The Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre (AWBEC) marks a major milestone this Thursday 30 July, celebrating a decade of operation despite early doubts about its long-term survival.
Housed in the former Cockatoo kindergarten where hundreds of residents sheltered during the catastrophic 16 February 1983 bushfires, the building was initially slated for demolition. Following a strong local campaign, the community
secured state heritage listing in 2012, saving the site. The facility officially opened as an education and reflection centre on 30 July 2016 through a partnership involving local residents, Cardinia Shire Council and the Federal Government.
AWBEC chairman Graham Simpson said reaching the 10-year anniversary proved critics wrong. “There were a lot of people who said it would only last a couple of years and then it would close,” Mr Simpson said. “To us, it’s very important that it’s made 10 years.”
Over the past decade, the centre served as a critical hub for both education and healing. It regularly hosted school groups, emergency service personnel and community organisations to highlight how the 1983 disaster reshaped modern firefighting, protective gear, radio communications and bushfire management. It also offered a quiet sanctuary for survivors seeking closure.
The 1983 disaster remains one of Victoria’s deadliest. The Cockatoo fire alone claimed six
Earth’s treasures
Young environmentalists got their hands dirty at Emerald Library on 6 July during the “Worms, Waste and Earth’s Treasures“ school holiday program.
The free interactive session introduced children to composting, recycling and the vital role worms play in healthy ecosystems through fun, hands-on activities.
Participants discovered how food scraps can be transformed into nutrient-rich compost and explored practical ways to reduce household waste.
The program encouraged children to develop sustainable habits from a young age, showing how simple everyday actions can help protect the environment.
See more pictures on Page 16
Lachlan with Miranda from the Gould League. (Stewart Chambers: 561421)
lives, destroyed 307 buildings and scorched roughly 1800 hectares, while the nearby Belgrave Heights and Upper Beaconsfield fire killed 21 people and destroyed 238 structures.
Looking to the future, Mr Simpson expressed hope that the community would continue supporting the site for decades to come. Located in Cockatoo, the centre is open to the public on Sundays from 11am to 3pm with free entry.
Read more on page 5
Family confront woman’s murderer
By Tara Cosoleto, AAP
Always the generous neighbour, Vicki Apostolopoulos baked cupcakes for Milorad Zaric and was happy to hear he had enjoyed them.
Little did she know he would stab her to death in front of her young sons just two days later.
Zaric, 48, had been chasing after his own teenage son who sought sanctuary at Ms Apostolopoulos’ Bayswater home in Melbourne’s east on the morning of 16 November 2024.
A confused Ms Apostolopoulos let the boy inside and then opened the door for Zaric when he wouldn’t stop banging on it.
Zaric said “welcome home Vicki” before pulling a knife from his waistband and stabbing her multiple times in the neck, stomach and shoulder.
Ms Apostolopoulos’ 16-year-old son grabbed Zaric in a chokehold and ordered his 12-year-old brother out of the house.
Zaric repeatedly punched the teen and slammed him against a wall but the boy only let go to run to safety.
When police arrived, Zaric told officers he had taken ketamine before beginning to growl and call out for Satan.
Ms Apostolopoulos’ sister Mary Kadis said on Tuesday Zaric’s drug-addled state was no excuse, as the killer pleaded guilty to murder in the Victorian Supreme Court.
“The choices leading up to that day were yours,” she said.
“Did Vicki have a choice that day? No, she didn’t.”
Two days before the murder, Ms Apostolopoulos took cupcakes to Zaric’s house.
The killer thanked her over text, describing the treats as “amazing”
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He then started abusing ketamine, cannabis and alcohol, and he lashed out at his son on 15 November, pushing the boy down the stairs and stomping on his head.
Zaric attacked his son again on the morning of the murder, punching the teen who fled to Ms Apostolopoulos’ when he brandished a knife.
Ms Apostolopoulos’ mother Sofia Apostolopoulos said the grief she carried was beyond words.
“My daughter was my life,” she said in a statement to the court.
“Since her death, I have been trapped in a living nightmare I cannot wake up from.”
Close friend Maria Pantelios described Ms Apostolopoulos as like family.
“Her presence had a way of lifting others, even
in the darkest moments,” she told the court.
Defence barrister Ruth Shann SC argued Zaric’s crime was out of character and his mind was altered by ketamine.
“This is not some cold, callous murderer,” Ms Shann said.
“This is a kind, gentle and generous man who was struggling with depression,” she said.
Justice Jacinta Forbes will sentence Zaric at a later date.
Outside court, Ms Kadis urged the judge to consider a life sentence, saying the family had “been left with a lifetime of grief, heartbreak and pain”
Peaceful pro-Palestine rally held outside business
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Knox for Palestine held a peaceful protest on Saturday, 18 July, outside Rosebank Engineering on Mountain Highway, Bayswater, with organisers stating that approximately 150 local protesters attended.
The rally was organised by Knox for Palestine and a coalition of local grassroots pro-Palestine action groups.
The demonstration focused on opposition to the work of Rosebank Engineering, with organisers raising concerns about the company’s involvement in the manufacture and supply of
defence-related equipment.
During the rally, speakers included representatives from the AMWU, the Anti Militarism Action Network (AMAN), a local Palestinian doctor and two local candidates in the forthcoming state election.
Organisers stated that their concerns related to Rosebank Engineering’s role in the supply of components for the F-35 fighter jet system and Australia’s involvement in the defence industry. They also stated that Rosebank Engineering had received millions in federal grants, with much of that funding provided since October 2023
Builder fined over defective Ferntree Gully build
The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) has fined a Roxburgh Park builder $30,000 over the incomplete and non-compliant construction of a double-storey townhouse and carport in Ferntree Gully.
Sukhdeep Singh Deol, of SMP Homes Pty Ltd, was found to have substituted steel framing for the timber specified in the building permit, without first getting approval from the Relevant Building Surveyor (RBS).
Deol then illegally requested payment from the homeowner for the framework stage before it was signed off as complete by the RBS.
The framework failed to pass three mandatory inspections, before it was eventually signed off as compliant 12 months later.
The BPC also found several examples of poorly executed building work including misaligned roof trusses, rotting and split beams and a defective sub floor, all of which required remedial work.
The homeowner had to engage an independent inspector to identify the issues before Deol rectified them.
The rally followed a previous protest at Rosebank Engineering in February 2024, where police reported that eight people had climbed onto the rooftop of the Bayswater business.
A statement from Victoria Police said the group remained on the roof for several hours before engaging with officers and coming down with assistance from a cherry picker.
The eight protesters were charged with criminal damage, trespass and being disguised with unlawful intent, and faced Ringwood Magistrates’ Court in July 2024.
Rosebank Engineering was contacted for comment.
In addition to the fine, Deol has been ordered to complete three training units within 12 months.
In Victoria, all home building work over $10,000 must have a Major Domestic Building Contract in place.
This contract must include a payment schedule tied to completion of specific stages of building work.
Consumers should be aware demanding payments outside the contract schedule is illegal.
A builder can only ask for a five per cent deposit for jobs over $20,000 and a 10 per cent deposit for jobs over $10,000.
Vicki Apostolopoulos’ mother and sister want a life sentence for her killer. Mary Kadis (left) and Sofia Apostolopoulos (right) leave the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Tuesday 21 July 2026. (AAP Image/Jay
Pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside Rosebank Engineering in Bayswater. (Supplied)
Rosebank Engineering under fire from activists over F-35 supply concerns. (Supplied)
Pro-Palestine protesters rally outside Rosebank Engineering during a peaceful demonstration. (Supplied)
fined $30,000 over faulty townhouse construction. (Supplied)
IN BRIEF
Olinda trees concern
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Two large and mature trees on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Olinda have become the focus of a community debate, with Save the Dandenongs League calling on Yarra Ranges Council to retain as much of the trees as possible rather than remove them entirely.
Located near the entrance to Olinda, just before the CFA, the trees have been described by Save the Dandenongs League president, Louis Delacretaz as a “magnificent” part of the township’s entrance and character.
“They really form a magnificent part of the entrance to Olinda,” he said.
Mr Delacretaz said the trees were believed to be more than 100 years old and represented the large, established vegetation that contributed to the unique landscape of the Dandenong Ranges.
“These trees have been there at least 100 years old, I would think, and they’re just huge,” he said.
“They’re really part of the charm of the Dandenongs, that we have these huge magnificent trees on the sides of our roads.”
Yarra Ranges Council’s director of built environment and infrastructure, Anita Curnow said council had monitored the health of the two trees for several years and recently conducted extensive testing, including arborist assessments and tomography testing.
Tomography is a non-invasive method used to assess the internal condition of trees and determine the extent of decay.
Ms Curnow said the assessments showed the trees had deteriorated to a level where action was needed to protect community safety.
“Both trees are large and mature,” Ms Curnow said.
“We understand the special place that trees, particularly older trees, hold in our communities and landscapes. Unfortunately, assessments have found that these trees have deteriorated to a point where action is required to ensure safety of the community.”
Council has brought in a zoologist to check whether the trees provide habitat for wildlife or contain any fauna.
Ms Curnow said the assessment would help determine whether parts of the trees could be safely retained on site as habitat where appropriate.
Mr Delacretaz said the group supported safety measures but believed only the deteriorated sections of the trees should be removed.
“We’re hopeful that they can just remove the damaged parts and the parts that are a bit weaker, and keep the majority of the trees there,” he said.
He said retaining sections of the trees would help preserve both habitat value and the visual character of the area.
“The tree stem will have hollows and things that powerful owls and possums and other things can go and use for nesting,” Mr Delacretaz said.
“But then the other side of it is, given where those trees are, it’s framing the entrance to Olinda. Having 10 or 15 metres of stem alongside that road still provides that frame.”
Mr Delacretaz said council’s assessment work had identified where the damage was located, which he believed supported retaining sections
of the trees where safe.
“Because they actually know where the damage is in the trees, that’s another reason why it makes it fairly safe to leave a fairly tall stem,” he said.
The community group said the loss of large, established trees was an ongoing concern across the Dandenong Ranges, with Mr Delacretaz calling for greater focus on protecting and replacing significant vegetation.
“We are losing a lot of our larger, more magnificent species,” he said.
“These giants take a long time to grow. They’re very easy to remove, but they provide so much value to the community and to the environment.”
Mr Delacretaz said large trees helped main-
tain the special character of the Dandenongs and provided important habitat.
“It is what makes the Dandenongs special,” he said.
“That’s the part of living up here that just makes it special, and we need to keep that differentiation for our kids and grandkids.”
Ms Curnow said replacement trees could not be planted at the specific site due to overhead powerlines, however council would plant offset trees in a suitable location as part of its broader tree replanting program.
Mr Delacretaz said a community consultation may take place, but the group is not aware of any confirmed timing or process.
Call for public witnesses after Ferntree Gully assault
Police are appealing for community to step forward as witnesses after an elderly man was assaulted in Ferntree Gully in early July.
The afternoon of 6 July saw an elderly man allegedly assaulted by someone riding an electric scooter on Monday afternoon, along Blind Creek Trail between Bond Street and Lewis Road/Rankin Road.
Police say that the elderly Asian man was wearing yellow high-visibility activewear and was allegedly assaulted by an offender dressed in dark clothing and a motorcycle helmet who was riding an orange electric scooter.
At the time several members of the public came to the older man’s aid.
Anyone who was witness or may have footage of the incident are being asked to contact police or urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference 260281994.
Charge now murder for Cockatoo hit and run
Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man following a hit-run collision in Cockatoo last month.
It is alleged a cyclist was struck by a vehicle on Pakenham Road on Friday, 26 June about 3pm.
The cyclist, a 47-year-old man of no fixed address, was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
He died in hospital on 11 July.
The driver of the vehicle allegedly failed to stop at the scene.
The vehicle was located nearby at a reserve on Hillside Road.
Initially, a 44-year-old Cockatoo man was arrested and has since been exonerated.
Detectives later arrested and charged the alleged driver, a 27-year-old Cockatoo man, in Cockatoo on 27 June.
He was charged with intentionally cause serious injury and dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Thesechargeshavesincebeenupgradedtomurder.
The 27-year-old man has been remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 18 September.
Note: Star Mail previously reported that the 44-year-old man was arrested and charged following the incident but released pending further enquiries. However, a police spokesperson has since confirmed he was not charged, and this was an error in the media release.
Outer east E-bike rider complaints rise
The Knox Neighbourhood Team have recently received a large number of complaints about the behaviours of youth riding electric bikes and dirt bike from residents and local business owners around Rowville, Ferntree Gully and Scoresby.
Police say young people have been driving dangerously, taunting members of the public and damaging property.
These E-Bikes have also evaded police on multiple occasions and police are now appealing to the community for help.
Hoping to identify the riders, if community have any CCTV, or know of anyone in the neighbourhood can help with information to assist. Police are trying to resolve the issue, which they have said on the Knox Police social media Eyewatch page is “escalating”
Police are encouraging members of the public to contact Crime Stoppers ph 1800333000 with any information.
Two large, mature trees in Olinda facing possible removal by Yarra Ranges Council. (Supplied)
Incident spurs CPR training
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Silvan Football Netball Club is looking to host a CPR training night for its members and the wider community after a frightening medical incident during an Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL) clash between Coldstream and Silvan in May.
The club’s secretary Brett Kerford said the idea had been discussed for some time but came to the forefront after a field umpire collapsed during the third quarter of the senior match at Coldstream Football Ground.
The umpire was in serious trouble, with two nurses and trainers from both Silvan and Coldstream performing CPR before paramedics arrived.
Mr Kerford said the response highlighted the importance of having more people at the club trained to respond in an emergency.
“It brought it to a fore to us that we probably should have more people in the club knowing what to do if unfortunately that sort of thing happens again,” Mr Kerford said.
The club is now in the process of organising a CPR training session, which will be held on a
Tuesday evening at Silvan’s training facility in the coming month.
Mr Kerford said around a dozen club members had already indicated they were interested in completing the training, with the session open to players, supporters and others involved with the club.
The training will also be available to local community members who are interested in participating.
“We certainly try and generate a family-oriented club, an inclusive club for everyone,” Mr Kerford said.
“This certainly goes down that same track, we’ll certainly try and help anybody that we possibly can.”
Silvan already has a defibrillator at the club, which Mr Kerford said had been in place since the death of player Vincent “Boris” Bonanno, who collapsed and died during a practice match in 2011 after suffering a ruptured artery.
Mr Kerford said the combination of having access to a defibrillator and knowing how to perform CPR could give someone experiencing a medical emergency the best possible chance.
“It’s just giving them a chance,” he said.
“Not performing CPR and not using a defib is not giving them their full chance - it still might not help, it still might not change the circumstances, but at least it gives them that chance they didn’t otherwise have.”
Victoria has Australia’s highest cardiac arrest survival rate and the third-highest in the world, according to Ambulance Victoria’s latest Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry report.
The report recorded bystander CPR being performed in 79 per cent of witnessed cardiac arrest cases in 2023/24.
It also found 422 cardiac arrest patients were discharged from hospital, with 84 per cent returning home to their families.
Mr Kerford said the incident at Coldstream was confronting for everyone who witnessed it, including players, officials, spectators and those who assisted on the field.
He praised the two nurses, trainers from both clubs and paramedics who responded to the emergency, saying their actions made a significant difference.
Mr Kerford said the CPR training would become an ongoing initiative for the club, with refresher training required every 12 months.
“If we find there’s a significant amount of people wanting to do the course for the first time in the coming years, we’ll certainly put on those nights as well,” he said.
The cost of the training is expected to be shared between the club and participating members, with Mr Kerford estimating members may contribute around $40 each.
Anyone interested in taking part can register their interest by contacting Silvan Football Netball Club via email at silvan@efnl.org.au or through the club’s Facebook page.
‘An act of last resort’: Yarra Ranges staff walk off the job
By Oliver Winn and Gabriella Vukman
Several Yarra Ranges school teachers travelled into Melbourne to take part in a statewide strike on Thursday 23 July, the second major stop-work action of the year.
It came after the Australian Education Union (AEU) rejected the State Government’s 28 per cent pay increase offer on Tuesday 21 July.
Fifty-two staff from Upper Yarra Secondary College were at the protest in Melbourne, and assistant principal Michael Schultz said the strike called for actionable measures to address educators’ workloads
“It is about the long-term sustainability of the Victorian education system, not just this current agreement, and certainly not just about more money.
“Teacher shortages will continue to be a problem unless teaching becomes a respected and attractive profession again,” Mr Schultz said.
Healesville High School teacher Danny Zemp joined in on Thursday’s strike antics and said he voted against the agreement because he believed teachers deserve a better deal.
“It felt like the government could offer us more,” Mr Zemp said, adding that the hasty deadline placed on negotiations made him feel “obligated to vote in the negative.”
Woori Yallock Primary School, Millwarra Primary School, Wandin Yallock Primary School and Wandin North Primary School were also confirmed to have walked off the job on Thursday.
Woori Yallock Primary School said in a social media post that striking wasn’t something the school “took lightly”
“We know days like this can be disruptive, and we genuinely appreciate the support and patience from our parent community.
“But this isn’t just about us. It’s about creating the time, resources, and support our students deserve every single day. We love what we do, and we’re proud to stand up for a better future for the kids in our care.”
While backing the industrial action, Mr Zemp also said striking was not something teachers enjoyed.
“I don’t like striking at the best of times,” he said.
“I feel strongly for the children at the school. They’re missing out on their days of learning.”
“But if we sit down on our hands and don’t do anything at all, then nothing’s going to happen.”
Healesville High School teacher and AEU sub-branch representative Joanna Yates is most concerned about teachers working excessively beyond their paid hours.
“Most teachers already work nine to three or nine to four, and then go home and work on the weekend and during the holidays,” she said.
“We do all of this extra work unpaid, just to keep up with the curriculum that we need to teach.”
In March, teachers in Victoria went on strike for the first time in 13 years after nine months of negotiations between the government and the AEU’s Victorian Branch reached boiling point.
Victorian school teachers demanded a 35 per cent pay increase over four years to bring sala-
ries in line with inflation, and measures to address workload, reduce class sizes and increase support staff.
In response, the government offered a 28 per cent pay offer. This offer was then rejected by the union in a narrow vote on Tuesday, 21 July, leading to the latest strike.
AEU Victorian Branch president Justin Mullaly said the underfunding of Victoria’s education system was making the work of public school staff untenable.
“Public school teachers, principals and education support staff are overworked and undervalued, working an average of 12 hours unpaid overtime every week to make up for the Allan Labor Government’s funding shortfall,” Mr Mullaly said.
Protecting the state’s public school funding model through legislation is another priority for Ms Yates.
“Right now they’re not funding schools the way they’re meant to,” she said.
“Other states have their school funding protected under law, so their governments can’t back away from that.”
As reported in the ABC, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll said he was working closely with the AEU to find a resolution.
“Families are already juggling a lot, and today’s disruption is disappointing,” he said.
“This deal would have made Victorian teachers and education support staff the best paid in the country together with the best conditions.
“This was a close vote, and we will continue to work with the AEU to resolve this matter.”
Teacher salaries in Victoria are among the
lowest in Australia, earning around $10,000 to $15,000 less per year when compared to other states.
Victorian entry-level teachers were paid around $79,600 in 2025, while in New South Wales a fresh teacher gets a starting salary just under $90,200.
A problem Australia-wide is teacher burnout, with a 2025 University of New South Wales survey revealing that full-time teachers work 49 hours a week on average.
The union hasn’t ruled out further strike actions if their demands are not met.
Mr Schultz said the purpose of the strike was to secure improvements to Upper Yarra students’ education experience.
“We understand this is a disruption to families, and it is an act of last resort. Unfortunately, it has been the only way to have the Department of Education engage meaningfully with the AEU after months of negotiations.”
“Each offer from the Department of Education has come about as a result of the potential for strike action. It appears to be the only for the government to take us seriously,” he said.
Silvan Football Netball Club is planning a CPR training night following a medical emergency during an EFNL match in May.(Supplied)
Upper Yarra Secondary College teachers and staff donned their union red tees to support the strike. (Supplied)
Healesville teachers also attended a strike in March 2026. (Kerry Davies).
Centre marks milestone
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
The Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre in Cockatoo (AWBEC) will mark a significant milestone on Thursday, 30 July, celebrating 10 years since its official opening and a decade of preserving one of Victoria’s most important bushfire stories.
What started as a community determined to save the former kindergarten from demolition has become a place where people can learn, reflect and remember.
It has welcomed visitors from across Victoria and continues to help preserve the stories and lessons of Ash Wednesday for future generations.
AWBEC chairman Graham Simpson said reaching the 10-year milestone was especially meaningful, as many people had doubted the centre would survive.
“There were a lot of people who said it would only last a couple of years and then it would close,” he said.
“To us, it’s very important that it’s made 10 years.”
The centre’s story began in August 2011, when the Cockatoo community rallied to stop the building from being demolished and returned to parkland.
The former kindergarten, where hundreds of people sheltered during the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February 1983, had fallen into disrepair after closing several years earlier.
After the community successfully fought for state heritage listing in 2012, the building’s future was secured.
The transformation of the former kindergarten into the Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre began in 2015 as part of a partnership with Cardinia Shire Council.
With the support of the Federal Government and Cardinia Shire Council, the centre officially opened on 30 July, 2016.
Mr Simpson said saving the building had been a major victory for the community.
“It was a huge win for the community,” he said.
He said the heritage listing recognised the building as being significant to the state of Victoria because of the role it played during the Ash Wednesday bushfires, when people sought refuge inside as the fire swept through Cockatoo.
Over the past decade, the centre has welcomed visitors wanting to learn about the devastation caused by bushfires, while others who experienced the tragedy have visited in search of comfort and closure.
Among those who have walked through its doors are primary and secondary school students, Probus clubs, seniors groups, Rotary and
Lions clubs, CFA brigades and other community organisations.
The building has also been used by the Township Committee/Connecting Cockatoo Communities, Neighbourhood Watch, CRAG 21, Forest Fire Management and the CFA District Office.
Mr Simpson said education remained one of the centre’s most important roles.
“History is a very important thing,” he said.
“A lot of things that we do today have come out of those fires.”
He said changes to bushfire management, firefighter protective clothing, radio systems and
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vehicle design all stemmed from lessons learned following Ash Wednesday.
The centre also continues to provide a place of reflection for people affected by bushfires.
“There are lots of people who come along who were burnt out, not only in Cockatoo, and they come when we’re open to seek comfort and closure,” Mr Simpson said.
“The building does play a very important role.”
Ash Wednesday remains one of Victoria’s most devastating bushfire disasters.
In the Belgrave Heights and Upper Beaconsfield fire, 21 people died, 238 buildings were lost and about 9200 hectares were burnt.
In Cockatoo, six people died, 307 buildings were destroyed and about 1800 hectares were burnt.
Looking ahead, Mr Simpson hopes the centre will continue serving the community for many years to come.
“I hope it continues, and I hope people still visit us,” he said.
“Hopefully it lasts another 10 years and becomes a place of reflection for a lot of people.”
As the centre celebrates its 10th anniversary, Mr Simpson thanked everyone who has contributed to its journey over the past decade and invited the community to visit, remember, learn and be part of its continuing history.
The Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre is open Sundays from 11am to 3pm, with free entry.
Are you a community group or organisation interested in delivering a
As the event transitions to a communityled model, this is an exciting opportunity to take a lead role in delivering a much-loved
The successful applicant will receive funding of up to $15,000 and access to event planning resources to support delivery.
Register your interest by Friday 7 August 2026 by emailing ActiveConnectedCommunities@cardinia.vic.gov.au
An application form and further information will then be provided.
The Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre in Cockatoo is celebrating 10 years since its official opening. (Supplied)
Wreaths laid in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the Ash Wednesday bushfires. (Supplied)
Emergency planning key
By Callum Ludwig
Despite the Outer East being no stranger to emergencies, a concerning amount of the community might still be without an effective emergency plan in the event of a disaster.
The March 2025 bushfire in Montrose was a key example of some community members becoming complacent, leading to frustration between themselves and emergency services.
In a CFA media release in October 2025, resident Bree Kuffer said the most important lesson that arose from the fire was the importance of keeping up to date and knowing your threshold to take action.
“We’re very fortunate now, to have real-time information provided to us in a way that perhaps wasn’t around 10 or 20 years ago. During the Montrose incident, we were very much keeping an eye on the VicEmergency app and watching CFA on Facebook,” she said.
“One of the lessons out of Montrose’s fire was that when it is widespread and there’s multiple areas at risk, it’s probably not realistic to expect in an event like that that a fire truck will come to your house and make everything okay.
“Everybody that lives in an area like this has to be aware of what their risk is, what they have to take control of themselves, and ultimately when to leave.”
A new survey from NRMA Insurance and the Australian Red Cross highlights significant gaps in household emergency plans, revealing most parents lack the basic preparedness needed to respond effectively in a crisis.
The study found just 37 per cent of parents feel well prepared for an emergency, only 27 per cent have an emergency kit and nearly half (49 per cent) admit they would struggle to locate important items if they needed to leave their home quickly in an emergency.
“We know parents are some of the most concerned and anxious about the threat of extreme weather, yet many struggle to find time for emergency planning among a mountain of other daily to-dos,” Australian Red Cross’ director of national recovery and resilience Nichola Krey said.
“Having an emergency plan in place not only saves vital minutes where every second counts, it also helps families stay calm and think clearly in high stress situations.”
Despite the growing risks from extreme weather across Australia, the findings reveal emergency preparedness is falling behind other areas of family life.
In fact, parents are more likely to have a clear routine for preparing their household for a dinner party (69 per cent) than an emergency (53 per
cent).
However, while parents are highly prepared in many aspects of life such as pantry organisation (62 per cent), weekly meal prepping (58 per cent), family planners (45 per cent), and even having a stash of birthday or Christmas gifts on hand (52 per cent), essential emergency planning is often overlooked (27 per cent).
With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe, NRMA Insurance’s executive manager of community impact Jen Cobley said preparation has never been more important.
“As an insurer, we see firsthand the devastating physical and emotional impacts severe weather events can have on families and communities,” she said.
“Understanding your local risks and taking simple steps to prepare before an event happens is one of the most effective ways to protect your loved ones and treasured items.”
To help parents get emergency ready these school holidays, NRMA Insurance and Australian Red Cross have partnered with organisation guru Monique Popa (@theorganisedeverydaymum) to turn aesthetic organisation hacks into life-saving habits.
Inspired by lessons learnt through Australian Red Cross EmergencyRedi™ Workshops, Monique has created a practical ‘Emergency Edit’ - a simple guide to help busy parents get organised for an emergency:
Prepare an ICE Folder (in case of emergency folder) with important family documents.
Pack an emergency essentials kit – batteries, torch, first aid kit etc - stored for easy access.
Create kid’s calm cases – for emotional support (featuring craft, games and comfort toys).
Prep your pantry – with non-perishable food, water and snacks in an easy to grab basket.
Monique said the experience of attending an Australian Red Cross EmergencyRedi Workshop, where she learnt about the RediPlan, was an eye-opener.
“Like many parents, I was focused on keeping everything organised day-to-day, but I hadn’t properly considered what I would do if an emergency occurred,” she said.
“After attending the workshop, I realised how important and simple it is to get prepared for emergencies and how much peace of mind it gives you.
“I created my ‘Emergency Edit’ to help more Australian parents take simple actions to protect their families and put their own emergency RediPlan in place.”
You can find out more about EmergencyRedi workshops and RediPlans here: redcross.org.au/ emergencyredi/.
National approach to animal welfare could save millions
By Callum Ludwig
The campaign for a national approach to animal welfare has been boosted by a business case highlighting the financial benefits of reducing ‘duplication, fragmentation and lengthy delays’ in the sector.
The Australian Alliance for Animals commissioned a report from Frontier Economics, which indicated as much as $3.5 million could be saved by federal and state governments by establishing a National Animal Welfare Commission.
Australian Alliance for Animals’s director of policy Dr Jed Goodfellow said the report demonstrates the case for reform has never been stronger.
“Australia’s animal welfare system isn’t just slow – it’s fundamentally broken, and has stopped delivering the timely, nationally consistent reforms that governments, industry and the community expect,” he said.
“For ten years we’ve had a recommendation from one of Australia’s most respected economic institutions sitting on the shelf.
“Today we have independent economic analysis showing that implementing that recommendation would actually save governments money.”
The report has been released just short of 10 years since the Productivity Commission’s Regulation of Australian Agriculture inquiry highlighted that the process for setting farm animal welfare standards did not adequately value the community benefits of animal welfare and recommended a statutory agency be established.
Northern Victoria MP Georgie Purcell said the proposal is something she and the Animal Justice Party have been calling for for quite some time.
“The obvious reason is that the animal protec-
tion system is a bureaucratic nightmare, there’s a range of different agencies, there’s different MOUs between certain departments and authorities, and it means that animals are often left languishing or with no real protection,” she said.
“On top of that, it is also very costly and there’s a lot of money being spent for not-so-great outcomes.
“By implementing a national commission or an independent office, as we’ve seen in other jurisdictions around the world, we have the ability to not just better protect animals, but save taxpayer money as well.”
Currently, state and territory governments are responsible for animal welfare regulation within their borders, with the federal government’s responsibility limited to livestock exports.
“The Australian Government is currently working with the states and territories to develop an Australian Animal Welfare Strategy by the end of 2027,” a Department of Agriculture spokesperson said.
The proposal would require consideration and agreement by all Australian governments, including the states and territories, if it was to proceed.
Ms Purcell said the current approach means
we really don’t have any consistency when it comes to how we view animals and what is the best life for them.
“The majority of legislation that governs the welfare of animals is on a state-by-state basis, whether that be in terms of standard practices within farming industries, whether it be in relation to caging, whether it be in relation to racing industries, every single state differs.
“When we have that approach on a stateby-state basis, it means in many circumstances where one state acts on an issue and an industry might need to change, there is a risk that the cruelty will just move to another area.”
An example of this cited by Ms Purcell is Victoria’s puppy farm laws implemented in 2017, which capped the number of dogs breeders could keep to 10, which also saw many move their operations interstate. The puppy farm laws have reared up again in 2026, with Ms Purcell and other animal activists highlighting the 10 ministerial exemptions which have been granted to allow those breeders to keep up to 50 dogs.
Ms Purcell said another example was the national agreement to phase out the battery cage in caged hen systems.
“The federal government set that time frame and different states picked and chose when they would do it and what that means is it actually creates significant animal welfare risk,” she said.
“Because if one state goes far before another, many factory farms could relocate to the state that’s taking a longer phase-out period, and ultimately put political pressure on to continue the practice within those states.
“That’s just not resulting in the outcomes that we want, it’s simply resulting in animal cruelty changing location.”
The Montrose fire was quick to spread, surprising many who lived near it and those who had to fight it. (Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade)
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell backs the call for a National Animal Welfare Commission. (File: 519453)
MS community relieved
By Oliver Winn
Life-changing multiple sclerosis medications will remain subsidised, sending a sigh of relief throughout those in the Yarra Ranges living with the chronic neurological condition.
It came after a pricing dispute between the Federal Government and pharmaceutical companies was resolved on 16 July.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients had feared they’d have to fork out about $33,000 yearly to privately fund medications after pharmaceutical companies threatened to pull their drugs from Australia’s market.
Wandin woman Lauren Sneddon lives with MS and said the news was “an amazing outcome” for the MS community.
“I think that would alleviate a significant amount of stress for the people that are on the medication,” she said.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed MS medications Ocrevus, Kesimpta and Lemtrada would stay on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), keeping costs at $25 and $7.70 for concession card holders.
Though Ms Sneddon doesn’t take the medications in question, she said the great stress it would have put people living with MS under.
“I can’t imagine the stress involved at the idea that people would need to pay thousands upon thousands of dollars for a treatment that is working for them, or face changing the medication and therefore worsening or progressing their condition.
“I think the fact that it’s been resolved, it’s a huge sigh of relief.”
MS Australia director Sharlene Brown, who lives with MS and has been successfully treated
with Ocrevus for more than seven years, echoed the sentiment.
“This announcement will bring enormous relief to people living with MS and their families. Continued PBS access means people can keep working with their neurologists to choose the treatment that is right for them, without the fear that effective options will be placed out of reach,” Ms Brown said.
Manufacturers Roche, Novartis and Sanofi Genzyme were involved in a high-profile dispute with the Federal Government when they were requested to lower the cost of their medications by up to 50 per cent.
When a new, cheaper medication was listed on the PBS last year, it triggered a pricing review
of the three other highly effective MS medications.
This is because Australia’s PBS system groups certain drugs together, with the cheapest drug in the group acting as a benchmark price for the rest.
The drug manufacturers then argued a price cut of 40 to 50 per cent would be commercially unsustainable and threatened to withdraw the drugs from the PBS.
The PBS has been criticised over its pricing policies by many other major pharmaceutical companies in 2026.
As reported by the ABC, AstraZeneca removed a cancer and endometriosis drug from the Australian market in June due to commercial reasons. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly withdrew diabetes drug
Mounjaro in April.
In March last year, US pharmaceutical companies wrote a letter to US president Donald Trump, claiming drug prices in Australia are too low and that it is damaging its commercial viability.
Ms Sneddon said it was disappointing how pharmaceutical companies continue to place profits over people.
“But at the end of the day, it’s people’s lives that this comes down to affecting. It’s not the bottom line of a company, it’s not the government, it’s the people living with MS that have to then, day-to-day, endure what these changes might have meant,” she said.
She said Australia needed to rethink its approach to managing MS.
“What it highlights to me is that, maybe we need to focus more on treatment as a whole and rather than just managing symptoms.”
“Maybe we need to be looking at a larger, more effective treatment and moving faster on those treatments and allowing people to have more access to it so that these issues aren’t arising and that we’re not just relying on pharmaceuticals.”
Proposed laws could clean up online Yarra Valley forums
By Oliver Winn
A suite of proposed laws targeting anonymous online hate could help clean up local online forums in the Yarra Valley, a noticeboard moderator said.
The reforms announced on Sunday 19 July by the State Government would give the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) the ability to identify anonymous accounts through “demasking orders”.
The laws have been welcomed by local Facebook noticeboard moderators and social media experts, but the details will determine whether they’re effective or not.
Geoff Sturre, an admin of a Yarra Valley Noticeboard on Facebook, said the new laws would help get rid of unnecessary hateful abuse posted by anonymous accounts.
“If you haven’t got the guts to put your name behind it, then you probably shouldn’t be saying it. And that’s simple,” Mr Sturre said.
Dr Dana Mckay, an academic from RMIT’s School of Computing Technologies, said the new laws could give victims of hate more tools to combat anonymous online abuse.
Individuals have had to rely on social media platforms to intervene when reporting online hate — a process which rarely results in
the identification of the offender.
“VCAT supporting Victorians to access online protections would be another legal mechanism where social media companies are being held to account, in an environment where the tide of public opinion is turning against them,” Dr Mckay said.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said “our kids are paying the price” of social media and AI companies that fail to protect from hate.
“If a platform hurts a child, families should be able to take that company to court.”
Mr Sturre has run the Yarra Valley Noticeboard (not uptight) alongside moderator Sue Thompson for 11 years.
He said he tries to remain as neutral as possible to allow people the freedom to express their opinions.
“But when they start abusing each other… then we have to manage that,” he said.
“It’s 2026… we should have more respect for people’s choices in life.”
But it’s impossible to stay on top of every single post, and the new laws could prevent people from spewing online hate.
“I can’t monitor the board 24-seven…
“It would be cleaner for me. I don’t want 10,000 people saying stupid things anonymously just because they can,” he said.
Dr Mckay echoed the sentiment.
“I also think it’s going to help the moderators of these communities, because like all of the moderators, they’re volunteers.
“Love them or hate them, love or hate their decisions, I believe that most of them are doing the best they can to do a good job of making these community spaces,” she said.
The laws would also help “change the tone” of social media, Dr Mckay said, and help those from marginalised communities engage without fear of discrimination.
“People who experience online hate are disproportionately people who exist in minorities. People with disabilities, people who are not white, people who are on the rainbow spectrum somewhere, women. And essentially the culture of this online abuse makes it harder for those people to participate publicly.”
Under current laws, people can report anonymous online abuse to the police, who can make social media companies reveal the poster, enabling the victim to take legal action.
But Dr Mckay said the police have a history of not taking reports of online harassment “seriously”.
Social media companies too are known to “take their sweet time” in even responding to
the police’s requests for information.
Dr Mckay said VCAT’s demasking orders provided Victorians with an alternative legal mechanism to combat anonymous online abuse.
But, the laws would have to be airtight in their wording to ensure it can’t be “politically weaponised”.
“The first thing that they have to include is a really clear definition of what constitutes hate… We also need a really clear definition of what evidence you have to provide because that’s going to be pretty tricky given how easy it is to AI generate stuff these days,” she said.
“VCAT will need to have a very clear process and good explanations for why they make the decisions they do too.
“The first people who do it can expect it to take ages because, like I say, social media companies are not going to battle this voluntarily. It’s going to be a long court battle.”
The State Government will also lower the legal threshold to sue social media and artificial intelligence platforms for negligence causing psychiatric harm to children.
The Premier said the new laws were in the process of being drafted, following consultations of tribunal, courts and other stakeholders.
MS drugs will stay on the PBS. (Ksenia Yakovleva, Unsplash)
L-R: Lauren Sneddon and childhood friend Kane Williams, who ran 100km to raise money for a life-changing treatment in 2022. (Stewart Chambers: 302981)
Inquiry transcript goes public
By Gabriella Vukman
The experiences of injured Victorians who gave evidence to the parliamentary inquiry into the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) on 9 and 10 June are now publicly available, revealing a series of concerns about how the scheme is operating.
The newly released transcripts include testimony from claimants, including residents from the Yarra Ranges, who described lengthy battles over treatment approvals, difficulties accessing medical professionals and the emotional toll of navigating the system while recovering from serious injuries.
Among those calling for change is Millie Parker OAM, who said her experience with TAC had changed her view of an organisation she once strongly supported through her advocacy work.
Parker said she became concerned after an official medical report contained information she believed was inaccurate, including a statement suggesting she was returning to work.
She said she challenged the information because medical records could have significant consequences for future decisions about treatment and support.
“I had been on work cover for ten years due to PTSD,” she said.
“If WorkCover got a hold of that report, that could have been catastrophic for me.”
“It could have suspended my medical treatments or medication.”
Along with establishing that she would be returning to work, other false information in Ms Parker’s TAC medical files allegedly included a statement stipulating that her migraines began before her accident.
“One of my medical referrals that the TAC sent back to me through a Freedom of Information Request said I had pre-existing migraines for 18 years before I fractured my skull in the accident, which would have made me a toddler at three,” she said.
“It just wasn’t true.”
Upon making the complaint to have her medical records changed, Ms Parker said she objected after being characterised as “agitated” for raising concerns about the report.
“They introduced me to a rehabilitation provider as very agitated and in pain,” she said.
“In 34 years as a client I had never made a complaint.”
“I wasn’t agitated, and I am not an agitated person. I was trying to get false content in the medical report changed.”
Ms Parker was also concerned to find a box ticked in her client file classifying her as a ‘sensitive client.’
“In the hearing the TAC senior staff flat out denied that that classification exists.”
“Why would that classification be there if it didn’t mean I would receive different treatment to someone without it?,” she said.
“They publicly called me a liar.”
According to the transcript on the TAC website in response to MP David Limbrick’s statement “Just to be clear then, you are saying that there is no classification that would prioritise or otherwise change the way that clients are managed based on some sort of classification,” CEO of TAC Tracey Slater said “We do not have any classification like that.”
Ms Slater said, “With that said, of course as part of a new client being onboarded to the TAC we will go through a process of having them identify their specific needs or complex rehabilitation needs, so in that assessment of whether someone will benefit from a certain type of case management to support their best outcome we will definitely capture their own feedback about their needs.”
“But no, there is no other classification of ‘sensitive’,” she said.
Ms Parker said she was troubled that the focus became her reaction to the report rather than whether the information itself was accurate.
“Why shouldn’t they want an official medical report that contained false content changed?”
“I had to make an official complaint to change the reports,” she said.
“My doctors and psychiatrist said I needed to get it changed.”
Ms Parker said she did not believe the clinicians involved acted maliciously, but questioned whether reporting templates used within the TAC system could create pressure for inaccurate statements to be recorded.
“Now that the hearing has happened, there needs to be an audit of all the templates,” she said.
“My clinicians say unfortunately the template is written in a way that means they have to write things like saying I am returning to work.”
Ms Parker said she was concerned about the long-term consequences if incorrect information was later relied upon by agencies making decisions about a person’s care.
“It was incredibly dangerous to have that on my file.”
On top of false health records held by the TAC, last year Ms Parker sought Ombudsman intervention to get critical care in the form of a ketamine infusion for her nerve pain.
“I was in so much pain that I was grinding my jaw because I don’t have any other pain relief.”
“I ended up fracturing a molar, and they had to remove it,” she said.
“They delayed the decision of whether or not I should get pain relief for four months.”
Five grand later, now with a false tooth and titanium screw drilled into her jaw, Ms Parker said she thinks the delay in her treatment was a part of a cost-cutting measure.
According to the state’s 2026-27 budget papers, the government will receive a $1.1 billion payment from the TAC in the next financial year on top of other quantities paid out by the TAC over previous years.
“In the last three years the government has taken $3 billion out of the TAC,” she said.
“If you are taking that much money out, there is a flow-on effect operationally within the organisation.”
“If you are taking that much money out, how can it not affect clients on the ground?”
Ms Parker said she received her pain relief almost immediately after contacting the ombudsman.
“The ombudsman saw my case was serious so within a week of getting my complaint, they rang up TAC and the next day TAC approved all outstanding requests that I’d been waiting four months for in pain,” she said.
Ms Parker’s experience reflected broader concerns among injured people that the scheme had become focused on conflict rather than support.
“There is this whole culture of adversarialism like they will fight you for everything,” she said.
“It is an endurance test.”
“They’re going to win every time.”
Ms Parker said she believed the scheme needed a cultural shift back towards genuinely involving injured people in decisions affecting their lives. Having received an Order of Australia Medal for her advocacy work for disability access, Ms Parker said she struggled to reconcile her past support for TAC with her current experiences.
“The TAC that’s on my Order of Australia medal deserves to be there.”
“This one that exists today does not.”
Healesville resident Tamara Tesseyman was among TAC claimants who submitted to the inquiry.
Ms Tesseyman said she had also experienced
lengthy battles over treatment and support following a crash that left both her and her young son with significant injuries.
While her family’s crash and recovery have previously been reported, she said her ongoing experience highlighted broader concerns about treatment approvals and access to services.
Tamara said injured people were often left having to advocate repeatedly for care recommended by their treating professionals.
“We have contacted surgeons for my son, but they have told us they won’t deal with the TAC,” she told Star Mail.
“I know people who have had to buy their own wheelchairs,” she said.
“They started rejecting my treatments at around the three-year mark.”
Ms Tesseyman said delays and disputes over approvals could have serious consequences, particularly for people managing complex injuries and psychological trauma.
She also raised concerns about the effect TAC processes were having on access to medical professionals.
“The TAC requires clinicians to go through regular assessments with the client, far more than what is necessary,” she said
“The clinicians are also not guaranteed to get paid properly, as the TAC pays significantly less than the market rate.”
“If a physiotherapist has a choice between a patient who is going to pay privately, or through the TAC, they will choose the first option every time.”
While the TAC maintains 95.8 per cent of treatment requests are approved, this numeral does not capture delays in approval, nor clients who accepted less, signed away their rights to future treatment.
Ms Tesseyman signed away her rights to future physiotherapy treatment to have the TAC pay for a foot orthosis brace to support her walking.
“With TAC, you can do an internal review of the decision or your lawyers can negotiate with the TAC,” she said.
“I ended up having to sign away my rights to physiotherapy for that injury forever and that is counted as an approval,” she said.
Ms Tesseyman hopes the inquiry would result in meaningful change, including greater involvement from people with lived experience.
“People who have lived experience need to have a voice in the decision-making of how TAC is run and how its policies and procedures work,” she said.
She said reform was needed not just for current claimants, but for future road trauma victims.
“I want those people to be able to have a better life. I want them not to have to fight TAC in the way that all of us are.”
Head of Clients at TAC Kath Gobbi told Star
Mail “We are committed to supporting the recovery and wellbeing of every TAC client, and that means making treatment decisions based on clinical evidence and what will deliver the best long-term outcomes.”
“We have made a range of improvements over the past two years to address the issues raised in the inquiry and we look forward to the committee’s report and recommendations for further improvement,” she told Star Mail.
According to the TAC, clients are currently experiencing improvements from changes introduced through this strategy, including:
- Enhancements to payment processes that have increased first-time payment rates and reduced repeat contact, contributing to an 11 per cent reduction in call volumes
- Significantly improved call responsiveness, with average wait times reducing from 11 minutes to approximately two minutes, reducing delays and improving access to support
- A streamlined Independent Medical Examination (IME) process to accelerate the delivery of benefits and entitlements to injured clients, with the objective of reducing appointment wait times from around 68 days to between 21 and 28 days
- Early adoption of AI tools to improve the quality and consistency of record-keeping, supporting clearer communication and more efficient client follow-up, improving post-call client feedback to an average of 9 out of 10 rating.
In relation to medical providers, the TAC recognises administrative complexity can impact providers and is streamlining billing, payment and approval processes to reduce burden.
This includes improving payment systems, increasing first-time payment rates and reducing repeat contact for providers.
The TAC told Star Mail fee adjustments in allied health are underway to better reflect market conditions and support provider participation.
From 1 February 2026, the TAC’s physiotherapy fees increased significantly, including a 46 per cent increase for initial assessments and a 43 per cent increase for standard consultations.
From 13 April 2026, following consultation with providers and peak bodies, the TAC launched a new occupational therapy service model and related fee updates.
From 1 July 2026, the TAC increased psychology and neuropsychology fees by more than 20 per cent in line with market rates.
Further fee reviews across allied health disciplines – including hand therapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, exercise physiology and speech pathology – are scheduled progressively throughout 2026. TAC clients await the parliamentary committee’s TAC inquiry findings in August.
To view the Inquiry Transcript, head to: www. parliament.vic.gov.au
The verdict of the parliamentary inquiry will be handed down in August. (File: 54676).
Centenarians for a day
By Mikayla van Loon
The halls of Birmingham Primary School were echoing with the sound of walking canes hitting the ground and lots of laughter on Friday 24 July.
100 days of prep has become tradition across primary schools, seeing the youngest cohort celebrate a milestone in their schooling journey.
But this year, it was a joint celebration for the oldest and youngest students at Birmingham.
Missing out on their own 100 days of prep because of the pandemic, the Grade 6s were quick to jump on the opportunity to dress up.
More than half way through their final year of primary school, it was a way of giving the class of 2026 a core memory of their time at Birmingham
Primary School.
Donning their best grandma and grandpa fit, some with their knitting needles in hand and many relying on a walking stick, the Preps and Grade 6s stepped decades into the future.
Knitted shawls, tweed flat caps, slippers, glasses and greying hair wigs and moustaches were among the most popular attire.
Teachers, too, got into the spirit dressing accordingly.
The morning started with photos of each class and some individual portraits, students truly embodying their character for the day.
From there, a range of activities were planned, with the Grade 6s joining the Preps to write about what it will be like at age 100.
Newly merged Rotary club celebrates
By Tanya Steele
Smiles were had all round as two vital volunteer Rotary groups celebrated their new beginnings as the newly merged Rotary Belgrave-Ferntree Gully club the at their first charter night last week.
Two hillside Rotary groups formally celebrated their merger with an official charter celebration on Friday 24 July, joined on the night by fellow Rotarians, community leaders, local businesses and supporters from across the region.
Rotary Belgrave-Ferntree Gully Executive Secretary Stephen Palamara said the merger was based on a shared vision for the future.
“Together we bring more than 136 years of Rotary service to our communities, and this merger positions us to continue that legacy for many years to come,” he said.
The charter celebration marked an important milestone in the history of both clubs and was held at the Hyatt Place Melbourne Caribbean Park and Mr Palamara said there was a wonderful atmosphere on the night.
“The evening reflected everything Rotary stands for - friendship, service and community, “ he said.
Around 100 guests attended the celebration, including Rotary members from clubs across District 9815, past and present leaders, community representatives, family and friends.
The inaugural club President James Gillard welcomed everyone at the event and spoke about the significance of the occasion.
“This merger isn’t about ending two great clubs, it’s about creating one even stronger club for the future,” he said.
The community club merger came into being on 1 July, after a mutual decision saw the members of the Rotary Club of Belgrave and the Rotary Club of Ferntree Gully decide to begin a new chapter together.
Mr Palamara said that like many volunteer organisations, both clubs had experienced changing membership over the years.
“Each still had a strong passion for serving
the community,” he said.
“Rather than continuing separately, we recognised that by combining our strengths, experience and resources we could have an even greater impact.”
Mergers are no new concept across the hills as many community groups have in the past done the same as the Rotary, banding together for greater influence, working together for shared goals.
Mr Palamara said that there was certainly a sense of excitement, along with a little uncertainty, as members embraced change.
“Bringing them together has been about respecting our past while creating something new,” he said.
“The overwhelming feeling has been one of optimism.”
The newly formed Rotary Club of BelgraveFerntree Gully now meets every Wednesday evening at the Ferntree Gully Bowls Club and is already headway into a number of projects from throughout the Dandenong Ranges and Knox areas.
Rotary is a global group and also supports international projects and campaigns, such as eradicating polio worldwide.
The newly combined club will continue its work locally, supporting local schools, youth leadership programs and community organisations and growing their antique and collectible events, along with other fundraising efforts to
give back to charities.
Mr Palamara said combining the clubs has created a larger pool of volunteers, greater expertise and more capacity to undertake meaningful community projects, while still maintaining the fellowship that Rotary is known for.
President Gillard said the evening honoured the remarkable history of both Belgrave and Ferntree Gully Rotary Clubs while embracing new opportunities to serve communities together.
“We have a proud foundation to build on, and the best is still ahead of us,” he said.
Smiles all around as the Belgrave and Ferntree Gully Rotary clubs celebrated their merger on 24 July. (Rotary Club of Belgrave-Ferntree Gully)
Young Rotarians, Alyvia, Jordan and Xavier.
Rotary members Stephen, Carol, Christine and James.
The Grade 6s and Preps celebrated 100 days of prep together on Friday 24 July. (Mikayla van Loon: 567748)The Preps truly got into character. (567748)
Mr Williams’ Grade 6 class didn’t want to miss out on their 100 days opportunity. (567748)
Everyone loved getting into character, bringing props like knitting needles and walking sticks. (567748)
Ms Drew’s prep class donning their best 100 days outfits. (567748)
AI and the Yarra Ranges
By Gabriella Vukman
With a wave of proposed state and federal artificial intelligence reforms, the topic of AI and its role in the nation’s future has become an issue of immense saliency.
The Yarra Ranges is no exception to the impact of these potential reforms.
The Victorian Government has unveiled election commitments aimed at strengthening protections against online harm, workplace surveillance and AI-driven discrimination, while the Federal Government is developing a national framework that would require technology companies to build safety into AI systems and introduce new consumer protections.
Together, the proposals could affect residents, schools, local businesses, community organisations and councils across the Yarra Ranges, where artificial intelligence is already being used to improve planning services, investigate future environmental projects and support critical infrastructure.
As Australia moves towards greater regulation of the rapidly expanding technology, many of the changes being debated are already beginning to play out locally.
While governments debate regulation, artificial intelligence has already been adopted by organisations across the Yarra Ranges.
Yarra Ranges Shire Council has developed a generative AI planning tool to help residents navigate complex planning controls before lodging applications.
Supported through the Victorian Government’s Digital Planning Grants program, the online tool allows residents to describe their project in plain language before being guided through relevant planning requirements.
The council said the technology is intended to improve the quality of planning applications, reduce assessment times and allow planners to spend more time helping residents with more complex enquiries.
The council is also looking to expand its use of AI through its 2025-27 Advocacy Priorities, seeking state and federal funding for a $1.5 million Greenprint project.
The proposal would use AI to create digital maps combining cultural and environmental assets with disaster risk data to help reconnect fragmented habitats, strengthen biodiversity, protect waterways and improve long-term environmental management across the municipality.
Yarra Ranges Council Director of Corporate Services Vincenzo Lombardi said the council supported responsible regulation of AI while continuing to explore opportunities to improve services for the community.
“The biggest benefit we’ve seen from AI is its ability to improve access to information and help people understand complex information more quickly,” he said.
Mr Lombardi said that for residents this meant faster access to information and a smoother experience when interacting with council, including through the new online planning tool, while staff could spend less time on administration and more time delivering services.
“Across all of our services, Council officers remain responsible for decisions, advice and outcomes. AI can assist with accessing or summarising information, but it does not make planning decisions or other statutory decisions on behalf of Council.”
He said community trust remained essential, with the council’s AI governance framework requiring human oversight, testing, monitoring and regular review of AI systems.
“We believe sensible and balanced regulation can help build public confidence while still supporting innovation.”
“Community members should be informed of when AI has been used, what its role has played and how Council ensures there is still human judgement and accountability behind the outcome.”
Mr Lombardi said council welcomed greater accountability through the proposed state and federal reforms and confirmed Yarra Ranges Council does not currently use AI in recruitment.
“Any future use would be carefully considered and subject to appropriate governance, transparency and, most importantly, human oversight.”
He said the council also considered AI’s environmental impacts and only used the technology where it delivered a clear benefit to the
If a platform hurts a child, families should be able to take that company to court.”
organisation or community.
Yarra Valley Water is also investigating how artificial intelligence could improve its operations.
The water authority is developing a proofof-concept system that would use generative AI to analyse data from sensors across its water and sewer network, helping predict infrastructure failures before they occur and allowing maintenance crews to target inspections more efficiently.
A Yarra Valley Water spokesperson said the organisation was taking a cautious approach to AI in its workforce.
“We don’t currently use AI in our recruitment or hiring processes.”
The spokesperson said Yarra Valley Water was exploring where AI could assist in the future but stressed people would remain at the centre of employment decisions.
“As AI continues to evolve, we’re exploring how it could help with administrative tasks and support our recruitment process. Any future use of AI would be carefully considered and used to support, not replace, people.”
“We’re committed to providing a positive and inclusive candidate experience, with people at the centre of every hiring decision.”
Announced on 21 July as part of Labor’s state election campaign, the Victorian Government has promised to introduce what it describes as ‘nation-leading AI laws’ if re-elected in November.
For Yarra Ranges families, the biggest changes would centre on children’s online safety, with the government planning to give the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) new powers to issue “demasking orders.”
These demasking orders would require social media companies to identify anonymous users accused of online vilification.
The Victorian Government also plans to make it easier for families to sue social me-
dia and AI companies where children suffer psychiatric harm, removing the current legal threshold requiring proof of at least 10 per cent permanent impairment before claims can proceed.
In a media release, Premier Jacinta Allen said technology companies needed to take greater responsibility.
“Social media and AI companies design their platforms to be addictive, and our kids are paying the price,” she said.
“If a platform hurts a child, families should be able to take that company to court.”
The Victorian Government has also proposed what it describes as the country’s ‘toughest’ workplace AI and surveillance protections.
Should Labor’s election promise come to fruition, employers would be required to notify staff if workplace surveillance technology is being used, consult workers before introducing or changing monitoring systems, and ensure a human reviews any significant automated decision affecting a worker’s rights.
The proposal would also amend the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent AI from discriminating in recruitment, promotion and pay, while limiting the use of biometric data and AI systems that monitor workers’ movements, emotions or physical characteristics without a legitimate purpose.
At the national level, the Albanese Government is taking a broader approach through the creation of a new Office for AI and proposed a Digital Duty of Care that would require AI companies to build safety measures into their products from the outset.
The proposals announced in mid-July include monitoring AI-driven “retail surveillance pricing” where businesses use customer data to personalise prices, and introducing standards for major AI data centres covering energy use, water consumption and impacts on surrounding communities.
The Office for AI will coordinate these reforms across government while overseeing the development of Australia’s national AI standards.
For many Yarra Ranges residents, the proposed legislation could influence how AI operates across many of the services and businesses they rely on every day, often without them realising it.
A spokesperson from Coles told Star Mail, the supermarket has been using AI across its
national operations for over a decade to forecast customer demand, replenish stock, plan staff rosters, tailor product ranges to local communities, and support both in-store and online operations.
“Coles’ use of AI is managed through a national governance framework, with privacy, security, human oversight and responsibly built into the way we assess and deploy AI-enabled systems,” the spokesperson said.
According to Coles, where AI is used in customer-facing experiences, such as personalised offers, the company focuses on ensuring the experience is useful, relevant and consistent with its privacy obligations.
The company’s approach aligns with several themes emerging in the proposed state and federal reforms, including human oversight, privacy and responsible governance of AI systems.
While much of the debate has focused on online safety and workplace regulation, Star News Group managing director Paul Thomas said another issue remained unresolved: how AI companies use original journalism.
Mr Thomas said the proposed federal Digital Duty of Care and Office for AI were positive steps, but they did not fully address the commercial use of publishers’ work.
“Those reforms are important, particularly around safety and accountability, but they don’t address the fundamental economic question,” Mr Thomas said.
“Governments also need to ensure creators and publishers are fairly compensated when their work is used commercially by AI systems.
“As AI makes it easier to generate convincing text, images and even video, the value of trusted local journalism increases.”
Mr Thomas said while much of the debate had centred on online safety, workplaces and consumer protection, the long-term sustainability of local journalism also needed to remain part of the national AI conversation.
According to Mr Thomas, local newspapers remained essential sources of verified information in regional communities.
“Without journalism, there is no democracy.”
With governments aiming to balance innovation with stronger safeguards, residents and businesses across the Yarra Ranges are likely to see increasing changes to how artificial intelligence is used in workplaces, schools, government services and everyday life.
Australia does not yet have a legal landscape for AI. (Numan, Ali : Unsplash).
CONTAINER CASH BOOST
Boost for fire stations
A new collection service is making it easier for local fire stations and community groups to earn money from Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).
The Bayswater CDS Vic depot, run by Outlook Australia, is offering free pick-ups directly from fire stations and community groups in a boost to local fundraising efforts.
Among the early adopters is the Hoddles Creek CFA network, which covers 10 fire stations. A primary school and nine community groups have also benefitted from the added convenience.
Hoddles Creek CFA Junior Coordinator Kristen Caldwell said the service makes it easier for brigades to participate without placing extra pressure on volunteers.
“Every extra dollar makes a difference for local brigades, but so does every hour of volunteer time. This collection service takes away a lot of the effort involved, making it easier for us to take part in the scheme while spending more time coordinating our volunteers and delivering quality training programs.
“The money we raise helps the brigade run training weekends and camps and buy uniforms — things that parents of juniors would otherwise have to fund.”
Under the initiative, groups still receive the full 10-cent refund per container but without the transport hassle.
The CDS Vic Bayswater depot says the move is about making the scheme more accessible and boosting local impact.
“We know local groups are busy and vol-
unteer time is limited,” a depot spokesperson said.
“By collecting directly, we’re making it easier for volunteers and community organisations to raise funds without added time or effort of transporting containers.”
As the North Zone operator for CDS Vic, Visy continues to support the growth and impact of refund points like the Bayswater depot.
Tim O’Donnell, General Manager Container Deposit Scheme at Visy, said the new service meant more options for people to return their containers.
“The dedication of the Bayswater team is an outstanding example of the positive social impact embedded within Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme. This new service will keep even more valuable materials out of landfill while giving community groups a simple, reliable fundraising stream,” he said.
For local brigades and clubs, that means less time worrying about logistics — and more time focused on serving their communities.
If your organisation would like to arrange a collection service, reach out to Outlook Australia at outlookaust.org.au/contact to find out more.
Volunteers Logan Pelling (Hoddles Creek Junior Fire Brigade) and Chase Pelling (Yarra Junction FireBrigade) collecting drink containers at their local fire station. (Supplied)
YARRA RANGES
Band returns to the stage
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
The much-loved Melbourne ’80s band, The Huxton Creepers will return to the stage at Belgrave’s Sooki Lounge as part of a 40th anniversary celebration of their debut album ‘12 Days to Paris’
The band will bring their national anniversary tour to Sooki Lounge on Friday, 7 August, where they will perform 12 Days to Paris in full - for the first time, alongside fan favourites, new material and classic covers.
For bassist and backing vocalist Matt Eddy, revisiting the album four decades after its release has been a reminder of the strength of the songs that helped define the band’s early years.
“It feels good to be revisiting it this way,” Mr Eddy said.
“Over the last 15 years or so we have played shows here and there, always playing the best live songs from our two albums and EP, but to play each song from that album has reminded us how great the songs are.”
The band’s return comes alongside the release of new single Opposites Attract / Midnight TV, marking their first new music in more than three decades.
Mr Eddy said the opportunity to create new material came naturally while the band was working together again around the 40th anniversary reissue of 12 Days to Paris.
“We’ve been talking about doing new songs for seven or eight years so it wasn’t really a matter of now feeling like the right time so much as the opportunity was there,” he said.
The new songs were written by original members Rob Craw, Arch Law and Mr Eddy himself, with the addition of new guitarist Julian Matthews from The Stems.
Mr Eddy said Julian Matthews had brought new ideas, including riffs and vocal harmonies, to the band.
“When Julian from the Stems then came in on lead guitar, suddenly a new spirit of creative energy came to the fore,” Mr Craw said.
“Jules is a brilliant natural musician and is always overflowing with ideas for little riffs and
Dutch migrant stories forever documented
By Mikayla van Loon
A compilation of over 50 migration stories has culminated in the permanent recording and telling of several Dutch families’ histories in the Yarra Ranges.
The book From the Lowlands to the Ranges –Celebrating Dutch Heritage in the Monbulk District was produced as a companion to an exhibition of the same name, currently showing at the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre.
A joint project between the Monbulk and Lilydale Historical Societies, the book will launch on Sunday 2 August at the Centre.
Receiving a $10,000 grant from the Dutch embassy, alongside local support from Bendigo Bank Monbulk & District Branch and Broersen Bulbs, the original 30 stories presented in the exhibition and a further 25 make up this edition of the book.
“The 55 stories captured are an important chapter of Monbulk’s history, and honour the resilience, determination, and community spirit of families who journeyed from the Netherlands to establish new lives in Australia,” Monbulk Historical Society member Jill A’Vard said.
Having connected with then-Lilydale Historical Society president Maria McCarthy, who had wanted to put on a Dutch migrant exhibition, Ms A’Vard said the opportunity to produce a book finally presented itself.
“For many years, I had been considering putting a book together of the many Dutch families living around Monbulk and Silvan,” Ms A’Vard said.
“I knew what a huge influence they had on these communities, and that it was important to record our history of how the Monbulk area developed over the years and, of course, for the families to have their stories saved for future generations.”
With several people on board from both historical societies, a list of over 100 local Dutch names was compiled.
Gerry and Anne van Horick had already begun collecting stories and found that people were more than willing to share.
The limitations of wall space for the exhibition meant, however, that not all stories could be told in this way.
“Every story deserves to be told but there’s
only so much room on the wall,” Mr van Horick said.
“Some of them wanted their stories told, but they didn’t because we could only have a certain amount of storyboards up for the amount of room that we had, and so we just followed them up,” Ms van Horick said.
Other families left their details at the exhibition launch to be later contacted.
“Knowing that the exhibition would prompt a few more families to share their stories, we decided to wait until after the event before putting the book together. We did the right thing and nearly doubled the number of stories we had,” Ms A’Vard
first show of the tour because the band wanted a venue outside Melbourne’s inner suburbs.
“We’ve heard great things about Sooki and been wanting to play there for years now,” he said.
Mr Craw said the venue also represented a chance to return to the suburban audiences that had supported the band in its early days.
“We always played the burbs in the past in the 80s, not just the hip inner city gigs,” he said.
“I love how Sooki brings an opportunity for us suburban bred music lovers to go local or near by.”
The Huxton Creepers first emerged in Melbourne’s pub rock scene during the 1980s, building a following with their guitar-driven sound and melodic songwriting.
The band’s debut album, ‘12 Days to Paris’ featured tracks including “My Cherie Amour” , “I Will Persuade You”, “Autumn Leaves” , “King of the Road” and “Don’t Even Think About It”
Mr Eddy said the album’s connection with fans has remained clear as the band prepares to perform it live in full.
“I know a lot of people who grew up seeing us and they are very fond of the album, so it’s a great thing to do,” he said.
Alongside the anniversary performances, the band is embracing a new chapter with fresh music and a new lineup.
Mr Craw said the new songs still carry the familiar Huxton Creepers sound.
“My family and friends tell me ‘yep, the new stuff, it’s got that Creepers thang going on, power guitar riffs and melody, 60s tinged’,” he said.
For Mr Eddy, the combination of old favourites and new songs has worked better than expected.
“We are pleased to say the new songs stand up really well next to the old songs,” he said.
The band is also looking forward to the atmosphere of playing a smaller venue, where the connection between performers and audience is closer.
Mr Craw said that interaction with fans remains one of the best parts of performing.
“Nothing better than a close connection to audience - we love to banter with them,” he said.
“Once this generation leaves us, or passes away, then their children don’t know anything about their parents’ migration,” Ms van Horick added.
Both Ms A’Vard and Ms van Horick said the willingness of people to share their stories was overwhelming.
“What I experienced was people were very open. I think they thought we were going to write the stories, but I said to them, ‘we didn’t experience your migration, so you’ve got to write them’,” Ms van Horick said.
“You learned a lot more about people’s backgrounds and different things and hardships that they had.”
“Chatting with the Dutch families has been an absolute pleasure for me. Everyone was so willing to share their photographs and personal stories, many first-hand, as they had migrated with their parents when quite young. I thank each of these families for their contributions,” Ms A’Vard said.
said.
Mr van Horick said the exhibition launch day saw an estimated 700 people walk through the door, several with multiple generations in tow.
“One thing about the exhibition, I saw some people who had their parents on the wall, so the kids are reading it, but the kids are taking their kids, and in cases, their kids,” he said.
“So there were all these generations watching and reading the stories of their grandparents and great-grandparents.
“Because as time marches on, grandkids don’t meet their great-grandparents, and the stories don’t get passed on.”
With the help of project committee member Mary Gibson, Ms A’Vard had the task of editing and bringing the stories together for the book.
The launch of the book will be conducted by Michael Gijsberts RON, from The Netherlands Society, who was named Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau for his service to the Dutch migrant community in Victoria.
Books will be available for purchase on the launch day and then from 3 August at the Yarra Ranges Council front desk in the Monbulk
ing & Learning Centre, Bendigo Bank Monbulk & District Branch or through Monbulk Historical Society.
vocal harmonies that nobody else thinks of,” Mr Eddy said.
The Sooki Lounge show will be the band’s first
time playing the Belgrave venue, a location the band has been keen to visit.
Mr Eddy said Sooki Lounge was chosen as the
L-R: Julian Matthews, Matt Eddy (back), Rob Craw (front) and Arch Law. (Supplied)
Liv-
Monbulk Historical Society’s Jill A’Vard with the book From the Lowlands to the Ranges. (Supplied)
Lilydale and Monbulk Historical Society members Gerry van Horick, Mary Gibson, Helen Darvell, Karin Seamer, Anne van Horick, Maria McCarthy and Jill A’Vard, with Michael Gijsberts (second left). (Mikayla van Loon: 546332)
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
All Abilities Tennis success
Ferntree Gully Tennis Club’s All Abilities Program is emerging as one of Melbourne’s most soughtafter inclusive sporting pathways, with families travelling from across the city each week to take part in the club’s sessions.
Now in its fourth year, the program has expanded well beyond its local catchment, attracting participants from Pakenham, Glen Waverley and surrounding suburbs. Many families are travelling significant distances due to the limited availability of inclusive tennis programs in their own communities, highlighting both the unmet demand for accessible sport and Ferntree Gully Tennis Club’s growing reputation as a leader in inclusive participation.
The club recently celebrated the end of the season with its All Abilities Presentation Night, bringing together players, families, coaches and volunteers to recognise achievement, confidence and connection. The program has become a vital pathway for people with disability, offering structured coaching, social belonging and a welcoming environment that families say is difficult to find elsewhere.
The initiative is supported through Community Bank Ferntree Gully’s Community Grants Program. As the first Community Bank in Knox, the branch is celebrating 25 years of local operation and more than $6 million reinvested back into the community - investment that helps keep the All Abilities Program accessible, sustainable and responsive to local families.
To further strengthen accessibility, the club’s coaching team recently completed an AUSLAN Workshop for community sport, equipping them with additional communication tools to better support Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants. The training expands the program’s capacity and reinforces the club’s commitment to inclusive practice on and off the court.
Etienne Clauw, Chair of Community Bank Ferntree Gully said they’re incredibly proud to
support a program that gives every player the chance to belong, grow and shine.
“As we celebrate 25 years and more than $6 million reinvested locally, this is exactly what community banking is about when people choose to bank locally, they make programs like
this possible,” she said.
Ferntree Gully Tennis Club president Paul Proctor said the All Abilities players bring so much joy, energy and heart to the club.
“Seeing families travel from across the region shows how important this program is,” he
said. “With the support of Community Bank Ferntree Gully and the local people who choose to bank with them, we can keep expanding our offering so every participant feels seen, supported and celebrated.”
The Ferntree Gully Tennis Club’s All Abilities program continues to grow with the held of the Ferntree Gully Bendigo Bank. (Supplied)
Young environmentalists got their hands dirty at Emerald Library on 6 July during the “Worms, Waste and Earth’s Treasures“ school holiday program. The free interactive session introduced children to composting, recycling and the vital role worms play in healthy ecosystems through fun, hands-on activities. Participants discovered how food scraps can be transformed into nutrient-rich compost and explored practical ways to reduce household waste. The program encouraged children to develop sustainable habits from a young age, showing how simple everyday actions can help protect the environment.
Kids dig into sustainability
A place where one conversation can change a life
By Mikayla van Loon
Bringing services, resources and community where people are is exactly the philosophy of the Disability Events Community (DEC) to ensure regional and outer-metro areas are supported.
Early next month, DEC returns to the outer east to bring the Melbourne East Disability Expo to Croydon on Thursday 6 August.
The free-to-attend event will showcase a range of local and statewide providers, from allied health, support coordination and assistive technology to community programs and more.
Community engagement specialist Micharla Russell said the events, which started in WA, give people exposure to local services and help fill knowledge gaps.
“A postcode doesn’t define the information that you should be able to access accessibly,” she said.
“We’re also trying to curb social isolation that happens in these more regional and even remote areas that we’re starting to go to as well.
“So ensuring that people feel supported not
only with services, information, and support, but also the community themselves.”
Ms Russell said the tangible element of being able to see and perhaps touch the equipment before purchasing, or speaking with someone directly, makes a huge difference when navigating the disability sector.
“You don’t know what you’re looking for if you don’t know what you’re looking for,” she said.
“When you think about some of the hurdles that people do face, particularly disability, there could be sight or hearing mobilities that are happening that make it a bit tricky to navigate. There are other hurdles that people are facing.
“So we try and combat that by having this available, including the services that they might not normally get to speak to face to face.”
Plan managers, the NDIA, government agencies and advocates will be in attendance. Ms Russell said for individuals or someone with a loved one on the NDIS, it might be an opportunity to relieve some uncertainty and talk with a representative.
Ms Russell said the entire community is invited to attend, whether a volunteer-based community group, someone on the hunt for a job or just a curious resident.
“The bigger picture of this is for the whole community to come together to break down those silos, to be together in the community, supporting your local and not having people with disability feel like they have to be in one area and the rest of the community has to be in a different area.”
Although they may not know exactly the conversations that might happen throughout the day, Ms Russell said, “one curious conversation could change someone’s life”.
A story from a recent Sunshine Coast expo remains at the forefront of Ms Russell’s mind, where one question did in fact change someone’s life.
She stood at the exit, thanking people as they left, and happened to ask a father and son if they found everything they were looking for.
The dad responded that he had hoped to find a job for his son, who had just finished high school and wanted to work as an orderly.
“I was able to take him directly over to the Sunshine Coast Hospital that happened to have a table at our event, and introduce him directly to the teams so they could put him in touch with their employment team and the supported employment as well.
“He came out and was just like, ‘you’ve changed my life’
“This is why I absolutely love, love, love what we do. One conversation, we don’t know the impact that that’s going to have.”
The expo will be held at the Dorest Gardens Hotel. It is close to public transport, is accessible and has extensive parking.
Doors open at 10am, with the final hour from 12pm to 1pm a dedicated quiet hour to ensure people who may need sensory adjustments can still attend.
To find out more, visit: events.humanitix. com/melbourne-east-community-disabilityexpo-2026
For more information on becoming a stallholder at a future event, contact micharla@ thedec.com.au or visit thedec.com.au
Lachlan. (Stewart Chambers)
Ava.
Rosie.
Barry. Miranda from the Gould League with a toy worm.
Cure to over optimisation
By Maria Millers
Our days have become increasingly organised around optimisation.
We count steps, monitor sleep, schedule exercises and work and squeeze efficiency from every spare minute. We live in a culture that encourages us to look for bigger solutions, better systems and more sophisticated ways of improving ourselves.
Even leisure is often expected to be productive and even relaxation becomes something more to perfect rather than enjoy.
Stress often accumulates from the hundreds of tiny demands: unanswered emails, constant notifications, crowded calendars, family pressures and the expectation that we should always be available. We are often left fragmented and looking for help.
And we turn to the burgeoning wellness industry but which also promotes achievement goals
Yet some of the things that support our wellbeing most effectively remain stubbornly ordinary. They are difficult to measure, impossible to optimise and unlikely to generate impressive statistics.
Participating in seemingly unproductive pleasures such as doing jobs around the house or garden, tinkering, reading, observing nature or simply daydreaming is regarded not only unproductive but even eccentric.
The truth is however, that pottering can be deeply satisfying and also productive.
Google’s Oxford Languages defines pottering as occupying oneself in a desultory but pleasant way—desultory meaning without plan or purpose.
The word itself carries faint disapproval, as if aimlessness were a character flaw. Its synonyms—dawdling, frittering, loitering—sound like accusations.
The simple practice of pottering has no purpose and that’s precisely the point. To potter is to move through your day without an agenda.
Perhaps wandering the garden with a mug of tea or coffee, rearranging books on a shelf for no reason and suddenly finding yourself reading a favourite poem you’ve not read in ages. Just doing small aimless things. No goals. No metrics. No outcome to be measured.
It’s the opposite of everything we’ve been trained to value, so it can be an act of rebellion, but it can be one of personal salvation.
Pottering suggests a leisurely, contented pace—doing little jobs simply because you enjoy them, conveying the pleasant idea of being quietly occupied with small, unpressured tasks rather
than working toward a specific objective.
In his poem Leisure, W H Davies argues that a life spent rushing misses the richness that’s available in everyday moments.
It’s less about laziness than about making space for noticing.
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare
Often sadly the hardest thing is tolerating the guilt of doing nothing. We’ve internalised the message so deeply that doing nothing feels like failing.
But pottering also resembles what psychologists call intrinsic motivation: doing something because the activity itself is enjoyable, not because it produces a measurable outcome or external reward. That stands in contrast to a culture that often evaluates activities by their productivity.
So when you’re absorbed in small, low-pressure tasks—watering plants, tidying a shelf, mending something, making tea—your mind often settles into a state that’s neither intensely focused nor completely idle.
Research on attention suggests that these gentler activities can allow the brain to recover from sustained mental effort, while reducing the constant sense of urgency that many people experience.
This may explain why some of our best ideas come to us when we are least expecting them and when we are away from desks and devices: whether in the smallest room in the house or in the shower or raking the leaves or hanging out the washing.
But an afternoon of pottering will never appear on a productivity report. There is no score to compare and no achievement unlocked.
Perhaps that is exactly why it matters.
Pottering is finding contentment. Not just in ordinary everyday activities but also in pausing from working to nurture friendship and human connection, as in Robert Frost’s A Time to Talk:
When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk, I don’t stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven’t hoed, And shout from where I am, “What is it?”
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground, Blade-end up and five feet tall, And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.
So pottering quietly challenges the assumption that every moment should be optimised. It suggests that a meaningful life isn’t built only from major achievements but also from caring for everyday things, noticing beauty, and allowing time for activities that don’t need justification.
The important things in life are in front of us every day: simple, awesome, little and fulfilling things waiting for us to look at them.
So rather than asking what did you accomplish today? Maybe we could ask, what did you notice today?
Billy Collins is perhaps the poet of pleasant pottering.
Many of his poems wander through ordinary mornings, cups of tea, bookshelves, gardens, and quiet domestic moments without needing dramatic conclusions.
Poems may begin with making coffee, reading, sitting at a table, or watching the morning unfold.
The pleasure comes from his curiosity about ordinary life.
As in Morning where, obviously a morning person, he asks: Why do we bother with the rest of the day? And proceeds to tell us how fortified with an expresso and a palmful of vitamins he prepares for the day, aware of the beauty of nature outside his windows.
dictionary and atlas open on the rug, the typewriter waiting for the key of the head, a cello on the radio,
and, if necessary, the windows— trees fifty, a hundred years old out there, heavy clouds on the way and the lawn steaming like a horse in the early morning.
Sometimes the objects that surround us in our homes are left unappreciated in how they affect our lives.
Patricia Schneider’s The Patience of Ordinary Things is almost a manifesto for everyday contentment. It suggests that ordinary objects quietly hold the world together while we hurry past them:
I’ve been thinking about the patience
Of ordinary things, how clothes Wait respectfully in closets
And soap dries quietly in the dish, And towels drink the wet
From the skin of the back.
And the lovely repetition of stairs. And what is more generous than a window. But it’s also the domestic, the everyday mundane that can be a source of enjoyment for days of pottering.
Jane Kenyon’s poems find dignity in washing dishes, gardening, folding laundry, and simply living through the day.
She makes the domestic feel profound without exaggerating it. And in In and Out dog lovers would respond to the comforting therapeutic ministering by a pet dog aware of her needing comfort.
In and Out
The dog searches until he finds me Upstairs, lies down with a clatter of elbows, puts his head on my foot. Sometimes the sound of his breathing saves my life—in and out in. Pottering might remind you of something you’ve forgotten: that you’re not a machine to be optimised, that your worth is not measured in output and that sometimes the most radical thing you can do is wander into the garden with a cup of tea and do absolutely nothing at all.
Big News from Woorilla
To celebrate Poetry Month, Woorilla Poetry Prize invites you to our first-ever Ekphrastic Poetry event.
Join poet John Sheills in conversation with Maria Millers from Woorilla as they explore the rich and fascinating tradition of the ekphrastic poem—poetry inspired by visual art—and unveil an exciting new category for the Woorilla Poetry Prize 2027. Registration is free. It takes place on Sunday 2 August at 2pm at the Gemco Theatre, Emerald.
Last days to donate essential tinned food to those in need
Knox City Council is encouraging residents to donate essential tinned food as its winter food drive enters its final days, with the appeal closing on Friday, 31 July.
More than 600 tins have already been donated by the community, with the first collection delivered to outer east Foodshare, which will distribute the food to relief agencies across Knox.
Council said food relief providers were increasingly seeing demand shift from shortterm emergency assistance to ongoing support, with food relief now becoming a way of life for many residents.
The appeal is seeking donations of tinned soup, tuna, fruit, tomatoes, tomato paste, spaghetti and mixed vegetables to help stock local food relief services.
Donations can be dropped off at the Knox City Council Civic Centre in Wantirna South, Rowville Community Centre, Knox Regional Netball Centre in Ferntree Gully, Bayswater Library, Boronia Library, Ferntree Gully Library and Community Centre, Knox Library – Ngarrgoo at Westfield Knox, and Rowville Library.
Every donated tin would help Knox residents access nutritious food while supporting local emergency relief providers.
Alongside the food drive, Knox Council supports emergency food relief services through funding programs, reduced-rate facility leases and ongoing collaboration with the Knox Emergency Relief Network and Food Relief Taskforce.
Residents requiring food or other emergency relief can access assistance through community and welfare service providers, while further information about the food drive is available by contacting the community strengthening team at communitystrengthening@knox.vic.gov.au.
Taking time to slow down can have many benefits for one’s wellbeing. (Thomas Park/Unsplash)
150 years of courthouse
By Joy Gothe
What do horse thieves, illegal gamblers and a foulmouthed magpie have in common? They have all appeared at Lilydale’s old courthouse, which this year celebrates its 150th birthday.
When the courthouse opened in 1876, Lilydale marked Melbourne’s wild eastern edge. Bushmen, farmers, new settlers and gold prospectors on their way to Woods Point all crossed paths here, and the courtroom became the stage where the district’s most colourful stories unfolded.
ThedayswhentheCourtwasinsessionwasthe social media of their day. There were no phones or Facebook, so locals wandered past to see who was waiting outside before eagerly sharing the latest gossip. Drunken brawls, horse theft, school truancy, wandering livestock and neighbourhood squabbles kept the magistrates busy and gave everyone else something to talk about.
The courthouse certainly saw its share of colourful characters and one case that has become pure Lilydale legend belongs to Jack Dallas’s pet magpie, “Gentle Maggie”. She had mastered some remarkably colourful swearing and offended so many respectable citizens that the bird was summoned before the court for using obscene language. Faced with a legal system that hadn’t anticipated criminal magpies, the Magistrate sentenced poor Gentle Maggie to immediate execution. Whether fact or folklore the story has been retold around Lilydale for generations.
The1940salsosaw,membersofthe local“Bull-
The 1812 Theatre
Treasure Island
Brave yourselves for Adventure on the high seas.
The 1812 Theatre is gearing up to unleash a storm of swashbuckling chaos with Ken Ludwig’s theatrical adaptation of Treasure Island, directed by Erin O’Hare.
This isn’t your quiet dusty classic. This is Treasure Island at full throttle – packed with Ludwig’s trademark rapid fire humour, razor sharp dialogue, and the kind of theatrical spectacle that keeps you gripping the edge of your seat.
Follow Hawkins as he’s hurled into world of pirates, peril, and pulse-pounding twists, Long John Silver schemes in the shadows, tempers flare, swords clash, and the story races toward with the speed of a cannon blast.
It’s bold, it’s boisterous, it’s burning with wit. And it transforms the stage into high stakes, high energy adventure you won’t want to miss.
frog Gang” appearing before the Magistrate for running illegal Two-Up games behind the Olinda Hotel.
For well over a century, the courthouse heard Petty Sessions, Magistrates’ Court and Children’s Court matters until it finally closed in September 2000. In the same year the Lilydale Primary School moved in with their music and arts classes, but unfortunately a fire at the rear of the building rendered it unusable just weeks later.
Fortunately, the story didn’t end there. The Shire of Yarra Ranges purchased and renovated the building in 2005, it briefly served as a temporary Museum before a dedicated campaign. by determined local volunteers secured it for their purpose, and in 2011 the Lilydale & District Historical Society became the lead tenant, sharing the building with Yarra Ranges U3A.
Recognised by the National Trust in 1970 and added to the Register of the National Estate in 1978, the courthouse remains one of Lilydale’s most treasured landmarks and is no longer regarded as just a relic of the past. It now seems only fitting that the district’s oldest Historical Society calls the region’s oldest civic building home — where 150 years of justice, drama, gossip and yes, maybe even the occasional bad-tempered bird continue to keep Lilydale’s history very much alive.
If you are interested in discovering more stories about the history of Lilydale visit our Website at lilydalehistorical.com.au or think about becoming a volunteer.
Join us for a warm and elegant evening with Australian singer-songwriter Lior.
Burrinja is looking forward to welcoming Lior back for his special one-off performance, where he is joined by a string quartet to share imagined selections from his celebrated back catalogue.
• Season: Friday, 24 July at 8pm.
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
A Musical comedy
Laurence Jameson makes his living by taking rich ladies out of their money. Teddy Benson swindles women with fabricated stories about his grandmother’s failing health. After meeting on a train,
Farm Animals could make a better movie...
Animal Farm and Citizen Vigilante PG/Unclassified 2.5/5, 1.5/5
Last week, I reviewed one of the best films of the year so far (The Odyssey), and now we’re looking at the two worst films of the year.
Directed by Gollum himself Andy Serkis, Animal Farm is a loud, obnoxious children’s movie with decent animation and some cute or funny moments (Gaten Matarazzo is sweet as the new protagonist Lucky), but more importantly it’s a desecration of George Orwell’s 1945 novel. Serkis’s Animal Farm races through the plot, neuters much of the drama and obfuscates the commentary with a new corporate antagonist, when the novel was always about communism. Animal Farm is Orwell’s allegorical condemnation of Stalinism, and while the porcine Stalin stand-in Napoleon (here voiced by Seth Rogen) is still the main villain, making him a funny badboy kiddies will want to quote is a mindbogglingly terrible choice.
If Animal Farm is an extremely poorlyjudged adaptation, Citizen Vigilante is both offensive and incompetent.
Citizen Vigilante is the latest film from Uwe Boll, a German filmmaker infamous for a slew of terrible movies based on video games, exploiting a tax loophole to profit off
CARTOON
his flops and coming to literal blows with his harshest critics.
Citizen Vigilante was widely condemned as virulent anti-immigration propaganda, but it’s also a boring, badly-made movie. The film suffers from listless pacing, scatterbrained editing, flat camerawork and bland, fleeting action, and several scenes intended to ramp up tension turn out almost laughably monotonous. Armie Hammer is intense as the title vigilante Michael Sanders, a lowrent Punisher crossed with Patrick Bateman, but he has so little to do until he indefensibly murders an entire family in the third act.
Animal Farm has a limited Australian cinema release and Citizen Vigilante is floating around online, but I would avoid both like the plague.
- Seth Lukas Hynes
they attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn’t big enough for the two of them.
They agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female heiress, Christine Vogate, wins, and the other must leave town.
A hilarious battle of the conmen ensues… and with music.
• Season: 10 - 25 September. The Round Arterial
Arterial is a moving acrobatic performance linking people, Country and culture, where unseen bonds between the body and the land become beautifully.
This award-winning Na Djinang Circus performance explores the ancient connections tying First Nations peoples together, strong through bloodlines but irreparably damaged through colonisation.
Four performers connect with each other physically and spiritually in a display of breathtaking acrobatics with striking visual techniques
and a score by avant-garde sound designer Danni Esposito.
Arterial will excite and move you as the performers celebrate what it means to be First Peoples- the lifeblood of this country, the land and its beating heart.
• Season: Saturday 25 July at 8pm.
Karralyka Theatre
Tell Mama! Karise Eden sings Janis Joplin
Shooting to fame at just 19 with her unforgettable viral audition on The Voice Australia, Karise went on to win the very first season and has become one of the country’s most distinctive voices, earning two ARIA Awards, gold and platinum records and multiple Top 5 chart positions.
After a raving debut at Memo Music Hall in 2026, Karise returns to the stage by popular demand, bringing her Janis-inspired Aniss songbook to Karralyka in 2026.
A powerhouse vocalist often compared to Adele and Amy Whitehouse, she can blow your mind one minute with her raw intensity and move you the next with her soulful vulnerability.
• Season: Friday 7 August at 8.30pm.
Lilydale and District Historical Society members, Lorraine Smith, Joy Gothe, Sue Thompson and Philip Burton, at the Old Lilydale Courthouse in 2016. (149156)
CONVENIENCE MEETS LOCAL IMPACT
Link surpasses expectations
Bendigo Bank is celebrating an encouraging milestone for its newly launched in-app feature, Community Link, which has successfully bridged the Bank’s digital onboarding experience with its longstanding community focus.
Since its launch in April, 1029 new-to-bank customers have utilised the Community Link feature to join the bank digitally in minutes while proudly nominating a local physical branch as their home branch.
Highlighting the appeal of Bendigo Bank’s unique community bank model, 70 per cent of these new customers have chosen a Community Bank as their home branch, ensuring that their banking supports community strengthening initiatives with more than 9000 projects funded in financial year 2025.
General Manager of Retail Banking at Bendigo Bank, Dennis Teale, said the rapid uptake of Community Link demonstrates a strong customer appetite for modern, purpose-driven banking.
“Reaching over 1,000 Community Link registrations so quickly shows that even when customers want the convenience of a rapid digital sign-up, they still deeply value their local communities,” Mr Teale said.
“The fact that 70 per cent of these new customers have actively chosen to support a Community Bank proves our unique model continues to resonate strongly. By allowing customers to choose their local branch, we are making our societal impact tangible from their very first interaction.
“Community Link was designed to give new customers the best of both worlds, a modern, trusted, and seamless digital onboarding journey, combined with the immediate sense of belonging to a local branch, and it’s been encouraging to see how popular it has been.”
Community Bank Upwey and District is currently leading the way for Community Link signups with senior Branch Manager Cheryl Gaston highlighting how the new customers who selected Upwey as their home branch are already driving
real change locally.
“It’s fantastic to see our digital onboarding process connect new customers with our local physical branch,” Ms Gaston said.
“Every new customer helps strengthen our ability to support the local community, allowing
us to continue investing in local initiatives such as our recent $100,000 contribution to the Foothills Community Care kitchen project, funding a new canoe trailer for the Selby Scout Group, our $10,000 contribution to the Upwey Tecoma Junior Football Club’s goal-netting project, and our on-
going partnership with clubs such as South Belgrave Football Netball Club.
“It’s exciting to see how the digital onboarding process can strengthen these connections by introducing new customers to their local Community Bank branch and be part of the important role
Cheryl Gaston and Upwey-Tecoma junior footballers. (Supplied)
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
ACROSS
1 Drench (4)
3 Whatever the risks may be (2,3,5)
10 Dabbler (7)
11 Worry (7)
12 Aesthetically pleasing (8)
13 Inexpensive (5)
14 Writer of verse (4)
15 Optical instrument (10)
18 US motorway system (10)
20 Domestic animals (4)
21 Educate (5)
23 Speed (8)
26 Permitted (7)
27 Word made from the letters of another (7)
28 Cut off from the sea (10)
29 Shoot (4)
DOWN
1 Graceful bird (4)
2 Awe (9)
4 Person who uses violence for political aims (9)
5 Overdrafts (5)
6 Options (7)
7 Show amusement (5)
8 Suffering from insomnia (9)
9 Tidings (4)
14 Colourful team shooting sport (9)
16 Make reprisals (9)
17 Removed from power (9)
19 Act of refreshing (7)
22 UK singer Lily – (5)
23 Early form of Sanskrit (5)
24 Cousin of the oyster (4)
25 Self-satisfied (4)
3
A LANDMARK LIFESTYLE ESTATE
A LANDMARK LIFESTYLE ESTATE OF GRAND SCALE AND PRESTIGE ON 11 ACRES
SET across an extraordinary 11-acre estate, this magnificent American Ranch-inspired residence delivers an exceptional blend of timeless elegance, outstanding craftsmanship and resort-style living. Privately positioned behind impressive stone and wrought iron entrance gates, a sweeping, circular sealed driveway winds through impeccably landscaped gardens, where a striking three-tiered fountain creates an unforgettable arrival.
Beyond the grand foyer, the home reveals an impressive floorplan designed for both luxurious family living and spectacular entertaining. The gourmet kitchen is beautifully appointed with granite benchtops, premium cabinetry with glass display cupboards, and a fully equipped walk-in pantry. Formal and informal dining areas flow effortlessly from the kitchen, while a private theatre room or formal lounge provides a refined space to unwind.
A breathtaking staircase forms the centrepiece of the home, overlooking expansive open-plan living spaces. Towering ceilings with exposed timber beams enhance the sense of scale, while the impressive family and games room is anchored by a magnificent stone fireplace. A fully plumbed bar, adjoining powder room, dedicated home office and wine cellar further elevate the home’s entertaining credentials.
Upstairs, four oversized bedrooms provide luxurious accommodation, highlighted by an indulgent main suite complete with a spacious walk-in robe and an elegant ensuite. The remaining bedrooms feature built-in robes and are serviced by a beautifully appointed family bathroom.
Throughout the home, quality is evident at every turn, with polished hardwood floors, double-glazed windows, hydronic gas heating, split system heating and cooling, ducted vacuum and premium finishes showcasing an uncompromising commitment to excellence. Outside, the estate continues to impress with a substantial 25m x 10m shed incorporating 2 rooms, a workshop space, high bay access and a loft-style apartment, ideal for extended family, guest accommodation or a premium work-from-home space. A large barn, woodshed, expansive water storage, fenced paddocks and a picturesque dam complete with water lilies, a timber bridge, a built in BBQ and a charming rotunda complete this idyllic country setting.
Offering the ultimate balance of luxury, privacy and lifestyle across 11 magnificent acres, this is a landmark property of exceptional calibre. Rarely does a residence of this scale, presence and quality become available, presenting an extraordinary opportunity to secure one of the region’s finest lifestyle estates.
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. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS
SPACIOUS FAMILY LIVING IN A PRIME SETTING
SET on a beautifully level 924m² (approx.) allotment in one of Monbulk’s most sought after locations, this inviting family home delivers the perfect combination of space, comfort and convenience, just moments from the township’s schools, cafes, shops, parks and all the amenities that make Monbulk such a wonderful place to call home.
Designed with effortless family living in mind, the home offers four generous bedrooms and a spacious, well appointed kitchen that forms the heart of the home. The light filled living and dining spaces flow seamlessly through striking bi-fold doors to an expansive outdoor entertaining area, creating the ideal setting for weekend barbecues, family celebrations or simply relaxing while enjoying the peaceful surrounds.
The generous, sun drenched backyard provides endless space for children and pets to play, while established vegetable gardens offer the opportunity to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. A single garage with adjoining workshop adds valuable flexibility for tradies, hobbyists or those requiring additional storage.
Comfort is assured throughout the seasons with ducted heating complemented by a split system heating and cooling unit, ensuring a comfortable environment all year round.
Whether you’re searching for your forever family home, a smart investment or the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of, this outstanding property delivers exceptional value in an unbeatable location.
Property Highlights:
• Flat, sunny 924m² (approx.) allotment
• Four spacious bedrooms
• Large family kitchen overlooking the living and dining areas
Bi-fold doors opening to a superb outdoor entertaining space
• Single garage with adjoining workshop
• Established vegetable gardens
• Ducted heating throughout plus split system heating and cooling
Outstanding location within easy walking distance of Monbulk’s shops, cafes, schools and public transport
A home that offers space to grow, room to entertain and a location to love, this is an exceptional opportunity not to be missed. ●
SPACIOUS AND CONVENIENT LIVING
WHETHER you’re stepping into the market for the first time, upgrading your lifestyle or searching for a smart investment, this stylish three bedroom home delivers the perfect blend of comfort, space and low maintenance living.
Privately positioned in a quiet complex of just four, this light filled home stands out with its open plan design, generous courtyard and covered alfresco area that is ideal for weekend BBQs, entertaining friends or simply unwinding outdoors.
The modern kitchen features stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher, and plenty of bench and cupboard space, flowing effortlessly into the spacious living and dining areas for easy everyday living.
All three bedrooms are generously sized, with the main bedroom enjoying convenient access to the two way bathroom complete with both a bath and separate shower plus toilet. There is also a second toilet, separate to the bathroom for added privacy and convenience. A split system plus ducted heating throughout keeps the home comfortable year round, while the remote double garage with internal access and a spacious laundry add extra practicality to busy lifestyles.
Set within a quiet, well maintained complex, you’ll love the convenience of having Kent Park Primary School, R.D. Egan Lee Reserve, Knoxfield Shops, cafes, restaurants and takeaway options all just moments away.
Move straight in, make it your own, and enjoy the easy lifestyle this fantastic home has to offer. ●
FAMILY SPACE, WALKTOTOWN CONVENIENCE
POSITIONED on a fully fenced 976sqm in Cockatoo, this spacious four-bedroom, twobathroom home offers generous family living just an easy walk from the township, schools and public transport.
Stepping inside, you’re welcomed into a comfortable carpeted lounge featuring a split system and a built-in bar, creating a great space to relax or entertain. Flowing through to the second living area, large windows invite an abundance of natural light while sliding doors provide seamless access to the undercover entertaining area.
The well-appointed kitchen and dining space features floating floors, stone benchtops, a gas cooktop, electric oven, dishwasher, powered pantry and excellent storage, making everyday living effortless. Gas ducted heating, ducted vacuuming and a practical floorplan add further comfort and convenience throughout the home.
Privately positioned at the front of the home, the main bedroom includes a walk-in robe and ensuite. Three additional bedrooms, each with built-in robes, are serviced by a central family bathroom, while the laundry and separate powder room can both be accessed directly from the undercover entertaining area, ideal for busy family life or outdoor gatherings. Outside, the secure backyard provides plenty of room for children and pets, with exceptional vehicle accommodation and storage including a 4m x 8m garage with concrete floor and power, a 5m x 6.2m carport, an additional 4m x 8m carport, two garden sheds and plenty of off-street parking for cars, trailers, caravans or recreational vehicles. Completing this impressive package are a 6.5kW solar system,13.5kW battery, generator switch and water tanks, delivering practicality and efficiency for years to come.
Offering space, functionality and an unbeatable location close to everyday amenities, this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy relaxed Hills living.This property has it all so don’t miss out - call to arrange a private inspection today.
Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●
IT’S not often a home comes along that offers the best of both worlds — a beautifully finished, modern residence paired with a genuinely usable 3,321sqm (approx.) block in one of the hills’ most peaceful settings.
Tucked away in a quiet no-through road, this exceptional property delivers the space, privacy, and lifestyle that so many buyers dream of, without the compromise of an outdated home.
Only three years old, this thoughtfully designed residence feels like a true escape from the everyday. From the moment you step inside, polished concrete floors, soaring high ceilings, and an abundance of natural light create an immediate sense of quality and sophistication.
Designed for families who love to live, entertain, and unwind, the home offers an impressive three separate living areas plus a dedicated multi-purpose room and study. Whether it’s movie nights, a quiet workspace, a kids’ retreat, or entertaining guests, there is a space for every occasion.
The heart of the home is undeniably the designer kitchen — a statement piece featuring an oversized Caesarstone island bench, butler’s pantry, and premium 900mm oven. Flowing effortlessly into the open-plan living and dining zone, the home extends outdoors to the expansive undercover deck, creating the perfect setting for relaxed gatherings surrounded by the tranquillity of the hills.
Accommodation is equally impressive, with four generous bedrooms including a privately positioned master suite complete with a luxurious ensuite featuring double vanity, oversized shower, and quality finishes. A stylish central bathroom services the remaining bedrooms, ensuring comfort for the entire family.
Beyond the home, the property truly sets itself apart. A flat, usable block of this size with a near-new residence is an incredibly rare offering in the hills. With ample parking, a remote double garage, solar-boosted hot water system, and plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors, this is a property designed to grow with you.
Enjoy the serenity of a quiet location while being moments from the natural beauty of Emerald Lake Park and everything the surrounding hills lifestyle has to offer.
A home of this calibre, on land this usable, in a location this peaceful — opportunities like this simply don’t come around often.
**Closing Date 11th August at 4pm (Unless Sold Prior)** ●
Only9yearsoldwitha7-starrating,thisgenerouslyproportionedhomehasroomtomove andfabulousviewstothebayandbeyond,sittinginaquietsetting.Featuresinclude hugelivingspaces,superbchefs’kitchenwithstoneisland,spaciousbutler’spantry& pr ss dtinsplashback,highc ilings,plantationshutt rs,walnutflooring,GDH&gaslog fir .12.7kw-33Max onsolarpan lswith10kwbatt ryinv rt r.Canaccommodat 6 bedrooms,multi-generational/workfromhomeoptionwithseparateaccess.
The Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL) and Outer East Football Netball League (OEFN) have officially announced the ‘landmark commitment’ to a merged competition in the coming years.
Depending on club movements, which have already started to shape up as the merger was explored, the move would see the combined league rival the VAFA for the most member clubs in the country.
Officer has already announced it will seek to move to the Southern Football Netball League for the 2027 season.
“This is a rare opportunity to build something stronger for community football and netball across Melbourne’s east,” EFNL chair Paul Barlow said.
“By coming together, we can protect what makes our clubs special while creating a more sustainable competition for the players, coaches, umpires and volunteers who give so much to local sport.”
While the MoU is not legally binding, it reflects a strong commitment from both organisations to work collaboratively and in good faith towards a potential merger, with a target to launch a unified competition from 2028.
“Our clubs are the heart of their communities, and they deserve a competition built to last,” OEFN chair Mark Sargent said.
“A unified league enables us align pathways, share resources and invest in the future of the game, from juniors through to our veterans, while driving participation growth and creating more opportunities for men, women, boys and girls across football, netball and umpiring.”
Sargent and Barlow featured in a series of videos were released on Thursday night answering common questions about the merger.
“There are a number of things that are happening in football right now that are constant right throughout Victoria…and we felt that it has
Trades & Services
become time we needed to address some of those issues to support sustainability and growth into the future,” Sargent said.
“Paul and I have been talking now for probably 12 months, along with our CEOs, Jy Bond and Brett Connell, into how we can create a better feast of opportunities for all our representatives, all our players, all our coaches and all our clubs.
“Our product is based on probably the country football model and the EFNL is very much on the metro football model, and the country model has changed, places like Mount Evelyn, Pakenham and Officer were country, and they are now metro
clubs.”
The OEFN celebrated 60 years in 2026, including its long history as the Yarra Valley and Mountain District Football Netball League.
Barlow said the Outer East does some things that they don’t do and does them well and there’s things the EFNL does well.
“I think from the EFNL perspective, we’re always looking to get stronger, we want to be better, we want to be a strong leader for our clubs, we want to provide opportunity for clubs to find a level where they can thrive, where they can build,” he said.
“We cover a big wide area now, we span from Balwyn out to Berwick and Beaconsfield, I was at Coldstream on the weekend so I think the demographic has certainly changed, we see challenges in different pockets.
“This gives us an opportunity to give clubs choice, choice of where they want to play, how they want to play, the competitions that they want to play… this isn’t about retrofitting Outer East into the EFNL.”
The topic of same-day Saturday netball arose, given the OEFN’s long history of hosting sameday, same-ground Saturday netball alongside the football. The EFNL’s netball competition is currently held on Friday nights at the Knox Regional Netball Centre, the HE Parker Courts in Heathmont, Melba College in Croydon, Oxley College in Chirnside Park and the Oakleigh Recreation Centre.
Sargent said the Saturday netball is a strength they bring to the party and something that some EFNL clubs might want to be a part of and some OEFN clubs might not want anymore.
“I love going to our games to see mum, dad, brother, sister, auntie out there all playing football and netball on the same day at the same venue,” he said.
Barlow said the netball has been a fantastic addition to the competition’s long-standing football clubs and it is growing every year.
“Would we love to have it on a Saturday at the same ground as our football… yes, but unfortunately the infrastructure is not there from a metropolitan perspective and it’s probably a stretch too far to think that it will be there,” he said.
“Today the Outer East clubs don’t have a choice and our clubs don’t have a choice… under the one management we can then facilitate more choice for clubs to be able to find the balance that fits best for them.
“Overall, we want to be the strongest football netball competition in Victoria and probably Australia given the size we will be.”
The EFNL already sees sides as far apart as Berwick and Balwyn (pictured) clashing. (Gary Sissons: 563428)
Late goals sink Rangers
On Saturday, Monbulk Rangers FV Men’s Seniors and Reserves travelled to Ross Reserve to take on Sandown Lions.
Monbulk entered the match off the back of a fiery 3-1 victory the previous week, while Sandown were looking to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 defeat after winning four of their previous five matches.
With the promotion race tightening and the rest of the ladder closing in, every point is becoming more crucial than ever for the Rangers.
After early rain throughout the day, the weather cleared and the sun was shining by kick-off.
The match was played on a synthetic surface, similar to Monbulk’s home ground, ensuring good playing conditions despite the earlier wet weather.
The Reserves were first up against a Sandown side in red-hot form, having won their previous three matches while scoring 15 goals in that period.
Sandown proved too strong on the day, running out 8-0 winners after an unfortunate red card for the Rangers’ goalkeeper.
The Seniors were up next, having returned to winning ways against Fortuna the previous week and eager to continue their momentum.
The Rangers were immediately on the back foot, with the Lions starting the game strongly.
Sandown forced Monbulk goalkeeper Brad Cutts into action early and created several dangerous opportunities. After absorbing the early pressure, the Rangers produced a chance of their own.
A beautifully delivered Jack Higgins free kick was whipped into the box, where striker Jaydon Steele arrived first to head home and give Monbulk a 1-0 lead.
The Rangers continued to threaten from set pieces, with captain Kane Angulo and Rick Dall’Oglio both going close with headed efforts.
At the other end, Sandown continued to create chances.
An acrobatic effort from a Lions forward was brilliantly saved by Cutts with quick reflexes, but the pressure eventually paid off.
A ball played over the top of the defence was cut back across goal to an unmarked attacker at the back post, who levelled the scores just before half-time to make it 1-1 at the break.
The second half saw the Rangers playing into the sun, while Sandown lifted their intensity.
Monbulk struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities going forward but defended resolutely and restricted the Lions for much of the half.
However, Sandown eventually broke through, scoring in the 75th and 86th minutes
to secure a 3-1 victory.
It was a disappointing day all round for the Rangers. Despite the defeat, the Seniors remain third on the ladder and still occupy a promotion spot. With the chasing pack closing in, they will
need to collect valuable points over the remaining five matches. Their next challenge comes this Friday night at home against second-placed Templestowe in what promises to be a huge clash in the race for promotion.
Under 17: Emerald 61 def Yarra Junction 2; Pakenham Gold 61 def Pakenham Maroon 11; Seville White 24 def Alexandra 22; Seville Blue bye
Caleb Quirk breaks clear after receiving a shepherd from teammate Mitch Veit. (Anthea Heagney)
Hawks win after early blitz
By Armin Richter Football Seniors
Overnight rain and morning drizzle left sodden goal squares and some damp patches but other than that most of the Monbulk ground was in good condition while the cool calm weather was close to ideal for playing. The Hawks began the match in scintillating form, kicking the first six goals in the opening 20 minutes of play. Will Henderson in particular has been a player who has taken his game to another level as a rebounding half back.
The Burras have been a competitive unit since returning to the top division this year and lifted their urgency from that point to create an even battle for the remainder of the game. The second quarter got a bit willing, with three cards handed out, but for the most part the game was played in good spirits as a hard running pressure contest which gave the spectators value for money. Although Monbulk were able to hold Warburton at arms length it wasn’t until late in proceedings that they finally claimed the win. The result sees the Hawks reclaim fourth place, after having dropped to seventh last week, however only 1.35% separate them with Officer and Upwey-Tecoma in fifth and sixth.
Monbulk 15.9.99 def Warburton-Millgrove 10.12.72
• Best: Joel Wensley, Will Henderson, Lachlan Sheppard, Thomas Berman, Mitchell Veit, Riley Finlay
• Goals: Joel Wensley 4, Lochlan Beecroft 3, Josh Wentworth 2, Thomas Berman 2, Ben Hughson 1, Charlie Barge 1, Adam Banks 1, Joshua Dawson 1 Reserves
The Hawks had a 5.4 to 0.1 first quarter and their brilliant start was to ultimately be the difference between the two sides. Monbulk were unable to maintain that momentum but did produce many flashes of brilliance which yielded further goals as the match wore on. Their 27 point win keeps them in sixth place, half a game behind the resurgent Olinda.
• Best: Hamish Emmett, Lewis Oliver, Johnathon Hevern, Matthew James, Abel Teese, Isaac Mullinder
• Goals: Johnathon Hevern 3, Jacob Defina 2, Lachlan Smith 2, Callan Brinkman 1, Finn Horsfall 1, Gary Ross 1, Dale Ross 1 Under 18s
The Monbulk Under 18s played one of their best and most consistent matches of the year. The Hawks were missing captain Will Hughson, who was playing seniors, and ruckman Ryder Koelewyn, along with having three Under 16s
top up the team and no goals from their leading two goalkickers, Riley Broadbent and Finley Ede. Despite this it was an excellent four quarter effort and Monbulk ran out convincing 51 point winners.
Monbulk 12.11.83 def Warburton-Millgrove
5.2.32
• Best: Thomas Hill, Eamon Dawson, Myles Koelewyn, Darcy Spry, Arley Gray, Isaac Mullinder
• Goals: Darcy Spry 3, Eamon Dawson 2, Jed Fraser 2, Bailey McConchie 1, Mitchell Clark 1, Arley Gray 1, Charlie Seamer 1, Thomas Hill 1 Veterans
This competition is so even at the top that a win or loss could have huge ramifications. Ladder leaders Monbulk travelled to Officer for the final home and away match for the year. The Hawks needed to win convincingly to maintain percentage over the chasing pack. Monbulk had control of the game from the outset and cruised to a 56 point win which was ultimately enough to retain top spot with a percentage of 267. All top four teams were tied on 28 points and all had percentages of over 200. Monbulk will now face OlindaFerny Creek in the 1st Semi-Final at home on Friday August 7, with the winner to progress to the Grand Final. The Grand Final will also be played at Monbulk on Sunday August 23, along with the two Women’s Grand Finals.
Monbulk 8.9.57 def Officer 0.1.1
• Best: Tim Wragg, Jared Major, Jarrett Anderson, Matt Talbot, Gregory Van Berkel, Grant George
• Goals: Tim Wragg 2, Jarrett Anderson 1, Shaun Brooks 1, Michael Langworthy 1, Steven Nuutinen 1, Chris Mitchell 1, Gregory Van
Netball
A Grade
Warburton brought their aggressive contested game to Monbulk and it paid dividends for them with 13-8 opening term. The Hawks tried to fight back for the remainder of the match but were unable to make inroads. Monbulk remains in third place but has the top two teams coming up, with Mt. Evelyn and Wandin, and a chasing pack closing in. Peri Reid is second in the goalshooting with 628 to date.
Monbulk 46 def by Warburton-Millgrove 52
• Best: Grace Scott-Thomas, Peri Reid, Sophie Stubbs
Monbulk virtually secured their finals spot with a solid 14 goal win over the seventh placed Burras. The fourth placed reigning premiers are four games inside the Five and have a couple of finals like challenges in the next two weeks.
Monbulk 51 def Warburton-Millgrove 37
• Best: Catherine Braniska, Elizabeth Cutting, Dayna Walsham
These girls have been gallant all year without receiving the rewards. On Saturday they notched their most impressive result when they drew with finals bound Warburton-Millgrove.
Monbulk 34 drew Warburton-Millgrove 34
• Best: Maddy Buckland, Grace Sands, Laura Del
• Goals: Maddy Buckland 25, Grace Sands 9
D Grade
A vital clash impacting finals chances was played in D Grade, where Monbulk in fifth place met Warburton who were a game behind. In a rain affected match Monbulk won a low scoring game to give them a crucial buffer over their opponents. Monbulk 17 def Warburton-Millgrove 10
Both Under 17s teams had fantastic wins in light drizzle at Monbulk. Monbulk Maroon stunned fourth placed ROC White with a three goal win, a team who had beaten them 29-14 earlier in the year. The Gold side also remain in a challenge for a finals spot with a commanding 9 goal victory, set up in a 14-3 second quarter. Monbulk Gold 32 def Warburton-Millgrove 23
• Best: Kaitlyn Summers, Stevie Mullinder, Kaia Stewart
With the Gold team having the bye it was left to the sixth placed Maroon team to show their game against Wandin Red who were fourth. In a good match it was goal for goal until the last quarter when the Wandin side was able to edge ahead. Monbulk still have the three leading goalshooters in this division with Eden Murphy (Gold) 281, Isabelle Kos (Maroon) 240 and Amelia Magarry (Gold) 204 heading the list in a three-way trifecta. Monbulk Maroon 25 def by Wandin Red 29
Ferntree Gully Tennis Club enjoyed another successful week of competition, with strong performances across senior and junior competitions.
The Midweek Eastern Metropolitan Region Ladies’ Tennis Association team continued its impressive form, defeating Currawong 5-1 in Section 6.
In the Knox District Night Tennis Association, the Tuesday Section 1 (DP) team recorded a solid 4-2 win over Upwey South.
Section 3 was involved in a thrilling contest against Miller Park, finishing level on sets with Ferntree Gully claimed victory on games, 29-24. Unfortunately, Section 4 went down 5-1 to Bat-
terham Park.
The Ferntree Gully and District Ladies’ Tennis Association Section 3 team fought hard but was defeated 4-2 by Wantirna.
There were mixed fortunes in the Waverley Tennis Association.
Section A1 collected the points after HE Parker forfeited, while Section A7 produced an excellent 6-1 victory over Legend Park. Section A8 was defeated 4-2 by Knox City Gold.
The junior teams also had plenty to celebrate in the Eastern Region Tennis competition.
Rubbers 25 continued its outstanding season with a dominant 5-0 win over Doncaster.
JOSD 8 defeated Mooroolbark Heights 4-2, while JDC 3 impressed with a convincing 3-0 victory over Donvale.
JDC 2 was defeated 2-0 by Croydon, while both Rubbers 31 and Rubbers 34 had a week off due to a bye.
Our All Abilities players enjoyed another great night out on court, with Liam showing off some impressive serves, and Scott once again winning the “cricket” game with some wellplaced shots.
Liam delivers a powerful serve. (Supplied)
Berkel 1
Biondo
Monbulk’s Asha Jones wins a loose ball contest in A Grade. (Armin Richter)
Monbulk’s Will Hughson eludes his Warburton opponents. (Anthea Heagney)
Will Henderson reels in a mark for Monbulk. (Anthea Heagney)
Monbulk’s Macy Giling with the ball in the drawn C Grade match with Warburton. (Armin Richter)
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Efficient. Clean. Sustainable. Designed for Australian homes. Euro Fireplaces are engineered to deliver powerful, comfortable heat with the lowest emissions possible — without wasting firewood. Every model is built around a simple promise: maximum warmth, minimal environmental impact.
Why Euro Fireplaces is the Sustainable Choice
Energy Savings
With rising energy prices around the world, people are increasingly turning to wood stoves as a sustainable solution for heating throughout the colder months. With the high efficiency of a Euro Fireplace, you will use substantially less wood than a traditional fan forced heater, and will save on your overall energy bills.
Fresh Air Intake
As homes become better insulated and more energy efficient, it’s essential that fireplaces have access to fresh air for proper combustion. Most Euro Fireplaces offer an optional external air intake, supplying fresh air directly to the firebox. This keeps indoor air warm and fresh while improving efficiency and reducing wood consumption.
Advanced Flue Technology
Traditional triple skin vented flues can cool the flue gases and encourage dirty combustion. Insulated flues maintain optimal flue temperature for a cleaner, more efficient burn.
Superior Vermiculite Lining
Made from compressed natural minerals, this lightweight lining helps direct heat back into the fire, increasing combustion temperatures, improving efficiency, and protecting the steel heater body.
Built to Last
Crafted from premium materials and engineered for long-term reliability, Euro Fireplaces heaters are designed to deliver efficient, dependable heating.
Heat Bank
Many of our heaters utilise thermal mass to store heat whilst burning, before slowly releasing that stored heat overnight. This heat storage can either be achieved through attractive stone or tile finishes, or alternatively through optional refractory concrete blocks which are installed inside the fireplaces, hidden from sight.
Natural Convection
Unlike traditional wood heaters in Australia, Euro Fireplaces do not require fans – they heat your home through natural convection. This process will heat your home more effectively and efficiently, using up to 3 times less firewood than a fan forced wood burner.
Low Emissions
In Australia, emissions are tested in grams per kilogram of wood burned. At Euro Fireplaces, the popular Andorra range operate at just 0.8g. Pellet heating technology is near zero emissions.
Optimised for Australian Conditions
Designed originally for the Australian market, the Buller Group has become a favourite in Europe as well. Boasting one of the largest heating capacities of the Euro Fireplaces range, the Buller is inspired by traditional Australian wood stoves.
Education for Operation
Euro Fireplaces supply manuals with their fireplaces to ensure correct operation.
