by Blender Studios. (Stewart Chambers: 493406)

Young with a Strange Brew

By Dongyun Kwon

One of the younger radio presenters at Yarra Valley FM kicked off her radio adventure at the age of 15.

Lara Fox is now in her eighth year, running a radio program at the community radio station.

Ms Fox said her show is called Strange Brew, and she plays a mix of music from the ‘50s up until now, mostly rock and alternative music.

“But there’s a little bit of metal, punk and goth,

whatever I feel like mixed in,” the 22-year-old radio presenter said.

“I’ve always really loved music, and I just wanted to share awesome music with other people.”

Ms Fox’s mum, who knew her daughter’s talent and interest, suggested the idea of hosting a radio program and helped Ms Fox to get in touch with Yarra Valley FM station manager Greg Carrick.

“I’ve always listened to the radio. When I was

a kid, I would listen to the radio in the car or at home and thought it would be cool to be on the radio,” Ms Fox said.

“Greg helped me out, and I did like a little guest spot on the Three Headed Goat Show, and a guy named Mal Potter trained me and taught me everything about how to run the whole system.”

Strange Brew is on air between 7pm and 9pm every second Tuesday, but it was not her first show at the radio station.

Ms Fox started her radio journey with a Saturday night show called Wicked, focused mostly on heavier styles of music.

After running Wicked for five years, she decided to change the time slot and the title of the show to Strange Brew in January 2023.

“I started working in hospitality, so Saturday nights were just way too hard to commit to,” the radio presenter said.

You can listen to Strange Brew at yarravalleyfm.org.au/listen.html or 99.1 on your FM dial.

Residents and visitors enjoy public art in the Outer East

From page 12

Yarra Valley FM radio presenter Lara Fox. (Dongyun Kwon: 494984)

Ms Fox kicked off her radio adventure at the age of 15. (Greg Carrick)

Black Cockatoos by Fiona Clarke and Ken McKean. (Supplied)

Paul Sonsie’s ‘Marram’. (Stewart Chambers: 492843)

Flower Child by Elisabeth Gleeson and Stampz. (Supplied)

Paul Sonsie’s Ibis. (Rick Liston)

Paul Sonsie’s ‘Marram’. (Stewart Chambers: 492843)

Brad Colling’s depiction of Miller Mack in Ringwood. (Callum Ludwig: 493627)

Diving into the past pools

Looking back

Bryn Jones

Healesville and District Historical Society president

People who have lived in Healesville for many years are well aware of the ‘Olympic’ public pool in Queens Park, opened in 1964.

It is still widely used today especially for school ‘swimming carnivals’.

The indoor public pool, the Jack Hort Memorial Pool on the Healesville High School campus, is also a popular venue for swimmers.

However, those of a more mature vintage well remember their more basic predecessor, the

Established in 2012, the Bendigo Writers Festival is an annual end-of-winter event that celebrates and promotes the art of writing and storytelling.

It is a gathering of writers and creative thinkers from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and engage with audiences.

George S. Matthews Memorial Baths constructed in 1922, and donated to the community by his wife in his memory.

G.S. Matthews was a well-known and respected business owner as well as a shire councillor.

The pool, situated in the north-east section

of Queens Park, in the vicinity of today’s ‘Sound Shell’, was fed by constantly flowing water from the adjoining Graceburn through a pipe in a small weir in the creek.

Not surprisingly, the pool’s water was very cold and very murky.

Former swimmers were familiar with it in the days before chlorination, claiming ‘you couldn’t see its bottom’.

There was substantial spring-diving board, and a smaller pool for toddlers.

The changing-rooms were of a very basic nature, and by today’s standards the whole set-up was rather primitive but was an improvement on the ‘swimming hole’ in the nearby Watts River used previously.

For many years, the baths and the sports oval were supervised first by Mr R.G. Cartwright and then by Mr Brown who lived on site. Their other task was that of council gravedigger.

The Matthews concrete baths served the town for many years, but by the ‘60s was clearly outdated, but they continued to be used until the opening of the new ‘Olympic’ pool in 1964.

The old pool was filled in, the fence and dressing sheds demolished, and the weir destroyed… and a new era for swimmers in Healesville began.

The forthcoming Bendigo Writers Festival PASSION FOR PROSE

The festival organisers pride themselves on promoting literacy and lifelong learning.

Cultural tourism also plays a significant role, helping to boost local economy, provide a sense of community, and offer a platform for emerging and established authors to promote their work.

In October 2019, the City of Greater Bendigo and the broader region was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy – the first in Australia – recognising its rich food culture, commitment to sustainability, and its connection to First Nations’ culture and knowledge.

“Therefore, gastronomy has been one of the important pillars of the festival, hosting and organising special events to reflect on how our culture and heritage is represented in the food we grow, eat and share,” the festival website declares.

This year, the festival will take place from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 August, starting with the Foodshare Pop Up Book Fair in the heart of the town’s precinct.

Every purchase of the thousands of preloved books will help to fight food insecurity across

CARTOON

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

On Friday, there will be a series of special events for school kids, where some of Australia’s best-known illustrators will share their tips and techniques for creating illustrations.

There will be discussions on the joys and challenges of writing verse novels, and how personal experiences can inspire and shape the stories we share with others.

On Saturday, an impressive array of authors will reveal the extraordinary stories behind their books.

These include the impact of lockdowns on vulnerable people, the creation of spirited women characters, writing cozy crime novels, representing human rights in non-fiction graphic nar-

ratives, and what it means to write about Chinese diaspora – just to name a few.

Throughout the weekend there will be gastronomy-related author talks and expert panels, starting with a session on the unique nature of indigenous food.

A highlight is the intricate world of cookbook publishing, while a separate panel will explore how the Australian palate has evolved over time and how that impacts the choices chefs make when designing menus and opening restaurants.

There is even a session called “To Meat or Not to Meat”.

Meanwhile, this reviewer is drawn to the festival’s “Cities of Literature Book Club”, which features books from seven literary cities around the world.

These are: Christophe Blain and JeanMarc Jancovici’s World Without End (Angouleme), Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind (Barcelona), Ian Rankin’s Midnight and Blue (Edinburgh), Emma Neale’s Liar, Liar, Like, Spit (Dunedin), Donal Ryan’s The Spinning Heart (Dublin), Victoria Amelina’s Looking at Women, Looking at War (Lviv), and Kev Lambert’s Querelle of Roberval (Quebec City).

• The Bendigo Writers Festival website: bendigowritersfestival.com.au/

Two horror movies

Weapons

Starring Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and Cary Christopher

Rated MA15+ 4/5

The third film from Barbarian writer-director Zach Creggor, Weapons is a chilling, cleverly-written horror film with some misjudged tone and a flawed middle.

One night, seventeen students, all from the same classroom, vanish without a trace.

As the town erupts in anger and paranoia, their teacher Justine (Julia Garner) and Archer (Josh Brolin), the father of one of the missing children, resolve to find them.

Garner is engrossing as Justine, a realistically-flawed protagonist who loves her students but is impulsive, obsessive and petty at times.

Brolin is a figure of steely, determined grief as Archer, and Cary Christopher delivers an astounding performance as Alex, Justine’s only remaining student.

Weapons is an enthralling slow-burn, establishing a disturbing mystery and a deepening aura of gloom and frustration for its harried victims.

Like a less procedural Longlegs, Weapons is full of subtle, nail-biting tension, and does an excellent job of developing the macabre rules at play.

Even when you learn the nefarious cause of the disappearances by the end of the second act, a deep despair is maintained through the awareness that the characters are ensnared in a cruel, cunning system, along with themes of growing up too fast and toxic family obligations.

The narrative has a clever overlapping, recursive structure, showing multiple perspectives on the same events, but the middle has two overly comedic, largely redundant vignettes involving a cop and a junkie.

Weapons’ first act has an over-reliance on fake-out dream sequences, with two in a row at one point.

The ending is also both gut-wrenchingly terrifying and kinda goofy.

Some viewers will love it and some will hate it; I’m somewhere in the middle.

A great horror film marred by a distracted middle and some tonal issues, Weapons is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

Central Victoria.

Healesville - GS Matthews Swimming Pool. (Supplied)

‘THE OLD POST’, MODERN TWIST ON A HISTORIC FARMHOUSE - 7 ACRES

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IDYLLIC FAMILY RETREAT IN THE HEART OF UPWEY

SET amidst the serene beauty of the Dandenong Ranges on a level and highly usable 1,271sqm (approx.), 18 Glenfern Avenue, Upwey offers a rare opportunity to secure a cherished family home in one of the area’s most sought-after pockets. Lovingly built and meticulously maintained by its original owners, this exceptional residence has been thoughtfully designed with lifestyle and family in mind. Surrounded by lush greenery and filled with the soothing sounds of native birdlife - and even the distant whistle of the iconic Puffing Billy - the property provides a peaceful escape without compromising on convenience.

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Existing Airbnb listing featuring 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, modern kitchen, and open-plan living with a private rear balcony.

A Lifestyle to Love

Chayah is more than a property—it’s an opportunity to live with intention. Ideal for a peaceful retreat, productive farm venture, or creative hospitality concept, it’s ready for its next chapter.

Just minutes from all the township of Cockatoo has to offer, CBD rail connections in nearby Pakenham, you’ll feel miles from anywhere, yet close to facilities. ●

WellCraftedRetroClassiconNear¼ acreofFlatLand

Thishomeisneedinga newownerfora make-over,wellbuiltandspaciouswithplentyof potential–hereisyouropportunity!

Ithasseverallargelivingspaces,onefeaturinganoriginalchandelier, asunkenlounge withvaultedceilings,brickfeaturewalland fireplace.Thereisalsoa separaterumpus roomwith alovelylargewindowsproviding aviewtothebackyard.Thebedroomsareall spacious,themainwithWIRandfullensuite,twofurtherbedroomshavebuiltinrobes.

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Don’tMissOutonthisGem!

Setina quietandconvenientpocketofBayswaterNorth,thisbeautifullypresentedsinglestorytownhouseofferstheperfectblendofspace,light,andlifestyle.Featuringthree generousbedrooms,anopen-planlivinganddiningarea,andanabundanceofnatural light,thishomeisdesignedforeasymodernliving.

DavidStewart 0411655611

PerfectAcre.PerfectHugeShed.FreeCottage Million-dollarviewsandmagicalsunsetstoo! Thequaint2-bedroomcottageCirca1923needssomeTLC,youmightchoosetomake theimprovementsorutilizetheblockandpositiontobuildyour‘foreverhome’(subject tocouncilapproval).Itisperfectlycomfortablewith aloungewithwoodfire,separate diningroom,timberkitchenfeaturingpressedmetalsplashback,a laundry/bathroom combinedfeaturingexcellentstorage, aclawfootbath,shower,andcustomvanity

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CaitiEllis 0493136937 {queue.Rep2Email}

ChoiceLocation –RareOpportunity!

Situatedwithin ashortstrollofUpweyvillage,transport,shopsandschools,this immaculatelypresentedunitisdrenchedinnaturallightandoffersthebestofbothworlds in amuchsought-afterlocation.Weallknowhowharditisto find aunitinthehills;so whetheryouarea firsthomebuyerorinvestoryouwillbeimpressed!

GrantSkipsey 0418528102

TRANQUIL RETREAT ON ½ ACRE

A quiet retreat set on a generous half acre block that backs directly onto the breathtaking Yarra State Forest. This peaceful home offers an idyllic lifestyle surrounded by the sights and sounds of native birdsong, fresh country air throughout the day, and a sense of privacy and calm.

The home invites you to relax and enjoy its seamless connection to the outdoors, with a spacious undercover deck and BBQ area overlooking the big, fenced garden where you can take in the beautiful views of the Yarra Ranges National Park while unwinding. A private gate opens directly into the forest, giving you immediate access to walking and mountain bike trails.

Light filled and welcoming, featuring two generous living areas, polished timber floors, and a cosy wood fire for chilly evenings. The modern kitchen offers plenty of bench space and enjoys a lovely outlook, connecting effortlessly with the dining area, with a split system provides year round comfort.

There are three good sized, carpeted bedrooms, each with built in robes, along with a modern bathroom. Thoughtfully designed large built in storage cupboards and a cleverly integrated laundry tucked behind cupboard doors.

Additional features include a lock up shed adjacent to the carport, garden shed, wood storage and a water tank. Positioned on a quiet country road just moments from the Yarra River and a short distance to the popular aqueduct trail. You’re also only a 10 minute drive to Upper Yarra Dam and just minutes from a relaxed meal at the charming Reefton Hotel.

Ideal for those seeking a peaceful escape with modern comforts and unbeatable access to nature. ●

AHomewithWhimsicalCharm,setamongstNature,Space,andSerenity Nestledina peacefulsettingamongstmaturegums,on abigfullyfencedblockof2508sqmthat offersplentyofroomforkidsandpetstoroam.Themainlivinganddiningareaextendseffortlesslyto aprivatereardeck,whereyoucanenjoythepeaceofthesurroundinggardens.Goodsizedfamily bathroom,andthreegenerousbedroomseachwithamplebuiltinstorageandlovelygardenviews. Ahugeconvertedgaragewithpowerandconcreteflooringcanbeusedas aworkshop,artist’s space,or“mancave.” Afantasticbonusisthesolarpowersystem,featuringnewsolarpanelsanda 8kwinverterwitha 15kwhbatteryandstandbybackupoffgridsystem.Parkingforuptofourvehicles undera solidcarport,andextraslikeanoutdoorbath,greenhouse,fruittrees,andyourveryown Ferngullytowanderthrough,thispropertyisyourpersonalsliceoftheYarraValley.

RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068

Asuperbfamilyhomewithaflexiblefloorplanandconvenientlayoutthatwillsuitthegrowingor extendedfamily.Offering 5bedroomsallwithbuiltinrobesandspreadover 2levels, agreatsize familyroomanda separatelivingroomgivesthewholefamilyplentyofspacetorelaxandmove around.Thekitcheniswellappointedandhasamplebenchandcupboardspaceplus aseparate mealsarea.Sitback,relaxandenjoythefantasticvalleyviewsallyearroundfromthecovered verandah,whilstoverlookingthepicturesqueblockofapprox1687sqm. Agreatcornerblock locationofferingeasyandconvenientaccessidealfortrailersandlargevehiclesplus alockup garageandplentyofextraparkingspace.Ideallysituatedjust ashortstrolltolocal,schools,shops andtransport.A greatfamilyhomein agreatlocation,situatedina quietandpeacefulstreet.

SpaciousLivingonover 3Acresin aBeautifulSetting Nestledonjustover3 acresofhighlysoughtafterland,thisimmaculatelypresentedhomeenjoysa peacefulandprivatesetting.Thehome’sfourbedroomsareallappointedwithbuilt-inrobesand whiletheprivatelypositionedmastersuiteattherearoffers atranquilretreat,completewitha walkinrobeandensuite.Theexpansivekitchenshowcasesa contemporarydesignwithneutraltones, generousbenchspace,andanabundanceofcupboards.Theinclusionofinternalgarageaccess addsversatility,providingtheopportunitytocreatea homeofficespace. Aseparaterumpusroom enhancesthehome’sappealfurther.Outdoors,a substantialcarportandpoweredgaragewith aconcretefloorprovideamplestorage,workspace,orparkingfortrades,hobbyists,orthosewith largervehiclesandcaravans.Thisis arareopportunitytosecurea sliceofcountryparadise!

M 0401832068

Agreatfamilyhomein aconvenientandpicturesquelocationwithfantasticeverchangingviews toadmireallyearround!Thehomeisspacious,neatandverywellpresentedoffering3 goodsize bedroomsallwithbuiltinrobesplusanensuiteandwalkinrobeinthemainbedroom.Thekitchenis spaciousandwellappointed,withamplebenchandcupboardspaceplus aseparatemeals/dining area.Sitback,admireandenjoythepicturesqueviewsfromthemainliving/familyroom.Venture outsideandentertainallyearroundwitha covereddeckarea- it’stheidealspottorelaxandenjoy thecolourfulvistaandestablishedgardenswithanarrayofshrubsandtrees.A greatfamilyhomein aconvenientlocation,situatedjust ashortstrolltolocalschools,shopsandtransport.

1200LittleYarraRoad,Gilderoy

RebeccaDoolan

PUZZLES

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 Sharpshooter (8)

5 Aggressive maniac (6)

10 Relish (5)

11 Incapable of being seen (9)

12 Latin name of England (arch) (6)

13 Forest workers (7)

14 Endured (8)

15 Sickness (6)

18 Conviction (6)

20 Float (8)

21 Blasphemous (7)

24 Inflated (6)

27 Waxy secretion of sperm whale (9)

28 Prickle (5)

29 Cricket team (6)

30 Fire-resistant fibre (8)

DOWN

1 Extremely big in size, importance, etc. (4)

2 Indignant (9)

3 Multitude of fishes (5)

4 Brings to life (8)

6 First name of William Shakespeare’s oldest child (7)

7 Metal rope (5)

8 Hyperbolise (9)

9 Declare positively (4)

14 Conquer (9)

16 Taker of blame (9)

17 Fierce storms (8)

19 Declare one’s approval (7)

22 Wall with pointed roof (5)

23 Anecdote (4)

25 Measure of length (5)

26 Singles (4)

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

Hatt’s off to David

By Ron Hottes

Wednesday 6 August, Stroke and M. McGrann Bag Day Qualifier:

Conditions for golfers are tough at the moment.

Wintery weather, heavy underfoot and no run combine to conspire against most of our members posting anything resembling a decent score.

But, as always, rising up to the challenge, you can always expect someone to lead by example.

And a very good example was posted by long time member, David Hatt, as his super impressive Nett 64 blew away the rest of the field bigtime.

Playing off a good golfer’s handicap of eight meant that Hatty shot a 72 off-the-stick, which was superb under the aforementioned conditions.

Of course, Hatt qualifies to play off for the bag in December, which will mean he will face a longish road trip from Lakes Entrance, because he is moving there soon.

His win was emphatically illustrated by the fact that our daily runner up was Captain Whitehead, recording a solid Nett 71.

As no surprise to anyone, the ball rundown stretched down to Nett 74.

The NTP winners only totalled three.

It is very rare for me to report that no one recorded an NTP on the relatively easy third hole, nor on the 15th, which is a much tougher challenge.

David Mackey won one on the equally tough fifth, Your Loyal Scribe snared one on the ninth and Trevor Porter took one home for a great tee shot on the 12th.

Saturday 9 August, Stableford:

After last week’s mixed results from the monthly medal day, and with beautiful drying weather, this day’s results showed that the course, even accounting for heavy conditions, can be conquered.

Our leading conqueror was Lee Creedy who posted a fine 36 points.

This was good enough for Lee to take home

the A Grade voucher. The B Grade prize was won by Manny Humphris with 35 solid points.

Jason Kenno Kennedy was the runner up, also

on 35 points.

At the time of going to press, there were NO NTPs listed.

There was no V.V.V. Comp on this week

Horse talk

By Anita Prowse

With the gorgeous sunshine coming down finally and a start to some spring grass to make our feed bills a little more manageable, it has finally made riding more enjoyable.

On Sunday, the Upper Beaconsfield Pony Club and Podium Equestrian Show Jumping Day took place - the winners were:

PC B Grade Super 2 Phase - Stella Ritson on Baxters Irish Town, Stella also took out the B Grade Article 238 and B grade Championship.

PC C Grade Super 2 Phase -Jewell Henderson on Valdaise from Pakenham Pony Club.

PC C Grade Article 238 - Imogen King on Spring Valley Pompe from Lillico and Dist Pony Club, Imogen also won the C Grade Championship.

PC D Grade Super 2 Phase - Maddison Sitas on Early Park Exclusive from Pakenham Pony Club.

The young Manny Humphris managed the B-Grade prize, falling behind Lee Creedy. (File)

Players designed guernsey

By Dongyun Kwon

Coldstream Football Netball Club celebrated its own Indigenous Round on Saturday 2 August.

The footballers wore their inaugural Indigenous guernsey for the first time.

The jumper was designed by two women’s players, Sophie Stark and Kahla Gossip, who both have First Nations’ backgrounds.

Darkinjung woman Stark said that the theme of the artwork is Stronger Together.

“On the design, there’s a central meeting place which symbolises our club, and then underneath that, there’s a waterhole with streams coming off it that’s to represent us, Coldstream,” she said.

“There are kangaroo tracks around it to represent us playing on country.

“At the bottom, there are mountains, and they represent backdrops of our home grounds.”

“On the piece, you can see there are two people present at the bottom, which represents a mother and a daughter, which particularly reflects around the many women and children that contribute to the club on and off the field,” Kalkadoon woman Gossip added.

The two players came up with the idea of designing an Indigenous guernsey after one of the junior players experienced bullying and racial discrimination around her skin colour and culture.

Through this project, the two artists wished to promote the culture of supporting each other within the club, which has a high Indigenous population.

“As a club, we are better when we are all on one side,” Gossip said.

In the round, the women’s team played against South Croydon while the men’s teams took on Upper Ferntree Gully at their home ground, Halley Supple Reserve.

South Croydon women joined the special occasion by wearing their own Indigenous jumper.

Unfortunately, Upper Ferntree Gully footballers couldn’t wear an Indigenous guernsey for the game as they have no such uniform, but they were very actively involved with Coldstream’s celebration.

“Women’s are now in the finals, sitting second place on the ladder, so we have to wait to speak to the league (if we could wear the Indigenous jumpers in the final games). We would love to be able to wear our Indigenous jumpers through finals,” the Kalkadoon woman said.

“The plan will be that they are also worn next year, particularly around those Indigenous Rounds.

“There will be multiple occasions throughout the year we’d really like to celebrate with wearing them.”

The sporting club successfully distributed the special jumper to the players for free of charge thanks to five sponsors: State Plant Hire, DNA Tree Services, Victorian Roof Access and Safety, Eastern Security and Communications, and Harris and Co Painting Solutions.

“We were really fortunate to have five sponsors between the women’s and men’s teams,” Gossip said.

“The jumpers were fully covered, and it really again promoted Stronger Together with the community supporting us by wearing them.

“It was really incorporating the whole community in this design and getting it out there.”

With this special guernsey, Coldstream Foot-

will continue to be

than just a sporting club. It will continue to be a place of cultural celebrations, community pride, showing off players’ hidden talents and supporting each other in tough periods.

Burras women kick off their finals’ campaign with a win

By Alex Wood

The women’s football started their finals campaign on the weekend.

Despite having an undefeated run this season, they still had a tough job ahead of them these coming weeks.

Their first match up was Wandin. Their last two games had a margin 56 points and 23 points, with the Burras taking the wins.

With that kind of history behind them, the team felt a surge of confidence.

They understood that pulling off yet another win wouldn’t be easy; it would require every player to fully commit and harness their strengths to perform at their best.

The match unfolded under the radiant sun in Olinda at 11.10am, and the warm and inviting weather made a challenging contest ahead. From the first whistle, the Burras established their dominance, quickly taking control of the game.

By the end of the first quarter, they had built a commanding lead of 3.2-20 to Wandin’s solitary 1.0-6, setting the stage for an intense battle ahead.

The second quarter was much the same.

The Burras managed to secure another two

goals and two behinds, to Wandin’s one goal, giving them a stronger lead heading into the half time break.

In the second half, the Burras showcased their strength and skill, particularly on the defensive end.

They effectively kept Wandin’s offense from scoring in the third quarter.

Converting their efforts into the board with more goals, the Burras built on their momentum, heading into the final term with a commanding 30 point lead.

Their performance not only highlighted their tactical ability but also their determination to secure victory.

In the final quarter, the girls maintained their relentless pace, adding two more goals to their impressive tally.

They also added an additional seven scoring shots, though these resulted in behinds, showcasing their offensive determination.

Again, the defence left Wandin scoreless in the last quarter, solidifying their grip on the match.

The final score was 8.13-61 to 2.0-12.

The Burras proudly claimed their spot in the Grand Final.

Lily Pagels, Emerson Woods, Gabby Woods,

Scarlett Henderson, Scarlett Potter and Crystal Norris were the top performers of the match. Scarlett Henderson kicked three goals, Lily Pagels with two, as well as Scarlett Potter and Madi

next

for

Aunty Joy stands tall at NRL, despite Anzac Day snub

By Dongyun Kwon

Ahead of the NRL’s Indigenous Round match last Thursday night, a local senior Aboriginal elder said she would attend the game despite a previous issue not yet being resolved with the Melbourne Storm Rugby Club’s board.

For the Anzac Day Round, senior Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO was invited by Melbourne Storm to the stadium to perform the Welcome to Country prior to the match.

She told ABC News in April that she received a phone call from the rugby club’s chief executive officer while she was on her way to AAMI Park,

saying her Welcome to Country had been cancelled due to the booing that had occurred earlier that day.

In the early morning on Anzac Day, Bunurong and Gunditjmara elder Mark Brown was interrupted by a group of neo-Nazis while he was delivering a Welcome to Country at Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance. Following the issue, the Melbourne Storm released a statement, stating that there was a clear misunderstanding between the board and management, which had caused confusion with the pre-game cultural ceremony, and apologising for it.

Melbourne Storm won against the Brisbane Broncos for the Indigenous Round at their home pitch on 7 August.

Aunty Joy released a statement prior to the match and said she would attend the Indigenous Round game to show support for the players, staff, communities and supporting fans, although she was disappointed that she had not been able to reach a resolution with the club’s board after the club’s decision to cancel the Welcome to Country ceremony on Anzac Day.

“This is about the board, not the game. This is about setting a standard not just for Melbourne Storm but across all sporting codes,” Aunty Joy said in the statement.

“I will always stand strong beside community and as a leader take responsibility to care for those who hurt badly.

“We value our long association with Storm and would like this to continue, but the association of a standing board member with Advance Australia means that we cannot safely undertake formal ceremonies.”

Djirri Djirri, a Wurundjeri female dance group, Ng M tai P rua, Te Hononga o Ng Iwi and Te Ara Hononga, the M ori communities living across the Kulin Nations, clearly expressed their stance to stand alongside Aunty Joy, not engaging with the Melbourne Storm until the board announces meaningful changes.

ball Netball Club

more

Two designers Kahla Gossip (left) and Sophie Stark. (Davis Harrigan Photography)

Coldstream Football Netball Club celebrated its own Indigenous Round on Saturday 2 August, by wearing its inaugural Indigenous guernsey. (Davis Harrigan Photography)

Women’s player Nicole Moate during smoking ceremony. (Davis Harrigan Photography)

Ward kicked one. Week off

weekend and as the Burras prepare

the big day in the next two weeks.

The Burras have had an undefeated run this year. (Supplied)

Seniors stay in Division 3

By Dongyun Kwon

At the last game of the 2025 Home and Away Season, Coldstream Seniors desperately wanted a win to avoid bottom place on the ladder.

Coldstream footballers took on Silvan for this important game, luckily on their home turf at Halley Supple Oval.

In the first half, it wasn’t easy for the Coldstream Seniors as the away team didn’t let the home team play their game.

Giving one point lead to the opponent, the Coldstream footballers took their morale back in the second quarter to keep their hope of not being relegated alive.

Adding two goals and four behinds, Coldstream finished the first half with a nine-point lead.

After seeing the hope, Coldstream players got into the second half with confidence, scoring two majors and three behinds while the opponents scored only one behind during the third quarter.

Despite Silvan working hard to finish their regular season with a win, the Coldstream Seniors succeeded in keeping their lead and wrapping up the season with a 15-point gap win.

The final score was Coldstream 7.8.50 to Silvan 5.5.35.

The win helped Coldstream continue to play

in Division 3 next season.

Coldstream Reserves played against Silvan.

Despite being on home turf, Coldstream couldn’t take home advantage in the first quarter, losing five goals and three behinds while scoring two goals and two behinds.

In the second quarter, Coldstream showed the determination to finish the season with a win, adding two majors.

Coldstream kept up the good morale in the next quarter, taking the lead back.

Before getting into the last quarter, the scoreboard saw Coldstream 8.4.52 to Silvan 6.7.43.

Unfortunately, Silvan footballers didn’t let Coldsream players get the result they wanted, turning back the lead again.

The final score disappointed the Coldstream, Silvan 8.10.58 to Coldstream 8.7.55.

Coldstream Senior Women faced a bitter result in their first Finals round.

They took on Heathmont at Mulgrave Reserve.

But the opponent was too strong, dominating the whole game.

The final score was Heathmont 6.8.44 to Coldstream 1.3.9.

The Coldstream women will take one more chance to keep their finals journey alive next week against North Ringwood.

Healesville under 18s claim redemption against Olinda

By Steve Ebbels

With the Senior Women heading off to Olinda for their elimination final against Olinda, the first game of the day was Healesville U18’s taking on Olinda.

After a big loss to the Bloods’ counterparts last time they met, the Healesville boys were looking for redemption and to cement their spot in the top 5.

Right from the first bounce, the Healesville line up took control of the game outscoring the visitors 4.2.26 to 1.1.7 in the first term.

This trend continued on for the remainder of the game with Healesville boys playing good well-structured football.

Healesville going on to win comfortably 11.9.75 to Olinda 4.5.29.

Best for Healesville: Gabriel Houlihan, C. Hammond, J. Barclay, C. Bradford, J. Collins, L. Senti.

Over to the netball at the Healesville High School, the first up was Healesville B Grade ladies.

Another great effort from Healesville B Grade lineup this week.

Although Olinda were way too strong, Healesville girls did reach their goal of improving on the score from last time these teams met.

In the end, the score was Olinda 82 Healesville 14.

Best for Healesville S. Maile, Z. Vandenbroeck, E. Gommers.

Next up on court was Healesville A graders looking to get their fifth win for the season and show that they can be competitive in premier division.

Last time these teams met, it was Olinda won by nine goals so this game so Healesville lineup

was confident they could turn the tables this time around.

First few minutes of the game was goal for goal before Healesville managed to put on three unanswered goals to sneak in front before Olinda came back to lead 17-14 at the first break. Second quarter saw Healesville stuck with the visitors and at half time, it was Olinda 32 Healesville 30.

In the second half, Healesville again continued to take the game right up to Olinda but in the end, Olinda got over the line 63 to 56.

Best for Healesville: B. Erickson, A. Stanley, K. Farrow.

Back to Don Road Complex, with a few senior players back, Healesville Reserves team was looking stronger than it has been since early in the season.

In the first half, despite a great effort from Healesville boys, Olinda had the majority of the

ball to take a 8.2.50 to 2.3.15 lead at the main break.

The third quarter saw the local boys really got going putting on 3.3 whilst holding the visitors to just one behind and reducing the deficit to just 15 points.

In the end though, Olinda was too strong ultimately taking the game 11.7.73 to Healesville 6.7.43.

Best for Healesville: D. English, D. Ebbels, R. Sanders, L. English, Gideon Houlihan, L. Warner.

Next up was Healesville Seniors looking to turn around the disappointing result from last time these teams met.

In the first quarter, the quality of football was looking good from both sides, but Olinda got the early jump with first two goals before Healesville answered with the next three.

It was then Olinda putting on three before Healesville with the next two and the score at first break Olinda 5.1.31 to Healesville 5.0.30.

During the next quarter, despite Healesville getting the first goal, the visitors had the best of the term putting on four majors and holding Healesville goalless.

At half time, the score was Olinda 9.4.58 to Healesville 6.3.39.

In the third quarter, the home side dug deep and completely controlled the play for most of the term putting on five unanswered goals before Olinda finally got their only major for the term in the dying minutes of the quarter, Healesville 11.5.71 to Olinda 10.6.66 going into the last.

The last quarter was hard fought but it was Healesville who finally got the first goal 12 minutes in and Olinda answered quickly.

With the quarter well and truly into time on, it was Healesville with a seven-point lead.

Wesburn JFC girls showcase in finals round

By Simone Whitehead

Wesburn Junior AFLW had a huge day with three finals games, for the under 15, 13 and 17s.

Game number one saw the under 15s take on

Mt Evelyn in a preliminary final at Wandin. The girls were coming off a fantastic qualifying win against Emerald, yet were undermanned against a much stronger Mt Evelyn side.

From the get go Mt Evelyn controlled the play and at half time held a commanding lead 381.

The second half saw Wesburn lift and they remained competitive throughout, but Mt Evelyn scored a resounding victory running out winners 61-21.

Best players for Wesburn were Chelsea Tamme,

on Belgrave next Sunday. (Supplied)

Grace Rankin, Marley Raynor and Ash Paterson. Coach Dale ‘Scooter’ Morris said he was “super proud of the girls’ never say never attitude” throughout the game.

The next game was the under 13s who played Healesville in the grand final at Mt Evelyn.

The first half was a most even contest with both teams jostling for position and at half time Healesville were up leading 8 to 6.

While the second half was a tough contest and Healesville ended up winning the match 33 to 13.

Wesburn coaches Josh Plunkett and Grant Newing were extremely proud of their team and praised their efforts of being “brave, smart, fast, and powerful”.

For some players and the coaches, this marked an incredible fourth consecutive grand final appearance a testament to their dedication, resilience, and love for the game.

“Under the leadership of captains Milla Plunkett, Harlow Newing, Clair Stewart, and Rylee

When Olinda scored a major inside the last couple minutes, tensions rose but, in the end Healesville hung on by the narrowest of margins to take the win, Healesville 12.8.80 Olinda 12.7.79. Best for Healesville: L. Daly, E. Bourke, B. Rutley, C. Warren, M. Donegan,H.Munn. Onto to the big game of the day and it was Healesville Senior Women taking on Olinda at Olinda in an elimination final to keep their season alive.

After beating Olinda the previous week in the last home and away game, Healesville girls went into this confident.

This showed in the first quarter with Healesville girls controlling the game to lead at first break 2.3.15 to Olinda 0.2.2.

The second term saw Healesville girls came out firing putting on three straight goals in the first half of the quarter before Olinda got a goal just before half time.

At the main break, it was Healesville in the box seat 5.3.33 to Olinda 1.3.9.

In the third term, with Olinda having five scoring shots to Healesville’s two, it was still the Healesville’s quarter putting on 1.1 to Olinda’s five behinds.

During the last term, despite Healesville only managing two behinds to Olinda’s 1.1, it was the visitor’s way to book themselves a spot in next week’s preliminary final against Upwey at Yarra Junction.

Final score: Healesville 6.6.42 Olinda 2.9.21. Best for Healesville: A. Caldicott, M. Potter, P. Pavic, I. Stock, A. Dahlsen, A. Frazzetto. Next week netballers and male footballers off to Officer and Senior Women, as mentioned, taking on Upwey at Yarra Junction for a spot in the Grand Final.

Go Bloods.

Mackay, the girls have been guided with incredible composure, encouragement, and team first spirit. Their ability to lead both on and off the field has been nothing short of inspiring,” Plunkett said. Game three was the under 17s preliminary final against Healesville at Wandin.

Wesburn controlled the game, led at every change, and went on to record a resounding victory, winning 44 to 28.

Coach Greg Walker was “so proud of the resilience shown. When challenged the girls bandied together and raised the bar.”

Best players were Chelsea Tamme, Abigail Gvozdich, Crystal Norris, Skye Comer, Emelia Robin and Kaylen Tilney.

U17s grand final is next Sunday against Belgrave.

Coldstream Seniors won the last game of the season. (Supplied)

The U17s are through to the grand final, where they take

Healsville Seniors taking on Olinda. (Steve Ebbels)

Playing for cancer research

By David Ball

Yarra Glen hosted its Pink Sports Day on Saturday, joined by Powelltown in Seniors and Reserves footy and netball, with Seville U18’s also being a part of the day.

The fundraising part of the day got off to a great start with Ryan “Whippy” Smith raising $10,000 as he had his famous dreadlocks cut off.

On the football side of things, in the Seniors, Powelltown arrived ready to play in their quest for a third win for the season whilst Yarra Glen were desperate to bounce back after a bad loss last game.

It was a tight contest early on with the River Pigs holding a 15 point lead at quarter time.

The second quarter saw Powelltown lift their intensity as Yarra Glen consistently turn the ball over as they moved forward.

Dean Roy kicked a couple of classy goals for the Demons and at half time Powelltown went in leading 4.6 to 4.5.

After a big spray from the coach at half time, Yarra Glen came out with a greater sense of purpose, moving the ball quickly as they went forward and started finding forward targets.

With a lift in tackle pressure, they were able to get on top around the ground.

If not for some errant kicking for goal, they could have up by more than the 14 points at the last break.

In the last quarter, the River Pigs piled on seven goals to Powelltown’s two.

In the end, Yarra Glen came out for a hard fought 43 point victory, Yarra Glen 15.13 to Powelltown 8.12.

• Best for Yarra Glen: Jake Ferris, Jayden Capuano, Aussie Smith, Chris Webber, Dylan Jarvis, Noah Battle.

• Goalkickers: Jayden Capuano 3 Sam Wood 2, Heath Chamberlain 2, Caleb Surplice 2, Marcus Kikidopolous 2, Max DePina, Noah Battle and Blake Binion 1 each.

The Yarra Glen Reserves were looking to notch up their second win for the season and showed great early desperation.

Sadly, they could not convert up forward as they scored 1.5 for the quarter.

At the other end, Powelltown were able to kick two goals from their limited forward 50 entries.

In a scrappy second quarter, both teams could manage only a goal each, with Powelltown going into half time with just a one point lead.

In a very even third quarter, scoring improved as the lead changed hands a number of times with each team adding three goals for the quarter.

In a desperate last quarter, Yarra Glen had most of the play but missed numerous

opportunities to score.

Powelltown had fewer forward entries but seemed to score every time they went forward.

As a result, Yarra Glen went down 6.11 to Powelltown 9.3.

• Best players: Mason Smith, Dayne Downward, Cal Tucker, Keithy Gerovasilis, Matt McKenzie, Ethan Murdock, Goalkickers were Matt McKenzie 3, Dan Kelly 2, Liam Watson 1.

The Under 18’s came up against a top 2 team in Seville.

With a team packed with quality top aged players, they proved to be too strong, too fast and too skilled as they put together a very even four quarter display.

The Yarra Glen boys put in a great effort and won their fair share of contests.

Despite being outplayed, the River Pig boys never gave up and to their credit put together their best quarter of footy in the last.

It was great to see them add three goals for the game as they went down, Yarra Glen 3.3 to Seville 24.14.

• Best players: Callum Sanders, Xavier Bosua, Sam Gloury, Lincoln Brain, Alastair Lowrie, Xander Dalton. Goalkickers, Callum Sanders 2, Alastair Lowrie 1.

The Vets footy team travelled to Gembrook to take on the top of the ladder undefeated team.

In a really high quality game, Yarra Glen probably played their best game of the season as they went down to be a very accomplished opposition.

After giving Gembrook a four goal start, the River Pigs outscored and outplayed Gembrook in the second and third quarters.

Gembrook steadied in the last as Yarra Glen went down 4.3 to 7.8.

It was a great first season for the Yarra Glen Vets.

• Best players: Chris Capuano, Peter Moate, Adam Robert, Anthony Coppin, Tom Matthews, Brad McKenzie. Goal kickers, Brenton Cantle,

Anthony Coppin, Beau Hawkins, Peter Moate.

The Yarra Glen netballers all faced Powelltown.

The Yarra Glen A Grade girls dominated from the start and in very impressive quarter effort they went on to score a resounding 53 goal victory.

With Georgia Crundale shooting 50 goals Yarra Glen won easily, 83 to 30.

• Best Players: Alana McGurgan, Lauren VanDerWesthuizen, Georgia Crundale. Yarra Glen B Grade girls started well to be 23 to seven up at quarter time.

With Meaghan Carter celebrating her 200th game, they continued to extend their lead throughout the game and have locked away a top 4 position with a resounding 77 to 33 victory.

• Best Players: Imojean Parsons, Skye Corrigan and Meaghan Carter.

The Yarra Glen C Grade girls were under pressure early in the game as Powelltown played with great spirit in the first quarter.

In a great defensive effort, the Yarra girls restricted Powelltown to just 11 goals for the game as they went on to score 68 of their own.

As with the other netball teams, B Grade have locked in a top four finish with just the one game to go before finals.

• Best players: Abbey Page, Leah Haag, Ellie Estcourt.

With D Grade starting the day for Yarra Glen they defended well throughout to restrict Powelltown to just 11 goals.

They worked the ball well through the midcourt and their shooters converted well.

Despite not having won a game for the season, the Powelltown girls competed hard and provided a good spirited opposition.

Yarra Glen went on to win 42 to 11.

• Best players: Sam Chetcuti, Ashleigh Wallace, Lily Dove.

Next week, Yarra Glen travels to Warburton for the last home and away game.

Healesville Reds close in on title with strong 3-1 win

By Sarah Bailey

Gutsy play from juniors and seniors on Saturday as the season’s end nears.

Healesville Firsts 3–1 Monbulk Rangers

The derby clash and match of the round was an even contest played mainly in the middle third.

The game opened up when JJ was brought down in the box and scored from the resulting penalty kick on the 35-minute mark.

The Reds’ lead lasted just three minutes, as a mix-up in defence allowed Monbulk to enter the Healesville box and finish well into the near post for a 1–1 half-time score.

Healesville made a few tactical changes and began to assert their dominance in the second half.

Daniel T missed from close range before an out-swinging corner was met with a bullet headed by captain Anton M.

Healesville continued to push, but Monbulk, with pace aplenty, always looked dangerous on the counter.

Daniel T, arguably Healesville’s best player on the day, scored with 10 minutes to go to give Healesville some breathing space.

A second yellow card to a Monbulk player shortly after helped Healesville’s cause even further, and the Reds played out the last five minutes to take all three points and continue their charge for the title.

Healesville U16s 10–0 Knox

The team talk was all about treating this game as a grand final.

Healesville scored early and showed complete dominance across the entire first half.

Kieran O, Gordon K, Charlie J, Harry L and Aidan C all scored to have the home side 7–0 up at the break.

The second half was a little more even.

Knox had a handful of shots early, but all were missed, or saved by Cooper B.

Another goal from Aidan 10 minutes in gave the opportunity to change the keeper and unleash Cooper with fresh legs.

His impact was immediate, helping Aidan to his fourth goal and Hamish M to his first for the day.

A second from Gordon rounded out the tally.

Healesville finished with a clean sheet, their biggest win of the season and, with results elsewhere going their way, a jump back up to second place.

Healesville U14 Red Devils 5–2 Waverley

It was an early start at a foggy Don Road, but the Devils were on fire.

Eloise W and Sia M scored inside the first four minutes after latching onto magnificent through balls from Georgia C and Ava H.

Healesville were then punished for some ball watching and loss of structure with Waverley scoring twice to level it up by half-time.

A lift of intensity in the second half saw a domination of play and three more goals.

Sia M completed another hat-trick and Eloise W added a second.

It’s hard to go past strikers Eloise W and Sia M for the best on field, but Henrietta IM also delivered another outstanding midfield performance.

With second place locked in, the Devils play top-of-the-table Knox at home next week.

Healesville U12 Diamonds 4–0 Berwick B Saturday’s result was down to three goals by Emmelia (including a nutmeg and over-the-head shot) and an unfortunate own goal.

The ball was solidly in the Diamonds’ attack half for about three quarters of the game.

Many more shots on goal just slipped wide, with Keely, Maddie, Evie, Elodie and Audrey right up there. The Diamonds’ defence was top notch, with Maddy and Annabelle superb in goal alongside Tilly and Anja’s solid defence line.

The opposition’s efforts were quickly shut down, and the Diamonds’ ball passing and attacking pressure through the midfield was relentless.

Healesville U12 Panthers 3–0 Berwick Thunder

The Panthers’ goal was to build on last week’s performance and knock off a top-three side.

With Louis away and Eddie out sick, it was great to welcome back Solti, still nursing an injury that’s kept him sidelined for a month.

Ankle brace on and Voltaren applied, he took his place in goal.

The opening 10 minutes were evenly matched.

The Panthers backline of Jake, Will, Jack and Milo was rock solid.

Thunder had the first big chance after a defensive error led to a penalty, but Solti produced a stunning save to keep the score level.

That lifted the team.

Ben, Sem, Flynn and Ryan began to link up,

and the breakthrough came when Ryan pounced on a wayward goal kick and drilled a low shot into the bottom-left corner.

Late in the half, Berwick earned another penalty for handball, but Solti pulled off a second huge save to keep the Panthers 1–0 up at the break.

Thunder started strong after half-time, and the first 10 minutes were a midfield battle.

Key efforts from Ash, Leon, Jake, Sem and Sam turned the tide.

Around the 15-minute mark, pressure from a series of corners paid off, with Sem’s cross spilled loose in front, and Sam finished for his second goal of the season.

The final goal started from the back, with Jake linking with Sem, who burst into space, outpaced the defence and slotted it in off the inside of the right post.

Next week’s mission is to take down secondplaced Berwick Spirit to make it five straight wins to finish the season.

Healesville U11 Ninjas 7–0 Maroondah Teal

A beautiful morning saw the Ninjas take on Maroondah Teal at Silcock Reserve.

The team played a cohesive first half with good passing and alert defending.

Leo opened the scoring, but all the Ninjas’ key offensive players would slot one in, with Max scoring two.

It was 4–0 at half-time.

Jaxson and Hayden saved what little came their way.

Levi, Kaspar and Felix followed instructions well and played with heart.

Max, Jacob and Ollie dominated the centre of the pitch with Percy tidying up anything that got past the mids.

And Noah, Leo and Leroy caused a heap of trouble for Maroondah.

Other results:

• Healesville U10 Falcons

The U12 Panthers defeated top-three side Berwick Thunder. (Supplied)

Jake Ferris of Yarra Glen flying high to take a great mark. (Supplied)

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