Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
Yarra Glen welcomes its new Place Plan
Local aged care residents grapple with long wait times for vital help
Locals honoured at Homelessness Week memorial
See Real Estate liftout inside
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Not forgotten By Mikayla van Loon First-hand accounts detailing how the Vietnam War shaped the Shire of Lillydale were permanently documented in a new book by historian Anthony McAleer. Produced alongside the Lilydale RSL, Vietnam - Long Hard Years Not Forgotten collected stories from over 100 contributors, including veterans, local residents, and anti-war protesters. From the district, 137 servicemen and four civilians served in the conflict, with five local soldiers killed. The publication examined shifting community attitudes, television news coverage, and the social hostility experienced by returning servicemen. Featured veterans, including Lilydale RSL president Bill Dobson, recounted difficulties reintegrating into civilian life, initial exclusion by the RSL, and local post-war campaigns, such as the 1983 effort that banned chemical 245T weed spraying on local ovals. The book was set to launch on Sunday, 16 August at Japara House in Kilsyth as part of local Vietnam Veterans Day commemorations.
Bill Dobson the president of Lilydale RSL, Ken Mackenzie OAM, Mike Pearce and author Anthony McAleer. (Stewart Chambers: 569991)
Covid test question By Gabriella Vukman Questions were raised over the storage and planned removal of large quantities of expired Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) from the former Gateway Yarra Valley facility in Coldstream. Local residents reported that the property had been used to store test kits during the pandemic, with large quantities of expired stock removed by truck in late July. Photographs published on social media depicted numerous boxes of test kits stored at the site.
Primary local concerns centered on disposal methods and whether the Coldstream CFA had been notified. The Coldstream CFA confirmed it had no prior knowledge of the stored materials. During the pandemic, Victoria’s RAT supply was procured through Commonwealth and state channels, alongside private commercial imports regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The federal government spent over $1.6 billion securing supplies for high-risk sectors, schools, and strategic stockpiles, while the
Victorian government managed state distribution through local sites, schools, and libraries. The incident highlights ongoing uncertainty regarding leftover pandemic procurement. While Western Australia recently disclosed holding 19 million unusable tests costing $75,000 monthly in storage, the extent of Victoria’s remaining expired stock remains unconfirmed. A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing stated the department was unaware of any Common-
wealth-funded tests at the Coldstream site, noting all federal purchases complied with Commonwealth Procurement Rules. Despite local claims on social media that “millions” of expired tests were relocated, the Victorian government has not responded to clarify whether the stock was state-purchased. It remains unclear how many tests were stored at the facility, their origin, how they will be disposed of, or the future use of the vacant Gateway property.
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New Yarra Glen Place Plan endorsed by the community By Gabriella Vukman Yarra Glen’s future has been mapped out for the next two decades after Yarra Ranges Council unanimously adopted the township’s Place Plan during its meeting on Tuesday 28 July. The community-led strategy sets out a longterm vision for how Yarra Glen will grow, balancing increased tourism and development with the protection of the township’s rural character, natural environment, and close-knit community. The plan, which will guide Council’s planning, investment and advocacy over the next 20 years, is the result of more than a year of consultation involving residents, businesses, community groups and stakeholders. One of the most significant outcomes of the Place Plan process has been the creation of Project 3775, a new community-led group formed during council-facilitated workshops which took place at the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall. Before councillors voted to adopt the plan, Project 3775 representative Sharyne Doensen addressed the chamber, describing the document as an important step forward for the community. Ms Doensen congratulated the Council on developing the Place Plan and said delivering key infrastructure projects, including building a bridge over the Yarra River for the Yarra Valley Rail Trail, must remain at the fore of Council priorities. “The completion of the Yarra Valley Rail Trail is a top priority,” Ms Doensen told the meeting. “The bridge over the Yarra is vital, and our group will stand beside Council to see it built.” Ms Doensen confirmed the Project 3775 group would continue to work with council to fulfill future outcomes of the Yarra Glen Place Plan. “We believe it is important that future planning is used to reflect the unique character, history and identity of our region,” she said. “Meaningful community involvement must remain part of this process, and the Yarra Glen community should continue to have a genuine voice in shaping future design decisions.” Ms Doensen welcomed Council’s commitment to continue exploring opportunities to bring the trail into Yarra Glen, describing it as an investment that would benefit both residents and visitors. “We appreciate the efforts being made to secure funding,” she said. “We urge council to continue exploring every possible opportunity to bring the rail trail through to Yarra Glen.” On top of pushing for the completion of the Rail Trail, according to Ms Doensen, Project 3775 is also keen to see upgrades to the McKenzie Reserve Precinct. “The precinct is an important community asset, and we see great potential in improving parking, lighting and accessibility whilst also creating stronger connections between the sporting and other community groups along Anzac Avenue,” Ms Doensen said. “Done well, the McKenzie Reserve precinct can become even more vibrant and a welcoming place for people of all ages and abilities.”
CHARTERS & TOURS
The Yarra Glen community welcomes new Place Plan. (Stewart Chambers: 544755). Ms Doensen said Project 3775 had been created directly from the Place Plan process and is working towards bringing together sporting clubs, community organisations and residents who had not previously worked closely together. “We are passionate about making the community less forgotten than we have been,” she said. “We feel like we are on the fringe, unfortunately, being right on the border in terms of state funding, situated between the Eildon and Evelyn electorates, which makes it a bit difficult as well.” According to Ms Doensen, community members aged 14 to 84 took part in community consultation sessions. Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister spoke about the Rail Trail and Project 3775 at the meeting, commending the efforts of the Yarra Glen community in helping the Council to create the Plan. “The energy and ideas and learning from the Yarra Glen community is something I have not experienced in recent years.” “The Yarra Glen community created something special in there.” Councillor McAllister also highlighted the importance of building the bridge to connect Yarra Glen to the rest of the Yarra Valley Rail Trail. “We had strong advocacy for the bridge in the budget process, and it really is a big bucket of money,” she said. “But if one bridge can reshape the future of a community, then it is definitely worth fighting for for us as a council.” The Place Plan establishes a vision for Yarra Glen as “a connected, welcoming township” that celebrates its natural beauty while creating opportunities for people of all ages to live, work and thrive. Yarra Glen is currently home to more than
3800 residents and serves as a commercial and community hub for surrounding suburbs including Dixons Creek, Steels Creek and Tarrawarra. According to the Place Plan, Yarra Glen is expected to experience significant growth over the coming decade as visitation across the Yarra Ranges continues to rise. With tourism across the Yarra Ranges forecast to more than double over the next decade, Council says careful planning will be needed to ensure Yarra Glen retains the qualities that make it a hotspot for visitation, such as its wineries, tourism, agriculture and scenic landscapes. The Plan also identifies climate change as a growing challenge, with increased risks from bushfires, flooding and extreme weather requiring greater resilience in future planning. Housing diversity emerged as another key issue during consultation. Around 94 per cent of homes in Yarra Glen are detached houses, limiting affordable and appropriately sized housing options for young people, downsizers and older residents wanting to remain in the community. Key goals set out in the plan include strengthening community connections, improving local facilities, enhancing road safety and pedestrian access, planning for future development, supporting tourism and local businesses, protecting the environment and improving emergency resilience. A future Township Design Framework will help guide development while maintaining Yarra Glen’s distinctive rural character. Council confirmed it will also continue advocating for improvements to the Melba Highway, flood mitigation measures and better active transport connections. While the Place Plan outlines dozens of future
actions, Council has already delivered several improvements in response to feedback gathered during consultation. These include the installation of a temporary community parklet behind the Main Street bakery, additional shade trees, improved pedestrian safety works near the shopping precinct, resurfacing of the CFA and school bus car park following flooding issues, and improved disability access outside the Melba Highway medical clinic. Council said these early projects demonstrate its commitment to acting on community feedback while larger initiatives are developed. Public consultation on the draft plan attracted strong interest, with hundreds of downloads and widespread community support. Feedback tended to back the plan while calling for continued investment in the Yarra Valley Trail, improved cycling infrastructure, greater accessibility and faster delivery of priority projects. Importantly, the Place Plan does not come with dedicated funding. Instead, it provides the strategic framework that will guide future Council budgets, capital works programs and applications for state and federal funding. Several projects already align with the plan, including funded stages of the Yarra Valley Trail and future footpath connections through Council’s Missing Links Program. Councillors unanimously supported the recommendation to adopt the Yarra Glen Place Plan 2026, describing it as a community-driven roadmap that will shape the township’s future while protecting the qualities that have made it the “heart of the Yarra Valley.” To read more about the Yarra Glen Place Plan, visit the Yarra Ranges Council’s website at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au
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NEWS
IN BRIEF
Questions over tests By Gabriella Vukman Questions have been raised over the storage and planned removal of large quantities of expired Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (RAT) from a former Gateway Yarra Valley facility in Coldstream. Local residents said the property had been used to store Covid-19 test kits during the pandemic and that large quantities of expired stock were being removed from the site via truck in the week beginning 27 July. Photographs posted on Facebook showed numerous boxes of Covid-19 test kits stored at the Coldstream property. Chief among local concerns were how the expired tests will be disposed of, if the stock cannot be sent to recycling or landfill. Locals also questioned whether the Coldstream CFA had been notified about the presence of the stored test materials at the site. Upon contacting the Coldstream CFA, Star Mail was informed that the team had no knowledge of RAT tests being stored at the facility. Victoria’s rapid antigen test supply during the pandemic was a combination of Commonwealth and state procurement, as well as tests imported and commercially supplied by private companies. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), a Commonwealth agency, was responsible for regulating the tests that could legally be supplied in Australia. Covid-19 test kits had to be included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), while commercial importers generally needed to be the approved Australian sponsor or authorised to act on its behalf. The Commonwealth also introduced measures under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to restrict the export of RATs and prevent price gouging during the supply crunch. The federal government spent over $1.6 billion securing RAT supplies during the pandemic and its distribution programs included supplying tests to aged-care facilities and other highrisk sectors, building a strategic reserve for the National Medical Stockpile, providing tests for schools and early-childhood services, and subsidising RATs for concession-card holders through participating pharmacies. This concessional access program was jointly funded by the Commonwealth and states and territories. The responsibilities of the Victorian government included distributing RATs through staterun testing sites and later making tests available through schools, libraries and council-run services. The Victorian Government also procured RATs for state programs, with private suppliers playing a key role in the supply-chain system. Under the TGA’s framework, an authorised distributor could supply tests on behalf of a sponsor, but the sponsor remained responsible for the device’s supply and post-market obligations. After the ACCC reported concerns that tests were being sold for $20 to $30 each, and in some cases over $70, despite reported wholesale costs of $3.95 to $11.45, Governments responded by securing large quantities of tests to meet demand. Five years on, a clearer picture is emerging of
Dixons Creek crash A crash at Dixons Creek saw a horse and a driver trapped at around 9.50am on 9 August. Four CFA trucks were called to the scene and rescued both the horse and the human. “A trapped patient was removed from the vehicle at 10.35am and the incident was declared safe at 10.54am,” a CFA spokesperson said. “A horse also had to be removed from the float. CFA left the scene with VicPol just before 1pm. CFA had four trucks on scene.”
Alleged stabbing
Thousands of expired RAT tests were glimpsed in Coldstream. (Scott Bennett) the aftermath of that procurement. Earlier this year, Western Australia revealed it was holding approximately 19 million unusable RATs in storage for $75,000 a month, with almost $4 million to be spent destroying them. Victoria’s own position is less clear. The state spent heavily on securing RATs during the pandemic, but it is not yet clear how much of that stock remains, where it is being stored or how many tests have expired. Yarra Ranges residents are questioning whether the boxes of RATs reportedly trucked away from the Yarra Valley Gateway building in Coldstream during the week of July 30 are a part of the Victorian Government’s leftover supply. The Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said it was not aware of any Commonwealth-funded tests being held at the Coldstream facility. A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing told Star Mail, “The Department is not aware of any Commonwealth-funded tests being held at the Coldstream facility.” The department said purchases of RAT tests made during the Covid-19 pandemic were conducted in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. It also pointed to reviews of Australia’s Covid-19 response, including Australian National Audit Office reviews of the Commonwealth National Medical Stockpile. According to the department, Covid-19 tests purchased through the National Medical Stockpile were distributed to Primary Health Networks and other recipients, including aged-care homes. A Facebook post equipped with images described the situation, claiming that “millions” of expired Covid tests were being relocated from
The origin of the tests remains unknown. (Scott Bennett).
The origin of the tests remains unknown. Coldstream; however, the State Government has not responded to the Star Mail to substantiate that figure. The Victorian Government’s role in the Coldstream storage arrangement, including whether the tests were state-purchased, remains to be established. The Victorian Department of Health did not supply comment and did not confirm whether it was or was not leasing the Coldstream RAT test storage site. The issue has generated much commentary on Yarra Ranges social media pages, with allegations circling about the former Victorian government and the procurement of Covid-related supplies. At this stage, it remains unclear to Yarra Ranges residents how many tests were stored at the site, where they came from, how they will be disposed of and what will eventuate for the now vacant Gateway space.
A Wandin North man was among eight people involved in an alleged fight at McDonald’s in Mooroolbark on 9 August. The fight saw police charge a 20-year-old Ringwood man with affray and bailed to appear before Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 26 October. The eight-person brawl happened around 6.15am and several people allegedly fled the scene in a silver Nissan TIIDA. Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit detectives continue to investigate the alleged affray. “A 21-year-old Ringwood East man presented to a hospital with a life-threatening injury to the upper body, believed to have been caused by an edged weapon,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said. “A 29-year-old Wandin North man was injured however left the scene without being medically assessed. Later that day, detectives arrested a 20-year-old Ringwood man.” Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Suspicious Yellingbo house fire Police arrested a woman in relation to a “suspicious” house fire in Yellingbo on Saturday 8 August Multiple brigades responded to reports a house fire on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road at around 7.20pm. “The house was safely evacuated, and there were no reported injuries,” said a Victoria Police spokesperson. “A woman was arrested at the scene and will be interviewed by investigators,” they said. CFA firefighters from across the Yarra Ranges arrived at a bedroom fire in a single-storey residential home that was well alight. “CFA had 15 vehicles on scene,” a CFA media spokesperson said. CFA volunteers from Yellingbo, Emerald, Macclesfield, Hillcrest, Wandin, Seville and Silvan brigades brought the blaze under control within an hour. Ambulance Victoria transported a woman in her 50s that night by road to Maroondah Hospital in a stable condition for observation. Police said that it is alleged the people involved are known to each other, and there are no parties outstanding.
YJ community link closed due to water damage A burst water main caused significant damage to the Yarra Junction Community Link on 8 August, forcing the service to shut until further notice. “We’re working closely with our teams to relocate services, wherever possible, and minimise disruption to the community,” the council said in a statement.
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NEWS
Care won’t come in time By Oliver Winn A Warburton man with stage four cancer and three months to live was given a six-month wait time for aged care payments. 79-year-old Tony Rostron fears he will die from stomach cancer before getting access to $59,660 for domestic and personal care services. He also faces a significant administrative burden from lengthy and complex forms he’s required to fill out. “The political speak that they use in some of the questions... there’s probably half a dozen there, we’ve got no idea what they’re talking about,” he said. Mr Rostron was diagnosed with stomach cancer in October last year and after exhausting all treatment options, he was given three months to live. He was assessed for a Level One package before being reassessed to Level Seven, which gave him access to $59,660 for domestic and personal care services. But the package was then designated medium priority, which has an estimated wait time of six to seven months. “I could die the next day,” he said. Mr Rostron’s case is unfortunately one of many where older Australians face increasing wait times to access crucial support services. Last September, a Senate inquiry revealed 87,000 older Australians were waiting close to a year to receive packages and over 120,000 more are still waiting to be assessed. Casey MP Aaron Violi said in 2025, almost 5000 older Australians died while waiting for care. A spokesperson for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said older people who have
Tony Rostron was diagnosed with stomach cancer nine months ago. (File) three months or less to live can be eligible to access the End-of-Life (EOL) Pathway, which is specifically designed to support people who wish to remain at home during their final stages of life. “The EOL pathway provides up to $25,000 over a 12-week period for in-home aged care services, including personal care, domestic assistance and nursing care to complement services available under state and territory-based palliative care schemes. “Accessing the EOL pathway does not require an additional assessment, a medical practitioner
or nurse practitioner completes the form to facilitate access to the pathway,” the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing spokesperson said. But Mr Rostron said the EOL pathway form required four separate health professionals to agree on how much longer he has to live. “A doctor, a GP, an oncologist and a palliative nurse all have to agree on a time that I will die. “It’s hard getting three people to agree on what colour the sky is, let alone how long somebody’s got to live,” he said. He said the forms he’s had to fill out demand
information the government should already have access too, placing unnecessary pressure on him. “They’re asking questions that they already should know about, like your income, your age, your address, all of the normal details, they’re asking them again,” he said. Mr Rostron’s wife and family have had to help complete the SA456 form, which assesses the applicant’s income and assets. For income and asset assessments, Services Australia uses data-sharing arrangements to streamline assessments where it is possible to do so, while maintaining privacy and legislative boundaries. But while some financial information is already held by government departments, aged care assessments require up-to-date details, including changes to a person’s income, assets and personal circumstances. Mr Rostron said it was very difficult to answer certain questions, which only put more pressure on his mental and physical health. “I spend time trying to do those, then at the back of your mind, you gotta try and speed the system up a bit because I’ve gotta get in there and get some money. But then you can’t because you get stumped by some of these questions,” he said. EACH in Yarra Junction have supplied a cleaner to help with basic tasks around the house, but Mr Rostron said he’s still looking for someone to mow lawns around the house. “Can’t do the gardens, which I enjoy doing. Can’t chop wood. We’ve got an open fire… but I can’t even fill the wheelbarrow up from the shed and get it to the fire,” he said. The local aged care assessment organisation continues to work actively with Mr Rostron and his family.
More than 40 timber sleepers stolen from across the Yarra Ranges By Oliver Winn Timber and solar panels were among the items stolen in several thefts across the Yarra Ranges over the past two months. The thefts have come at “considerable cost” in time and money to the Yarra Ranges Council. A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed it was investigating the thefts. A total of 46 timber sleepers were removed from the Yarra Valley Trail and Warburton Rail Trail over four occasions in July. 12 timber sleepers were taken from a footpath on Old Gippsland Road in Lilydale, 20 sleepers were taken from a walking trail near Mcintyre Lane in Yering and another 14 timber sleepers
Timber sleepers were stolen from various locations in the Yarra Ranges. (Yarra Ranges Council) were taken from a footpath at Coldstream Station carpark in Coldstream. Meanwhile two solar panels were stolen from
Labyrinth Railway Park in Healesville. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam or anyone with information is
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NEWS
VCAT upholds road refusal By Oliver Winn The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) upheld a ruling that a concrete road built at a Woori Yallock property breached the planning scheme on 31 July. It came after farm owner Rino De Bortoli, who is not related to the family that owns De Bortoli Wines, attempted to challenge the Yarra Ranges Council’s refusal to grant a retrospective planning permit for the works in 2024. VCAT backed findings from council and Melbourne Water that the scope of the project was much larger than just pouring a thin layer of concrete, and that it impacted local rainwater runoff. The 1.6 kilometre long, three metre wide concrete road was built over Yarra River floodplains to maintain access after water eroded the existing track. The goal of the road was to help move around 50 cattle across paddocks and to provide access to a family recreational area on the southern bank of the Yarra River. Mr De Bortoli’s son, Carlo, attested on behalf of Rino De Bortoli due to his father’s old age and English being his second language. Carlo argued the works only involved placing a thin layer of fine rock and a further 17.5 centimetres of concrete over the track. “I understand that the sealing works were mostly completed at-grade with minor ground levelling... I understand that the sealing works involved the addition of approximately 25mm of fine rock placement over the accessway with a further approximately 150mm of concrete over the top,” Carlo De Bortoli said in his affidavit. Mr De Bortoli argued no permission was required because the earthworks didn’t exceed one metre in height or depth. If the earthworks did exceed the one metre limit, then Mr De Bortoli claimed permission would only be required for that exact portion. But the ruling backed findings from coun-
VCAT upheld an earlier refusal by the council for the De Bortoli property. (File) cil and Melbourne Water that the scope of the project was much larger than just pouring a thin layer of concrete. It stated the works also encompassed the culverts, wingwalls and filling associated with the crossing of various drainage lines, and the
concrete seal. Meanwhile, neighbours James and Anna Wright-Smith backed the council’s initial refusal over the road’s impact to drainage. VCAT confirmed they were legally entitled to object regarding local rainwater runoff
trapped by the road embankment. Computer modelling proved that the raised road acted like a dam during smaller, frequent floods, pushing floodwaters onto neighbouring properties and trapping water for hours to days longer than normal.
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At the Yarra Glen Racecourse, young athletes ran with pride and determination for School Victoria’s annual State Championships Sports Cross Country competition. The Yarra Ranges venue became a hub of exx citement and competitive spirit on 16 July as students from across Victoria raced against the best young cross-country runners in the state. The event produced strong performances from local schools, with students from across the Yarra Valley and Outer East making their mark among mong Victoria’s best young runners. In the SSV State Combined Primary aand Secondary Girls 9-10 Years event,, Alma ma H fro om Tecoma Primary School finished ninth overalll in race 243 while Sadie E from Croydon Hills Primary School placed sixth in race 250.
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Grant powers up Benwerren By Oliver Winn Yarra Junction retreat centre Benwerren will bolster its electricity reliability through a new backup generator after it received an AusNet grant. A $65,230 AusNet Energy Resilience Community Fund (ERCF) grant completed years of fundraising efforts by the Yarra Junction notfor-profit organisation, helping them reach the project’s total cost. Benwerren chief executive officer Nicole Kelly said it was “super exciting” to finally have the funds for the project. “It’s actually a project we’ve been working towards over a number of years. So to see it come into fruition will be super exciting,” she said.
Volunteer and ex-engineer Michael Dillema said the total cost for the project was $85,030, which will help fund not only the generator, but the organisation’s entire power supply. “It’s a total upgrade of the power supply, the main switchboard, and all the internal mains cabling, as well as the generator. “Basically it’s making provision for the growth that we’ve had over the years of the things that we’ve got to help run the place,” Mr Dillema said. The generator and power supply upgrade is expected to be completed next year. Mr Dillema said the new generator will help keep the lights on during power outages. “Obviously, during storms and inclement
weather, the power goes off for long periods of time. The generator will automatically cut in, it’s got an automatic system, so nobody has to run out there in the dark and with a torch and muck around.” It would also be vital for keeping the new sprinkler system working. “And as far as this fire system goes, it’s a sprinkler system throughout the building which then relies on an electric pump off tank storage. And obviously that needs electricity. “So the beauty of it is that when the power goes off, the generator will kick in and that fire system will continue to be available,” Mr Dillema said. Volunteer-run Benwerren is a not-for-profit organisation that provides stays in a caring
Mick Dillema has a background in engineering and is leading the installation of the generator. (Supplied)
It’s a total upgrade of the power supply, the main switchboard, and all the internal mains cabling, as well as the generator.”
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and nurturing environment for women and children in need, allowing them to take a break and heal from life’s challenges. The organisation has gone from strength to strength as of late, completing its dining room extension in May, where a sprinkler system and a new accessible bathroom were installed. Ms Kelly said these upgrades were all about providing a safe space for people to stay. “We see all of these things as really looking to the future of Benwerren… it’s putting these things in place that ensure we can be able to support families and provide a safe space for people to be,” she said. An AusNet spokesperson said the new upgrade enabled Benwerren to provide the best support it can for the families who need it. “This funding will strengthen energy resilience for the most vulnerable, providing safe refuge for hundreds of women and children each year,” the AusNet spokesperson said. Ms Kelly said it was a “real collaborative” fundraising effort, with Benwerren raising $20,000 through a variety of sources. She thanked Wandin Electrics and Yarra Valley Infrastructure, Benwerren’s Airing of the Quilts Fundraiser, donors to its GoFundMe page and an individual donor who donated $10,000.
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Day highlights need for funds By Oliver Winn School libraries in the Yarra Ranges have come back into focus with the Australian School Library Day set to take place on 26 August. The day aims to showcase the benefits of school libraries while calling for more support. In July, the Star Mail contacted 22 schools and asked what their libraries were like, if they had paid staff maintaining them, and if they wanted more funding to better support their libraries. The data revealed over three-quarters of schools ran their libraries with volunteers, teachers or education support staff, and mixed satisfaction with the quality of the libraries. A school library is the gateway to literacy and trustworthy information and also provides a safe, calming environment for students to spend their time.
Yet, many school libraries are under pressure and risk closure. Australian Coalition of School Libraries is spearheading a campaign throughout August that highlights why sustained investment in libraries is essential for children’s education. “Australia currently does not mandate school libraries which is creating significant inequity across education systems,” Australian Coalition of School Libraries Ms Ellermen said. “Ensuring that full and fair funding includes provision for a school library with qualified staff in every Australian school would be an investment solution that would make a difference to educational outcomes in Australia across the board,” Ms Ellerman said. Birmingham Primary School principal Steven Harvey said libraries remained crucial for delivering a quality education experience.
“In an age where students are surrounded by digital content, we believe there remains something uniquely valuable about children holding a physical book in their hands, browsing library shelves, discovering authors they have never encountered before, and developing a genuine love of reading. “While technology has an important place in education, it complements rather than replaces the experience of reading quality literature in print. “School libraries remain an essential part of every child’s education, providing opportunities to build literacy, curiosity and a lifelong love of reading,” Mr Harvey said. Ms Ellermen agreed with the sentiment and said key literacy skills had never been more important in an instant-information society. “Critical thinking, ethical use of information, along with digital, media literacy and AI
literacy are more important than ever in an instant-information society. “Access to information is everywhere, so understanding, evaluating, using and creating information effectively is what school libraries and teacher librarians teach.” But school libraries needed to be resourced well to be beneficial for young people in regional or rural areas like the Yarra Ranges. “School libraries are an educational resource like no other that support every student, every teacher, and every learning area across the entire school community. “In regional and remote areas access to a school library is an imperative to ensuring equity in learning opportunities and resources,” she said. The Australian School Library Day coincides Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Children’s Book Week.
Detective pushes for new laws to help bring the missing home By April Stevens
Suzie Lawrence went missing in 1987. (Supplied) sumed murdered”. Most current Australian laws’ main focus relates to the overt act of destruction, interfering with or interment of human remains. Under current Victorian law, legislation surrounding human remains does not specifically cover liability for simply concealing knowledge of their whereabouts. However, a person can be held criminally liable if they knowingly help a perpetrator evade arrest, prosecution or punishment or accept a benefit, such as money, in exchange for keeping information secret that could assist an investigation. There are also broader laws covering the removal of body parts and offensive conduct involving human remains. In his research, Mr Smith discussed the possibility that the legal system itself could push back against the legislation, particularly where police themselves may be found culpable for withholding information. “As far as corruption is concerned, should that be exposed, then it should be dealt with.” “Those outcomes should never distract any of us from continuing on, nor losing faith.”
“In other words, we deal with it and we move on.” When asked what Mr Smith would present to the Attorney-General about the issues surrounding missing persons, to get the legislation over the line and have the collective pain heard, he said the change would elicit much relief. “Relieve the most extreme long-term pain and suffering being experienced by tens of thousands of Australians.” “Each time one of these cases hits the media and becomes ‘top of mind’, we all need to ask our politicians about the concealment laws.” “Pressure and noise will bring it about.” “As we speak, those amongst us, children, young girls, young men, vulnerable adults, who don’t know it, but they are the missing and murdered victims of tomorrow,” Mr Smith said. If this legislation were applied to the case of Suzi Lawrance, nearly 40 years later there is still no confirmed location for her. If someone is holding information about what happened to Suzi, coming forward could change everything for her family and those who have continued to search for answers. The concealment of her whereabouts is an unimaginable cruelty to those she loved that are left behind. While secret keepers may not have literal blood on their hands, Mr Smith argues that those who knowingly withhold information are in fact responsible for pain experienced by missing persons’ families. “They are contributing directly to the horrific suffering of the families.” “I have witnessed so many families and police, even thirty, forty years after a disappearance, who are reduced to tears every time they are returned to a modicum of thought of their missing loved one.” “That is a constant cruelty those concealing knowledge are inflicting on those left behind.” For Mr Smith, the proposed legislation brings an opportunity for justice and, ultimately, answers. “They can relieve that pain, and some of the guilt, by providing the family with their loved one.” “So they can bring them home and lay them to rest.”
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A retired senior detective has proposed new laws to help crack missing person cases and restore hope for affected families. The laws, if applied, could lead to fresh information on historic missing person cases, such as the well-known Suzie Lawrence case in Healesville. The proposed legislation would see consequences for people who withhold information about the location of human remains. Retired detective Valentine Smith, co-founder and owner of Footprints in the Wilderness (Missing Persons Australia) said thousands of Australians are robbed of closure surrounding missing people. “The plight of the families of the missing is the most horrendous and hideous infliction of a criminal act that can be suffered by anyone.” “There are thousands of Australians struggling with it for the rest of their terrible lives.” Mr Smith was a senior investigator for decades within Victoria Police and is now volunteering his time, passion and expertise to missing persons cases. This proposed legislation would encourage information from cases where criminality is known to be involved, or is the most likely deductible scenario. The legislation concerns the failure to disclose the whereabouts of human remains, regardless of whether the person withholding that information is directly connected to the death or disappearance. However, the penalty should be scaled according to the circumstances of each case. For example, there is a significant distinction between a person who deliberately conceals information to protect themselves or another person involved in a crime, and someone who possesses information but withholds it for another reason, such as fear, coercion or concern for their own safety. The legislation would therefore need to consider factors including intent, knowledge, the person’s connection to the offence, the length of time information was withheld and whether their actions actively obstructed an investigation. The aim is to also reduce long-term missing
persons (LTMP) cases and reduce the trauma, grief and suffering experienced by the families of missing people. In simplicity, the proposal would introduce a uniform offence across Australia for failing to disclose knowledge of the whereabouts of human remains, alongside adjustments to existing “No Body, No Parole” provisions. It would include: ■ An offence for failing to disclose knowledge of the whereabouts of human remains. ■ Where the principal offence is a serious indictable offence, a person who knowingly withholds information about the whereabouts of human remains from police could be charged. ■ The offence could also apply retrospectively. If police locate human remains and later establish that the accused knew their whereabouts before the discovery but failed to disclose that information, the person could be charged with the offence. Local missing person cases such as Suzanne Lawrence (1987) and Warren Meyer (2008) from Healesville are front of mind for the detective when discussing these needed changes. Legislation surrounding this change will do more than simply aid evidence and further cases along. Mr Smith believed this notion will finally bring hope. “It will mean a chance for those unknowns, somewhere, to find the heart and to be finally convinced to reveal what they know.” “Relationships and loyalties between those that have kept information change.” “People mature in thought, they find morality and humanity and feel it’s time to come forward.” “The weight of fear is overpowered by their new-found courage and sense of morality. The law would just speed things up with a degree of tension,” he said. This possible legislation, if implemented, would assist the investigative process too. “The potential cost saving for police and emergency resources is unlimited, because application is immediate.” It is likely, however, that to make further progress in resolving these cases, some missing persons cases, where the evidence supports it, may have to be re-categorised as “missing and pre-
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Homelessness hitting the Yarra Ranges in ways it hasn’t before By Callum Ludwig When many of us think of homelessness, we can often think of the visible forms; rough sleepers, begging for help, on busy city streets. This Homelessness Week, local homelessness support services are urging the community bto be aware that homelessness can be hidden and found all around us. Stable One chief executive Katherine Kirkwood said one of the most noticeable changes they’ve observed this winter has been an increase in the number and average length of stay for people staying at the Yarra Valley Winter Shelter each night. “As our shelter is best suited to people with low to moderate support needs, this may indicate that more people without highly complex needs are now experiencing prolonged homelessness due to housing affordability, limited rental availability and financial stress,” she said. “A key concern is that even people who are ready and able to move forward are not finding a realistic pathway out of homelessness. “Homelessness isn’t always visible, while some people sleep rough, many others are sleeping in cars, couch surfing, living in overcrowded or unsafe housing, or staying in temporary accommodation because they have nowhere else to go.” Stable One will be launching two initiatives later this year to continue their efforts beyond the Winter Shelter network: the Fast Haven Collective and Stable One Education. The Fast Haven Collective will be a network of community members willing to offer accommodation, being connected with individuals and families experiencing housing instability, supported by Stable One to ensure matches are appropriate and sustainable. People with investment properties, spare rooms, bungalows, caravans or even vacant land to house a caravan are all welcome to express an interest in joining the Fast Haven Collective. Stable One Education will be a program offering practical education to individuals, churches and community organisations to help them better understand and respond to homelessness and related issues. Ms Kirkwood said raising awareness for homelessness remains incredibly important as it is often misunderstood as something that only
Local support services share their observations this Homelessness Week. (File) affects people with complex needs, or only comes as a result of bad decision-making. “In reality, many people across all demographics in our own community are experiencing homelessness, and often because of circumstances beyond their control - such as childhood trauma, family violence, serious illness or injury, relationship breakdown, or financial hardship,” she said. “By continuing to raise awareness, we help challenge misconceptions, encourage empathy, and build practical community involvement in the long-term solutions needed to address homelessness… the more our community understands the different forms homelessness can take, the more likely people are to recognise when someone needs support. “We all need to play our part; it might be donating to a local organisation, volunteering your time, contacting your local government representative about affordable housing, or simply taking the time to treat someone experiencing homelessness with dignity and kindness.” In Lilydale, Holy Fools’ Felix House remains busy providing services to people experiencing
homelessness in the community. Chief executive Neal Taylor said one of the big things that he’s seen over the last year is that homelessness can affect anyone. “We’ve seen people who are elderly living in their cars at 70-plus years old through to 17-yearolds; it’s amazing how people don’t realise how far away they are from being homeless, two or three steps and their lives could be in turmoil,” he said. “We’ve seen the difference that it makes for people to encounter Felix House and just having that as an aid for their journey, we had one lady, she was 72, she was living in her car with her friend and when she came to us, she was stooped over, carrying a cane but she had a shower at our center, and she came out and she looked like she had a spring in her step. “We’ve really worked hard to try and build awareness in the community over the last 15 years we’ve been around, and I think the awareness is better than it used to be, but I think it still has chasms to go.” A lunch was held at Felix House on Wednesday 5 August while its annual FreezeOut! cam-
paign remains ongoing, with community members invited to swap their bed for the floor, the couch, your car, your backyard, a club room or a school hall for a night or more to raise vital funds. Anchor chief executive Heidi Tucker said it’s becoming increasingly hard for people in the Yarra Ranges to be able to access safe and affordable housing. “We notice every day just how limited the options are for people when someone presents to our service, and how long it can take to get people moving through the system,” she said. “We are seeing an increase in people that are 55-plus years of age on fixed incomes (pension or super), as well as employed and dual income families with children, but are still finding themselves experiencing homelessness. “Many people are those have experienced of family violence and the risk has decreased; however, they cannot return to their home and are now forced to access homelessness services.” Ms Tucker also highlighted that bottlenecks within homelessness refuges, access to crisis brokerage, public housing properties without tenants due to required maintenance and low vacancy rates are contributing to extended waiting lists for people experiencing homelessness. Ms Tucker said a big part of Homelessness Week is raising awareness of what the reality of accessing a homelessness service looks like and urged people to take the time to familiarise themselves with what supports are available. “Setting clear expectations of what is possible and when people should reach out for support earlier is better than when things enter crisis situations… there is still stigma and misunderstanding about what homelessness actually looks like,” she said. “An alarming trend witnessed by our homelessness team this year has been the increase in demographics that have never accessed specialist homelessness services before, specifically, families with two parents who are both working and earning incomes, yet still unable to afford housing or rentals, and unable to secure accommodation. “We have a brilliant community full of generous and empathetic people that want to see people experiencing homelessness get the support they need and deserve, often people want to help someone they know needs help, but don’t know where to turn to.”
Homelessness Week memorial honours locals who have died By Callum Ludwig To mark the start of Homelessness Week, local support services and community members gathered to remember those local people who died while or having recently experienced homelessness. A memorial was held in the Lillydale Lake Community Room on Tuesday 4 August, hosted by Stable One, the organiser of the Winter Shelter network. Dr David Wilson, who attends Zac’s Place church in Yarra Junction and is a consultant for Stable One, was the MC for the day. Dr Wilson said they will not be forgotten. “They may have felt cast aside by society, but today, we gather to say ‘not by us’, we’re not casting them aside,” he said. “As we gather at a time like this, we feel a whole lot of different things, a funeral service, a memorial service, a time of remembrance, there’s a whole lot of things that go on in our heads and go on in our hearts, and sometimes there’s a lot of anger, which is most appropriate. “All those things are all legitimate, and we feel a real mixture of those things, but it’s also a time to celebrate, celebrate where we can as we remember our friends who have died and celebrate as we learn to forgive those with whom we’re angry.” After the introduction, Neal Glover and Stable One chief executive Katherine Kirkwood, both of the Montrose Church of Christ led a rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’, followed by a reading of Psalm 23 by Fiona Carter of the Wandin and Seville Anglican Church. Dr Wilson then invited attendees to step forward and light a candle in memory of seven people in the local area, who he listed, who had died in the last year.
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Stable One chief executive Katherine Kirkwood and Neal Glover led a rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’. (Callum Ludwig: 569922)
Dr David Wilson from Zac’s Place in Yarra Junction. (Callum Ludwig: 569922) Dr Wilson said these names are not just words. “These names are significant because they are names of real people, people whom we loved, people who had a long life,” he said. “We can be angry at the fact that homelessness exists in our country, in our state, in our region here in the Yarra Ranges, because it shouldn’t be, but it does. “The candles there are symbolic of some of the memories that we have of those who have passed away.” A moment of silence was observed following the lighting of the candles. Pastor Dean Tromp of The Sanctuary Church in Lilydale was invited to share a message and said in his work serving the local area as a pastor and school chaplain, he sees a lot of people going through things in life, including the youth. “I was talking to my daughter Hazel, I have a
five-year-old and I was looking for a really good philosophical answer on love so I thought maybe my five-year-old will have something amazing to share with me because you can learn a lot from kids,” he said. “She said ‘Stop it, Dad. Come and play with me’ and first I thought ‘Oh, well, I don’t have an answer ‘ but then I thought about ‘Stop it, Dad. Come and play with me’ and how love and care actually looks like stopping in life and being present with people, stopping and hearing their stories. “After a couple of hours, I was actually thankful for my daughter’s answer because it really helped me understand more about love and care and support of people from all different walks of life.” The memorial concluded with Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins and some closing messages from Dr Wilson.
Pastor Dean Tromp from The Sanctuary Church in Lilydale. (Callum Ludwig: 569922)
A memorial for locals who died while experiencing homelessness in the last year was held in Lilydale. (Callum Ludwig: 569922)
Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL 9
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Greg puts his hand up to run for One Nation By Callum Ludwig Retired businessman and school teacher Greg Hansford is contesting the Eastern Victoria region for One Nation at this year’s state election. He has lived in the region his entire life, other than a short stint while qualifying as a school teacher at Latrobe University, and currently lives in the Latrobe Valley, which comprises of Moe, Morwell and Traralgon as its main towns. Ms Hansford said Australia is the best country in the world and Gippsland is one of the best regions to live in so it’s worth working hard to develop and preserve. “Whilst growing up in Gippsland I witnessed a thriving, resource-rich area, the local State Electricity of Victoria power stations employed about 18,000 local residents, including a large apprenticeship scheme, the local timber industry employed around 1100 people statewide, whilst the Australian Paper Mill (APM) made brown and white paper for Australia utilising 1000 employees,” he said. “In recent times these have either shut down or are in the process of doing so, Yallourn West power station will close in 2028 and with it Victoria will lose 20 per cent of its power supply and locally the remaining 400 personnel will lose their jobs, last week the APM announced the loss of a further 84 jobs because it can’t get the timber needed to produce white paper (that is now sourced from overseas for Australia).
One Nation’s candidate for Eastern Victoria Greg Hansford. (Supplied) “The major parties have just witnessed this and offered no solutions to keeping these vital industries going.” Just prior to his retirement in 2017, Ms Hansford commenced volunteering with several groups including the St Vincent De Paul Society, the GCC Foodbank, his community radio 104.7 3GCR-FM as a programmer (and later a board member) and the Walhalla Goldfields Railway tourist attraction as station staff (which was president of until he was
announced as a One Nation candidate). He is still an active volunteer of the last two organisations. Mr Hansford said there will be many meetings in local areas that can be attended and people shouldn’t be afraid to ask the questions they have, they will be listened to. “My four main foci for the upcoming election are the managed restoration of the timber industry, the construction of a new HELE (High Efficiency, Low Emissions) coal fired power station, the return of the apprenticeship training that will benefit reducing youth problems e.g. homelessness, unemployment and crime i.e. the restoration of police numbers and locations to local towns to overcome the highest regional crime statistic that presently exists,” he said. “Of great concern to me, as a former accountant is the huge $199 billion of debt our state is headed towards, on this we taxpayers pay almost $28 million a day in interest. “Many promises will be made by all parties this election – my advice is to look at the major parties and their past promises and then see what actually they’ve done. For instance, at Warragul, for the past 10 years each major party has promised to do something about the old hospital located there, but to date nothing has been done - it’s still struggling.” Mr Hanford previously contested the federal seat of Gippsland for One Nation in 2025, attracting almost 15 per cent of the vote, up from 9.64 per cent in 2022.
Rikkie-Lee Tyrell is running again for Northern Victoria. (Supplied)
Rikkie-Lee running again for Northern Victoria By Callum Ludwig One Nation’s Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell has been confirmed to be running again for the Northern Victoria region in the 2026 state election. Ms Tyrrell is One Nation’s only sitting member, having been elected to the upper house in 2022. Ms Tyrrell has lived in the Northern Victoria region since 2014, having lived in Wodonga, Tallangatta and Invergordon before settling in Shepparton Ms Tyrrell said putting her hand up to serve Northern Victoria for another term was a ‘no-brainer’ and the past term has been the most fulfilling four years of her life. “I have always been active in the communities that I have lived in, including the Tallangatta Agricultural Society, where I founded the poultry showing competition at the Tallangatta Show,” she said.
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“The privileged position my community put me in to be their voice in Parliament, the ability to work with community members to get issues fixed, seeing firsthand how these changes made such a positive impact on people’s lives and the hurdles I am still tackling to get progress made for the growing number of constituents reaching out are the reasons I am running again. “I cannot simply quit on my community of North Victoria when the current Government has driven this State into such a mess, I am here to do the long haul of cleaning it up.” Ms Tyrrell was announced to be running again at a One Nation event on Tuesday 4 August, where the candidates contesting the Legislative Council were confirmed. Ms Tyrrell said it is clear from what she is hearing in her communities that people feel let down by the major parties and have lost faith in politics. “Certainly, the cost of living is a big issue for all Victorians, the ESFV tax is hurting regional
communities in particular, and Labor’s obsession with net zero is impacting farming communities, where prime agricultural land is being destroyed by unwanted renewable energy projects such as wind and solar, and how can we ignore our dismal, deteriorating roads infrastructure,” she said. “The Government needs to start listening to their constituents, rather than just ignoring them, One Nation is a party for the people; we listen and we will deliver common-sense solutions for Victorians. “I and my One Nation colleagues are not driven by any hidden agendas and will always be transparent, authentic, and accountable, we need to restore the people’s trust and I will continue to work hard to always be there for my constituents.” Ms Tyrrell advised that Northern Victoria voters can reach her by calling her office, sending an email or following her on social media, as well as coming up to have a chat when she’s travelling the electorate.
Yarra Ranges Council is receiving expressions of interest for roadside trading permits. (File)
Council opening up opportunities for roadside trading permits Yarra Ranges Council has opened an expression of interest (EOI) process for Roadside Trading Permits at 14 fixed locations around the Yarra Ranges and is inviting local traders to apply. This follows several rounds of community engagement over recent years, which helped shape the Roadside and Public Place Permit Guidelines, Trading Policy, and other policies on trading in public endorsed by Council in December 2025. As a result of this work, 14 locations around the Yarra Ranges have been identified as ‘fixed trading sites’ and will require businesses to hold a specific permit to allow them to trade from 1 January 2027. Expressions of interest are open now on the Council website and will close on 27 August. Yarra Ranges Mayor Cr Richard Higgins encouraged locals with a mobile business to put their hands up for a permit. “Roadside trading is part of the history and day-to-day life of the Yarra Ranges, from locals grabbing a coffee at a park or on your way to work, picking up some of the fantastic fresh produce our region has to offer or buying the kids a treat on a drive through the region,” he said. “We’ve now opened EOIs for 14 prime trading sites, creating a fantastic opportunity for locals to make their roadside business a fixture of our region. “Through the EOI process, we want to hear about your business, what you’ll offer locals and visitors, and how you operate your business.” The 14 locations where roadside trading permits are available are: ■ Three sites at Lillydale Lake, Lilydale. ■ One site at Bellbird Park, Lilydale. ■ Two sites at 150 Cambridge Road, Kilsyth. ■ One site on Paynes Road, Chirnside Park. ■ One site at Keith Hume Fraser Reserve, Montrose. ■ One site on the corner of Tramway Road and York Road, Mt Evelyn. ■ One site on the corner of the Old Warburton Highway and Warburton Highway, Seville. ■ One site on the corner of Warburton Highway and Victoria Road, Wandin North. ■ One site at Kalorama Memorial Reserve, Kalorama. ■ One site at Wesburn Park (Warburton Bike Park Trail Head), Warburton. ■ One site on McIntyre Lane, Yering. Cr Higgins said there is plenty of time to make an application, and the council is available to support any traders that need a hand with the process. “An independent panel will assess applications based on connection to the region – including if there’s a history of trading locally - hours of operation, sustainability of operation, range of options for the community and diversity in what the businesses offer,” he said. “We’ll notify applicants of our decision by end September, with the new permits applying from 1 January 2027.” Current flexible permits for these sites will continue until the end of 2026. Flexible roadside trading permits will continue to be available for use at other locations across the Yarra Ranges.
Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL 11
NEWS
Second time around for president Joanne Fuller By Gabriella Vukman The Healesville and District Historical Society is embracing both tradition and technology after president Joanne Fuller was re-elected at the society’s annual general meeting on Friday, 24 July. The volunteer-run organisation has spent over four decades preserving the stories, photographs and records that tell the history of Healesville and the surrounding district. Under Fuller’s continued leadership, the society is now looking not only to safeguard the past but also to make its collection more accessible for future generations. Returning president Joanne Fuller said continuing in the role is both an honour and a responsibility. “The Historical Society is truly a wonderful bunch of people,” she said. “I love Healesville, so it is great to be part of something so special.” While she now leads the volunteer-run organisation, Ms Fuller is quick to acknowledge the influence of former long-serving president Bryn Jones. “I feel like I’m Bryn’s apprentice and I always will be,” Ms Fuller said. “He’s a fantastic mentor. I have big shoes to fill.” Ms Fuller said Bryn’s decades of dedication and remarkable knowledge of local history continue to inspire her approach to the role, describing him as someone whose guidance has helped shape her own leadership. Although she has called Healesville home for six and a half years, Ms Fuller’s connection to the town stretches back much further. Childhood visits created lasting memories that eventually drew her back to the Yarra Valley. “I always felt very connected to the area,” she said. “I had a wonderful childhood coming to Healesville and doing things locally. I knew I wanted to come back.” “I am so happy this is my forever home now.” Growing up, the Healesville sanctuary and the Maroondah dam were some of Ms Fuller’s favourite places growing up. Ironically, it was researching the history of her own house in Healesville that first introduced Ms Fuller to the Historical Society.
President of the Healesville Historical Society Joanne Fuller holding one of Star Mail’s archived copies of the Mountain Views paper. (Gabriella Vukman: 570219). What began as a search for information soon turned into volunteering, followed by roles as secretary and treasurer before she was elected president in 2025. “They welcomed me in and within a few months, I was helping out with admin and then I became secretary and treasurer and then president,” she said. Today, Ms Fuller’s role as president involves overseeing much of the society’s administration, including memberships and communications, while also helping residents research the history of their properties through historic title searches. Her professional background as a mathematician is somewhat unexpected for a history enthusiast. “People often ask whether I studied history, but I didn’t. I just find it interesting.” As president, Ms Fuller’s experience as a researcher and lecturer, combined with strong technical skills, is now helping modernise the Society’s operations. One of the organisation’s biggest priorities is digitisation. Working alongside fellow members Ms Fuller is helping bring artificial intelligence into the
society’s archives to make its extensive collection of photographs, documents and records more accessible. “We’ve got so many fantastic photos and records,” she said. “For newer people who come to the society, it’s not always easy to know what we’ve got.” “Digitising and using AI means we’re able to respond to things faster.” The project aims to make it easier for volunteers to search the society’s growing collection and respond more efficiently to enquiries from residents, family historians and visitors interested in Healesville’s past. Ms Fuller said the technology will complement, rather than replace the knowledge held by the society’s experienced volunteers. According to Ms Fuller, it is and will always be the people who remain the heart of the Historical Society. “My favourite part is the people and the conversations,” she said. “I’m in awe when I listen to some of the members who have lived their whole life in Healesville chat and reminisce.” “I am always trying to absorb as much of what
they say, as fast as I can.” Ms Fuller hopes the society continues to strengthen its ties with the wider community through events and partnerships with local businesses. “We consider what’s happening now as the history of the future,” she said. “Our collection is ongoing and we want to be as involved with the town as we can be.” The society has begun expanding its community engagement through initiatives such as corporate memberships and educational talks, while members are also exploring opportunities to collaborate more closely with local organisations and businesses in the future. One recent highlight was a guided excursion to the Yarra Valley Railway, where members were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour and talk. Ms Fuller said experiences like these help strengthen connections between community organisations while uncovering new local stories. Over the coming year, Ms Fuller plans to continue building on work already underway by making the society even more welcoming and accessible. “I want to make us as helpful and as open to the public and the community as I can, put on more events and see how big we can get.” Founded in 1984, the Healesville and District Historical Society is dedicated to researching, preserving and sharing the history of Healesville and the surrounding district. Based at the Healesville Community Link on River Street, the volunteer-run organisation maintains historical collections, answers public enquiries and works to ensure the district’s stories are preserved for future generations. For Ms Fuller, preserving history isn’t only about looking backwards. “We learn a lot by reflecting on what happened in the past and thinking about the lives people led and what they contributed,” she said. “History is a living thing. What happens today is tomorrow’s history.” As she begins another term as president, Ms Fuller hopes more residents will discover what she did when she first walked through the society’s doors: a welcoming group of volunteers with a shared passion for preserving Healesville’s past while ensuring its stories remain part of the community’s future.
Yarra Ranges locals spill their faves for Children’s Book Week By Gabriella Vukman As Children’s Book Week approaches, members of the Healesville and surrounding community are reflecting on the books that have shaped their lives, highlighting the enduring importance of reading for people of all ages. Children’s Book Week will be celebrated across Australia from August 22 to August 28, with this year’s theme, Symphony of Stories, encouraging young readers to discover the power of books through school parades, library events and community celebrations. At Healesville Library, staff are preparing a range of activities to celebrate Children’s Book Week and encourage young readers to discover the joy of stories. Alongside themed Storytimes, the library will feature shortlisted Book Week titles and a scavenger hunt where children can search for book characters hidden throughout the library. A local librarian told Star Mail “We’re going to be reading a few books from the last few years of Book Week.” “Within our story times, we’re creating a scavenger hunt where people can come and search for little characters around the library.” The librarian said Children’s Book Week plays an important role in fostering literacy from an early age. “Children’s Book Week is really important because it develops an early love of reading and it’s important for their literacy development.” Among this year’s featured stories will be Spiro, a picture book about a little spider that has long been a favourite with young readers. “I used to read that when I was a teacher, so the kids loved that at school.” The librarian said the book’s engaging story and illustrations continue to make it a popular 12 MAIL | Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
choice. “I just think it’s a really fun story and I think the kids really enjoy it.” “The pictures are beautiful and it makes spiders less scary as well.” The library team hopes the celebrations remind the community that libraries offer much more than shelves of books. “We definitely want the community to come and check out our story times and our holiday programs that we have,” the librarian said. “The library offers a lot more than people realise.” “We don’t just have books. You can borrow board games and you can come and use our consoles like the Nintendo.” “There’s so many more things that you can do here than people know about.” For the librarian, reading has always been a lifelong passion. “I love to read. I think it’s important to have that lifelong reading from childhood to adulthood.” While she enjoys reading picture books with children, the librarian’s own reading tastes range from historical non-fiction to thrillers. “It’s a good hobby to have, especially when it’s cold and miserable weather and you can cozy up at home with a book and escape into a new world. I really like that.” While the week is centred around children, local readers of all ages say a love of books is something worth nurturing for life. Yarra Valley FM presenter Alan Collier discovered his favourite author quite by chance. “I was in an op shop and I saw a whole lot of these James Patterson books and thought I’d give them a shot.” That chance purchase sparked a lasting appreciation for the bestselling crime writer.
“I’ve probably read a dozen of his books but there are probably another 30 or 40 out there that I haven’t got anywhere near yet,” Mr Collier said. For Mr Collier, reading is about enjoyment and finding stories that are difficult to put down. “For me it has to be a book that I can pick up that is very easy to read,” he said. “I find that that’s what I want out of a book. I don’t want to be able to put it down.” “I don’t read books to solve the problems of the world. I just want to be able to be entertained.” Reading is a staple in Mr Collier’s evening routine. “I will generally read for about three quarters of an hour every night when I go to bed.” Alan believes that the seeds of a love for reading must be sewn early on. “When my children were young, we would read to them all the time,” Mr Collier said. “It’s very important for young people to start reading and develop that love of books very early on.” Badger Creek resident, and local book club member Holly Bracken said there has not been a time when books have not played a central role in her life. “I have just always been a reader. I’ve always loved escaping with a book.” Ms Bracken said reading offers something increasingly valuable in today’s fast-paced world. “Now reading and books are more important than ever because our attention spans are disappearing, and reading is good for our brains.” As both a parent and a high school teacher, Ms Bracken looks forward to Children’s Book Week every year. “I have already received an alert in my chil-
dren’s school newsletter to start preparing their costumes for Book Week,” she said. “Being a high school teacher, I usually dress up for book week too at school, even if the teenagers don’t, because I love book week.” While Ms Bracken said choosing a favourite book is almost impossible, she admitted one novel stands above the rest. “The book I have loved the most, would be Babel, by R.F. Kuang.” She also fondly remembers dressing as Erica Yurken from the book Hating Alison Ashley, a childhood favourite by Robin Klein. For Holly, reading isn’t simply a hobby, -it is woven into her everyday life. “I can’t imagine my world without books,” she said. “I’ve always got piles of them everywhere and I always have a list of what I want to read.” Ms Bracken hopes Children’s Book Week encourages people of all ages to give reading a chance. “I know lots of people feel like there is a right way to read and the right book to read and the right time to read but the reality is, you need to just pick a book up.” “If you don’t like it, try another one. There’s always a book there... you’ll always find a book you love if you keep looking.” Across the Yarra Ranges, schools, libraries and community groups will mark Children’s Book Week with dress-up parades, storytimes, author visits and literacy activities, celebrating Australian children’s literature and the lifelong enjoyment that books can bring. Whether it’s discovering a favourite author in an op shop, revisiting a childhood classic or finding a few quiet moments with a novel at the end of the day, local readers agree that stories continue to enrich lives long after childhood.
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NEWS
War history documented By Mikayla van Loon The first-hand accounts of how the Vietnam War shaped the Shire of Lillydale, its residents and soldiers have been permanently documented. The Lilydale RSL and historian Anthony McAleer are preparing to launch his newest book entitled Vietnam - Long Hard Years Not Forgotten, a compilation of stories from veterans, residents and former protesters against the war. “The book is similar to Vietnam in the fact that it’s a journey. When you see a lot of the documentaries and the shows, and even some of the books, it’s easy to assume that Vietnam went for a couple of years and everybody had the same experiences,” Mr McAleer said. “It wasn’t the case. It certainly developed over a long period, and it’s a story of people being dropped into that journey and then taken out after 12 months, constantly happening all the way through.” The book will launch on Sunday 16 August as part of a broader Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration, with a gathering at Japara House in Kilsyth at 2pm. From the district, 137 men and four civilians, including the first Australian woman to go to Vietnam during the conflict, served in the Vietnam War, 40 of whom are quoted in the book. Five local soldiers never returned home. In total, over 100 people contributed to the book, giving various perspectives on how the war changed lives and ideologies. Of the people interviewed, Lilydale RSL president Bill Dobson and fellow veterans Mike Pearce and Ken Mackenzie OAM told their varying stories of serving in the war. Mr Pearce signed up as a young man. He waited two years to be sent over to Vietnam, but the day never came. Asked to extend his service by a further 12 months, he eventually served 107 days in the jungle conflict. He landed in Saigon during one of the biggest battles to occur in Vietnam, and said he only knew what he was told, but “You didn’t know what the hell you were going into”. Mr Pearce celebrated his 21st birthday overseas. Returning home, however, he was met with disdain, bearing the brunt of criticism for going to Vietnam. Walking out of church one day, Mr Pearce was asked about his medals, but as soon as he said they were from Vietnam, the insult “baby killer” was hurled at him from a woman who he once thought of as an acquaintance. “I said, ‘Dad, it’s your church. From here on out, it’s your church, not mine. I won’t go back’,” Mr Pearce said. Friends he’d grown up with changed and moved on; Mr Pearce said they could no longer relate to each other. “I had a good group of boys that we grew up with, but by the time I got back, I’d finished two years plus overseas. They’d moved on. They weren’t the same people. They weren’t talking the same language, or I wasn’t talking the same language,” he said. “I finished up for a long time very, very much a loner. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to listen to anyone talk about it. “I came home in ‘68, and it was close enough to ‘70 before I got to feel like I was home.”
Author and historian Anthony McAleer, Lilydale RSL president Bill Dobson, Ken Mackenzie OAM and Mike Pearce. (Stewart Chambers: 569991) Mr McAleer said the Vietnam War was different to the First and Second World Wars because it was the first time people could watch what was happening on the nightly news. “It played a big part in the way that people treated us or looked at us; you could have a battle 10 o’clock in the morning and watch it on watch it on 6 o’clock news,” Mr Pearce said. Mr Dobson said they’d often listen to ABC National, mostly to hear the football commentary, but they too would hear the news of the day. “You’d hear about the demonstrations and all that sort of thing, so that was off-putting to think so many people demonstrated, particularly carrying the red flags down the street, and we’re supposed to be fighting communists,” he said. Support to send Australian servicemen to Vietnam was initially widespread but over time, the sentiment changed and protests, which mostly stemmed from universities, changed the ideology. “When you’re away fighting for your country or in a combat zone serving your country, then you would expect that even those that don’t agree with you being there would at least back you up because you’re an Australian,” Mr Mackenzie said. “We didn’t go there because we decided it was a good idea. We went there because the Australian voting population had voted for the government’s policy at the time, which was to be
there. So we were there on behalf of everybody.” Mr McAleer said speaking with people who participated in marches and protests was integral to understanding how the community was feeling and how it was impacting the Lillydale Shire. “I interviewed a lot of people who were here on the home front, people who were involved in the protest movement, who went to the moratorium marches, and people just telling us what their views and experiences were, and what they witnessed,” he said. “Some felt that it may not have been helpful, and on the other hand there were Vietnam veterans who now feel that being involved in the war wasn’t the right thing, and for how it all ended, with the fall of Saigon in 1975, certainly left a lot of those fellows saying, ‘What was it for?’” That feeling was probably exacerbated by the need to reintegrate into civilian life almost instantly after returning home and essentially being shunned by the RSL. “They said ‘you can’t be a service member because it’s only conflict’,” Mr Dobson said. “Even though three million people died, it’s not a war. That was it. That was the thinking of the time. They didn’t understand the totality of what took place.” Mr Mackenzie, although he had served in Vietnam and heard the chatter, was a regular army soldier, not a Nasho, making his experience different again.
“For guys like me, we were pretty good because we were still in our same environment, except nobody was trying to kill us. So we still had our daily regimen. We had our jobs. We were doing our jobs. We just weren’t in combat. So we were still in the family. “The poor buggers that were national servicemen had come from a civilian environment straight into a military that was fighting. “Then they came back, and they were put out again into the community and expected to pick up where they left off, and they were totally different people.” It wasn’t uncommon, Mr Mackenzie said, for national servicemen to join the regular army upon returning because it was familiar and comfortable. In 1983, while living in Seville, Mr Dobson was actively involved in exposing the Lillydale Shire for using the main chemical from Agent Orange, 245T, as a weed spray on sporting ovals. The use was eventually banned statewide, which forced the shire to find an alternative. Mr Dobson said, “Anthony’s book fills a gap in history because you hear from the veterans, the people that lived here, the whole thing”. “This is probably the first time that the Vietnam War was looked at from a regional perspective… Telling the story in their words about what happened to them, it also records a lot of feelings and emotions and attitudes and sentiments,” Mr McAleer said.
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Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL 13
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Neil Stuart made 3000 walking sticks over 20 years. (Supplied)
Neil Stuart made 3000 walking sticks over 20 years while his wife’s illness progressed. (Supplied)
Eager community members helped unload the walking sticks. (Supplied)
Story behind walking sticks By Oliver Winn When 3000 handmade walking sticks ended up in the hands of Wesburn-based artist Shlomit Moria on 4 August, she knew it’d make for an interesting piece of art. But perhaps more interesting is the story behind the walking sticks themselves. Now, she’s calling for sponsors to support the community-backed project. For about 20 years, a man named Neil Stuart made walking sticks as a way to cope with his wife’s Parkinsons diagnosis.
But when Neil Stuart was diagnosed with dementia, he had to leave his home, and his daughter, Mandy, was left to sell the property and move the sticks. Ms Moria said when Mandy had exhausted all avenues to rehome the walking sticks, she was left with burning them or sending them to landfill. “Over the years, she was trying to sell them in many different markets and on eBay, in different places, but it wasn’t very successful. “She had to get rid of the sticks because the new owner threatened with lawyers,” Ms Moria said.
After agreeing that both options were “horrible”, Ms Moria took a step out of her comfort zone. “I felt I was being a bit insane, but I agreed for her to bring them over. On Friday, she hired a big truck and she brought them all here to my workshop. “Two hours before she arrived, I realised it’s gonna be quite a task to take these 3000 sticks and put them in order somewhere,” she said. Ms Moria put out a call on social media and she had multiple people turn up to help unpack the sticks. “Within under an hour, we had it all done,
stacked nicely. It was amazing. It already kind of gave me a bit of healing,” Ms Moria said. Now, she’s encouraging local creatives to be a part of the project and help guide the creative vision for the installation. “I’m amazed at how, how smoothly it’s happening, and it actually tells me that it’s a good thing to do, although it’s totally out of my comfort zone,” she said. Ms Moria is calling for local organisations to sponsor the project and help cover the costs. If you’re interested, you can contact her through her website: shlomit.com.au.
‘Genius Loci’ exhibition explores spirit of the the Ranges By Oliver Winn An ever-evolving exhibition celebrating the spirit of place is taking place at the Warburton Waterwheel in August. Titled Genius Loci: Spirit of Place, the exhibition explores the connection between the land and the soul and is on until 31 August. The exhibition showcases works from a group of five artists, which express their individual relationship with different places through various mediums. Eldritch Forest said the concept of Genius Loci examines how each landscape makes us feel. “There’s two different ways of looking at the spirit of place. One is transcendental, which is that you go to a place and you meet the spirit that is there. But there’s also the spirit that rises within each person when they go to that place.” Mr Forest has studied the way European mythology relates to landscape for 40 years and said that connection was something he wanted to recreate in the exhibition. “All they are is gateways into understanding the land we’re on,” he said. Each artist’s work reveals the unique ways in which the Yarra Ranges transformed them. Using methodically hand-carved rune staves, Mr Forest created a serpentine installation representing the Yarra Birrarung. Meanwhile, Antonia Green’s work showcases 14 MAIL | Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
Antonia Green’s paintings depicted landscapes alive with energy. (570251)
Forest Eldritch studied European mythology for 40 years, informing his storytelling throughout the exhibition. (Oliver Winn: 570251) lush painted landscapes, capturing refractions of light and inviting reflection and connection. Ms Green said when she paints, the landscapes she depicts infuses each brush stroke, creating a “dancing” rhythm to her work.
“Each brush stroke is abstracted into this dancing, energised thing, to try and describe how I feel about the aliveness of the forest. “When you’re painting, you go into a bit of a trance state, but it’s also like you’re present and you’re alive and you’re excited by every single brush stroke. “Then the final artwork is a culmination of all of those moments of being present and giving energy to something,” she said. Artists Ashe, Nioushka and Monika Poray also showcased woven sculptures, macro photography and paintings. They all come from the Yarra Valley and reflect their own relationships with nature through their works. Throughout August, the exhibition hosts a variety of scheduled events that animate the es-
sence of Genius Loci. These include talks about the mythology of landscapes that are punctuated by live paintings, jam sessions and workshops. More details can be found on their Facebook page here: shorturl.at/2FaBr. Ms Green acknowledged the similarity between the exhibition’s concept of connecting with the land, and the known relationship between Indigenous Australians and Country. She said exploring the connection to the landscape through the lens of European mythology meant she could celebrate the power of the land through her own background. “We can only really speak from our own experience,” she said.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Australia’s rock music rise By Oliver Winn
L-R: Tudor Club lead singer Rory Say and drummer James Dryden. (Sophy Jin)
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Rock music became Australia’s largest streaming genre in 2025, but Aussie rock bands might be missing out on the surge in popularity, an RMIT expert explained. It came as new data from analytics platform Luminate revealed that rock music generated 26.1 billion streams, surpassing pop and hiphop. PhD candidate Charlotte Markowitsch said despite an upswing in listeners, Australia’s most streamed rock artists are international. “Australia has a rich rock history and vibrant contemporary output, including artists such as Amyl and the Sniffers and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. “Yet local and emerging acts compete with an internationally dominant canon that has defined rock greatness for decades,” she said. But while Australian acts have always struggled to penetrate a US-dominated global music industry, local Yarra Ranges band Tudor Club pointed to how the Aussie rock vibe isn’t in demand right now. Tudor Club drummer James Dryden said Australian audiences are listening to art and alternative rock subgenres, pointing to bands like Geese, which exploded to fame in late 2025. “There’s been a lot of up-and-coming bands outside of Australia, particularly, that have skyrocketed in popularity and are reaching an Australian audience. At this current point in time, the demand is for that more alternative sound,” he said. “Australian rock to me still feels like that surf rock, Ocean Alley typical sound,” he said. Lead singer Rory Say said Australia’s signature style of “jangly surf rock” – think bands like Ocean Alley, Lime Cordiale and Spacey Jane –
didn’t enjoy the same excitement they used to. “There isn’t that underground hype, I’d say. I think there is a growing interest; it’s just interesting how the Australian rock sound kind of fits in with all of it,” Mr Say said. Tudor Club are an alternative rock band based in Melbourne’s outer east suburbs, playing local live venues since their formation in 2020. Live music venues play a central role in Tudor Club’s appeal, Mr Say said, as the band focuses on delivering a memorable live performance for listeners. “It’s also never really been our focus to try and get streams and online listeners. “The majority of our focus as a band since we’ve been together is always just trying to have a tight live set and just making songs that we’re proud of,” he said. Ms Markowitsch agreed and said her research identified local live music as one of the main ways Australians engage with rock music. “Liveness is particularly important to rock culture, as the energy and authenticity of a gig remain central to how audiences assess a band.” But live discovery can be “uneven”, Ms Markowitsch said. Going to gigs costs money and time, live music spaces are historically male-dominated and venues haven’t got the best track record for accessibility. Live music exposure doesn’t tend to translate well into streaming numbers either. Mr Dryden said there were bands from the inner-Melbourne scene making the in-demand “artsy alternative rock sound” that has exploded recently, but they haven’t necessarily gained much traction outside of the scene – though that might be by choice. “It’s a lot more niche. They’re not trying to push themselves or break out of that scene to go international because they don’t want to,” he said.
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Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL 15
NEWS
Positivity ... in a new light By Gabriella Vukman From the first time you hear positivity guru Victor Perton speak, his line of work is obvious. Upon answering my phone call, before I could so much as ask a question, Mr Perton had already levelled his own query my way through the crackling phone line. “What has been the best thing about your day so far?” A good question. One that evades the automatic response of ‘not bad, yourself?’ A question that Victor Perton has built a career around asking. A question that will be brought to the Yarra Ranges by Chief Optimism Officer at the Centre for Optimism Victor Perton himself, on the evening of Monday, August 17. Speaking at the Rotary Club of Healesville next week, Mr Perton will challenge locals to look beyond the constant stream of bad news and consider what they can do to create positive change. President of the Rotary Club of Healesville Terry Hill said Mr Perton is the kind of speaker who does not simply stand in front of an audience and deliver a speech. “He challenges people to think positively by asking what they are optimistic about,” Mr Hill said. “He really is an out-there kind of guy, and I think the community will have a lot to learn from him.” Mr Hill said the evening is an opportunity for the wider community, not just Rotary members, to hear Mr Perton’s message. “We are very excited to hear Mr Perton speak,” he said. After spending years overseas representing Australia as Victoria’s Commissioner to the Americas and later working as a senior advisor during Australia’s G20 presidency, Mr Perton returned home struck by the contrast between how Australians were viewed overseas and how Australians in turn viewed themselves. Around the world, Mr Perton found being Australian opened doors. At home, he was astonished to discover quite
Mr Perton hopes the Healesville community will come away from his talk with “infectious” positivity. (Tony Harding) a different story. “I came back to Melbourne, and I was astonished by the level of negativity around Australia, around where we were heading, and our leadership,” he said. Mr Perton encountered a strong international perception of Australians as egalitarian, straightforward and optimistic, but when he returned to Melbourne, he was surprised by what he saw as a growing negativity about Australia’s future. “I’d changed from living in San Francisco and working in the G20, but Australia had also changed, and the statistics now bear that out,” he said. “The data shows that we were one of the most optimistic countries in the world 25 years ago, but today we are pretty average despite living in a country that on every objective measure is one of the best places on earth.” Mr Perton’s speech comes at a time when statistics show a significant dip in positivity nationwide. “We are in what some call a metacrisis,” Mr Perton said. “In human evolution there have always been challenges, but now, particularly with the language in the media and in politics, the notion of pessimism is rampant.”
“People really are starting to believe this consistent notion that the world is bad.” Mr Perton’s experience of Australia’s changed attitude towards pessimism prompted him to formulate the Australian Leadership Project, which interviewed approximately 2500 people about Australian leadership. Perton found that Australians continued to value three characteristics in particular: egalitarianism, self-effacing humour and plain speaking. After turning his findings into a book, Mr Perton now travels internationally speaking to government, business, medical and community organisations about what he describes as “infectiously optimistic leadership”. His message is not that people should ignore the difficult realities around them. Instead, Mr Perton argues optimism is a state of mind rather than a state of the world. “An optimist can be angry. An optimist can be sad,” he said. For Mr Perton, optimism is the belief that good things can happen and that things will work out in the end. That belief, he says, is closely connected to resilience. “You cannot be resilient unless you’ve worked on your optimism.” “What’s the point of persisting unless you think that persisting will bring a better result?” Mr Perton’s approach to spreading optimism is a practical one. One of his simplest challenges is to replace the familiar Australian greeting of “How are you?” with a different question: ‘What has been the best part of your day?’ He says the change can immediately shift a conversation towards something positive, with the vast majority of people he asks responding with a story. Another exercise he recommends is keeping a gratitude journal, recording two to three good things at the end of each day and reading them again the following morning. He also encourages people to imagine their “best self” five years into the future and write a diary entry describing an ordinary day in that life.
Mr Perton also recommended surrounding oneself with people who are uplifting. According to Mr Perton, both the Yarra Ranges and Rotary are a natural fit for his message. “I reckon the Rotary Club and the people in Healesville and the Yarra Ranges can make themselves the most optimistic region in metropolitan Melbourne,” Mr Perton said. “In close-knit communities like the beautiful Yarra Valley, neighbours look after neighbours.” Mr Perton said locals should look to organisations like Rotary for guidance on optimism. “The average Rotarian is an optimist,” he said. “They also have a sense of agency that they can build a better world.” In a region that has weathered bushfires, storms and other major events, the message of resilience and positivity is an integral one. For Mr Perton, the Yarra Ranges community has demonstrated that optimism is not about pretending difficult things do not happen. Instead, it can be seen in what happens when people respond. “If you look back on the most recent bushfires in and around the Yarra Ranges, you will see that the community stands together,” Mr Perton said. “Optimism is about resilience and resilience isn’t about building more dams, more dikes, and more infrastructure; it is about what is in people’s hearts.” He believes that community spirit is one of the strongest examples of the Australian character and something regional communities can build on. The Rotary Club of Healesville will host Victor Perton at the Healesville RSL, 275 Maroondah Highway, on Monday, August 17. All members of the community are welcome to attend the event free of charge. Guests can arrive at 6 pm to have dinner with Healesville Rotarians before the speech, or at 6.55 pm just before Mr Perton’s speech commences. And in terms of preparation, there is one question Mr Perton hopes people will leave with - one that may be worth considering before the evening even begins: What makes you optimistic?
Healesville Scouts join thousands in global celebration By Mikayla van Loon Scouts across Victoria were out and about on Saturday 1 August, from city-based quests to local festivals and activities as part of a worldwide celebration. Thousands of scouts donned their uniforms and ventured out into the community to mark World Scout Day, doing what they do best but for everyone to see. The 1st Healesville Scouts joined an estimated 200 riders from various scout groups to ride the Yarra Valley’s prized possession: the Warburton Rail Trail. The group set off from Seville and wound their way to Yarra Junction. “What an amazing ride it was. We rode 17kms through our beautiful Yarra Valley,” the group posted to social media. “To say we are proud of our kids is an understatement. Well done to all. What (an) amazing achievement.” In the CBD, Cub Scouts from the Maroondah District tested their navigation skills during a high-energy Cub City Quest. “The Cub City Quest lets our young people choose their own adventure to explore Melbourne, working as a team to complete activities at famous and lesser-known public destinations,” Maroondah District Cubs’ Michael Blowfield said. “It (was) a fantastic way to mark World Scout Day.” 1st Croydon Hills constructed a custom playground using traditional timber and rope pioneering skills for younger members. The Knox District had a full day of games and activities planned at the Arcadia Reserve Playground in Rowville, seeing them have a go at ten-pin bowling, archery and rock climbing. It brought together scouting groups from The Basin, Ferntree Gully and Heany Park, among others.
16 MAIL | Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
Mason from the 1st The Basin Scouts trying the plastic axe throwing. (569009)
Gwen was looking to join Scouting and got to try rock climbing at the same time. (Gary Sissons: 569009)
Ethan from Heany Park Scouts resetting the ten-pin bowling. (569009)
Knox District’s Kieron Younger said ScoutFest was an opportunity for families to engage with their local scout group and perhaps join the fold. “From a Scout festival at our hall to a quest in the city, our District is showing what Scouting has to offer,” he said. Pakenham’s Joeys celebrated by heading into the beautifully forested area of the Dandenong Ranges for an adventure hike. “With scarves proudly on display, our Joeys explored the trails, connected with nature, challenged themselves, supported each other, and enjoyed the friendships and experiences that
make Scouting so special,” the Pakenham Scout Group posted. World Scout Day honours the first experimental camp held in 1907 by Robert BadenPowell on Brownsea Island. From there, the movement grew, and a year later it arrived in Australia. “It is a day to remember that more than a century ago, a small group of young people gathered around a campfire with a man we call BP, who believed the world could be better if young people were given the chance to lead it,” Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson OAM said in his message to
scouting groups. Mr Watson said that current Joey Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venturer Scouts, Rover Scouts, and, of course, adult volunteers, join a collective of 60 million people who have participated in the Scout movement over 118 years. “You are connected to millions of Scouts who have done exactly the same thing before you. You belong to something extraordinary,” he said. “In a world that can sometimes feel divided, Scouting brings people together. In a world where many people wonder where they belong, Scouting gives us a place. In a world that often tells young people what they cannot do, Scouting shows you what you can become.” Scouts Victoria chief commissioner Daniella Taglieri said at a time when volunteering across the country has not returned to pre-pandemic levels and youth organisations are competing for shrinking hours, the Scouts are thriving with over 23,000 members. “We are told constantly that young people won’t commit to anything and that nobody volunteers any more,” she said. “Our numbers say otherwise. What we offer is not complicated. It is young people running their own program, outdoors, with real responsibility and real consequences, and adults who step back far enough to let them do it. It turns out there is enormous appetite for that.” The Venturer Scouts across Victoria also celebrated 80 years since the Section began in 1946, from country towns to the Melbourne CBD. “People hear Scouts and think knots and camping. What it actually is, is teenagers getting handed a budget, a map and a deadline and being trusted to sort it out ourselves,” Victoria’s State Youth Leader for Venturer Scouts Jem Lewis, 17, said. “Saturday (was) just us doing that somewhere people can see it.”
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NEWS
Positive energy shines through By Mikayla van Loon A disability support expo was buzzing with energy on Thursday 6 August as people from all over the outer east came to connect, chat and learn. The Disability Events Community’s (DEC) Melbourne East Disability Expo, hosted in Croydon, brought region-specific and state and national providers together under one roof. For Bayswater-based mental health and disability support organisation Graman Support, it was the first time attending an expo. “We’ve been operating for six years, and we’re lucky to have a good referral base based on word of mouth, which is great for us,” founder Jeremy said. “But we wanted to try something different and get into the community and meet some of the people and other providers.” Graman Support even jumped on as the coffee sponsor for the event, helping provide free hot beverages to attendees. Specialising in psychosocial disabilities, with all staff holding some level of mental health training, Jeremy said a big part of Graman Support was providing safe, meaningful group programs. “We run groups like art groups and social groups and things that can connect people, and have people feel a sense of a friend group and community,” he said. Primarily based in the eastern suburbs, Jeremy said a team was currently being established in the western suburbs of Melbourne to provide support out there, too. Being able to attend an event with such high positivity levels, where people get to connect, Jeremy said, was a success in itself, but also facilitating conversations about the NDIS changes was quite important. “We’re also there to help people because there’s a lot of worry around the NDIS at the moment. We pay a lot of attention to lots of changes that are coming up, and we try to ease people’s minds on things. “There’s a lot of anxiety around it, so that’s what we’re there for as well. Coming here today, we spoke about people asking us about those things and how we can ease their minds and help them to understand it a bit better, and know what changes are coming through, and how it may affect them, but how it also may not affect them too.” For NDSP plan manager Chris Shearer, the beauty of the expo was having a room full of providers and services who could ease worries and help find stability in the uncertainty. “There is a lot of uncertainty out there at this
stage, but it’s about the village. You’ve got to bring the village together,” she said. “We don’t have the answers. The powers that be have the answers. You hear snippets here and there, but it’s just all hearsay until they make an announcement. “But my thing is, I say to them, ‘we’ve got your back, we’re here to support you’. Just take today as today. We’ve got no control over tomorrow. Let’s just work out what we can do for you today and put your arms around each other and just support each other.” Chris said it was important for these kinds of events to reach local communities, for participants and their families to engage with the providers in one room and see what is available to them. This was particularly important for people with a disability, as getting into the larger, citybased expos may not always be possible. “Running these events still puts faith in families, participants, and providers that we’re all here to support,” she said. As a plan manager, Chris’ role ensures invoices are paid and providers aren’t overcharging, making a family’s interaction with the NDIS easier. “What I love probably the most of all is when a young family have just got a diagnosis for their child, and you can imagine what they’re going through. If I can take a little bit of that away from them and help them…I’ve done my job.” GRP Speech Pathology’s Zara and her family’s assistance dog Sox attended Thursday’s event, marking one of several DEC expos they’ve been to. Zara said it was a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with others in the industry and, of course, to support participants. As a community-based speech pathology clinic, Zara said that instead of clients coming to them, GRP’s speech pathologists meet them where they are, whether at school, at home, or in aged care. “We’re there for them. We also cover the whole age span, so anywhere from two to over 100, we can support them with communication, speech, swallowing, and mealtime management,” she said. “When you can support people to communicate with the world, when we see our clients grow up, and then all of a sudden we’re helping them build a Tinder profile and working on how they can access that type of lifestyle because that’s what they’re looking for is so powerful. “Then you’re helping children develop friendships. We’re helping adults eat and drink safely, and it’s really a wonderful thing to be able to do.”
Phoebe, Jeremy, Roxy and Tammy from Bayswater’s Graman Support. (Stewart Chambers: 566072)
NDSP plan manager Chris Shearer. (566072)
Zara from GRP Speech Pathology with assistance dog Sox. (566072)
Emily, Ivy, Lexi and Carolyn from Melba Support Services, Lilydale. (566072)
Sonya from CPSN with Quinn. (566072)
Sacha Hammond and Kylie Harris from The Bridge with Tunga (centre) from Life Without Barriers. (566072)
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Lena Zuzic from My Plan Manager with Disability Events Community’s Micharla Russell. (566072)
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Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL 17
OPINION
Familiar local names Taiwan By Luke Steenhuis The Wurundjeri, part of the Kulin Nation, lived for eons in what is now called the Yarra Valley, so it is not surprising that some local features or places bear traditional names, albeit often in a somewhat corrupted form. They include: Tarrawarra – believed to mean “a slow-moving stream”. It was the name of an area which became part of the huge tract of land squatted on by the Ryrie brothers from 1837 when they arrived at Yering. The station was renamed View Hill and retained the name until David Syme, who became the owner in 1893, reverted to its original Aboriginal name. It is remembered today as the district between Healesville and Yarra Glen, the Tarrawarra Winery and the Tarrawarra Museum of Art. Yumbunga – “a camping place near water”. It became the name for the lake constructed in 1934 on Chum Creek Rd. It was intended to be the focus of a “new township replete with all the business amenities and public functions, with the lake as the central attraction”. That did not happen, although it was made available to the public as a swimming, boating, camping and picnic venue. It exists today in a much-reduced form as private property. Cr Fred Hodges, on whose land it was constructed and whose concept the lake was, gave Aboriginal names to the many properties he
An old Rose postcard circa 1915-1918 of St Ronan’s Well on The Black Spur. The name was associated with tales of Christian ritual healing in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. (Supplied) owned in Chum Creek, including Bangambalunga, Yibbleewaadjo and Gurrangooyong. Maroondah is the most familiar of the local Aboriginal names, used today for the highway, reservoir and park. The origin of the name is not entirely clear, but there is evidence that it is an anglicised form of a Kulin word relating to “rain” or “thunder” associated with Mt Monda. From the Yarra Valley floor, Mount Monda often appears shrouded in mist, cloud or rain. Apparently, in Aboriginal naming traditions, mountains are often named for their weather behaviour. There appears to be no evidence that Maroondah means “delight”, “throwing”, “happiness” or even “native pine”, all of which have been suggested at one time or another.
Other Local Features: Two features in the area with no association with Aboriginal names, but with interesting origins, are Mallesons Lookout and St Ronan’s Well. Mallesons Lookout - Named for A. B. Malleson, a well-known Melbourne solicitor. He owned and developed a country estate known as Malleson’s Glen in the late 19th century on the Don River between Healesville and Launching Place. He encouraged the Healesville Shire Council to establish a lookout on Don Rd by cutting down several trees so tourists attracted to the area could enjoy a magnificent view of the valley and surrounding mountains and hills. He contributed £5 to the project. The lookout was a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. However, today, regrowth of the original cleared area has almost blocked the former view, and Malleson’s Lookout is little more than a convenient pull-in on the side of Don Road. St Ronan’s Well – Located on the Maroondah Highway just beyond the Black Spur, the stone drinking well seen today was rebuilt around 1913, replacing an earlier version funded by Sir William Zeal, a noted engineer and nature enthusiast. The name was borrowed from Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, where St Ronan’s Well was linked to ancient healing rituals at a sacred spring later Christianised — traditions sometimes mistaken for witchcraft. Locally, the well became a travellers’ landmark, and tossing a coin into its clear water was said to bring good luck on the journey ahead.
CARTOON
A scoop of...
Ice Cream Man Starring Ari Millen, Charlie Zeltzer and Shiloh O’Reilly R18+ Fail/5 In Ice Cream Man, a horror-comedy directed by Eli Roth, the schoolchildren in the town of Bayleen Bay become homicidal maniacs after eating ice cream from a shady vendor. Ice Cream Man features clunky dialogue and dated humour, but the child actors give solid performances and the film has some well-executed rising unease early on. When the kids burst into sugary violence in the second act, it’s hard not to get swept up in the gleeful, creatively absurd butchery. Still, with a nighttime scene of slaughter before the school massacre, the tension is somewhat diluted and the violence (while ramped up) is less shocking, and even at a short 86 minutes, the comedic gore and stop-and-start chases grow tiresome. Other critics have compared Ice Cream Man to the unrelated 1995 slasher film Ice Cream Man, the 2014 zombie film Cooties and last year’s horror hit Weapons, but Roth’s Ice Cream Man reminds me of the 1990 so-bad-it’s-good classic Troll 2, which has vegetarian goblins and possessed townsfolk use poisoned vegetables to turn their victims into plants. Ice Cream Man’s ending has a wellseeded, grisly gut-punch of a twist that left me kinda impressed, but I don’t feel like giving it any credit, given Roth’s use of generative AI. Roth confirmed the use of AI for only a few brief animated scenes and flashbacks, but any amount of generative AI is an ethical failure that taints the rest of the project. Playing in select Victorian cinemas, Ice Cream is a middlingly entertaining but poorly-paced gorefest with a devastating ending, and would have earned a 2.75 or 3 out of 5, but the use of AI leaves a rotten taste in my mouth, and I can’t in good conscience give it anything other than a fail. - Seth Lukas Hynes
18 MAIL | Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
Shrek the Musical in theatres CPP Community Theatre Shrek the Musical Everyone’s favourite ogre is back in this hilarious stage spectacle based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation Film. Packed with heart, humour and all the fairy-tale chaos you remember, Shrek the Musical brings the beloved characters from the movie to life on stage. “Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek.”… And so begins the journey of an unlikely hero who teams up with a wisecracking Donkey and a princess who’s anything but traditional. Add a short-tempered villain, a cookie with attitude and a whole crowd of fairytale-tale misfits, and you’ve got a swamp-sized adventure only a true hero can untangle. Season: Friday, 25 September – Saturday, 3 October. Karralyka Theatre Giselle presented by Victorian State Ballet Giselle, featuring internationally recognised artists, is the perfect ballet for lovers of classical dance. Considered one of the greatest romantic ballets, its beauty and romance have captivated for centuries. Season: 21 August, at 7.20pm. 22 August at 2pm and at 7.30pm. 23 August at 2pm.
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Kemp’s curtain call The Big Band Swing Show Performed by the acclaimed Big City Beat Show Band featuring an outstanding live brass section and sensational vocalists. This high-energy production brings to life the music of some of the greatest artists of all time, including Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Shirley Bassey, Harry Connick Jr, Natalie Cole, Dean Martin, Tom Jones, Frankie Valli, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley. Featuring powerful vocals, dazzling musicianship and timeless classics, audiences will be transported through an afternoon of unforgettable entertainment, from smooth swing standards and jazz favourites to the iconic songs that have filled concert halls and captivated audiences for generations. Season: Sunday, 7 February 2027 at 2pm.
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Travelogue review PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN Taiwan Travelogue, written by Taiwanese author Yáng Shuang-zi and translated into English by Lin King, is winner of the 2026 International Booker Prize. It also won the 2024 National Book Award for Translated Literature in the U.S. The novel tells the story of Aoyama Chizuko, a Japanese novelist who travels from her hometown Nagasaki to Taiwan in 1938 to experience the life and authentic cuisine in that “Southern Island” as a colony of the Japanese Empire. Chizuko soon meets her local guide and interpreter Ông Tshian-hóh, or Chizuru in Japanese, whom she nicknames Chi-chan. Together, the pair travels by train and samples a great variety of delicacies across Taiwan, exchanging notes on food, people, literature and culture. Chizuko becomes increasingly infatuated with Chi-chan, who is knowledgeable, efficient, meticulous and highly capable. However, as much as the Japanese woman wants to befriend her Taiwanese counterpart, she is unable to detect the blind spot in her own perspective – that the power imbalance between the pair will always exist and it is impossible to achieve any true equality between the coloniser and the colonised. Disguised as a faux translation of a rediscovered Japanese text, the novel comes with a researcher’s preface/introduction and various afterwords by its Chinese and English translators, and even footnotes by Chizuko herself. While this scholarly apparatus adds a sense of “authority” and “authenticity” to the novel, its aim is to interrogate the power dynamics between history and memory, as well as the truths behind any “official” or “grand” narrative. This is a novel that demands readers to do the work – to observe how the coloniser develops a colony but also exploits and extracts from it, how their attempt to “modernise” that colony’s economy, society, language and culture ends up irrevocably altering the local people’s lives and denying the latter’s rights and dignity to make their own choices. Worse, the coloniser is unable to see all the harm done to the colonised, as they see themselves as being benevolent and helpful, hence the aforementioned “blind spot”. As described by one of the book’s characters: “There is nothing in the world more difficult to refuse than selfrighteous goodwill.” For those who just want to enjoy the story, it features a delicate yet heart-wrenching romance between two women of distinct intellectual and cultural backgrounds. There are detailed descriptions of social and economic activities and customs across Japanese-occupied Taiwan of the 1930s, as well as breathtaking sceneries and mouth-watering Taiwanese foods. Each dish tells a story of fusion of unique ingredients, flavours and cooking methods, revealing a lesser known aspect of Taiwan as a vibrant multilingual, multicultural and multiethnic society. Taiwan Travelogue deserves all the hype it gets. Highly recommended.
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A PRIVATE LIFESTYLE ESTATE
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
A PRIVATE LIFESTYLE ESTATE ON 15 ACRES BEAUTIFUL mornings and sensational sunsets, views from every window. Beyond a secure gated entrance and sweeping sealed driveway lies an exceptional lifestyle estate where luxury, privacy and breathtaking natural beauty converge. Set amidst approximately 15 pristine acres with picturesque views across rolling countryside, this remarkable residence offers an unparalleled opportunity to embrace refined country living without compromising convenience. Designed on a grand scale and crafted for both sophisticated entertaining and relaxed family living, the home immediately impresses with its soaring 10-foot ceilings, expansive proportions and an abundance of natural light. Elegant formal and informal living zones provide exceptional versatility, including a gracious formal lounge and dining room centred around an inviting fireplace, a substantial family and meals domain warmed by a fireplace, an impressive rumpus/games room, and a dedicated executive office for those working from home. At the centre, the beautifully appointed timber and granite kitchen has been designed to inspire. Featuring, expansive stone preparation surfaces, extensive cabinetry, quality appliances and a generous walk-in pantry, it effortlessly caters to everyday family life as well as large-scale entertaining. Flowing seamlessly outdoors, the kitchen and living spaces open onto an expansive covered Merbau entertaining deck, complete with outdoor cafe blinds, overlooking the secure rear gardens and spectacular rural vistas beyond—creating an idyllic setting for yearround gatherings with family and friends. The thoughtfully designed accommodation comprises four generous bedrooms, each offering exceptional comfort and privacy. The luxurious primary suite occupies its own private wing, complete with a spacious walkin robe and elegant ensuite. A beautifully appointed guest suite also enjoys a walk-in robe and private ensuite, while two further oversized bedrooms with built-in robes are serviced by a stylish central family bathroom.
Adding further practicality is an oversized laundry and mudroom, ideal for busy family living and country pursuits, while the substantial four-car garage with internal access, additional carport and extensive parking ensure ample space for vehicles, trailers and recreational equipment. The estate has been thoughtfully enhanced with every modern convenience, 3 phase heating and cooling, a security alarm system, CCTV surveillance, extensive outdoor lighting, mains water, gas supply, and a 4.7kW solar system with a 5.3kW inverter, delivering energy efficiency without compromise. Perfectly equipped for equestrian enthusiasts, hobby farmers or grazing livestock, the property offers exceptional infrastructure with four well-fenced paddocks, electric fencing to the perimeter, the water supply to the three large paddocks via mains or storm water tank with pump, a livestock loading ramp and holding yard, machinery and tack shed with its own independent entrance, plus undercover storage for hay and firewood. The established gardens, complete with mature shade trees and productive fruit trees, further enhance the estate’s picturesque setting. Despite its peaceful rural atmosphere, this outstanding property enjoys an enviable level of convenience. Located just 1.1 kilometres from the heart of Belgrave South, the estate is moments from quality schools, local shopping, cafes and sporting facilities, while Belgrave Railway Station, Wellington Road, EastLink and the M1 freeway provide effortless access to Melbourne and surrounding regions. For horse lovers, the location is second to none, with the local pony club within walking distance and direct access to scenic riding trails from the property itself. Offering a rare combination of timeless elegance, exceptional infrastructure and an idyllic lifestyle setting, this is a property of remarkable scale and substance where every element has been carefully considered. A truly distinguished country estate, ready to be enjoyed for generations to come. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 17 Bellany Road, BELGRAVE SOUTH Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 6 garage Price: $3,500,00 - $3,800,00 Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522, Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE 9754 6111
HOME FOCUS
A TRUE CLASSIC WARBURTON PROPERTY SET ON A PICTURESQUE 10 ACRES A spectacular property steeped in local history, a true classic Warburton property and set on a picturesque 10 acres dating back to around the early 1900’s. A charming home with all the period features and style of the days gone by with all the modern features and comforts of today’s era. A versatile and functional floor plan offers plenty of flexibility for a multitude of uses. Boasting 6 to 7 bedrooms plus an office/study area, 2 bathrooms and multiple living/family rooms ideally zoned to allow everyone their own space and privacy. The kitchen area is sure to impress with quality appliances and fixtures with ample bench and cupboard space plus a walk in pantry and beautiful splash backs. The main family room is the highlight of the home with stunning views to the Yarra river, a view you will admire every day. The outside area is equally impressive with approx. 10 acres to explore, a mix of cleared grassy lawns and scattered bush allows an abundance of enjoyment all year round, lovely established gardens, trees and shrubs surround the property. Entertain in style all year round with a covered entertaining area plus open air entertaining with a huge deck off the main family room with stunning views overlooking the Yarra River. An impressive view, an impressive property, fresh, modern and up to date throughout but retaining all the warmth and atmosphere of the early days, a rare Warburton residence with so much to offer and situated in an exclusive and private location and yet just minutes walk to Warburton’s main street, activities and attractions. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 50 Riverturn Lane, WARBURTON Description: 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,500,000 - $1,650,000 Inspect: By Appointment Contact: David Carroll 0419 539 320, BELL REAL ESTATE - YARRA JUNCTION. 5967 1277 mailcommunity.com.au Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 21
HOME FOCUS
COMFORTABLE FAMILY LIVING IN MONBULK SET in a peaceful Monbulk location, 20 McAllister Road offers a warm and inviting three bedroom home with charming period detail and a generous outdoor setting perfect for everyday family living. With a practical single level floorplan, spacious rear yard and excellent entertaining options, this home is ready to enjoy while still offering plenty of scope to make it your own over time. Inside, the home features a light filled lounge and dining area with high ceilings, decorative cornices and a cosy wood fire, creating a comfortable central living space. The updated kitchen is a standout, offering excellent storage, generous bench space, modern cabinetry, quality appliances, and a large freestanding oven, making it both stylish and practical for daily use. Accommodation includes three well sized bedrooms, each enjoying good natural light, while the central bathroom with a modern vanity, black tapware, bath and shower. A separate laundry adds further convenience, while ducted heating throughout provides year round comfort. Outdoors, the property continues to impress with a large covered entertaining area that runs along the rear of the home, ideal for outdoor dining, relaxing or hosting friends and family. The backyard offers a great sense of space with established greenery, lawn area, garden beds and a shed for additional storage. A long carport provides secure off street parking, adding to the home’s overall practicality. Combining character, comfort and outdoor appeal, this inviting Monbulk home is ideal for first home buyers, downsizers, young families or investors looking for a well presented property in a convenient Hills location close to local shops, schools and everyday amenities. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 20 McAllister Road, MONBULK Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 3 garage Price: $780,000 - $849,000 Inspect: Contact Agent Contact: BRAD CONDER 0422 639 115 / JERLYN ARRADAZA 0434 688 554, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 9754 6888
22 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
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1506 Burwood Highway, TECOMA 3
1
2
61 Kooringal Road, UPWEY
896m2
1301m2
20 McAllister Road, MONBULK 3
1
3
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FOR SALE
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$575,000 - $630,000
$595,000 - $654,000
$780,000 - $849,000
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1470A Burwood Highway, UPWEY 3
2
2
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
3 Toorourrong Road, UPWEY
546m2
4
3
6
4826m2
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
1188m2
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
64-68 Monbulk Road, BELGRAVE 2884m2
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
FOR SALE - FREEHOLD
$895,000 - $965,000
$1,200,000 - $1,295,000
$1,250,000 - $1,350,000
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Daniel Steen 0434 979 142
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Glenn Chandler 0418 410 689
03 9754 6888 office@chandlerandco.com.au 1689 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Vic 3160 mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 23
HOME FOCUS
COME HOME TO SERENITY AND NATURE ON OVER NINE ACRES WELCOME home, immerse yourself in nature and meander the driveway and feel the outside world fade away as you arrive at this private sanctuary of calm and seclusion. Surrounded by birdsong and the gentle movement of the forest, this property offers a rare sense of peace and connection to nature. Set on approx. 9.1 acres, (3.69ha) the family home is thoughtfully positioned well back from the road, framed by open paddocks to the front and rear, creating an exceptional level of privacy. With the added benefit of backing directly onto state forest, the setting is as tranquil as it is picturesque. Inside, the home features a modern kitchen with generous bench space, electric oven, and a well designed butler’s pantry, ideal for keeping appliances neatly out of sight. The kitchen flows effortlessly into the dining and living areas, where a cosy wood fire provides warmth in the cooler months, complemented by a split system for year round comfort.
Three well-proportioned bedrooms, all with built-in robes, enjoying peaceful views across the surrounding forest and paddocks. A large modern bathroom, and the bonus of an additional toilet off the laundry add practicality and comfort for family living. Outdoor living is a standout, with the front deck capturing sweeping views across open land and treetops perfect for quiet mornings or sunset relaxation. To the rear, a shaded alfresco area invites outdoor dining while overlooking the serene landscape beyond. Completing the property is a large powered shed offering ample space for vehicles, storage, and recreational equipment, along with water tanks and established vegetable gardens. This is a rare opportunity to escape the everyday and embrace a lifestyle of peace, privacy, and natural beauty in the heart of the Yarra Valley ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 125 Blacksands Road, THREE BRIDGES Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 6 garage Price: $830,000 - $890,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Rebecca Doolan 0401 832 068, BELL REAL ESTATE - YARRA JUNCTION. 5967 1277
24 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
mailcommunity.com.au
8 Jeanette Street, Woori Yallock
$760,000 - $810,000
P 5966 2530
P 5967 1277
3407 Warburton Highway, Warburton
2457 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction
15 James Lane, Hoddles Creek
$1,500,000 - $1,650,000
Comfortable and Convenient Family Living
Family Comfort, Charm and Character on an 8 Acre Oasis
A much loved family home in a fantastic location, offering 3 bedrooms all with built in robes including an ensuite and walk in robe in the main bedroom. A separate meals/dining area and a fresh well appointed open plan kitchen provides plenty of space. A great size lounge/living area gives the growing family loads of room to spread out and enjoy. Everyone will love the outdoors with a securely fenced rear yard. A high clearance carport, plus a big lock up garage and garden shed offer ample space for caravans, boats and trailers. The covered entertaining area is the ideal spot to sit back, relax and entertain with family and friends. Beautiful established gardens with a colourful array of roses and shrubs. A very neat and well maintained property, providing a great family home in a superb location situated just minutes stroll to local schools, shops and transport.
Set on a picturesque small acreage paradise on just over 8 glorious acres, this property has something for everyone. The rustic country farmhouse oozes charm and character boasting 4 bedrooms including an ensuite and walk in robe in the main bedroom. Separate family and living areas give the growing family plenty of space. The kitchen area is superb with quality appliances and ample bench and cupboard space including a butlers pantry. Huge shedding with covered high clearance truck parking and lock up garage/workshop, plus a separate open machinery shedding for floats, boats, caravans and farm equipment. Outdoor entertaining with covered verandas and decking. For extra weekend guests, dependent family, teenagers or relatives, the separate 1 bedroom bungalow is the ideal accommodation solution. A fantastic property in every aspect.
David Carroll M 0419 539 320 Inspection: By Appointment
3
A
2
B 3 C
David Carroll M 0419 539 320 Inspection: By Appointment
4
A
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COMMERCIAL RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES 3/1385 Healesville Koo Wee Rup Road WOORI YALLOCK $230.00 per week Well sized shop situated in a sought after shopping strip
10D Centella Place LAUNCHING PLACE $270.00 per week Storage solution for a growing business, internal office space
1/1605 Warburton Hwy WOORI YALLOCK $380.00 per week Prime 90sq.m office space, high exposure corner location
Contact our Rental Department 5967 1277 for further enquiries
40 McOwan Crescent, Yarra Junction
$670,000 - $710,000
Family Living in a Convenient Location This neat, well presented home sits in a picturesque and colourful setting and is ready and waiting to move into. Offering 3 bedrooms plus a spacious lounge/living area it’s the ideal spot to sit back, relax and admire the scenery and surrounds, the kitchen area offers ample bench and cupboard space plus a separate meals/dining area. Head outside and you’re spoilt for space with loads of potential sitting on approx. 1571sqm of land there is plenty of scope to add your personal touches. Plenty of the groundwork has been done, this property is ready and waiting for it’s new owners to take it to the next stage. A great property offering great value in a picturesque and convenient location situated just a short stroll to Yarra Junctions shopping hub, local schools and transport. David Carroll M 0419 539 320 Inspection: By Appointment
3
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1
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bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 25
HOME FOCUS
SOPHISTICATED FAMILY LIVING IN THE PRESTIGIOUS WAVERLEY PARK ESTATE *** AUCTION – SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST 11AM (Unless Sold Prior)*** POSITIONED within the highly regarded Waverley Park Estate, this impeccably presented residence delivers an exceptional blend of style, comfort and low-maintenance living in one of Mulgrave’s most sought-after communities. Recently refreshed with brand-new carpet and flooring, along with a fresh coat of paint throughout, the home offers a move-in-ready lifestyle with nothing left to do. Thoughtfully designed to maximise space and natural light, the expansive open-plan living and dining domain is complemented by a contemporary kitchen featuring granite benchtops, quality stainless steel appliances and ample storage - creating the perfect setting for both relaxed family living and effortless entertaining. The spacious master suite provides a peaceful retreat, complete with a walk-in robe and private ensuite, while two further bedrooms with built-in robes are serviced by
a stylish central bathroom, making the home equally suited to families, professionals or discerning downsizers. Step outside to a private, low-maintenance courtyard, ideal for entertaining guests or enjoying a quiet morning coffee. A secure double garage with valuable rear lane access enhances both convenience and functionality. Enjoy the outstanding lifestyle that Waverley Park is renowned for, with parklands, walking and cycling trails, cafes, playgrounds and open green spaces all just moments from your door. Conveniently located within easy reach of Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, public transport, EastLink and the Monash Freeway, this is a location that perfectly balances connectivity with community. Offering premium presentation, modern finishes and an enviable address, this is an outstanding opportunity to secure a quality home in one of Mulgrave’s most tightly held estates. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 24 Stadium Circuit, MULGRAVE Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,100,000 - $1,210,000 Inspect: Contact agent Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Jackson Acott 0494 142 438, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE 9754 6111
26 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
mailcommunity.com.au
Ranges ENTERTAINERS PARADISE
EMERALD 45 KIlvINGToN DRIvE MINUTES FROM TOWN
15 MAGNIFICENT ACRES
$1,460,000-$1,606,000 4 A 3 B 10 C 1 E
***Closing date for offers Tuesday 18th August @ 4pm (unless sold prior)*** Tucked away in an impeccable location, this inviting home is all about space & lifestyle, set on a fully usable 1.2 acres (approx.) Featuring an elevated deck with beautiful views, saltwater solar-heated pool, seamless indoor/outdoor entertaining area, plumbed-in bar, fl rb ards thr ugh ut, study, separate d wnstairs i ing z ne, GDH, w d fire, underhouse accessible storage, asphalt driveway & large shed with kitchenette & laundry.
Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937
We put you first
Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522
PRIME LOCATION
BELGRAVE SOUTH 17 BELLANY ROAD
$3,500,000-$3,800,000
LIFESTYLE ESTATE WITH MAGNIFICENT VIEWS!
4A 2B 6C 1E
Beautiful mornings, sensational sunsets & views from every window. Beyond a secure gated entrance & sweeping sealed driveway lies this exceptional estate where luxury, privacy & breathtaking natural beauty converge. Designed on a sophisticated grand scale & features 10-foot ceilings, expansive proportions throughout, abundance of natural light, elegant formal & informal living zones, timber & granite kitchen, covered Merbau deck with outdoor café blinds, CCTV surveillance, 4.7kW solar with a 5.3kW inverter.
Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522
Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937
PEACEFUL LAKESIDE ESCAPE
TECOMA 1578 BuRwOOD HIgHwAy
Contact Agent
EMERALD 6 DURBAN ROAD
CHARACTER HOME
4A 2B 5C
DESIGNED FOR FAMILY LIVING
Perfectly positioned within an easy stroll of Tecoma’s vibrant township, this charming home offers an enviable lifestyle with schools, shops, cafés & public transport all just moments away. Set on a sunny corner allotment, the property boasts valuable side access to a flat sable back ard. Inside, the home retains its timeless character hile offerin comforts s ch as a ood fire, split s stem, floorboards and deck. Do nstairs is a spacio s r mp s that can, ith modifications (STCA) be sed for man options.
Jan Brewster 0409 558 805
9754 6111 rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au
$1,150,000-$1,250,000 4A 2B 2C
****Offers Closing 4pm, Monday 17th of August, unless sold prior**** this exceptional residence offers a rare combination of privacy, space & effortless luxury. Surrounded by a tranquil treed outlook, it’s a home that feels like a private retreat while remaining close to everything Emerald has to offer. Features include multiple living areas, dedicated pool room, deck and enclosed alfresco, pool & spa, hydronic heating, gas fireplace & split systems, ducted vacuum, water tank, veggie patch & shed.
Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522
‘We Put You First’
Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937
1660 Burwood Highway, Belgrave Shop 2/24 McBride St, Cockatoo Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 27
PUZZLES To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
easy
4 1 2
2 9
8 4 9
6 8 2 3 7 6 1 8 9 1 5 7 6 2 5 3 8 7 2 8 3 9 3 4
medium
3 8
5 4 8 3 9 7 6
9
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS
DECODER
7
8
8
7 2
8
8
8
hard
5
9 2 7 8 6 8 3
' 1
2
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4
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8
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10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
U D 16
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26
3
9
10
11
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13
9-LETTER WORD Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in 's'.
B
Today’s Aim: 19 words: Good 28 words: Very good 38 words: Excellent
A
T
S
E
K F
A
R
bake, baker, bakes, bark, barks, bask, basket, beak, brake, brakes, break, BREAKFAST, breaks, fake, fakes, freak, karat, karate, kerb, kerf, kraft, rake, rakes, sake, sark, skate, skater, stake, stark, steak, streak, take, taker, takes, task, teak, trek, treks
4 1 9 2 8 6 3 7 5 2 6 3 7 9 5 8 1 4 5 8 7 3 1 4 9 2 6 8 2 1 4 5 7 6 9 3 7 5 6 9 3 2 1 4 8 9 3 4 8 6 1 2 5 7 6 9 2 5 4 3 7 8 1 3 4 8 1 7 9 5 6 2 1 7 5 6 2 8 4 3 9
6 3 8 2 9 5 1 4 7 4 1 7 6 8 3 9 5 2 9 2 5 1 7 4 6 8 3 5 4 9 3 6 1 2 7 8 1 8 2 5 4 7 3 9 6 7 6 3 8 2 9 5 1 4 2 9 6 7 1 8 4 3 5 3 7 4 9 5 2 8 6 1 8 5 1 4 3 6 7 2 9
4 2 7 6 1 5 8 3 9 1 8 6 4 9 3 5 2 7 3 5 9 2 7 8 6 1 4 2 7 3 5 4 1 9 8 6 9 4 8 7 3 6 1 5 2 5 6 1 9 8 2 7 4 3 7 1 5 3 2 9 4 6 8 6 9 2 8 5 4 3 7 1 8 3 4 1 6 7 2 9 5 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com
8
hard
7
medium
6
easy
5
2
4
1
3
4 6
2
5 3 2 9 5 1
Y L X Q A E V C P G J W Z
6
15
2
1
5 9
R H N T F M S K O B I U D
1
14
7
4 LETTERS BASE BLOC CAGE CYST GIRL ISN’T LETS LOVE NEST SECT SEWS THEN TOSS WEAN
3 LETTERS ADO AGE ALL APE APT ARE ATE CRY EEL ERA GEL GNU HEW LAG NEE NET ONE PEA RAP SIP SOD SPA TNT TOP
8
8 '
5
WORDFIT
'
9
8
6 1 4 9 5 5 4
No. 334
8
5 4 7
8 8
Pithy (8) Shorten (7) Foul language (9) Exceptional; illusory (9) Astray (5) Mountain range (5) Life-form category (7) Gas vital to life (6) English side, – pudding (9) Build (9) Giving (8) Organise (7) Mouths of volcanoes (7) Emblematic person, animal or thing supposedly bringing good luck (6) Pursue (5) Ballroom dance (5)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 14 15 16 18 20 21
23 24
DOWN
Rascal (5) US city, San – (9) Comic strip (7) Visuals (7) Hoosier State of the USA (7) Dawn (7) A physical science (9) Ready money (4) Simple (4) Recorded history (9) Stone fruit (7) Gorge (7) Include (7) Before birth (2,5) Consequently (9) Jobs undertaken (5)
1 4 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 19 22 25 26 27 28 29
No. 302
No. 302
L O V E
5 LETTERS ALERT ALOUD ALTOS APRIL ARVOS ATONE BASIC BATHS CARGO CHEWS DINGO EASES EDITS GARBS GATES GLUED GREET HEART IDEAL IOTAS NERVE
NEWSY NINNY ODDER ONSET OPERA PAPAS PASTA PEEPS PIECE RENEW REUSE ROUSE SEEDS SHELL SLEET SLEPT SLICE SNARL SNORE STATE STEER SWAYS
7 LETTERS INTENTS LESSONS PLUSHER ROUGHER SEVERER TRASHES
TEENS TERSE TESTS THESE THETA TORSO WHIRR 6 LETTERS ANYONE ASSAIL ENACTS STRAIN
8 LETTERS ABSENTEE GUERILLA HITHERTO OPTICIAN
P A S T A B A T H S G A R B S A L T O S A P R I L I D E A L S T A T E R O U S E P E E P S A G E S H E L L S I P A R E S T R A I N T H E T A S E C T P L U S H E R G E L C A G E N E S T D I N G O W E A N O P T I C I A N A L L I N T E N T S R O U G H E R G U E R I L L A L E T S N E E B L O C C Y S T O D D E R E R A S E V E R E R I S N T T H E S E A N Y O N E T E E N S S P A P E A O N E T O R S O A T O N E C H E W S R E N E W T E R S E A R V O S S E E D S T E S T S S WA Y S
No. 302
S C A M P F R A N C I S C O U B R A M H P X I M A G E R Y C A R T O O N I F T S I C G C S U N R I S E I N D I A N A G N S E N N C H E M I S T R Y C A S H T T I O O G E A S Y C H R O N I C L E R K S R N M S A T I A T E A P R I C O T A H A H R T R S I N U T E R O C O N T A I N G S G R C R U O T A S K S T H E R E F O R E
SUDOKU
14-08-26
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12711905-KG37-24
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BOBCAT/EARTHMOVING
Jake Harris 0402 913 197 Email: info@harrisandcopainting.com.au www.harrisandcopainting.com.au
12598401-AA15-23
Excavators and Bull Dozers of all sizes Small and large job specialists All types of earthworks Driveway repairs and rebuilds Dams • Mulching • Clearing
INTERIOR/EXTERIOR • DOMESTIC/COMMERCIAL DULUX ACCREDITED PAINTER
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12528239-CG02-22
12493755-SN19-21
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12888367-AD31-26
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ELECTRICIANS
GARDEN SERVICES
PLUMBING
HEALESVILLE ELECTRICIAN
Your Companion In The Garden
On time, Local, Family owned
HEALESVILLE PLUMBER
• Lawn mowing and garden care • Whipper snipping • Hedge trimming and pruning My Little Garden Helper specialises in overgrown gardens and offers tailored maintenance packages on a fortnightly/monthly basis for residential, commercial, body corporate and holiday rental properties.
On time, Local, Family owned
Seniors Discount Upfront Pricing Same day service
CARPENTERS
Call
Joey 0480 014 823
• Pergolas • Decks • All Carpentry Work • Over 30 Years’ Experience
Ian Roberts 0408 538 121
12757141-FR11-25
CARPENTER CALL OUT FEE* $0
12669396-KO08-24
• DOOR & WINDOW INSTALLATIONS • MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS
for a free quote
Fully insured
Employment
Call
Kieren 0488 822 284
Call 0493 099 984
REC26011 *$0 call out fee on all paid and completed jobs, same day service when available.
Seniors Discount Upfront Pricing Same day service
12757148-JV12-25
CALL OUT FEE* $0
12669330-ET08-24
BUILDERS & BUILDING SERVICES
12891764-JO33-26
Glazing the Valley for over 30 Years.
TRADES & SERVICES
(1.5% credit card processing fee applies.)
• CARPENTRY • RENOVATIONS • PLASTERING • TILING
Ph: 0359 622 888 | E: admin@ridglass.com.au 16 Hunter Rd Healesville | www.ridgelineglass.com.au
12744493-MP04-25
(include your name, address and phone number)
• Double Glazing. • Splashbacks. • Balustrading. • Wood Heater Glass Repairs.
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Jason 1300 644 698
Furniture Removals • 2 Trucks Available • Storage Available Boxes and packaging material for sale Local, country and metro
Phone Dean 5962 1090 Mobile: 0412 086 471
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1300 666 808
Leaking taps Burst pipes Hot water Blocked drains Gas heating Leak detection
CCTV inspection Pipe relining Storm water Sewerage Blockages from $79
24/7 SERVICE
SENIOOURNST DISC
12838649-MS05-26
24 HOUR SERVICE
12660700-SM03-24
12438941-CG04-20
J.L. Hutt Electrical
LOCALPLUMBER
FURNITURE REMOVALS
ELECTRICIANS
0468 263 134 | Lic. no 122277 | www.triplezeroplumbing.com.au
NEED WORK LOCALLY?
12788667-JV30-25
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Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL 29
SPORT
Can’t stop golfers
Horse talk By Anita Prowse
By Ron Hottes
The Roof Man
paulnobes@live.com.au
Leak detection & repair High Pressure cleaning Total Roof Restorations Skylight resealing Rebedding & Pointing Pensioner discount 30 years in roofing leaks
12887612-JV31-26
Lic. 25035
12858387-JV15-26
All types of Roofs
Paul 0418 570 231
Though no competition was held, some members continued to play in the wet weather. (File) The nearest-the-pin winners were: 3rd – Hamish Gemmill. 5th – Brady Withers. 9th – Troy Murphy, just 108 cm from the hole. 12th – Josh Hinn. 15th – Tim Jones. Congratulations to all five NTP winners. Looking ahead, the Jared Lyle Charity Day is scheduled for Friday 15 August, weather permitting. The event is open to everyone and will be played as a four-person Ambrose. Entry is $50
• • • • •
for members and $60 for guests, which includes a lovely meal, with all proceeds going to charity. Players can also expect some unusual hole setups, including different tee positions and pin placements, so it promises to be a fun day if the weather cooperates. At this stage the forecast is not encouraging, but let’s hope conditions improve. It is also worth noting that, from what I can gather, no carts will be available for the day. Good golfing everyone, and let’s hope for a kinder week ahead.
Announcements
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• Metal re-roofs/guttering • Colorbond • Down pipes/gutter guard • Free quotes • 30 years’ experience • Prompt attention to leaks in all types of roofs
• • • • •
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12543759-AI14-22
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REDGUM FIREWOOD
DISCRIMINATION IN ADVERTISING IS UNLAWFUL
Split & Dry Undercover Redgum and Bushwood Redgum and Bushwood pickup or delivery Weights and measures approved. Provider of work cover and human services Credit card available. Servicing the Yarra Valley and surrounding areas for over 35 years. Please leave a message if phone unattended, call will be returned.
12850300-RV11-26
$270 per metre Delivered
12692437-AV23-24
12481756-DL07-21
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ADVERTISERS in this section are qualified practitioners and offer nonsexual services.
Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number. It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice. For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au
GLASS TOP DINNG TABLE and 6 chairs, Healesville $400.00. Contact Robert: 0404 994 336.
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TREE LOPPING/SURGERY
Entries for the Dressage In The Valley Gala have opened already for the Friday and Saturday classes. (Supplied)
General Classifieds
12891638-CV32-26
Trades & Services
Shirley Heights EC held an AXC Jumping Series event over the weekend and the winners were: CCN2*-S Mackenzie Walch on Eliva Courduroy. CCN1*-S Kiera McNally on Yoiks Vegan. EVA95 - Kristal Wheeler on Holey Moley. EVA80 - Mackenzie Walch on Gold Franc. EVA65 - Laura Nath on Goldview November Rain. Well done to everyone involved. Lots of entries are opening this week for the next few months of competitions: Dressage In The Valley Gala have opened already for the Friday and Saturday classes and the Sunday HRCAV classes and entries for the Shirley Heights International Horse Trials will open this week. So, everyone get on it and remember some entries will now close up to two weeks prior to events, so don’t wait until the very last moment to enter. Happy Riding everyone!
12423634-SN31-19
In my 44 years as a member of Warburton Golf Club, I cannot remember two consecutive Wednesday midweek competitions being cancelled. The weather has certainly tested everyone’s patience, and was especially atrocious on that day. That said, special mention must go to the five very hardy souls who ventured out in extremely poor conditions and completed rounds despite there being no official competition. Rob Ferguson and Daryl Ward, great mates as always, battled through nine holes before sensibly deciding they had had enough. Trevor Porter, Dale Horribin and Phil Garside completed the full 18 holes in atrocious conditions. There was no competition, but their efforts deserve recognition, and if the captain has his heart in the right place, perhaps a golf ball each might find its way into their hands! The Monday ladies were again unable to hold a competition, although the conditions were not quite as severe. Suzanne Barrett and Michelle Jordan did go out and play, and they too deserve a mention for their commitment. A ball each for effort would not seem unreasonable, Skipper. Saturday’s Stableford competition produced a terrific finish. Early in the day I thought my good mate Ken Barrett had the winning score in the bag, and I was already preparing a glowing writeup for a player who has not tasted victory for a little while. But along came one of his best friends, Alan Johnson, who also returned 38 points and claimed the win on a countback. The difference? AJ managed to avoid the dam on the 18th, while Ken unfortunately did not. Bad luck, KB, and well played, AJ. Whether you two are still speaking is another matter entirely! Young tyro, Sam Hyndman continued his outstanding run of form, finishing third with 37 points and not far away from taking the top voucher himself.
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Threatening skies By David Ball Yarra Glen Match Report Round 17 Yarra Glen seniors hosted Yea under threatening skies and a stiff North wind favouring the river end. Yea won the toss and kicked 2 early goals to reinforce the competitiveness they displayed in their previous encounter. Both sides were playing an aggressive runand-gun style of game, with Yea connecting up forward whereas the River Pigs were missing targets and struggled to get through Yea’s defence. At quarter time Yea had a 14-point lead. With the aid of the wind and some great forward craft from Josh Hawkins, the River Pigs added 4 goals to Yea’s 1 to be up by 8 points at half time. The third quarter saw the River Pigs start to combine better and whilst Yea were effective going forward, Yarra Glen, kicking into the wind, outscored them 5 goals to 4. Only 15 points up at 3 quarter time, the River Pigs still had a battle on their hands. Whilst the wind had faded, Yarra Glen piled on 7 goals in the last to finish up with a comfortable 51-point victory over a very brave Yea. Final Scores: Yarra Glen 17.9 to Yea 9.6 Best Players: Aussie Smith, Josh Hawkins, Daniel Reid, Taylor Reinecke, Cooper Barbera, Luke DeGoldi. Goalkickers: Josh Hawkins 8, Sam Wood 2, Jared McCann 2, Tom Sullivan 2, Oscar Grenfell, Luke DeGoldi, Cooper Barbera1 each. The Yarra Glen reserves battled hard into the wind in the first quarter and were well placed, being only 15 points down at quarter time. Whilst they had more of the play in the forward line in the second, they were unable to convert
Yarra Glen celebrated some hard-won gols. (David Ball) their chances kicking 6 points and just the 1 goal. At the other end, Yea were able to add 3 goals to be 4 goals up at the main break. The third was all Yea as they banged on 7 goals. Down by 10 goals going into the last quarter, the River Pigs finally found some cohesion and outscored Yea. Final Scores: Yarra Glen 8.12 to Yea 16.10. Best Players: Ben Johnson, Lachlan Rutherford, Jarrod Hull, Callum Tucker, Marcus Kikidopolous, Michael Evans. Goalkickers: Zac Young 4, Matt McKenzie, Josh Potter, Michael Evans, Sean Kenyon. Yarra Glen’s Under 18s were up against Upw-
ey-Tecoma and found themselves unable to score into the wind in the first quarter. Despite the Yarra boys being very competitive in the contest, Upwey were able to move to a 20-point lead at quarter time. They moved out to be 39 points up at half time. The River Pigs lifted in the third and matched it in general play and on the scoreboard. Whilst the Yarra boys continued to match it with Upwey in the contest, they were unable to close the gap, going down by 39 points Final Scores: Yarra Glen 6.5 to Upwey-Tecoma14.8. Best Players: Lachlan Rutherford, Robert Pavic, Jungala Hume, Max Williams, Xander Dalton, Brody Adams. Goalkickers: Max Williams 32, Spencer Boers, Robert Pavic, Brody Adams. The Yarra Glen Vets came up against last year’s premiers, Gembrook-Cockatoo, in front of a big semi-final crowd at Yarra Glen. Gembrook started well and took an early lead to be 2 goals up at quarter time. In a high-quality contest the River Pigs added 3 quick goals to take the lead, only to see Gembrook kick 4 goals in the last five minutes to go into half time with a 17-point advantage. In a desperate battle both sides were only able to add a goal each in the third. The last quarter saw Gembrook take full control as they proved to be too quick and too skilled as the River Pigs tired. Final Scores: Yarra Glen 5.4 to Gembrook-Cockatoo 12.10. Best Players: Richard Gurney, Brad Deed, Hayden Rourke, Andrew Graham, Adam Robert, Damien Gilder. Goalkickers: Richard Gurney, Bobby Walker, Terry Walker, Hayden Rourke, Tommy Matthews
Wandin fires as Bulldogs outrun Hawks Wandin turned on the jets on Saturday, powering away to a 50-point victory over Monbulk in an entertaining contest that featured plenty of goals and no shortage of highlights. The Bulldogs were sharp from the outset and never really took their foot off the accelerator, building their lead at every change before finishing with a commanding 18.12 (120) to 10.10 (70) win. Up forward, Aaron Mullett split his time between full forward and the wing, booting four goals and causing headaches for the Monbulk defence all afternoon. Macaulay Beckwith chipped in with three majors, while Brodie Atkins and Angus Strachan added two apiece in a
well-rounded attacking display. To their credit, the Hawks kept fighting and produced some exciting passages of play. Lochlan Beecroft led the charge with three goals, while Joshua Dawson, Caleb Quirk and Joel Wensley each slotted two in a spirited effort. Wandin’s best included Patty Bruzzese, Cayden Black, Brodie Atkins, Aaron Mullett, Cody Hirst and Angus Strachan, who all had major influences on the game. For Monbulk, Lochlan Beecroft, Joshua Spencer, Caleb Quirk, Ben Hughson, Riley Finlay and Finn Horsfall never stopped competing and were among the Hawks’ standout performers.
Wandin beat Monbulk by 50 points. (File)
It was a tough weekend for the Burras Josh Holmes, Arlo Haynes, Reece Irvine, • Bests: Jedd Mormeneo, Zane Wunhym, Logan King.
By Alex Woods The Warburton-Millgrove Football Netball Club had all games at Officer, except for the women’s footy. The team had their first final against Mt. Evelyn, to secure the first Grand Final spot. The weather was great across the day, but unfortunately the results weren’t in the Burras’ way. Read below: NETBALL: A Grade: FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Officer (39-41). Best: Indi Pinnock, Selina Fotia, Bianca Daniels. Goals: Lara Nathan (8), Bianca Daniels (30), Alyssa Walker (1). B Grade: FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Officer (26-51). Best: Cam Holland, Gabby Woods & Emily Hay. Goals: Cam Holland (8), Tanner McCurdy (7), Melanie Hancock (11). C Grade: FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Officer (30-48). Best: Tiahn Syme, Teagan Adams, Alex Woods. Goals: Alexandra Woods (13) & Mel Hancock (17). D Grade: FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Officer (14-34).
• • • • • • • • • •
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Womens: FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Mt Evelyn: 3.8 (26) - 4.7 (31). Bests: Ruby Ross, Scarlett Henderson, Chelsea Tamme, Grace Rankin, Lara Taylor, Emerson Woods. Goals: Scarlett Henderson (2), Lucy Pritchard (1). Reserves: FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Officer: 2.5 (17) - 23.7 (145). Bests: Patty Quilty, Marcel Kocher, Brayden Ferguson, Ricky Andueza, Dale Morris, Matt Sidari. Goals: Alex White (1), Matt Sidari (1). Seniors: FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Officer: 5.7 (37) - 25.13 (163). Best: Mitch Gordon, Ben Pretty, Nelson Aldridge, Jack Lee, Tom Barr, Jack Farrugia. Goals: Nate Lucas (1), Tom Baker (1), Tom Barr (1), Jack Farrugia (1), Liam Westlake (1). A rough day for the Burras across the board. It will be a tough battle again for the Women’s next weekend as they take on Upwey-Tecoma at Yarra Junction for the 2nd Grand Final position. The rest of the club have Upwey Tecoma at home.
• • •
Warburton Millgrove’s Tom Barr has a shot on the run. (Stewart Chambers: 570549)
• Best: Amarli Weir, Isabella Maurici, Maisy Toy. • Goals: Amarli Weir (6), Maisy Toy (8). U17: • FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Officer (19-42). • Bests: Maisy Toy, Belle Syme, Rylee Bond. Maisy Toy (7), Belle Syme (2), Miami • Goals: Rowland (10). FOOTBALL RESULTS U18s: FT: Warburton-Millgrove def by Officer: 0.1 (1) - 20.16 (136).
•
• • • • • •
A-Grade happily achieved their win against Yea. (Gabriella Vukman: 554101).
A much-needed win for Yarra Glen’s A-team By David Ball Yarra Glen A grade needed a win against Yea to keep their chances of securing third spot alive. They got off to a steady start and had control at quarter time with an 8-goal advantage. Yea could not stop the Yarra goal shooters with Georgia Grugnale shooting 41and Maddy Hargrave 35 as they surged to a 46goal domination. Final scores: Yarra Glen 76 to Yea 30. Best Players: Alana McGurgan, Georgia Grugnale, Maddy Hargrave. With B Grade secure in third place, it was all about fine-tuning their game in preparation for finals. With a few regulars missing they struggled early but still managed to be 2 goals up at quarter time. From then on they teamed well to take complete control and finished up extending their lead each quarter to finish up with a 29-goal win. Final Scores: Yarra Glen 61 to Yea 32. Best Players: Jamie Davis, Abby Stranger, Katelyn Vanderkolk. As with B grade, the C Grade team are well placed to finish top 3. Yea were competitive throughout but were no match for the Yarra girls as they teamed well to run out with a 16-goal win. Final scores: Yarra Glen 47 to Yea 31 Best Players: Abby Page, Tiah Large, Ash Shanks. Yarra Glen’s D Grade need a win to keep their finals hope alive but found themselves down by 3 goals at quarter time. A 12 goal to 1 blitz in the second had them 8 goals up at half time. Yea lifted in the third and outplayed Yarra Glen to reduce the margin to just 3 going into the last. The Yarra Glen defenders were great in the last as the team took control to finish with a hard-fought 6-goal victory. Final Scores: Yarra Glen 28 to Yea 22. Best Players: Lily Dove, Meaghan Carter, Molly Kehoe. Next week the Senior and Reserves football and all netball travel to Belgrave, with the Under 18’s playing at Woori Yallock.
Tuesday, 11 August, 2026 | MAIL 31
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Home is where the heart is By Sally Cunningham Healesville Soccer Club’s Gala Day last Saturday, saw eighteen games played at home including twelve junior teams and all six senior teams under a very welcome sunny sky. From 8:45am Don Road complex was a buzz with kids, coaches and referees. A bake sale was in full swing, the barbecue was smoking and coffee grinder whirring away. A great day was had by all and a real treat to watch the club’s last seniors games under lights into the evening. Healesville Senior Men’s Firsts 1 vs Mooroolbark Knights 3 Under floodlight and starlight Healesville faced their ladder neighbours Mooroolbark at the close of the epic gala day. The first half belonged to Healesville as the only goal was scored by Scottish legend David. However, the second half was dominated by Mooroolbark as they secured the win with three goals and three points. Healesville Senior Men’s Reds 1 vs Bayswater Thirds 2 A close game in the middle of the day saw Healesville Senior Men face off against Bayswater. A team showcasing veterans and young guns, as well as a cameo from International import Ildefonso. Healesville was under pressure quickly as Bayswater pushed a little two hard, receiving a yellow at just eight minutes. This was soon followed by a goal from the away team at 12 minutes, a scoreline that remained until half-time. Healesville came out with conviction after the break and managed to level the scores at the 65th minute thanks to international import Ildefonso. The teams were locked in a draw as the ball moved up and down the pitch like a tennis match, until Bayswater managed to break Healesville’s defence, binning a second goal and the three points in the 89th minute. A tough loss in the end from a game hard fought. Women’s Premier League Healesville 3–1 Waverley City Building a memorable atmosphere on the pitch playing their first game under lights for the Healesville WPL side, the home team made a dream start when Under 16 striker Kendi won a 50-50 contest, breaking through on goal and calmly converting the rebound to give Healesville a 1-0 lead after seven minutes. Healesville suffered a setback soon after when vice-captain and captain for the day Charlotte was forced from the field with an ankle and wrist injury. Waverley City capitalised, equalising in
Healesville Senior Women’s Div X team after their second win of the season- including coach Tom and Club President Suzanne. (Sally Cunningham) the 38th minute. The response soon came from Tess, whose tireless midfield work was rewarded just before halftime when she scored on her non-preferred foot to restore Healesville’s lead at 2-1. The halftime message was simple: enjoy the game. The girls responded with confident, attacking football. Mia and Eloise combined well down the right, while Sia and Evie linked up on the left, with Evie finishing in the 64th minute to make it 3-1. A few nervous moments followed, but the defence stood firm as Healesville secured an important victory and maintained third place on the ladder. Women’s Div X Healesville 3 vs Melbourne Deaf 1 Div X is always like ‘a box of chocolates’ and this game was no exception, playing 7 vs 7on a 9 vs 9 pitch quickly threw the referee who suggested no offside and ‘let’s see how we go’. Always keen to have fun as a team Healesville started gently but had to step it up as Melbourne Deaf were there to out run and out play. After a few knocks and a number of shots just wide of goal Melbourne Deaf opened the scoring at the 35 th minute giving them the lead into half time. The message from coach Tom was a wake up call, stop being so polite and play as hard as he has witnessed in training.
A few oranges down and back on the pitch. A free kick was awarded to Healesville in front of goal and was netted by Noriko bringing the scores level. That really lifted the team’s spirits and attacking mindset as passing improved, louder communication and two more exceptional goals from Danielle- one of which was a header. Undoubtedly the best performance of the season from the team and a tidy win. Girls U16 Healesville Hurricanes 12 vs Blackburn Pink 0 The Healesville Hurricanes celebrated Gala Day in style with a dominant 12–0 win over Blackburn Pink, their second meeting in as many weeks. The Hurricanes started strongly and opened the scoring after just two minutes when Sia threaded a pass through to Evie, who finished calmly. Soon after, Eloise showed great determination to keep the ball in play before setting up Sophia, whose cross was finished superbly by Olive. Goals continued to flow throughout the first half, with Evie completing a hat-trick, Sia scoring twice, and Ava and Kendi also finding the net as Healesville took an 8–0 lead into halftime. With the result under control, the second half saw some positional changes. Defender Jade and goalkeeper Teah were given attacking roles, while Kendi stepped into goal and impressed with several strong saves. Despite a standout performance from Black-
burn’s second-half goalkeeper, who earned the away team’s Player of the Match award, the Hurricanes added four more goals. Evie finished with five goals, Sia completed her hat-trick, and Eloise capped off an excellent game with a deserved goal. Boys U13 Healesville Ninjas 1–1 Berwick Blues The Ninjas earned a hard-fought 1–1 draw against top-three side Berwick Blues. The visitors struck early after a goalmouth scramble from a corner found its way into the net just two minutes into the match. Despite the setback, the Ninjas remained composed and defended strongly for the rest of the game. Goalkeeper Leo produced several outstanding saves, while Ollie and Jacob combined well in midfield. Max brought Healesville level before halftime with a well-taken finish. The second half was a tightly contested affair, with Carter, Hayden and Leroy creating attacking opportunities, while Sebby, Jude, Kaspar and Jaxson stood firm defensively. The result marked a much-improved performance from the Ninjas following their defeat to the Blues earlier in the season. Another clean sweep for our Under 8 Girlsthe Rubies and Under 8 boys the Red Rascals and White Pumas all taking wins at home before lunch.
Yarra Valley beat Lilydale after second half ‘sloppy affair’ By Aden Kerridge Going into the last four games of the season, Yarra Valley Soccer club found themselves fifth on the table with a remarkable goal difference of +22 goals which was the second best goal difference in the league. An inability to put away tight games had cost the club vital points to see Yarra Valley drive further up the ladder, so a win away at Lilydale was crucial on the clubs journey to seek a top three finish. It wouldn’t be an easy game against Yarra Valley’s long-time rivals, as Lilydale were also looking to climb up the ladder and a win against their long time rivals would see Lilydale leapfrog Yarra Valley on the ladder. Yarra Valley started the strongest, creating a few good chances while looking to take control of the midfield, with two of Yarra Valley’s youngest and brightest players in Toby Clarke and Manu Litchfield-Arvanitakis, stretching the Lilydale defence and making life difficult for the team in Red. Lilydale were able to fashion a few chances of their own, looking to pump the ball into the box from long throws and set pieces but the defence and 17-year-old superstar keeper Finlay McLachlan were able to keep Lilydale at bay. Yarra Valley would strike first in the 33rd minute, after a good spell of pressing saw Lily-
32 MAIL | Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
dale turn the ball over to Winjo Williams, who found Aden Kerridge in the box who was able to take a touch and then place it above the on coming Lilydale Goalkeeper. Yarra Valley thought they had a second just before the end of the half, with Winjo Williams and Aden Kerridge linking up again, but the goal was chalked off due to a dubious call for handball. The second half would prove to be a sloppy affair, as both teams struggled to get the ball down under control in slippery conditions. Yarra Valley would have more of the chances, but were unable to capitalise on their good work, while Lilydale would have the better chances to score, with a clearance off the line from a corner and a ball placed narrowly past the post after a sloppy turnover being the closest either club would come to scoring in the second half. A nervous last few minutes for Yarra Valley, holding on to a narrow 1-0 lead, but the team was able to hold on, securing a vital three points and doing the double over the local rivals. A win that saw Yarra Valley move to fourth on the ladder with three games to go, five points away from third place and six points away from second place. Yarra Valley will have an opportunity to recover with their next game being on 22 August away to Hornbill.
Aden Kerridge scored Yarra Valley’s only goal against Lilydale. (Aiden Badawy)
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