Mail - Ferntree Gully Star Mail - 18th November 2025

A celebration

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Monbulk celebrated its community with the second annual art event on Thursday night, 13 November.

What started as a small gathering has grown into a spirited celebration of creativity, that welcomed artists of all ages and backgrounds, from a four-year-old’s first brushstroke to a 94-year-old’s seasoned masterpiece.

Event organiser and Monbulk art teacher Nikki Carter has been thrilled to watch the event flourish.

“It’s become a cornerstone of celebration for everyone involved,” she said.

This year, more than 100 pieces were displayed, with over half coming from first-time artists.

One of the highlights was the stunning array of artworks displayed in shop windows, from fluro forests to colourful pop art pet portraits.

Local figures, like comedian Glen McLeod and butterfly breeder Yvonne Duke, were honoured in the artworks.

“I didn’t know I inspired the artists, but it’s truly an honour,” Ms Duke said. Read the full article on page 12

Sadness to safety

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Forge Institute, a not-for-profit arts organisation for young people aged 13 to 20, has officially launched in the Dandenong Ranges, which offers a safe, creative space for youth.

The Dandenong Ranges designer and photographer, Brent Dakis, founded the institute after he tragically lost his 13-year-old daughter, Ivy, in September.

Dakis channeled his grief into creating a space where young people can explore their creativity without judgment.

The Forge Institute offers workshops in photography, painting, illustration, and creative writing - all led by practising artists.

It also provides mentorships, exhibitions, and a youth ambassador network connecting schools and community groups.

Dakis is aiming to create a space where young people feel seen and heard, not measured or assessed.

Dakis described the process of creating The Forge as both painful and purposeful.

“It’s about refusing to let the silence win,” he said.

His vision is for The Forge to be a “third place” for youth, a space to explore, create, and

find belonging. Programs will initially run in community venues and mobile workshops, with plans for a permanent studio and gallery space.

The Forge Institute officially became a not-forprofit organisation on 1 November.

For more information, visit theforgeinstitute. au or follow them on Instagram, @theforgeinstitute.inc

Read the full story on page 7

Local artists Laura Cross and Senga Delgado at the art event. (Stewart Chambers: 516985)

Police, community combine

By Mikayla van Loon

Police and the community came together on Wednesday, 12 November, in Mooroolbark to discuss all things crime and prevention in the Yarra Ranges.

Hosting the Neighbourhood Policing Forum, the Eastern Division’s highest-ranking officers provided an update and overview of the key challenges facing the police service area.

Eastern Division Two Superintendent Steve White oversees three local government areas, including Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges.

Based at Knox, he manages a roster of 660 police officers.

Staffingwasoneofthefirstchallengeshementioned, highlighting the “resource-strapped” workforce within Victoria Police.

“I’ll mention it just the once during this forum, VicPol has got 16 or 17,000 sworn police members, and we’re supported by two or 3000 VPS public servants who do awesome work,” he said.

“Right now, in Victoria Police, we’ve probably got eight or 900 people off work, and mostly that’s for mental health. I’m not going to be using that as an excuse, but the reality is we are short of staff, and it impacts us in the outer east division as much as it does anywhere else.

“At any given time, we’ve got about 60 people off work, so forget about the people who go sick every now and again, or people who are on leave…We’re not running on empty, but we’re running on minimum resources.

“From my perspective, our division does an awesome job for the people who are at work to keep the community safe as best as we possibly can. It’s not perfect. We’re the first ones to admit that.”

Superintendent White said from a leadership perspective, he has so far been encouraged by the changes Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has announced in how policing is done and resourced.

The focus will shift to reducing serious crime, like aggravated burglary, while still ensuring road safety and all other aspects of polic-

ing are a priority.

In October, Chief Commissioner Bush announced major reforms to the organisational structure of Victoria Police by slimming down the executive team and trialling the release of sworn officers from police station reception counter duties.

“Right now, police spend more than 4000 hours per day – or 1.4 million hours per yearstaffing reception counters in police stations. This is poor use of their invaluable skills and it’s not what they want to be doing,” he said.

“We must get more police – your police – out of their stations and onto the streets where they can respond to and deter crimes.

“What is important to me is that our members on the frontline know that help is coming – and it is coming soon.”

Earlier this month, news outlets also reported that minimum staffing standards for police stations would be scrapped, potentially closing stations to the public, to get more officers on the roads.

“The chief is talking about closing down stations. I support that, because in reality, we just don’t have the staff to be sitting at the counter waiting for someone to come in and get a document signed. That’s the reality,” Superintendent White said.

“So the more people we can have out on the

road going to whether it’s Lilydale Marketplace, Chirnside Park, Main Street, Croydon, I know it’s just outside of the patch, but those sorts of areas, that’s what I want our police to do, because that’s where the perceptions of safety skyrocket.”

Among the reforms Superintendent White supports is the inclusion of two new values for Victoria Police as an organisation.

“I like the fact that he’s putting compassion in in terms of the values because, as a 38-year veteran, what really grates on me the most is not providing compassion. So treat people the way you would like to be treated. I really find that to be a key value,” he said.

“And courage, having the courage of our convictions, it doesn’t mean running into a burning house necessarily. Often, we talk about the courage to call out bad behaviour.”

Topics for the day included crime trends and crime prevention, family violence, young people, road policing and emergency management. Star Mail will provide stories on each topic.

Family violence reports rise, but police see the positives

By Mikayla van Loon

The rise in the number of family violence reports in the Yarra Ranges may come as a shock to the community, but for police, it’s actually a positive step forward.

“Victoria Police measure family violence on reports, and we’re deemed to be successful if the reports are going up,” Eastern Division Two Superintendent Steve White told the gathered community members at the Neighbourhood Policing Forum on Wednesday 12 November.

“So the more people are reporting family violence, the better we are, the more breaches of intervention orders that the police make, when someone reports that a perpetrator is on the property when they shouldn’t be. That is deemed to be a good statistic.

“We actually want people to report family violence, and we want to breach people, which sometimes means they’re remanded in custody if they breach the family violence order.”

For the last financial year, the Yarra Ranges recorded 2041 family incidents, up from 2018 the year previous, and 1237 breaches of family violence orders, up from 1010 the year before.

Detective Inspector Troy Andrews, who was in charge of the Croydon Family Violence Unit for seven years, now manages the Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit.

The family violence unit, Det Inspector Andrews said, has a specific focus on higher-risk perpetrators “to prevent serious injury or death”.

“The goal is to disrupt high to extreme risk offenders, pro arrest, pro remand,” he said.

The team of three detectives, a detective senior sergeant, three detective sergeants and 12 detective senior constables, on average, deal with and assess 400 family violence reports each month.

Uniform officers respond to and manage the majority of family violence incidents, but these cases can be escalated to the specialised unit should that be required.

For low to medium risk offenders, Det Inspec-

tor Andrews said police officers engage key stakeholders and support services for intensive case management to “reduce the recidivism”.

“Victoria Police’s response to family violence has evolved faster than anything else has in our organisation’s 160-year history,” he said.

“Everything is victim-focused. Everything’s about supporting AFM, who is the victim or affected family member, and holding the perpetrators accountable.”

Det Inspector Andrews said when charges cannot be laid for several reasons, whether because of insufficient evidence or a victim doesn’t wish to, police will use other means to ensure the affected person is safe.

“The very nature of family violence means often there’s not an ability to charge someone, but we still have the ownership of keeping them safe,” he said.

“So we do that by certain tactics, such as we might get an intervention order that bans them from a local government area.

“For matters where we know people are committing high-end family violence, and a victim may not want to press charges, we essentially will start intensive monitoring of those people using overt and covert methodologies…we find other ways to hold them accountable for their actions.”

Someone who is regarded as high-risk will be managed by the Family Violence Investigation Unit for a minimum of three months, sometimes for up to 12 months, or until the risk is mitigated.

When other factors may be contributing to the violence, like mental health, alcohol or drug use, or, as one community member addressed, gambling, Det Inspector Andrews said the appropriate service would be engaged to help both the perpetrator and the victim.

“We also make sure we focus on the people who vicariously live the trauma of that, so the support agencies, and where we can, we provide support for extended family and friends, who also bear the brunt of what’s going on when they support them.”

Eastern Division Two Superintendent Steve White. (Mikayla van Loon: 517662)

Snr Sgt Cass Forbes, Acting Snr Sgt Luke Schroder, Inspector Lee Coultard-Clarke, Snr Sgt Mark Knight, Snr Sgt Brendon de Schwartz, Sgt Cal Cunningham and Snr Sgt Tim Evans manage the stations around the Yarra Ranges. (Mikayla van Loon: 517662)

Police do all they can to deter youth crime

By Mikayla Van Loon

Managing and preventing youth offenders in the Yarra Ranges has fast become one of the top priorities for police as organised networks and gangs rear their head in the region.

In recent years, Eastern Division Two Superintendent Steve White said police officers have had to turn their attention more fully to youth offending, creating a shift in the hierarchy of crime and the required response.

Not only is it the number of children and young people committing crimes but the types and seriousness of these crimes that concerns police.

Last year, 520 alleged offenders were children aged 10 to 17. That figure increased to 568 alleged offenders aged 10 to 17 this year, according to the Crime Statistics Agency.

One of the leading offender groups in the Yarra Ranges are a Burmese youth gang who go by the name ABZ38, referencing the postcode of Mooroolbark.

“There’s probably three tiers of this gang, so we’re talking about the kids that do high end offending, so that’s aggravated burglaries,” Superintendent White said.

“They sneak in the middle of the night, stealing keys for your car, usually high end cars, drive it really quickly in the streets, potentially engage with the police in a pursuit with the air wing above and most often not they’re doing that for likes on their social media, not for any financial gain.

“We do have a team of people working out of the Croydon Police Station who are actively targeting them. So when they commit an offence, they’re following up and making significant regular arrests. At the moment, some of them are locked up.”

Superintendent White said there are around 30 people in the gang, from the leaders to those at risk of becoming fully fledged members, many aged around 13 to 14 years old.

Working with leaders from the Burmese com-

munity and parents, Superintendent White said

“we are working hard to try and get that issue under control as best as we can”.

“We know we have a problem and we’re well aware that they do impact your perception of safety,” he said.

“It’s probably our most significant issue in this outer east division at the moment.”

The Proactive Policing Unit also frequently engages with schools to help ensure those who may be recruited to the gang can see a different path for themselves.

On a lesser scale, but still hugely concerning, are the youth networks across the region who are known for theft and burglaries within shopping centres, as well as stealing cars.

“We have network youth offenders who act in concert for certain styles of offending, whether that be street level robberies or aggravated burglaries,” Detective Inspector Troy Andrews said.

“The Crime Investigation Unit late last year, identified that there was a spike in aggravated burglaries where high end cars were being stolen.

“They were not operating as we would call a gang, but they were networked, and they were operating for street cred on Instagram.

“Six or seven of them would break into people’s houses, and they’d go as far as Williamstown and down to Cows. They all lived here. They were dumping cars here.

“So we put together a mini task force to identify who was involved. There were 46 persons of interest, ultimately, that were working together at varying levels. There were 90 persons that were charged multiple times with over 1500 charges laid, multitudes of offences across the state. We stopped it pretty much in its tracks, eventually.”

Det Inspector Andrews said, unfortunately, these youth offenders know the system and the lack of consequences for committing crimes of this nature, meaning they usually reoffend.

“A lot of these youth cohorts know between themselves that as an adult if they do these offences, they’ll be locked up six, 12, 18 months or more,” he said.

“As a child, often they don’t even get remanded. They’re aware of the system. They exploit the system, and they do it with impunity. That’s an added layer for us.

“When there’s emerging spikes of crime, such as that outside of our gangs, we jump at it pretty quick and when we identify the people involved, they get actively targeted. If we can’t charge them, we actively work on them and make their life very complicated.”

New laws announced by Premier Jacinta Allen on Wednesday 12 November will see “adult time for violent crime”.

Under the legislation, children 14 and over who commit home invasions, aggravated home invasion, recklessly or intentionally causing injury and aggravated carjacking must be dealt with in the County Court. Kids as young as 14 convicted of aggravated home invasion and aggravated carjacking would face a maximum sentence of life in prison under the plan.

The principle of jail as a last resort for children would also be dumped and judges obliged to prioritise community safety in their sentencing decisions. Lawyers, human rights leaders and Aboriginal advocates queued up to condemn the move, declaring it wasn’t backed by evidence.

“We can’t just lock children and young people away and hope for a safer community,” acting Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People Argiri Alisandratos said.

One thing Det Inspector Andrews said was that in his 30 years in the job, primarily as an investigator, young people are now “a different style of offender”.

“Once upon a time, kids were involved in very minor offending, shoplifting, and theft of money. These people are opening their accounts with very serious crimes. Their first time offending might be an armed robbery or carjacking. And they’re learning and exploiting the system. They know about social media. They know about technology. It’s all fun.

“They’re anything but innocent. They know what they’re doing, and they’re dangerous.”

CCTV call out

Police in Yarra Ranges are asking CCTV owners to contribute to their CCTV network database.

Victoria Police have the capacity to map community CCTV camera locations and utilise this network to assist in solving crimes and identifying person/s of interest.

Contact details of CCTV owners will only be available to the police, and the Police may give CCTV owners a call when an incident happens in their area in order to check if there is anything relevant captured.

If you have CCTV cameras installed and are willing to assist police when required, please email the details below to EYEWATCH-YARRARANGES-MGR@police.vic.gov.au.

■Name of camera owner

■Contact phone number

■Email address

■Business name (if applicable)

■Camera address

■ CCTV Location/Coverage ie, Cam 1, driveway, facing street north-west

■ Storage time (how long video stays on the system)

Any assistance from our community is greatly appreciated, said the police via their Eyewatch page.

New excuse for dangerous driving

Nunawading Highway Patrol officers have heard their fair share of excuses for dangerous driving habits, but blaming four-legged furballs may be a first.

Monday, 17 November, saw patrolling officers clock a black Mercedes driving at an alleged speed of 136km/h in an 80 zone on Wellington Road in Rowville about 1.50am.

The same car allegedly ran a red light a short time later before police intercepted the vehicle as it pulled into a nearby residential address.

The 55-year-old Rowville driver allegedly told officers that his reason for speeding was to get home to check on his cats.

There was no kitten around when he received penalty notices for exceeding the speed limit and failing to obey traffic lights. The cats were fine.

For information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety Branch collection

Households in the Yarra Ranges will be able to put out bundled branches for collection in late November, as part of their bushfire season preparation, and Yarra Ranges O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child said the bundled branches collection is an easy way for properties to get rid of limbs, sticks and branches that pose a risk in a bushfire.

From mid-November, properties in the Yarra Ranges will have a scheduled bundled branches collection, where up to three cubic metres of branches can be collected free of charge.

Branches must be tied with non-plastic string, with no more than 20 bundles of branches, and each limb or log should be no longer than 1.5 metres, and no wider than 200mm (20cm). This is to ensure they can be mulched effectively.

Council will not collect timber, stumps or roots, soil or earth, untied branches, loose garden material, branches containing wires or nails, bamboo or vines.

Hard waste collections begin in January and run until March, and residents can find out their collection week at yarraranges.vic.gov.au/bundledbranches, and yarraranges.vic.gov.au/hardwaste.

Youth crime in the Yarra Ranges has become one of the main priorities for police. (AAP Image/James Ross)

Joint effort aims to help young drivers be safe, sensible

By Callum Ludwig

A cohort of Year 10 students at a Yarra Valley school received an important lesson in road safety that will hold them in good stead behind the wheel.

Lilydale Heights College students headed to Box Hill Institute in Lilydale to take part in the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program, run by Road Safety Education Limited (RSE) and supported by Rotarians, on Monday 15 November.

Local RYDA facilitator Andrea Bigham said she has been part of the RYDA program for 10 years and is very passionate about it, having attended many car crashes volunteering for her local fire brigade.

“RYDA helps young drivers to prevent crashes before they occur as both drivers and passengers…it’s definitely not about shocking or scaring students, we’re actually about empowering them with the right information to make the right choices,” she said.

“It’s about introducing them to what I call the basic building blocks of staying safe on our roads as a driver and passenger.”

The schedule for the day consisted of a rotation of six workshops that taught students the impacts of road trauma on our communities, practical advice and tips about how to stay safe on our roads and how to support themselves and their friends to make smart decisions.

Year 10 Learning Leader at Lilydale Heights College Jane Scobie said the RYDA program is a fantastic initiative that greatly benefits Year 10 students at the important stage of becoming the next generation of drivers on our roads.

“It offers students a holistic overview of road safety and encourages students to see themselves as part of a broader community of road users,” she said.

“It was important for students to work with each other and ask themselves what kind of friend they think they are and how they can be supportive of others to make the right choice.

“Students had the opportunity to speak with people with lived experience of road trauma and discuss the ongoing impact of this on their lives.”

Workshops provided students with the opportunities to do role plays, take part in debates, hear from people with lived experiences and watch demonstrations, including a presentation on speed and stopping where professional driving instructors show just how long it takes to stop when driving at speed.

Ms Bigham said education for young drivers is vital.

“Let’s face it, we’re all young once and totally felt invincible at that age group but unfortunately, as you get older, you see the consequences of things going wrong in life and we need to get through to the young that they must prevent that crash from occurring in the first place,” she said. “You can’t rewind or scroll back to change the outcome of any crash.”

Three Rotarians from each of the Lilydale

and Nunawading rotary clubs volunteered on the day to assist with the program.

Lilydale Rotary Club President Des Shiel said he believes that all student should attend this course or a similar course to prepare them for the responsibility they gain when they get their license.

“As the course shows, they’re at their most vulnerable in the first very short time after they receive their P-plate license and the statistics shows just how dangerous it is,” he said. “One person in the car doing the right thing can change what the outcome is for the whole car load of people if it’s handled correctly.”

Funding from Yarra Ranges Council and the Rotary Club of Lilydale supported the program.

Ms Scobie said it is vital for young people to be aware of the rights and responsibilities of road use.

“We want to educate and empower them to feel confident to make the right decisions about how they drive and who they drive with, many

of the teaching team lamented not having a similar experience in their secondary school years,” she said. “The program offers students a mix of lecture-style, workshop and practical advice ranging from safe breaking speeds, blind spots, decision making and the potential impacts of peer pressure. “Thank you to the wonderful RYDA staff and Rotary volunteers for their professionalism and organisation, we had a fantastic day.”

Billanook College students are also set to take part in the program at the start of December.

Ms Bigham said she encouraged young drivers to remember they have one chance at life and huge potential in front of them.

“You know the difference between right and wrong, but you need to have the strength to stay with that conviction, especially when peer pressure is going the wrong way, you need to have the strength to speak up and protect your life and the lives of loved ones around you by making the right choices because you know what the right choices are,” she said. “Unfortunately, our road statistics are appalling, people, I think, are complacent and apathy is high about our roads until someone that they love near is involved in road trauma, then whole worlds shatter and people’s lives are never the same again, but that is too late.”

Driving change to prevent road trauma in Ranges

By Mikayla van Loon

Eastern Region Division Two Highway Patrol is increasing its focus on high-risk driving behaviours in the Yarra Ranges through intelligence-led operations, a dedicated road crime team, and expanded educational programs.

Senior Sergeant Brendon de Schwartz, who leads the unit of 37 members and seven sergeants, detailed the initiatives at a recent community forum.

Changing driver behaviour, improving road user safety and educating young drivers has been adopted as the philosophy of the highway patrol unit.

A key tool is the Road Crime Tasking Team (RCTT), which focuses on extreme speeding through red lights, and dangerous activities like hoon meets and burnouts, using intelligence from traffic cameras and other sources.

“We also have a drone operator, and we use the drone in a lot of our specialist operations to try and reduce road trauma,” Snr Sgt de Schwartz said.

One such operation, Operation Aero, dedicates eight members to one of five high-risk feeder roads identified as having a high rate of motorcycle fatalities, especially during the warmer motorbike season from October to March. This is currently operational.

Snr Sgt de Schwartz said specific and targeted operations are coupled with the state based initiatives, focusing on four risky driver behaviours being speed, distraction, seat belts and fatigue.

“Hopefully we’re changing driver behaviour by saturating certain areas at certain times of the day and week,” he said.

“We’re trying to modify and change driver behaviour for everybody. We’re driving towards these intelligence-led rostering and policing, because we get a lot of intelligence that tells us when we are hurting the most.”

Something Snr Sgt de Schwartz said he is pushing within the unit is education of young learner drivers and also their parents “to try and educate our younger drivers and younger learners how to survive on the roads, how to actually be safe and not become a statistic”.

A sergeant from the Yarra Ranges group is now embedded with L2P (learner driver) programs at METEC to teach both learners and their parents how to be safer drivers.

“P-plate drivers, especially male P-plate drivers, are one of the highest risk categories of persons on the road for collisions, fatalities and being injured.

“I want to go into that educational sphere because it is important that we get the safety messaging out to the people that are going to be our future drivers.”

Two area-specific concerns were raised by the community at the forum, which were noted for action.

Following a complaint about heavy vehicle drivers ignoring temporary 40km/h roadwork signs on the Melba Highway and forcing other drivers off the road between Yarra Glen and Yea, police confirmed they would take action and liaise with the Department of Transport and Planning (DoTP).

While Snr Sgt de Schwartz said speed signs and setting of speeds are under the jurisdiction of either DoTP or the council, police can influence change and assessments.

This was most recently actioned on Melba Highway in Yering after the speed limit was reduced from 80km/hour to 70km/hour.

“That is a direct result after we were having significant road trauma out there and as a result of the engagement that I had with the DoTP and our stakeholders.

“There was a whole process around the review of that stretch of road, and ultimately, DoTP deemed it prudent to reduce the speed zone. So

we gave a recommendation that we’d like to see a speed restriction changed to actually try and save more lives.

“They reviewed it, and then they acknowledged it, and they put in the appropriate speed restriction zone, which is now 70km.”

The issue of cyclists on mountain roads riding two or three abreast, particularly in the single-carriageway areas near Sassafras, was also raised. It was also connected to the risk on high fire danger days and emergency vehicle response.

Snr Sgt de Schwartz acknowledged the challenge and highway patrol would look to action greater messaging and enforcement to keep cyclists and drivers safe.

Highlighting that it’s everyone’s responsibility to help keep each other safe on the roads, Snr Sgt de Schwartz’s message was that driving is a privilege that can be taken away.

“It’s important as a community we understand that driving is not a right, it’s a privilege, and to keep our privilege and be able to go to work, feed our family, pay our bills, go on a holiday and earn the money that we do, we need to drive safely,” he said.

“Because if we don’t drive safely, then there’s consequences to not doing that, which has compounding effects depending on the circumstances.”

Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol use everything in their arsenal to prevent road trauma. (Stewart Chambers: 508662)

Highway Patrol Sergeant Andrew Sands, Senior Sergeant Brendon De Schwartz and Acting Sergeant Mick Pryor. (Stewart Chambers: 508662)

Lilydale Heights Colle students with motorbike crash survivor Scott Harris. (Supplied)

A series of six workshops helped students understand how to stay safe on the road. (Supplied)

Higgins Yarra Ranges mayor

By Callum Ludwig

The Tuesday 11 November Yarra Ranges Council meeting was set aside for a mayoral election, with two new faces in the role of mayor and deputy mayor.

Chirnside Ward councillor Richard Higgins is stepping up from the deputy role to sit in the mayor’s seat, while Chandler Ward councillor Gareth Ward will be his right-hand man.

Cr Higgins said it was an honour to be up in the mayor’s seat and to be elected by his peers. “The role, for me, is to look after you guys, look after the staff and look after everything we do in this wonderful place,” he said.

“Coming down the hill to Lilydale tonight and for the first time in, I don’t know how long, there was a full-blown rainbow across the whole of Lilydale and the Yarra Ranges and I thought that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that looking down into the valley.

“And I thought how appropriate, when I’m trying to think up words of what it’s like to be looking after this wonderful place, it’s like a pot of gold, it’s a fortune, a treasure and that’s what we all do when we’re here.”

Both Cr Higgins and Cr Ward ran unopposed for their selected role, with Yarra Ranges councillors traditionally understanding who they wish to elect to the role prior to the meeting each year.

Cr Higgins said there are nine councillors who’ve each got different attributes, different systems, different knowledge and different abilities.

“All of us have something in this room to give to our council, which makes it very unique but the one thing we all have in common is that we’re looking after our community and where we live,” he said.

“I’m not going to go on about the budget and how hard it is to make it balanced and how all those things are, we’ve got some real challenges here at Yarra Ranges, we’ve got both urban and rural and we’ve got natural disasters that are coming our way, whether we like it or not.

But I believe that I’m up to the challenge, I will strive to my best to rise to that occasion but I’m sure I’ll be able to because I’ll have you along with me, which is really nice.”

Cr Higgins also took the time to thank outgoing mayor O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child, listing the multitude of roles, responsibilities and achievements he managed during the previous 12 months.

Cr Child said he just wanted to thank them all for their support.

“Along that journey, there’s been a few health issues as well and every time that there’s been that challenge for me, there’s always been a team here behind me as well, so I thank you sincerely for that,” he said.

“To you Richard, I couldn’t ask for much more from a deputy and that’s why it was my pleasure

to nominate you here tonight so I look forward to working with you and again, of course, with all my fellow councillors and the officers.”

Cr Higgins was first elected in 2008 and previously held the role of mayor in 2019–2020.

Cr Gareth Ward, who was elected last year, said he wanted to thank everybody for the opportunity, for which he is truly honoured, and he looks forward to doing his very best.

“I wanted to begin by acknowledging and thanking our outgoing Mayor, Cr Jim Child, over the past year, your leadership has guided this Council through some challenging and defining moments, you’ve set a high bar in professionalism and commitment to our community, and I wanted to thank you for the example you’ve set for us all,” he said.

“To our newly elected mayor, congratulations. I think it’s going to be a really great year ahead. I’m genuinely looking forward to working alongside you and I know that we share the same commitment to serving our residents with transparency, respect and a genuine drive to make our community stronger, you have my full support every step of the way.

Cr Higgins and Cr Ward will each serve in their roles for a year before the next mayoral election.

Cr Ward concluded the election and said he also wanted to thanks his fellow councillors and his family.

“To my fellow Councillors, thank you for placing your trust and confidence in me, and I give you my word that I’ll tackle this role with humility, hard work and integrity, and I’ll do my very best not to let you down and to be a Deputy who represents us all fairly and responsibly,” he said.

“Lastly, I would also like to thank my wife, Rachel, and my kids who are in attendance tonight, you’ve put up with countless meetings, late nights and weekends where I’ve been elsewhere in the community instead of at home, your patience and encouragement have not gone unnoticed.”

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L-R: Mayor Richard Higgins and Deputy Mayor Gareth Ward. (Supplied)

Knox Scouts lease almost a go after year of uncertainty

By Tanya Steele

Scouting groups across the Knox District may finally have some peace of mind as the final cost and lease agreements for their halls are firmly on the horizon.

After over a year of uncertainty and back and forth, Knox City Council passed a motion to finally set a lease amount for the scouting groups in its area. At the meeting on Monday 10 November, Mayor Lisa Cooper said she was very pleased that they were at this point and moved an alternative motion to reduce the fee by almost half.

“It’s taken effort from all people at different levels – I certainly do hope that moving forward, an agreement can be met, and that as of early next year, we have something in place in terms of the lease for the scouts,” she said.

The final number has come down significantly to nearly half of what was originally proposed, from $450 to $239.

“It is quite different to other user groups who are using the Council’s building, receiving maintenance on their building, or perhaps even receiving partnership, community partnership funding – I do think that there should be something that represents the difference,” Cr Cooper said.

A pressing issue since July last year, Knox Council were set to increase the rent at the scouting hall sites from a peppercorn rent of $10 to a whopping $450 per site.

Scouts District President Karin Orpen said they’re very happy with the results.

“To charge us the same amount for all as all other community groups who are in council buildings getting their maintenance done would be really not equitable,” she said.

“It was great to get acknowledgement from the councillors that a fee like this is a fi-

nancial burden… It’s the parents in Knox who pay it.”

District Commissioner Alan Richmond said he thought the councillors had done great work. “Even though it’s gone up, it’s reasonable,” he said.

Reluctant to put a timeframe on the final signing off of the lease agreement, Director Judy Chalkley said they will ensure they will negotiate with Scouts Victoria.

“They indicated that you know they have a few concerns, and we’re willing to work through them with them,” she said.

The Knox District Scouts have a way to go, however, as they are still unable to use their own halls for sleepovers - a vital and longstanding tradition that makes up the bones of a Scouting experience.

Building legislation that came in in 2021 means they are unable to host overnight activities in their Halls, as the building classification doesn’t allow for that purpose under the Victorian Building Act 1993.

Knox City Council have previously proposed that Scouts apply for a Temporary Occupancy Permit (through a building surveyor) or upgrade their facilities and undertake a building classification change.

This led to Scouts heading to the council for clarification in June this year during a meeting’s question time, with Scouts like nine-yearold Ruby from Fourth Knox Scout Group saying at the time that overnight experiences gave her confidence to go on bigger adventures.

“My friends and I are very sad that the council is stopping overnight activities in our scout halls,” she said.

Other councils like Monash have approached the building codes differently, and Ms Orpen said they are allowing their scouts six sleepovers a year.

“Scouts are not just here for a season, they are there all year round,” she said.

With groups now having to shuffle kids off to halls that are allowed sleepovers or not have them, it has meant the Scouts are missing formative moments with their friends.

“Our young people, as far as the Scout award scheme goes, have to be able to stay overnight in the hall with their Scout members, especially in the younger age groups, to learn how to go camping as they get older,” Mr Richmond said.

With the option to pay up to $1,500 for a permit or hold sleepovers elsewhere, Mr Richmond said they have halls in Knox that aren’t part of the lease with the council.

“They’re not covered by this - they can do whatever they want in their hall, as long as it’s safe,” he said.

Frustrated by the situation, the Scout leaders across Knox will continue to advocate for their kids.

“Council has to keep pushing, scouts have to keep pushing, pushing to get this legislation changed - we expect nothing less than our elected representative going to bat for the parents of Knox,” Ms Orpen said.

“Some of them, this is the first time they’ve been away from their family or their parent at night, we want to be in a safe base, and the hall is their safe base,” Mr Richmond said.

Cr Susan Pearce said at the meeting she hasn’t given up on the sleepovers, and won’t until that’s resolved. While not disclosing specific details, Cr Cooper said that the terms of release and the overnight activities have reached a point where there is acknowledgement and agreement in terms of how those issues will be addressed moving forward.

“I’m comfortable to support at this point in time, the confidential draft that sits behind this recommendation,” she said.

Barbecue gas turned down

By Tanya Steele

A proposed Australia Day barbecue has seen Knox City councillors grapple and then eventually cut the budget for it, leaving behind a few question marks.

A forecasted 44k spend, the Australia Day ‘Knox Picnic in the Park’ budget was cut down to over half the initial amount suggested at the Knox Council meeting on Monday 10 November.

Councillors initially baulked at the figure listed for a proposal for an event to acknowledge and celebrate Australia Day in 2026, which came to around $44,000.

Councillor Chris Duncan described the report plans as a ‘ridiculous overspend’.

“We argued for weeks and weeks and weeks over $15,000 worth of Christmas decorations,” he said.

“To go $44,000 for an event that we’re putting on to target 150 to 200 people, we might as well just give everyone that rocks up 200 bucks and call it done.”

Cr Susan Pearce said the amount was ‘crazy’.

“I think we can do it for much less, and I think we need to explore other areas and other options,” she said.

The financial plans for the event cited a limited timeframe, with no support in the regular annual budget, plus hefty admin and planning fees, as an external hiring company would need to be used.

With a $10,000 grant from the National Australia Day Council, the $44,000 was to cover a ‘small-scale event called “Knox Picnic in the Park” at Tim Neville Arboretum on Monday 26 January 2026, and an inclusion of a Citizen of the Year Award was to be ‘considered but not recommended’.

Known as “Invasion Day” to some Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Australians, the date for the event is still entrenched with generational trauma and pain, while to others it is a day to celebrate being Australian.

A media release on 15 November from Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, MP Patrick Gorman, states that the Australian Government is supporting many events through its Australia Day Grants Program, managed through the National Australia Day Council, and $10 million in funding will support 869 capital city and community events, the highest since the program began in 2021.

“The Australian Government is supporting a record number of community groups right across our country to hold events that bring their communities together,’ he said.

Australia Day 2026 will see a 19 per cent increase in the number of Australia Day celebrations in 2025, with the government providing financial support for over 3,000 Australia Day events around the country since 2021.

Back at a local level, councillors discussed how the amount didn’t meet the needs of the community, and Cr Williams said he was a little confused by the resistance, as ‘We were all for an Australia Day’.

Agreeing that there was a need for the event, Deputy Mayor Cr Glen Atwell suggested going back to the drawing board.

“Think of the date and think of what we are

trying to achieve,” he said.

Mayor Lisa Cooper said it was important that all Council members are comfortable with what they decide to move on with.

“..and that it represents what we think our community want to see as well,” she said.

The motion was lost and after a ten-minute recess, Councillors ultimately decided to move a subsequent motion that they liaise with the National Australia Day Council, and subject to feedback, make a further spend of $10,000 on the original grant.

So, the event isn’t off the table, but if no feasible application happens, Knox Council will withdraw the grant application from the Australia Day Council.

Moving the motion, Cr Duncan said he does love the idea of Australia Day.

“...$44,000 was way too much for what we were actually going to achieve,” he said.

Hoping to get community groups on board to help run the event, Cr Williams said he thinks it will give them a good opportunity, good exposure.

Deputy Mayor Atwell asked if amending the grant proposal and developing an alternative Australia Day event would allow the council to consider a date that does not clash with the three citizenship ceremonies that the council hosts on Australia Day, but was informed this was not possible as the grant was fixed to the date.

Cr Lockwood said a significant number of people in the area value Australia Day, particularly people who have migrated to Australia.

“It relates to their citizenship or their family citizenship – so it’s certainly significant from that respect,” he said.

Mayor Cooper was happy to support the motion.

“I am concerned that it’s a very short time frame, and if we’re not able to do something for the next Australia Day, that is, that is saddening to me,” she said.

“Having the contribution of the $10,000 grant sort of put us in this position where we need to decide on what to do, and that decision has to be made tonight,” said Cr Atwell.

The motion passed unanimously.

Questioning the cost of the proposed BBQ, Knox will now develop a plan for a smaller-scale budget, perhaps using community groups to assist. (Unsplash).

A propsoed 44k for an Australia Day barbecue was part of a lengthy discussion ot a recent Knox City Council meeting. (File)

A win for now, the Scouts will have their lease agreement hopefully by sometime after Christmas. (Supplied).

Heartache inspires arts space

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Forge Institute, a not-for-profit arts organisation for young people aged 13 to 20, has officially launched in the Dandenong Ranges.

The institute, spearheaded by Dandenong Ranges designer and photographer Brent Dakis, who also serves as president, was born from both heartbreak and hope following the tragic passing of his 13-year-old daughter, Ivy, in September this year.

In the months since, Mr Dakis has channelled his grief into building the creative community they had imagined together - a place where young people can feel safe, connected, and inspired to create without fear of judgement.

He said art is more than expression, it’s survival.

“The arts are often framed as luxury or extra,” Mr Dakis said.

“But for many young people and adults too creativity is how we make sense of ourselves in the world, it’s not negotiable. The Forge isn’t trying to churn out the next famous artist. We’re here to build resilience, personal reward, and community, one drawing, zine, song, or photo at a time.”

He hopes this immense loss will become a lasting legacy for youth in the area.

“The Forge Institute started as a half-formed idea,” Mr Dakis said.

“I couldn’t find a youth photography class for Ivy, and thought, well, if it doesn’t exist, maybe I should build it. When she passed, that idea pressed itself against my mind constantly, not just as something creative, but as something vital - the Forge is now a living response to that question my attempt to build the kind of space she needed, and that so many young people still need.”

For Mr Dakis, every part of creating The Forge has been both painful and purposeful.

“It’s grief and purpose, constantly woven together,” he said.

“Some days it’s overwhelming, other days it’s fuel. The Forge gives me somewhere to put that pain, to transmute it into something that can hold others. It’s not about making something productive out of tragedy; it’s about refusing to let the silence win. Ivy mattered. Her voice mattered. So in her name, I’m creating a space where other young people’s voices will be heard loud and clear.”

The Forge Institute’s programs are led by practising artists which will include workshops in photography, painting, illustration, and creative writing, as well as mentorships and exhibitions.

A youth ambassador network will connect schools, artists, and community groups across the region, but to the grieving father, the programs are just the beginning.

“In one word, I want young people to feel relief when they walk into a Forge workshop,” he said.

“Like they’ve finally found a space they didn’t know they were searching for, where they’re not being measured or assessed, where their weird ideas are celebrated, not corrected. Where the staff “get it” because they’re artists too.”

That sense of belonging of having a “third place” outside of school and home is at the centre of what makes The Forge different.

Mr Dakis said Ivy often struggled to find spaces that were truly safe or welcoming.

“She needed a place where she wasn’t ‘too much’ or ‘not enough,’” he said.

“A space where she could be a bit messy, a bit chaotic, a bit brilliant and still held. The Forge is trying to be that space. Not for grades, or likes, or followers just for themselves.”

From the beginning, Mr Dakis was determined The Forge Institute wouldn’t become another top-down organisation.

“Institutions rarely listen,” he said.

“They program “for” young people, not “with” them.

I want our teens to be co-creators, not just participants,” he said.

Young people are already taking leadership roles within the organisation, including on the committee, teen office bearers will soon host “Forge Forums” which’s a roundtable discussions where peers can share what programs they want, what topics matter most, and how they want to be involved.

“Our facilitators are practising creatives sharing their tools, failures, hacks, and passion,” Mr Dakis said.

“It’s personal and real, we teach how we live, embracing the struggle, the isolation, the persistence and showing that even when things feel

heavy, we’re still here, still creating.”

The Forge Institute was formally incorporated on 1 November as a not-for-profit association under Victorian law, and marked a major milestone in its journey from idea to reality.

Programs will initially run in borrowed community venues and mobile workshops before expanding into a permanent studio and gallery space and Mr Dakis has already got a dream location in mind.

“I have my heart set on New Belgrave Motors on the Belgrave roundabout,” he said.

“That building, that access, it would be perfect, but more than the building, my hope is that The Forge becomes a network of young artists supporting each other, mentors showing up without ego, families and communities seeing youth creativity as key, not optional.”

Mr Dakis hopes to honour Ivy’s creativity and spirit this non-profit organisation and ensure that no young person feels unseen or unsafe in their pursuit of art.

“If one day, a young person walks into a Forge program feeling completely unseen, then leaves with a sense that they matter,” he said,

“Then we’ve achieved what we came to do.”

For more information or to get involved, visit theforgeinstitute.au or follow them on Instagram @theforgeinstitute.inc.

If you or someone you know needs support, please contact headspace on 1800 650 850 or visit headspace.org.au, or reach out to ReachOut at reachout.com.

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Brent Dakis with his daughter Ivy. (Supplied)

13-year-old Ivy, photographed by Grace. (Supplied)

Father and daughter Shooting. (Supplied)

Museum digitising history

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Emerald and District Museum has been awarded $7700 as part of the 2025 Community Heritage Grant program to digitise its Nobelius Ledgers, which is a collection of national significance.

The museum is one of 50 community organisations across Australia to receive funding in the latest round.

The museum’s president, Pauline Murphy said the grant would help safeguard the region’s history while making it accessible to researchers and enthusiasts across the country.

“The Nobelius Ledgers are incredibly important and digitising them means that even if something happened, like a bushfire, the information would still be preserved,” Ms Murphy said.

“It also makes the collection accessible to people far beyond the area. We’ve already had inquiries from South Australia and other states from people researching tree varieties or historical gardens.”

The Nobelius Nurseries were once one of Australia’s largest private nurseries, founded by Carl Axel Nobelius.

After his death in 1921, three of his surviving sons took over running the nursery.

They sold off large parts of the land, including what is now the Emerald Country Club, and the lake area, which was originally a spring-fed dam for irrigation before it became Emerald Lake Park.

“What remains today is a fraction of the original nursery,” Ms Murphy said.

“If you walk through the park, you can still see lines of trees, remnants from the nursery, and a number of heritage-listed trees. The park and the collection are heritage-listed, so we must maintain the historic trees, replacing anything only with the same species.”

The digitisation process involves photographing every page of the ledgers and having volunteers from Digivol to transcribe the entries to make them accessible online.

Treasurer of the museum, Julia Bell said three ledgers and a number of catalogues and documents have already been digitised and two more large account books are due to follow.

“This gives people another dimension to search by name as well as by date and ensures these historic records are preserved,” Ms Bell said.

The museum previously received $6300 in 2024 through the same grant program to support earlier stages of the Nobelius Ledger digitisation project.

Ms Murphy said the museum is also receiving ongoing support from the Cardinia Shire Council, which contributes some annual funding for running costs and capital projects.

She said this support was crucial for maintaining the museum and its nationally significant collection.

CFA reaches a major lifesaving milestone

CFA is excited to achieve its target of 50 brigades to participate in a lifesaving program which responds to select medical Triple Zero (000) calls.

The program, which commenced operations in late 2024, currently has 33 CFA brigades responding to certain Ambulance Victoria calls in their local community, with the remaining 17 brigades to finalise training and commence operations in stages over the next seven months.

The Fire Medical Response (FMR) program is a joint initiative of CFA and Ambulance Victoria which sees CFA brigades and Ambulance Victoria dispatched simultaneously to cardiac arrests.

Cockatoo and Emerald Fire Brigades launched their involvement in the program on Thursday 21 August and were proud to be among the first units in the State to operate in this way.

The joint agency program was designed for 50 brigades to undertake FMR in their communities with Kilmore, Cobram, Broadford, Swan Hill and Castlemaine the most recent brigades to commence operations, having gone live on Wednesday 12 November.

All FMR brigades have been trained extensively by both Ambulance Victoria and CFA in preparation for the program, which will complement Ambulance Victoria’s response in those local areas.

Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook said the program was a natural fit for CFA because of the 52,000 volunteers we have across the state.

“CFA has more than 1200 volunteer stations. This puts CFA in a unique position to complement the Ambulance Victoria response in 50 locations across Victoria, and help deliver early intervention at cardiac arrests,” Garry said.

“When a person suffers a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival reduces by 10 per cent every minute that CPR and defibrillation is delayed.

“Community members who call for an ambu-

lance in the 50 communities with an FMR brigade may receive both a fire truck and an ambulance.

“There’s no specific order in which the services arrive, the aim is to get to the patient as quickly as possible to give them the best possible chance at surviving.

“The response from our brigades involved in the program has been really positive, with the rate of patient resuscitation higher than the Victorian State average. Brigades should all be very proud of their incredible service to the community.”

Ambulance Victoria Acting Executive Director Regional Operations Michael Georgiou said Victoria has Australia’s best cardiac survival rate and the third best anywhere in the world, thanks to high rates of early intervention.

“The Fire Medical Response program will improve survival rates for people in rural and regional Victoria,” Michael said.

“Quick intervention with CPR and a defibrillator has the greatest impact on improving a patient’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.”

“The Council understands the value of this heritage. Without their support, the museum and the gardens could just be another green space,” she said.

“We’re extremely grateful for their commitment and for the backing of our local members, including Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik who has a personal interest in history.”

In addition to the Nobelius digitisation project, the museum is working to catalogue other paper documents, preserve oral histories, and make

its collections more accessible through platforms like Victorian Collections and Trove.

Ms Bell said students from universities assist with transcription and cataloguing as part of their internships to gain hands-on experience while helping in preserving local history.

“The history of the area doesn’t end with these ledgers,” she said.

“It’s about capturing the stories of families, the people who lived here, and making that information accessible for future generations.”

Come on you lot — goat to work

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

For the first time in over a decade, Yarra Ranges Council has enlisted the help of a unique team of workers, a herd of goats to tackle weed management in Upwey.

Operation Regeneration business director, Dillon Trew said he has brought the goats in as part of an effort to offer a more sustainable approach to land care.

“My inspiration for using goats in weed management comes from wanting more sustainable land-care options,” Mr Trew said.

“Herbicides have their place, but goats can be incredibly effective for reducing biomass and bringing heavy weed cover back to a manageable level.”

After a few discussions and some gentle persuasion, Yarra Ranges Council found the perfect site for the goats to take on the job, this also marks the return of this eco-friendly technique, which hasn’t been used in the region for over ten years.

Mr Trew said the initiative has been met with enthusiasm from the community and government agencies alike.

“It’s great to see the Council and other government agencies not only considering goats but actually putting them to work,” he said. “It’s a win for the environment, reduces chemical use, and gives locals something unique and positive to appreciate about their community.”

Despite initial concerns about public reaction, the goats have proven to be a hit with residents.

“With such a public-facing job, I was a bit worried about how locals would react to having goats in their reserve, but they’ve been an absolute hit,” Mr Trew said.

“People have reached out with positive feedback, and I’ve seen locals coming back day after day just to visit the goats and enjoy how cute they are.”

While some still harbour doubts about the practicality of goats for land management, Trew believes these concerns are mostly unfounded.

“I think there’s still a bit of stigma around goats – that they’re impossible to contain and will eat anything in sight. But with proper control and good fencing, you can minimise off-target browsing and prevent escapees, and enjoy the benefits of goats,” he said.

The Community Heritage Grant will help digital preservation of Emerald’s history. (Shamsiya Hussainpoor: 517826)

Emerald captain Klaus Brodeck and Cockatoo captain Marcus Harris helped launch their brigades in the Fire Medical Response program in August. (Stewart Chambers: 493353)

Dillon Trew with his goats. (Supplied)

Belgrave team find their chi

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

When the local Belgrave Tai Chi team stepped onto the competition floor in Wudang, China, representing Australia, it wasn’t just about medals, it was the culmination of months of dedication, teamwork, and a shared love for the art of Tai Chi.

The team was led by coach Su Legato, who’s also the founder of the Legato Tai Chi School in Belgrave. They returned home with silver and gold medals, Ms Legato said the experience meant far more than trophies.

“I’ve been competing since 2000, but this competition is really special, friendly, challenging, and full of energy,” Ms Legato said.

“I encourage my students to have a go. This year, our team of six, five Australians and one American, learned a brand-new form called Wudang Nine, and we came second - for first-timers, it was an incredible achievement.”

Individually, Paul Finn won Silver for his barehand routine (Wudang 28) and Silver for his weapon routine (Fu Chen Feng).

Suellen Cook won Silver for her barehand routine (Wudang 9) and Gold for her weapon routine (Fu Chen Feng).

Jayne Florence won Gold for her barehand routine (Wudang 9) and as a team, they won Silver for their group barehand event (Wudang 9).

Ms Legato said the journey wasn’t easy; the team trained almost daily for months, often hiring a hall themselves to practice.

“Group routines are completely different from solo performances,” she said. “You have to move as one, think as one. It’s not just about your own form, it’s about harmony.”

Eight people traveled to China, with Ms Legato as coach, two observers, and five team members.

She said, beyond the competition, the team immersed themselves in the culture and history of Wudang.

“We visited the weapon shop, bought our own swords and a fuchsin, a traditional horsetail whisk and trained with masters in the mountains,” Ms Legato said.

The team also hiked a five-hour climb to a Taoist temple to reach the Golden Peak, to take in the breathtaking scenery and ancient rituals.

The trip was transformative for everyone.

“Competing in China was nerve-wracking and exciting, all at once, I felt proud, challenged, and connected to something bigger than myself,” one of the team member, Cornelia de Rochefort said.

Another team member, Paul Finn said, “learning the Wudang Nine form and performing together really pushed me. It gave me a new appreciation for what it means to be part of a team.”

Suellen Cook described the experience as

life-changing. “From training to competing to exploring Wudang, it was life-changing. I felt more focused, more present, more connected to the art of Tai Chi,” she said.

Jayne Florence echoed those sentiments.

“Winning medals was amazing, but the highlight was experiencing the culture and sharing the journey with such a dedicated, supportive team,” she said.

Another team member, Angela Iaquinto said, “Tai Chi teaches you to slow down and be mindful. This trip made that philosophy real. I returned home feeling renewed.”

Ms Legato, who has been practising Tai Chi

since the early 1980s and teaching since 2000, said watching her students grow was the ultimate reward for her personally.

“Seeing their faces when we scored a 9.06 was unforgettable, they couldn’t believe it, and neither could I. That joy, that moment is what makes it all worthwhile,” she said.

Ms Legato said the misconception that Tai Chi is only for older people couldn’t be further from the truth.

“For seniors, Tai Chi is wonderful, it’s a real godsend. Unlike yoga, it’s not just about attending a class once a week; it’s something you learn and apply in daily life. From posture and balance

to focus and concentration, it shapes the way you move and live,” she said. “But I’d encourage people to start much earlier than retirement, slowing down, paying attention to your body, and taking care of yourself is something we all need.”

Now back home, Ms Legato is continuing to teach four classes a week, with 10-12 students per session, while training herself daily. And the team’s sights are already set on their next adventure.

“We’ll be returning to China in 2026, and we hope to bring Master Xiao to Australia in 2027 so even more people can experience his incredible training,” she said.

Barefoot Bowls season is on a roll at Upwey-Tecoma

Despite the misty rain, an enthusiastic group of

friends and families

the Barefoot Bowls season at UpweyTecoma Bowls Club on November 7. The night was a fundraiser for the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation, organised by five local women in partnership with the Upwey-Tecoma Bowls Club, and raised $670 for the charity. Visitors ranging in age from eight years to seniors, and most of whom hadn’t played lawn bowls before, were treated to a short lesson on the rink from UTBC members before playing several ends throughout

off the first Friday

the night.

Organiser Judy Friguglietti from Menzies Creek said her team were very grateful for the generosity of the Club in supporting their fundraiser.

“In typical Hills fashion, everyone turned up despite the ordinary weather, and I think

the Club can expect to see a few return players next Friday night for Barefoot Bowls!” she said.

“The money we raised will go to the Hamlin Foundation, which is an Australian charity set up to help women in Ethiopia recover from severe childbirth injuries.”

Legato Tai Chi team with Master Yang Qunli, head of the Wudang Wushu Association (L-R: Angela, Jayne, Cornelia, Master Yang, Su, Nikki, Suellen, and Paul (Supplied)

40

kicked

night of

Schoolkids shrugged off the showers and enjoyed learning how to bowl (L-R) Mollie Burgess, Alanna Everton and Sally Burgess. (Supplied)

The Hancocks Daffodils team came prepared for the conditions and bowled into the night (L-R) Christine Ashburner, Nicole d’Ambrosio, Claire Riddiford and Will Ashburner. (Supplied)

‘Emerald in Focus’ returns

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Emerald Museum has re-released ‘Emerald in Focus: A Photographic History 1858–1958’, a book that captures the first hundred years of European settlement in the region.

The book was originally published in 2006 which quickly sold out and has been long requested by the community.

The museum secretary Anne Carter said the decision to reprint the book followed years of community interest.

“It was very popular, and it sold out quite quickly,” Ms Carter said. “Since then, people have been at us to reprint it, which we have done recently, and we’ve corrected some mistakes that people have noted over the years and also added an index, which makes it much more useful for researchers.”

The book features photographs spanning key periods in Emerald’s history, all the way from the 1858 gold rush through to the rise of the timber industry and small farming communities that shaped the region.

“It’s a collection of really good photographs, and it relates to various themes,” Ms Carter said.

“The gold rush wasn’t as big as Ballarat or Bendigo and it petered out quite quickly, but it brought settlers to the area. Some left when they found there wasn’t much gold, but others stayed and became small farmers. The timber industry was also huge in the Dandenongs during the second half of the 19th century because Melbourne was growing so quickly.”

Ms Carter said the book also reminds readers of the remarkable horticultural history of the area, particularly the Nobelius Nursery.

“The Nobelius Nursery started in the 1890s and at its peak was the largest in the southern

hemisphere,” she said.

“This museum is located in the remnants of that nursery land, and it’s something people still find surprising.”

Museum president Pauline Murphy, who is the great-granddaughter of Nobelius founder Carl Axel Nobelius, said the re-release was a meaningful continuation of local legacy.

“It’s a very special legacy,” Ms Murphy said.

“People are really impressed that there are still descendants of the family here, and I’ve learned things about my family that I didn’t know before I started volunteering.”

Ms Murphy said the process of reprinting the book was not without challenges.

Creativity thrives across all ages at Monbulk art event

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Monbulk has truly found its artistic heart as it marked its second annual, ‘Celebrate Monbulk’ art event on Thursday evening, 13 November.

From humble beginnings, the event has blossomed into a celebration of creativity that embraces all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds - whether a four-year-old just starting out or a 94-year-old seasoned artist, Celebrate Monbulk has shown, in this community, everyone is an artist.

The key organiser and local art teacher at Senoritas Art Workshop, Nikki Carter said it’s been a fulfilling experience to see this event grow.

“Our community art event has truly become a cornerstone of celebration for everyone involved, and it’s a joy to witness it thrive,” she said.

This year’s event showcased more than 100 entries, with over half of the submissions coming from first-time artists.

Monbulk has become a place where people, young and old, are discovering the joy of creating.

“It’s inspiring to witness so many people in Monbulk and the surrounding areas attend our beginner workshops,” Ms Carter said. “Their enthusiasm and creativity are a reminder of all the boundless possibilities art brings into our lives.”

One of the event’s highlights was the stunning array of artworks displayed in local shop windows. From fluro forests to textured tulips, portraits of local heroes, and vibrant pop art-inspired pet paintings, the town was filled with colour and creativity.

Ms Carter said the town’s shopkeepers and shoppers were captivated by the works and it sparked lively discussions across the community.

“It was a bittersweet moment to see the paintings being taken out of the windows, but the joy they brought will linger in our hearts,” she said.

Among the many works displayed were beautiful portraits of local icons who make Monbulk so special. Monbulk caterer and co-

median Glen McLeod, the well-known “Butterfly Lady” Yvonne Duke, and hula hoop performer Elle Indika were all honoured in the artworks. Glen McLeod, in particular, was celebrated in a portrait by local artist Juan Lozano. The piece, titled “It’s My Pantry and I’ll Fry if I Want To,” won the People’s Choice Award, which was voted on by attendees at the Monbulk Soccer Club.

Ms Duke, known for her passion for butterfly breeding said she was touched by the recognition. “I was very surprised and honoured,” she said. “I didn’t know I had inspired the artists,

“Because it had been done back in 2006, we had difficulty finding some of the photos to rescan and highlight to make them a bit clearer,” she said.

“It probably took us two years, maybe longer, to finally pull it all together, but the result is something the committee is very proud of.”

The museum held a launch event for the reprint in September, which Ms Murphy described as a special moment for the committee.

“Just seeing it reprinted and being able to acknowledge the work that everybody’s done before was the highlight,” she said.

“We feel like it’s our duty to the communi-

ty, and we’ve fulfilled that, because this book was missing, it was out of print and now it’s there again.”

Volunteer and committee member Anne Deschepper said people in the area often find personal connections in the pages of the book.

“When I’m looking through the book, I notice surnames or street names and go, ‘Ah, that’s how that place got its name,’” Ms Deschepper said.

“It brings a sense of warmth and connection to the area. As a local, it gives you insight and joy to see those familiar names and places.”

She said the museum’s vast archives continue to inspire new discoveries.

“There’s always a new question to answer that comes up all the time,” Ms Deschepper said.

“The documentation and artefacts we have here are amazing, and they’re potential sources for answering questions but also the source of new ones.”

Committee member Chris Eichler said the museum welcomes new volunteers and values the diversity of experience they bring.

“One of the big pluses that any volunteer can bring to us is their life experience,” he said.

“It’s not about skills it’s about having lived and experienced things, that helps us identify and understand the items we have here.”

Ms Murphy said the museum plans to continue building on this momentum, with hopes for more exhibitions and possibly an updated companion volume to Emerald in Focus in the future.

The new edition is now available at the Emerald Museum and Grace and Louie Booksellers in Emerald. It includes corrected details and a newly added index to help researchers and local historians.

but I did recently receive a bundle of wonderful children’s drawings and artwork as a thankyou for butterflies given to The Patch Primary School, and I cherish that gift.”

Ms Duke’s love for butterflies is evident in her efforts to educate others about these fascinating creatures.

“The metamorphosis that butterflies go through is educational and ultimately brings joy and a sense of awe to anyone who is lucky enough to witness it,” she said. “That is really worth sharing and why I breed butterflies as a hobby, it is also really fun!”

Her butterfly breeding hobby has also sparked a deeper interest in local biodiversity.

“Butterflies are not just fascinating, but they are also an important building block in the ecosystem,” she said. “They inspire a love of nature, respect for its fragility, and a desire to help the insect world flourish.”

In her role as a hobbyist butterfly breeder, she has started a Butterfly Group at the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society.

The group is open to all ages and it’s a great way for people to learn more about local butterflies and how to help them thrive.

“I hope people will plant gardens where butterflies can flourish without the use of insecticides,” she said.

The art event also recognised the talented youth of Monbulk. In the Under 15s category,

Georgia McKinnon took home the top prize, while Artie McLeod and Olive Edwards were commended for their impressive works.

There were also incredible performances from the Beginner category. Marilyn Brew was awarded first place, while Joni Duvall, Laura Cross, and others received highly commended and commendation awards. In the Open category, Emma Johnson was crowned the winner, with Gill Edwards and Stuart Ashburner receiving highly commended awards.

The event’s success was made possible with the support of the Senoritas Art Workshop, Glen Cooks Food, and the efforts of a dedicated team of volunteers, including Laura Cross, who helped with setting up displays and the winners’ pop-up art gallery.

Special thanks were also given to Juan Lozano for his graphic design skills and Andrew Chisholm for overseeing the People’s Choice Award.

Ms Carter said the town is already buzzing with excitement for next year’s event.

“We eagerly look forward to creating more art and stamping Monbulk as the most creative little town in the hills,” she said.

“Let’s continue to foster a community where art thrives, and creativity knows no bounds.”

“Art is fun, it brings people together and gives everyone a way to express themselves,” Ms Duke said.

The reprint of ‘Emerald in Focus: A Photographic History 1858–1958’ book is now available. (Shamsiya Hussainpoor: 517862)

Glen McLeod (caterer) holding a painting of him by Juan Lozano titled ‘It’s my pantry and I will fry if I want to’. (Stewart Chambers: 516985)

Hobbyist Butterfly Breeder, Yvonne Duke, aka ‘Butterly Lady’ inspired several artworks at the art event. (Supplied)

(B-R): Vicki Singleton, Juan Lozano, Glen McLeod and Laura Cross (F-R): Marilyn Brew, Nikki Carter and Senga Delgado (Stewart Chambers: 516985)

Minute’s silence in hills

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Despite Melbourne’s unpredictable spring weather, the Upwey-Belgrave RSL was filled with warmth and reflection on Tuesday 11 November, as locals gathered to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice to gift the nation we have today.

The Remembrance Day service began at 10.40am, with a minute of silence observed at 11am to mark the moment the guns fell silent on the Western Front in 1918.

Veterans, families and community members filled the RSL’s hall, where red poppies, wreaths and medals set the tone for a solemn but proud occasion.

Upwey-Belgrave RSL president Fred Schmager led the service, he thanked the community for turning out despite the wet weather.

“It’s actually good to see you lovely people here, apart from the hailstones and the rain, we’ve gone to Plan B. It’s all under roof so we don’t get wet,” he said.

After the service, the attendees shared a morning tea together and reflected on the day’s service.

Mr Schmager said the day was about honouring all Australians who served and sacrificed in conflicts across generations.

“Today we’re holding our Remembrance Day service in honour of all our men and women who made the supreme sacrifice in all conflicts,” he said.

“We go back from the Boer War right through to Afghanistan. Something like 103,000 Australians have given their lives for the defence of this wonderful country.”

He said remembrance remains especially important for younger generations.

“It’s very important, because I think a lot of the young generations don’t really know,” he said.

“We’ve got to remind them that while they’re walking around free, people have paid the supreme price for that privilege.”

A national serviceman himself, Mr Schmager said the day holds deep personal meaning.

“For me, personally, I have a military history. We defended this country so people can actually walk free and express their point of view without fear,” he said.

“I always say to young people, travel the world, have a look at some of these so-called democratic Western countries, then come back to Australia and appreciate what we have here, because we are a very free country.”

Alongside the service, the RSL’s Running Rabbits Military Museum, maintained by volunteers remained open to visitors, which displays uniforms, medals and memorabilia contributed by local veterans.

Museum volunteer and long-time RSL member Rowan Smith said Remembrance Day is vital for keeping the memory of service alive.

“It’s extremely important that we keep the memory alive,” he said.

“We do a lot of education, we go out to remembrance ceremonies at aged-care homes and take school groups through.”

For Mr Smith, remembrance is personal and deeply tied to family history.

“My father was in the Ninth Division in North Africa as a 19-year-old gun sergeant at Tobruk and El Alamein. Both grandfathers fought in the First World War, and one in the Second. I lost an uncle flying Liberators in Italy in 1943, and a great-great aunt who was 22 on the hospital ship Centaur when it was torpedoed by the Japanese that same year,” he said.

“I also lost a great-uncle on the Hindenburg Line in 1918. They were all very young. It’s just a reminder to current Australians how lucky they are, and the sacrifices that have gone before to make sure we are.”

Reflecting on Australia’s freedoms, Mr Smith agreed with Mr Schmager’s view that the country’s peace and prosperity are built on the service of those who came before.

“We’re a wonderful country, luckier than most,” he said.

“One of the ways we are better than most is in our value for our own citizens, and a government that actually is supposed to care for them.

“It’s so important that everybody has that feeling of belonging and this freedom that we take for granted.”

Veterans gathered for the Upwey-Belgrave RSL service. (Shamsiya Hussainpoor: 517167)

Wreaths presented by the Upwey-Belgrave RSL, Le Pine Funerals Ferntree Gully, the office of Casey MP Aaron Violi, and the office of Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino. (Shamsiya Hussainpoor: 517167)

All stood for a minute of silence. (Shamsiya Hussainpoor: 517167)

Upwey-Belgrave RSL president Fred Schmager led the Remembrance Day service. (Shamsiya Hussainpoor: 517167)

Remembering the fallen

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Communities across the Dandenongs joined the rest of the nation in quiet reflection on Tuesday, 11 November, as the Upwey-Belgrave RSL held its Remembrance Day service to honour those who gave their lives for this country.

President Fred Schmager thanked attendees for showing up and remembering those who shaped this nation and reminded young people about their “privileges”.

Rowan Smith from the Running Rabbits Military Museum said it’s crucial “to keep the memory alive.”

L-R: RSL member, John Jenkin attended the service with Dagmar Flecken. (517167)

Kara Mae presented a wreath on behalf of Monbulk Member Daniela De Martino. (Shamsiya Hussainpoor: 517167)

Historical military uniform worn by women. (517167)

Upwey-Belgrave RSL President Fred Schmager leading the service. (517167)

Tony Van Tilvurg, whose father served in the army, attended to the service to pay his respects. (517167)

‘Sandy’ was the only horse to return to Australia after World War I. (517167)

Upwey-Belgrave RSL President Fred Schmager pays a respectful bow while laying the wreath. (517167)

Post-service gathering. (517167)

This water-cooled machine gun, first used in World War I, is still in use today by Ukrainian soldiers against Russia. (517167)

Current Australian military uniform, also worn by soldiers serving in Afghanistan. (517167)

Wreaths presented by the Upwey-Belgrave RSL, Le Pine Funerals Ferntree Gully, the office of Casey MP Aaron Violi, and the office of Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino. (517167)

L-R: Louise Price and Kyme Ryan presenting a wreath from Ferntree Gully’s Le Pine Funerals Home. (517167)

Upwey-Belgrave RSL senior vice president, Ron Berry, presented a wreath on behalf of Casey MP Aaron Violi’s office. (517167)

Attendees enjoyed the morning tea spread organised by the RSL. (517167)

Silk-embroidered postcard created by French women during World War I. (517167)

Remember 11 November — it is always seen in two lights

By Maria Millers

The 11th of November holds major significance in Australian cultural and political memory for two key reasons —one solemn and one political.

The first, Remembrance Day, observed annually commemorates the Armistice of World War I when the guns stopped.

At 11am Australians observe one minute silence to honour those who died in conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

The second is the day the Whitlam government was dismissed.

The first calls on us for national reflection on war and sacrifice, the second is a symbol of democratic tension and political controversy. This year marks 50 years since that momentous day and the scars from the events of that day still live on.

There were 61,966 Australian military deaths, including those killed in action and those who died of wounds, disease, or accidents while serving with the Australian Imperial Force. The red poppy is the central symbol of remembrance, referencing the poem In Flanders Fields.

The expression is commonly attributed to H. G. Wells, the British writer, who used it in a series of newspaper articles in 1914.

Some like Wells believed that the experience of unprecedented destruction and loss of life during World War I would destroy militarism and lead to lasting peace through international cooperation and the spread of democracy. That phrase captured the idealistic hope many people held during and after the conflict: that the destruction and loss of life would be so horrific that humanity would never again resort to such large-scale warfare.

After and during World War I, a powerful group of poets emerged who vividly described the horrors, trauma, and futility of the conflict. They’re often called the War Poets or Trench Poets. These writers were mostly soldiers themselves, who wrote from direct experience of the trenches. Their work transformed war poetry from patriotic idealism into brutal realism.

Wilfred Owen, “Dulce et Decorum Est” (1917).

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted

lungs…

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

(Latin for “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country).

This idealistic hope was shattered completely as World War II broke out and to this day conflicts are being played out across the globe. Since World War II, Australia has deployed forces to at least 15 major conflicts. And poets have continued to use poetry to resist, mourn, or expose the lies of war as in a five-line American masterpiece of horror and compression: The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner By Randall Jarrell.

From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,

And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.

Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.

When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

Or in Bruce Dawe’s Homecoming:

They’re bringing them home, now, too late, too early.

Body bags return from Vietnam in bureaucratic monotony.

Pity and rage at political indifference.

But 11 November is also the day when Australia experienced its most dramatic constitutional crisis when the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. This day for many older Australians is a day remembered with clarity.

Like Americans who remember the moment

they heard of Kennedy’s assassination. Its effects are still felt in Australian politics, culture and constitutional debate.

Most would be familiar with the image of the newly deposed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam descending the steps of Parliament House to rage against his dismissal and replacement.

A scoop of reporters throng towards him - chief among them Gold Logie-winner, beloved larrikin, and Wollongong’s favourite son: Norman Gunston, an intrusion so Australian, that even in 1975 it’s unlikely to have been possible anywhere else.

With his booming patrician voice and compelling presence Gough Whitlam delivered those famous words: “Well may we say ‘God save the Queen’, because nothing will save the Governor-General” which remain iconic in Australian political history.

It triggered intense debate about the reserve powers of the Governor-General: that a man unelected to an office dismissed a government elected by the Australian people, using powers which even the Queen (whose representative he was) didn’t have. The trigger appeared parliamentary deadlock over budget supply.

While the dismissal was a constitutional crisis largely driven by the Governor-General’s action, the Whitlam Government itself had genuine failings and vulnerabilities that contributed to the event.

There was an impression of chaos, even though many reforms (Medibank, free university education, recognition of China) were significant.

But in 1974–75, Australia was hit by stagflation. Inflation exceeded 15 per cent, largely due to the 1973 oil crisis, rapid spending, and wage blowouts.

Whitlam’s expansionary budgets — for education, health, and welfare — were visionary but poorly costed and timed in an overheating economy.

Whitlam had become embattled by scandals caused by his ministers – Dr Jim Cairns and his affair with the voluptuous Juni Morosi, and Rex Connor’s dealings with Khemlani, a supposedly shady character from the Middle East, over petrol dollars. In essence it was a quixotic attempt by Connors and Cairns to raise US $4 billion to buy back some of the farm.

The opaque and clumsy handling of this petrodollar loan made the government look reckless and secretive, damaging the government’s credibility.

Both these ministers were consequently sacked, causing Labor to lose the balance of power in the parliament.

And the dismissal still fuels ongoing debates about who were the key behind the scene players. The secrecy surrounding Kerr’s actions, and his communication with Buckingham Palace, led to decades of suspicion and inquiry.

For Emeritus Professor Jenny Hockings, the story of the dismissal speaks to democracy, transparency, power — and how even established democracies are vulnerable when key decisions are taken opaquely.

She sees the release of the Palace Letters in 2020 — correspondence between Kerr and the Queen’s private secretary as a major victory in reigniting debate about whether the monarchy had knowledge of, or influence over, the dismissal.

The dismissal remains one of the most polarising events in Australian history.

The secrecy surrounding Kerr’s actions, and his communication with Buckingham Palace, led to decades of suspicion and inquiry.

Even 50 years on, the dismissal prompts Australians to ask enduring questions:

It remains a reminder that even stable democraciescanfacemomentswhenpower,legality, and legitimacy collide — and that Australia is still defining exactly what kind of democracy it wants to be. In The Dismissal Mark O’Connor responds directly to the 1975 dismissal of Gough Whitlam. O’Connor portrays the event as both constitutional crisis and moral theatre.

The ink of law was thin that day — democracy signed away in silence.

Someone once said Whitlam reached for the stars but tripped on the stairs.

So two events converging on 11 November hold enduring significance for Australians. Remembrance Day may invoke feelings of sadness at the loss of young lives and mostly in wars that were not of our making and reflect on the futility and aftermath of wars.

The second should make us think of the kind of country we want to leave to our children.

Surge in Knox relief demand

Anyone with any doubt about the impact of the rising cost of living needs only to look at the dramatic increase in demand for relief services at Knox Infolink in Boronia.

During 2024-2025, Knox Infolink experienced a 25 per cent increase in demand for food relief compared to the previous year.

This translated to an additional 60 people each week seeking assistance. The agency conducted interviews with an extra 500 individuals requesting support, with a total of 2000 people being interviewed throughout the year.

Material aid distribution increased by 50 per cent.

Material aid included essential items such as tents, swags and cooking equipment for those sleeping rough, prescription medicine assistance, help with utility bills, clothing, mobile phone top-ups, MYKI card top-ups, petrol vouchers and toiletry packs.

Service Delivery Statistics

In total, Knox Infolink provided nearly 35,000 points of service over the 12-month period.

A single point of service might include a toiletry pack, with some individuals receiving multiple points of service.

On average, the agency served around 300 community members each week. Of these, about 165 accessed emergency relief services, while 145 received a nutritious, free meal through the community breakfast program.

Client Demographics

Of those served in 2024-2025, 54 per cent were first-time clients. The majority, 67 per cent, resided in Boronia, Ferntree Gully, or Bayswater.

Housing situations varied among clients: 31 per cent lived in private rentals, 20 per cent in public rentals, 22 per cent were homeless, 10 per cent were mortgagors or dwelling owners and seven per cent were in supported accommodation.

Changing Community Needs

A closer examination of the agency’s statistics

reveals a 58 per cent increase in employed community members seeking support and there was an 81 per cent rise in requests for assistance from individuals with no income.

Housing affordability became a more acute issue, with a 72 per cent increase in community members experiencing mortgage stress and a 25 per cent increase in those in private rentals seeking support.

Organisational Challenges and Achievements

Addressing the agency’s recent Annual General Meeting, Knox Infolink board chair Denise Budge described the year as one of challenges, with ongoing uncertainty around funding security, but also one of achievements.

She said the board committed considerable effort to fundraising to address shortfalls in funding.

Following a community-wide lobbying campaign, the agency secured $150,000 from the state government, with assistance from State Bayswater MP Jackson Taylor.

This funding will support the continuation of the much-needed community breakfast program for another 12 months, but support from other government sources for other Knox Infolink services has been reduced.

Community Breakfast Program

Throughout 2024-2025, the community breakfast program served over 10,000 meals to 545 individuals.

The breakfast program, which operates out of the Boronia Progress Hall in Boronia Rd, provides not only a hot meal but also a welcoming and supportive environment.

Survey results indicated that 90 per cent of breakfast guests experienced an increased sense of community connection after participating.

The breakfast program serves as a “soft entry” point, where disadvantaged community members can access further support with assistance from Knox Infolink staff, trained volunteers and representatives from other support agencies.

Volunteers and Partnerships

The agency’s extensive range of support is made possible by more than 130 volunteers, over 80 local businesses and community organisations and several partner organisations.

These partners include Knox City Council, state and federal governments, the Knox Opportunity Shop, Boronia Rotary Club and other community groups, local churches and Cummins Inc.

A full-time equivalent of 3.2 paid staff members and a dedicated eight-member volunteer community board help bring it all together.

New Initiatives

Despite facing funding challenges, Knox In-

folink launched several new initiatives in 20242025. These included an out-of-hours food pantry outside its Boronia Road office, offering free food and information outside regular office hours. The agency also established pin-code accessible lockers to support the growing number of working poor.

This initiative gives people who are unable to visit during office hours because they are working to get support after a phone interview. Based on the phone interview, non-perishable food, material aid and referral information are placed in the lockers for callers to collect using a pin-code given to them.

How to Support Knox Infolink Knox Infolink welcomes new volunteers as well as donations of non-perishable food, toiletries and other material aid items.

Financial donations can be made via Knox Infolink’s website at knoxinfolink.org.au All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Contact Information

For further enquiries about Knox Infolink and its services, please contact Penny Robinson, Knox Infolink manager. Phone: 9761 1325; Email: pennyr@knoxinfolink.org.au

A guest at Knox Infolink’s breakfast program at Boronia tucks into a pancake. (Supplied)

A guest (left) at Knox Infolink’s breakfast program at Boronia receives a cup of coffee from a volunteer. (Supplied)

Tightly-knit bonds form

An intergenerational program is teaching teens that genuine connections don’t require Wi-Fijust a pair of knitting needles, a ball of wool, and plenty of good humour.

Close-knit friendships have been woven between retirees at Aveo’s Fountain Court in Melbourne’s east and local high school students who share stories and laughter while learning the timeless art of knitting.

The Burwood retirement village’s newly refurbished community spaces fill with the sounds of banter and the gentle click of needles, when around 20 students from Mount Waverley Secondary College join their senior mentors to nurture unlikely friendships built on stitches and yarns.

Fountain Court resident Anne Orchard says the sessions are a joy. “There’s lots of laughter and chatter. When the students first arrived, they were a bit uncertain, but soon we were chatting about what interested them and sharing our stories. We have developed enduring friendships.’’

For many students, the program which is part of Aveo’s Community Engagement initiative, has sparked an unexpected passion for knitting.

Year 11 student Ben Gray looks forward to the regular gatherings and values the life advice he receives and admits he’s now hooked on knitting.

“Knitting was hard at first but once I finished a row or two, my confidence grew. My mum’s thrilled and she even wants a beanie for Christmas!” Ben says he’s learned a lot about resilience and coping with life’s challenges from the residents.

Students taking part in the intergenerational program, now in its second year, also join residents in games of bingo and working together in Fountain Court’s community gardens.

Campus Principal Matt Sheehan said the students were more enthusiastic during their visits with the residents than any other school-related event.

“I’ve never seen some of these students so

engaged. When these two generations come together, they really are solving some of the world’s problems, one stitch and one conversation at a

time,’’ he said. Plans are underway to expand the successful program next year.

Thoughtfully designed with open-plan living, private outdoor spaces, generous storage, and modern finishes, these

Aveo’s

Aveo resident Liz Rankin. (Supplied)

Student Ben Gray at Aveo’s Fountain Court. (Supplied)

Student knitters and residents of Aveo’s Fountain Court sharing stories and laughs. (Supplied)

Student Lucas Brain learning from Aveo resident Anne Orchard. (Supplied)

My privilege to be mayor

On Tuesday, 11 November, I had the privilege of being elected as Mayor of Yarra Ranges by my peers, along with Chandler Ward Councillor, Gareth Ward, who was elected Deputy Mayor.

For the coming year, I’ll be working with my Deputy and my fellow Councillors to maintain and improve the things we all love about the Yarra Ranges – the environment, our local infrastructure, and our programs that service more than 150,000 community members.

Though my ward is in the urban area of the municipality, I’m keenly aware of the opportunities and issues that impact our regional areas, such as the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges – both through my time at council and through

the passionate advocates that are my fellow councillors.

This will be my second term leading the Yarra Ranges, having been Mayor through the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, lock downs

and restrictions.

I’m proud of how Council and its staff led the community during this time, and though this coming year will surely have its own unique challenges, we’ll rise to meet it as we always have – together.

As I step into the Mayor’s role, I’m mindful that we’re facing the potential of an extraordinarily warm summer. I’d like to start my term by asking every community member to think of their emergency plans and make sure they’re up to scratch before the weather heats up.

Just make sure that, as we head into the summer months, you have an emergency plan in the event of a bushfire or natural disaster. It’s easy to do when you don’t need it, but it’s crucial to have

Terrific acting garners rave review

The 1812 Theatre

Rhinestone Rex and Miss Monica

A romantic story written by David Williamson.

A story of love between two very different people Gary, a trasdie and Monica a retired violinist with tendonitis in her shoulder.

Miss Monica was played by Angeline Thompson.

A wonderful performance and worked well with Gary.

Some of her scenes were a sheer delight with a change of heart from classical music to understanding Country and Western Music.

Actually, she didn’t really like Country and Western but her tradie, Gary did.

Monica was a violinist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and some of her scenes while listening to classical music were delightful.

Gary, played by Nigel Leslie was a tradie bought in by Miss Monica to redo her kitchen.

But Gary turned out to be a Country and Western singer called Rhinestone Rex and has a spot on the local community radio.

Gary started work in the kitchen then asked Monica what she was playing. He was not impressed.

Nigel gave the character a great performance working well with Angeline.

They worked well together and some of their scenes were remarkable.

A good performance from both characters.

The 1812 Theatre had a great set, Miss Monica’s apartment the lounge room with a door to the audience’s right to the kitchen where Gary was working.

This changed into a bar at the local pub by swinging the audience right wall out and the pub

scene indicated by two chairs and a table.

Aneline’s performance in this scene was terrific, a contrast to how she played her role previously. Nigel balanced her performance with expertise and left the audience wondering what they were up to.

A wonderful evening by the 1812 Theatre and a shoe worth seeing.

Maho Magic Bar Direct from Japan Australia’s favourite Japanese magic bar delighted and stunned Melbourne audiences in 2023 with rave reviews.

With new and astonishing illusions, Maho Magic bar by Broad Encounters is returning to Melbourne as part of the brand new Spiegel Haus Melbourne, ready to astound afresh.

With fresh tricks and even fresher cocktails, Maho Magic Bar jets audiences straight to a neonlit Tokyo night, with all the mischief, mayhem, cocktails, and laughter you could wish for.

To enter Maho Magic Bar is to find yourself an intimate, bespoken space in which your every sense will be stimulated.

Take a seat, elect a drink and be ready to be wowed in disbelief as the very best of Japan’s superstar sleight-of-hand specialists perform exclusive magic shows at our table.

Audiences will see these masters at work at

it, if the worst occurs.

Factor in meeting places, when to leave early, and what happens with animals, and make sure everyone in your family is across your plan.

We’ll be working to prepare the region in our parks, gardens and reserves, with our bundled branches and hard waste collections coming up over summer.

Now, and year-round, we’ll continue to work hand in hand with our community to make the Yarra Ranges the best place to live, work and play in.

I’m honoured to be your Mayor for the coming year, and I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming year.

best of the year of king

The Running Man Starring Glenn Powell, Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin M

3.75/5

Based on the 1982 novel by Stephen King (previously adapted in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger), The Running Man is a decently entertaining time but the weakest of this year’s many King movies.

In a totalitarian future United States, Ben Richards (Glenn Powell) signs up for The Running Man, a deadly game show in which contestants must survive on the run for thirty days.

point blank range, putting a wild contemporary spin on magic traditions which date back to Japan’s Edo period.

• Where: Spiegel Haus 217 Lonsdale St Melbourne.

• Season: 25 November – 15 February 2026. Eltham Little Theatre Whodunnit?

This Broadway success by the author of Sleuth takes audiences to Agatha Christie’s England.

Six strangers and a butler have gathered for a black tie dinner in a wealthy lawyer’s mansion during a thunderstorm.

The guests include an aged rear admiral, a bitchy aristocrat, a doddering old archaeologist, a dashing young cad and other Chistie types.

One of the guests is an unscrupulous bounder, who tells the others (each in private) that he has the goods to blackmail them.

He’s ripe for murder and so it happens. Whodunnit?

This is the company’s dinner table seating event.

BYO Food and Beverages.

• Season: Friday 21 November – Saturday 6 December

• Bookings: 0411 713 095

The Roud Theatre Flop Fresh from a hit season at The Edinburgh Fringe, Arthur Hull brings us his best songs from the worst musicals ever written.

The neon lights aren’t always bright on Broadway.

This show is a love letter to the rollercoaster world of musicals and the people who make them.

Powell is an ever-likeable lead as Ben, and Colman Domingo is a supernova of charisma as Bobby T, the exuberant host of the Running Man show. The film’s bombastic first act establishes the severe poverty of much of the population and the miasma of commercialism and junky reality TV that keeps them in check, and the crass, gaudy atmosphere reminds me of Night City in the video game Cyberpunk 2077. The film’s highlight is a funny sequence of plucky revolutionary Elton Parrakis (Michael Cera) repelling Network troops with Home Alone-style traps, but the rest of the action is unmemorable.

The Running Man has a big problem managing time and magnitude. Ben lasts more than two weeks before striking back at the show’s organisers; this long timespan, which often jumps forward several days, drains the urgency somewhat. Josh Brolin is compelling as Dan Killian, the unassailably confident producer of the Running Man show, but Ben is effectively ordained for success as Dan exerts a Machiavellian control over every aspect of his journey. On some level, Ben is a pawn of the media machine even as he wins, but he has limited agency and the threats he faces have little to no impact anymore.

The Running Man has fun characters and intoxicating satire (especially in the first act), but never quite comes together as an action movie, and is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

A REFINED HILLSIDE RETREAT WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITY

HILLSIDE RETREAT WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITY

PERFECTLY positioned at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, this elegant and expansive family home captures the essence of refined Hills living - sweeping forest and mountain views, tranquil surrounds, and the luxury of serenity without the upkeep.

Set in a peaceful, community-minded enclave at the base of the 1000 Steps, the home offers the best of both worlds - a private retreat just moments from Upper Ferntree Gully Station, shops, schools, cafes, restaurants, Angliss Hospital, and beautiful walking trails.

Designed for effortless family living and entertaining, the home unfolds across two spacious levels showcasing light-filled interiors, multiple living zones, and seamless indoor–outdoor connection.

Downstairs – A Private Parents’ Sanctuary

The lower level offers the ultimate parents’ retreat, featuring a king-sized master bedroom with ensuite, a generous living area with garage access, and private garden viewsperfect for multi-generational living or a selfcontained space (STCA).

Upstairs – Family Functionality and Views

Upstairs, the updated kitchen with breakfast bar forms the heart of the home, surrounded by four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a study. The open-plan living and dining area flows effortlessly onto a north-facing entertaining deck - a breathtaking spot to soak in panoramic views across the mountains and treetops.

Outdoor Lifestyle & Sustainability

Set on a beautifully tiered, landscaped block,

the property has been thoughtfully designed for practicality and sustainability. With solar power and Tesla battery storage, three separate driveways, and ample off-street parking, there’s space for a caravan, boat, or future shed (STCA). The secure, usable yard provides plenty of room for children, pets, and outdoor gatherings.

Crafted with care and designed for versatility, this property offers endless potential - whether for large families, multigenerational living, or those seeking a peaceful hillside retreat with exceptional convenience.

Highlights

• Picturesque elevated setting with panoramic mountain and forest views

• 5–6 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | study | multiple living zones

• Downstairs parents’ retreat with ensuite and private living area

• Updated kitchen with breakfast bar and open-plan living

• Expansive entertaining deck with sweeping views

• 13.82kW solar system with Tesla battery for energy efficiency

• Tiered gardens, three driveways & ample off-street parking

• Potential for caravan/boat parking, large shed or second dwelling (STCA)

• Ducted heating, split-system cooling & ceiling fans

• Moments from Upper Gully Station, shops, cafes & the 1000 Steps ●

TRI-LEVEL, ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED, VIEWS

THIS western red cedar home, inspired by mid-century modernist architecture, welcomes you into its generous open spaces - finished to a high standard - both inside and out. Elevated to appreciate the wondrous views incorporating the bay, city, and national park, you need to spend time here to find your favourite place to just ‘be.’

Sunsets, misty mountain vistas, native birds, as well as storms rolling in across the city and the bay are all experienced through the seasons from various angles and aspects.

The house sits proudly, architecturally designed with functionality for both connection and privacy, the floorplan has the versatility to be multi-generational, support working remotely or invite multiple spaces for the family and guests to have their own spaces.

The top two levels host most of the day-to-day areas of the home, a designer kitchen with both walk-in pantry and separate butler’s pantry, polished stone bench tops, Smeg 2 x oven, grill and six burner stove, Asko dishwasher, coffee bar, clean lines, and functional bespoke cabinetry with LED lights. The expansive living spaces, where family and friends gather to share meals and stories whilst being surrounded by nature are comfortable, warm and flexible and include bespoke cabinets and storage areas. An indoor/outdoor flow, is offered seamlessly through floor to ceiling windows and Lift-andGlide Binq hardwood doors, with invisible pull-out fly screens.

Downstairs offers adaptability for a variety of needs, presently the primary suite, with sitting room, bedroom, and contemporary

ensuite. It can easily transform into a separate accommodation scenario with a kitchenette and laundry, large living space or extra bedroom (currently utilised as an artist’s studio), private deck access, and the same amazing views.

The house sits proudly on a 1/3 of an acre of established and landscaped terraced gardens with fruit trees.

Upon inspection you will be able to feel the sense of tranquility, beauty and character of this extraordinary home. You will notice the quality of materials and finishes throughout; hardwood floors, Binq designer double glazed windows and doors (some with Tilt and Turn technology for security and sustainability), commissioned and customised timber fittings, wool carpets throughout – the attention to detail is exceptional.

There are also unseen upgrades, 6.3KW solar, fibre to the curb NBN, underfloor insulation, heating and cooling options including a Coonara wood fired stove, a house alarm, self-watering raised garden beds – a list of everything will be available.

The residence is approximately one hour from Melbourne CBD, easily accessible by rail at nearby Upwey township. Here you will find a supermarket, dentist and pilates studio, restaurants, cafes, specialty stores, also bus connections, pre, primary and secondary schools. Visit local wineries, berry farms, local markets and national park walks including the famous 1000 steps, as well as the spectacular vistas from Mount Dandenong – all a short trip from your doorstep.

HOME FOCUS

GRAND FAMILY ESTATE WITH DUAL LIVING ON 12.25 ACRES OF SCENIC EMERALD LAND

SET in one of Emerald’s most exclusive pockets, this stately, fully rendered brick residence delivers space, style, and flexibility on a grand scale. Melbourne, CBD is an easy hour away—yet here, you’ll feel a world apart.

From its elevated position, the home captures sweeping views across 12.25 acres of beautifully cleared land. Inside, the main residence offers four spacious bedrooms (all with WIRs), including a luxurious master suite with a superb ensuite. Multiple living zones— formal lounge and dining, family, meals, and rumpus—ensure comfort and room for the largest of families.

The gourmet timber kitchen is a chef’s delight, featuring granite benchtops and quality stainless steel appliances. Large, lightfilled windows frame the countryside views, while ducted gas heating and reverse-cycle air conditioning ensure year-round comfort.

A triple garage links the main home to the second, fully self-contained residence—ideal for extended family, guests, or even as an Airbnb income stream. Designed for complete independence, it offers two bedrooms (BIRs), a spacious living area, central kitchen, and large bathroom—all with separate utilities for ultimate privacy.

For the equestrian or hobby farmer, the property features eight fully fenced paddocks, each with water and electric fencing, plus a huge six-bay powered shed with lockable storage and hay bays. An extra-height 15m x 9m powered shed with drive-through access is perfect for trades, storage, or serious hobbies.

Outdoors, relax or entertain in the covered alfresco area, surrounded by immaculate gardens and sweeping lawns—ideal for summer cricket or family gatherings.

This is a rare opportunity to secure a premium lifestyle property just 4km from Emerald’s charming township. Grand, flexible, and beautifully maintained—homes of this calibre seldom come to market. ●

12MERVyNRoAD

IMMACULATELIFESTYLEPROPERTY

$1,495,000-$1,644,000

Proudlypositionedona beautifullylandscapedandfullyusable4,901m²(approx.) allotment,thisimmaculatelymaintainedhomeexudeswarmth,space,andtimeless character.With aversatile floorplandesignedformodernfamily living,thispropertyoffers exceptionalcomfortandlifestyle flexibility —allwithinminutesofWellingtonRoadand BelgraveCentral.

JanBrewster 0409558805

GrandFamilyEstateon12.5acres

Fromitselevatedposition,thehomecapturessweepingviewsacross12.25acresof beautifullyclearedland.Inside,themainresidenceoffersfourspaciousbedrooms(allwith WIRs),includinga luxuriousmastersuitewith asuperbensuite.Multiplelivingzones—formal loungeanddining,family,meals,andrumpus—ensurecomfortandroomforthelargest offamilies.

Large,light-filledwindowsframethecountrysideviews

MickDolphin 0429684522 CaitiEllis 0493136937

ClassicHillsHavenwithValleyViews

Stepintothecharmandcharacterofthisclassichillshome,perfectlypoisedtocapture beautifulviewsacrossthevalleytotherollinghillsbeyond Withhighceilingsanda warm,invitingatmosphere,thishomeoffers asunroom,also spaciouslivingzones,bothfeaturingcosy fires— idealforrelaxingorentertainingthrough theseasons.Thereardeckisperfectlypositionedtotakeinthestunningscenery,making ittheultimatespotformorningcoffeeoreveningsunsets.

MickDolphin 0429684522 CaitiEllis

Nestledina peacefulsettingwithleafyviews,thisbeautifullypresentedfour-bedroom homeofferstheperfectblendofcomfort,style,andpracticality— allwithinwalking distancetotown

Stepinsidetodiscoverlight-filledlivingspaces,includinga cozyloungewith awood fireanda contemporarykitchenfeaturing aporcelainsink,900mmstainlesssteel freestandingoven,anddishwasher.

MickDolphin 0429684522

CaitiEllis 0493136937

BINDAREE - A SCENIC HILLS ESTATE WITH VIEWS

PERCHED proudly along the ridge of Emerald’s most scenic stretch, “Bindaree” is one of the region’s most iconic properties - a timeless sanctuary where panoramic vistas sweep from the tranquil waters of Cardinia Reservoir to Arthur’s Seat on the Mornington Peninsula, and across to French Island in Western Port Bay.

From its origins as a charming 1930s Art Deco cottage, this residence has gracefully evolved into a magnificent family estate, crowned with a distinctive turret and surrounded by magnificent established gardens. Every corner of Bindaree reflects a devotion to craftsmanship and a reverence for its history - a home where past and present coexist in perfect harmony.

Step beyond the original fretwork porch and into an entrance hall featuring a pressed tin ceiling, a fitting introduction to the home’s rich character and well-preserved period detail. The master suite is a private retreat with walk-in wardrobes, a separate toilet, and a stately en suite complete with a deep bath and elegant shower.

A cosy lounge beckons with its original fireplace adorned with rose-blush deco tiles and bay windows framing the garden’s seasonal blooms. The heart of the home, however, is the stunning kitchen - a seamless blend of tradition and modern luxury, featuring white subway tiles, Victorian Ash benchtops, brass fittings, and premium stainless-steel appliances including a 6-burner gas stove, double oven, and twin-drawer dishwasher. From here, meals can be served in the beautifully wood-panelled dining room, or out on the wide veranda where sunsets paint the horizon in breathtaking colour.

The family room, framed by expansive picture windows and fitted with automated blinds, provides a spectacular vantage point for enjoying the ever-changing scenery - from morning light to twilight hues.

Downstairs, discover three additional bedrooms with walk-in robes, a bright sunroom opening to a private courtyard, and a newly renovated bathroom and laundry in crisp whites. The thoughtful layout ensures comfort with ducted heating, evaporative cooling, and split-system air conditioning throughout. Outdoor living is every bit as enchanting. The under-veranda terrace, tiled in terracotta and edged by Sasanqua Camellias, creates a tranquil garden gallery. The double garage offers ample storage for vehicles and leisure equipment, while the grounds are a true horticultural delight - a mature orchard boasting fig, apple, mandarin, grapefruit, tangelo, lime, lemon, guava, quince, orange, plum, peach, and pomegranate trees. Complementing this are a fully fenced vegetable garden, 22,000 litres of tank water, an olive arbour leading to a picturesque pergola, and even a croquet lawn for leisurely afternoons outdoors.

Set on nearly two acres, Bindaree is a place where life’s most memorable moments unfold. Within minutes of Emerald Village,

local schools, and public transport, this extraordinary property offers privacy, beauty, and a sense of permanence rarely found.

An inspection is essential to experience the soul and splendour of this once-in-a-lifetime home. ●

A PRIVATE SANCTUARY JUST STEPS FROM TOWN

PERFECTLY positioned within walking distance of Gembrook’s town centre, schools, and parklands, this inviting three-bedroom, onebathroom home captures the essence of relaxed modern living.

Set on a flat and fully fenced 803sqm block, the home balances character and convenience with a thoughtful layout and quality finishes throughout. The carpeted master includes a walk-through robe and bright ensuite-effect bathroom, while two further bedrooms (one with built-in robes) provide flexibility for family, guests, or a home office.

The kitchen features a gas stove, integrated oven, dishwasher, fridge recess, pantry, and generous bench and storage space. Flowing easily into the light-filled living and dining

areas, the home is complemented by 9-foot ceilings and gas ducted heating for year-round comfort.

Outdoors, a private entertaining area overlooks beautifully landscaped gardens, a solar-heated in-ground pool, and plenty of room to relax or play. A double carport, storage shed, and concrete driveway complete this picture-perfect property — an easy-care haven where everyday life feels like a holiday. This property has it all so don’t miss outcall 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.●

Tuckedawayin aquietpocketofCockatoo,thisbeautifullyrefreshedbrickhomeon2,023sqm deliversrelaxedfamilylivingjustminutesfromtown,schools& publictransport.Freshlypainted& fittedwithnewcarpets,thehomefeelsinstantlyinviting.Highceilingsamplifythesenseofspace, whileair-conditioning &gasductedheatingkeepthingscomfortableyear-round.Theadjoining kitchenisbothpractical &welcoming,featuring agasstovetop,walloven,dishwasher &excellent storage— theperfectplaceforfamilyeverydayliving.Themasterbedroomenjoysprivacyatthe frontofthehomewith awalk-inrobe &ensuite,while 2additionalbedroomswithbuilt-inrobesare servicedby afamilybathroom &separatetoilet.Thelaundryopenstothebackyard,completewith apoweredsinglegarage,carport,gardenshed& ampleoff-streetparking.

SamanthaScott M 0438680032

HillsComfortonOver ¾Acre

PerfectlypositionedmomentsfromCockatoo’stownship,schools,andtransport,thisinviting 3-bedroom,2-bathroombrickhomeona usable3,103sqm(approx.)combinesrelaxedlivingwith everydayease.Inside,timberfloorsandnaturallightseta warmtone.Themasterbedroomincludes awalk-inrobe,ensuite,andsplitsystem,whilethesunkenloungewithbrick-surroundwoodfireand splitsystemensuresyear-roundcomfort.Thekitchenanddiningareafeaturestonebenchtops, gascooktop,integratedoven,dishwasher,andfridgerecess,openingthroughslidingdoorstoa pavedentertainingzoneandleafygarden.Twofurtherbedroomswithbuilt-inrobessharea family bathroomwithseparatetoilet.Outdoors, afullyfencedyardoffersspaceforkidsandpets, achook enclosure,woodshed,anddoublegarage —theperfectsliceofpeacefulHillsliving.

SpaciousFamilyLivingin aPrimeEmeraldLocation. Perfectlypositionedjusta shortstrolltoEmerald,supermarket &schools,thisimmaculate4-bedroom, 2-bathroomhomeon1005sqmofferstheperfectblendofprivacy &convenience.A welcoming entrywith9ftceilings &Blackbuttfloorssetsthetone,leadingtothemastersuitewithlargewindows, oversizedwalk-inrobe &generousensuite.3 furtherbedroomswithBIRarearrangedarounda centralbathroom &separatetoilet.Attheheartofthehome,theopen-plankitchen &diningarea impresseswitha stone-toppedisland,walk-inpantry,integratedoven,gascooktop &dishwasher.A secondlivingroomwithgaslogfire &slidingdoorstotheverandahoffers aquietretreat.Year-round comfortisensuredwithGDH& ductedvacuum.Outdoors,enjoyundercoveralfrescoentertaining, dualdriveways,poweredgarage,doublecarport,gardenshed& securepetarea.

LifestyleIncome. Tuckedawayon10privateacres,thisdouble-brickhomedeliversspace,comfort &lifestyleinone invitingpackage.Theopen-planliving& diningareafeatures awoodheater,whilethekitchen shineswithwhitecabinetry,darkbenchtops,stainless-steelappliances,largepantry &a servery windowtotheelevatedalfrescodeckwithglassbalustrading& leafyviews.Fourbedroomsinclude amasterwithwalk-inrobe &ensuite,whilethemainbathroomservestherest.Downstairs,a huge garageoffersparkingformultiplevehiclesplusextraundercoverspaceidealforconversion.A separate2-bedroom,1-bathroomstudiowithitsownentertainingareaaddsdual-livingpotential. Theacreageblendsnaturalbush& establishedgardens,withHydrangeassupplyinglocalnurseries, multiplesheds,coolrooms,ampletankwater &double-glazedwindows.

4OonahStreetCockatoo

$730,000 -$800,000

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.

7 Manipulating (5)

8 Written versions of speeches (11)

10 Attractiveness (6)

12 In date order (11) 15 Threatening actions of persuasion (9)

17 Uplifting (9)

18 People who abstain from all animal products (6)

21 Man’s formal evening suit (6)

23 Verity (5)

25 Effigy (5)

28 French term for a married woman (abbr) (3)

Hail indefatigable

By Rob Wilson

Midweek Pennant

On one of the more difficult weather days in memory the Midweek bowlers battled away on Remembrance Day to complete their round 3 matches at home, and came away with 2 very satisfying and hard-fought wins against Lilydale in Division 1 and Mooroolbark in Division 3. Despite constant rain delays and including a couple of hail interjections on a bitterly cold day both matches were able to provide results using the maximum allocation of 5 hours allowed for play.

The Hawks top side (Division 1) were locked in a tight high standard battle for the entirety of the first half with scores level at the scheduled lunch break. However after the break the home side was able to slowly ware down the resolve of their opposition who should be commended for their resilience to draw clear and grab all 16 points on offer and pocketing a 23 shots difference.

Rob Wilson rink (28/12) grabbed the best numbers however the achievement of the Jim Bras rink (20/19) to snatch a one shot win on the line after being 7 shots down with only a few ends to go was a mighty effort. While Brian Smith (28/22) and his solid team of Jenny Holmes, Anne Ward and Rob Espernberger continue to quietly go about their work with a business-like win under wily skipper.

The 2nd side (Division 3) were never troubled on the overall scoreboard throughout the match jumping out to an early lead and dominating the opponents from start to finish. Seemingly the only impediment that might stand in between them and victory was the 4 seasons (minus summer) in one day weather that descended on the Monbulk greens. However the victory would ultimately be theirs with plenty of hot drinks and hand warmers to assist their efforts the second16 point haul was achieved for Monbulk Club that day.

Sadly, the 3rd side (Division 5) who were due to travel to Croydon for their round 3 contest were not able to get a game with the greens not being

Trades & Services

playable. The points were shared with a washout declared without a bowl being delivered. The side will look forward to a kinder weather day for their home contest against Chirnside Park in round 5.

Saturday Pennant

Round 4 action might be best erased from the memory bank for the Monbulk top side ( Division 2) that played away at Fern Tree Gully. The undefeated Gully side went to work exploiting their home green conditions by taking a big 16 / 2 plus 56 shots victory to the bank and keeping that perfect record intact. No doubt there will be some constructive discussions had in the postmortem by the Hawks but there will be no shortage of motivation to bounce back in round 5 v Heathmont.

The small ray of light from the day was a very impressive rink win by the Rob Wilson (22/16) Karen Wilson, Chris Clerici and Ray Pund played very well. The rinks of Eric Markham (11/33), Jim Bras (16/37) and Brian Smith (9/28) found the going tough against good opposition.

Team 2 (Division 5) was able to secure a solid home victory over the visiting Warburton. In 2 rinks up and 2 rinks down 14/4 points and 7 shots up contest the side combined well to hold out the visitors in a very close result. Coming down to the last few ends before the team could collectively breath out the Hawks 2nd 16 would be delighted with the win to slide them into the top 4 on the ladder. Peter Lee (30/15) who personally is in ter-

rific form had plenty of help from his mates Martin “Grumpy” Williams, Rick Giurini, and a very impressive Klaus Eisele providing the bedrock for the overall side win. Don Barnetson (17/14) held on to be the other winning rink whilst the losing rinks of Graeme Seymour (18/26) and Graeme Goller (13/16 ) did their job of minimising the margins and joining in the celebrations.

Team 3 ( Division 8) the clubs newly minted addition to the Monbulk pennant sides provided the weekly headlines. The clubs Newbies did themselves and the club proud by racking up a substantial win against Ringwood. Highlighted by club Stalwart Yvonne Cowling (43/10) she piloting her rink of Graeme Godkin, David Creek, and Joh Casamento to an amazing 33 shot win. The players under Yvonne will have gained some valuable experience to take forward and a very enjoyable victory to go along with it. The happy days continued in the Michael Harris (21/12) rink with debutant Frank Mileto probably thinking how good is this. Brendan Griffiths rink (15/20) of Peter Dowsett, Tristan Berry, and Kelly Machin with a combined games count of under 10 between them produced a great effort and their beers would have tasted nice that night with the team winning 14/2 and 39 shots up overall.

A bumpy ride over the hail for the bowls on the green. (Supplied)

Despite the hail and rain, Monbulk scored victory.

SPORT Teams honour the fallen

For cricket traditionalists, real cricket returned on the weekend with all but the Sixth XI engaged in day one of two-day action. With the clearer skies this weekend, it also gave cricketers around the RDCA the opportunity to officially commemorate Remembrance Day, with Mt Evelyn Cricket Club, in conjunction with Mt Evelyn RSL, conducting a pregame service, and all senior cricketers wearing the poppy to recognise our service men and women.

The Mt Evelyn First XI had their work cut out for them against an impressive East Ringwood batting line up. Right from the word go, East Ringwood would capitalise on perfect batting conditions and some loose bowling. After five overs, the Kangaroos had raced to 0/49, and there would be no let up as they would cook their heels for the afternoon tea break in a commanding position of 2/206 after 40 overs. Taylor Gibson (121) and Cian Dickinson (95) would compile a more than impressive 159-run partnership to have the hosts devoid of answers. No bowler would go unchallenged. With the score at 6/367 in the 62nd over, the visitors seized the opportunity to have a dash at some late wickets to ram home the advantage on day one.

The Mounters would show some stout resistance at the top of the order, but with the Kangaroos snaring the wickets of openers, Adam Smith and Jesse Fraser, in the shadows of stumps, they would be well pleased with the position of the game having the Mounters wobbling at 2/33. The First XI have ample time to chase the score, but it would take a fine effort from their remaining batsmen to muster a challenge great enough. Bat the 80 overs, and you can guarantee they will be in the ball game.

The Second XI would also start their contest with the ball, travelling to Seville to take on a strong Burras outfit. Early in the contest it was an old fashioned arm wrestle between bat and ball. Batsmen would look settled at the crease, but couldn’t take significant advantage as wickets would fall at inopportune times. At 4/82 the game could’ve swung either way. The Burras would wrestle some control of the contest on the back of a blistering 91 from Jared Carroll and would be able to compose a challenging total of 253 being bowled out in the last over of the day. The bowling spoils would be shared between Luke Shepherd (3/34), Jamie Shaw (2/17), Billie Laird (2/32) and Kynan Yates (2/68).

This total will take a big effort to chase down, but by no means is this task unachievable. Wickets in hand at the start of the day will open the opportunity to attack any chase at the back end of the day, especially with the strike power the Mounters possess.

The Third XI’s contest at Templeton is evenly poised after day one. The Mounters would toil hard with the ball through the first ‘split’ to have the Taipans 5/119 after their first allotment of overs. The hosts looked to have the contest in their hands early as their openers would establish a solid foundation, but timely wickets through the middle of the session, and a flurry of wickets at the end would have captain Graeme Foster more than pleased. New recruit Andrew White was the pick of the bowlers taking 2/6, whilst Sam Vanhoogstraten would take 2/35.

The Mounters reply would look very similar to their hosts’ split. A second wicket partnership of 53, between Cambell Finch and Vanhoogstraten, looked to have the visitors in prime position, but late wickets put a dint in their progress. At the end of their first 36 overs, stumps were drawn at 4/96. For both teams, the contest will go down to how well their experienced campaigners fair on day two. Both have a wealth of experience in the bottom half of their batting orders and if the Mt Evelyn old boys can lead the way, then a victory is well within reach.

The Fourth XI had an interrupted first day in their clash against Yarra Glen at Gruyere. Both teams would’ve been somewhat comfortable with the situation of the game in the 24th over with Yarra Glen sitting at 3/98. The versatile Zeke Tressider lead from the front with the ball taking 2/24. An unfortunate, and significant, injury to Alastair Churchill brought the game to an early close as his injury management became paramount to all those concerned. The good news is that Alastair is on the road to recovery, but his absence from the field will be felt by the Fourth XI with bat, ball and enthusiasm. Both teams will await further advice from the competition management as to how the remainder of this

contest plays out.

The Fifth XI have put themselves in a strong position after day one against North Ringwood. On the small bottom oval, run scoring came easily enough for the visitors, but they would lose too many wickets along the way. The Mt Evelyn bowlers would be unrelenting as they would all make useful contributions in keeping the run rate in check and collect wickets along the way. The Bulls would finish their split at 9/166, a useful enough score, but with just one wicket in hand, they’ll be hard pressed to add significant runs.

On the other hand, the Mounters would crank the pressure up on their visitors as not only would their run rate race along, but they would keep most of their wickets intact. The highlight of the innings would be a century opening stand between Ezra Joyce and Craig Kenins. Unfortunately, Kenins would fall just after posting his half century, but Joyce would bat on through to close to be 77 not out at the close of play. The visitors would peg back a couple of wickets late in the day, but at 3/225 the damage is done. The interest in this game now surrounds the young gun Joyce and his pursuit of a maiden century, and whether the Mounters can press for an outright victory.

Once again, the Sixth XI managed to scramble a team together for their contest against Warrandyte. They would win the toss and elect to bat, and courtesy of the steady hand of Angus Vanhoogstraten (39) and the strokeplay of Bruce Smith (49), the Mounters would have the upper hand early in the contest. The pair would navigate the innings to within reach of the drinks break with a well compiled 77-run partnership. Unfortunately, the pair couldn’t push their innings through to a half century, and retirement, and that would prove costly at the back end of the innings. New recruit Lucas Scott showed he has some talent with some enterprising strokeplay, but the inexperienced latter order of Mt Evelyn order would fall away quickly, and the innings would be closed rapidly for 139. Not enough on such a small oval.

Undeterred, the Mounters would give it their best shot to defend the total. With the younger cricketers providing energy, enthusiasm and nimble movement, and the older heads adding guile and guidance, the Mounters would be right in the contest at drinks with the Bloods staggering to 5/79. Vanhoogstraten would be the pick of the bowlers taking 2/24. With such a small total, the visitors had no room to move and a quick attack from the hosts upon resumption of play quickly put this game to bed. Within six overs, they would race to the target to claim victory. A disappointing result for the Mounters, considering the effort applied, but plenty of positives to come from a contest played in good spirits.

Teams stand in silent remembrance with the Australian flag at half mast. (Supplied)

Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence, Mt Evelyn Cricket Club President Tim Heaphy, Mt Evelyn RSL president

Matt Crymble and Casey MP Aaron Violi.

Bugler Tom Steele and Piper Iain Townsley. The stumps had been specially designed for Remembrance Day.