Mail - Ranges Trader Star Mail - 8th September 2026

Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

Emerald SES get cash from government

Youth Festival hits the Hills

Running to restore eyesight

Real estate liftout inside

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Film festival back

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor The Lantern and Light International Youth Film Festival (LLIFF) is returning to Cameo Cinemas in Belgrave, showcasing 43 films made by young people - both locally and internationally.

The festival will be screening from 11 to 13 September.

Among this year’s participants are 17-year-old Rebecca (Bec) Gillett from Ferntree Gully and 16-year-old Sophia Gigliotti from Emerald.

Bec’s film, ‘Metaphor-phasis’, grew from a dream about people eating green grass and became a story about a “plague of metaphors” being taken too seriously.

Sophia’s second film, ‘And Then’, follows a 16-year-old girl experiencing severe social anxiety.

The festival has accepted submissions from as many as 15 regional filmmakers aged eight to 23. Festival director Rainsford said the event gives young filmmakers a chance to have their work experienced by a live audience.

“It’s a remarkable platform of audiovisual storytelling, supporting cultural diversity and advancing media and film production networks for young people in our region,” he said.

“Festivals like LLIFF are unfortunately rare.”

Read the full story on page 8

L-R: Sophia Gigliotti, Oscar Bellamy, Rebecca Gillett and Maeve Hepburn. (Stewart Chambers: 575873)

Hero Monbulk professor helps rescue two as part of Nepal disaster effort....

Dix is in the mix

By AAP, AP and DPA, with Claudia Mather Two people have been rescued alive from a tunnel connected to a hydropower station on Nepal’s Trishuli River, nine days after an ice, rock and mudslide devastated the valley, killing more than 1280 people and displacing tens of thousands.

Australian professor, engineer and geologist Arnold Dix, from Monbulk, is advising Nepalese authorities during the tunnel rescue operation.

The experienced tunnel rescuer, who helped save 41 workers trapped in India’s Silkyara tunnel collapse, said the Nepal operation presented an un-

precedented challenge.

“It’s like solving a puzzle you can’t see,” Professor Dix said. Before the latest rescues were reported, he said members of the Nepali army had heard voices coming from inside the tunnel, giving rescuers renewed hope.

On Facebook, Professor Dix reflected on his experience at Silkyara, saying the rescue had taught him “never to confuse the unlikely with impossible”. He said the Nepal operation had reinforced the importance of discipline, compassion and duty when lives were at risk.

Officials believe the 26 August collapse of a glacier in the upper Trishuli River trapped at least 900 people in tunnels connected to six hydropower projects. At least 1287 people have been confirmed dead, while more than 5080 remain missing. Towns and villages near the Nepal-Tibet border suffered widespread destruction.

The disaster has also affected Australians. Authorities confirmed two Australians had made contact overnight on Friday, reducing the number of missing Australians to 36. The federal government has sent 19 officials and disaster response

specialists to Nepal, with another 23 expected to arrive within days.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered condolences to Nepal’s prime minister and said Australia would continue efforts to locate Australians still unaccounted for.

Australians have donated more than $4 million to the Emergency Action Alliance. The federal government will provide an additional $3 million in matching funds, taking Australia’s total humanitarian support package to $11 million.

Read the full story on page 3

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NEWS

Major TAC changes call

By Gabriella Vukman A Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has called for major changes to the way injured Victorians are supported, with the report and outcome published on 25 August.

Yarra Ranges residents who rely on the TAC scheme for long-term treatment and rehabilitation welcomed the inquiry, including Healesville resident Tamara Tesseyman, who was among TAC clients who gave evidence to the inquiry.

More than 12 years after Ms Tesseyman and her young son Gus suffered catastrophic leg injuries after being struck by a car while walking into Bunnings at Chirnside Park, she said her family was still fighting to access treatment recommended by medical professionals.

This experience led Ms Tesseyman to become an administrator of an independent online support group for TAC clients, and become a TAC claimant advocate.

For Ms Tesseyman, the Inquiry was a step in the right direction, however she raised concerns over the future application and depth of the recommendations and the Inquiry as a whole.

“The Inquiry identified systemic problems, but did not label them as systemic problems and then also did not treat them as such. We needed more transparency and more evidence, so that is where the disconnect is for me.”

“There were definitely a few gaps, but on the whole, it is positive because it is a step towards change.”

The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee handed down its report, Inquiry into claims made through the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), after months of submissions and public hearings involving injured Victorians, medical professionals, lawyers, advocacy organisations and the TAC. Ms Tesseyman said the findings made her and other members of her community feel their experiences had finally been recognised.

“The Inquiry made us feel seen,” she said. “We felt like the findings recognised the power imbalance between TAC and us as clients, and especially people who were traumatised,” she said.

That said, Ms Tesseyman noted the importance of ensuring the Inquiet recommendations come into effect.

“We don’t want the Inquiry to just be ticking a box,” she said. “We want real change.”

The Committee found the TAC generally operates effectively, with many clients experiencing a relatively straightforward claims process, but that the complexity of the scheme increases with the severity and duration of a person’s injuries.

For people living with acquired brain injuries, serious physical disabilities, trauma or bereavement, administrative and legal requirements can become overwhelming and distressing.

Ms Tesseyman said the recognition of the impact of trauma and acquired brain injury was important when taking system navigation into account.

“People with brain and neurological injuries are much more disadvantaged when using the system,” she said. “I still find the system difficult to navigate, so I can’t imagine what it would be like for people with a disability or neurological injuries.”

Ms Tesseyman suggested a dedicated case manager, similar to those in the NDIS system, would

provide equal access to TAC, for those who need the extra aid.

“I am my son’s case manager and I have to do everything from make appointments, make sure all the treatment is meeting the requirements, and talk to his lawyers. At the moment there is no middle person who can communicate or advocate for claimants and tell them what they are entitled to. There is nobody helping people work out what they actually need, so we need a case manager.”

The Committee recommended additional support for people with severe injuries to ensure they have the capacity or assistance needed to participate effectively in the TAC scheme.

It also called for claims management to become more consistently disability-centred and traumainformed.

Ms Tesseyman said trauma-informed practice needed to go beyond initial staff training.

“There needs to be ongoing training on what a traumatised person is going through, and TAC staff need to know that their brains might not function properly,” she said.

“They might be slower, they might be easier to anger. TAC is saying that they are already currently doing that training, but whatever they’re doing now is not working.”

Communication was identified as one of the most significant areas requiring improvement.

The Committee recommended the TAC produce plain-language guides explaining the claims process, including versions in languages other than English, and broader Service Charters setting clearer expectations about the services clients can expect to receive.

The inquiry also found some medical providers choose not to accept TAC-funded clients because of administrative requirements and disagreements over fees, treatment options or other requirements can leave injured Victorians worse off.

Ms Tesseyman said her family had experienced difficulty finding medical providers willing to take on TAC clients.

“We have had prolonged periods of trying to find a service provider,” she said. “I would call and inquire, and the office would just say, we don’t deal with TAC clients. The only way that changes is if TAC are made to bring their fees up to market value.”

The TAC has pointed to fee increases introduced during 2026, including significant increases for physiotherapy, a new occupational therapy service model and increases for psychology and neuropsychology.

The Committee recommended the TAC continue improving its administrative requirements for medical practitioners and review professional development material to help medical and allied-health professionals navigate TAC processes.

Regional clients face an additional challenge, with the inquiry finding they can have particular difficulty finding appropriate medical and alliedhealth providers.

Ms Tesseyman also said delays in TAC decisions could have serious consequences for injured people.

“When there was a disagreement about my ankle foot orthosis (AFO), it took two months and I had to go to the media in order to get TAC to make a decision,” she said.

“That ended up being three to four months of not being able to walk safely, as the AFO had to be made and fitted after the decision.”

She said her son had also experienced a period

The TAC Inquiry Report has been tabled. (File :541676) when physiotherapy was refused.

“As soon as they delay something, they can then use it later on as a reason to deny your treatment,” she said. “They say: ‘You’ve had a gap in your treatment, so you cannot have this other service’. Instead of a fraud detection system, the constant checks and complex nature of the TAC system acts like more of a deterrent for us claimants.”

Fraud was also examined, but the Committee found it was very uncommon within the TAC compensation scheme.

In 2024-25, the TAC reported that seven of 43,225 clients were found to have fraudulently obtained benefits, approximately 0.02 per cent.

The Committee found fraud controls were important but could also contribute to the administrative complexity experienced by legitimate clients and providers.

Ms Tesseyman questioned whether the scale of fraud justified the level of scrutiny experienced by legitimate claimants.

“The recommendations weren’t strong enough, especially considering that the report talks about how small fraud is within claimants, doctors, service providers and medical professionals. The fact that there’s such little fraud, yet there are so many checks and so much restriction put on what we can access, makes no sense” “They found that 0.02 per cent of the claims were fraudulent, yet they’re pursuing 7 per cent of claimants. That’s a lot of money and effort for a little outcome.”

Another major issue was the relationship between the TAC and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

While the responsibilities of the two schemes are theoretically clear, the Committee found applying the distinction in practice can be difficult for people who are clients of both.

Recommendation 10 calls on the TAC to establish protocols with other schemes, including the NDIS, to better define responsibilities for mutual clients. Ms Tesseyman said she had personally experienced confusion over which scheme should fund her own support.

“TAC repeatedly told me to contact NDIS, even when all of my injury is from my accident. If it’s related to your road trauma, then it should be TAC funded.”

She said TAC had also questioned liability for injuries it had previously accepted as being caused by the accident.

“They told us they were not taking liability for Gus’ knee anymore, even though his injury was from the accident,” she said. “Since the inquiry and speaking to the media, they have now approved Gus to have surgery on his knee, which he’s having in 10 weeks.”

The Committee also recommended establishing a Client Advisory Group or similar body to give the TAC Board and management advice based on lived experience.

Ms Tesseyman welcomed the recommendation but said she was concerned an advisory group could become a box-ticking exercise without proper structure and integration.

“It is important to have claimant representatives weighing in, however myself and other claimant advocates are worried that the Advisory Group has no power, as the recommendation doesn’t go into detail. There needs to also be representatives from stakeholders and a clinical panel for price matching, and for fraud detection practices, because a lot of them already have their own practices in place.”

Another key concern for claimants who submitted to the Inquiry was the outflow of money from the TAC. “Over the past few years the government has been taking lots of money out of the TAC, when they had only taken around 300 million in previous years,” Ms Tesseyman said.

“How can claimants expect to get adequate support, when the TAC budget is being cut.”

According to the state’s 2026-27 budget papers, the government will receive a $1.1 billion payment from the TAC in the next financial year on top of other quantities paid out by the TAC over previous years.

This payout will land the total funds transferred from the TAC to the government at around $3 billion over the last three years.

Ms Tesseyman also raised concerns surrounding the TAC’s dispute-resolution system and said the Commission should resolve disputes before they reach VCAT and other courts.

“Other insurance companies have the incentive barrier to resolve the dispute beforehand, or they get fined,” she said. “With TAC there is no fine and there is no mark against them as an industry leader, so everything goes to the tribunal.”

Ms Tesseyman noted the TAC has to pay for both representation of the claimant and themselves, as well as the Tribunal fee.

“It is really clogging up the justice system and taxpayers are paying for it. Especially when they said only 0.2 per cent of claims were fraudulent but are pursuing 7 per cent of claimants. That is a lot of money for a little outcome.”

The next steps for Ms Tesseyman and other TAC client advocates is to seek a review from the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO).

“We want an audit of the whole TAC in general.

We thought the committee would have asked for more evidence from the TAC on how much they are spending on lawyers, and dispute processes. In the report the TAC talked about how much they receive from successful fraudulent prosecutions, but they didn’t talk about how much these have cost.”

Ms Tesseyman said the cost also falls on claimants. “We are the claimants who end up having our services delayed, and have to get more services because of the waiting period.”

For Ms Tesseyman and other TAC clients, the Inquiry is a step in the right direction, and will be used to inform the VAGO Review.

CFA reminds locals of the value of leaving early in fires A recent CFA survey has found most Victorians that live in bushfire-prone areas understand leaving early is the best way to protect themselves and their families during a bushfire, but most would wait too long to act.

The CFA’s annual post-season bushfire community survey found that 88 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that leaving early was the safest option.

However, 81 per cent indicated they were unlikely to leave until a fire was threatening the landscape.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan AFSM said the results showed that important bushfire safety messages are reaching communities, but there was still work to do.

2 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

“It’s encouraging to see so many Victorians understand that leaving early is the safest way to protect themselves and their family,” Mr Heffernan said.

“But knowing that leaving early is safest and knowing when to act are two different things.

Leaving early means leaving the area before the fire starts, not when you can see flames or smell smoke.”

The CFA was also concerned about the 12 per cent who indicated that they would stay and defend.

“CFA’s position is clear, do not stay and defend.”

The survey results also showed 93 per cent of respondents have a bushfire plan, but only 13 per

cent have it written down.

“A good plan should cover when you will leave, where you will go and what you will do if your preferred route is no longer safe,” Mr Heffernan explained.

Writing it down and placing it somewhere visible can make a significant difference during an emergency.

The CFA survey results also showed that 63 per cent believed they would likely receive assistance from fire trucks to defend their property in a bushfire.

While 77 per cent expected emergency services to tell them when to leave.

“During a bushfire, we cannot guarantee a fire truck will be at every property,” Mr Heffernan

said.

He advised that locals should not wait for a fire truck or verbal warning from firefighters to act.

“Download the Vic Emergency App, set a watch zone, listen to emergency broadcasters and monitor social media and the CFA website for updates.”

With hot and dry conditions expected across the outer east this spring, the CFA urges locals that now is the time to prepare.

Mr Heffernan said the best way to prepare is by attending a Get Fire Ready event and speak with your local brigade to understand risks and create a realistic fire plan for you and your family.

For more information about Get Fire Ready, visit cfa.vic.au/getfireready

mailcommunity.com.au

NEWS

IN BRIEF Police are investigating a fatal crash in Cockatoo It is understood a car driving south-east along Paternoster Road left the roadway and crashed into a tree about 7.25am on 1 September.

The male driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Police are keen to speak to the driver of a red vehicle who is understood to have driven past, in the opposite direction, just prior to the crash.

This vehicle is not believed to be involved in the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, has CCTV/ dashcam footage or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.

For the current provisional Lives Lost tally please see - www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety.

Bike owner sought by police Boronia police are looking for the owner of a sixspeed explorer bike found on Western Road in Boronia on 4 September.

If you own the bike, or know who does, please contact Boronia Police on: 9760 6600.

Ref #202609-E-0343. Proof of ownership will be required.

Monbulk engineer and geologist Arnold Dix is supporting rescue crews in Nepal. (Supplied)

VicPol launch stolen car search

Monbulk hero steps in

By AAP, AP and DPA, with Claudia Mather Two people have been pulled out alive from a tunnel linked to a hydropower station on the Trishuli River in Nepal, nine days after an ice, rock and mud slide swept through its valley, killing more than 1300 people and displacing tens of thousands.

Monbulk engineer and geologist Arnold Dix, who is advising Nepalese authorities on the rescues, said there was no test case for their work.

“It’s like solving a puzzle you can’t see.”

He is advising on the Trishuli 3A hydropower project, where rescuers reportedly pulled two workers alive from a tunnel on Friday, nine days after the floods began.

The rescues have been reported on local television news channels and by Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane on Facebook, AP reported.

Speaking hours before the reports surfaced, Mr Dix told AAP he had received word members of the Nepali army had heard voices inside the tunnel.

“When you’re exhausted, sometimes your mind plays tricks on you ... but once rescuers hear there might be someone alive ... this spurs you on,” he said.

The well-known tunnel rescuer and Monbulk local has been keeping his community in the loop via his Facebook page.

A post he made at 3.30am on September 7 reflects on the Silkyara tunnel rescue where he rescued 41 workers from its collapse.

“It has made me think about Silkyara,” he wrote.

“There, 41 men were underground and we had one seemingly impossible task: bring them

More than 5080 people are still missing and thousands more displaced following Nepal Floods. (Narenda Shrestha EPA/AAp) home alive. We passed that test together.”

“But perhaps passing one great test does not mean the testing is over. Silkyara taught me never to confuse the unlikely with impossible.”

Mr Dix wrote that these rescues in Nepal are teaching him something more.

“When several lives may depend upon us at once, hope must become discipline, compassion must become action, and duty cannot depend upon certainty of success.”

He explained that we are not measured by the lives we save, but by the lives we refuse to abandon.

Officials and rescue workers believe the 26 August collapse of a glacier on the upper reaches of the Trishuli River trapped at least 900 people in tunnels related to six hydropower projects along the river.

At least 1287 people were killed in Nepal as houses, streets and schools in towns and villages near the border with China’s Tibet were swept

away. More than 5080 people are still missing and thousands more displaced.

“It is my honour to be helping the incredibly talented teams here during this critical final phase of the tunnel rescues,” Mr Dix wrote on a recent post.

Mr Dix’s kindness, compassion and expertise is not going unnoticed by his online community as many people have shared their gratitude and admiration for all he is doing for the Nepalese people.

Survivors of the Nepal-Tibet flood disaster face an uphill battle in contacting loved ones, an aid worker says, as workers were pulled alive from a hydropower tunnel.

It comes after Australian authorities on Friday confirmed two citizens had made contact overnight, bringing the number of missing Australians to 36.

The federal government has sent 19 officials and disaster response specialists to the region, with another 23 to be deployed within days.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with his Nepalese counterpart on Friday, offering Australia’s deepest condolences.

“The loss of life and destruction is devastating, and we will keep doing everything we can to find the Australians still unaccounted for,” he wrote on X. Australians have donated more than $4 million to the Emergency Action Alliance to support recovery efforts.

The federal government will provide a further $3 million to match public donations, bringing the ongoing humanitarian support package to a total of $11 million.

Yarra Valley locals can now check if a car has been stolen thanks to a new tool from Victoria Police.

Users can enter the registration, make and model of a suspect vehicle to check if it is listed as stolen and then report its location to police.

Vehicle Crime Squad detective inspector Julie Macdonald said car thefts impact people’s sense of safety.

“That’s why police are working tirelessly to target car thieves and make arrests.

“This new tool lets people check if a car is stolen and report its location to police. All people have to do is enter the registration, make and model of the suspect vehicle.”

She said thieves were targeting cars with push start ignitions.

“Police are seeing proof of this with on-board diagnostic devices showing up more frequently during intercepts of suspicious vehicles.”

Information is drawn from Victoria Police’s Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP) as well as Vic Roads and the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS).

You can access the tool here: shorturl.at/ JaX2P.

Rotary fundraiser The Rotary Club of Belgrave-Ferntree Gully will host a fundraising cocktail evening in Upwey next month, with money raised going towards community projects and initiatives.

The ‘Cocktail for a Cause’ will feature food, drinks and entertainment, with the event also providing an opportunity for local community members and businesses to connect.

The event will be held on Saturday, 17 October, from 7pm to 10pm at the Upwey Tecoma Football Pavilion, Chosen Avenue, Upwey.

Funds raised will support Rotary community projects assisting people in need.

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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 3

NEWS

‘I’ll shoot’: Behind a medal

By Mikayla van Loon

Kilsyth resident Richard Mathiasz bravely helped wrestle a masked, armed offender at the Bayswater North Pharmacy. (Mikayla van Loon: 576580) “For me, if we have to die on the road, you’re going to die on the road. If you die on the water, you’re going to die on the water. If you’re going to die with a bullet, you’re going to die with a bullet,” he said.

It was a completely different reaction for his wife, who said, “I couldn’t even talk”.

“When he was holding the gun to my head here, and I was thinking to myself, I couldn’t even open my mouth. We’ve been married for 46 years, and I couldn’t even tell him, ‘Honey, I’ll see you on the other side’. I couldn’t even open my mouth.

I was so stunned,” she said.

As restaurateurs for 30 years, they had experienced the shops around them being robbed, but thankfully theirs had never been targeted.

“In these 30 years, the post office got robbed next door, the liquor shop got robbed, the pizza shop got robbed. I was waiting one day till somebody came to our shop, but nobody came.

“Unfortunately, we went to the pharmacy. We closed the shop because we finished early. We said, ‘We’ll see the friend in the pharmacy’ and while we were there, we were just talking with him, and all this happened.

“If they were there on their own, then it could have been a different story.

“We would never expect it, but who expects somebody to hold a gun to your head?”

This act of bravery from Mr Mathiasz to apprehend an armed offender was recognised by one of the police officers who attended and continued to ensure the Mathiaszs’ wellbeing afterwards.

“I was not coping with it very well. So they kept calling me and looking after me. He organised counselling,” Mrs Mathiasz said.

“He came to the house every other day. He came to ask whether we needed help or whether need this, whether we needed that,” Mr Mathiasz said.

It took some time for Mrs Mathiasz to feel comfortable going to public places because of the trauma of the event.

“I couldn’t go to shopping centres. I didn’t go out at all. I went into panic mode, and I couldn’t do anything… (Richard) made me understand that you need to keep going out,” she said.

“But it was the first time this has happened to me. How do you cope with it?”

Mr Mathiasz said that while the adrenaline in the moment carried him through, as soon as it started wearing off, he asked himself, “What have you gone and done?”

“It sank in because he could have really pulled the trigger,” he said.

Three years later, the couple are not as affected by what happened, and Mr Mathiasz said he never expected to be recognised with a commendation but was grateful to the police officer.

Mr Mathiasz will be invited to an official ceremony next year, where he will be presented with a medal.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn congratulated the recipients for their selfless acts and bravery to protect others.

“The Australians honoured today remind us of the strength and depth of the human spirit,” she said.

“They were each confronted with danger and chose to act – removing others from dangerous circumstances, including beach and sea rescues, motor vehicle accidents and other treacherous and, often, unimaginable situations.”

12821329-MC47-25

The night Richard Mathiasz and his wife decided to stop by and visit a friend at work will forever be ingrained in their minds as the night they came face to face with an armed offender.

On Monday 1 September, known as National Wattle Day, Mr Mathiasz was named as one of 54 people to receive an Australian Bravery Decoration.

The Kilsyth residents had finished work early on Wednesday 15 March 2023 and used the unexpected time to see their friends at the Bayswater North Pharmacy at Canterbury Gardens.

With the pharmacy owners behind the counter and the Mathiaszs standing and speaking to them in the store, at around 8.15pm, a masked and armed offender entered the shop.

Walking directly to the four friends holding a gun, he demanded that a duffle bag be filled with drugs.

“I clearly said, ‘You’re not getting anything from here’, and he cocked the gun and said, ‘I’ll shoot’. I said, ‘If you have to shoot, you shoot but you’re still not going to get anything from me’,” Mr Mathiasz said.

“He didn’t hold the gun only to my head, it was to her head (Mrs Mathiasz) as well because she said, ‘I’m going to call the police’.

“When she tried to use the mobile, he grabbed the mobile and threw the mobile from us. He said, ‘I’ll shoot you too, listen’.”

Trying to appease the gun-wielding offender, the pharmacy owners took the duffle bag into the back room to start filling it with safe-stored medications.

Mr Mathiasz remembers having “a standoff for about a minute” before the pharmacy owner returned with a full bag. As he handed it over, he pressed the emergency button.

The offender turned to leave, and in that moment Mr Mathiasz and the pharmacy owner made the split-second decision to tackle the man to the ground.

“He jumped on him at the same time I jumped on him too…He was like a wounded bull. He was strong.

“He was bigger. He was taller than me, and he was like a wounded bull fighting to get out, but I had his neck throttled.”

In the chaos, the offender’s mask and gun went flying, and the store was a mess of products falling and shattered glass.

“Shelves were all dropping. In the pharmacy, you get all this equipment there, that all started dropping on me. All I heard was glass breaking,” Mr Mathiasz said.

With the two men pinning him to the ground, Mrs Mathiasz and the female pharmacy owner were able to alert passersby of the incident.

Soon after, the shopping complex car park was filled with police vehicles, with every available unit sent to the Bayswater North centre.

Mr Mathiasz recalled, “I’ve never seen so many police cars under in the one space…when we came out, the whole shopping centre was blue”.

In the moment, Mr Mathiasz said, “I was not scared”, rationalising that if it was his time to die, he would accept that.

4 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

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NEWS

Dr Sarah Lee takes the cake

By Callum Ludwig An anaesthetist at Eastern Health has been recognised on the national stage for her contribution to medicine.

Dr Sarah Lee, founder of Anaesthesia Discussion, Views and Contemporary Evidence (ADVANCE), was recently awarded the Excellence in Healthcare Award by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for her efforts to improve anaesthesia education.

Dr Lee said she felt incredibly humbled and honoured, particularly when she looked at the remarkable people who had received the award before her.

“Although there is one name on the award, there are many people behind it. I have been very fortunate to have the support of my directors at Eastern Health, my department, my mentors, colleagues and the wider ADVANCE team,” she said.

“So many people have generously given their time simply because they believe in education and improving patient care.

“I really see this award as recognition of that collective effort and of the many educators who quietly invest in building the people around them.”

Dr Lee moved from Singapore to Melbourne at the age of 16 to pursue medicine, and joined Eastern Health as a junior doctor in 2013, later training in anaesthesia and becoming qualified in 2021, despite feeling certain as a medical student she wouldn’t want to.

Dr Lee said she founded ADVANCE in 2022 because one of the things that makes anaesthesia so interesting is the variation in how we practise, with several methods of approaching the same clinical problem and evidence which does not always give one simple answer.

“Working in a large public hospital, I have easy access to colleagues, teaching and discussion, but that is not necessarily true for everyone, particularly those working regionally, remotely or more independently. I wanted

L-R: Dr Sarah Lee receives her award, alongside former New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard. (Australian Medical Association) ADVANCE to help bridge some of that gap,” she said.

“Before each session, we anonymously survey clinicians about how they practise. We then bring together the contemporary evidence and invite experts in the field to discuss it.

“The aim is not to tell people how they should practise. It is to create a safe space to ask: ‘This is what I currently do. What does the evidence say? What do my peers do? And is there something I can learn from them?’”

Dr Lee also decided to keep ADVANCE free because she wants the education to remain as accessible as possible, and which perhaps in part helped contribute to it being adopted around the world.

Dr Lee said she definitely never expected it to grow as quickly or reach as widely as it has but its growth has really been made possible by people’s generosity.

“We have had extraordinary experts, including international leaders in their fields,

volunteer their time simply because they believe in sharing knowledge and helping others,” she said.

“I have also been very fortunate to have wonderful cochairs and a dedicated team that volunteer many hours of their own time despite busy clinical commitments. Many dedicated colleagues, hardworking trainees, experts and supporters have contributed their time and energy along the way.

“If something we have created here can be useful to somebody on the other side of the world, that is a wonderful thing.”

In the long-term, the hope is that ADVANCE survey data can also be used to develop a registry and research program and use contemporary Australian anaesthesia practice to inform evidence-based education, research priorities, and guidelines.

Dr Lee said anaesthetists learn enormously from the perspectives of our surgical, intensive care, nursing, allied health and physician colleagues, who see different parts of a patient’s recovery journey.

“No single person or specialty has all the answers, when we learn from one another, we gain a much more complete picture of what happens to our patients beyond the operating theatre,” she said.

“A wise mentor once said to me, ‘Where there is a receptive mind and a willing heart to teach, lives can be transformed.’ I have carried those words with me.

“I am still relatively young in my own journey and have so much more to learn. I just hope I can keep that passion for teaching and learning alive and continue to invest in the people around me, just as others have so generously invested in me.”

Dr Lee was presented with the award at the AMA26 National Conference.

AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said at the conference that Dr Lee’s commitment to knowledge sharing and supporting colleagues, not just in Australia but across the world, was an inspiration across the profession.

“The dedication Dr Lee has demonstrated since beginning her career, not only to her own continuous development but to our profession as a whole is truly commendable,” she said.

“Her approach fosters both professional growth and improved patient care, and her work in setting up ADVANCE also helps with the translation of emerging evidence into everyday clinical decision-making. By creating a space where clinicians can interrogate new data, share experiences, and refine their approaches, Dr Lee has enabled a form of continuous learning that is both dynamic and directly relevant to patient outcomes.

“In an era where healthcare is increasingly complex and rapidly evolving, initiatives like ADVANCE play a critical role in ensuring that clinicians remain informed, connected, and adaptable.”

Dr Lee thanked the ‘village’ around her, including her family, friends, colleagues and mentors, who she is ‘incredibly grateful’ for.

Dr Lee said she remains very grateful for the opportunities she has been given within the network and that medicine is an incredible privilege but it can also be demanding.

“As anaesthetists, we often meet people at some of the most vulnerable, and sometimes most joyful, moments of their lives. Being entrusted with their care carries an enormous responsibility, but it also continually reminds us of the humanity at the heart of what we do,” she said.

“There is a saying that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and I think in many ways it also takes a community to support a healthcare worker. Fatigue, burnout and mental wellbeing are very real challenges in healthcare today.

“Sadly, our profession has lost wonderful people to mental illness, and I think that reminds us how important it is to look after one another. In a profession centred on caring for others, I think we need to extend that same care to one another.”

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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 5

NEWS

New VICSES equipment provided by state government Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers will receive new technology and equipment to assist with responses to storms and floods this season, following a $2.5 million investment announced by the Victorian Government.

Emergency services minister Paul Edbrooke visited the Emerald VICSES Unit on Tuesday, 1 September, to thank volunteers for their work and encourage Victorians to prepare for the upcoming storm season.

The funding will provide VICSES crews with: ■ Two portable cell service towers to improve communications during emergencies.

■ 15 Starlink kits and five portable kits to support communications in vehicles and areas

with limited mobile coverage.

■ Five Bobcat units to assist with clearing fallen trees and debris from roads.

■ Two trucks fitted with swift-water rescue pods to support flood rescue operations.

■ Additional dry suits and waders to be positioned across Victoria based on weather information.

The funding forms part of the Victorian Government’s $31 million Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program, which provides equipment and resources to emergency service volunteers across the state.

The Emerald VICSES Unit will also receive $100,000 towards a new truck.

VICSES volunteers are among the first respond-

ers during severe weather events. During the last storm season, the Emerald Unit responded to 930 requests for assistance.

The government is also supporting VICSES’ Are You Storm Ready campaign, which encourages residents to prepare their properties ahead of severe weather. Residents are advised to clear gutters, trim overhanging branches and secure loose outdoor items. When severe weather is forecast, people are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel and never drive through floodwater.

Mr Edbrooke said the new equipment would support VICSES volunteers during emergencies.

“Labor is backing VICSES volunteers with the equipment and resources to keep us safe. A Liberal-One Nation Coalition will cut funding to VICSES

and put Victorians at risk,” he said. “Every Victorian can take simple steps now to protect their home, their family and our amazing first responders when emergencies strike.”

Member for Monbulk Daniela De Martino said the equipment would support local VICSES volunteers.

“Our VICSES volunteers do extraordinary work, and we’re proud to back them with the equipment and support they need to keep our community safe for years to come,” she said. “Our local SES Unit is one of the busiest in the State, and I am incredibly grateful for the extraordinary job they do keeping our community safe when severe weather hits.

They deserve facilities and resources that match the amazing work they do.”

Trouble keeps bubbling up

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor When water started bubbling up through the gravel of Sherbrooke Lodge Road in March 2025, residents thought they were dealing with a simple leak.

Instead, it became an 18-month dispute over who actually owns the pipe running beneath the road and why Yarra Valley Water (YVW) cannot locate the original agreement it says establishes responsibility for the seven connected households.

The 343-metre water main runs beneath Sherbrooke Lodge Road, supplying seven properties from numbers 33 to 45.

According to Madelaine Morgan-Smith, who is dealing with the issue on behalf of her parents, YVW responded the pipe was private infrastructure and responsibility for its maintenance and repair fell to the connected property owners.

Her mother, Terrie Morgan-Smith, said the experience had left the affected households frustrated and overwhelmed.

“We were just completely frustrated,” Ms Morgan-Smith said. “We were overwhelmed that a water pipeline under a public road was basically the responsibility of a group of properties, with an unknown cost and liability.”

But Ms Morgan-Smith said residents had never been told they were responsible for the ageing pipe, which runs beneath a public road.

When she asked for the historical agreement establishing that responsibility, YVW said it could not locate it. EWOV issued a recommendation on 3 September finding, on the balance of probabilities, that the pipe is a private water main and therefore that YVW is not obliged to maintain or repair it. Ms Morgan-Smith disputes the recommendation and has until 22 September to respond.

EWOV expressly states that its investigation does not determine who owns the pipe or who is responsible for its maintenance if it is private.

The leak was first reported on 11 March 2025, outside 35 Sherbrooke Lodge Road. Residents could see water coming through the gravel and noticed their water pressure had dropped. For nine days, Ms Morgan-Smith said, residents repeatedly contacted the water provider for help.

The corporation maintained the pipe was private and the seven properties were responsible, however, residents could not simply hire a plumber to dig up the road.

Ms Morgan-Smith said a neighbour tried to engage private plumbers, but they declined because the work involved excavating a public road.

The situation worsened, with a sinkhole beginning to form.

On 19 March, YVW issued an “urgent repairs required” notice at number 35, warning that failure to arrange repairs could result in water being restricted or shut off, or the corporation carrying out the work and recovering the cost.

The following day, Ms Morgan-Smith spoke to a YVW manager who arranged an emergency crew, but only after residents agreed to pay an unknown cost. They agreed because, as Ms Morgan-Smith put it, “we just needed it fixed”.

The crew did not arrive within the promised two-hour emergency timeframe.

On 21 March, Ms Morgan-Smith lodged a complaint with EWOV. YVW eventually arrived more than 36 hours after that commitment and worked into the night to repair the pipe.

The repair was valued at $7656.27, including $6200.23 in traffic management costs.

The company ultimately absorbed the cost as a “goodwill measure” while the dispute continued, but maintained that future repairs remained the owners’ responsibility.

6 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

The March 2025 leak, photographed by the YVW crew during the repair. (Supplied) After the emergency, Ms Morgan-Smith began asking why the pipe was considered private.

The water provider said it had been unable to locate the original private-main application or trunk service agreement.

In its 19 March 2025 response, it said its records confirmed the private main serviced the seven properties, but that it had not found historic copies of the agreement.

While the dispute was already before EWOV, YVW sent new Temporary Trunk Service Agreements to the owners of all seven affected properties and sought their signatures.

Ms Morgan-Smith’s concern is that the new agreements do not establish what agreement, if any, had previously imposed that liability.

She also received a blank internal template for a temporary trunk service, but said it contained no property-specific information, signatures or addresses.

YVW’s later explanation was that it had reviewed archived Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works plans, legacy field drawings, applications for private mains in Sherbrooke and internal asset records.

It said the review found no application for a private water main servicing 33-45 Sherbrooke Lodge Road and no trunk service agreement from when the service was installed.

But the corporation said other evidence supported its assessment that the pipe was private.

That included an MMBW network map from 1986, historical documents from surrounding streets concerning connections and extensions of private water service pipes, and the size and material of the disputed pipe.

YVW said the pipe was 40mm in diameter and made from galvanised wrought iron, compared with nearby MMBW mains that were typically 100mm or larger. It estimated the pipe was likely constructed between 1975 and 1980.

Ms Morgan-Smith disputes parts of that assessment, including the recorded diameter.

YVW’s own asset records identify the main as 50mm in diameter and approximately 343 metres

long. The corporation’s records show 2016 as the construction date for the asset.

YVW has acknowledged that from 2014 to 2019 it ran a field project installing main meters on assets it had recorded or treated as private to measure water use and detect leaks.

Sherbrooke Lodge Road was dealt with under that project in 2016. YVW subsequently explained that the properties were assigned a Private Meter Group number, which triggered a new Asset ID, and the main was formally registered in GIS. The 2016 date therefore reflects a later field and database process, rather than when the pipe was physically constructed.

Ms Morgan-Smith said work-order records dating back to 2000 show YVW servicing the line before the 2016 classification, including flushing it, working on meters, operating a hydrant and repairing leaks.

Some work orders referred to a “repair leaking trunk service”.

For Ms Morgan-Smith, the records raise a central question: if the original agreement cannot be found, what evidence was used to classify the pipe as private?

“Their reasoning is circular,” Ms Morgan-Smith said. “They’re saying it’s private because their system says it’s private, but their system says it’s private because they classified it that way in the first place.”

Ms Morgan-Smith’s parents bought 43 Sherbrooke Lodge Road in 1994, before Yarra Valley Water was established. She said they were never told they were responsible for a private water main beneath the road. She later obtained water information statements for properties connected to the main from 2006, 2010 and 2011.

The historical water information statements obtained for connected properties in 2006, 2010 and 2011 do not disclose a private-main agreement, shared maintenance responsibility or replacement liability.

In a March 2026 letter to then-minister for water Gayle Tierney, YVW said private-main arrangements were communicated through water infor-

mation statements during property sales so future owners understood their responsibilities.

Ms Morgan-Smith said the historical statements she obtained raised questions about whether that occurred in this case.

The dispute prompted Ms Morgan-Smith to examine YVW’s wider asset records, where she said she found a large number of private-pipe entries.

She does not claim those assets have been incorrectly classified, but questions whether older infrastructure can acquire a new database identity without clear records establishing when it was built, who installed it or who owns it.

YVW has acknowledged when it was established in 1995, some private asset records and customer agreements were unavailable.

“We acknowledge the concerns raised regarding this matter and understand the impact on those involved,” the spokesperson said.

“We’re continuing to work towards an appropriate resolution and engaging through regulatory channels.”

Ms Morgan-Smith has asked the water minister to have the original 1995 asset allocation instrument located and examined, as well as seeking a broader review of YVW’s asset-classification practices. The Essential Services Commission has sought permission to send Ms Morgan-Smith’s material to DEECA, which it described as the “more appropriate body for this complaint”. It subsequently confirmed the material would be registered with the Commission and forwarded to DEECA. The pipe failed again within 12 months of the March 2025 leak, while the dispute remained unresolved.

For Ms Morgan-Smith, the issue is no longer simply about one leaking pipe. “At this point, I just want transparency,” she said.

Ms Morgan-Smith wants to know who built the pipe, when it was built, when and on what basis it became private, what document established responsibility for the seven households, and how those households are realistically expected to inspect, maintain and repair a 343-metre shared water main buried beneath a public road.

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Church thanks community

By Claudia Mather The Montrose Church of Christ has been busy celebrating an exciting and impactful upgrade in the church after the Mt Evelyn Community Bank generously funded a renovation project.

The project reimagined two existing disabled toilets that were not up to current code, into a new accessible bathroom and shower room.

This meant any guests staying at the church overnight as part of Stable One’s Yarra Valley Winter Shelter, were able to use the new facilities.

Being warm and feeling clean are feelings most of us take for granted, but being able to come out of the cold into a welcoming community space and having the option for a warm shower is something the Winter Shelter guests were very grateful for.

Stable One’s Yarra Valley Winter Shelter program partners with local churches to provide warm, overnight accommodation for community members experiencing homelessness and hardship during the winter time.

This was the first winter that the Montrose Church came on board as a shelter location.

About halfway through the program, the new facilities were complete, allowing overnight guests access to a warm shower.

Stable One Chief executive Katherine Kirkwood explained that when considering people who don’t have access to simple facilities, like a shower, due to homelessness, it’s really important that community facilities are set up to be able to help people.

“We have the space available, so might as well use it,” she said.

Montrose Church of Christ Chair Lee Suryn said she had asked guests what they could do to help improve their stay during the Winter Shelter.

One guest said it would be great if they could have a shower while they stayed and that the shower facilities were what was missing for them.

“We are incredibly grateful to Bendigo Bank for what they were able to provide, because without their assistance, it wouldn’t have been able to

Lee Suryn (Council Chair/Elder Montrose Church of Christ), Katherine Kirkwood (Stable One) and Lisa Glassbarow (Community Bank Mt Evelyn) (Stewart Chambers: 574664)

Elise McGuinness (Community Bank-Mt Evelyn), Lee Suryn (Council Chair/Elder Montrose Church of Christ), Justin Hall (Community Bank-Mt Evelyn),Katherine Kirkwood (Stable One) and Lisa Glassbarow (Community Bank Mt Evelyn) (Stewart Chambers: 574664) happen,” Ms Suryn said.

“I think it just came down to knowing it was what we needed. It’s not a requirement from Stable One that the churches that host guests overnight have a shower on site, but it just seemed to us to be an obvious thing that would be great for us to have.”

Over nineteen thousand dollars was bountifully funded towards the new bathroom and shower for the church.

Mt Evelyn Community Bank Chair Lisa Glassborow explained they “were thinking about people experiencing homelessness and having a shower is absolutely part of honouring somebody’s dignity and giving them an experience that feels a bit like a warm home.

“It was a no-brainer. It was a unanimous yes from our board to say this is a big project for us to invest in and we are 100 per cent in and behind it.”

“This feels like a longer term investment, and I think it is really important for the community to have a place to go to,” Ms Glassborow explained.

“That’s the beautiful part of community banks

is that we have local shareholders and local staff and our profit gets invested back into our community.”

Mt Evelyn Community Bank branch manager Justin Hall explained that funding projects like this one is something they would not be able to do without their customers.

“It really is because people choose to bank with us that we are able to then support that into the community. It’s our customers that really made it become full circle in providing that partnership,” he said.

The Montrose Church of Christ were also very fortunate to have people volunteer to help with the labour.

“We were able to provide a lot of the labour, free of charge, from our members of our congregation.

“One of our members is a building designer, so he was able to actually look at what we had in place and to provide some renovation drawings.

“We have a builder in our congregation as well and he was able to undertake the work at a

reduced price and then he had a number of people helping him who were working for free,” Ms Suryn said.

“Keith and Jeff led the bulk of the work and we want to thank them,” Ms Kirkwood said warmly.

This renovation openly captures the local sense, having been brought to life entirely through the hands of the community for people in need.

Guests staying at the church were very appreciative of the new shower facility.

“A guest said to us it was great because the water was hot, it didn’t run out and the facilities were so clean,” Ms Suryn said.

“They could come here and just feel that community, and the warmth and I think the showers are part of that for sure, but it’s also the people that’s around it. It’s radical hospitality,” Ms Kirkwood explained.

“The winter shelter instigated this renovation, but it’s my belief, and hopefully the belief of our board, that churches in general need to step into the space more of just caring for people outside of their own four walls. I think that that’s the way of the future,” she said.

The genuine sense of warmth radiating from the Montrose Church of Christ is thanks to the kindness of the whole community.

This full-circle effort has meant that the church can continue to open its doors to people in need, and provide them with the love and care we all deserve, as well as a warm shower.

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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 7

NEWS

L-R: local filmmakers, Rebecca Gillett and Sophia Gigliotti. (Stewart Chambers: 575873)

L-R: Sophia Gigliotti, Oscar Bellamy, Rebecca Gillett and Maeve Hepburn. (575873)

Young talent shines brightly

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Young filmmakers from across the region and beyond will take to the big screen this September when the Lantern and Light International Youth Film Festival (LLIFF) returns to Cameo Cinemas in Belgrave.

The festival will be running from 11 to 13 September, showcasing Australian and international short films made by young people, with awards to be presented across various categories.

Among this year’s participants are 17-year-old Rebecca (Bec) Gillett from Ferntree Gully and 16-year-old Sophia Gigliotti from Emerald.

Swinburne Senior Secondary student, Bec is returning with her short film ‘Metaphor-phasis’, which grew from a dream she had about people eating green grass before developing into a story about a “plague of metaphors” being taken too seriously.

She said having her work shown on the big screen had helped clarify her ambitions.

“I’m honestly really lucky to have an opportunity to show my short films on the big screen,” Bec said.

“I really want to pursue filmmaking, so it’s really helped me figure out where I want to be and

how to achieve that.”

Her biggest challenge, she said, has been time management, this year she submitted her film on the final day possible, after leaving much of the work until the last minute.

But the process has also given her the chance to collaborate.

The 17-year-old has worked on seven short films with other people this year and said she particularly enjoys watching filmmakers work together to overcome problems.

Bec also credits growing up in the Dandenong Ranges with helping her become more confident expressing herself, describing the area as arts-focused and creatively inspiring.

For her, filmmaking has similarly become a way to build confidence.

The Year 10 Mater Christi College student first joined Ranges Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) in 2024 after her mother encouraged her to get involved - she initially wanted to join drama, but after that class was full, she joined filmmaking instead.

She quickly fell in love with it and later joined RAPA’s drama class.

Sophia said she was very quiet when she first joined, but filmmaking and meeting other young

people helped bring her out of her shell.

“I’ve become a lot more social, a lot more confident myself, and I’m really grateful for that,” she said.

Her second film, ‘And Then’, follows 16-year-old Matilda, who experiences severe social anxiety, after becoming distressed when her friend is late, Matilda encounters what appears to be a voice offering help, but which is ultimately revealed as a visual representation of despair in the form of a doll.

Sophia said the subject was personal, as she also experiences social anxiety.

“I think it’s definitely important to talk [about it], because it’s a very serious thing, and I don’t think it is as recognised as it should be,” she said.

She hopes to continue the story in another film and eventually pursue a career in the film industry, whether through acting, directing or scriptwriting.

The LLIFF is a not-for-profit event operating under RAPA Inc, with Rainsford as festival director and Mary Salem as festival producer.

Rainsford said the two young filmmakers are part of a much larger group of emerging creatives taking part this year.

The LLIFF has accepted submissions from as many as 15 regional filmmakers aged between eight and 23, alongside films from other parts of

Victoria, interstate and overseas.

The festival has also expanded its original eight-to-18 age range to include an 18-to-25 section, following requests from young filmmakers who had previously participated and later went on to film schools.

This year, 43 short films made by young people will be screened, including work from regional filmmakers, tertiary students at Swinburne Film School and the VCA, local schools and international schools and filmmakers.

For Rainsford, giving young filmmakers the opportunity to see their work on the big screen is central to the festival.

“It allows them to ‘feel’ how their film is received by a live audience,” he said.

Rainsford said the LLIFF gives young filmmakers a focus and a place to develop films that express their voices, concerns and visions and the response from audiences is also a vital part of the experience.

“It’s a joy, it’s uplifting,” Rainsford said.

“People will come out of these sessions resonating with hope for our young creatives in the Yarra Ranges.”

Dirty rotten talent in Lilydale

By Claudia Mather From Thursday 10 September the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre is set to take to the stage for their rendition of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for season 4.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a comedic musical about two con men competing to swindle a wealthy heiress, leading to hilariously ridiculous situations and unexpected twists.

Lawrence Jameson, played by Phil Lambert, makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money.

While Freddy Benson, played by Rob Blowers, is a more humble swindler and tells fabricated stories to women about his grandmother’s failing health.

After meeting on a train and attempting to work together, they realise that the small French town isn’t big enough for them both.

So, they agree on a settlement; the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female heiress, Christine Colgate, played by Madeleine Magetti, wins and the other must leave town.

Through big musical numbers and witty dialogue, the hilarious battle of the con men ensues.

Long-time director at Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Alan Burrows described the upcoming show as a crowd pleaser.

“It’s a well-worn story, but it’s one that people can relate to and that they will know,” he said.

“People will relate to it because a lot of people would have seen the original 1998 film starring Steve Martin and Michael Kane.

“So, it’s well known in film circles.”

8 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

Mr Burrows believes the musical will have a general appeal, with older audiences having seen the film and younger audiences enjoying the fun of the music.

“The musical itself was only written in 2005, it’s only 20 years old, so I think it’s got some fairly up to date lyrics and some of the music styles are very today.”

Auditions for the show took place in May and the cast has been hard at rehearsals since.

Over the last 12 weeks, Mr Burrows has worked closely with a musical director and choreographer to bring the suave show to life.

The local cast is varied in age, bringing together performers with a range of experience.

“I’ve got a young female who’s only first year out of school in the ensemble and a young boy as well who is only a couple years older than her, and then a spread of people in between.

“So it’s quite a varied aged range cast,” Mr Burrows said.

He promises a show that will keep audiences interested through laughter and engaging musical numbers.

Including some small quirks added to accommodate the local community.

“Having watched the first of our dress rehearsals, I think we’re going to get to that point where the audience will just take it at face value, go along with the ridiculousness of the story and enjoy it,” the director laughed. “There is a real twist at the end but we won’t tell you what that is, because we don’t want to spoil it!”

The well known film-turned-musical will run across 15 shows until 26 September.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels set to take the stage from September 10. (Alexandra Carter, Wanderling Photography)

Con men Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson.

The cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Lilydale ATC.

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Youth fest’s grants to 110 organisations

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor The State Government has awarded Youth Fest grants to 110 organisations across Victoria, with seven organisations from Melbourne’s outer east among the recipients, including groups from Yarra Ranges, Knox, Cardinia and Maroondah.

The local recipients are Burrinja Cultural Centre for ‘Homegrown: Music From Here’; Cardinia Shire Council for the ‘Cardinia Skate, BMX

and Scooter Competition’; Knox City Council for the ‘Hive Ping Pong Party’; Maroondah City Council for the ‘Mario Kart Tournament and Pizza Party’; Mountain District Radio Inc. (3MDR) for ‘Fresh Air Live’; Selby Community House for ‘Mic Drop #2’; and Yarra Ranges Shire Council for ‘Yarra Ranges Youth ‘Hills Comic-Con’.

Youth Fest 2026 funding is provided for events that showcase the achievements, talents and contributions of young Victorians aged 12

Seven local organisations have received fundings as part of the State Government’s youth fest grants.

(Unsplash) to 25.

The successful local projects span music, sport, community events and youth culture,

with organisations receiving up to $2000 each.

Several stories on local Youth Fest projects are coming up...

Youth grant backs Selby’s Mic Drop #2

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Young people in Selby and the surrounding Hills will take to the stage at Selby Community House’s (SCH) Mic Drop #2, one of 110 youth-led programs to receive Youth Fest 2026 funding.

For the Selby Community House (SCH), the grant will help bring back Mic Drop for a second year.

This year’s Mic Drop will be a one-off event held at Menzies Creek Hall on Friday, 11 September, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

SCH manager Danielle McMinn said the organisation was “really excited” to have received the funding again this year.

Mic Drop is a youth-led open mic and social night aimed at young people aged 11 to 16, providing a supportive and inclusive space for them to share their talents.

Young performers can sing, play an instrument, perform comedy, share poetry or spoken word, or showcase any other creative talent they would like to bring to the stage.

But Ms McMinn said the event was about more than performing.

“It’s also about creating a local space where young people can meet, connect and support each other, while having a night that is genuinely focussed on them,” she said.

The first Mic Drop was held as part of youth fest in September in 2025, which attracted 14 young performers, two youth sound engineers and around 50 attendees.

Ms McMinn said the atmosphere was incredibly supportive, with young people cheering each other on and some taking to the stage who may

Mic Drop 2025. (Supplied)

Millie Jane, opening feature act at Mic Drop 2026. (Supplied) not otherwise have had the opportunity.

The positive response from young people and their parents led to calls for the event to return.

“Mic Drop #2 is very much happening because our young people told us they wanted it back,” Ms McMinn said.

The youth fest grant will help keep the event free for young people, while covering professional sound and technical support, two youth guest artists, promotion, food and refreshments, event coordination and other costs.

Ms McMinn said professional-quality sound was an important part of last year’s event, trans-

forming the space into a live music venue and giving young performers the experience of stepping up to a microphone and being treated like real artists.

SCH is coordinating the event alongside its youth group, with local partners and supporters also involved.

Last year, the event received support from 3MDR, Selby Folk Club, Yarra Ranges Youth, local schools and others.

Ms McMinn said young people would be involved not only as performers, but also in planning, promotion, MCing, stage and technical support, welcoming attendees and helping run the night.

A number of local young people have already registered to perform, with a few performance slots still available.

Young people who want to perform can register by emailing engagement@selbyhouse.org.au.

Those who do not want to perform are also welcome to attend, watch, socialise and support their peers. #2For SCH, the funding comes at a significant time for the local community.

The organisation has been closed while Yarra Ranges Council undertakes structural repairs, with its courses, social groups, youth group and childcare operating from temporary locations across Menzies Creek, Belgrave and Monbulk throughout 2026.

Ms McMinn said the community had been resilient, but had missed having its central gathering place in Selby.

“Bringing young people and families together for Mic Drop feels like a wonderful way to recon-

Steph from Follow the Robin Music, closing feature act at Mic Drop 2026. (Supplied) nect and celebrate after what has been a pretty challenging year,” she said.

Ms McMinn said support from government, council, local organisations, schools and community partners also sent an important message to young people.

“That they matter, their ideas matter, and their contribution to our community is worth investing in,” she said.

Daniela de Martino has confirmed her attendance and will say a few words to help kick off the event, with Yarra Ranges Council staff also attending.

Ms McMinn said last year’s event showed that a small event could still have a significant impact.

“Watching a room full of young people encourage each other to get up and have a go was pretty special, and we’re thrilled that youth fest funding means we can do it all again,” she said.

Grant for Burrinja’s homegrown program

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Upwey’s Burrinja Cultural Centre is one of 110 successful recipients to receive a Youth Fest grant for its ‘Homegrown: Music from Here’ program.

The $2000 grant is part of a State Government project aimed at running activities for young people aged between 12 and 25.

Burrinja’s music producer, Ben Langdon, said he had wanted to run the program for some time and was excited to have funding available to support it.

“I’ve wanted to run this activity for quite some time, so I was really excited that there was some funding available,” Mr Langdon said.

The program aims to give young musicians an opportunity to develop their understanding of the music industry, build connections and showcase their work.

Mr Langdon said there was a significant gap in opportunities for young musicians compared with when he was starting out.

“My background, I’m a musician, and when I was young, there were events like FReeZA (now officially known as Amplify) and the Push that were government-run organisations or programs that really, really facilitated young people into a music career,” he said.

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“Those opportunities just don’t really exist for young people as much as they did.”

The current program received 25 expressions of interest from young creatives and musicians, with six participants selected to take part.

The six artists will participate in a professional development session with Mr Langdon and another industry professional, who Mr Langdon described as a “self-managed musician with decades of experience who had toured around the world.”

The session is intended to help the young participants to improve their knowledge and understanding of the industry, ask questions and gain a better understanding of the field they are entering.

The program held its first professional development session on Tuesday, 1 September, it will culminate in a showcase at Burrinja on Sunday, 20 September, where the six participants will perform.

Mr Langdon said the showcase is an opportunity for the young artists to meet people in the local industry and build connections.

“For us, it’s a way to give six artists who I think honestly are so, so deserving and really, really exciting a way to meet the industry and launch themselves in,” he said.

For Mr Langdon, creating connections between young artists and people with experience in the industry is an important part of the program.

He said understanding the music industry

Facilitator/self-managed musician Xani Kolac and music producer Ben Langdon. (Julia Broad) could be a major hurdle for young people, particularly because “a lot of it does rely on who you know”.

“I want to see more connectivity, people who’ve experienced things sort of nurturing those younger artists. That’s what I want to see,” Mr Langdon said.

Participants will also receive promotional assets, including photos and videos from the events, which they can use to demonstrate their work in the future.

However, Mr Langdon said he hoped the program would provide more than just practical resources.

“I want to see these artists getting gigs from venues that are coming on the night,” he said.

“I want people to walk away with genuine connections and relationships with local artists and the industry.”

Burrinja Cultural Centre’s ‘Homegrown: Music From Here’participants and facilitators. (Julia Broad)

Participating artist ‘This Girl’ is one of the six artists selected for the program. (Julia Broad) With the funding limiting what Burrinja could deliver, the current program consists of two sessions, the professional development session and the showcase.

Mr Langdon said he hoped the program could grow in the future, allowing Burrinja to run more sessions with more participants.

Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 9

NEWS

The magpie swooping story that ended with a bang

By Oliver Winn As spring marks the start of swooping season, one Yarra Ranges local shared her story of a magpie, a teacher and a shotgun.

Sometime in the 70s, Sue Samphier was a Grade 5 student at Pembroke Primary School when she and another student were randomly asked to walk down a specific path through some parkland.

What happened next left her horrified.

“We were told just to walk across down this path through the parkland, and when we started to walk through, this magpie flew down, and then it was just, bang.

“A teacher shot the magpie over by our head and killed it,” Ms Samphier said.

She and the other student were unknowingly used as a lure to get a problem magpie to swoop.

Standing out of sight was a teacher, shotgun at the ready, eyes glued to the barrel and finger on the trigger.

The magpie left its perch, and the thunder-

Magpies are known for their swooping behaviour during breeding season. (Stewart Chambers: 428423) ous crack of the shotgun quickly followed.

“It was up fairly high, when it was about to swoop.

“I am sure that it was perfectly safe for us, even though it sounds horrific, but I think it was probably quite a way from us,” Ms Samphier said.

Many Yarra Ranges locals have shared their magpie swooping anecdotes online as the breeding season for some native birds starts.

While the swooping magpie can be an annoyance for many, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Manager Wildlife Emergencies and Welfare Services, Tony English, said the behaviour is usually shortlived.

“Swooping is a natural and temporary behaviour that some native birds use to protect their eggs and chicks during the breeding season,” Mr English said.

“Swooping is their way of telling you to keep your distance.”

Since her run-in with a magpie and a shotgun, Ms Samphier has been passionate about animals, having worked at the Healesville Sanctuary, Mount Evelyn Zoo and the Lilydale High School’s Zoology Centre.

Now she is semi-retired and runs a wildlife shelter. She said it’s important for humans to respect the behaviour of magpies.

“Having a healthy respect for animals is important. It is their territory. We think, ‘Oh, they are in our territory, our backyard,’ but it is actually their territory.

“The thing is, it is only four to six weeks usually, that nesting time, when they become protective, so if you can avoid them during that time... then the magpies will ignore you,” she said.

Though Ms Samphier’s memory of the incident is fairly hazy, she was able to verify the story.

“I actually contacted on Facebook the boy who I thought [walked with me], and he said it was not him, it was someone else.

“But he said he remembered the teacher, and he had a shotgun that he brought to school.”

“If someone had told me that story now, I would think, ‘Oh, get out, they would not do that,’ but they did.”

Her story is certainly telling of the times.

“You would not be able to do that now, let alone send two kids out as bait for the magpie.”

Life-changing gift of sight

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor As the month-long fundraising challenge wrapped up in August, 4968 people had stepped up to take part, raising a total of $889,643 to continue Fred Hollows’ work, the money raised could help restore sight to up to 35,585 people.

Among those taking part was Boronia ophthalmologist Dr Seema Jagdale Mandhare, whose reason for getting involved was deeply personal.

Dr Mandhare has performed more than 500 corneal transplant surgeries, including during years of working in eye care overseas, but one patient in particular has stayed with her.

The girl came from a small village, more than 500 kilometres from the city where Dr Mandhare worked.

Her father was a farmer and the family was struggling financially.

The girl had severe vision impairment caused by genetic conditions affecting both eyes, her blindness had prevented her from attending school, and when Dr Mandhare first met her, she began thinking about what her future might look like.

“I can not imagine her life being a very good looking but blind girl with genetic conditions in both eyes, not attending school, when she will be a young woman and totally dependent,” Dr Mandhare said.

She thought of herself as a young girl and of her own daughter, who was little at the time.

“I must do something for this girl,” she said.

After discussing the case with her chief medical director and the hospital’s chief executive officer, Dr Mandhare secured approval for the surgery to be provided through charity funds or government schemes for children.

She also organised accommodation for the girl and her father at the hospital, arranged medications from the pharmacy stock before discharge and stressed the importance of regular followups.

The family had faced hurtful attitudes because of the girl’s blindness, with people blaming her parents and suggesting the condition was the result of sins from previous lives, rather than offering practical help, they were encouraged to pursue quack therapies or superstitious treatments.

Her father shared with Dr Mandhare what the family had been experiencing.

Dr Mandhare performed the first corneal transplant. As the girl began to see, her family was grateful, and she was enrolled in school.

Six months later, she underwent a transplant on her second eye.

“Her world completely changed forever,” Dr Mandhare said.

The family continued their follow-ups, with Dr Mandhare sometimes paying for their travel herself.

Then, after about two years, the girl stopped coming to the hospital.

Dr Mandhare assumed she was doing well.

One day, she suddenly appeared in the consulting room, she was no longer the girl Dr Mandhare had first met, she arrived with her husband

10 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

Dr Seema Mandhare with a patient.

Dr Mandhare took on Fred’s Big Run last month. (Supplied)

Dr Mandhare has performed more than 500 corneal transplants, but one girl’s story has stayed with her forever.

and two young children, with tears in her eyes.

“For me, that was a priceless moment,” Dr Mandhare said.

The experience has remained with her despite the hundreds of corneal transplants she has performed.

“I have many transplant patients and their families who blessed me upfront and I am thankful to their love and affection,” she said.

“But because of the above reasons, she is a very special case for me and she will remain in my heart forever.”

For Dr Mandhare, the story also captures what she believes is different about being a doctor.

“We always work with humans and some patients change you completely within,” she said.

She said the girl taught her the value of empathy, passion, gratitude and working selflessly.

The experience encouraged Dr Mandhare to continue performing transplant surgery with passion for more than 10 years, until she moved to Australia.

Her commitment to preventing and treating blindness has continued.

That is part of why fundraising efforts such as Fred’s Big Run remain important to her.

Participants were encouraged to walk or run 100 kilometres throughout August, with other challenge distances of 50 and 150 kilometres also available.

The event was designed so participants could clock up their kilometres however they moved, whether walking, running, at the gym or while walking the dog.

For Dr Mandhare, the fundraising is about continuing the legacy of Dr Fred Hollows and his lifelong goal of fighting blindness.

She said his belief that “this world is my family” remained an inspiration.

“We should live his dream and continue his legacy,” she said.

For her, fundraising should not be limited to one month of the year.

“Not only every August of every year but everyday is an opportunity to give whatever you can and take blessings,” she said.

“Keep this exchange happening throughout the year and help to fight blindness.”

As an ophthalmologist, Dr Mandhare has seen firsthand the feelings and social and economic burden blindness can place on patients and their families.

“Even though my workplace has changed, the problem of blindness is the same worldwide,” she said.

“If I commit to this mission, I will remain firm with my motto of preventing and treating blindness no matter wherever I go around the globe.”

Dr Mandhare said Australians were privileged to have access to strong government schemes and support from professional workers and organisations, including NGOs and school support services.

She has also worked with the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) in Melbourne, which she described as a tertiary eye research facility with facilities including genetic testing for deserving families.

She believes Australians should make use of those services, while also recognising that access to sight-saving treatment is not the same everywhere.

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NEWS

Buxton aims to keep it safe

By Callum Ludwig

Julie Buxton has hit the campaign trail in Bayswater. (Supplied) and they need to be able to communicate those frustrations to a representative who understand the pressures they face through lived experience; a representative who is prepared to roll up their sleeves and advocate for effective, practical solutions, not catchy headlines.

“If elected, I’ll bring with me experience in small business and government, a strong understanding of our community and, most importantly, a commitment to making sure local people have a strong voice in our Parliament.”

Mr Taylor and the Labor party won the seat of Bayswater with a margin of 4.2 per cent in 2022.

Ms Buxton said over the past eight years, we’ve seen what can be achieved in Knox when local advocacy is backed by a government that listens and invests in our community.

“There has been significant investment in local schools, healthcare and emergency services, upgrades to intersections in Boronia and Ferntree Gully, and support for our grassroots sporting clubs and many community organisations,” she said.

“That investment matters because it makes a real difference to people’s everyday lives. And that’s why I joined the Labor Party. If communities don’t receive that investment, people don’t realise the opportunities they deserve.

“But there is more to do and that’s why I’m running for Bayswater.”

Ms Buxton has been out in the district campaigning over the last few months but would love to hear more from people who live in Knox who can reach out to her via julie.buxton@

vic.alp.org.au or on Facebook at juliebuxtonforbayswater.

Ms Buxton said if she has the privilege of becoming the state member for Bayswater, she’ll be a strong local voice in a re-elected Labor Government.

“Advocating for the policies that matter to our community – including delivering 10 free public dental clinics across Victoria, more police and PSOs on our streets, and a right to work from home where the job can be done effectively from home,” she said.

“Victoria is growing, and we need to make sure that services, infrastructure, housing and transport can facilitate that growth, while not losing connectedness and the aesthetics that truly make our part of the world unique.”

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Julie Buxton has been out and about in the Bayswater district as she looks to keep the seat for Labor.

Ms Buxton is hoping to replace the retiring Labor MP Jackson Taylor following this year’s state election.

Ms Buxton said Melbourne’s eastern suburbs is where she had built her life, worked, raised her family, started and run a business, volunteered and put down roots.

“I’m married and a mum to two boys, and like every parent, I want them to grow up in a community where they have every opportunity to build a good life – with great schools, accessible healthcare, secure jobs, safe neighbourhoods, transport connectivity and strong local communities,” she said.

“I ran my own bookkeeping and business management business here in the east for more than a decade before moving into the public service, where I gained firsthand experience of how government works.

“I’ve since returned to small business, giving me a perspective from both sides – understanding the pressures faced by families and local businesses, while also knowing how government can work with communities to deliver practical outcomes.”

It’s not Ms Buxton’s first wing at state politics, having formerly contested the now abolished seat of Ferntree Gully in 2018 where she secured a 6.1 per cent swing to Labor which just wasn’t enough to unseat incumbent Nick Wakeling, who went on to lose in the contest for Bayswater against Mr Taylor.

Ms Buxton said she’s not a career politician and not someone who spent her life working her way up through the political ranks.

“I’ve spent my life working, raising a family, running a business and volunteering in my community and I believe good representation starts with listening, and having meaningful conversation, including the tough ones,” she said.

“I know many people are frustrated right now,

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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 11

NEWS

Hopeful is Socialist to Max

By Callum Ludwig

Max Forward, Victorian Socialists for Eastern Victoria. (Murray Enders)

Max Forward is on the upper house ticket for the Victorian Socialists in Eastern Victoria.

The proud Warragul local has lived there for the majority of their life and been involved within local queer groups and advocacy groups for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Forward said they believe that people in all parts of Victoria, especially regional Victoria, deserve representation that will stand up to the far right One Nation, and provide a real left wing alternative to Labor.

“Eastern Victoria is in dire need of improved access to healthcare, both in terms of acute hospital services, but also in terms of specialist services,” they said.

“Labor and the Coalition have both repeatedly broken promises to improve access to healthcare, and in particular the new West Gippsland Hospital.”

Forward worked in the medical software industry for three years and is currently studying to become a nurse. They are also a member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery

Union.

Forward said across all of Victoria, rents and house prices have soared as a result of a poor regulation and oversight.

“Victorian Socialists will create a stateowned builder to ensure that enough houses are built without the ever-increasing profit margins that the private sector demands, so that the average worker can afford a house,” they said.

“If voters have any questions about my campaign or the Victorian Socialists policy platform, they should reach out to me at my email address, max.forward@victoriansocialists.org.au.”

According to the Victorian Socialists profile, Forward became seriously involved in politics when Israel escalated their war in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, believes Victoria needs an anti-establishment alternative that isn’t the ‘far-right, antiworker One Nation’, with the Victorian Socialists a party ‘that wants to tear down the economic and political structures that serve the interests of billionaires and big corporations.’

Heath leads Liberal ticket for Eastern Victoria

By Callum Ludwig Renee Heath has again put her hand up to represent the Liberal Party in Eastern Victoria at the 2026 state election.

Ms Heath was first elected as a member of the Legislative Council in the region in 2022, after she was preselected ahead of former Yarra Ranges councillor Cathrine Burnett-Wake who briefly held the position prior to the election.

Ms Heath, who grew up in and remains living in Eastern Victoria, said it is a community she knows, loves and is incredibly proud to represent.

“Before entering Parliament, I worked as a health professional after completing a Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of Applied Science (Chiropractic), treating people of all ages and backgrounds across Gippsland,” she said.

“Community service has also always been an important part of my life. I have worked with disadvantaged children, helped lead community projects focused on children’s health and our local environment.

“Those experiences gave me an even deeper appreciation of the resilience and generosity that define communities across Eastern Victoria.”

Ms Heath’s electorate office is in Pakenham and she was raised in Sale, where her father is the senior pastor of pentecostal City Builders Church.

Ms Heath said she represents the Liberal Party because I believe strongly in the values at its heart: individual initiative, equal opportunity, strong families, freedom and a government that enables people to succeed rather than constantly interfering in their lives.

“Before entering Parliament, I became increasingly concerned about the direction Victoria was heading,” she said.

“I saw a steady decline in the values, culture and institutions that have helped make our state successful, alongside a government becoming bigger, more expensive and increasingly disconnected from the communities it serves.

“Representing Eastern Victoria Region makes that responsibility particularly meaningful. This is my home, and regional communities deserve representatives who understand their way of life and will fight for their fair share.”

In Eastern Victoria, Ms Heath’s priorities at this election include addressing constituents concerns about the rising cost of living, crime and community safety, condition of the roads, access to health and other essential services, job creation and bushfire prevention, preparedness and recovery.

Ms Heath said the issues people raise with her are often very practical.

“Families and businesses are under enormous financial pressure. Small businesses in particular need a government that understands they create local jobs and opportunities, rather than treating them as an endless source of additional taxes and regulation,” she said.

“Our roads and regional infrastructure also need greater attention. People in Eastern Vic12 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

Renee Heath is the lead Liberal candidate for Eastern Victoria. (Supplied) toria should not have to accept deteriorating roads or poorer access to basic services simply because they live outside Melbourne.

“Community safety is another growing concern, and people rightly expect government to adequately resource police and take crime seriously.”

More broadly, she supports reducing the state’s debt, reducing taxes, supporting small businesses, greater capacity in the health and education systems and freedom ‘to speak, debate and express differing views without unnecessary government restriction.’

Ms Heath said the state debt has grown enormously, and Victorians are paying the price through higher taxes and increasing pressure on essential services.

“We need greater capacity in our health system and an education system focused strongly on giving every child the foundations they need to succeed, particularly in core academic skills,” she said.

“I am passionate about creating the right

environment for small business, local industry and jobs to prosper.

“Government should encourage enterprise and opportunity rather than making it harder to employ people and invest.”

Ms Heath can be contacted at her office, via 5941 1112, renee.heath@parliament.vic.gov.au or ‘reneeheathmp’ on Facebook and Instagram.

Ms Heath said politics works best when representatives hear from the people they represent and she encourages people to get in touch with her, whether they agree with her on everything or not.

“You don’t need to be a member of a political party or an expert on government policy to have something worthwhile to contribute.

Some of the most important issues I deal with begin with a local resident contacting me about something happening in their street, workplace, school, business or community,” she said. “I also believe people should know what their representatives stand for. My values are important to me: freedom, individual responsibility and

initiative, equal opportunity, strong families and communities, and government that is accountable for how it spends your money.

“Ahead of the election, I encourage people to ask questions, scrutinise what all sides are promising and make up their own minds.”

My door is always open, and I genuinely value hearing people’s experiences, concerns and ideas for making Eastern Victoria, and Victoria as a whole, better.

Ms Heath concluded by reflecting on the ‘enormous privilege’ it is to represent the Eastern Victoria region.

“This is the community that shaped me and the place I call home,” Ms Heath said.

“Whether responding to bushfires, supporting a struggling neighbour, running a small business or volunteering with a local organisation, people here consistently demonstrate what strong communities can achieve.

“I want Victoria’s government to reflect those same qualities: responsible, practical and focused on outcomes.”

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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 13

OPINION

Catching a cough Dogs get a lot from a day out. We are lucky to have many places locally where dogs can walk, play and meet each other. When dogs share a space, they may also share more than we would like.

Canine cough is one of the better-known examples. It spreads through coughs, sneezes and close contact, and may also linger on shared bowls, toys or equipment. Giardia is different.

This tiny parasite is usually picked up from contaminated water, soil or faeces and causes diarrhoea or an upset stomach.

The tricky part is that an infectious dog will not always look sick. Some show only mild symptoms, while others may spread an illness before their owner has reason to suspect it. Pinpointing where an infection came from is rarely straightforward, and an infection does not necessarily

Animal

aid Mark Menze Animal Aid CEO mean someone has been careless.

For most healthy adult dogs, a mild infection will pass with care. However, illnesses such as parvovirus and distemper can be extremely serious. Puppies, senior dogs, unvaccinated dogs and those already managing health problems face

The Dog Stars review

The Dog Stars Starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley MA15+ 4/5 Adapted from the novel by Peter Heller, The Dog Stars follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), a mechanic and pilot in postapocalyptic Colorado, in his quest to reach other survivors at faraway Grand Central.

Some viewers will find The Dog Stars slow and slack, but I’ve always enjoyed films that progress with an immersive, character-building slowness. The Dog Stars crafts a sombre but comfortable atmosphere as Hig gathers supplies, helps out a local Mennonite community and bickers with his survivalist best friend Bangley (Josh Brolin), but with loss, grief and raider attacks looming in the background.

Elordi carries himself with soft-spoken compassion and resourcefulness as Hig, Brolin as Bangley and Guy Pearce as Pops/ Jack are both cynical jerks with good hearts deep down, and Margaret Qualley is kind and cunning as Cima, Hig’s love interest.

The end-of-the-world mundanity and quiet stretches of characters clashing and growing closer, driven by engaging dialogue, produce a very naturalistic pace (see also Sinners, Train Dreams, Killers Of The Flower Moon and Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt).

Moreover, the slow flow gives the wellcrafted action set-pieces, which include a pitched nighttime raid and a stressful plane chase, far more impact.

The Dog Stars has soaring cinematography of dilapidated but lush landscapes and an elegant score by Harry GregsonWilliams, and I love the Fallout-like feel of the macabre humour and retro style in the third act (though the tonal shift will be jarring for some).

Playing in most Victorian cinemas, The Dog Stars garnered a middling critical reception and flopped at the box-office, which is a shame.

It doesn’t offer anything new in the post-apocalyptic genre, but it’s a compelling, touching thriller that knows to take its time to draw us in, and it’s one of director Ridley Scott’s better recent films.

14 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

a greater risk.

A few habits make a real difference. Keep vaccinations and parasite treatments current. Take water from home instead of letting your dog drink from puddles or communal bowls. Pick up faeces promptly.

Most importantly, if your dog starts coughing or vomiting, has diarrhoea, or just is not behaving like themselves, skip the park and phone your vet. Tell any groomer, daycare or boarding facility about their symptoms before you visit as well.

There is no way to remove every germ from a shared space, nor would we want dogs to miss out on being dogs. We just need to use a little common sense. By keeping unwell dogs home and following basic hygiene, we help make outings safer for every local dog.

CARTOON

Record-breaking productions Burrinja Theatre Trinket the Robot Meet Trinket, a little robot who dreams of becoming “real.”

Join Little Wing Puppets for a lively, funny, and interactive adventure inspired by Pinocchio, exploring wonder, joy, anger, and saying goodbye.

With plenty of audience participation, children will discover that all feelings are part of being human.

Season: Saturday, 19 September at 10am.

Venue: Lyre Room.

The Round Hello Dolly Hello Dolly is a joyous, Tony Award-winning Broadway musical bursting with charm, wit and unforgettable songs.

The story follows the irrepressible Dolly Levi, a clever matchmaker in 1890s New York, who sets out to find a wife for the wealthy and grumpy Horace Vandengelder, while secretly plotting to win his heart herself.

Featuring the iconic score by Jerry Herman, including beloved numbers like Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Before the Parade Passes By and, of course, Hello Dolly, this high-energy romantic comedy sparkles with humour, romance and classic Broadway spectacle.

Season: Friday 11 - 20 September at 7.30pm.

Growing Pains Tour – Nathan Cavaleri Isn’t about fame – it’s about being human.

The ache of identity. The weight of expectation. The fight to find yourself again.

From child prodigy to cancer survivor, from global stages to mental health collapse, Nathan Cavaleri lays bare his extraordinary journey.

In this raw, solo show filled with storytelling and music, he traces his path from busking in Campbelltown to the heights of stardom and back home to himself.

Season: Saturday, 13 September at 6pm.

Venue: The Round Studio.

Karralyka Theatre Broadway bound – Promac’s 40th Birthday In 2026, Promac Productions, led by its producer/ Compare Christopher McKenna, will celebrate 40 years of touring Australia, primarily performing Morning Music productions

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Kemp’s curtain call In that time, Promac have produced no less than 25 different productions, ranging from fullscale productions of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, tight through to its critically acclaimed preproduction saluting the ANZACS and Vietnam Vets, up to present day with its touring production of Oh What a Beautiful Day, Roger’s Hammerstein and Hart Indeed, Promac were the first company to produce the concept of Morning shows in Victoria and Australia-wide. In this celebratory production, Christopher will be joined on the Tuesday stage by much-loved vocalist Michelle Fitzmaurice.

The glorious Tenor Voice of Roy Best and the incredible musicianship of William Schmidt at the Piano.

Season: 15 September 10.30am.

Princess Theatre Melbourne Private Lives Starring Hugh Bonneville & Lisa McCune It was announced in Melbourne that Melbourne will welcome the record-breaking, brand-new production of Noel Coward’s comedy masterpiece Private Lives in 2027, starring internationally acclaimed British actor Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) alongside four-time Gold Logie Award-winning Australian star Lisa McCune (The King and I, South Pacific, Girl from the North Country).

The announcement follows unprecedented demand for the Sydney season, which recorded the highest-first day ticket sales for a play in Theatre Royal Sydney’s history.

After the Sydney season in February, the new production will open at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from March 18th 2027 for a strictly limited season.

Tickets are now on sale.

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Mad Mabel review: A mystery PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN Mad Mabel is Sally Hepworth’s tenth novel.

In this highly enjoyable book, the New York Times bestselling author presents a riveting mystery that is full of humour, charm and heart. It is also a celebration of resilience, friendship and community.

The story is told by 81-year-old Elsie, a grumpy, tough lady living a quiet life in a peaceful neighbourhood. We soon learn there is a dark past that she desperately wants to hide. In that secret life she was known as “Mad Mabel”, the youngest Australian to be convicted of murder.

The story’s two timelines – now and then – reveal how Elsie’s childhood was shaped by others with both positive and traumatising consequences.

A victim of gossip, gaslighting and even grooming, she had always felt lonely, misunderstood, used and abused.

The rare happiness came from care and companionship provided by other females.

Elsie’s intellectual and emotional bonds with these women are some of the most tender and heart-warming parts of her story. When tragedy struck, however, young Elsie took matters into her own hands as her only way to fight back – and paid the price afterwards.

Worse, her pain and grief lingers, forcing her to distance herself from those who may use it to hurt her again.

It is only when she decides to speak out about her past that she truly feels at peace with herself: “Not just the catharsis of talking, although I like that part too, but the sense of taking my power back. For so long I’d accepted that I was powerless over the truth of my story, and perhaps I was, but at least now I was doing what was in my control to set the story straight.”

Elsie’s story reveals how people tend to “go with the pack”, accepting the “facts” that others tell them rather than thinking for themselves.

Particularly when it is convenient to conform and comply, doubts become certainties and rumours intensified, gaining momentum and transforming into something that b(l)inds people with false, simplified yet shared belief, something that invites quick and equally convenient “solutions”.

The results can be dangerous – even deadly. These and other complex issues are subtly and oh-so-skilfully explored in the book, with the two timelines cleverly intersecting each other to create much tension and suspense. We cannot help but adore Elsie, but those who love and support her – those who crack her hardened shell to enchant the wounded heart inside – are equally admirable.

It is often said that effortless reading is damn hard writing. In this sense, Mad Mabel demonstrates Hepworth’s brilliance in turning common, sad tropes into surprisingly delightful plot twists, achieving a wonderful balance between heartbreak and healing, condemnation and redemption, tribulation and triumph. Highly recommended.

Sally Hepworth will discuss Mad Mabel and her writing with crime fiction author Kerryn Mayne at the 2026 Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival on October 9-11.

Find more details here: dandyrangeslitfest. net/tickets.

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NEWS

ADVERTORIAL

‘Unapologetic’ Jess takes on Green cause

By Callum Ludwig Jess Kennedy is the Greens’ pick to contest the district of Bayswater in the 2026 Victorian election.

Ms Kennedy is a mental health worker and a proud queer woman who hopes to bring her lived and worked experience in the mental health sector to Parliament.

Ms Kennedy said it’s an interesting turn of events that led her to this point and previously her plans for the future never included running for state government.

“As someone who has lived experience of mental health disorders, addiction and ADHD, and then has, through recovery, worked on the opposite side of that, helping people specifically within the eastern region… it has really opened my eyes to issues that are affecting people that maybe through privilege I did not quite understand despite my own journey,” she said.

“Some of those issues I’ve found have been quite surprising, but as a result, I don’t believe that the current government is funding adequately, specifically the outer eastern suburbs, but the outer suburbs in general in Victoria, to support the percentage of people who are struggling.

“In the eastern suburbs, the psychological distress rate according to the last ABS report around mental health, which I think was in 2022, is approximately 30 per cent higher than anywhere else in Victoria.”

In 2022, the National Health Survey found 14 per cent of Australians aged 18 years and over experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress - similar to 2017-18 (14 per cent) and an increase from 2011-12 (11 per cent).

The 2020-22 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic also found around 17 per cent of people aged 16-85 years experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress.

Ms Kennedy said as a result of that, the free community mental health services that are available are overstretched, under-resourced, and have wait times that are up to four months.

“That’s not okay because the alternative is then to go through a private support system whereby A, there is a wait time, but B, the cost is outrageous to the point of, you know, fifteen hundred dollars for a single psychiatry appointment, then to add ongoing support from there,” she said.

“With that kind of cost and a population that is already struggling with the cost of living, already struggling to to buy a house, it has created an environment where stability is difficult to maintain, “Healthcare within an individual is difficult to maintain if you don’t have stability at the foundations of, say, having somewhere to live.”

Ms Kennedy grew up down the road from the

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Bayswater district in Montrose and has remained around the eastern suburbs since, including working for community health services in Lilydale and Ringwood.

Ms Kennedy said she’s very passionate about her area and making sure that it is moving in a positive direction as opposed to potentially going backwards.

“One of my key concerns and certainly one of the Greens’ policies that we’ve been speaking about is around housing and then the cost of that and one of the things that we have introduced is removing stamp duty, which within Victoria overall is very high compared to other states,” she said.

“When you look at the Bayswater area electorate in general, you have a very stark contrast between each suburbs, fFor example, if you were looking to purchase a two-bedroom apartment in somewhere like Boronia, you’re looking at somewhere that’s fairly affordable where someone’s in a position to purchase but when you go to Bayswater, that jumps up by about sixty thousand dollars on average.

“That’s a representation of what’s happening in both suburbs, within Boronia there is a high crime rate, but what the biggest issues there are around things like addiction, homelessness and access to healthcare.”

Other key priorities for Ms Kennedy include increasing access to community health options in the Bayswater district and surrounding areas, support for earlier intervention in addiction and mental health, autism and ADHD care (which she has previously petitioned the Victorian Parliament for during a Senate inquiry) and increasing taxes on the ‘one per cent’ of richest people to help fund and increase access to healthcare, education, childcare and other key government services.

Ms Kennedy said she is ‘unapologetically’ herself and is happy to speak to any Bayswater voters exactly how she would speak to anyone on the street.

“I’m not your typical political person, when you generalise the people who run in these kind of positions, they’re not like me but I am a very everyday talkative person, and I enjoy discussing people’s opinions and understanding what they’re feeling and their key issues are,” she said.

“Having ADHD means yes, I love talking, but I love speaking to people within the community, and it’s something I’ve enjoyed doing so I would encourage people to contact me regardless of whether they may feel could be ignored or if they’ve been ignored in the past.

“I am a very approachable person and working in the career that I have and had within services has made me a person that is easy to talk to about really hard issues that are otherwise stigmatised or hard to discuss.”

Both Jarrad and Chris are family men with young families of their own, giving them a strong appreciation for the importance of community, local connections and supporting other families and businesses across the region.

Their extensive knowledge and passion for the trade place Mountain Timbers in strong hands as they continue the tradition of providing outstanding service to local builders, tradespeople and home renovators. Both Jarrad and Chris understand the importance of quality products, reliable advice and building lasting relationships with customers and the wider community.

Serving customers across the region, Mountain Timbers has earned a reputation as a trusted destination for everything from structural timber and decking materials to builders hardware and construction supplies. Whether tackling a large building project or a weekend renovation, customers know they can rely on the experienced team for practical support and expert guidance.

Jarrad and Chris are committed to preserving the values that have made Mountain Timbers a respected local business while also bringing fresh ideas and energy to its future growth.

Their vision is focused on supporting local trades, helping homeowners bring their projects to life and ensuring the business remains a valuable part of the Kilsyth community for many years to come.

The dedicated team at Mountain Timbers continues to be one of the company’s greatest strengths. With years of experience and a strong understanding of the industry, staff members work closely with customers to recommend the right products and solutions for every project, no matter the size or complexity.

As the industry continues to evolve, Mountain Timbers is embracing new opportunities while staying true to its local roots. Reliable delivery services, a comprehensive product range and a commitment to customer satisfaction ensure the business remains a trusted partner for builders and renovators alike.

With Jarrad Peters and Chris Shambrook at the helm, and a combined 40 years of industry experience behind them, Mountain Timbers is well positioned to build on its proud legacy and continue serving the community with the quality and service it has become known for.

140mm Merbau decking available Get yours while stocks last!

Your one stop shop for all your stuff for your next project Specialists for your Timber and D.I.Y. Needs

GET THE RIGHT STUFF 412/418 Liverpool Road, Kilsyth 9762 3899 mountaintimbers.com.au

12891714-CV33-26

Jess Kennedy is the Greens candidate for Bayswater. (Supplied)

Mountain Timbers in Kilsyth has long been a trusted name for quality timber, building supplies and expert service throughout Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The business is now entering an exciting new chapter, with Jarrad Peters and Chris Shambrook recently taking over the company, bringing with them a combined 40 years of experience in the building and timber industry.

Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 15

SENIOR LIVING

Dignity, compassion and respect are at the core of Roshana Care Group’s work. (Supplied)

Why family still matters Choosing aged care is one of life’s most personal decisions. For families, it is about more than finding a place with the right facilities. It is about finding people they can trust and a community where their loved one will feel known, respected and at home.

For Roshana Care Group, that belief has been at the heart of the organisation for nearly 30 years.

Behind the Roshana name are Dr Rosh Jalagge, CEO and Founder, and his wife, Mrs Priyanka Gamage, Co-CEO. Together, they have built a family-owned organisation guided by a simple philosophy: everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion and respect.

For Dr Rosh and Mrs Priyanka, being family-owned is not simply about how the business began. It continues to shape how Roshana cares for people today. Residents are welcomed as part of the family, staff are encouraged to build genuine relationships, and families are kept at the heart of the care journey.

“When we started Roshana, we wanted to create more than places where people receive care,” Dr Jalagge said.

16 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

Dr Rosh Jalagge and Priyanka Gamage.

(Supplied) “We wanted to create communities where people feel known, respected and truly at home.

“Nearly 30 years later, that belief remains at

the heart of everything we do. Every person has a story, every family matters, and everyone deserves to feel that they belong.”

That philosophy can be experienced at Roshana Lysterfield Aged Care, located in the leafy surrounds of Melbourne’s southeast. The home offers a peaceful and welcoming environment, with gardens and outdoor spaces creating opportunities to enjoy the surroundings and spend time together.

Alongside a strong focus on everyday wellbeing, residents have access to personalised clinical care and support tailored to their individual needs. Our experienced teams work closely with residents and families to provide care that is responsive, respectful and centred around each person’s changing needs.

Today, Roshana Care Group has grown across Australia, with an expanding presence in Victoria. Yet, as the organisation grows, its foundation remains the same: treating people as individuals and creating communities built around care, connection and belonging.

For families considering aged care, experience

Keeping families involved is key to Roshana Care Group’s services. (Supplied) matters. So does knowing who stands behind the organisation.

At Roshana, the answer is a family that has spent nearly three decades building a care organisation around people first. Because when care begins with family, every person has a place to belong.

To learn more about Roshana Care Group, our communities and the care we provide, visit roshana.com.au or contact our Regional Manager on 0460 752 243.

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A Place of Comfort, Care and Connection.

Choosing aged care is about finding more than a place to live. It’s about finding a community where you or your loved one is known, respected and cared for as an individual.

At Roshana Lysterfield Aged Care, we believe every person who comes through our doors becomes part of our family. We take the time to understand what matters to each resident, support their choices and create an environment where they can feel comfortable, connected and at home.

BOOK A FREE TOUR NOW

•

High Quality Clinical Care

Palliative Care • Allied Health • ��/� Onsite Registered Nurse Support • Comfortable Private Rooms • Lounge & Entertainment Areas • Private Dining Area •

With nearly �� years of experience caring for Australians, Roshana Care Group has grown across Victoria and around Australia. That experience gives families confidence, but it’s our commitment to compassion, dignity, respect and genuine connection that makes the difference.

Book your complimentary tour today Come and experience the warmth of our community and discover why so many families trust Roshana.

Outdoor Garden Area • Hairdressing Salon •

Roshana Lysterfield Aged Care (��) &��� &��� (��� Wellington Road, Lysterfield VIC �(�) reception.lysterfield@roshana.com.au

“Your Life, Your Way. Every Minute, Every Day.” — R O S H A N A

C A R E

G R O U P

Proudly caring for communities across Victoria Noble Park | Elsternwick | Macleod | Lysterfield | Willowbrooke

reception.lysterfield@roshana.com.au

www.roshana.com.au 12896933-CV37-26

03 9752 9455

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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 17

PUZZLES

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9-LETTER WORD

3 4 easy

medium

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'.

R

Today’s Aim: 16 words: Good 24 words: Very good 32 words: Excellent

1 2 6 4 8 5 3 7 9 7 5 8 9 3 2 1 4 6 9 3 4 6 1 7 8 5 2 3 8 5 2 7 6 4 9 1 4 6 7 1 5 9 2 8 3 2 9 1 3 4 8 7 6 5 6 4 9 8 2 3 5 1 7 8 7 2 5 6 1 9 3 4 5 1 3 7 9 4 6 2 8

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5 4 3 9 6 1 2 8 7 1 2 6 4 7 8 5 3 9 9 8 7 2 5 3 6 4 1 7 9 5 1 4 2 3 6 8 4 6 1 3 8 7 9 5 2 8 3 2 5 9 6 1 7 4 3 5 4 8 1 9 7 2 6 6 1 8 7 2 5 4 9 3 2 7 9 6 3 4 8 1 5 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com

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6 LETTERS CASKET CHORAL GRADER STEERS TEASES WETTER 7 LETTERS AMIABLE AWESOME LEISURE SCUTTLE

SEASIDE URGENCY 8 LETTERS GUNSHOTS REALISTS WEAKENED WRESTLER 10 LETTERS DISAPPEARS DISPERSING

H A S T E D R U N K C O B R A E E R I E H I R E D A L T A R T I A R A E A G L E O L I V E E B B S I D L E P A R C U P D I S P E R S I N G C A S K E T R E S C U T T L E A S S E T S T Y L E A P E S P A T S A L E G U N S H O T S L E I S U R E S E A S I D E O D D S E E M W E A K E N E D R O A R S E N T R Y W E E D AW E S O M E S S G R A D E R D I S A P P E A R S L A G T A G A T L A S F I N A M B L E A T O N E O V E R T V E N U E V I L E R L O O S E E X E R T M E T E R E N T E R

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Meet requirements (7) Traditions (7) Inherited from one’s family (9) Purchaser (5) Unimportant details (6) A male voice (8) Brew; steep (6) Midday (4) Illuminated sign (4) Slanted font (6) Engineer (8) Chemical base that reacts with acid (6) Popular aquarium fish (5) One with obsessive self-love (9)

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No. 306

Disagree (7) Persuaded (7)

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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.

QUICK CROSSWORD

1

No. 306

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SUDOKU

11-09-26

William Matthews Funerals 24 HOUR SERVICE - ALL AREAS

9739 6868 45 Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au 12567433-SN37-22

18 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

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TURNKEY READY, A WELCOMING FAMILY HOME mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 19

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

TURNKEY READY, A WELCOMING FAMILY HOME IN UPWEY'S BEST STREET POSITIONED in one of Upwey’s most tightly held streets, this welcoming family residence captures breathtaking views across the Lysterfield Valley and spectacular sunset vistas that will leave a lasting impression.

Meticulously maintained and beautifully presented, this turnkey-ready home offers the perfect balance of warmth, space and functionality for modern family living, whilst also showing a few nuances of its original 1950’s heritage.

Designed with comfort and flexibility in mind, the home features four generous bedrooms plus a dedicated study, two bathrooms, and multiple living zones filled with character, charm and inviting nooks to retreat and unwind.

A country-style kitchen sits at the heart of the home, complemented by a large laundry and the cosy ambience of two wood fires creating year-round comfort.

Outdoors, the lifestyle appeal continues with a screened-in verandah ideal as a ’catio’ or protected entertaining space, a heated plunge pool, fire pit area, productive vegetable garden, chicken coop and wood store — all surrounded by just over a 1/3 of an acre of landscaped grounds and established trees that create a private, peaceful setting.

A sunny front porch provides the perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee while taking in the tranquil surrounds.

Complete with garage, carport, solar power and all services connected, this exceptional property combines country-style living with everyday convenience. With the bus stop and primary school located right in the street, this is a rare opportunity to secure a beautifully cared-for family haven in a premium Hill’s location.

Minutes to Upwey Township, pre, primary and senior schools, great cafe culture, restaurants, sporting clubs, RSL and a fabulous sense of community. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 28 Griffiths Road, UPWEY Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $1,250,000 - $1,350,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Janet Hawkins 0409 117 432 and Jan Brewster 0409 558 805, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE 9754 6111

20 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

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HOME FOCUS

CENTRAL EMERALD DESIGNED FOR FAMILY LIVING...YOU MUST PUT THIS ON YOUR LIST DESIGNED to embrace its natural surrounds, the home opens effortlessly to an expansive entertaining deck and enclosed alfresco, creating an inviting connection between indoor and outdoor living and making entertaining easy in every season.

And then there’s the backyard — where family life truly comes alive. A sparkling swimming pool, relaxing spa, established vegetable gardens and easy access to Emerald Lake create a lifestyle that children and adults alike will love. Imagine morning walks around the lake, afternoons by the pool, kayaking, growing your own vegetables or simply enjoying the peace and privacy of your own leafy sanctuary.

Fully fenced and beautifully established, the grounds provide a safe haven for children and pets, while mature gardens create an unmistakable sense of space, serenity and connection to nature.

Comfort has been thoughtfully considered with hydronic heating, multiple split-systems, a cosy gas fireplace and ducted vacuum. A heated storage room, generous shed and double garage with additional storage provide the practicality every busy family needs, with plenty of room for hobbies, toys, equipment and everything in between.

Features you’ll love:

• Direct access to Emerald Lake • Spacious master suite with walk-in robes,

ensuite and private retreat • Multiple living areas for relaxed family living • Dedicated pool room • Open entertaining deck and enclosed alfresco • Sparkling swimming pool and spa • Peaceful treed outlook • Hydronic heating • Multiple split-systems • Cosy gas fireplace • Ducted vacuum • Heated storage room • Double garage with additional storage • Separate generous shed • Fully fenced, established gardens • Established vegetable patch • Water tank • Sealed road access Offering a family lifestyle that’s increasingly difficult to find, this is so much more than a beautiful home. It’s a place where children can grow, family and friends can gather, weekends can be spent outdoors and everyday life feels a little more relaxed.

Here, luxury is having the space to live well — to entertain, connect with nature and create lasting family memories in one of Emerald’s most sought-after settings.

Call local agents Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 or Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937 to show you this great home. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 6 Durban Road, EMERALD Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 or Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE BELGRAVE, 9754 6111

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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 21

HOME FOCUS

CHARMING COTTAGE LIVING – PERFECT FIRST HOME FULL of character and warmth, this charming cottage is the perfect place to begin your homeownership journey.

Set on a generous 791sqm (approx.) block, it offers a relaxed, easy lifestyle with just the right mix of original charm and thoughtful updates. The timber floorboards add a beautiful sense of warmth throughout, while the renovated bathroom — complete with a double vanity — brings a modern touch to everyday living.

It’s the kind of home where you can picture yourself straight away, whether you’re enjoying a quiet morning coffee or winding down at the end of the day.

What you’ll love: • • 2 comfortable bedrooms filled with natural light

• Beautifully updated bathroom with double vanity • Cosy, light-filled living space with a true cottage feel • Handy study nook – ideal for working from home or study • Warm timber floorboards throughout • Generous 791sqm (approx.) block with room to enjoy Perfectly suited to first home buyers, this is a place you can move into, settle in, and truly make your own.

All of this in a convenient location, just a short drive to both Emerald and Cockatoo shops, cafes, and local amenities.

A home with heart, charm, and so much potential—come and see it for yourself. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 475 Belgrave-Gembrook Road, AVONSLEIGH Description: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 garage Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 or Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE BELGRAVE, 9754 6111

22 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

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Ranges 3 LOTS ON 1 TITLE

EMERALD 1-3 NOBELIuS STREET FLAT LAND IN A QUIET LOCATION

PRIME LOCATION

$1,100,000-$1,200,000 4A 2B 2C

****OFFERS CLOSINg wednesday 23rd of September at 4pm, unless sold prior**** Set on a generous 1 acre comprising 3 lots on 1 title, this home presents an exciting opportunity for those looking to create something truly their own. The home is neat and tidy with plenty of space and includes updated bathrooms, original retro kitchen, a large entryway, gDH, sealed driveway, workshop, mature gardens and magnificent trees. The location is a standout, with the property situated close to Emerald Township.

Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

$745,000 - $815,000

HOME SWEET HOME

3A 2B C

‘Mirra Brae’- Discover a unique earthy home with a warm ambience and a relaxed Hills lifestyle in this convenient and private location only moments from all desirable amenities. you’ll find a multi-level design featuring treed views, unique kitchen with a butler’s pantry, dining area with a cosy wood heater, deluxe ensuite to the master, timber features, massive picture windows, multi point central split system heating, a spacious undercover decking, 1/4 acre with dual street access with ample off-street parking.

rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

$850,000 - $935,000 3A 2B 5C

CHARACTER HOME

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 usable backyard. Inside, the home retains its timeless character while offering comforts such as a wood fire, split system, floorboards and deck. Downstairs is a spacious rumpus that can, with modifications (STCA) be used for many options.

CONVENIENCE AT yOuR DOORSTEP

SELBY 5 JOHNS ROAD

9754 6111

TECOMA 1578 BuRwOOD HIgHwAy

Jan Brewster 0409 558 805

FORTHCOMINg SALE

Grant Skipsey 0418 528 102

We put you first

COCkATOO 10 CAROLINE AVENuE

$650,000 - $700,000

PERFECT PLACE TO START YOUR PROPERTY JOURNEY

3A 1B 2C

****Offers closing Monday 14th of September at 4pm, unless sold prior**** A fantastic opportunity for first home buyers & downsizers or anyone looking for a comfortable & easy-care property. Set on a generous flat 1/4-acre block, the home offers secure, fully enclosed front & rear yards, parquetry flooring, gDH, split-system A/C, solar hot water, covered entertaining area, dbl. garage (currently set up as a studio) The supermarket, public transport, primary school and local parks are a short walk away.

Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522

‘We Put You First’

Erin Davies 0494 175 410

1660 Burwood Highway, Belgrave Shop 2/24 McBride St, Cockatoo Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 23

HOME FOCUS

CHARACTER, SPACE AND FAMILY LIVING SET on a generous 2,023sqm in Cockatoo, this character-filled three-bedroom, two-bathroom home delivers space, warmth and versatility, with multiple living areas, beautiful natural light and plenty of room for the whole family to spread out and enjoy.

Steps lead up to the undercover front entry and deck, a lovely spot to start the day with a morning cuppa or settle in with a glass of wine as the afternoon winds down. Stepping inside, the spacious lounge immediately impresses with high ceilings, exposed beams and a beautiful large bay window that draws in an abundance of natural light. An open fireplace creates an inviting focal point, while a split system, gas ducted heating and new carpets throughout ensure comfort across the seasons.

Adjoining the lounge, the dining area features floating floors and its own bay window, creating a bright and welcoming space for family meals. The kitchen offers excellent functionality with a gas cooktop, dishwasher, generous bench space and plenty of storage.

Along the hallway are two carpeted bedrooms, one with built-in robes, along with the central family bathroom, separate toilet and laundry.

Adding to the home’s flexibility is a second generous lounge, ideal as a family room, kids’ retreat or relaxed entertaining space. Featuring a split system, plenty of windows and sliding door access to the backyard, it creates an easy connection between indoor and outdoor living.

Upstairs is dedicated entirely to the impressive master suite, providing a private retreat away from the rest of the home.

Generously proportioned and filled with light from large windows, it is complete with a walk-in robe and private ensuite.

Outside provides plenty of space for children and pets to enjoy, with a fenced dog run and multiple garden sheds offering additional practicality and storage.

Full of character and offering a floorplan designed to grow with the family, this inviting Cockatoo home combines generous proportions, flexible living and half an acre of space to make your own.

This property has it all so don’t miss out call to arrange a private inspection today.

Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office.

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 5 Vincent Street, COCKATOO Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Price: $800,000 - $860,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Aaron Day 0407 365 994 or Brennan Mileto 0422 996 451, REAL ESTATE EMERALD 5968 6222

24 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

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P 5968 6222 311-313 Main Street Emerald

390 Gem-Launching Pl Rd Launching Place

$1,650,000 - $1,725,000

189 Swales Road Macclesfield

$1,600,000 - $1,750,000

The Complete Acreage Lifestyle – Two Homes on 11 Acres.

A Rare 40-Acre Holding with Water, Views & Endless Potential.

Set across approximately 11 acres, this impressive lifestyle property offers exceptional versatility with two separate residences, seven fenced paddocks & outstanding infrastructure. The substantial main residence features five bedrooms, including four with ensuites, a well-appointed kitchen with gas cooking, dishwasher & breakfast bar, spacious living & dining areas, plantation shutters, woodfire & split systems. An undercover verandah wraps around three sides, leading to the solar-heated chlorine swimming pool. The separate two-bedroom residence includes built-in robes, kitchen, lounge, family bathroom & undercover entertaining area, ideal for extended family, guests or potential rental accommodation. Outside, an 11m x 13m barn with 15amp power, a double garage, double carport, separate studio, generator plug & double stables/shelter & seven fenced paddocks.

Spanning 40 gently undulating acres, this sun-filled rural holding delivers space, water security & serious potential. A winding creek, 3 dams & a valuable 2-megalitre water licence provide a rocksolid foundation for lifestyle living, livestock or future vision. Elevated points across the land capture sweeping 360-degree views, creating those postcard moments where the countryside rolls away in every direction. At the centre sits a neat & original 2-bedroom home, comfortable now & ready for renovation, extension or reinvention over time. Practical infrastructure includes a machinery shed, garage & established cattle race & yards, making the property immediately usable for farming or hobby stock. With sunny paddocks, natural water sources & multiple access points, everything is in place for easy rural living.

Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032

7

JL Automatics Kilvington Drive Emerald

A

5

B 10 C

$165,000

Established & Profitable Local Mechanic Business.

Originally established in 1979, JL Automatics has been providing the highest quality automotive repairs to Emerald & the surrounding areas ever since. JL Automatics is your one-stop shop for repairs & services for all makes & models, which currently provides a wide range of services, including: general repairs & service, power steering repairs, manual & automatic transmission repairs, tunes on all makes & models, brake inspections & repairs, air conditioning repairs, EFI diagnosis, injector cleaning & road worthy reports. Priced to walk in & start working this business includes: • 2 x hoists • Workshop tools • Spare parts • An extensive database of clients • The website • Historical average gross yearly turnover of $400,000+ Access is from Heroes Avenue, Emerald Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

2

3 Vincent Street Cockatoo

A

1

B 1 C

$410,000 - $450,000

Land, Lifestyle & Shed Ready to Go. -

2024sqm very gently sloping block 6m x 8m Shed with Concrete floor and Mezzanine level All services available Walking distance to local parks

Aaron Day M 0407 365 994

Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451

3

C

bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 25

HOME FOCUS

CHARACTER, SPACE AND FLEXIBILITY ACROSS THREE LEVELS FULL of character and offering an impressive amount of space across three levels, 36 Ferny Creek Avenue, Upper Ferntree Gully is a wonderfully versatile Hills home with multiple living areas, flexible bedroom accommodation and a beautiful elevated outlook across the surrounding greenery.

The middle level forms the heart of the home, featuring polished timber floors, high ceilings and a generous dining area flowing through to the separate lounge with woodburning fireplace. The well-equipped kitchen offers excellent bench and cupboard space, gas cooking, wall oven and dishwasher, while the adjoining meals area opens directly onto the covered deck for easy outdoor entertaining.

Also on this level is a spacious bedroom with access to the enclosed sunroom, where large windows take advantage of the leafy outlook and distant Hills views. A flexible office/bedroom, central bathroom with bath and shower, and dedicated laundry complete this floor.

Upstairs, the main bedroom creates a private retreat with its own ensuite, built-in robes and a large adjoining dressing/retreat area. The lower level adds even more flexibility with another bedroom, substantial workshop/ home office, garage and under-house storage.

Outside, the established block provides plenty of usable garden space amongst mature trees, with an elevated backyard capturing an impressive outlook across the surrounding hills. A covered entertaining deck, separate shed and chook area add further practicality and appeal.

Despite its peaceful setting, the home remains conveniently positioned for everyday life, with Upper Ferntree Gully shops, train station, schools, parks and major road connections all within easy reach.

Offering four flexible bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones and excellent additional storage, this is a character-filled home combining space, views, land and convenience in a beautiful Hills location. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 36 Ferny Creek Avenue, UPPER FERNTREE GULLY Description: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $790,000-$860,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 and Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE, 9754 6888

26 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

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20 McAllister Road, MONBULK 3

1

3

39 Fairy Dell Road, TECOMA

1188m2

3

1

2

991m2

36 Ferny Creek Ave, UPPER FERNTREE GULLY 4

3

3

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FOR SALE

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Brad Conder 0422 639 115

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55 The Crescent, BELGRAVE HEIGHTS 4

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2

2

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1006m2

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43B Rankins Road, MONBULK 4

3

4

2641m2

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

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$850,000- $920,000

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Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442

Brad Conder 0422 639 115

Brad Conder 0422 639 115

Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554

Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554

03 9754 6888 office@chandlerandco.com.au 1689 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Vic 3160 mailcommunity.com.au

Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 27

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SPORT

A young Carter on the netball court, with his birthmark visible.

Carter Morrissey was selected for the national men’s netball team after an outstanding season this year. (Supplied)

Carter plays goal shooter, using his height to his advantage.

Carter’s national challenge A young netballer from the Yarra Ranges is taking his career to new heights after being selected for Australia’s national men’s team.

Carter Morrissey said he was in disbelief when he found out he was picked for the Australian men’s team, known as the Kelpies, on 16 August.

“I went to a selection camp not thinking that I’d be getting in… And when I got the call back, I couldn’t believe it for a whole week, and I still can’t really believe it right now. It feels pretty good,” he said.

His first national appearance will take place in New Zealand and he said he was excited for the challenge.

“I’m more just excited to go away and play in another country for the first time.

“I’m a little bit nervous. I mean, I’ve played against some really strong players, but from what I’ve been told about New Zealand, they’ll be really

Trades & Services TREE LOPPING/SURGERY

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years later his mum encouraged him to get back into it after he’d “gotten really chubby”.

“I kind of stuck to it, and the fitter I got, the more I wanted to keep playing,” he said.

Fast forward to now, and he plays for St Therese in the M-League, run by the Victorian Men’s and Mixed Netball Association.

He was MVP in the M-League last year, while in the 2025/26 Nationals league, he won the grand final, scoring a whopping 245 goals in seven games.

At seven-foot-tall, the 20-year-old dominates the attacking half in his usual position as goal shooter. He said he plays by holding his position in the semi-circle and waits for a pass, and then uses his height to score.

“I’ll stay in the semi-circle where we shoot and wait for a pass in, or help work the ball down to get to another position where I can just hold and catch the ball against the other player.

“I do shoot from range sometimes, but it’s not

often because I can usually just step in and put it straight in. I also like doing some two-handed dunks or just lay-ups, and I really like to shake it up,” Morrissey said.

He thanked his family for their continuous support, driving him an hour and a half to the State Netball Centre, and his coach Grant Crocker.

“My coach Grant Crocker—he’s very big in the men’s netball world as a Victorian coach, and I think he also did some Aussie coaching.

“Basically, he is very specific on how to teach tall, holding goal shooters, so he’s been helping me since I was 15 and first starting to play netball again,” he said.

When Morrissey told his coach that he’d been selected for the Kelpies, he said “it really filled [his] cup”.

“He called me straight away and said, ‘I’m not going to let you text me. You have to tell me over the phone.’ When I told him, he was crying and so proud and happy,” Morrissey said.

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rough and one-on-one,” Morrissey said.

He is holding a trivia night fundraiser on 18 September to help pay for travel costs as men’s netball isn’t sponsored by the Netball Australia Association.

It takes place at the St Mary’s Church Hall in Warburton from 7pm. Those interested can book tickets by contacting: gladysdale.ps@education. vic.gov.au.

The 20-year-old is representing the Yarra Ranges, having gone to Gladysdale Primary School as a child.

Growing up, Morrissey had to undergo multiple surgeries to remove a large birthmark that covered the right side of his head and face.

Despite the hardship, he’s always been known as a bright, resilient and motivated person.

Morrissey was nine years old when he started his netballing career at a club in Warburton.

He played until the cutoff age of 12, but three

12423634-SN31-19

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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 29

SPORT

From left: Chayce Black (9 Wandin), Tom Burkitt (19 Mt Evelyn), Callum Urquhart (25 Mt Evelyn, with the ball), Jack Hourihan (50 Mt Evelyn). (576455)

Joel Garner (21 Wandin) and Kellan Smith (37 Mt Evelyn) face off in a oneon-one. (576455)

A Grade Netball. Jessica Hoskin (Mt Evelyn).

(576455)

Wandin, Mt Ev head-to-head Wandin and Mount Evelyn came face to face in several key matches over the weekend across football and netball, as each team vied for grand final spots.

Wandin secured a fourth consecutive grand final appearance, but only by the narrowest of margins after a dramatic and controversial finish against Mt Evelyn in the Outer East’s Senior Men’s Premier Division semi-final match.

In a game overshadowed by severe weather, the Bulldogs hit the front less than 20 seconds before a third lightning strike forced officials to call the match. The timing left Mt Evelyn without an opportunity to respond, ending a thrilling contest in heartbreaking fashion for the Rovers.

The Bulldogs trailed for much of the afternoon and looked in danger of suffering their first defeat of the season. Mt Evelyn’s Callum Urquhart was outstanding across half back and was the most influential player on the ground. Time and again Urquhart repelled Wandin attacks and drove the ball forward for the Rovers in a tremendous finals performance.

The Rovers can take plenty of confidence from the performance despite the result. Having pushed the competition benchmark all the way, they now turn their attention to a preliminary final showdown with Olinda Ferny Creek this weekend.

In netball’s Premier A Grade, Wandin defeated Mt Evelyn, again by a narrow margin, with just three points the difference at the final sound.

Mt Evelyn’s C Grade side secured a grand final spot, gaining a one-point upper hand over Wandin.

Star News photographer Rob Carew captured these moments from the heart-stopping matchups.

The A Grade netball semi-final was a tough competition. Ruby Tidd (left, Wandin) defends as Rory Barr (Mt Evelyn) takes a shot. (Rob Carew: 576455)

Seniors player Riley Clarke (34 Mt Evelyn).

(576455)

Cody Hirst (14 Wandin) tackles Lucas O’Neill (2 Mt Evelyn). (576455)

A Grade Netball. Maddy George (Wandin).

(576455)

A Grade Netball. Kaitlyn Black (Mt Evelyn, right) passes to Jessica Hoskin (left). (576455)

Around the region’s football ovals and netball courts

By Armin Richter Football Premier Division (Semi Finals) Seniors: 2SF Wandin 8.4.52 def Mt. Evelyn 7.5.47; 1SF Olinda-Ferny Creek 16.15.111 def Officer 8.10.58 Reserves: 2SF Officer 8.2.50 def Mt. Evelyn 6.11.47; 1SF Upwey-Tecoma 8.10.58 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 3.3.21 Under 18: 2SF Healesville 4.8.32 def Officer 2.8.20; 1SF Mt. Evelyn 6.9.45 def Upwey-Tecoma 4.3.27 Division 1 (Preliminary Finals) Seniors: PF Seville 16.11.107 def Alexandra 12.4.76 Reserves: PF Belgrave 13.7.85 def Seville 2.5.17 Under 18: PF Pakenham 11.14.80 def Yarra Glen 1.8.14 Netball Premier Division (Semi Finals) A Grade: 2SF Wandin 47 def Mt. Evelyn 44;

• • • • • • •

30 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

1SF Woori Yallock 56 def Monbulk 50 B Grade: 2SF Woori Yallock 51 def Mt. Evelyn 42; 1SF ROC 57 def Monbulk 46 C Grade: 2SF Mt. Evelyn 21 def Wandin 20; 1SF Woori Yallock 41 def ROC 40 D Grade: 2SF Woori Yallock 26 def Mt. Evelyn 24; 1SF ROC 27 def Monbulk 21 Under 17: 2SF Mt. Evelyn 36 def Woori Yallock 35; 1SF ROC Blue 26 def ROC White 20 Under 15: 2SF Monbulk Gold 31 def ROC Blue 30; 1SF Pakenham Maroon 26 def Wandin Blue 12 Division 1 (Preliminary Finals) A Grade: PF Seville 50 def Emerald 40 B Grade: PF Seville 55 def Emerald 28 C Grade: PF Pakenham 40 def Yarra Glen 31 D Grade: PF Seville 45 def Yarra Glen 31 Under 17: PF Emerald 30 def Pakenham Gold 27 Under 15: PF Pakenham Gold 25 def Monbulk Maroon 24

• • • • • • • • • • •

Elly Stewart wins the ball for Monbulk to score one of her 27 goals in B Grade. (Supplied)

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SPORT

Under 15s carry Hawks’ flag

By Armin Richter A Grade Monbulk and Woori matched up well and it was the Hawks who got off to a better start, leading 21-15 early in the second term. Woori then applied pressure and won some turnovers, which had them leading by a solitary goal at the half time break. The third term was an arm wrestle with neither side giving an inch and the margin remained the same. It was still goal for goal until about halfway through the last when the Tigers broke through, unfortunately ending Monbulk’s season in the process.

Monbulk 50 def by Woori Yallock 56 Best: Peri Reid, Grace Scott-Thomas, Sophie Stubbs Goals: Peri Reid 32, Jorja Wragg 18 B Grade Last year Monbulk’s B Grade team won the premiership from fifth, coming from the Elimination Final. This year the same five clubs made the finals and the Hawks would again have to go the long way but had confidence after last week’s big win. There was nothing in this match to half time as any advantage gained was quickly cancelled by the other side with the game tied 28-28. Small moments can change matches and a couple of Kangaroo intercepts turned into goals, with ROC riding that confidence to the finish and consigning Monbulk’s season to an early close.

Monbulk 46 def by ROC 57 Best: Clementine Nicholas, Alice McCormick, Catherine Braniska Goals: Elly Stewart 27, Dayna Walsham 12, Chloe Baker 5, Chloe Carmichael 2 D Grade Another team who had hopes of back to back flags was D Grade and they were in a titanic struggle with ROC for the first three quarters, with scores level pegging at three quarter time. The defence, led by Katrina Wragg, won numerous turnovers to keep the Hawks right in it. It wasn’t until the last quarter when ROC capitalised on a couple of intercepts that the two sides were finally separated.

Monbulk 21 def by ROC 27 Best: Katrina Wragg, Caitlin Utting, Jamie Sands Goals: Jamie Sands 17, Ella Flynn 4 Under 15s Monbulk Gold Both Under 15s teams were looking at securing

• •

• •

• •

A Grade 1st Semi Final at Yarra Junction between Monbulk and Woori Yallock. (Supplied) their place in the Grand Final of their division.

The Monbulk Gold girls finished minor premiers in the Premier division and after having a week’s rest met their recent rivals ROC Blue at Woori Yallock. They had played each other in last year’s Grand Final and were a win apiece this season. A close match was anticipated with both being keen to claim the first spot in the big one.

ROC got out to a better start and held a two to three goal advantage through the first three quarters. Trailing 21-24 at the final change, Monbulk played inspired netball to overhaul ROC with a 10-6 final term and snatch a thrilling win by a single goal. Being the only Monbulk side to remain in the finals, their next match will be the Grand Final in a fortnight on Saturday September 19 at Healesville where a big Monbulk crowd is expected to support them for an early 8.30am start. They will play either ROC Blue or Pakenham Maroon.

Monbulk Gold 31 def ROC Blue 30

Eden Murphy, Ruby Irwin, Daphne • Best: Mitchell • Goals: Eden Murphy 22, Amelia Magarry 9

Monbulk Maroon Playing in the knockout Preliminary Final of Division 1 at Yarra Junction it was goal for goal through the first half. In the third quarter Pakenham managed to score 9 goals to 3 which left the Hawks with an uphill task. They played a great game in the final quarter and nearly reeled in the deficit but just ran out of time as they went down narrowly. Monbulk Maroon were extremely unlucky that they lost both chances to gain a spot in the Grand Final by a single goal but they have had a great year and have done the club proud.

Monbulk Maroon 24 def by Pakenham Gold 25 Best: Olivia Dalman, Isabelle Kos, Jessica Verheyen Goals: Isabelle Kos 22, Grace Gaunt 2

• •

Monbulk B Grade wing defence Liz Cutting works hard to gain possession.

Healesville duo will ‘tri’ their luck on the world stage

By Gabriella Vukman Two Yarra Ranges triathletes will carry their local community on to the world stage in late September, competing at the 2026 World Triathlon Championship Finals in Pontevedra, Spain.

Chris Poole and Karen Mayes, both longtime Healesville residents and members of the same training group, will travel to Pontevedra Spain for the championships, which run from 23 to 27 September.

The week-long event will begin with the Parade of Nations and Opening Ceremony on Wednesday 23 September, before the Elite World Champions are crowned on Sunday 27 September.

For Ms Poole, the journey to the world championships began with a desire to manage arthritis.

“I really started off as a cure for my arthritis,” she said.

“I had a very dodgy knee replacement and arthritis everywhere else.”

“So I went to sort the arthritis out and, well, here we are today.”

Ms Poole has been training for around seven or eight years after being introduced to the sport by personal trainer and triathlon coach Brian Curran.

Curran encouraged Ms Poole to try openwater swimming, which eventually led to cycling and combining the disciplines into triathlon.

While training has not cured her arthritis, Ms Poole said it has made a significant difference to managing the condition and means she has avoided further surgeries.

Ms Poole now trains six days a week, with

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Chris Poole and Karen Mayes will be heading to Spain in late September. (Gabriella Vukman: 576174) three cycling sessions and three swims forming the backbone of his preparation for Pontevedra.

Her cycling includes two easier rides and a longer hilly session, while her swimming consists of two pool sessions and a weekly openwater swim at the peninsula.

For Karen Mayes, the road to the world championships has also been about transforming her life through exercise.

After initially beginning with short home workouts, Ms Mayes joined a local gym, where she met Curran and was introduced to triathlon.

“I was actually going down a bit of a hole and thought I’d better start exercising and get myself out and about.”

“Curran introduced me to triathlon, despite me saying ‘Oh no, I’m not really good at swimming, and I haven’t ridden a bike since I was like 10.’”

Seven years later, Ms Mayes is preparing for her fourth world championship appearance.

She is currently in a demanding training

block, including lengthy cycling and running sessions, while also preparing for an Ironman 70.3 event shortly after returning from Spain.

Despite their different experiences, both athletes said the camaraderie of triathlon is one of the sport’s greatest attractions.

Ms Mayes said competitors of all ages and abilities are welcomed, with elite athletes competing alongside age-group participants.

“Everyone’s really helpful and will get in there and help you out if you’re having trouble,” she said.

“Everyone’s really friendly and helpful.”

“It’s a great sport in that regard.”

Although other members of their wider training community participate in events such as Ironman and half-Ironman races, Ms Poole and Ms Mayes will be the only athletes from Healesville heading to Pontevedra for the championships.

Both have lived in Healesville for around 25 years, making their selection an opportunity to represent their home community on an international stage.

Ms Mayes, who turns 60 this year, will compete in the 60–64 age group.

For Ms Poole, competing at the championships is less about a particular finishing position and more about embracing the experience.

“I’m aiming to finish and just to have a good time,” she said.

“I’m in the 64 to 69 age group and I’m the oldest in that.”

Their participation also highlights the accessibility of triathlon later in life, something both athletes hope will inspire others to keep pursuing new challenges.

“I want people to know that you are never too old,” Ms Poole said.

“I hope some people see this and go, ‘Hey, I don’t need to stop just because I’m getting older.’”

“You don’t have to start when you’re 15 in the sport.”

After qualifying through events including races at St Kilda, the pair have funded much of their journey themselves.

Their preparation will continue once they arrive in Spain, including familiarising themselves with the course.

Their bikes will travel with them and need to be rebuilt before they can ride the course, while opportunities will also be available to practise swimming in the river.

For Ms Poole, the international trip will be as much about experiencing Spain as racing.

“I’m looking forward to the beach and the food,” she said.

Mayes said she was drawn to the sport not only for the physical challenge but also for the atmosphere surrounding competition.

She recalled seeing triathletes cross the finish line looking healthy and happy rather than exhausted, which helped spark her interest in the sport.

The 2026 World Triathlon Championship Finals will provide the pair with another opportunity to experience that finish-line feeling, this time thousands of kilometres from home.

For two Yarra Ranges athletes who came to triathlon through very different paths, their trip to Pontevedra represents years of training, persistence and a reminder that sporting ambition does not have an age limit.

Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 31

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32 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026

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