Mail - Mountain Views Star Mail - 7th October 2025 by Star News Group

Get Fire Ready

By Oliver Winn

As we head into what’s predicted to be a particularly dangerous fire season, the CFA has kicked off its Get Fire Ready campaign at the Sassafras CFA on 30 September.

Among those who spoke at the campaign launch was Black Saturday survivor and Marysville CFA second lieutenant Glen Fiske, who lost his wife and son during one of Australia’s most significant bushfire events.

“Don’t be complacent. Follow the priority information that’s around. Go to your brigades, ask the questions if you’re unsure and keep your place cleaned up,” Mr Fiske said.

More than 530 CFA brigades will host events to help communities prepare for the summer season, with a number of CFAs across the Yarra Ranges and the Dandenongs taking part.

Mr Fiske pleaded with residents living in high fire risk areas such as the Dandenongs and the Yarra Ranges to prepare and act early to avoid disaster.

AED map in Shocktober

It’s “shocktober” this month, and Ambulance Victoria are encouraging Victorians to know the location of their nearest automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

AEDs are automated devices that are used during a cardiac arrest to shock the patient’s heart back into normal function and there are many stationed around the Upper Yarra for the public to access in an emergency.

They are designed to be used by anyone regardless of medical training as they provide simple, step-by-step instructions.

In Warburton, four AEDs are available - one is located at the Community Bank Warburton-Yarra Junction, and another can be found at the Upper Yarra Arts Centre.

Meanwhile, the Warburton IGA has an AED stationed at the left of the IGA community information board and the ADRA Community Centre has one on the wall at the front door.

Yarra Junction also has four AEDs registeredone at the Community Bank and another at the Woolworths.

The AED at the Upper Yarra Family Centre is located above the first aid kit within the customer service area.

October marks the sixth year of the campaign and aims to increase cardiac arrest survival rates across Victoria.

Ambulance Victoria’s latest data showed that Victoria has the best cardiac survival rates in Australia, and the third best anywhere in the world.

Ambulance Victoria medical director associate professor David Anderson said it is essential to know CPR, how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and where your closest defibrillator is located.

“Shocktober is about giving more Victorians who suffer a cardiac arrest a better chance of returning to their loved ones,” he said.

“We are urging the community to refresh their knowledge about CPR and how to use a defibrillator. For every minute CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent.

“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere, at any age, health or fitness level, and often without symptoms.”

Mr Anderson said the Call, Push and Shock phrase was a good way to remember how to act in an emergency.

“Our message is simple – you don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life, just remember to Call (Triple Zero 000), Push (perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED).”

Shocktober is also encouraging Victorians to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and sign up to be a GoodSAM responder.

“GoodSAM is a free mobile app that connects patients in cardiac arrest with a nearby volunteer who is willing to begin hands-only CPR while

paramedics are on their way,” he said.

“There are currently more than 17,300 GoodSAM Responders across the state, but we need more.”

Woori Yallock has four AEDs. One of these is located at the Yarra Ranges National Park Parks Victoria office, 7-9 Symes Road Woori Yallock.

The Community Bank Woori Yallock and District also has an AED located out the front, while the Hillcrest CFA has an AED next to the front door.

Seville has five AEDs available, with one at the Seville Primary School’s sick bay (only available from 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday), one at the Woolworths, one at the Seville CFA and another at the Seville Village Pharmacy.

There’s also one located at the Seville Public Hall, though this building is only accessible when programs are running.

AV will run the below Call, Push, Shock sessions in the Yarra Ranges during Shocktober and locals are encouraged to attend.

A Emerald Safety Expo will take place at the Hills Hub in Emerald on Saturday 11 October at 1pm, while another event, the Lilydale Lights and Sirens - Community Helpers, takes place at Lilydale Lake, Swansea Road, on Sunday 19 October, at 9.30am.

If you want to find out the closest AED to you, then you can check out the map at the link: goodsamapp.org/locatorMap

Local teens charged

Four teenage boys, including two from the Yarra Ranges, have been charged after a suspected stolen car sped through a busy shopping mall and hit a pedestrian.

The white BMW was seen being driven erratically on the Eastern Freeway at Doncaster in Melbourne’s east early on Monday afternoon.

Police followed it into the CBD, where the SUV struck a woman on Exhibition Street.

She suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital for observation.

The car was dumped in Bourke Street Mall and the occupants fled on foot before being arrested outside a shopping centre on Lonsdale Street.

A 17-year-old and a 16-year-old from the Yarra Ranges were both arrested and charged.

They, alongside two more teens, also 16 and 17 years old from Bendigo, were arrested and charged with an array of offences, including theft of a motor vehicle, conduct endangering life, aggravated home invasion and theft.

One of the 17-year-old boys was bailed to appear in a children’s court at a later date.

The other three are expected to face a children’s court on Tuesday.

Premier Jacinta Allan praised police for quickly arresting the teens.

“This is disgraceful, dangerous behaviour. Victorians won’t tolerate it and neither will we,” she said in a statement after the incident.

Six people died and 27 were injured when James Gargasoulas drove into Bourke Street Mall in January 2017.

A driver rammed pedestrians crossing on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth streets later that same year, killing an elderly man and injuring 17 others.

In November 2018, Hassan Khalif Shire Ali parked his ute on Bourke Street and set it alight before stabbing three people, killing Melbourne cafe owner Sisto Malaspina in a terror attack.

Victoria Police said no weapons were involved in the incident on Monday afternoon, 29 September and the car was believed to have been stolen from the Boroondara area on Sunday.

There were 28,482 motor vehicle thefts in Victoria over the year to the end of June 2025, according to the latest state crime statistics. That equates to 78 thefts each day or one every 18 minutes.

Youth crime continues to rise in the state, with the number of offences committed by children aged 10 to 17 jumping 13.7 per cent year-on-year.

AAP

Ambulance Victoria is encouraging Victorians to know the location of their nearest AED. (Supplied)

By Oliver Winn

Four teens, including two from the Yarra Ranges, were arrested and charged after a police chase through the eastern suburbs. (File: 245950)

Rotary donates AED

By Dongyun Kwon

The Rotary Club of Healesville presented a special gift to Healesville Police on National Police Remembrance Day, the day to pay respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Coinciding with Blue Ribbon Day, an initiative of the Blue Ribbon Foundation which raises money for new and improved emergency facilities in Victorian public hospitals, Healesville Rotary Club donated an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to local police on Monday 29 September.

An AED is a portable, user-friendly device that treats sudden cardiac arrest by delivering an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.

Healesville Rotary Club project coordinator Michael Hardinge said Rotary has always been about backing the local community where it matters most, and supporting Victoria Police with AEDs is a practical step that will have a real, immediate impact in Healesville.

“This project is about saving lives. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every minute

without defibrillation reduces their chance of survival by 10 per cent,” he said.

“Giving our local police the tools they need could be the difference between life and death.”

While police routinely deliver first aid and are often first on the scene in medical emergencies, AEDs are not standard issue equipment in police vehicles.

The AED delivered by Healesville Rotary will be equipped in the Healesville response vehicle to ensure local police officers can provide critical, lifesaving treatment while awaiting Ambulance Victoria’s arrival.

Healesville Police Acting Sergeant Tay Ray said Healesville Police feel blessed and honoured to be in such a good community.

“We feel very supported by the community. I know it’ll be used to help people when they need it most,” she said.

This initiative follows proven success in Mooroolbark, where supplied AEDs to police response vans were used within the first week of deployment and directly saved a life.

“We were talking to Sergeant Cunningham at Mooroolbark about the success that they’ve had with their defibrillator, which they funded

through a Bendigo Bank grant,” the Healesville Rotarian said.

“It baffled me that defibrillators aren’t standard issue equipment in police vehicles that are responding to emergencies.

“A lot of the time, they are the first people to get there, so it makes sense that they need the equipment to save people’s lives.”

Healesville Rotary is now preparing to expand this new community safety initiative across the Yarra Valley to donate more AEDs to other police stations.

“The next step for us will be fundraising for an AED for the Yarra Glen van because Yarra Glen is also part of Healesville Rotary’s area,” Mr Hardinge said.

“We’re also going to work with other Rotary Clubs across the Yarra Valley and eventually, hopefully, across Victoria to try to roll out this project more broadly so it has a greater effect on saving lives.”

Community members who wish to support this next phase can contribute directly through the donation details available on the Rotary Club of Healesville website at rotaryhealesville.

IN BRIEF

Police seek information about Coldstream arsons

Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit are investigating a series of arsons surrounding the Halley Supple Reserve (Coldstream Football / Cricket Club Oval) between 3 and 5 October.

The first fire was detected at 10.45pm on Friday 3 October where a tree had been set alight.

The second fire was observed at about 5am on Sunday 5 October, where another tree has been set alight.

It is possible that this fire had been burning for some time prior to being reported.

Police are seeking any information regarding the offences.

If you have any information regarding the incidents, please contact Yarra Ranges CIU on 9734 2401, or alternatively make a report via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersvic. com.au

Ref No: 250415316

Change your smoke alarm and stay alive

With an alarming 3000 house fires occurring in Victoria annually – that’s almost ten house fires every single day – RACV is encouraging Victorians to check their smoke alarms.

The reminder comes as fire authorities report that 60 per cent of house fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms, with victims often succumbing to smoke inhalation while sleeping, never getting the chance to escape.

“We’re not just talking about property damage – we’re talking about preventable deaths,” said RACV general manager insurance and roadside Bill Bloodworth.

“Many Victorian families are going to sleep every night without properly functioning smoke alarms.”

Fire safety experts reveal that house fires can become lethal within just three minutes, leaving families with a window of mere seconds to evacuate safely.

Drivers warned as school returns School zone speed limits are in place again as Term 4 of 2025 commences on Monday 6 October, with drivers on the road in the mornings and afternoons urged to take care as students return to school.

Drivers are reminded to be patient around school zones as speed limits return and there is an expected increase in road, pedestrian and bicycle traffic at drop-off and pick-up times.

Some school speed zones are permanent, while others operate from 8am to 9.30am, and from 2.30pm to 4pm on weekdays, with reduced speeds of 40km/h or 60km/h in school zones until the end of the school term.

L-R: Sergeant Jason Kelly, Senior Constable Marj Taylor, Sergeant Cal Cunningham and Acting Sergeant Tay Ray with Healesville Roatarians Michael Hardinge, Delyse Brown, Sally Piper and Julie Hardinge. (Dongyun Kwon: 507323)

Get ﬁre ready: survivor plea

By Oliver Winn

A Black Saturday survivor who lost his wife and son has warned of community complacency as Victoria heads into a high fire risk summer season.

Speaking at the Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Station, Marysville CFA second lieutenant Glen Fiske said those living in high fire risk areas must be prepared before the summer or else they’ll risk a tragedy.

“Don’t be complacent. Follow the priority information that’s around. Go to your brigades, ask the questions if you’re unsure and keep your place cleaned up,” Mr Fiske said.

The CFA launched its statewide Get Fire Ready initiative at the Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Station on 30 September where more than 530 CFA brigades will host events to help communities prepare for the summer season.

CFAs across the Yarra Ranges and the Dandenongs will host events informing locals on how to best prepare for the season - to find out when your local brigade is taking part, visit cfa. vic.gov.au/getfireready.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said Mount Dandenong was chosen for the launch because the region is one of the most fire-prone areas, despite not experiencing a major fire since 1997.

“The 1997 fires were particularly devastating to this community that occurred right in the heart of the Dandenongs, which is why we’ve chosen to launch it here today.

“But as time moves on, sometimes people move into these areas and don’t realise the risks that they’re exposing themselves to.

“Sometimes complacency can slip in a little bit… This season is not one of those seasons where you want those things to happen,” Mr Heffernan said.

Mr Fiske was in Marysville fighting the devastating Black Saturday bushfires when he lost his wife Liz and son Dalton.

He pleaded with residents living in high fire risk areas such as the Dandenongs and the Yarra Ranges to prepare and act early to avoid disaster.

“We just hope that no one ever sees what we saw, it was truly the biggest fire that I’ve ever seen,” Mr Fiske said.

He expressed concern at those ignoring advice and not taking the fire risk seriously.

“It troubles me when I see areas where people obviously aren’t helping themselves.

He said the experience was a harrowing one which was “difficult, stressful and challenging”.

“Any firefighter who says they’re not scared during these circumstances is either lying or they’re a fool.

“Here we are standing on top of a hill in the middle of a forest. In bushfire terms, it doesn’t get much worse than that when it catches fire. It’s very fast.

“So, when we say get fire ready, we mean get fire ready and be ready to act straight away,” Mr Schauble.

Parliamentary secretary for emergency services Sheena Watt said the Montrose bushfire earlier this year demonstrated how important it was to be prepared and recognised the volunteers who fought the blaze.

“I want to take this time to acknowledge and thank the 200 firefighters who battled that blaze not far from here,” Ms Watt said.

Mr Heffernan said the Get Fire Ready initiative also was a time to recognise the 173 firefighters who have lost their lives extinguishing the flames to protect the community.

“As part of the Get Fire Ready campaign and mission, we’re asking all Victorians to honor the 173 and honor all other victims of largescale bushfires here in Victoria.

“We’re asking all Victorians to take the appropriate steps to ensure that no further families suffer the loss such as Glen here today,” Mr Heffernan said.

Community wanted to help decide Gruyere school’s future

By Oliver Winn

The State Government is consulting with the community as it determines the future of Gruyere Primary School.

A letter from the Department of Education was delivered to community members in late September which invited locals to drop-in sessions where they can discuss the prospect of new enrolments, obtain feedback and answer questions.

The sessions will be held on Tuesday 14 October from 7.30pm to 8.30pm at the Gruyere Hall.

Gruyere Primary School has had no students or staff since the start of 2024 due to a lack of student enrolments, and thus has been non-operational.

However, the school hasn’t closed down yet and its fate will be determined once more information is obtained surrounding potential enrolments.

“The department is compiling a range of information to inform a recommendation about the school’s future to the Minister of Education.

“This includes enrolment interest, data about

the number of students living in the Gruyere PS zone and capacity of the schools in the surrounding area,” the letter stated.

If there was enough local demand for students to attend the school, then there could be a process of seeking enrolments throughout 2026 for the 2027 school year.

A minimum of 11 new enrolments would be required for the school to reopen.

In July 2025 Gruyere Primary School received $52,000 as part of the Victorian Government’s Planned Maintenance Program (PMP) for essen-

tial maintenance works.

Three buildings at the school were identified as needing essential maintenance work to ensure they’re kept weatherproof and secure.

If the school fails to receive any interest, or if it doesn’t reach the required amount of enrolments, then it would officially close and the department will manage the site’s disposal.

Assets and memorabilia of local historical interest from the school would be handed over.

The Department of Education was contacted for comment.

You’ve got to help yourself,” Mr Fiske said. Sassafras-Ferny Creek CFA lieutenant John Schauble was on the frontlines of the 1997

Dandenong Ranges fire which killed three people and destroyed more than 40 homes in the Ferny Creek, Kalorama and Upwey areas.

Marysville CFA second lieutenant Glen Fiske told his story at the event. (Oliver Winn: 507637)

L-R: Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino, Mr Fiske, CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan, SassafrasFerny Creek CFA lieutenant John Schauble and secretary for emergency services Sheena Watt. (Oliver Winn 507637)

Fires getting costlier, deadlier

By Callum Ludwig

New research from the University of Tasmania’s Fire Centre has highlighted how the most catastrophic wildfires are occurring more frequently, with 43 per cent of the world’s worst recorded in just the past decade.

The study examined fires that killed 10 or more people or ranked among the top 200 for economic impact relative to the country’s wealth over 44 years and found that the most economically damaging fires have increased by four times since 1980, while fires causing 10 or more deaths have tripled in the same timeframe.

Lead author Dr Calum Cunningham said it’s deeply concerning that we’re seeing disasters that once seemed exceptional happening with disturbing regularity.

“It’s a problem affecting many regions around the world,beyond the obvious direct impacts of disasters, it’s also having significant economic ramifications on the broader population through to hikes to insurance premiums, and even the collapse of some insurance markets around the world,” he said.

“Australia isn’t alone — we’re part of a global trend of escalating fire disasters,”

“Learning from overseas experiences, whether in California, Greece, or Chile, can help us anticipate what might happen here and adapt before history repeats itself.”

The study found Mediterranean-type forests found in southern Australia, southern Europe, California and Chile as well as temperate conifer forests in places like western North America experience significant fire events at rates far exceeding their land area. All these environments share three traits where researchers found disasters occur: intense daily fire activity, populated areas and valuable infrastructure.

Dr Cunningham said climate change is a major driver of bushfire disasters and inaction compounds the problem year after year.

“But the trajectory isn’t fixed, we can slow

and soften the impacts by cutting emissions - every increment of a degree of prevented warming will carry very real benefits to reducing the risk of bushfire disasters, as well as other natural hazards more broadly,” he said.

“Southern Australia remains a very high-risk region, periodically we experience very intense bushfires in areas that people live, there’s no reason the next major fire season couldn’t rival or surpass Black Saturday and Black Summer in scale and cost,”

“But rather than prompting fear, I hope this work highlights the need to prepare long ahead of the fire season by ensuring people have

well-prepared properties and well-thought-out fire plans.”

2018 was the worst year for fires covered by the study, coming at a cost of $45.2 billion, five times the 44-year average while half of all events costing more than $43 billion have occurred in the last decade.

Dr Cunningham said it is critically important people living in bushfire prone areas take very seriously the need to prepare properties.

“For example, by ensuring embers cannot get into house vents, that there is no leaf litter under decks, that there is a buffer between the house and nearby vegetation, these all convey

real benefits to reducing the risk of a house burning down,” he said.

“It’s also critical for safety that people develop fire plans long ahead of an approaching fire.”

The prevalence of extreme fire danger days is closely tied to the prevalence of significant fires, with half of all the worst fires occurring in the most extreme weather conditions, the worst 0.1 per cent of days that occur only once every three years. Researchers also found these days are becoming more common, with severe fire weather increasing more than twice, atmospheric dryness increasing 2.4 times, and severe droughts increasing 3.4 times since 1980.

Co-author Professor David Bowman said we’re dealing with fires under weather conditions fundamentally more dangerous than previous generations experienced.

“This provides a roadmap for where the next catastrophic disasters are most likely to occur,” he said.

“But climate change has fundamentally altered the game,”

“We need to adapt how we live with fire, not just fight it.”

The devastating impacts forecast by the research team have already started to come to fruition, with the risk model predicting the world’s potentially costliest fires in Los Angeles in January 2025, estimated at $104 billion Australian dollars. Chile’s Valparaíso fires in 2024, which killed 135 people, also hit a region the model identified as extremely high risk.

Dr Cunningham said the research paints a disturbing picture, but the continuation of the trends is not a foregone conclusion.

“We obviously and unambiguously must make urgent progress on limiting climate change, every increment of prevented warming will carry benefits,” he said.

“But we must also pay major attention to proactive, preventative bushfire mitigation at scales ranging from the bushland to our backyards and homes.”

Are your kids living in a world revolving around their passions? That’s a good thing.

It’s why the VCE’s new Vocational Major creates worlds where passions can be explored.

From agriculture to construction, health to clean energy. Whatever world our kids are into, there’s a VCE program to help develop the skills they’ll need to land a job in Australia’s most in-demand industries.

The view from Healesville looking toward Chum Creek on the night of Black Saturday, which killed 173 people. (File: 319207)

Roads rate poorly for safety

By Callum Ludwig

New road safety ratings have been revealed for some of Australia’s most well-travelled roads, and a few in the Yarra Ranges have been identified as areas of concern.

Austroads, the association of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies, has made public safety star ratings for Australia’s major arterial roads on a National Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) Dashboard.

Ranked from one star to five stars, a few roads throughout the Yarra Ranges have received the lowest possible rating:

Healesville-Kinglake Road between Toolangi and Chum Creek, the Black Spur Drive on Maroondah Highway in Fernshaw, stretches of Don Road in Badger Creek, Mount Toolebewong and Don Valley, Donna Buang Road in Warburton, Warburton-Woods Point Road from East Warburton onwards, a section of Yarra Junction-Noojee Road in Powelltown, Gembrook-Launching Place Road between Hoddles Creek and Gembrook and Gembrook Road from Gembrook to past Pakenham Upper.

Most of the highest-rated roads in the Outer East are 3.8 stars:

Anderson Street between Pine Street and the roundabout in Lilydale, Mt Dandenong Road through Montrose and Kilsyth between Magnolia Grove and Charles Street, Forest Road in The Basin between the Mountain Highway roundabout and Harcourt Road, Monbulk Road between Clegg Road and Aqueduct Avenue in Mt Evelyn, bell Street and the start of Healesville-Yarra Glen Road in Yarra Glen and Badger Creek Road up to Cornish Avenue in Healesville.

A few exceptions reach above a four-star ranking: Maroondah Highway between Badger Creek Road and White Street in Healesville, Symonds Street up to the start of Eltham-Yarra Glen Road in Yarra Glen, the Warburton Highway between Wesburn Park and The Crescent in Wesburn and again between Mayer Bridge and the end of the Warburton Rail Trail in Warburton.

Automotive journalist Robert Pepper said he drives along the Black Spur around 15 times a year on average and said it is a critical route to the Marysville area for residents, while also being windy and scenic, so popular with the sports car fraternity, and often used by four-wheel-drive enthusiasts on their way to the various forests around Marysville and beyond.

“The road is very different to ‘normal’ roadsit is narrow, has many sharp turns, blind corners, is often cold and wet and isn’t particularly steep but there are gradients, that is my guess as to why it has a one-star rating and I’m not sure how the rating systems work, but the rating is probably appropriate,” he said.

“However, the major safety concern I’ve noted is drivers without the skills to handle the road.”

Mr Pepper identified a number of ways drivers are unprepared for the troublesome stretch of Maroondah Highway, largely related to speed and an understanding of the conditions.

Mr Pepper said specifically that drivers are failing to slow the car sufficiently for a corner downhill, running wide, as the driver is clearly not used to such a road.

“You can often see brake lights flash on and off multiple times around a corner as the driver is mentally behind the car, reacting too late, braking for an uphill corner when there’s no need, vs not braking enough for downhills,” he said.

“Not keeping within the narrow lanes, holding up traffic; maybe accelerating on short straights, but over-slowing for corners, and not using the slow-vehicle passing points.

“An appreciation of how much the risk changes from a hot, sunny day to a dark, wet, rainy night with leaf litter all over the road (grip, vision, risk of tree fall) and dealing with blind corners vs vision corners.”

Mr Pepper highlighted the impact of risk compensation theory in driving, where the safer the road, the more likely drivers are to take risks and vice versa.

Mr Pepper said the biggest improvement for driving on the Black Spur would be driver training. “The driver training and test does nothing to prepare drivers for rural roads generally, and the Black Spur is a great example - fix the driver, and suddenly all roads become safer, so to my mind that’s cheaper and more effective than trying to upgrade road after road,” he said.

“Following another car within thirty seconds, whether it’s someone experienced with such roads, or a driver who is new to such roads.

“As for specific upgrades, it would be best to

analyse the data from crashes and incidents to identify root causes. I don’t have that data, but I can’t imagine it’s cost-effective to widen the road and that would just potentially increase speedsthere is ample evidence that the safer the road, the greater the risk taken.”

The road safety ratings factor in built safety features such as road layout, speed limits, and traffic volumes and do not consider driver behaviour.

The dashboard also presents at least five years of crash risk data for each road based on crash density (the number of serious crashes per kilometre of road per year) and crash rate (serious crashes per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled).

Austroads chief executive Geoff Allan said not

all roads are equal when it comes to risk.

“That’s why the focus of AusRAP is on the country’s most travelled roads – the highways and major arterial routes where millions of Australians drive every day, and where fatal and serious injury crashes are most likely to occur,” he said.

The national road safety target sets a goal that by 2030, at least 80 per cent of travel occurs on three-star roads or better, supporting Australia’s Vision Zero goal of zero deaths or serious injuries on roads by 2050.

The Australian Automobile Association

(AAA), which introduced AusRAP in 2001 before handing over the reins to Austroads in 2021, welcomed the release of the ratings and managing director Michael Bradley said data transparency will save lives.

“The AAA thanks each of the governments releasing this life-saving data for listening to the views of Australian motorists and safety campaigners,” he said

“Now that this critical data is being made public, Australians can compare which roads attract government funding with independent data about our most dangerous roads and highways.”

“This is great news for motorists and should lead to decision-making based on evidence, not politics.”

The winding roads of the Black Spur drive are ranked one-star for built-in road safety. (File: 207201)

The public safety star ratings are accessible on a National Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) Dashboard. (507745)

Gembrook-Launching Place Road between Hoddles Creek and Gembrook was given a one-star rating. (Stewart Chambers: 507745)

Uniting services lose funds

By Callum Ludwig

One key provider of emergency relief services has missed out on crucial funding from the Australian Government, resulting in the closure of their services in the east.

Uniting Vic.Tas missed out on the latest round of Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity (FWC) grants which were distributed on 1 October, and they won’t be able to apply again until 2030 as the program is a five-year contract.

Uniting’s Senior Manager for Homelessness in East Victoria Maidie Graham said disappointingly, Uniting Vic.Tas had a significant reduction in Federal Government funding for all their Victorian emergency relief services, including losing all funding for their emergency relief services in Melbourne’s East.

“Our emergency relief service in Ringwood had assisted nearly 1300 people last financial year with the benefit of the Federal Government funding we have now lost,” she said.

“So we’ve had to close our emergency relief program that had been open to the public at our Ringwood office and have stopped offering food vouchers from our Blackburn office,”

“We understand the Government has provided funding for emergency relief to other not-forprofit organisations in the region, however, we are disappointed that Uniting has missed out in this instance.”

Successful applicants for grants in the Outer East consisted of Community Information and Support Victoria, Dandenong Ranges Relief Service, EV Strengthening Communities, Glen Park Community Centre, LinC Yarra Valley, Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services and The Salvation Army.

“No one should be faced with a choice between putting food on the table or paying their bills. That’s why we’re increasing funding for these vital services by 25 per cent, to ensure all Australians can find a helping hand when they need one,” Minister for Social Services Tanya

Plibersek said when the grants were announced in July.

“Fuel vouchers, food relief and financial counselling may sound simple but for many they’re life changing. No one plans to fall on hard times, yet it can happen to any one of us.

In those difficult periods every person deserves respect, support and opportunity – that’s why the Albanese Labor Government is investing in frontline services,” Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence Ged Kearney said.

The cut for Uniting Vic.Tas comes despite over 300 grants being awarded, bringing the total FWC funding up from $120 million a year to $150 million a year. FWC services eligible for funding include emergency relief, food relief and material aid, financial counselling and capability services, financial wellbeing hubs, the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS), NILS for Vehicles and the Saver Plus matched savings education program and the National Debt Helpline.

Ms Graham said despite this funding cut, they’ll try to continue to offer food relief to peo-

ple engaged with their homelessness and family violence support services provided in Ringwood.

“Community support and donations are needed more than ever so we can deliver this vital service to help vulnerable people during a cost-of-living crisis,”

“Anyone wishing to help can contribute through our Food For Families campaign.”

United Vic.Tas also has an office in Croydon which does not offer emergency relief. To donate to United’s Foods for Families campaign, visit foodforfamilies.org.au/help.

Uniting VicTas’ homelessness senior manager Maidie Graham is disappointed by the loss of funding. (File: 494773)

Yarra Valley joins FightMND

By Dongyun Kwon

FightMND is inviting the Yarra Valley community members to join its major drive.

In 2013, former AFL player and coach Neale Daniher AO was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), and Neale’s wife Jan Daniher said her family didn’t believe it at first.

“Life was really good. We were living in WA and we both thought we were really healthy at the time,” she said.

“We’re absolutely devastated when we got the final diagnosis.”

MND has affected Mr Daniher severely ever since.

Now, he can’t speak and uses eye gaze to communicate.

The diagnosis of MND has also had a massive impact on the Daniher family.

“We both had jobs in elite sport, and we loved working in that industry, and it meant that Neale and I quit our roles, moved back to Melbourne,” Ms Daniher said.

“Life was very uncertain because we thought he was going to live for around 27 months, and we were sort of planning along those lines.

“We had two sons living in Perth and two daughters in Melbourne. One son came back with us to Melbourne, and then Rebecca, who was an accountant at the time, ended up changing her career and working for FightMND.”

Mr Daniher found the MND was largely overlooked and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council allocated just 0.6 per cent of its funding to MND research.

He was determined to make a change and founded FightMND with Dr Ian Davis, a haematologist diagnosed with MND at just 33, and Pat Cunningham, whose wife was struggling with the disease, in November 2014.

That’s how FightMND was born, and later on, it launched three different projects, Daniher’s Drive, Challenge 27 and Big Freeze, to raise awareness of MND, support vital and urgent MND research and care initiatives to improve the lives of those living with MND.

Since kicking off in 2015, Daniher’s Drive alone has raised over $14 million to fuel the fight against MND.

“We had a lot of fun getting the very first one organised, and it’s just been an amazing event because of the people we get to meet and the people that come on the drive,” Ms Daniher said.

“The support of everyone around Australia has been incredible, and we really appreciate that.”

This year, Daniher’s Drive will take place for four days, departing from Heidelberg Golf Club on Thursday 9 October and wrapping up at RACV Torquay Resort on Sunday 12 October.

The drive will visit the Yarra Valley on the first and second days, stopping by Four Pillars Gin Distillery, Warburton Bowls Club and Helen’s Hill Estate.

Ms Daniher said she is looking forward to coming to the Yarra Valley and meeting locals.

“We’re looking forward to coming up your way, and we’re dropping in at a number of places in your neck of the woods,” she said.

“We’re hoping to meet as many as we can of

the local community.”

Find out more about the Daniher’s Drive at the FightMND website, fightmnd.org.au/whats-on/ danihers-drive

Prior to the Danihers Drive, there was another fundraiser held in a local golf club to support FightMND.

Graeme Temperly, who lost his mate to MND, hosted the Challenge 27 at the Eastern Golf Club on 18 September.

It was the second time Mr Temperly organised the event at the local golf club.

“27 is, unfortunately, the number of months of life expectancy after being diagnosed with MND,” he said.

“We’ve got a 27-hole championship-level golf course out of Eastern Golf Club in Yering, and I thought if we can get approval to play from hole one right through to 27, that has a perfect synergy with the 27 number and the FightMND challenge.”

The first Challenge 27 at Eastern Golf Club raised about $1400 last year.

This year, the event went bigger and ended up raising over $3400, which was a lot more than the original target amount of $2700.

The donation was made through the registration fee of $27 per player, as well as sponsorships.

All proceeds throughout the fundraiser went towards FightMND directly.

The event organiser said there were no prizes at all.

“What I said to the players was that all of that money that would have been spent to buy those prizes, I added into a special donation to the fund,” Mr Temperly said.

“(Eastern Golf Club) allowed me to play 27 holes, which is not normal. Normally, it’s just 18 or nine. The actual third nine holes we played were closed for normal weekly maintenance, but they allowed us to play.

“They also organised the scoring, and then there was the normal catering.”

Mr Temperly hopes to host this annually on Thursday of AFL preliminary final week.

Driving change: Daniher’s Drive to stop by Warburton

By Oliver Winn

A 60-strong convoy will pass through Warburton for the 2025 Daniher’s Drive to raise funds and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND).

The Drive will stop at the Warburton Bowls Club on Friday 10 October at 10.30am where exAFL players will take part in a bowls tournament and community stalls will be available.

It’s Millgrove local Lachie Pitman’s ninth Daniher’s Drive he’s participated in, and the cause is one close to his heart.

“I started it because a friend of mine about 35 years ago got MND. And no one had heard much about MND at the time.

“But more importantly, I’ve come across three people in Warburton and Yarra Junction who have suffered from MND and no one knows much about it.

“So hopefully we lift the profile of MND and also make people more aware of what they are suffering,” Mr Pitman said.

The Daniher’s Drive is an annual road trip through regional Victoria that raises awareness of MND, spearheaded by legendary footballer Neale Daniher AO in 2014.

After Neale Daniher was diagnosed with MND in 2013, he joined forces with two other MND campaigners, Dr Ian Davis and Pat Cunningham to advocate for better awareness and funding for the disease.

Together, they established FightMND, which has also held initiatives like the Big Freeze and Challenge 27.

The Warburton Bowls Club event will host a range of community stalls, a FightMND marquee, a social bowls tournament with 10 ex-AFL players and a performance from local musician Paige Barnard.

A sausage sizzle will also be on with support from the Community Bank Warburton-Yarra Junction and cakes provided by the Red Cross Yarra Valley branch.

Warburton Bowls Club vice president Max Reynolds said the club was happy to be involved in the Drive and that social bowls will continue

after the event.

“We’re rapt to be involved in it and hopefully it’ll attract a few people down to the bowls club, we’re offering our club and the venue free of charge as it’s a charity,” Mr Reynolds said.

Mr Pitman said another ex-AFL player Terry

Daniher will be wearing a Warburton-Millgrove Football Netball Club jumper at the Millwarra Primary School as the Drive heads out of Warburton.

“A lot of people have never met a celebrity and that’s why I think it’s a big plus for the community, to have at least 10 ex-AFL footballers plus the

Danihers come to Warburton,” Mr Terry Daniher will become an honorary member of the Warburton-Millgrove Football Netball Club.

Mr Pitman said suffering from MND was a “terrible way to end your life”.

MND is the name given to a group of diseases which impact the nerves known as motor neurons - the things responsible for sending messages to activate muscles in the body.

MND causes these messages to stop reaching the muscles, which causes the muscles to weaken and eventually stop working.

There’s no cure for MND and while some people can live a long life with it, the average life expectancy is 27 months from diagnosis.

Despite common misconceptions, MND isn’t rare and its impact is growing with an estimated 4300 Australians projected to have the condition by 2025.

FightMND co-founder Neale Daniher AO said in a statement the Drive was a chance to come together for a common goal.

“The Drive is more than an event on the calendar.

“It’s a chance to come together, to connect and to thank the incredible towns and people who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the fight against motor neurone disease (MND),” Neale Daniher’s statement read.

Though Neale Daniher is now non-verbal due to the effects of MND, he still remains at the forefront for the campaign to find a cure for MND. Each team of four participating in the Drive has to raise $5000 prior to the drive and the funds go directly towards research for MND.

Since Daniher’s Drive kicked off in 2015 it has managed to muster $14 million to fuel the fight against MND.

FightMND as a whole has delivered $117 million into clinical trials and drug development projects for Australians living with MND. Those interested in donating to FightMND can do so at the link: shorturl.at/09CoV

Daniher’s Drive is coming to the Yarra Valley to meet locals. (Supplied)

Graeme Temperly putting on the 20th green. (Supplied)

Mr Pitman and Millgrove Resident’s Action Group president Maureen Halit showing off a prize for the Drive’s fundraiser raffle. (Supplied)

NEWS Looking for ambassador

By Oliver Winn

After raising a whopping $23,000 earlier this year, the team behind the Eastern 80 Charity Bike Ride and Walk are searching for a new ambassador as it gears up for another big event.

On Saturday 15 February the Eastern 80 Charity Bike Ride and Walk took place for its 10th year raising funds for the Good Friday Appeal, which funds the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Some Eastern 80 events throughout the years have had ambassadors, consisting of local families who have had children who have been helped or were currently being helped by the Royal Children’s Hospital as well as those who have grown up years after receiving important care from the hospital.

Mr Orr said he was overwhelmed as the ride has raised $115,000 since its inception.

“It’s fantastic. We were overwhelmed by the support we got and our money was pretty much raised from the riders.

“We’re really appreciative of the support of the families that come because there’s there’s people that have been on every ride and we’re just stoked to be able to raise that much money,” Mr Orr said.

Next year’s Eastern 80 will take place in February and it’s set to bring back some old features while incorporating new elements, such as the Warburton Bike Park.

“This year one of our local bike shops is going to line up some mountain bike riders so we can have a mountain bike section,” Mr Orr said.

“So that is new, we’re hoping they’ll sign up with us just to help us raise another good total.”

Entrants to the bike ride pay $100 which goes towards the fundraiser, but Mr Orr said there

were payment plans in place for those who can’t afford the fee upfront.

“If say for argument’s sake somebody hasn’t got the $100, if they can get five members of their family to give them $20, I can write out the tax receipt for them.

“So that shares the burden,” Mr Orr said.

The last event also saw the Alpine Hotel share half of its venue to the Eastern 80 for an after ride function.

There was live music, games and face painting for the kids, lunch, a silent auction, a raffle and a five-hour Happy Hour from 12pm to 5pm for the riders, walkers and event supporters.

Casey MP Aaron Violi in February said it was an honour to open the 10th Eastern 80 Charity Bike Ride.

“Congratulations to Norm and the team who announced at the starting line that they have raised over $100,000 for the Good Friday Appeal,” he said.

Lane closed Melba Highway Maintenance works

From Monday 13 October to end of January.

One lane will be closed on a section of the Melba Highway between HealesvilleKinglake Road and Hunts Lane in Dixons Creek for landslip repairs.

Plan ahead and allow up to 20 minutes extra time. Allow up to 20 mins

The $23,000 cheque raised by the Eastern 80 was presented at the Good Friday Appeal. (Supplied)

The Eastern 80 is on the lookout for a new ambassador for 2026. (File)

FIRE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

Fire mitigation is crucial

By Gabriella Vukman

On the topic of bushfire risk, research and emergency plans, the roles of governmental departments, councils and CFAs tend to appear front and centre.

The typical flashing lights and bright red trucks aren’t the only things that should be framed in the fight against fire.

In a region bespeckled with bracken and full of fuel, the communities of the Yarra Ranges are banding together behind the scenes to fortify the area against bushfires.

Across the Yarra Ranges, there are various fuel reduction, bushfire mitigation and emergency groups that cater specifically to the needs of their local areas. Fuelled by volunteers, these groups are situated in and look after the Healesville, Monbulk, Yarra Junction, Kalorama and Mount Dandenong areas.

The Healesville approach

The Healesville Community Emergency Group aims to increase bushfire knowledge and preparedness in the local community and was created in 2016 when the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and local CFAs put together a workshop that accrued much public interest.

Holding public forums on house, garden and farm designs that would mitigate the harms of fire and conducting talks, trivia nights and breakfasts for community members, the Healesville Community Emergency Group began its work preparing the community for bushfire seasons.

Now, the group is working on developing an emergency hub and creating a bushfire mitigation plan.

Member of Healesville Community Emergency Group Graeme George said “Our plan is different to most community plans. Where most plans are focusing on fuel reduction using a zoning system, we feel that those management zones are too focused on protecting the town centres as safe places and it leaves rural assets unprotected.”

“Our plan is a whole landscape plan, because there are other things you can do to minimise bushfire risks than just reducing fuel, which can be counterproductive,” Mr George said.

“Our emphasis is on measures that can minimise the risk of a fire starting, slow its spread, and

FIRE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

reduce its intensity, knowing that weather and terrain are equally important factors to take into account.”

The plan covers the postcode 3777 and aims to encourage individual and cooperative actions by landowners and managers to reduce the severity of the impacts of bushfire on the communities of Healesville and its surrounds, and is based on the latest science on bushfire behaviour in the Yarra Ranges.

Recommending a tripartite approach to the mitigation of impacts from fire, including fuel reduction, the protection of forests that are regenerating and landscape modifications that slow wind speeds, provide heat shields and trap embers to protect assets.

“We live in a very fire-prone environment, but our problem now with climate change is that fires are more frequent, they’re more intense, and in combination with past logging practices and prescription burning, there’s too much fire in the landscape and it’s doing too much long-term damage to ecosystem resilience,” Mr George said.

“Studies show that removing fuel through prescription burning, well away from assets, has almost no effect on whether that asset survives a fire.

“The critical amount of fuel is the fuel within 100 metres of an asset. Houses are most likely to burn down if there’s fuel within 100 metres of them.”

Finding that the risk of fast-moving fires on open farming landscapes where original tree covers have been removed has been overlooked, the Healesville Community Emergency Group’s Bushfire Mitigation Plan recommends the installation of wind breaks on open landscapes.

Situated away from assets, these windbreaks

can be formed from native vegetation and, along with slowing strong winds, can double as habitats for local wildlife.

Mr George said, “there’s shelter belts that can be designed with a slope to them so they can lift the wind over assets that you want to protect, such as livestock in a refuge paddock, or a house or other farm infrastructure.”

“The shelter belts need to be species that are less flammable than our native vegetation, which means moving away from the stringy barks, pine trees, conifers and tea trees, which can lift the fire into the canopy very quickly,” he said.

According to Mr George, keeping paddocks closely grazed is another action landowners can take to mitigate bushfire damage.

When it comes to bushfire preparedness and protection, Mr George insisted that the community is key.

“The government and the CFA’s approach to making communities safer is that community involvement is critical to getting good outcomes,” Mr George said.

“We can’t rely on agencies to do all the work for us. The community has to get behind it, they’ve got to support the agencies, and particularly landowners have got to do their bit.”

Mr George encourages locals to go along to the Healesville Community Emergency Group’s meetings, attend events such as forums and trivia nights and help out.

Keeping up with the literature and being in touch with the local fire brigade were also among Mr George’s recommendations.

To access the Healesville Community Emergency Group’s Bushfire Mitigation Plan, head to the Yarra Ranges website at: yarraranges.vic.gov. au/Our-services/Climate-and-environment/ Emergencies/Emergency-Community-groupsand-how-to-get-involved Risk mitigation throughout the Dandenongs The Dandenong Ranges poses its own challenges in terms of bushfire risk and behaviour.

Identified as having a complex bushfire risk due to the intersection of public and private land and the population density, the Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group has stepped up to the plate.

Working to protect the local area, the group consists of local community members, represen-

tatives from the Yarra Ranges Council, CFA staff and volunteers, and representatives from key agencies such as Parks Victoria and Forest Fire Management.

The group started as part of a project that was developed by a series of government departments after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. The group aims to improve the connection between government, agencies and the community to better prepare for bushfires and reduce the risk to the area.

Chair of the Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group, Virginia Porter, said, “One of the biggest issues in and right across the Dandenongs is the fact that we’re in the middle of a national forest, a national park and the forest.

“We’ve got really significant bush areas which we want to maintain and keep, but in amongst that, we’ve got an extremely high population and the road networks would be very difficult to navigate if we did have an issue up here,” Ms Porter said.

“Because of our location and the number of people here, it’s something that we need to really prepare for, and we need to really be getting our communities on board so that they have a really good understanding of what the fire season means to them.”

According to Ms Porter, when it comes to bushfire mitigation, having specific techniques and plans that cater directly to the needs of each individual area is vital.

“There’s been a lot of work done over the years. Some of our members have basically walked every track, every road, every street around the Kalorama-Mount Dandenong area to get a hands-on approach to what the fuel loads are like in different areas.”

“People live up here in the Dandenong Ranges because of the forests and the trees. So if we’re going to do management work, if we’re clearing in a spot that’s going to be 20 per cent better in reducing the fires in another area, then we’ll focus on those areas that are of higher benefit,” she said.

To aid in knowing the best mitigation strategies for different areas, the Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group has begun to use computer modelling, supplied by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

In a region bespeckled with bracken and full of fuel, the communities of the Yarra Ranges are banding together behind the scenes to fortify the area against bushfires (Gabriella Vukman: 508220)

FIRE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

Ms Porter said, “based on the information that we had and the information that DEECA had, they did computer modelling called Phoenix modelling, which actually showed how a fire would behave or react in specific areas depending on the amount of fuel in that location.”

“It also then showed us what areas we could reduce the fuel in that would have a bigger impact on protecting the community. So that’s where our focus has been directed to,” she said.

The role of community and private property owners is a large one in terms of bushfire risk and mitigation in the Dandenong Ranges.

Ms Porter said, “it’s not just about getting the agencies to do clearing along roadsides and public land and all of that, but some of the time the biggest risk can be on private properties, so we need to get the community on board as well.”

“Fuel reduction on private land has a much bigger impact in reducing the risk because it can reduce the severity of a fire coming from neighbouring land. It can help protect the residents, their neighbours and the broader community, not just the houses but the critical community buildings, such as schools, businesses and halls, as well as our road network,” she said.

“Local residents need to be involved in these sorts of plans as they can get a greater understanding of the importance of the fuel reduction work and also the reasoning behind the locations of the works.

“It gives them an opportunity to highlight what is important to them in the area as well because we also have to consider the environmental values of the area.”

Ms Porter’s tips for bushfire preparedness in the lead up to summer include: taking the broader community impacts as well as the risks for neighbours and nearby properties into account when planning for summer, having an up-to-date fire plan, and reaching out to local CFAs and attending the community meetings about how to prepare for and manage bushfires in their area.

“What we’re telling people in Kalorama and Mount Dandenong might differ from what people are being told in Sassafras and Ferny Creek, so they need to go to their local brigades. And most of the local brigades that I know of are having community events in the lead up to summer,” Ms Porter said.

“Kalorama-Mount Dandenong Brigade actually have a service called Property Advice Visits where trained people will go out and walk around the property with the property owner and give them advice on what they need to do.”

The Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group meets every second month and will be hosting drop-in sessions where the community can bring their fire plans in for discussion.

Ms Porter said, “We’re also always looking for people who are keen to come along and give us a hand when we need it.“

Protecting Yarra Junction

Closer to the middle ranges of the Yarra Valley, the Yarra Junction Community Bushfire Mitigation Group came about after multiple public meetings convened by the Yarra Ranges Council.

The meetings were aimed at local residents who were interested in bushfire management.

What was 40 meeting attendees, turned into the Yarra Junction Bushfire Mitigation Group that has been developing a plan for the area.

Chairman of the Yarra Junction Community Bushfire Mitigation Group Frank Colverson said, “our purpose was to reduce the severity of bushfires on Yarra Junction and its surrounds, contribute to the safety of people in the natural environment, and provide bushfire behaviour and mitigation information to the broader community.”

“We’ve had a history of fires around Yarra Junction, and in the Upper Yarra, some fairly serious, but Yarra Junction’s never really been wiped out by a fire. So we’ve been very fortunate in that regard, and it’s probably our position in the valley.”

Rather than vegetation management, education is the group’s main focus.

“We thought the best way we could protect Yarra Junction is, inform or educate the inhabitants about fires and their behaviour,” Mr Colverson said.

The group has picked out the main part of the town as the asset protection zone and has produced a booklet that describes the basics of fire behaviour, including the effects and roles weather, terrain, fuel and vegetation play on bushfire behaviour.

“While bushfires haven’t physically gone through Yarra Junction yet, we are susceptible to ember attack from fires approaching from the northwest and north,” Mr Colverson said.

This year, the Yarra Junction Community Bushfire Mitigation Group, combined with the Yarra Junction Fire Brigade, will be hosting an information session and open day on Sunday 26 October from 1pm to 4pm at the Yarra Junction Fire Station.

At the information session, the Yarra Junction Community Mitigation Group will deliver a presentation on bushfire behaviour.

To prepare for bushfire season, Mr Colverson suggested that locals should “clean up fine fuels around their homes and properties.”

In a vast area scattered with many different types of landscapes and ecologies, each stretch of the Yarra Ranges has its own unique bushfire risks, responses and behaviours.

Beyond the reach of governmental departments, councils and even CFA resources, communities across the Yarra Ranges are stepping up to prepare and educate their jurisdictions to fight the battle against bushfire.

For more information on the community groups featured in this article, see their pages below.

Healesville Community Emergency Group: facebook.com/groups/376223253306391/ Contact: earthcarepc@virtual.net.au

Kalorama Mt Dandenong Fuel Management Group: yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Our-services/Climate-and-environment/Emergencies/ResilientYarra-Ranges/Place-based-Resilience-Planning

Yarra Junction Community Bushfire Mitigation Group: yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Our-services/ Climate-and-environment/Emergencies/Resilient-Yarra-Ranges/Place-based-Resilience-Planning

Graeme George, Daniel Casullo from Yarra Ranges Council, Evelyn Feller and Penny Richards. (Derek Schlennstedt)

A community engagement meeting led by Virginia Porter. (Supplied)

Brigade member Scott Seymour explains the work done by the Fuel Management Group to a community member. (Supplied)

Summer Is the Best Time to Service Your Euro Wood Heater

After enjoying the warmth and efficiency of your Euro wood heater through the cooler months, summer is the perfect time to give it the care it deserves. Servicing during the off season ensures your heater is clean, efficient, and ready to fire up when the temperature drops again. A well maintained heater not only heats better but also operates more safely, keeping your home warm and secure.

At Euro Fireplaces, we proudly provide servicing exclusively for Euro heaters, with our dedicated Service Department ready to help. Each year, it is important to give your heater a thorough once over, checking seals, linings, and the grate for visible wear, along with any powdery soot deposits. The simple paper test is also a handy indicator: place a sheet of paper between the door and heater body (when cold), then close the door. If the paper slips out easily, the seals may need replacing.

If you are unsure what needs attention, send us some photos or visit our showroom for advice. Remember, for your heater to look after you, you need to look after your heater.

While we can service all Euro Fireplaces, flue cleaning must be done by a professional. A clean flue improves draw, increases heat output, and reduces the risk of a fire. To prepare, we recommend burning a Chimney Sweep Log or Soot Loose 2 to 3 days before your sweep arrives, available from Euro Fireplaces.

Caring for your heater now ensures reliable, efficient heating when you need it most. Contact us today to book your service and stock up on essentials.

Thanks to the principal

By Oliver Winn

Gladysdale Primary School’s principal Tara Jenner has called it quits after four fruitful years leading the school.

The announcement was made on the Gladysdale Primary School’s Facebook page on 2 October where parents and community members left comments expressing their love, support and appreciation.

“Sorry to see you go Tara. You definitely did wonderful things for the school. Good luck for the future,” said one user, Catherine McKail.

Another commenter, Rebecca Paul, said Ms Jenner was “amazing” and thanked her for the support.

Kelly Frost said: “Thank you for sharing your energy, enthusiasm and exuberance for life and your love of teaching and learning.”

The Gladysdale Primary School was established in 1918 and serves students from Millgrove, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Three Bridges and Powelltown.

During Ms Jenner’s tenure, the school has found a range of ways to enhance its offerings for students and community.

A community pantry stocked with apples sourced from Sanders Apples and other food do-

nations from generous families has provided for those who need it.

She’s also sourced a State Government grant which helped establish an outside school hours care service.

Determined students also paved way for a new wildlife caution road sign in 2023 which demonstrated the school’s commitment to giving students a voice.

Ms Jenner has also led the school during a difficult period where delays to its new building left the school in limbo.

A $2.6m project was announced as part of the 2020-21 State Government budget and would deliver new student engagement spaces, upgraded bathrooms and improved disability access to a new office.

It was expected to be completed in October 2023, but material shortages meant the completion date had been moved back to Q4 2024.

But the delays were outside of the school’s control and Ms Jenner was thanked for her dedication to ensuring the works were completed.

“We are very thankful for our principal Tara Jenner’s support, she has been amazing throughout this process,” school council president Michelle Mock said in a Herald Sun article from December 2023.

U3A get organised online

U3A Healesville will host Get Organised Online with Google on Sunday 26 October.

This event aims to show people how to make the most of the Google apps at their fingertips.

Katie Gatward, who provides digital skills support at Healesville Library, will give a simple overview of the Google apps that are readily available on our devices, how to manage content efficiently and safely, share documents, photos, videos and more.

After the introduction to Google apps, IT Specialist Jasmin Higgs will demonstrate Google Workspace and how groups can safely store and manage their organisation information and collaborate online.

“U3A Healesville is in the process of moving organisation content to Google Workspace, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to share this with others in our community,” U3A Healesville president Ethne Pfeiffer said.

“We see Google Workspace as a reliable platform for our committee and, eventually, our course leaders to use.

“There is also scope for community groups to collaborate online, which is a very exciting prospect. Not just sharing Facebook posts but managing content (such as event participation) in a secure place online.”

Ethne added that other community organisations have begun to use Google Workspace (or more Google apps) to manage their work and that having a shared conversation is of value to community groups.

This free event is open to everyone, and Katie will be available after her presentation to answer common questions about Google apps.

“While U3A Healesville is for older people,

we encourage people of all ages to come along,” Ethne said.

“Family members and friends help each other use the internet, apps, social media so it’s a fantastic way to share questions and ideas.”

When: Sunday 26 October (10.30am - 12.30pm)

Where: Healesville Senior Citizens Club (18 Green Street, Healesville)

Free: All welcome. Light refreshments provided.

Enquiries: healesville.u3a@bigpond.com

This event is presented by U3A Healesville and funded by Good Things Foundation. It is part of Get Online Week, 20-26 October, a Good Things’ national campaign to close the digital divide.

• For more resources/Be Connected: Free online learning to build your digital skills, confidence and safety online with our free learning content and computer classes at beconnected.esafety.gov.au/

Get Organised Online hosted by U3A Healesville aims to show people how to make the most of the Google apps at their fingertips. (Unsplash)

Many community members expressed support and appreciation for Ms Jenner. (Callum Ludwig: 386222)

Yellingbo bird data grows

By Oliver Winn

Half a decade of citizen science efforts has been released as conservationists continue to learn more about Victoria’s birdlife.

The Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater’s (FOHH) citizen science program have undertaken observations and surveys since 2020, which has resulted in a trove of bird data.

159 standardised bird surveys took place and some interesting findings can be drawn from the data.

FOHH shared the data through a Facebook post on 29 September which included a bar chart representing the data.

“Apart from the significant benefits of sharing knowledge about Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area (YNCA), and developing observational skills in participants, much can be learnt from the data collected.

“There is a wealth of knowledge to learn, and share, from a joyful few hours in the bush with like-minded people,” the post read.

Using the six seasons in the Middle Yarra Timelines Calendar of the Wurundjeri people, the chart represented from one to six how many seasons each bird was observed in.

The division of the year into four seasons isn’t accurate for Victoria as it was brought over from Northern Europe when the British colonised Australia.

Around 122 species were recorded from the surveys and there were 12 birds recorded which were not on the historical list such as the satin bowerbird.

• The data can be viewed here: tinyurl. com/4vkvuy2u

Role brings Healesville zookeeper Amie Hindson joy

By Dongyun Kwon

Established by the International Congress of Zookeepers in 2015, International Zookeeper Day is celebrated annually on 4 October to recognise the hard work and dedication of zookeepers in animal care and wildlife conservation.

To celebrate this special day, Star Mail interviewed a Healesville Sanctuary zookeeper to give some idea of the daily work of a zookeeper and directions on how to become a zookeeper for younger readers who’d love to work with our animal friends in the future.

Amie Hindson has been a zookeeper for 17 years, spending her career working at Healesville Sanctuary.

As a child, she loved spending time outdoors, from pottering about in the garden looking for insects to bird watching at the park.

Ms Hindson said she had a feeling she’d suit a career where she could be on her feet a lot and get to spend lots of time outside.

“So that combined with my love of wildlife naturally led me towards zookeeping as a potential option,” she said.

“I fell in love with the natural bush setting and Australia’s weird and wonderful species, and I knew pretty early on that (Healesville Sanctuary) was the place for me.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of animals over the years, and I’ve loved learning about and looking after each and every one of them.”

To pursue her dream, following what her heart led her to, she completed a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Zoology.

Ms Hindson has also completed a Certificate III in Captive Animals.

She has spent the last seven years working on Healesville Sanctuary’s Threatened Species team, where she really enjoys the challenge of working with critically endangered species.

“Zoos Victoria is a wonderful organisation committed to fighting wildlife extinction, and I am so lucky I get to play a small part in that,” the threatened species keeper said.

“Seeing an individual you’ve helped breed and raise be released back into the wild is one of the most rewarding feelings ever,”

Ms Hindson’s day starts at 8am at the local

zoo, and she works primarily as a threatened possum keeper looking after two of Australia’s critically endangered nocturnal species: the leadbeater’s possum and the mountain pygmypossum.

Her first task is to service all of Healesville Sanctuary’s possum habitats.

“This involves collecting and washing dirty food bowls from the day before, providing fresh drinking water, checking over the possum habitats, and making up fresh food to feed out to the

possums later in the afternoon,” the zookeeper said.

Ms Hindson’s second task is to monitor the health and well-being of the possums.

“Both leadbeater’s and mountain pygmypossums are nocturnal and are active at night when we are sleeping,” Ms Hindson said.

“Luckily for us, though, each possum habitat has a camera that records their activity overnight and allows us to watch what they got up to

the following day.

“This way we can still monitor their health and welfare, and look for certain behaviours that might let us know if a female possum has joeys.”

Her third task is to feed and provide enrichment for all possums.

“This is done as late in the day as possible,” she said.

“Any extra time is taken up with animal record keeping, habitat maintenance, meetings, individual projects, and other miscellaneous tasks.”

In light of nearly two decades of experience, she found the following skills and characters to be beneficial for zookeeping.

“Good attention to detail is a great skill to have. The animals we work with can’t necessarily tell us how they’re feeling or if they want something, so understanding the species we look after and their different behaviours is incredibly important,” Ms Hindson said.

“Zookeepers deal with a lot of cleaning and funky smells. So, if you don’t like dirt or poo, zookeeping is probably not for you.

“Good communication skills are also super handy to have. We spend lots of time chatting with our visitors about the animals we work with, as well as with our colleagues.

“And lastly, patience and compassion. A deep love of our animals is necessary to help handle the challenges and emotional demands of our role.”

When asked about some advice for future zookeepers, Ms Hindson said you’re never too young or too old to start learning.

“If you love the outdoors and getting dirty or rained on (or even pooped on), zookeeping could definitely be for you,” she said.

“If you have pets at home, take on more responsibility for them, whether that be feeding or cleaning up after them.

“Learn about our wildlife - there are so many great documentaries out there. If you’re old enough to get a casual job or volunteer, start looking at places that will help teach you the basic skills that also apply to zookeeping - animal shelters, dog walking, kennels or catteries, vet nursing, etc are all great places to learn valuable skills.”

Healesville Sanctuary threatened species keeper Amie Hindson. (Zoos Victoria)

Helmeted Honeyeaters were recorded in five out of the six seasons in the Middle Yarra Timelines Calendar. (Jesse Graham: 149728)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Cipher speaking to many

By Dongyun Kwon

Cipher, a new exhibition in The Memo, has been unveiled, showing the magic of language through a collection of puzzles, animal illustrations, and an interactive zine designed to link sounds with the letters.

The exhibition was designed by graphic artist Cora Zon, who is well-known to many locals as a zine workshop facilitator or a radio presenter at Yarra Valley FM.

She has tried to find an easy method to help people who are struggling with literacy.

“I’ve done a lot of things over the years, tinkering with it,” Ms Zon said.

“I’ve designed a game, puzzles and created a matrix like a wall chart to help with learning the sound spelling correspondences.”

At Cipher, Ms Zon introduces her outcomes, inviting visitors to explore the connections between sounds and letters through seven quotes about reading and the posters.

On the activity table, visitors can find Cipher, a zine that invites them to decode a quote themselves.

Ms Zon said she’d tried to make the code easier to understand on how spelling patterns and sound work.

“One of the things that I learnt was that there are so many spelling patterns in English, but there are 44 sounds,” she said.

“So it was easier, in a way, to start with the 44 sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet, whereas some of the other methods start with the spelling patterns.

“For example, one of the methods will teach you 70 spelling patterns, and that will help you with 80 per cent of English, but then you still need to learn all those other smaller patterns.”

The project has deeply personal roots, beginning with a mother’s determination to support her daughter as she learnt to read.

Inspired by other methods she studied like Romalda Spalding’s Writing Road to Reading and LEM Phonics, Ms Zon and her daughter began creating a homemade game together.

“We were making a fishing game. I had the job of preparing small paper slips with spelling patterns like sh, ar, and ph to glue onto the fish, and my daughter was in charge of cutting out the fish shapes,” she said.

“I showed her an example of a simple fish shape and left her to it.

“When I returned, I found she had created a whole underwater world: a shark, a starfish, a dolphin and some completely invented sea creatures.”

It was an “aha” moment for the artist, who realised she could associate each spelling pattern with a corresponding animal: sh with shark, ar with starfish, and ph with dolphin.

“That’s when the idea was born, to draw on nature as a source of visual memory aids for helping childrenconnectletterswithsounds,”MsZonsaid.

A couple of years ago, Cora tested her idea at Healesville Primary School, supported by Rosie House.

Grade 5 and 6 students began creating their own collection of 44 Phoneme Zines, each zine highlighting the spelling patterns for a given sound.

Ms Zon said the project gave the children a

Rare chance to connect

The popular annual Yarra Valley Open Studios event is back, inviting visitors to step behind the scenes and connect with the region’s vibrant creative community.

This free, self-guided event welcomes art lovers to explore the personal studios of 26 local artists over two weekends in October.

EventDates:

• Yarra Valley Artists: Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October.

• Upper Yarra Artists: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October.

All studios will be open from 10am to 5pm both weekends.

Presented by Yarra Valley Arts with the support of Yarra Ranges Council, the initiative offers an exclusive chance for visitors of all ages to engage directly with artists.

Attendees can observe the creative process, ask questions, and purchase original works across a wide range of mediums, including painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, fibre art, and mixed media.

The event fosters deeper connections

between locals, visitors, and the region’s thriving artistic scene.

Art lovers can experience the vibrant creativity of the Yarra Valley and Upper Yarra at the Open Studios Exhibition - the official launch of Yarra Valley Arts’ much-loved Open Studios program.

This showcase brings together an inspiring collection of paintings, ceramics, photography, printmaking, fibre art, mixed media, and more - all created by talented local artists.

Guests are invited to meet the makers, hear their stories, and be among the first to see the stunning works on display.

Launch Event: Thursday 9 October from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at 203 Maroondah Highway, Healesville.

The exhibition will run from 3 to 26 October, open Wednesday to Sunday, between 10am and 5pm.

Plan your trip, stay up to date, and share your Open Studios experience on Facebook at facebook.com/YVAOpenStudios, Instagram at yvaopenstudios or the website at yarravalleyarts.org.au/2025yvopenstudios

hands-on way to engage with the idea that English is a complex but crackable code.

“The kids loved it. One of the students said to me that it was his favourite class and I said, ‘Why is that?’, and he said, ‘Because you take the time to explain it to us’,” she said.

“These were students who were having reading difficulties in Grades 5 and 6, and they were getting

remedial assistance with reading.

“That’s why it’s really important for those kids who missed out in the early years. There is a way to catch up. This is designed to help even adults who are struggling with reading to understand the patterns of English.”

The Cipher is now on display until 9 November at the Memo, Healesville.

The annual Yarra Valley Open Studios event is back. (Dongyun Kwon: 508031)

Cora Zon is inviting locals to her new exhibition Cipher. (Dongyun Kwon: 507908)

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.

5 Proposal (8)

6 Of Jakarta, for example (10)

7 Ghost (7)

8 Anonymous (8)

9 Storage container for grain (4)

15 Choice (10)

18 Inflexible (8)

19 Pole marking scoring area (8)

21 Spread from the centre (7)

23 Building (7)

24 Tack whacker (6)

27 Container for flowers (4)

29 Faux (4)

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre

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

Keep hands on the books

Every book is a house with two doors, One at the beginning, one at the end.

And a book is a journey between two doors.

Alberto Ríos – Book with Two Covers

Whether you are sitting in a waiting room of a medical centre or commuting to work on a train, tram or bus, you can’t help noticing that just about everyone is engrossed in a phone.

The odd person who pulls out a book is now rare.

In Reading Mary Oliver celebrates the act of reading as a means of connecting with nature and the self.

She intertwines the experience of reading with the natural world, highlighting the meditative quality of both.

I read to find the world within, to see the beauty in the ordinary, to understand the rhythms of life, and to connect with the earth beneath

It is however undeniable and understandable that books today are not regarded with the same respect as in the not too distant past.

Information can now be accessed in so many different ways via the internet.

A large proportion of Australians haven’t read or listened to a single book in the past year: almost 30 per cent according to recent research in The Guardian.

The saying A room without books is like a body without a soul.is attributed to Cicero (106–43 BCE).

But today bookshelves are increasingly seen on hard rubbish as minimalism takes over in homes, and books are deemed as clutter.

Even Op shops often display signs declining donations of books.

Some draw attention to the environmental impact of printed work yet like John Kinsella acknowledge their necessity:

The book in my hand is both a forest felled and the only way I know

WOORILLA WORDS

to hear the forest speak

Libraries have reinvented themselves by offering services beyond books. Many may still associate libraries and bookshops with nostalgia as does Amy Lowell. I go into the library, Where the air smells of paper and varnish,

And the rows of books are lined like soldiers, Silent, waiting to speak,

Waiting to tell their secret stories.”

Bookshops are struggling as numbers fall away.

Books in Australia have always been very pricey, far more expensive than in UK and USA.

Australia has had laws that restrict the importation of cheaper overseas editions if a local publisher has the rights and books attract 10 per cent GST.

This is meant to protect the Australian publishing industry, ensuring local publishers and authors get a fair go.

But it also means that a $15US paperback costs $32 in Australia.

Yiyi Osundare’s sees a bookshop as a place of discovery and learning, emphasizing the importance of literature in shaping society and individual thought.

In the bookshop, shelves are lined with stories waiting to be told, each book a doorway to a new world, each page a step into the unknown.

Many studies show that people today struggle to sustain long reading sessions, that we are entering a new age of illiteracy, unable to read complex and long writing, preferring quick bite sized texts.

More and more are now challenged by the lengths of classics like Middlemarch, Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment or a Dickens novel.

Or novels that are seen as literary which value art over formula, and use language and structure to deepen meaning, rather than relying solely on plot twists or commercial appeal.

Perhaps this accounts for the growing tendency of shorter contemporary novels.

Readers are more likely to read crime, romance, fantasy, memoir and dystopian fiction, showing people still turn to stories for escape and reflection.

So to jump to the conclusion that reading for pleasure is vanishing is premature.

It’s shifting form.

Fewer people may be curling up with long novels but stories still hold power in people’s lives.

The ABC has just been asking listeners for their nominations for the Top 100 Books of the 21st Century (so far): books published in English between 1 January 2000 and 31 August 2025.

All genres were eligible—fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc

Final countdown will be on 18-19 October 2025.

But the fact remains that increasing numbers are swapping hardcovers for headphones and screens.

And more are turning to stories on their streaming services.

Some like Ellen Van Neeran, growing up queer and Aboriginal, in Throat writes of reading as both survival and reclamation.

I hid in books, waiting for my story to appear.

Page after page, a country I didn’t recognise.

Still I stayed, and learned to name myself between the lines

So does it matter how we read?

Some studies suggest people retain information better from print, especially when reading long or complex texts. Print encourages deep reading, whereas screens sometimes promote skimming or scanning.

Reading (for pleasure) is now low among most generations, and especially low among younger ones.

Younger readers who grew up with screens sometimes report little difference in comfort between digital and print.

And yet many struggle with reading set books in school.

Many adults still prefer print for leisure reading but will happily use screens for news, articles, and shorter forms.

Audiobook markets are booming.

Audiobooks are vital for people with visual impairments, dyslexia, or concentration difficulties. These have made leisure reading more accessible during commutes, exercise, or chores. They also democratize reading by letting people “read” while their hands and eyes are busy. So does listening to audio books classify as reading? And if so what are the differences between the two experiences?

Books are more intimate and immersive, screens and audio books are more utilitarian and transient.

However, we tend to define reading too narrowly and exclude social media, online articles and audiobooks, which complicates comparisons.

Are you able to compile a list of your favourite books published in the last twenty five years?

Entries for the Woorilla Poetry Prize have now closed but put November 16 at the Emerald Hub in your diaries for the Gala Prize Presentation Event.

Oh to sleep, perchance to dream - and still stay alive

STAYIN’ ALIVE

In the first of my occasional columns about staying alive (because it beats the alternative), I spoke about one of the silent killers - hypertension - and the importance of seeing your doctor to manage your blood pressure.

In column number 2, I’m going to talk about a potential killer that is anything but silent.

The first death risk associated with this condition comes from your wife/partner/significant other. Put simply, you make them want to kill you.

You’ve probably guessed I am talking about your snoring.

In my case, snoring was only part of the problem. At least when I was snoring, it meant I was still breathing. You see, I have sleep apnea and if you are a snorer, you may have it too.

Sleep apnea is common in Australia, affecting around five per cent of the general population, though this figure can rise significantly with age and for certain demographics, like men over 30, where it’s estimated to be as high as one in four. Many Australians also suffer from undiagnosed sleep apnea, with some estimates suggesting that up to one in 10 adults may have it without knowing.

My wife picked it before I got my diagnosis and it was because of her concern that I got myself checked out. If it wasn’t my snoring keeping her awake, it was the sudden silence where I would stop breathing altogether, especially if I was lying on my back.

I went for sleep studies and got some pretty confronting news. I didn’t just have sleep apnea, I had severe sleep apnea. At one point overnight, my oxygen saturation went down to 54 per cent. You know when you are in hospital

Using a c-pap machine takes some getting used to but is worth the effort.

and the nurse puts the sats monitor on your finger as part of his or her obs? If the figure drops below 90, they get worried. Mine got to 54.... that is the stuff of pending organ failure.

I ticked all the boxes when it came to symptoms - snoring (although not all sleep apnea sufferers snore), episodes of stopping breathing during sleep, gasping for air during sleep, morning dry mouth, morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), difficulty paying attention while awake, irritability.

Sleep apnea comes in three main types: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA) and rarer treatment-emergent CSA. OSA is the most common form, where throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs. CSA occurs when the brain doesn’t send appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing.

I have OSA. Factors that increase the risk of this form include excess weight (tick), a wide neck circumference (tick), being male (tick), being older (tick), use of alcohol (tick), medical condition like hypertension (tick).

If you have untreated sleep apnea, what are your risks? It can significantly increase your risk

C-pap machines help people with sleep apnea to sleep and live better.

for high blood pressure, heart disease (including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke), and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, it causes severe daytime fatigue and drowsiness, which raises the danger of motor vehicle and workplace accidents.

So, just like with hypertension, get along and

see your doctor if you tick the same boxes that I did. I sleep with a c-pap machine these days. It took a little bit of getting used to but my sleep is so much better now - and so is my wife’s. She still frequently feels like she wants to kill me, but that is another story...

KEVIN JONES

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Since rebranding in March 2023, TerryWhite Chemmart Wandin North has been dedicated to delivering professional, accessible, and personalised healthcare close to home. Our goal is simple: to provide the community with exceptional pharmacy care, great value, and the personal service you deserve—without needing to travel far.

At the heart of our pharmacy is Nabih Barsoum, who has proudly served Wandin North for 14 years. Nabih’s passion for healthcare began in Egypt, where he studied pharmacy in Cairo and gained valuable experience before moving to Australia in 2005. After completing his internship, he brought his knowledge and commitment to Wandin North in 2011. Since then, Nabih and his team have become an integral part of the Yarra Ranges community, supporting families, businesses, and local wellbeing initiatives.

Our commitment to excellence has been recognised nationally with the Customer Engagement Award across the TerryWhite Chemmart network—an acknowledgment of our dedication to going above and beyond. Yet the most meaningful recognition comes from our customers through the many outstanding Google reviews that highlight the difference we make every day.

We believe a pharmacy should be more than a place to collect prescriptions. That’s why we offer a wide range of professional health services under one roof. Our Care Clinics provide private, one-on-one consultations where you can confidently discuss health concerns. Our pharmacists are approved to prescribe and consult for some minor ailments which are expanding services that can often save you an unnecessary doctor’s visit. We also provide most vaccinations without a script to keep you and your family protected.

Whether you’re managing a chronic condition, looking for advice on your child’s health, or simply wanting a routine health check, our Care Clinics give you practical, personalised support. Combined with our extensive range of wellness products and beauty essentials, TerryWhite Chemmart Wandin North is your one-stop healthcare hub.

We know that affordability matters, which is why we offer competitive pricing across prescriptions, health essentials, and beauty products, along with regular promotions to ensure healthcare remains accessible to all.

If you’re new to the area or simply looking for a pharmacy that genuinely cares, we invite you to experience the difference for yourself. TerryWhite Chemmart Wandin North—where award-winning service, community care, and exceptional value meet in your neighbourhood.

TerryWhite Chemmart Wandin North is your local one-stop healthcare hub. (Supplied)

Fresh start to fix crime

Crime in Victoria is at its highest level in 20 years under the Allan Labor Government.

Victorians are forced to live with the consequences of the Labor Government’s decisions that weakened bail laws and the criminal justice system, with 638,640 crimes reported in the year to June, an increase of 16 percent. That’s one crime committed every 49 seconds in Victoria.

Lawlessness is at crisis levels with theft from retail stores every 13 minutes and serious assaults every 29 minutes, made worse by Labor’s cuts to the Victoria Police budget by $50 million and closing police stations due to a shortage of 2000 police officers.

Locally, the Yarra Ranges has suffered a 62 percent increase in residential aggravated burglary and a 58 percent increase in motor vehicle theft. It’s appalling that local families are threatened in their own homes and no longer feel safe.

It’s

State of Affairs

Bridget Vallence Evelyn MP

The brutal murders by machete wielding thugs of two young children on their way home from basketball, only aged 12 and 15, was shocking and deeply distressing, yet did not seem to jolt the government into any meaningful action.

They just set up another taskforce and have an unrealistic expectation that violent criminals might drop their weapons into the gimmick of a

Football Suspiria

At just 96 minutes, Him is a swift, unsettling psychological horror film that doesn’t overstay its welcome, though the themes and broader plot details need more attention.

Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), a rising football star, agrees to a week-long stay at the estate of legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), unaware of the nightmare that awaits him.

Him’s heavy tension runs on a current of ruthless training and Isaiah’s increasingly unhinged guidance (plus generic but decentlyexecuted medical intrigue), steadily building from intense unease to a gory showdown.

The stunning cinematography captures vast rooms that feel both wide and stifling, and one very cool artistic choice involves Mortal Kombat-style X-ray shots that are quickly drenched with black blood to symbolise Cameron’s in-the-moment rage.

Wayans has a commanding, chilling presence as Isaiah, but his co-lead is less interesting; Withers excels with Cameron’s physicality but often has a flat, deer-in-the-headlights demeanour.

The commentary on ambition and hunger for victory turning us into monsters is surfacelevel, with some clumsy allusions to Jesus’s sacrifice, and Cameron’s relationship with his father is breezed over.

Even with such an engrossing middle, Him has some pacing issues: the plot kicks off with a redundant head injury, with hollow warnings about how another blow could kill Cameron, and the grisly final act (while enjoyably over-the-top) feels rushed.

Playing in most Victorian cinemas, Him is a disturbing, well-produced horror movie with a somewhat bland lead and lightweight themes, but if all you want is Suspiria (Dario Argento’s 1977 horror film about a dance academy) but for football, Him will leave you satisfied.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

machete bin.

Only last week, people witnessed a shocking crime spree in Bourke Street Mall with young reoffending thugs, who had not long escaped jail for violent offences, terrorising people in a stolen car and racing through a crowded Myer.

These teens terrorising our towns is proof that law and order under the Victorian Labor Government is broken. It’s no exaggeration to say communities across Victoria are living in fear – but it does not have to be this way.

Under Brad Battin and the Victorian Liberals, our Break Bail, Face Jail laws will ensure there are consequences for repeat violent offenders.

The cycle of terrorising Victorians must be stopped.

Further, fixing the crime crisis isn’t just about deterrence and punishment.

CARTOON

There are very few whose deaths are truly humanity’s loss, and among them is Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist and legendary naturalist and conservationist who passed away earlier this month.

Remembering Jane Goodall PASSION FOR PROSE

Global tributes to Goodall are best summarised by UNESCO: “Today, we pay tribute to a woman who changed history... A pioneer whose life was devoted to the protection of nature, the sharing of knowledge, and the respect for all living beings.”

In 1996, this reviewer had the honour to meet Goodall in person during her initial visit to Taiwan.

Back then she was already carrying Mr H, the little monkey plush that would go on to travel with her to more than 65 countries.

Soft-spoken, highly sophisticated and incredibly elegant, Goodall was in Taiwan to promote her initiative ‘Roots and Shoots’, a youth-led action program founded in 1991 that encourages young people of all ages to be the change in their local communities.

The program is currently making a difference in more than 60 countries around the world.

As described by Jane Goodall Institute Australia, ‘Roots and Shoots’ aims “to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs, and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for people, other animals, and the environment”.

In a word, the program is all about empathy.

It is through empathy that young people are identifying and tackling issues faced by their communities, brainstorming solutions and creating projects that help to solve the problems.

Goodall often spoke about the power of young people as “leaders of the future” and the hope they represent.

She once said: “I work so hard with young

people because they get it. They are changing the world.”

When asked how we can help to keep young people from feeling overwhelmed by what is happening to our planet, Goodall responded: “By getting them involved in hands-on projects that they choose to help people, animals and environment. When they get together and work out what they want to do, and they roll up their sleeves and take action, then they begin to dare to think about a better future.”

“If we lose hope, then we become apathetic and do nothing. We don’t want to bring children into a world where, from the very beginning, they believe everything is hopeless,” she said.

Goodall’s 1999 autobiography, Reason for Hope, is now difficult to find.

But our local library does have some of her other books, including Through a Window: Thirty years with the chimpanzees of Gombe (2020, originally published in 1990) and The Book of Hope: A survival guide for an endangered planet (2021).

Readers are also invited to check out Goodall’s 2021 reading of her 2004 children’s book Rickie and Henri, a heart-warming true story of a rescued chimpanzee and the dog who became her friend. The video can be viewed here: youtube.com/ watch?v=c5oxGsDt5vY

Prevention programs are crucial.

That’s why the Victorian Liberals will introduce a $100 million Safer Communities Plan.

Firstly, we’ll introduce “Jack’s Law” giving police and PSOs the powers and handheld wand technology to remove knives and weapons from our streets. We’ll toughen sentencing to ensure crooks know there’s serious consequences for crimes committed in Victoria.

And we’ll introduce Restart and Youthstart to divert at-risk individuals from crime through responsibility, discipline, education and counselling. Only a change in government will deliver a justice system that protects Victorians by being tough on offenders and smart on prevention. It’s time for a fresh start.

Enjoy entertainment

The Neil Diamond Musical A Beautiful Noise

Thursday 2 October saw the launch and introduce the star of A Beautiful Noise – The Neil Diamond Story in the upstairs foyer of Melbourne’s The Princess Theatre.

The smash-hit Broadway musical A Beautiful Noise – The Story of Neil Diamond will make its Australian premiere exclusively in Melbourne at The Princess Theatre in August 2026.

The producers, Paul Dainty AO and Teg Dainty, Kevin Davenport, Bob Gaudio, have announced that acclaimed Broadway star Will Swenson, who originated the role of Neil Diamond on Broadway, will lead the cast.

Tickets go on sale 2 October at theneildiamondmusical.com.au

Swenson, who first brought Neil Diamond to life on Broadway in 2022 to critical and audience acclaim, will bring his award-winning performance to Australia for the first time.

Season opens August 2026.

The 1812 Theatre

Speaking in Tongues

The October production from the 1812 Theatre was Speaking in Tongues held in The Bakery Theatre.

A four-hander with the cast playing many parts.

This is not easy as one can be absorbed in their one role but to play other roles well the cast are to be congratulated.

SonjaandSarahwereplayedbySalinaWray, Leon and Nick were portrayed by Brett Hyland.

Hannah bolt played Jane and Valerie, and Pete, Neil and John were played by Liam Hutchinson.

All did their roles professionally adding to the high standard f the evening.

The set was minimal, a screen at the rear with various scenes projected on same.

The other furniture representing each scene was smoothly moved in and out by two backstage personal.

A small intimate theatre The Bakery at 1812 well suited for this type of play.

Another successful evening from The 1812 Theatre.

The Round Theatre

Babirra Music theatre presents Grease

It’s 1959, and at Rydell High School, Danny and Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski’s summer romance is put to the test when they unexpectedly meet on the first day of school.

Grease opened on Broadway in 1972, and ran for a record at the time) of 3388 performances, before closing in 1980.

Grease was made into a movie, starring Oliver Newton-John and John Travolta.

The movie also enjoyed a huge success.

Grease is a celebration of rock n’ roll, American teen culture, and the 1950s.

It features many songs you will know and love, such as You’re the One I Want, Hopelessly Devoted to You, Summer Nights, Greased Lightning,, and There are Worse Things I could Do.

Season Friday 10 October – Saturday 18 October.

Gemco Community Theatre

Gemco Players Open Stage Nights 2025 Welcome one and all to Gemco‘s ongoing Open Stage Night.

Hosted by Carol, Gemco’s popular open stage has been running for many decades. Held in the cosy hall, you are welcome to perform anything you like or just come for the lovely entertainment.

Enjoy music, poetry, singing, and monologues of anything.

Season: 1 November at 7pm – 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald.

Running the first Saturday of every month, now starting at 7pm Bring your own nibblies.

Him Starring Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans

SENIOR LIVING

Retirement living with heart

Where the Yarra Valley meets the Dandenong Ranges, Lilydale Valley Views offers more than a place to live, it’s a vibrant community where retirement is enjoyed to the fullest.

Forover15years,thevillagehasgrowninto a welcoming environment where residents feel at home. With 139 residences, including semi attached two and three bedroom units and cosy terraces, there is a style to suit every preference.

Whether it’s sweeping valley views or the ease of low maintenance living, each home is designed for comfort and connection.

Lifestyle is at the heart of Lilydale Valley Views. A heated indoor pool and spa provide year round relaxation, while Tai Chi, dancercise, and other group activities keep minds and bodies active. The village bus makes shopping stress free with convenient door to door service.

A strong sense of community sets the village apart. The resident social committee organises a calendar filled with outings, celebrations, and casual get togethers, ensuring there are always opportunities to connect. Friendships form quickly and newcomers are warmly welcomed, making it easy to feel part of the community from day one.

The location adds to the appeal. Doctors, supermarkets, and the train station are all within walking distance, while the nearby Warburton Trail offers scenic walks and bike rides. On site, a thriving veggie and flower garden brings people together in the simple pleasure of growing and sharing.

It is this blend of convenience, activity, and companionship that makes Lilydale Valley Views such a special place. Here, retirement is not about slowing down, but about enjoy-

SENIOR LIVING

Summerset removes worry

We might be new to your neighbourhood, but as one of New Zealand’s most well-known retirement village operators, we’ve been around for a while.

In fact, Summerset has been operating across the Tasman for more than 28 years, and in Cranbourne North, Victoria since 2024.

Summerset Chirnside Park is conveniently located with easy access to shopping centres, medical facilities, golf courses, cafes, restaurants, and the tantalising Yarra Valley—perfect for weekend escapes.

Summerset villages are thoughtfully designed to support every stage of ageing, from independent living in villas to supported living in assisted living apartments, with the added reassurance of ageing in place—whether in a supported environment or in our onsite aged care home.

Moving into a retirement village should be a transition you only make once. That’s why our facilities are designed to support ageing in place, removing the worry of ‘where to next’—for you or your loved ones.

Once complete, residents of Summerset Chirnside Park will enjoy a range of resort-style amenities, including an indoor swimming pool and spa, recreational bowling green, resident bar, exercise room, hair and beauty salon, movie theatre, resident workshop, and much more.

“Everything was done to make us feel welcome, and after only two weeks, we feel like we belong,” Summerset Cranbourne Northe residents Gerry and Fenna said.

“Nothing could have been done to make our transition better.”

Come and visit us anytime to learn more about Summerset and explore our beautiful experience centre and sales suite.

Love the life you choose at Summerset Chirnside Park.

The Sales Suite ispen Monday to Friday, 10am–4pm at 273 Manchester Road, Chirnside Park or visit the website at summerset.com.au/ chirnsidepark.

Summerset Chirnside Park will be located tantalisingly close to the Yarra Valley. (Supplied)

Enjoy resort-style facilities at Summerset Chirnside Park.

Outdoor spaces will be a prominent part of the experience at Summerset Chirnside Park.

An artist impression of homes coming soon at Summerset Chirnside Park.

Discover the Summerset difference at Summerset Chirnside Park

At Summerset, we have a fresh approach to retirement living and the experience to back it up. We’ve been creating and operating retirement villages with aged care since 1997. With almost 40 villages and more than 9,000 residents across Australasia, we’ve become pretty good at creating the kind of retirement community you want to live in.

One where like-minded people meet, talk and laugh with one another and every new neighbour has the potential to become an old friend.

Get in touch to find out more about the brand-new Summerset village coming soon to Chirnside Park.

Summerset Chirnside Park 03 8777 4242 | chirnsidepark.sales@summerset.com.au Visit our

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2025

Best of rural life on show

Get ready for an exciting showcase of agriculture and rural living as the Wandin Silvan Field Days return for another fantastic year on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 October. This popular event brings together exhibitors from across Australia, including Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia, offering a comprehensive look at the industry.

This also includes some well-known brands from across the local region, like Yarra Valley Toyota, Whitlands Engineering, Agpower and Transport,andBWMachinery.Readmoreabout each of these businesses and what they have to offer in the pages to come.

Bringing together such a large number of exhibitors, the Wandin East Recreation Reserve acts as the perfect location, with the two ovals utilised for the two-day event.

On the front oval, find all the light machinery and general product displays, while the rear oval hosts all the heavy machinery. There is also the lifestyle and information pavilion located between the two ovals, and special areas dotted around the site providing food and attractions, like draught horses, historic machinery and chainsaw carving.

Gates are open from 8.30am to 5pm on Friday and 8.30am to 4pm on Saturday. Visitors will find a massive array of exhibitors featuring farm machinery, light industrial equipment, motor vehicles, irrigation gear, and the latest in pest and weed control. Don’t miss the live demonstrations of new equipment like chain saws, ride-on mowers, and innovative pruning techniques. You can also find vital information on the packaging, transporting, and labelling of fruit.

Beyond the machinery, the event offers plenty for everyone, including arts and crafts, patchwork, gardening products, and clothing.

Demonstrations like weaving and leatherworking will also be featured. For the kids, it’s a great

chancetoseeaglimpseofrurallifeandgetclose to a variety of animals in an informative setting.

Entry is a flat fee of $17 per person, with all proceeds benefiting local CFA brigades. Children under 15 are admitted free of charge. Ample free on-site parking is available—just

follow the signs! Come along and enjoy a great day out while supporting your local community.

With so much to see and do, start planning your Wandin Silvan Field Days attendance now.

Wandin Silvan Field Days event map. (Supplied)

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2025 Welcome from president

By Brad Finger, President

2025 will mark the 56th year we have hosted the Wandin Silvan Farm Field Days, marking a significant milestone achievement and a tribute to all of those involved over the course of so many years.

We continue this popular and important local community event as a not-for-profit organisation, operated by a committee of local volunteers.

Favourably located in the heart of the renowned and beautiful Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region of Victoria, the WandinSilvan Field Days are held at the picturesque Wandin East Recreation Reserve, with participants and exhibitors from several areas of Australia, both regional and interstate.

We endeavour to maintain our very niche ‘Horticultural and Farm Machinery’ theme, actively encouraging the involvement of all exhibitors, and particularly those who can endorse our theme.

Our popular Field Days provide the opportunity for visitors to see the latest in farm machinery, technology and related services, along with the chance to catch up and network with others in the industry and local area. The price and quality of machinery and equipment can be compared at the one location, with patrons able to have face-to-face contact with dealers and suppliers.

Special attractions this year include Beloka Kelpie Working Dogs display, Chainsaw Sculptor, Paul Stafford, Heritage Draught Horse demonstration, “On the Move’ Mobile Animal Farm, a working Blacksmith demo and display of machinery from yesteryear by the Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation society. Victoria Police Farm Crime Division will be present, along with representatives from several of our local CFA groups.

The ’Information and Lifestyle’ Pavilion, complemented by the General Interest Alley, enables us to host a wide number of special interest exhibitors selling such as regional food and

wine, beer, Gin distillery, Safety Wear, homecrafts, nursery produce, clothing and jewellery, just to name a few. With such a large variety of exhibitors, some-

thing for everyone.

I look forward to welcoming you all to Wandin and hope that you will enjoy your time

at the 56th Annual 2025 Wandin Silvan Field Days.

Wandin Silvan Field Days President Brad Finger. (Tanya Steele: 437289)

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2025

Driving forward together

There’s a fresh energy at Yarra Valley Toyota and Croydon Toyota as we welcome new leadership, exciting new models, and a continued commitment to serving our local community with honesty, care, and respect.

A message from Ben Coleman – new Dealer Principal

“I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Yarra Valley and Croydon Toyota,” says Ben Coleman, our new Dealer Principal.

With over 20 years in the Toyota family, including the honour of receiving the Toyota President’s Award, Ben brings a wealth of experience, passion, and leadership to both dealerships.

“What inspires me most about Toyota is its professionalism, reliability, and brand strength,” Ben shares. “From hybrids and electrification to the passion of Gazoo Racing, Toyota has always been about innovation that truly benefits its drivers. Most importantly, I believe in treating every customer the way I’d want my own family treated, with honesty, care, and respect.”

Ben is also proud to support and be part of the local community. “I look forward to strengthening our after-sales service, showcasing the latest Toyota models, and making Croydon and Yarra Valley Toyota the go-to destination for locals. Outside of work, I’m a husband and father to two young children, and we’re all excited to embrace everything the Yarra Valley community has to offer.”

Ben warmly invites locals to drop by, say hello, and share in this new chapter.

A message from George – new General Manager

Joining Ben is George, our new General Manager at Yarra Valley Toyota. With over 12 years of Toyota experience and 20 years in the automotive industry, George is eager to get started.

“What drew me here is the combination of a fantastic brand and a team that genuinely cares about its customers and the community,” he explains.

George is passionate about helping customers find the right Toyota for their lifestyle and continuing the culture of excellence that Toyota is known for. “There’s so much potential here, and I’m excited to contribute to the continued success of Yarra Valley Toyota. I can’t wait to get to know everyone, customers, staff, and community alike and be part of what makes this region so special.”

About Peter Kittle Motor Company

Yarra Valley Toyota and Croydon Toyota are proud to now be part of the Peter Kittle Motor Company family. Peter Kittle Motor Company is a family-owned automotive group with dealerships across Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales.

We’re committed not only to excellence and integrity in every area of our business, but also to building strong connections in the communi-

ties we serve. Supporting local families, sporting clubs, and community initiatives has always been part of who we are.

At Yarra Valley Toyota and Croydon Toyota, you’ll find a wide range of New and PreOwned Toyota vehicles, vehicle Finance and Insurance solutions, expert service and parts, and a warm, welcoming experience every time you visit. For us, every customer is part of our family. Out in the community – Wandin Silvan Field

Days

One of the events we’re especially looking forward to this month is the Wandin Silvan Field Days, held on 17 and 18 October.

This iconic community event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with locals, showcase the Toyota range, and celebrate the best of the Yarra Valley. We’ll be there across both days with a variety of vehicles on display, along with some exclusive offers only available to customers who stop

by our site.

Ben and George are encouraging everyone to come down, say hello, and see what’s new. “The Field Days are such a wonderful community gathering,” Ben said. “We’re excited to be part of it this year, to meet as many locals as possible, and to show what makes Yarra Valley Toyota and Croydon Toyota special.”

What’s new: the all-new RAV4

On the product front, there’s plenty of excitement building around the launch of the all-new sixthgeneration Toyota RAV4, set to arrive in the first half of 2026.

This model takes Toyota’s most popular SUV to the next level with bold new design, advanced safety, and the introduction of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrain which is a first for Toyota in Australia. With up to 100km of electric-only range, improved hybrid options, and the performance-focused GR Sport AWD variant, the new RAV4 offers something for everyone, from families to business and fleet customers.

Inside, drivers will enjoy Toyota’s latest Arene multimedia system, upgraded Toyota Safety Sense technology, and enhanced cabin space for added comfort and versatility.

It’s an SUV that blends Toyota’s legendary reliability with the future of low-emission driving and we can’t wait to share it with our community.

Tried and true: the legendary HiLux

Of course, when it comes to utes, there are utes… and then there’s Toyota HiLux!

Built on a reputation of strength, toughness, and durability, HiLux continues to set the standard for what a ute should be. Whether you’re working hard on the jobsite, towing with confidence, or heading out to explore the great outdoors, HiLux has the power and capability you can count on.

As Ben puts it, “If you want the job done right, do it with HiLux in the Yarra Valley.”

Looking ahead

With new leadership, exciting new models on the horizon, and strong involvement in local events such as the Wandin Silvan Field Days, there’s a lot to look forward to at Yarra Valley Toyota and Croydon Toyota.

We’re not just here to sell and service cars we’re here to build long-lasting relationships, support our community, and be a trusted part of life in the Yarra Valley and Croydon.

We warmly invite you to come in, meet our new leadership team, explore the latest Toyota range, or simply say hello at the Field Days. Whether you’re looking for your next Toyota, need expert servicing, or just want some friendly advice, we’d love to connect with you.

After all, we’re not just your local Toyota dealership, we’re part of your community.

Yarra Valley and Croydon Toyota have welcomed some new faces to the team, with new dealer principal Ben Coleman and general manager George jumping on board. (Supplied)

Find an array of new and pre-owned Toyota vehicles at both dealerships.

Yarra Valley Toyota in Lilydale is a landmark along Maroondah Highway.

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2025

They’re truly made to last

Rural manufacturing company Whitlands Engineering is celebrating it’s 32nd year of business throughout 2025 – marking also a decade of continuous growth despite the challenges facing regional business.

Located in a rural farming area in North East Victoria, the company designs and manufactures Australia’s leading brands of log splitters and firewood processors – Superaxe and Rex. Beginning with the famed Superaxe in 1993, David Burder had the design ready to go but no experience running a business but persevered with remarkable success.

Through exposure at local field days, word of mouth and a truly innovative product, Whitlands Engineering expanded, even through droughts, recession conditions and the GFC. These days the business has two manufacturing sites, 25 staff and massive export to NZ and the USA in their sights. David is wholly committed to employing local people & manufacturing in north east Victoria. Despite the temptation for cheaper production overseas, this decision has now become the cornerstone of the company philosophy and is fundamental to its success, longevity and reputation.

David said local manufacturing keeps money in the local economy, supports twenty five employees and their families and most importantly keeps integrity in the manufacturing process.

“The imported machines may be cheaper but they certainly don’t last very long,” he said.

“To say we are Australian Made means more than anything.”

The other ingredient in their success is though is innovative design and benchmark manufacturing standards. They’re truly made to last. Beyond that, ergonomic design is key, making the back-

breaking task of splitting wood simple and comfortable – the operator always has a straight back and lifting is eliminated with hydraulic log lifters fitted as standard. The Superaxe has certainly proven itself over the last three decades as Australia’s leading log splitter, setting new standards in performance, design and safety innovation. Come down and say hello to the team at the Wandin Silvan Field Days, or freecall 1800 702 701 or visit the website for more details superaxe. com.au for more information.

The Whitlands Engineering team has been producing firewood machinery for 32 years.

Come see the Whitlands Engineering team at Wandin Silvan Field Days. (Supplied)

ENCHANTING HILLS RETREAT

ENCHANTING HILLS RETREAT WITH STRIKING FACADE, GRAND FIREPLACE AND EXPANSIVE GROUNDS

PRIVATELY set on approx. 5,367m², this Tudor-inspired residence captures the essence of hills living with its storybook façade, beautifully landscaped gardens, and versatile family floor plan.

Privately set on approx. 5,367m², this Tudor-inspired residence captures the essence of hills living with its storybook façade, beautifully landscaped gardens, and versatile family floor plan.

Spread across multiple levels, the home blends timeless character with modern comfort to create an inviting lifestyle property.

Tucked away in a peaceful setting, yet only minutes from Upwey village, cafes, schools and train station, it offers the best of both worlds - the tranquillity of the Dandenong Ranges combined with everyday convenience.

From the moment you arrive, the home’s presence makes a lasting impression, while inside, the scale, warmth and flexibility of the layout ensure it will adapt to your family’s needs for years to come.

Designed for both relaxed living and entertaining, this residence delivers comfort and versatility at every turn - from cosy evenings by the stone wood fire fireplace beneath soaring cathedral ceilings, to summer gatherings on the deck overlooking the massive backyard that stretches all the way down the block.

The welcoming front garden, with its generous carport and landscaped surrounds, completes the picture of a home full of charm and lifestyle appeal.

Key Features:

Four bedrooms including a main with ensuite and robes, plus two with BIRs and balcony access

Two bathrooms, ideally positioned throughout the home Grand cathedral-ceiling lounge with polished timber floors and a feature stone wood fire fireplace

• Ducted heating and split system cooling for year-round comfort

• Dedicated study plus separate office/retreat, perfect for working from home

• Well-appointed kitchen and meals area with direct connection to covered entertaining decks

• Multiple outdoor living zones including three covered decks, pergola and balcony

• Expansive backyard that stretches all the way down the block, ideal for children, pets or further landscaping

• Generous front yard with landscaped gardens and a double carport, plus additional car space

Established gardens with feature lighting, enhancing the property’s storybook appeal ●

FAMILY SPACE AND COUNTRY CHARM

TUCKED away on 1.45 acres in a peaceful pocket of Cockatoo, this solid brick home is designed for relaxed family living with plenty of space both inside and out.

A circular driveway and gated entry welcome you home, leading to a wide verandah that sets the tone for easy country living. Step inside to the inviting lounge with gas log fire, while gas ducted heating throughout keeps every corner comfortable year-round.

The master bedroom looks out over the lush rear yard and enjoys a walk-in robe and new ensuite, while two further bedrooms with built-in robes are serviced by the stylishly renovated central bathroom and separate toilet. A spacious rumpus room and fourth, robed bedroom add flexibility for growing families or guests, and solar panels keep the bills at bay.

The heart of the home is the open-plan kitchen and dining zone, featuring slate flooring, gas cooktop, wall oven, dishwasher, skylight, breakfast bar and room for further casual seating.

Outdoors is all about space and lifestyle: entertain on the brick-paved patio, tinker in the 9m x 6m workshop or 4.5m x 6m shed and let kids and pets run free across the sprawling, fully fenced grounds – the rear is even separately fenced to ensure the fur babies safely off the driveway.

This property offers the perfect balance of comfort, practicality, and the freedom of country living—all on a sealed road just minutes from Cockatoo’s shops, school, public transport and cafe culture. Definitely worth a look.

This property has it all so don’t miss out - call to arrange a private inspection today. Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●

FLAT BLOCK AND THE KIDS CAN WALK TO SCHOOL

GREAT indoor/ outdoor living in a true hills home with ample room for your kids to play and pets to run in a secure 884 sqm block.

The flexibility of this open plan design can lend itself to 4 generous bedrooms, master with en-suite, or 3 bedrooms plus a home office or a 2nd large living zone, perfect for teenagers chill space.

The kitchen is perfectly placed for entertaining - flowing beautifully to the lounge and dining areas and boasts stainless steel appliances, including a dishwasher and heaps of storage options.

Additional features include: heated spa pool combustion wood fireplace Gas ducted heating 2 split systems as well as ceiling fans Covered entertaining area

• Double carport

• Powered workshop/storage shed

• Huge under-house storage

• Double carport plus ample off-street parking for cars, boat, or caravan.

Walking distance to Belgrave South Primary school, easy access onto Wellington Road for city travellers, and a short drive to Belgrave Central, station and shops. ●

TUCKED

and breathtaking views across the Warburton Ranges – all within easy walking distance of Monbulk’s shops, cafes, and amenities.

The upper level is dedicated to relaxed yet stylish living, with a fabulous open-plan layout centred around a gourmet kitchen that seamlessly connects the formal and informal zones. Entertain with ease as you move from the front balcony – where uninterrupted views stretch across the ranges – to the private rear deck, a serene escape for family gatherings on a larger scale.

The spacious master suite has wall-to-wall mirrored robes, a glamorous ensuite, plus a peaceful parent with calming views, completes this level.

Downstairs is a second stunning bathroom complete with a luxurious spa and enclosed

HOME ESSENTIALS

European laundry, which services the 3 bedrooms, one of which is a versatile home office (or fourth bedroom), and also enjoys scenic views. A clever European laundry is neatly tucked away for convenience.

Additional highlights include an 8-pluskilowatt solar panel array, a smart hot water system that works with the solar panels, a car charger, plus an inverter that is battery compatible.

Lovely, terraced gardens ablaze with spring colours, plus a flat sunny area perfect for children to play, a sealed dual-access driveway, and a double carport complete this package.

This home is perfectly positioned, offering views from every window, it’s private and peaceful, and yet just a short stroll from Monbulk township. This is a home where lifestyle and location unite. ●

Address: 28 Hunter Street, MONBULK Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $820,000 - $890,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Jan Brewster 0409 558 805, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE, 9754 6111

VIEWS, VIEWS! ONE OWNER - 10 ACRES

ESCAPE to your own private haven on 10 breathtaking acres where rolling green paddocks meet sweeping mountain views. With birdsong in the air and a tranquil dam glistening nearby, every corner of this property radiates peace and natural beauty.

Lovingly designed and built by the original owners, this quality residence blends comfort and elegance.

The upgraded kitchen and bathrooms bring a modern touch, while the main suite is perfectly positioned so you wake up immersed in nature.

Two spacious living areas, each with a cozy wood fire, provide warmth and charm through every season.

A central well-appointed kitchen, excellent storage and bench space. Room for everyone.

Fabulous lifestyle features, expansive undercover entertaining area — ideal for family gatherings and celebrations, beautiful established gardens (easy to maintain), oldgrowth trees (planted by current owners) and lush lawns for play and relaxation.

Paddocks ready for livestock or horses. Two double garages plus a workshop for all your projects and storage needs

A little away from towns to enjoy the serenity of country living with the convenience of sealed road access, but it’s just a short drive to the welcoming townships of Emerald and Cockatoo, offering shops, schools, and community amenities.

Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat, a family haven, or a lifestyle property with room to grow, this stunning acreage has it all. ●

FLATBLOCKANDTHEKIDSCANWALKTOSCHOOL

Greatindoor/outdoorlivingina truehillshomewithampleroomforyourkidstoplayand petstorunina secure884sqmblock.The flexibilityofthisopenplandesigncanlenditself to 4generousbedrooms,masterwithen-suite,or3 bedroomsplusa homeofficeor a 2ndlargelivingzone,perfectforteenagerschillspace.Thekitchenisperfectlyplacedfor entertaining -flowingbeautifullytotheloungeanddiningareasandboastsstainlesssteel appliances,including adishwasherandheapsofstorageoptions.

‘RANGESLIFESTYLELIVING’ -OFFTHEPLAN

Ownyourownbrand-newhome.No‘retirementliving’extrafundsrequired Theperfect‘lifestyle’awaits,units2&3 availablenow: •3 bedrooms, 2bathrooms. 1or2 garages

•Singlelevelstylishunits. Alfresco livingwithmanageablegarden retreat

•Alist of inclusionsisavailabletostyleyournewhome,fromthe‘Building

withprofessionalguidancethroughouttheprocess.

MickDolphin 0429684522

JanetHawkins 0409117432

CONTEMPORARYFAMILYLIVINGWITHSWEEPINGVIEWS

Tuckedawayon aquietno-throughroad,thisbeautifullydesignedfour-bedroom, two-bathroomresidenceofferstheperfectblendofmoderncomfort,privacy,and breathtakingviewsacrosstheWarburtonRanges.Theupperlevelisdedicatedtorelaxed yetstylishliving,with afabulousopen-planlayoutcentredaround agourmetkitchenthat seamlesslyconnectstheformalandinformalzones.Entertainwitheaseasyoumovefrom thefrontbalcony– whereuninterruptedviewsstretchacrosstheranges

JanBrewster 0409558805

GrantSkipsey 0418528102 10AcresofTranquillity

Escapetoyourownprivatehavenon10breathtakingacreswhererollinggreen paddocksmeetsweepingmountainviews.Withbirdsongintheairand atranquildam glisteningnearby,everycornerofthispropertyradiatespeaceandnaturalbeauty. Lovinglydesignedandbuiltbytheoriginalowners,thisqualityresidenceblendscomfort andelegance.

MickDolphin 0429684522

CaitiEllis 0393136837

LARGE ACREAGE LIVING WITH FAMILY SPACE AND FANTASTIC VIEWS

THE ultimate broad acreage lifestyle property on a grand scale set on approx. 64 sensational acres.

Offering a multitude of possibilities and potential with around 25 to 30 acres of pasture, with the remainder being scattered bush and trees. It's the ideal grazing property or just to sit back, enjoy and admire the wide open spaces and fresh air.

The substantial family home is presented to perfection and will accommodate the largest of families and or dependent relatives and teenagers. Consisting of 6 bedrooms, 4 with built in robes, 2 with walk-in robes and 2 with ensuites - plus a main bathroom.

Plenty of space for the growing family with a large lounge room, family room and living room. A great size kitchen, well appointed and with quality appliances and ample bench and cupboard space.

Head outside and you're spoilt for choice and endless activities with covered decking and an open entertaining area - it's the ideal spot to sit back and admire the stunning scenery, fantastic ever changing views and colourful acreage vista.

This large acreage lifestyle property is perfect for the outdoors and nature loving family with 4 separate dams, fresh crays and trout, a spring fed creek, cattle yards and resident platypus and koalas! A fantastic grazing property or the ideal lifestyle get away property that the whole family will love and enjoy for years to come.

FantasticAcreageViews& CharmingHomein aPrivateLocation Thissuperbacreagelifestyleawaitsyou.Setonjustunder20acreswitha mixofclearedpastureand bush,it’stheidealplacetorelaxandenjoythescenery.Thehomesitsina commandingposition, enjoyingthevalleyviewsallyear.Boasting 4bedroomsover2 levelsplus alargeoffice/studyand workfromhomesetup.Multipleliving/loungeandfamilyroomsgivethefamilyspacetospreadout. Thekitchenisimpressivewithqualityappliancesandplentyofbenchandcupboardspaceplusa separatemeals/diningarea.Stepoutsideandenjoycovereddeckingandanalfresco/BBQarea -justthespottorelaxandenjoytheYarraValleyviews.A largehighclearancecarportandbarn offerplentyofcar,truckandcaravanaccommodation.Thefamilywilllovetheacresofspacewith somethingforeveryone!A fantasticpropertyin agloriousandprivatelocation.

SpaciousFamilyLivingwith aCozyCountryFeel

Thiswellpresentedfamilyhomeperfectlybalancesgenerousspacewiththewarmthandcharm of atruecountryhome.Theheartofthehomeistheimpressivekitchen,boastingamplecabinetry, shelving,and alargefeaturetimberislandbench.Thefamily-friendlylayoutincludesfourwellsizedbedrooms,allwithbuilt-inrobes,positionedoff aseparateformallivingarea.Themastersuite trulyfeelslikea retreat,offering awalk-inrobe,spaensuitewitha timbervanity.Stepoutsidetoan expansiveundercoverentertainingarea—idealforweekendBBQsandoutdoordining.A double garagecompletesthepackage,offeringevenmorestorageorworkshoppotential.Fullyfenced backyardforthedogsorchildren,withdirectaccesstotheWarburtontrailthisisa absolutebonusfor allthefamilytoindulgein.Don’tmissthisopportunity!

APrivateGardenParadise –StylishLivingwithMountainViews Trulyanopportunitynottobemissed,thisstandoutresidenceisoneofthearea’smostbeautifully maintainedandpresentedhomes.Attheheartofthehomeisa custom-designedkitchen,complete withbutler’spantry,amplestorage,featurelighting,andthoseever-presentgardenviews.The homeoffersfourbedrooms,eachwithsereneoutlooksoverthegarden.Twoincludebuilt-inrobes, whilethemastersuitefeatures awalk-inrobeanda tastefullyupdatedensuite.Themainbathroom is ashowstopper,withluxuriousdetailsincludinga freestandingsoaktub,heatedfloors,anditsown privatepatioforultimaterelaxation.Stepoutsideandexploreyourownprivateoasis—wisteriacoveredgazebo,andpeacefulentertainingzones.Practicalitymeetssustainabilitywitha double garage,electricvehiclecharger,andsolarpanelsincludinga 10kwbattery.Don’tmissout!

FamilySpacewithComfortandConvenience Thissuperbpropertyisideallylocatedjustminutesstrolltolocalschools,shopsandtransport.The homeoffers 3bedroomswitha family/livingroom,separatemeals/diningareaand aspaciousopen plankitchenwithamplebenchandcupboardspace.Stepoutsideandentertainallyearroundwith ahugecoveredentertainingareaoverlookingthehugebackyardthatthekidsandpetsaregoing tolove.Setonapprox.1570sqmofferingloadsofpotentialandopportunitiestocreateyourown backyardparadise.A carportandlockupgarage/workshopandstorageareaofferextraspacefor carsandtrailersplusplentyofcarspaceinthefrontyardareaaswell. Afantasticpropertysetona largeparceloflandina popularandconvenientlocation -it’sa greatplacetocallhome.

DavidCarroll M 0419539320

MODERN COMFORT AND QUIET LIVING

TUCKED away off street of a well-maintained block, this beautifully presented threebedroom, two-bathroom (three-toilet) home offers the perfect balance of modern comfort, privacy, and convenience. Just eight years young, 24B Cornhill Street, Ferntree Gully, is thoughtfully designed for effortless living and entertaining, ideal for families, downsizers, or professionals alike.

Step inside to discover a light-filled openplan layout, where the stylish kitchen, dining, and living areas flow seamlessly together underlined by warm timber floors and a striking feature wall. The modern kitchen is equipped with quality appliances, stone benchtops, and ample storage, and opens directly onto a stunning alfresco deck via fullwidth bi-fold doors.

Framed by beautifully landscaped gardens, this outdoor space is perfect for year-round entertaining or relaxing in total privacy.

The ground-floor master bedroom is a true retreat, complete with a walk-in robe and private ensuite. Upstairs, two further generously sized bedrooms (one with a walk-in robe) are serviced by a stylish family bathroom and feature a handy reading nook – a quiet spot for relaxing with a book or unwinding after a long day. A third toilet is conveniently located on the ground floor for guests.

Additional features include a separate laundry, ducted heating and cooling, double garage with internal access, and attic storage, ensuring comfort and practicality at every turn.

Set on approximately 500m², this peaceful residence is positioned within walking distance to both Kings Park and Wally Tew Reserve, and moments from local schools, shops, cafes, and public transport. Whether you’re entertaining friends, raising a family, or looking for a low-maintenance lifestyle in a premium pocket of Ferntree Gully – this home ticks all the boxes. ●

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2025

Agpower is ready to roar

Agpower is thrilled to be back at this year’s Wandin Silvan Field Days on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 October. As a long time supporter since the very beginning, this event is a highlight on our calendar—a chance to connect with our local community, showcase our latest machinery, and share our passion for supporting farmers and growers across Victoria.

Visitors to our site can explore a wide range of products, from tractors and off road vehicles to mowers, sprayers, and implements. It is the perfect opportunity to speak with our experienced team, see the machinery up close, and take advantage of our special Field Day offers. And true to our tradition of welcoming hospitality, you might even be treated to a coffee while discussing the equipment that best suits your property.

Of course, with such an extensive range, it is impossible to display everything at the Field Days. That is why we encourage visitors to drop into our dealership at 465 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale, where the full fleet is on display and our team can provide personalised advice and demonstrations.

Your Local Agricultural Machinery Specialist Since opening in May 1999, Agpower has grown from a local Yarra Valley business into one of Victoria’s largest independent agricultural machinery dealerships. Family owned and operated, we are proud to have earned multiple VACC Industry Awards for Best Farm Machinery Dealer – Large Business.

We are especially proud to be a New Holland dealer for more than 25 years. New Holland is a world leader in agricultural machinery, and we stock tractors ranging from 25hp to 120hp to meet every farm’s needs. Alongside New Holland, we are authorised dealers for Kioti, Toro, Valtra, and Polaris. Whether it is tractors, ride on mowers, off road vehicles, or implements, our products are designed to make your work more efficient and reliable.

Polaris ATVs – Built to Perform

Agpower and Transport, based in Lilydale, has a long standing partnership with Polaris ATVs. We specialise in providing quality products and customised fit ups of accessories to meet each customer’s unique requirements. In 2025 alone, we have supplied everything from the Ranger 530 and SP 570, Ranger 1000 and XP 1000, to the RZR range and the top of the line Xpedition series.

Our Polaris expertise extends to highly specialised applications. For the Australian Defence Force, we provided 13 Xpedition XP and Xpedition ADV models, valued for their rugged reliability and toughness. For one of our valued Utility Company clients, we supplied 12 Polaris Ranger Diesels fully fitted with roofs, glass screens, wiper kits, rear panels, crank handle doors, mirrors, and flashing beacons.

For individual customers, we have customised specialty units like the Xpedition XP 5 Ultimate, fitted with roof racks, curved light bars, HD bumpers, hood racks, fender flare kits, and headache racks.

Winches are also a popular accessory. At Agpower, we listen carefully to each customer’s needs to ensure every Polaris is fit for purpose, maximising both its benefits and features. For down to earth advice, quotes, and service, Agpower is your go to Polaris specialist.

Comprehensive Service and Repairs

Agpower is not just a dealer—we are your complete agricultural service provider. Our state of the art mechanical workshop in Lilydale caters to everything from B double trucks and 4WDs to passenger vehicles, lawn mowers, sprayers, and chainsaws. No repair is too big or small, and our factory trained technicians perform all work to the highest standard.

We are an accredited licensed heavy vehicle

and light car roadworthy inspection station, and our truck workshop is renowned for its service and repair quality. For those times when machinery cannot make it to our workshop, our mobile Field Service Technicians bring their expertise directly to your property. Equipped to handle urgent maintenance or critical repairs on site, they minimise downtime and ensure your equipment is operating at peak performance.

Supporting Farmers and the Community

For over 25 years, Agpower has proudly supported farmers, growers, and rural communities with quality equipment, expert advice, and reliable service. From vineyards and orchards to large farms and lifestyle properties, our goal is to help our customers succeed with machinery that delivers results.

Family owned and community focused, Agpower sees events like the Wandin Silvan Field Days as more than just machinery showcases— they celebrate the farming and horticultural

industries that form the backbone of our region. We are proud to continue supporting this important event year after year.

Visit Us at the Field Days

WeinviteeveryonetovisitAgpowerattheWandin Silvan Field Days. Explore our machinery, speak with our friendly team, and secure special Field Day offers. If you would like to see even more, our Lilydale dealership is open year round with the full fleet and expert services available. From tractors and off road vehicles to Polaris ATVs and complete mechanical repairs, Agpower is your trusted local agricultural machinery specialist. With award winning service, decades of experience, and a true passion for supporting farmers, growers, and local communities, we are here to keep your business moving.

For Polaris enquiries, contact Steve Scully on 0473 671 077 or email sscully@agpower.com.au.

Come see us at the Field Days—and don’t forget to stop by for a coffee and a chat.

Polaris ATVs are built to perform.

The Agpower team will be out in force for Wandin Silvan Field Days. (Supplied)

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2025

A reputation of reliability

B.W. Machinery is proud to confirm our participation in the Wandin Silvan Field Days 2026, one of Victoria’s most iconic agricultural and horticultural events. This much-loved gathering brings together farmers, contractors, landscapers, and homeowners to explore the latest technology and equipment that make outdoor work easier, faster, and more efficient.

As a trusted retailer of outdoor power equipment across Victoria and beyond, B.W. Machinery has built a reputation for offering reliable, durable, and innovative solutions. From compact backyards to large rural properties, our product range is carefully selected to meet Australian conditions while delivering long-lasting value

We have long partnered with leading brands such as STIHL and Honda, while also offering our own BWM Products range — equipment that is tested locally and trusted by thousands of Australians. Through our national dealer network, BWM Products are available across Australia, giving customers in both metro and regional areas convenient access to our machines. What sets us apart is not only the breadth of our range, but also our after-sales service, repairs, parts support, and expert advice.

New Ringwood Mowers store

In October 2025, we proudly opened our newest location: Ringwood Mowers at 50 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood. This modern showroom is a major step forward in serving Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, offering one of the most comprehensive selections of outdoor power equipment in the region.

At Ringwood, customers can explore a wide line-up of premium brands including:

• Honda – reliable mowers, brushcutters, and generators

• STIHL – chainsaws, battery systems, and handheld tools

• Victa – a true Australian lawn care icon

• Masport – durable and versatile garden machinery

• BWM Products – Australian-tested for performance and value

• Gravely – commercial-grade ride-on and zeroturn mowers

• Toro – precision-engineered lawn and turf care equipment

• Briggs & Stratton – trusted engines and power solutions

Alongside sales, Ringwood also houses a fully equipped workshop for servicing and repairs, providing customers with dependable long-term support. To make ownership even easier, we operate our own fleet of delivery trucks, ensuring safe and timely delivery of ride-on mowers, chipper shredders, log splitters and other equipment across Melbourne.

This new store represents our commitment to being more than just a retailer — we are a fullservice partner for homeowners, contractors, and property managers.

Highlights at the Field Days

Visitors to our stand at Sites G1–G3 (front oval) will find a wide display of equipment suited to every type of property and task.

• Lawn care solutions: From compact mini riders to powerful ride-on mowers, visitors can compare models, deck sizes, and features to suit their needs.

• Chippers, mulchers, and log splitters: Our heavy-duty machines turn waste into mulch or firewood quickly and efficiently.

• Power tools for every task: Chainsaws, trimmers, brushcutters, blowers, and hedge trimmers that make outdoor work easier.

• Battery-powered innovations: The latest STIHL battery equipment combines eco-friendly technology with powerful performance. Where possible, we’ll have live demonstra-

tions so visitors can see the equipment in action, and our team will be on hand to offer tailored advice.

Why Visit B.W. Machinery?

At Wandin Silvan Field Days, customers can do more than just browse equipment. They will have the opportunity to:

• Speak directly with experts who understand Australian conditions

• Compare trusted global brands side by side

• Access exclusive event promotions available only at the show

• Learn about servicing, spare parts, and support for long-term ownership

A long-term partner

At B.W. Machinery, we believe that purchasing outdoor power equipment is only the beginning.

Our focus on after-sales care, spare parts, and ser-

vicing means customers can rely on us for years to come. This commitment has helped us grow from a single store to a network that now includes Cheltenham, Bentleigh East, Seaford, and our brand-new Ringwood showroom.

An invitation

Whether you are a homeowner looking to simplify weekend chores, a lifestyle property owner managing acreage, or a contractor seeking durable and dependable tools, B.W. Machinery has the right solution for you.

We invite you to join us at the Wandin Silvan Field Days 2026 (Sites G1–G3) to explore our extensive range and meet our team. And for those in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, we welcome you to visit our new Ringwood Mowers showroom at 50 Maroondah Highway to experience firsthand our premium brands, workshop services, and reliable delivery network.

BW Machinery recently opened the Ringwood Mowers location, providing a modern showroom. (Supplied)

Customers can explore a wide line-up of premium brands.

WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS 2025

Action from the 2024 event

Rain, hail or shine, this event offers so much to explore, learn and do.

Don’t miss the chance to be a part of the 56th

and far.

With Wandin Silvan Field Days just around the corner, revisit the fun that was had last year in the lead-up to the 2025 event.

Wandin Silvan Field Days, a much-loved and recognised event both near

Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society members were happy with their general interest win for 2024. (Tanya Steele: 437289)

Justin, manager of Irribiz in Silvan, said he had been part of the Wandin Silvan Field Days festival for the better part of 20 years and was pleased about the sunshine for 2024. (437289)

A new exhibit last year proved popular and showed off the skills of the Beloka Kelpies. (437289)

A live blacksmithing exhibit was new to the scene last year. (437289)

Beloka Kelpies watching the sheep with laser focus. (437289)

The event has been a community staple for 56 years now. (437289)

The event showcases a range of machinery and exhibitors come from all over Australia. (Gary Byrne)

Crowds tend to flock on Saturday. (Gary Byrne)

V.V.V.s return in numbers

By Ron Hottes

The VVVs:

We have been threatening to see our Monday Ladies’ fields grow bigger, as many of the girls return from sojourns to exotic destinations - or just return after hibernating under the doona after a particularly cold winter.

And, so on this sunny Monday, we saw nine young ladies tackle the beast that is the back nine at Warburton.

Although in most cases, they found out that the rust, after a long lay off, is hard to throw off, there were a couple of notable scores posted.

Our winner on this day was none other than the iconic Patricia Eldridge.

Trish amassed 17 consistent points to just edge out Vicki-Hottes, also on 17.

Even though we had the biggest field since autumn, there were still not quite enough for a ball rundown.

But, there was an NTP, and thank you, commissioner.

Merilyn Macdonald snared one on the tough 12th, but unfortunately three-putted from 20 feet.

Next week’s comp looks like being another interesting one, with plenty to report.

Wednesday 1 October, Stroke and Mick McGrann Bag Day Qualifier:

Stroke is a real test of true golf, because the best player on this day is always the pure winner.

Our pure winner this time, with a true Nett total of 67 was Steuart Hawke.

Steuart has featured before in my articles because as a sprightly 80 plus year old, he has regularly broken his age. Incredibly, his winning score has completed this rare achievement. Well done, Hawkey.

The daily runner-up was our current Mr Consistent, Barry Maltman, who posted a solid Nett 70.

Balls reached down to Nett 74.

There were only three NTP winners, they being Junior Garside (third), Kevin Conway (ninth) and Trevor Porter ( 15th).

Saturday 4 October, Stroke and Monthly Medal:

Daylight savings started the next day, meaning we all lose an hours sleep.

This would clearly not affect Ken White, based on the form he is in right now.

An outstanding Nett 65 netted him the October medal and the B Grade prize. Great shooting, Kenny.

The A Grade voucher was claimed by Shane Campbell, with a Nett 68 posted.

Good work, Bomber.

Ben Lever claimed the daily runner up prize by recording a neat Nett 69.

With scores recorded like this, balls only reached down to 74.

The five available NTPs were taken home by Chris Leighton (third), Sam Dennis (fifth), Peter Bell (ninth), Troy Murphy (12th) and Josh Hin (15th).

Seville Pony Club dressage and training day is a success

By Anita Prowse

It was a very warm weekend for Seville Pony Club’s Dressage and Combined Training day at Wesburn Park.

Great entries from all over and a well run event made for lots of smiles.

The winners were:

Dressage Jackpot Pony Club Grade 3 - Audrey Larkin on Gallipoli from Seville Pony Club.

Grade 4 - Millicent Bonar on Time Maker from Mentone Pony Club.

Grade 5 - Bella Hios on Harrington Park Pride from Doongala Pony Club.

Grade 6 - Penelope Hommelhoff on Glynyarra Park Tangelo from Mornington Peninsula Pony Club.

Open Grade 3 - Jessica Walsh on Buckwell Mission Impossible.

Open Grade 4 - Alex Bowtell on Croftcnoc Jemma.

Open Grade 5 - Kirstie Law on Mystic Shadows Delta Foxfire.

Open Grade 6 - Isla Gurr on Kittani Glitter.

Grade 6 Assisted -Faith Vare on Creswell Snowden.

Combined Training Pony Club Grade 3Audrey Larkin on Gallipoli from Seville Pony Club.

Grade 4 - Evelyn Anderson on Rosedale Lyric from North Eastern Horse and Pony Club.

Grade 5 - Lucy Foden on Tyler Affair from

Seville Pony Club.

Grade 6 - Holly Slater on Roadie from Lillico and District Horse and Pony Club.

Open Grade 3 - Amy Gotts-Wheeler on Sharvalley Sterling.

Open 4 - Brooke James on Desmondo.

Open 5 - Nina Bennett on Mithril Lady Willow.

Open 6 - Isla Gurr on Kittani Glitter.

Grade 6 Assisted - Faith Vare on Creswell Snowden.

Patricia Eldridge led the V.V.Vs with 17 points. (File)

Brodie shoots a gold medal

By Dongyun Kwon

Yering District Archers’ Ethan Brodie came back from New Zealand with brilliant results.

Brodie has been into archery for seven years, and he finally made a debut in an international competition, the 2025 Trans-Tasman Challenge.

The Trans-Tasman Challenge is a youth archery competition between Australia and New Zealand.

This year, it was held in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 26 to 29 September, where the Archery Australia Youth Team reclaimed the 2025 Trans-Tasman Challenge title after seven years.

While it was a challenging experience for the 13-year-old to go overseas without his parents, Brodie said it was a great experience.

“I was quite nervous. I didn’t have my parents with me, just team managers and friends, but it was still fun. I shot really well and made lots of friends,” he said.

“In the 720 ranking round, I brought home a gold medal, which is amazing, with a score of 692 out of 720, which I was pretty happy with.

“I also did the individual in which I came fifth, and then I also did the teams matchplay where I came fifth as well.”

Brodie first got into the sport of archery in 2019.

A friend of his dad invited him to Yering District Archers, and Brodie fell in love with the sport right after shooting his very first arrow.

The dedicated archer started training in earnest at the beginning of this year and got an op-

portunity to participate in the National Youth Archery Championships in April.

His hard efforts came to fruition by winning a gold medal in the 720 round in Canberra, which qualified him to represent Australia in the Trans-Tasman Challenge.

The 13-year-old was excited to grab this opportunity and didn’t want to get back home with any regret.

He focused on training before and after school to prepare for his international competition debut.

“Every morning, I would get up and shoot about maybe 50 arrows, and then I would go to school,” Brodie said.

“I would stretch a little bit when I got home from school, and then I would shoot about 60 to

80 arrows in the evening every day.”

The gold medal winner appreciated his coach Jack Hudson and the Yering District Archers for their support along his way.

Brodie said Jack Hudson has been the best coach he could have ever had, giving him many tips and good feedback.

“My coach tells me what I’m doing great, what I might need to improve on and how to do this,” Brodie said.

“The club’s been great. They’ve done so much for me, supporting me along my way to all shooting nationals and getting to this international event, cheering me on.

“(In the future), I really want to get to a World Archery, shooting the outdoor 50 metres in front of big crowds.”

‘An incredible gift’: Weapons celebrates its awards night

By Oliver Winn

Proud parents celebrated with ecstatic children during an awards night that revealed the heart at the core of the Warby Weapons Basketball Club.

Players and their families caught up with coaches and friends on 20 September to celebrate the awards presentation, have a sausage sizzle and partake in an auction.

Warby Weapons president and coach Deni Clark said the night, which was hosted at the Warburton Bowls Club, was “really fantastic”.

“It was a really great time to reflect on all of the wonderful achievements from that season as a club but also to celebrate the individual efforts of our players as well,” Ms Clark said.

Just under 100 people attended where they participated in an auction with goods supplied by local businesses, played games of lawn bowls and had sausage sizzle for dinner.

The awards night saw silverware handed to all players while six were given the special Weapons Way award - an alternative to the traditional best and fairest award that recognises effort, dedication and attitude.

“Our coaches give the Weapons Way Award to the team member who best reflected our values, which is respect, resilience and inclusion.

“Six people received those awards because of how they stood out in terms of reflecting those values in their teams and also off the court as well,” Ms Clark said.

The Warby Weapons is a club aimed at being inclusive to all and encourages players to follow its key values which are respect, resilience and inclusion.

Each player wore a smile of pride and joy as they received their medal, and the coaches were no exception.

Local businesses such as Local Fuel Wesburn also awarded rookies with awards while ADRA Op Shop Warburton attended and provided a donation to the club.

Ms Clark said the awards night was significant because it helps build the players’ confidence

and self-esteem.

“It’s so special when I see the look on the face of a child who’s being recognised for all of their effort, because I think that really helps us contribute to their internal dialogue… and build up their own sense of self-belief,” Ms Clark said.

A week earlier, the club gave parents the opportunity to reflect on a moment at the club which reflected its values and these answers were then read out on the night.

What it resulted in was a realisation that playing for the Warby Weapons was a lot more than just “basketball to win games”.

Instead, Ms Clark said the majority of parents were moved by the community connection that accompanies it.

“It was so incredible that so much of the feedback wasn’t actually about basketball but it was about what the club has done for our community,” she said.

From donating to Koha Community Cafe, to visiting Yarra Junction Primary School to offer support after hearing about a local’s brother passing away, the Warby Weapons hold equal passion off the court than they do on it.

“It really blew me away how all these moments that really stood out as moments to remember for our people [were things] beyond the court.”

Though it was the players leaving the night with silverware hanging from their neck, Ms Clark said the parents too were awarded in their own way.

“Behind each player is a whole family that also contributes to the club, and really celebrates our players.

“Having our awards night is also a really special way to thank their families by putting on the night in the first place and celebrating their children, and also celebrating them.

“It’s a really beautiful way that we can give back for all of the fuel and the time that they put in for their kids and therefore our club as well,” Ms Clark said.

As the event wrapped up, Ms Clark said the greatest impact that club has on its players is to remind them of how capable they are, regardless of their physical or intellectual ability.

“They’re celebrated because of who they are, not because of what they can do.

“That’s an incredible gift to me for them to realise that.”

Brodie represents Australia in the 2025 Trans-Tasman Challenge. (Tony Harrison)

Brodie scored 692 out of 720. (Tony Harrison)

Brodie (right) wins a gold medal in the 720 round. (Tony Harrison)

The night also saw a game of lawn bowls and an auction take place. (Supplied)

The Warby Weapons held their awards night at the Warburton Bowls Club. (Supplied)

Great start for Healesville

By Chris Handasyde

Under 14-3 Healesville 5/123 defeated Montrose 4/118

Bowling first with eight players, Healesville bowled very tightly.

Despite only six fielders, Healesville restricted Montrose to 118, with Sammy Hyndman and Harry the picks of the bowlers.

Losing Ryder early didn’t help but Kael and Louis built a strong foundation with Kael finishing 10* and Louis falling for 11.

But it allowed Harry and Sammy Hyndman to attack in the middle overs taking the runs required down at a decent clip with Sammy finishing with 26* and Harry 15*.

Joshy Braden would then come in with 25 needed off six overs and hit a run a ball 14 to see the team over the line.

Under 14-7 Healesville 9/104 defeated Warranwood 10/86

The under 14-7s have started their season with a convincing win over Warranwood, after winning the toss and choosing to bat first Healesville posted a competitive total of 104 with a gutsy innings from captain Gus Morcombe 19, with great support from Arlo Turner 11, Reggie Morcombe 16.

With runs on the board, the opposition started positively but the tight bowling and energy in the field from the bloods was overwhelming and could not recover from captain Morcombe’s opening spell claiming four wickets.

Overall it was a great team effort from all involved showing plenty of determination from start to finish bowling out Warranwood for 86 runs.

Under 16-2 Healesville 6/64 defeated Wonga Park 10/61

Playing away at Wonga Park, Healesville bowled first and soon had Wonga Park on the back foot at 3/14 thanks to two wickets from Darcy English (2/5) and one to Sam Keath (1/19).

A good partnership steadied Wonga Park who reached 3/53 but then our spinners Henry Harding (4/11) and Raff Morcombe (3/14) took the last seven wickets for eight runs to bowl out Wonga Park for 61.

The low score chased proved harder than expected loosing six wickets and only getting to victory in with two overs to spare.

Darcy English 20*, Henry Harding 12* and Max Ferris 12 were our top run scorers.

1st XI Healesville 7/132 defeated by Heathwood 4/133

Losing the toss and being stuck in to bat Josh Handasyde departed early nicking off. Brother Tom and Nick Zinghini built a partnership, but at 1/47 at drinks you felt we were a bit behind the rate to set a competitive score.

Trying to up the ante, “Zinger” departed shortly for 19 followed by Tom Handasyde (30) which left us in a precarious position at 3/70. Small partnerships followed but the only

meaningful contribution coming from Eddies making 31* and Darcy English 11* got us up to 132.

It felt 40 runs short.

The third over saw Darcy English take the prized wicket of their premier batsmen and the team was up and about.

But unable to take the chances we didn’t see another wicket until Josh Handasyde dismissed the other opener with the score at 57.

Another partnership was built and catches were dropped.

Tarkyn bowled well and picked up two late wickets but overall the side will have to improve next week.

2nd XI Healesville 241 defeated Chirnside Park 98

Winning the toss, Healesville elected to bat. Healesville’s openers Denzel Parsons (7) and Dan Ebbels (55) got us off to a great start with some

big hitting from Dan took us through to the ninth over when Denzel was unfortunately dismissed after some patient batting.

Dan then played only his second false shot to be dismissed in the 17th over, Chirnside must have felt relieved thinking the big hitting was over but then Grant Braden (79) come to the crease and Dan Furgerson (33) put on a quick score further dropping the heads of the chirnside players.

Aeden Senti (14) patiently batted, ticking over the run rate almost seeing out their innings with them finishing all out for 241.

Brothers, Jack Drummond (1/37 off 8) and Sam Drummond (4/19 off 8) on his debut game in the seconds opened the bowling and with Dan Ferguson (2/15 off 4) Tyler Braden (2/17 off 4.3) Chirnside were dismissed for 98.

3rd XI Healesville 8/160 defeated Croydon Ranges 116

Croydon won the toss and elected to bowl and

it looked a good decision as Healesville slumped to 7/46 before the drinks break.

At the crease club stalwart Brenton Damrow and wily veteran Allan Pearce decided they had seen enough of the rot and set about changing the course of the game with a fantastic 96 run partnership.

Both batted superbly with Damrow reaching 48 and Pearce top scoring with 55* to drag Healesville to a competitive 8/160.

The sterling fightback had the Bloods pumped and they came out with plenty of enthusiasm in the second innings.

Regular wickets fell and a really committed effort in the field from the whole team saw Croydon dismissed for 116.

Prem Singh (4/28) and Damrow (4/29) did the bulk of the damage while young Ryder Hudson took two sharp catches behind the stumps to setup a great start to the season for the Bloods.

Diggins digs in for a winning unbeaten 113 oﬀ 103 balls

By Kieran Cantwell

Lusatia Park Cricket Club Round 1:

1st XI:

A nice way to start the season back at our home ground of Woori Yallock Recreation Reserve hosting Croydon Ranges 2XI.

It was the bowlers that had the first crack, with solid opening spells from Terry Bennett and Tyson Gaskett who each took wickets.

Angus Gelly impressed in his first outing for the club taking a wicket and bowling well.

Lucas Parker was the cleanup man for the bowlers, taking 3/15 off his four overs.

Croydon Ranges finished with 7/176.

The batting innings was dominated by a massive ton from skipper Tim Diggins, who controlled the innings from the fifth over, ending with an unbeaten 113 off 103 deliveries, winning the game in the 39th over with a total of 5/177.

1st Women’s XI:

Our third home game at Woori Yallock for the weekend saw our Women’s side take on Montrose.

Despite early solid batting from Steph McConnell, we were struggling early, with skipper Caitlyn Parker being dismissed on a golden duck.

Nikki Philpot and Georgia Parker rescued the innings with excellent batting, including Nikki’s first four, before Sammy Maryanto put on a clinic, hitting an unbeaten 62, ably supported by Ella

Diggins in a partnership of 61, pushing the total after our 36 overs to 6/149.

In the bowling innings an early run out gave the team some hope, but a dominant batting display saw the Montrose team pass the total one down in the 21st over.

2nd XI:

Our 2nd XI fielded an impressive team that

took on Montrose 4th XI and headed to the tiny Keith Hume Fraser Reserve.

Winning the toss and batting first, a run slog ensued on the small ground.

Despite losing Chris Reynolds early, who was unluckily bowled off his own helmet, Dean Worrley and Michael Dwyer took the bowlers to task with an 168 run partnership.

Dean scoring 93 and “Choof” hit 88.

Solid contributions from the rest of batting lineup who had a license to swing after the positive start saw the score reach 7/301 after our 40 overs.

The bowling was on top from the start, Jai Gupta instrumental with 3/40, unlucky not to have more with some juggled dropped chances.

Jacob Frankovic’s first wicket for the club was a highlight, dismissing their number five with a caught behind with his first ball.

In the end the opposition were dismissed for 121 in the 23rd over as of every one of our bowlers contributed with wickets.

3rd XI:

The 3rd XI also got their first game at home

in Round 1, hosting Boronia 4th XI at Wickhams Road.

Boronia batted first and got off to a flyer, an unbeaten 100 run opening stand until Marty

White broke the partnership, as he and captain Stuart Parker stemmed the flow of runs with some tight bowling.

Marty ended up with 2/37 from his seven and Stuart 1/23.

Boronia managed 4/199 from the 36 overs.

Tight bowling from Boronia saw the runs hard to get, and the wickets tumbled.

Solid efforts from father/son duo Ben and Tayte Hubbard saw them compile a 35 run partnership, and previous most ducks award winner

Joel Pratt scored his highest total with an unbeaten eight runs.

Boronia were unable to bowl us out in the end, but we fell short with the total at 36 overs being 8-86

U14: Our u14s side took on St Andrews at Woori Yallock in their first outing of the year.

We batted first and got off to a flyer with Jacob Ahmad hitting a blistering 23 off 17 before being run out.

Solid contributions and retirements from a few of the boys, including 22 from Alexander Mason, saw the total after our 25 overs of 5/116. Good tight bowling and impressive fielding from everyone as well as crucial wickets to youngsters Daniel Philpot and Maxwell Diggins saw us pull off a victory with St Andrews falling short at 5/107 at the close of their innings.

Healesville junior female cricket players. (Supplied)

Sammy Maryanto hit an unbeaten 62 against Montrose. (Supplied)

First win for women’s team

By David Marshall

Wandin Cricket Club - Round 1 Match Report 2025/26:

The 2025/26 season opened with an outstanding display of cricket across all Wandin teams.

From thrilling last-ball finishes to dominant bowling performances, Round 1 showcased the depth and determination throughout the club.

With four wins from five matches, including a historic maiden victory for the Women’s 2nd XI, Wandin has laid a strong foundation for the season ahead.

Wandin Men’s 1st XI:

Wandin’s 1st XI opened their season with an away fixture against Yarra Glen.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl, the disciplined bowling attack continued their strong form from last year, dismissing Yarra Glen for just 94.

Dan Trebeth struck in the second over before Cal Gordon removed the other opener shortly after.

Wickets were shared around, with Hamish Lamont and Jarrod Dobson each claiming one, while young Rory Vallence continues to develop as a bowler, taking a wicket with his off-spinners.

The star performer was Leigh Thomas, a late call-up on match morning, who tore through the middle order with a superb 4/15 from eight overs.

The run chase started disastrously, with Wandin staring down the barrel of defeat at 7/36. However, match saver Leigh Thomas rose to the occasion again with 33, while Rory Vallence showed maturity beyond his years, contributing a vital 15.

The pair combined to guide Wandin past Yarra Glen’s total, finishing eight wickets down in a hard-fought victory—a perfect start to the season.

Wandin Women’s 1st XI:

The Women’s 1st XI took on Belgrave Women’s 1st XI for the first round of the 25/26 season.

Belgrave 8/205 defeated Wandin 123. Bowling first, Belgrave’s strong opening partnership left them 0/118 at drinks, however it was the first wicket from Olivia Edwards that got the momentum going.

With her 4/15, alongside Charlotte Edwards’ 2/11 and Tilly Pearce’s 2/36, the bowling and fielding attack allowed Wandin to have Belgrave 8/205 after the first innings.

Special mention to Chloe Kanally who in her first ever game of cricket bowled 0/19 off 4 overs—an amazing first crack.

Looking to get off to a great start, Audrey Lyons (11) showed her skill alongside Charlotte Edwards (10) as they opened the batting innings. However Belgrave’s response had us 4/84 at drinks.

Kate Johnstone (32) and Olivia Edwards (25) kept their partnership strong, and saw Wandin compete well against an experienced Belgrave side.

Batting deep into the order, Wandin were unfortunately all out for 123, with Belgrave winning with only a few overs to go.

Wandin Men’s 2nd XI:

Wandin CC secured a commanding victory af-

ter Croydon Ranges won the toss and elected to bat first.

The innings got off to a dream start when Mitchell Kogelman struck with a ripping in-swinging delivery in the first over, leaving Croydon Ranges reeling at 1/0.

The wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals as Wandin’s bowling attack maintained relentless pressure.

Bailey Padgeham celebrated his first wicket for the club, finishing with 1/19, while Shaun Doolan claimed 2/24 after a change of ends.

Luke Falkingham was economical with 2/14, but the star of the show was Mark Polido, who ripped through the middle order with an impressive 4/29 from his seven overs.

Croydon Ranges were dismissed for just 119 in 25 overs.

Wandin’s chase was clinical and composed.

Luke Falkingham led the way with 22, before Matthew Owens (33 not out) and Miles Rayner (34 not out) guided the team home with an unbeaten partnership.

Wandin cruised to victory inside 16 overs, finishing on 3/124 with seven wickets in hand—a comprehensive performance all around.

Wandin Women’s 2nd XI:

It was a special day regardless of the result but the Wandin Women’s 2nd XI got their first ever win; 2/83 chasing down Croydon Rangers 4/80 after their 20 overs.

Lexi struck early taking her first wicket for the club, caught and bowled with her 2nd ball.

Kerry Peet bowled consistently and ended up with 1/21 (4).

She struck with a great catch from Kim, one of our debutantes.

The next ball Nat Attack grabbed a wicket bowled and ended up with impressive figures of 2/9 (4).

After some great fielding and bowling for the first time by Mel, Rikki and Kim, Croydon Rangers finished on 80.

Energy was high as we began our innings with our mother-daughter opening pair of Kerry and Alannah Peet.

Kerry batted superbly for her highest ever score 24* which included 4 brilliant fours.

KP anchored the innings with an aggressive 36 to give us control of the game early.

Lexi and Kerry P got us over the line for a wonderful first round win.

Wandin Men’s 3rd XI:

The Wandin 3rds began their season at home hosting defending premiers Croydon North.

Sent out to bowl on a picturesque day, Wandin faced early pressure as runs flowed freely from the opposition openers.

Vice captain Trent Richards provided the breakthrough in his fourth over with Croydon North at 1/48.

The star of the bowling attack was debutant

Glenn Stubbs, who rattled the batting lineup with 2/37, including a run-out off his own bowling.

Despite these efforts, Croydon North captain Rob Arbuckle’s 72 propelled his side to 211 from 36 overs.

Sam Robinson also bowled well, claiming 2/34.

Wandin’s chase started disastrously at 4/34, but newest life member Brad McKenzie steadied the ship with his trademark cut shots. He combined brilliantly with Glenn Stubbs in a century partnership, both retiring with half-centuries.

Needing 10 runs per over with six overs remaining, vice captain Trent Richards stepped up with a stunning 38 not out.

In a thrilling finale, the lower order scrambled singles and doubles before Richards smashed the final ball into the bushes to secure victory at 5/215.

A truly remarkable start to the season.

Looking Ahead Round 1 delivered everything we could have hoped for—thrilling finishes, outstanding individual performances, and a collective team spirit that shines across all grades.

Special congratulations to the Women’s 2nd XI on their historic first win and to all the debutantes who contributed brilliantly.

With momentum building, Wandin heads into Round 2 with confidence and determination.

Yarra Junction women’s win match without losing a wicket

By Rob Boxell

Women’s 1st XI vs Mooroolbark (at Yarra Junction)

Yarra Junction’s Women’s side started their season in perfect fashion with a dominant 10 wicket victory over Mooroolbark at home.

Bowling first in the T20 fixture, Junction’s attack was disciplined from the outset, maintaining tight lines to restrict Mooroolbark to 6/93.

Alannah Bomford (2/8) and Tully Mock (2/11) led the way with the ball, supported by a sharp fielding effort that kept the visitors under constant pressure.

In reply, the Junction openers made the chase look effortless.

Abbie Pou was superb, retiring on 53 not out, while Lisa Hilton provided steady support with an unbeaten 30.

New captain Maddy Bennett fittingly hit the winning runs, finishing 4 not out as Yarra Junction cruised to victory without losing a wicket.

Men’s 1st XI vs Warrandyte:

It was a tough start to the season for Yarra Junction’s 1st XI, who fell to Warrandyte in a one-sided contest.

Batting first, veteran Kevin “Bomma” Bomford

showed that age is no barrier, blasting a rapid 57 from just 34 balls to continue his remarkable form at 50 years of age.

Unfortunately, little support followed, with the next best contribution being 15 as Junction were bowled out for 136.

Warrandyte made short work of the chase, passing the total in 20 overs for the loss of only three wickets.

Despite the result, the reigning premiers will look to regroup quickly as they return home next week for the first time since lifting last season’s premiership, eager to bounce back in front of their home crowd.

Men’s 2nd XI vs Lilydale:

Yarra Junction’s 2nd XI began their season in style with a dominant win over Lilydale at home.

Bowling first, the Junction attack kept things tight throughout the innings, restricting Lilydale to 9/187 from 40 overs.

Tyler Reed (2/28) led the way with his control and consistency, while new overseas recruit Eashan Turnbull impressed on debut, claiming 2/12 in an excellent first outing for the club.

The chase was clinical.

Returning duo Sugar Ray Turner and Beau

Hawkins set a strong platform at the top, before Hawkins fell for 18. Turner retired hurt after a fluent 64, paving the way for 13-year-old Jaiden Lever to take centre

stage.

Showing composure beyond his years, Lever compiled an unbeaten 50 not out, supported by Pat Ford, who marked his 150th match with a blistering cameo of 24 from 9 balls to seal the win inside 35 overs for the loss of just one wicket.

Men’s 3rd XI vs Lilydale:

It was a day to remember for club legend Glenn “Blackie” Thompson, who celebrated his 300th match for Yarra Junction in style — helping steer the 3rd XI to a commanding victory over Lilydale.

Batting first, Rob Boxell’s brisk 29 set the tone and Lachie Thompson followed with a rapid 31 from just 14 balls.

From there, the experienced Glenn Thompson (64) and stand-in skipper Callum Thornton (69)* combined superbly, adding a match-defining 120-run partnership that lifted Junction to a strong total of 7/238. Lachie Thompson led the way bowling with 3/20 from 7 overs.

The perfect script was completed when Glenn Thompson took the final wicket, caught fittingly by his son, sealing a memorable win on his milestone day.

Wandin Women’s 2nd XI snagged their first ever victory. (Supplied)

The 1st XI got off to a rough start against Warrandyte, while the 2nd XI were dominant against Lilydale. (File)