Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
Fox control overhaul welcomed
Open Studios artists showcased
Exhibition brings the outback to the Valley
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Back on the pitch Cricket players across the Yarra Valley have hit the pitch once again as teams begin playing for the 2026/27 season. The season has started off with interesting results for the teams submitting sport reports to the Star Mail so far. Wandin Cricket Club recorded mixed results for its men’s and women’s senior team - with the Men’s First XI securing a 29-run win against Ringwood East while the Women’s First XI suffered a loss to Belgrave for their second round of the season. Defeats for the men’s and women’s were recorded over in Healesville, with the Men’s First XI suffering a loss to Chirnside Park in a close match and the Stage Two women’s also losing. Lusatia Park Cricket Club put on a strong performance against Yarra Junction. The Women’s First XI too looked strong against Montrose at Woori Yallock Reserve. Read more on pages 38 and 39
Josh Handasyde made 65 runs for Healesville Cricket Club. (Supplied)
Wearing the cost By Gabriella Vukman The removal of credit and debit card surcharges has hit Yarra Ranges businesses hard, though some benefit from the change. Businesses have cited concerns about absorbing payment processing fees and the impact that
has on financial viability. The Federal Government introduced the new rules on 1 October as a cost-of-living measure for consumers while reducing payment costs for businesses. But local operators like Mike Emmett said they were struggling to cover costs that used to be
passed on as a separate card surcharge. “Businesses all across Australia have to wear these extra fees at a time when we’re really struggling anyway,” the owner of Barrique Wine Store in Healesville said. Another Healesville-based business, Cavanagh’s Whisky and Alehouse, has had to adapt to
stay afloat. Owner Brendan Cavanagh said the timing of the changes had added pressure to an already difficult operating environment, with businesses facing increased fuel costs, interest rates and other rising expenses. Read more on page 4
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Driver behaviour improves By Callum Ludwig Knox City Council’s Safer School Crossings initiative is showing itself to be a significant improvement for safety during pick up and drop off times. The program has expanded to three schools in Knox already, with Victoria Police Highway Patrol officers and Knox council staff at Templeton Primary School in Wantirna for the start of Term Three on Monday 5 October. Eastern Division Two Senior Sergeant Brendon De Schwartz said school crossings are an area where a lot of vulnerable road users gather, primarily young children, so the initiative should be rolled out across more councils and schools. “Young children don’t have street sense, they rely on having safety measures put in place for them, being school crossing supervisors, but we also rely on parents and drivers to do the right thing,” he said. “What we’ve achieved through the two schools initially, is going from having a lot of incidents reported weekly to going to zero, we’re changing attitudes and driver behavior within those areas, and I think that in itself is enough for other councils to look at and go, ‘Knox Council isn’t isolated in this problem.’ “What I implore people to do is to slow down and focus on safety, there’s a lot of houses in the areas where schools are these days as well, so it impacts the residents around the schools, but it impacts the kids mostly.” The initiative involves having cameras that can be set up by crossing supervisors which can capture any incidents. Instead of having to file a report, the supervisor simply check the time and pass the information back to the council team, who can decide if it warrants a referral to police. Knox City Council’s school crossings team lead Bec Bone said the pilot at Holy Trinity Primary School in Wantirna had also been expanded to Wantirna South Primary School, as well as Templeton. “Last term, we rolled out the program to Wantirna South Primary School in Tyner Road after a lot of challenging driver behaviors at that site and it improved the safety for the community and for the (crossing) supervisor, we had zero incidents at that site after having at least one or two a day,” she said. “It has been really good to keep the community safe and the supervisor as well, but we really want to improve safety for the students and the whole community. “Schools need to encourage and speak to their councils and ask about implementing the program, if we get more of the schools on board and get them to increase the safety of their community and ask their councils if this is something that they could take on, it will just improve safety for everyone.” Common incidents include drivers travelling straight through the crossing without stopping, failing to stop at the crossing line, queuing over the crossing or parking in no standing/stopping zones around the crossings. Templeton Primary School crossing supervisor Karen said she thinks it’s a fantastic scheme and it’s a great backup to have as a supervisor. “Parents do some really strange things around the school, especially when they’re running late on time and things like that… they don’t realize how dangerous it is just to park over a yellow line or something like that, it’s something that’s been
The Knox City Council school crossings team and Highway Patrol officers are celebrating the improvements in driver behaviour already seen so far. (Callum Ludwig: 583541)
Electronic signs are set up near the crossings when the cameras are first implemented to give drivers plenty of warning. (Callum Ludwig: 583541) really needed I think,” she said. “I’ve seen people stop just in the middle of the road and get their kids running out to the car to jump into the car, with other cars try to get around them and things like that, it’s just crazy…I’ve come here and there’s cars parked over the crossing. “I would suspect that people would abuse su-
pervisors less too, thinking that there are cameras …I wouldn’t hesitate if I got abused to let my supervisor know and say that it’s all on camera.” Even with multiple highway patrols vehicles on site on Monday 5 October, a number of parents were warned for pulling up and dropping children off too close to the crossing. Snr Sgt De Schwartz said we’ve gone from an area of harm to an area of safety and encouraged other regions to get on board. “It’s now captured on camera, and that is irrefutable, indisputable evidence in court that we will rely on heavily and which will afford us greater chances at successful prosecutions,” he said. “Going faster to get to work five minutes earlier isn’t the right thing to do, the focus is on children’s safety and the safety of all road users and going at a faster speed than the 40 zone is not going to get you to work any quicker. “There’s two things that other councils can do, they can reach out to me to discuss the program that we’ve implemented with Bec and her team from Knox, or reach out to Bec herself.”
The trial has been closely monitored by other councils, including Yarra Ranges, who have been following it since the pilot launched. Yarra Ranges Council’s acting director of communities Anne Blakeway said they are aware of the Knox Safer School Crossings initiative and have been following the trial and its reported outcomes closely. “Representatives from Yarra Ranges Council attended the launch earlier this year, and Council has continued to monitor the program as it has developed, including discussions with a range of relevant stakeholders,” she said. “Yarra Ranges Council is committed to supporting the safety of school crossing supervisors, students and the broader community at 99 staffed crossings in the region. “Council has undertaken some preliminary work to better understand potential safety initiatives within the school crossing environment. While this work is continuing, Council has not yet made any decisions regarding the introduction of a similar program within the municipality.”
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NEWS
IN BRIEF Multiple fires in the Yarra Ranges CFA crews were on scene responding to a couple of fires that sparked up in the Yarra Ranges over the weekend. A 19-unit response from a number of brigades was enacted after a burn off spread to nearby trees in Three Bridges on 11 October. A CFA spokesperson said the fire occurred at around 4.27pm near Coles Rd on Sunday. “19 CFA units attended the scene alongside crews from FFMVic. “A grass and scrub fire, approximately 100 by 100 square metres, had spread into bushland. “The incident was deemed under control at 8:47pm and declared safe at 9:51pm,” the spokesperson said. Control of the fire was transferred to FFMVic. Brigades from Narre Warren, Glaydsdale, Little Yarra, Wesburn-Millgrove, Yarra Junction, Yellingbo, Badger Creek, Gruyere, Wandin, Seville, Hoddle’s Creek, Hillcrest, Warburton, Noojee, Healesville and Macclesfield were paged to the scene. Earlier in the day at 1.20pm CFA units also responded to a tree fire on Mullhalls Rd in Macclesfield. Luckily, the fire was not spreading and the scene was declared safe within 11 minutes.
Locals have expressed concerns about the intersection across from the pump track. (File: 371187)
Be aware of motorcycle riders
Track area upgrade By Gabriella Vukman Coldstream’s popular pump track is set for further improvements, with new shade, seating and barbecue facilities planned following feedback from local riders and families. Yarra Ranges Council has secured $39,720 from the Victorian Government’s Tiny Towns Fund for the second stage of the Coldstream Station Activation project, which will also include improvements to the pump track and surrounding car park entry. Council Director of Built Environment and Infrastructure Anita Curnow said the track had received positive feedback since opening in November 2023, prompting further consultation on how the facility could better serve the community. “Since opening in November 2023, the pump track has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from users of all ages.” “We surveyed riders and families at the site shortly after it opened, and again in late 2025, to seek their feedback and suggestions for further improvements.” Ms Curnow said the consultation helped identify practical additions that would make the site more comfortable for families and visitors spending time at the track. “The community told us it would be great if there were more shade options on hot days, as well as additional seating and BBQ facilities so they could make a day of their visit.” “With this grant funding, we’re delighted to be able to deliver these outcomes for the community,” Ms Curnow said. Council received 49 contributions from 44 contributors during consultation, with feedback highlighting the need for facilities catering to different skill levels, more seating and shade, and a track suitable for BMX riders, mountain bikers, scooter riders and skateboarders. However, the surrounding road network has also raised safety concerns, particularly for families accessing the facility. In a Facebook post on 3 January 2023, local
resident Lea Forbes praised the new pump track but questioned the safety of crossing Maroondah Highway with children. “Went down to the pump track today and it was fabulous.. so much fun to be had by everyone..” “My only concern is, kids and families crossing the highway… it’s so bloody dangerous.” Ms Forbes raised questions of whether the new pump track would mean a renewed push for traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing at the intersection. “Something needs to be there for the kids, and families to make it safer.” Coldstream resident Sarah Johannesen also said the intersection is an issue when accessing the rail trail near the pump track, as well as the pump track itself. “The pump track is great because it encourages kids to get out and exercise, but in order to get to the pump track, anybody on a bike has to cross a really dangerous intersection.” “It is two lanes of the Maroondah Highway, plus the Coldstream west road coming in and the road next to the Brewery coming in.” “They are asking children to cross two lanes of traffic.” Concerns about crossing the highway come amid a broader, longstanding campaign for an upgrade to the intersection of Maroondah Highway and Killara Road. Residents have previously reported near misses and difficulties navigating the busy intersection, particularly during weekends when visitor and tourist traffic increases. Coldstream residents John and Mary Grant, who moved to the suburb in 2010, previously told Star Mail they regularly witnessed dangerous situations at the intersection. Mrs Grant said people were taking risks when attempting to cross or turn through traffic, while Mr Grant raised concerns about trucks parked along the road restricting visibility. The intersection has remained a priority for local campaigners, with plans for an upgrade subject
to ongoing discussions about costs and funding. The pump track improvements are focused on facilities within the station precinct, and Council has not confirmed whether the latest project includes any changes to pedestrian crossing arrangements on Maroondah Highway. The second stage will deliver a trackside shelter, public barbecue facilities and new furniture, alongside improvements to the pump track and car park entry. Ms Curnow said stage two had been part of the broader vision for the site since the original project was developed, with Council already committing funding to improvements including the pump track and surrounding car parking. “By combining the State Government grant with Council’s contribution, we’ve been able to significantly expand the scope of works and deliver even greater benefits for the community.” The upgrades are intended to create a more welcoming space for local families while also providing a convenient rest stop for users of the nearby Yarra Valley Trail. Ms Curnow said Council continued to pursue external funding where grant opportunities aligned with community needs and its priorities. “With 55 towns in our municipality, there are many worthy projects in our municipality,” she said. “This project was identified as a strong fit for the fund’s eligibility requirements and objectives, and we’re delighted it has secured funding. We’re excited to see this project move forward.” She said ongoing maintenance of the upgraded facilities would be managed through Council’s regular asset management and budget processes. The improvements are also expected to encourage visitors to spend more time in Coldstream and support nearby businesses, while making the station precinct a more functional destination for residents and trail users. Construction timing is subject to final project planning and contractor availability.
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Police in the outer east are asked to watch out for motorcycle riders this October for Motorcycle Awareness Month. Victoria Police’s road policing acting inspector for the Eastern Region, Jill McBain, said it was important to watch out for those riding on two wheels as the weather starts to warm up. “[Motorcycle riders are] a really vulnerable road user due to their lack of protection they’ve got around them. So, really important time to form some good habits and be really conscious of our surrounds,” Ms McBain said. She pointed out some simple habits both drivers and riders can adopt to keep themselves safe on the road. “Drivers, please make sure you are checking your mirrors, checking your blind spots and looking twice as you move through intersections. “Riders, please make sure you’re wearing all your right protective gear, monitor your fatigue and be really highly visible on the roads. “Really important time for us to look after one another, particularly as we’re moving into the summer period and Christmas when the roads are going to start being a lot busier.”
Warburton Bike Park closures in place One of Warburton Bike Park’s trails will be closed while works take place to revamp the track. Riders will not be able to ride the Hey Hey My My descent from Monday 12 October until sometime in December. The opening date is still to be determined. The Mind Drift track will also close during this period but all other trails will remain open. This includes the ascent for Hey Hey My My. Get updated track information here: shorturl. at/nETpL.
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Surcharge ban brings change By Gabriella Vukman The removal of credit and debit card surcharges has brought a change to the checkout for many consumers, with some Yarra Ranges businesses continuing to absorb payment processing costs, while others increase prices and encourage customers to use cash. Since the new no-surcharge rules took effect on 1 October, some local business owners have raised concerns about the financial pressure of absorbing payment processing fees, the impact on employment and whether customers fully understand the changes. The Federal Government says the reforms are designed to ease cost-of-living pressures for consumers while reducing payment costs for businesses. However, local operators say they are having to find ways to cover costs they can no longer pass on as a separate card surcharge, with some adjusting prices across selected products. Mike Emmett, owner of Barrique Wine Store in Healesville, said the business had anticipated the changes but questioned whether consumers understood that payment processing costs had not disappeared. “Many consumers don’t know that only a small portion of the surcharge fee is related to bank fees. The rest is the EFTPOS provider fee.” For Barrique, the change represents the equivalent of 0.6 of a staff member. “That equates to three days a week of work that we can’t give to somebody because we are fronting those fees,” Mr Emmett said. “Businesses all across Australia have to wear these extra fees at a time when we’re really struggling anyway.” The store has selectively increased prices to help offset the additional costs, while keeping tap beers and most local wines unchanged. Mr Emmett said customers had generally been understanding, particularly after the business spent months explaining the changes. “Now that $0.30 has been given back, but we’ve taken three days of work away from somebody else if we don’t raise our prices.” “It’s ostensibly a reasonable policy, but it does have an impact on business, and those fee costs will be passed on,” he said. Where customers could previously avoid card surcharges through paying cash, Mr Emmett said customers paying cash would now pay the same raised prices as everyone else. “We are not going to offer a discount for cash, because we would have to start recovering those fees from more parts of the business,” he said. Brendan Cavanagh, who operates Cavanagh’s Whisky and Alehouse in Healesville, said the timing of the changes had added pressure to an already difficult operating environment, with businesses facing increased fuel costs, interest rates and other rising expenses. Having already increased prices earlier in the year, Mr Cavanagh said the changes had forced him to reconsider pricing across the business, with an estimated $11,000 a year in additional costs to cover. “I am lucky that I have a diverse product range to be able to spread out the cost absorption.” “Fortunately, being operating for four or five years now, I have got enough data to go back and look at what I can change,” he said. Mr Cavanagh said he was determined to keep prices reasonable for local customers. “We’re not businesses that just try to screw over tourists, with $20 coffees. We won’t be charging $18 bucks for a pint. I refuse to,” he said. “There are levers that I am pulling now to keep those prices reasonable, but any other pressure that comes my way will make it very
Local businesses harbour mixed feelings on surcharge changes. (Nathana Reboucas, unsplash).
Brendan Cavanagh and Mike Emmett share similar concerns about the changes. (Gabriella Vukman: 583733). hard to keep it that way.” Faith Samuel, owner of Nature’s Cakes in Healesville, said the changes had added to an already difficult operating environment for small businesses. The cumulative effect of payment costs was particularly challenging for a business making products from raw ingredients. “This new legislation is going to cost me another ten or fifteen thousand dollars a year, depending on takings.” “All of the costs accumulate and it’s really hard.” “Things need to change, otherwise, all of us small businesses are going to disappear.” While the surcharge changes mean higher costs for some businesses, others are benefiting. Nina Sturgess, owner of Verso Books and president of Healesville Traders Incorporation, said the removal of surcharges had created an opportunity to save on her own business purchases.
“At Verso we have never on-charged our credit card fees so for me personally, the new policy has had an upside that I can now pay my suppliers with a debit or credit card without incurring a surcharge.” Ms Sturgess encouraged businesses to compare payment providers. “We have recently changed our merchant provider to get more attractive rates so it’s definitely worth shopping around and putting the pressure on the banks to lower their rates.” She said businesses could also consider other ways to manage overheads. “Communicating with your customers that you prefer cash is also a good option - we are definitely seeing more cash recently,” she said. The changes took effect on 1 October 2026, ending separate surcharges on eftpos, Visa and Mastercard payments, with American Express also adopting the change. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) found
surcharging had become increasingly complex and was no longer achieving its intended purpose of encouraging customers to use cheaper payment methods. The reforms also reduce interchange fee caps and increase transparency around payment processing costs. The maximum interchange fee on a consumer credit card transaction paid by a small business has fallen from 0.8 per cent to 0.3 per cent. However, interchange fees are only one component of card processing costs. Businesses may also pay fees to card networks and payment providers. The RBA estimates the broader reforms will save businesses about $910 million annually, with small businesses expected to benefit particularly from lower interchange fees. An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) spokesperson said businesses remained free to set their own prices and choose which payment methods they accepted. “Businesses can continue to recover the cost of accepting card payments by incorporating that cost into their overall pricing for the products or services they sell, just as they do with all their other costs of doing business.” “Businesses must not mislead customers about their prices or the reasons for any price changes,” they said. Businesses must also clearly display the minimum total price, including mandatory fees that can be quantified in advance. Consumers who believe they have been misled can report concerns to the ACCC or their state consumer protection agency. The new rules do not prohibit other charges, such as permitted weekend or public holiday surcharges. While the surcharge ban is designed to ease cost-of-living pressures, local businesses’ plans to adjust prices raise questions about whether the reforms could contribute to inflation in the short term. The impact will depend on how many businesses raise prices, the size of those increases and whether they absorb costs or secure lower processing fees. For consumers, the changes mean greater certainty at the checkout, but not necessarily lower prices across the board. Across the Yarra Ranges, the responses from Barrique Wine Store, Cavanagh’s Whisky and Alehouse, Nature’s Cakes and Verso demonstrate that there is no single solution for small businesses facing the change. The longer-term question is whether the removal of visible card surcharges will deliver meaningful savings for consumers while allowing local businesses to remain financially sustainable.
Have your voice heard in the 2026 Victorian election The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is urging all Victorians to ensure they vote and have their voice heard in this year’s state election. Victorians aged 18–44 years of age will have a very strong voice this state election, making up 44 per cent of the vote on Saturday 28 November. The youth vote is key to deciding this election, Gen Z (age 18–29) and Millennial voters (aged 30–44) represent 44 per cent of enrolled Victorians, while 24 per cent are Gen X voters (aged 45–59) and 32 per cent of voters are above the age of 60.1 4 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
Along with strong youth representation, 30 per cent of Victorians are born overseas and 52 per cent have either one or both parents born overseas. Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said more than 4.6 million Victorians are being asked to make their voices heard in the 2026 state election this November. “We are urging all eligible Victorians to make sure they participate at this state election and have their say,”Mr Bluemmel said. “Voting is our democratic right, and while it is compulsory in state elections for those living
in Victoria who are Australian citizens aged 18 years and over, voting is also a privilege that allows each of us to have a real say in our future. “Every vote counts, so make sure you’re enrolled, understand your voting options and plan ahead to cast your vote by 6pm on election day, Saturday 28 November.” The VEC has launched its new statewide advertising campaign with information about enrolment and voting. The campaign will also address the spread of false or misleading information about election processes. While there are no laws that regulate
truth in political advertising in Victoria, all election material must be authorised under the law. “If someone is telling you how, when or where to vote, stop and consider where the information is coming from, to help you make an informed decision,” Mr Bluemmel said. “The VEC is an independent, reliable source you can trust for information about elections to make your vote count.” For more information about the 2026 state election, including how to check your enrolment and voting centre information, visit vec. vic.gov.au or call 131 832.
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Changes spark concern By Gabriella Vukman Football Victoria’s decision to limit most clubs to one team in its senior women’s State League pyramid from 2027 has sparked concerns about the future of competitive opportunities for women. Under the changes announced in September, the National Premier League Women, Victorian Premier League Women and State League 1-4 competitions will retain promotion and relegation, but clubs will generally be limited to one team in the pyramid, with an exemption for university teams. A new Community League will run alongside the competitive structure, offering football without promotion and relegation. Clubs will be able to enter multiple teams, with four geographic zones intended to reduce travel. Yarra Ranges resident Gabriella Grande, who has played football for almost 20 years, fears the changes could force players out of teams they have spent years building and leave them searching for somewhere else to play. “I thought the whole point of these updates was to support women’s soccer, not make it harder,” Ms Grande said. In a media release announcing the changes, Football Victoria (FV) said its restructure followed eight months of consultation, including a survey of more than 400 senior women’s players, consultation with clubs and input from its Football Development Committee and Football Advisory Panel. FV said feedback included concerns about one-sided results, forfeits, travel requirements and the need for a competition catering to players more interested in the social and health benefits of sport than promotion and relegation. The governing body said the new Community League would provide a more flexible option for women wanting to play football, with grading to help ensure teams compete at an appropriate level. Community League clubs will also remain eligible for cup competitions such as the Nike FC Cup, while the Women’s Metropolitan League would become part of the new structure. Ms Grande said the changes could affect the pathways her club’s three senior women’s teams provided for juniors and women returning to football. “Our division four team is a bridge for players who still want to play serious and competitive soccer, that aren’t quite at the League One level yet,” she said. Ms Grande said the changes overlooked the reasons many women continued to play competitive football, beyond simply winning games. “I play soccer because of the friendships, and health benefits, but I also want that strong competition.” “There seems to be an assumption from Football Victoria that these women are more than happy and willing to just go to the community league,” she said. “It feels like Football Victoria is asking women to walk away from the game entirely and join another sport.” Ms Grande said a transition period or exemptions for clubs with multiple established women’s teams would help protect existing opportunities. She questioned whether the consultation had adequately reached players who would be directly affected by the changes, saying she became aware of the restructure through teammates. Seasoned State League women’s football coach Craig Clark also questioned the impact of the changes, saying his club’s lower State League team helped develop younger players and supported its broader women’s program. “By dropping the State 4 team down to the Community Leagues, we’re going to lose quality players that our junior and Community Premier League girls rely on to progress,” he said. He said four players from the club’s Community Premier League cohort made their senior debuts last year, while two under-15 players had also debuted in senior football during the current season. Mr Clark also questioned whether changing the competition structure was the best way to address concerns about clubs using stronger players in lower divisions. The university exemption has also prompted questions from players and club representatives about why some organisations can field multiple teams while others cannot. “Clubs that have demonstrated over a long
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Each club will be limited to one team in the Women’s State League in 2027. (File: 402824). period that they have invested heavily into girls’ and women’s programs and have therefore got two teams in the higher leagues, shouldn’t have to forfeit their hard work,” Mr Clark said. The debate has also played out on FV’s Facebook page, where commenters questioned the consistency of the one-team rule and why university clubs should be exempt. Commenter Luke Flood argued the issue was about consistent application rather than the skill levels of individual teams. Other commenters raised concerns about the affordability of community football and the barriers faced by women who want to play socially but cannot commit to a full season. While some supported the general direction of the changes, others questioned whether reserves and development pathways should extend further down the State League system. Concerns were also raised about the flow-on effects if a club’s top team is relegated, potentially affecting its reserves and other senior sides. The restructure has prompted debate about its impact on players and clubs, while its implications for Football Victoria’s governance and constitutional requirements remain unclear. Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said the government supported efforts to ensure women and girls had fair and inclusive opportunities to participate in sport. “Victoria is proud to lead the nation in creating a level playing field for women and girls in sport,” Ms Spence said. “We encourage Football Victoria to continue working with all parties to find a solution to support fair and inclusive competition and participation.” It is not yet clear whether the 2027 restructure raises any constitutional or other governance issues for Football Victoria, and no breach has been established. The Star Mail contacted Football Victoria for comment on the restructure, including the consultation process, the one-team-per-club rule and the university exemption. The Star Mail also sought responses on player pathways, fees and whether financial or operational considerations influenced the changes. Football Victoria declined to comment. The Star Mail also asked Football Australia whether it had assessed the restructure against its Constitution, governance requirements and participation objectives, whether it had the authority to review the decision before it takes effect in 2027, and what formal review options might be available to affected clubs. A spokesperson for Football Australia said, “Football Australia is the national governing body responsible for establishing and overseeing the regulatory framework for football in Australia.”
“Member Federations are responsible for administering their respective state competitions, including competition structures and formats, in accordance with Football Australia’s Constitution and applicable national regulations.”
The new senior women’s competition structure is due to take effect in 2027. Further details about how teams will be graded and placed in the Community League are yet to be confirmed.
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Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL 5
NEWS
Brigade honours members By Oliver Winn CFA volunteers young and old won accolades at Wandin CFA’s awards dinner on Friday 2 October. Members were acknowledged for their years of service at Wandin Football Netball and Cricket Club rooms, ranging from five to 50 years. Wandin CFA captain Darryn Goss said both firefighters brigade staff were honoured at the night. “It’s not just recognising firefighters, but the large quantity of members that do an abundance of work in the back end to keep the operational component operating,” he said. Wandin CFA’s Robert Potter was awarded his 50-year service medal for his long-term dedication. “Robert, also known as Bob, contributes both on the fire ground in strike team deployments, day-to-day operational response, as well as in the community fundraising, and through his wealth of knowledge, training up and supporting up-and-coming firefighters to the Wandin Fire Brigade,” he said. Andrew and Bill were awarded for 35 years of service and Brett was awarded for 30 years. But the brigade’s locally recognised awards also acknowledged some of its youngest firefighters. 18-year-old Scarlett Henderson received the Wandin CFA’s Firefighter of the Year award for her dedicated and professional ethic. “This year it was awarded to Scarlett Henderson, who is truly presenting as an up-andcoming young member of the brigade and is really excelling within the environment. “While being young and fun, she also turns the switch and switches to very professional very quick,” Mr Goss said. Scarlett’s mother, Helen Henderson, is also a firefighter and she received the brigade’s most improved award. “Helen first came along to Wandin Fire Brigade just to support her daughter in joining, because she was a young lady going into an adult dominant environment. “And through her journey learned that she wanted to become part of the Wandin Fire Brigade because of the family type environment and the work that we do within the community.” Mr Goss awarded Marcus the Captain’s Award for his mentality and professionalism towards his work as a firefighter. The awards night showcased the sheer time and effort that go into providing an emergency service to the local community. Mr Goss said it showed the public how it’s
The awards night took place at the Wandin Football, Netball and Cricket clubs. (Supplied) taken years to build the brigade to where it is now. “It’s not necessarily new people that are undertaking an emergency service response at community members’ time and needs. “It’s also making the community aware that this is a long-term establishment with people that have been around for a very long time and have a wealth of knowledge and continue to support their hometown and broader communities.
“These are not skills that you just acquire overnight; they are something that we train for,” he said. The awards night also recognised ex-captain Tim Michelson for his 16 and a half years of commitment to the brigade management team. Mr Goss made a point of acknowledging every volunteer, regardless of the organisation they’re in, for their time and effort in maintaining community. “Whilst Wandin are one of many brigades
across the state that undertake award nights, every volunteer in every capacity is giving up their time, whether it be CFA, SES, ambulance and emergency service or your local football and cricket club to input and output of the community. “So make sure if you’re wanting to volunteer for something that you go up and knock on the door. We can never have enough support to maintain our service to the community in whatever realm that is,” Mr Goss said.
New fox management plan a win for region’s native species By Oliver Winn Conservationists have welcomed the Federal Government’s new draft strategy to tackle feral foxes. The new draft Threat Abatement Plan for predation by European red foxes is now up for feedback and will replace the existing plan dating back to 2008. Victorian National Parks Association parks and nature campaigner said native species in the Yarra Valley would benefit from better control of foxes in the area. “The impact of feral foxes is huge and widespread across public and private land. “So, the better we can control them and test new theories and new methods, that’s probably one of the great things to come out of this rewriting of the plan,” he said. Foxes impact local populations by commonly hunting long-nosed and southern brown bandicoots and ground-nesting birds. Mr Crook said they also impact some of the state’s most threatened species. “Even like Leadbeater’s possum and the helmeted honeyeater, both our state emblems would be impacted by foxes, so they’re a shocker.” Invasive Species Council rewilding manager Rob Brewster said the draft strategy was an important opportunity to ensure Australia’s approach to fox control reflected nearly two decades of advances in conservation science and invasive species management. “Australia’s current national fox strategy was 6 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
written 18 years ago. Since then, our understanding of the devastating impact foxes are having on Australian wildlife has grown enormously.” Mr Brewster said foxes were often the difference between threatened species recovering or disappearing altogether. But the plan would need to be met with sustained funding from the government to ensure action would be delivered. “It is good to finally see a new national strategy on the table, but the final plan needs to be ambitious and backed by the funding needed to deliver real action on the ground. “A strategy sitting on a shelf won’t protect wildlife. Governments need to invest in coordinated, sustained fox control across the landscapes where our most vulnerable native animals still survive,” Mr Brewster said. Mr Crook agreed with the sentiment and said there were new technologies that could also use some funding. “There’s also new technologies like gene drive, which is getting more spoken about lately, but needs better investment to really get the best out of it,” he said. Gene drives are a collection of genes that rapidly spread from one generation to another. They’ve been used to reduce the number of mosquitoes that transmit malaria. For foxes, a gene drive that renders females infertile could help eliminate fox populations. But, the technology is still a long way off. “But it’s sitting in dire need of not just funding, but sustained funding over like five to ten year blocks where scientists can really get in there and
Foxes have a big impact on native species in Australia. (File: 210772) do the work and not have things cut two years in when a government changes,” Mr Crook said. Foxes are also known to hunt lambs and spread diseases which impact farmers and landowners. Mr Brewster said there was evidence to show that when foxes and other introduced predators are removed or effectively controlled, threatened native animals can recover. “The final strategy should set a clear ambition not simply to manage the damage caused by foxes, but to dramatically reduce their impact and give native wildlife the opportunity to recover,” he said.
But Mr Crooks said more sustained funding would help more animals come back and repopulate. “If we really get on top of this issue and we take it seriously and give it the sustained funding that it needs, we will see animals come back. “But to do that we need the sustained funding and the real commitment from all levels of government to keep that money secure and keep it long-term,” he said. The draft Threat Abatement Plan for predation by European red foxes is currently open for public consultation. You can read it here: shorturl.at/BE6WY.
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Improving ‘death literacy’ By Callum Ludwig A new study from La Trobe University has revealed just how few Australians are prepared for the deaths of themselves and those around them. Researchers from La Trobe’s Public Health Palliative Care Unit and the Death Literacy Institute surveyed more than 3000 people to create the 2026 National Death Literacy and Readiness Report. Acting head of La Trobe’s public health Palliative Care Unit and Director of the Death Literacy Institute Dr Kerrie Noonan said death happens to everyone but it’s surprising how few people are actually prepared. “About two-thirds of Australians haven’t discussed their end-of-life wishes with their families,” she said “Understanding your options is critical to planning for a better death. “Knowledge empowers us to take meaningful action like finalising our will, appointing an enduring guardian or simply having a conversation about end of life with our family and friends.” According to the survey, 48 per cent of people have not prepared a will, 54 per cent don’t know where to access palliative care, 58 per cent don’t know about end-of-life paperwork and almost 63 per cent don’t know what to do when someone dies at home. Death is around us, with 53 per cent report keeping company of someone close to death; 42 per cent said they had witnessed someone’s death and 30 per cent had been appointed as an enduring guardian/decision maker for someone else. However, only 23 per cent had written down their end-of-life wishes in an advance care directive and only 11 per cent had documented how they would like their online assets to be managed after their death. In the east, local organisations came together for the Circle of Care Expo to help ad-
The Circle of Care expo earlier this year helped improve death literacy in the east. (Callum Ludwig: 566084) dress local levels of death literacy with faceto-face conversations and speeches from local services and providers earlier this year. Ahead of the event, home care provider Dovida’s community engagement officer Shona Ashworth told the Star Mail that events like Circle of Care create a safe, welcoming space to ask questions and learn from people who
understand these topics deeply and accessibility matters just as much as the information itself. “These are conversations many people put off, often because they’re not sure how to start them or where to turn for trusted information,” she said. “Families often want to support their loved
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one at home, but without the right knowledge they can feel frightened and underprepared when symptoms change quickly. “The more people understand what to expect and where to turn, the more confident and capable they feel, that knowledge can be the difference between a family feeling alone and a family feeling genuinely supported.” Researchers have developed an online tool called READYConnect which gives people a short digital quiz to assess their death literacy in response to this. “There is an increasing urgency to understand death literacy when we look at the scale of the demographic change in Australia’s near future,” Senior Project Officer Holly Smith said. “We are facing a lasting demographic shift, not a temporary surge in demand for end-oflife care. “As Australia’s population ages, strengthening our capacity to care for one another must become a national priority. READYConnect can help activate communities to care for each other.” READYConnect provides personalised insights to help people start conversations with relatives and carers about dying, then links them to trusted sector resources. It can be accessed independently but researchers hope to see GPs, palliative care and aged care services referring patients and families to the platform. Chelsea Menchin, National Projects and Operations Director of Palliative Care Australia, said READYConnect had significant potential to strengthen Australia’s national approach to end-of-life care by building understanding of how prepared communities plan for ageing, dying, death and grief. “READYConnect will help identify gaps in community knowledge and preparedness and inform how health and community services can better support individuals and families to plan for the end of life,” she said. Take the quiz yourself at readyconnect.org.
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Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL 7
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Lifelong love of pottery By Gabriella Vukman For Healesville potter Laura Windmill, more than five decades of working with clay have been driven by experimentation, patience and an appreciation for the unexpected. Ms Windmill has been potting since she was 14, when she joined a community house after becoming interested in ceramics through a friend. What began as an activity in her teenage years eventually became a career. After working for Telstra for about 15 years, Windmill undertook a two-year full-time course at Chisholm TAFE in the early 1990s. There, she learned everything from kiln construction and firing to glaze technology and production throwing. “I predominantly throw on the wheel, but occasionally I’ll just hand build something or do a bit of sculpture work,” Ms Windmill said. While she was trained as a production thrower, she later moved towards alternative firing techniques, with much of her work now focused on non-functional pieces and experimental finishes. Her work is heavily influenced by the landscapes she has encountered while travelling. “A lot of the blues in my work have been inspired by rock formations and glaciers on my travels to Scandinavia, New Zealand, more recently Antarctica,” she said. “The oranges are inspired by the Australian desert.” “I’m also really fascinated by rock formations and colours.” Ms Windmill’s firing techniques also incorporate unconventional combustible materials, including wood shavings, sawdust, pine needles, banana skins and orange peels, combined with chemicals to create different colours. The eastern european technique of obvara firing, also features in some of Ms Windmill’s work where she uses a fermented mixture of flour, yeast and water.
Laura Windmill will be welcoming visitors to her home studio in Healesville on both weekends of Open Studios. (Gabriella Vukman: 58336). The heated pottery is quickly dipped into the mixture, creating unpredictable patterns across its surface. For Ms Windmill, that unpredictability is one of the things she loves most about pottery. “I love the feel of clay,” she said. “I love the randomness of it because I can’t plan what it is going to be.” Even when she has an idea of the colours she wants to achieve, the final result can be a sur-
prise when the kiln is opened. Ms Windmill has been involved in Yarra Valley Open Studios since the program began in 2009 and has participated every year since. The annual event gives visitors the chance to step inside artists’ working spaces, learn about their processes and purchase work directly from the artists. For Ms Windmill, it is also an opportunity to connect with other creatives and meet people
interested in handmade work. “It’s good to network with all the other artists, even though they mightn’t be in your discipline,” she said. “You get a lot of people to come and visit and quite often I get people that return year upon year and it’s so nice to chat about my work with them.” “People may also get a better understanding as to why handcrafted work is so much more expensive than store bought due to the skill, the time, and the years of experience that are needed to create such items.” Ms Windmill said participating in Open Studios has also created opportunities beyond her own studio. About 15 years ago, she was invited to travel to Vanuatu after another potter nominated her for a program teaching skills to schoolchildren. She returned for two years, taking part in an exhibition and demonstrating techniques including raku firing. The experience was among several opportunities she said had come through her involvement with the arts community. “I’ve had retail opportunities, exhibition opportunities, and you just meet a lot of different people,” she said. While Ms Windmill enjoys experimenting with different techniques, she said throwing bottles remains one of her favourite things to make because of their shape. She then combines the refined form with a more primitive firing technique. Yarra Valley Open Studios will run across October, with participating studios open from 10am to 5pm on October 10–11 and October 24–25. The free, self-guided program features 27 local artists across the Yarra Ranges, including artists in Healesville, Mount Evelyn, Silvan, Warburton, Yarra Junction, Yarra Glen, Chum Creek, Millgrove, Don Valley and Dixons Creek. A group exhibition featuring participating artists is also being held at The Memo Healesville until November 1.
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Capturing the landscape By Claudia Mather Spanning two decades, numerous exhibitions and a career deeply rooted in the landscape surrounding her home, visual artist Minela Krupic continues to let her surroundings guide her evolution across clay sculpture, water colour and oil painting, and print. Over the weekend, Ms Krupic exhibited her work at fellow artist Jodie Westall’s studio and gallery in Mt Evelyn, alongside Alesh Macak, allowing locals to immerse themselves in her creations. Marking her debut in the Yarra Valley Open Studios, the event also offered her a first-time experience collaborating alongside other artists in a shared space. “We all work in different mediums, but the imagery we’re drawn to is very much a reflection of the environment around us,” she said. “Sharing the space brings those different approaches together, and you can see how a similar subject matter can be interpreted in different ways.” Ms Krupic studied printmaking at the Victorian College of Art at Melbourne University and has continued to expand her practice across a range of mediums ever since. “I like to experiment with various mediums depending on what I’m into at the time, but I tend to come back to drawing, painting and clay.” “The most recent medium I’ve gotten into is water colour, because I found it genuinely challenging to use,” she explained. “When I moved to Mt Evelyn, I started watercolour classes with Jodie Westall, and she inspired me to stick with it.” Rather than working from a single studio, Ms Minela prefers to make her art out in the world, taking her practice wherever it leads and letting each place shape what she creates. “Working on location, you get to experiment on site and work with what you have on the day. A sketchbook, taking photos for research, or doing smaller painting,” she said. “In a controlled space, it’s quite different. For an etching print, for example, I need to be in a printmaking studio that’s well set up with all the equipment and space for inking up copper plates.” “You still get to experiment, but it’s more controlled in a way that working outside isn’t.” Ms Krupic said her art can often tell a personal story while simultaneously hoping people can find their own meaning in it. “For me, it’s about creating a moment where someone can walk away with an emotion, whether that’s quiet, nostalgia, or connection to a place. If it stays with them after they’ve left, then it’s done its job,” she said. Working outdoors introduces unpredictable factors like shifting light, weather, and public encounters, which can actively shape a piece as it evolves. “The mural we did on the stairs in Mt Evelyn was interesting in that way. I hadn’t realised how challenging it would be to get the lines and shapes lined up and even, because the stairs distort the image as you move along. I had to constantly step back and reassess.”
Minela Krupic allows the landscape to inspire her artistic creations. (Supplied) “Interacting with everyone walking past on the Warburton Trail has been lovely. Getting feedback and having chats along the way made it
a really enjoyable process,” she said. “It became a community piece as much as a landscape piece.”
For Ms Krupic, the true heart of being an artist lies not in the final result, but in the process and the pure enjoyment of mark-making.
Crafting stories of courage and connection through art By Claudia Mather Art is rarely a solitary endeavour for Dandenong Ranges artist Alesh Macak, even when working from a tabletop looking over the hills. Mr Macak uses his multidisciplinary craft to build gentle metaphors for courage, community and finding your tribe. He can be found painting, sculpting, animating, or working on his upcoming children’s book, which people caught a glimpse of at the upcoming Open Studios on 10 and 11 October. Mr Macak joined fellow artists Minela Krupic and Jodie Westall at Ms Westall’s studio and gallery in Mt Evelyn. “I rarely open up my art practice to an audience; the last time was at art school, so it feels like a learning curve whereby sharing might offer new insights that I haven’t thought of yet,” Mr Macak said. Without a studio of his own yet, Mr Macak works small-scale from an oversized dining table facing the treetops, letting the view shape what he makes. “I like that the studio can be packed up easily and moved to accommodate dinner and then be sprawled out again afterwards,” he said.
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“To be able to rest the eyes on the treetops is a nice daydreaming joy that allows new ideas to flow.” Mr Macak uses found timber from house framing and prepares it to be painted on. “I paint strange houses that float in the air or stand on skinny stilts, stacked on top of one another,” he explained. “The initial themes were more technical than meaningful.” “Eventually the house paintings started to form a story of hardship, fragility and longing.” Mr Macak embeds metaphors and stories into his creations in the hopes that an audience may share the same experience. “My concerns of the environment, human condition and personal responsibility are common themes.” These themes ultimately culminated in Mr Macak’s upcoming children’s story called The Little House on a Hill. “The children’s book I’m working on blends the static image with a story of adventure and overcoming,” he said. The Little House on the Hill serves as a gentle, visual, imaginative metaphor for children and adults alike who struggle to push past anxiety and
try new things. “It reminds readers that finding your tribe doesn’t mean changing who you are or forcing yourselves into spaces where you don’t fit - sometimes, it just takes the courage to take the first step.” Mr Macak had a selection of pages in progress from the children’s book on display at the Open Studio. He also shared previous works of paintings on wood and panels as well as ceramics. More recently, Mr Macak left a permanent mark on the local landscape in Mt Evelyn with a Corten steel sculpture. “We worked with children from St Mary’s in Mt Evelyn and their interpretation of what imagery they would like to see in the town centre,” he explained. “From these drawings, I took a few overlapping elements of ornamental trees, rolling hills, and the children’s perspective of being surrounded by nature, and tried to encapsulate this in a sculpture.” As the Open Studios doors closed, Mr Macak’s preview of his work proved that his gentle explorations of courage have already found a welcoming home in the Dandenong Ranges.
Alesh Macak works from a small-scale studio at his home overlooking the treetops. (Supplied)
Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL 9
NEWS
Gear up for motorcycle show By Gabriella Vukman Motorcycle enthusiasts will converge on Healesville on Sunday 18 October for the third annual Machine on the Green fundraiser, with organisers hoping to raise $1000 towards a charity motorcycle build. The event will be held at Healesville RSL, from 9am to midday, with all types of motorcycles welcome. Good Deed Garage founder Clifford Overton said the event began after a group of local motorcycle enthusiasts were looking for something to do. This year’s event will help fund the completion of a motorcycle Mr Overton is building through Good Deed Garage. The completed motorcycle will later be
raffled, with Mr Overton expecting it to raise about $10,000 for Melbourne homelessness support organisation Launch Housing. Good Deed Garage began in 2015, when Mr Overton built and raffled his first motorcycle, donating the proceeds to Beyond Blue. Since then, he has continued to build motorcycles for charity, supporting organisations including Make-A-Wish and youth support services. “It’s therapeutic for me to tinker on bikes and do them up,” he said. “I don’t need to keep them, so I raffle them off and give the money to a charity.” Around 35 motorcycles attended last year’s event, but organisers are hoping to see 50 bikes on the green this year. The display is expected to include custom
builds, restored motorcycles and bikes ranging from classic machines to more modern models. “It doesn’t have to be shiny,” Mr Overton said, “It doesn’t have to be brand new.” “Machine on the Green is open to all bikes.” Visitors will also have the chance to choose the Best in Show. Rather than being judged by a panel, the winner will be selected through a public vote, with visitors able to purchase two voting sticks for $5 and place them in front of their favourite motorcycle. The bike with the most votes will be announced at midday. While the event is also about bringing people together through a shared interest, Mr Overton said he hoped Good Deed Garage could
Mark Lloyd Riddell and Cliff Overton working on the Good Deed Garage motorcycle. (Kim Blanza). eventually develop into a broader community and mental health initiative. Mr Overton is encouraging locals to bring “lots of cash”, for a gold coin donation entry, and vote purchasing. For more information, head to the Good Deed Garage Facebook page.
Volunteers wanted to help homeless at Felix House
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By Callum Ludwig
10 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
Holy Fools is looking for more volunteers to help out at Felix House, making sure there are always welcoming faces at the door. The primary goal of any volunteer is to make sure people experiencing homelessness or insecure housing who stop by the site feel seen, respected, welcomed and safe. Holy Fools founder Neal Taylor said they are looking to implement a more structured roster at Felix House. “Holy Fools has always been very organic, but we’re trying to move into a more structured and more professional system of volunteering with us,” he said. “We’ve got some spaces to fill and are looking for people who might be interested in coming and working here. “Generally it’s for people who aren’t afraid of meeting people, who can relate to others, are a bit of an empathetic person and who can give us a hand keeping the place clean and functioning.” Volunteers are asked to be available for one or more four-hour shifts per week, according to the volunteer roster with current openings on weekdays 10am to 2pm, 2pm to 6pm and on Saturdays 11am to 3pm. Mr Taylor said the volunteers are the key face of Felix House, making a dramatic impact on each person who walks through the door. “As soon as someone walks through the door, they’re the ones that they’re engaging people straight away just to say hi and see how they’re doing,” he said. “We would see anywhere from ten to fifteen people a day and maybe more but a lot of the time we get to know people, so it’s a role that will grow and as long as you’re open to meet people and have a bit of an understanding of people, I think people would be perfect for that role.” Holy Fools will provide induction, training, and a supportive team to help any volunteers bed into the role. The role includes meeting and greeting at the door, providing food or drinks to visitors, offering a shower or to do some laundry, engaging in conversation with those who walk through the door and providing any aid or resources available to help. General tasks centred on keeping Felix House clean and functioning will also be involved. Volunteers will be required to have a police check done and to hold a Working with Children’s Check. Mr Taylor said this work broadens your view of humans. “A lot of the guys that have volunteered here with us, they say that it has opened their eyes to the situation about homelessness and about the community,” he said. “It is remarkable to hear people’s stories, to meet people and share some joys and some lows with them, just connecting with other people is a major insight to the whole thing.” To find out more or enquire about volunteering, visit holyfools.org.au/get-involved/ volunteer.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Cat with Steven returns to the Memo After a successful debut tour last year, Cat with Steven is returning to the Memo for another intimate evening celebrating the much loved music of Yusuf / Cat Stevens. Fronting the show is singer songwriter Stephen, whose career has now spanned three decades. From venues and festivals across Australia to several appearances on The Voice Australia Season 4, Stephen has built a reputation for his soulful voice and guitar playing. Along the way, he has shared the bill with and supported artists including Diesel, Something for Kate, The Living End and Ash Grunwald. His debut album, Good Things Take Time, also reached number 14 on the Australian iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts. For Cat with Steven, Stephen is joined on stage by talented keyboard player Sammy Joseph John. Together, they take audiences on a musical journey through some of Cat Stevens’
The rehearsals have been going well. (Supplied)
most memorable songs, including Father & Son, Moonshadow, Peace Train, Morning Has Broken, Wild World, Matthew & Son, Lady D’Arbanville and The First Cut Is The Deepest, along with plenty more familiar favourites. The show is more than simply a collection of classic songs. It is a joyful celebration of music that has connected with generations, brought to life with warmth, musicianship and plenty of heart. Stephen’s voice has also earned praise from some impressive names, with Delta Goodrem describing it as “What a Beautiful Voice”, while Crowded House’s Nick Seymour has praised his “rich smooth voice”. So gather some friends and head along to the Memo for a special evening of music, memories and songs that are sure to have your toes tapping and your soul singing.
By Oliver Winn Two theatre productions featuring a “bold and big” melodrama and a “timeless” story on township gossip are taking place in Wandin this month. The plays are produced by local group Wandin Players, taking place at the Wandin Baptist Church on 16 and 17 October. This month’s productions feature Mischief in the Magnolias (16 October) and He Said She Said (17 October). Wandin Players committee member Karl Sims said Mischief in the Magnolias was a melodrama promising plenty of audience participation and fun. “In the melodrama, melodramas are the types of things you can always do for fun because it always comes down to the audience participation and being able to almost overact in some circumstances,” Mr Sims said. The play is about a hero attempting to stop a villain from taking possession of Cloverleaf Mansion, originally by P.B. Rogerson. “Everything’s bold and big, and you have the opportunity for the audience to boo and hiss at the villain, to cheer the hero, and to sigh in the situations where things don’t seem to be going the way they are,” Mr Sims said. Meanwhile, He Said She Said is about some classic township gossip, featuring “timeless” themes everyone can relate to. Mischief in the Magnolias will be an evening show with doors opening at 7.30pm, while He Said She Said is a matinee at 1.30pm. The shows will have an interval where attendees can enjoy some of Maria Bast’s famous scones alongside some tea and coffee. Mr Sims said it’s a good chance to get out with your friends and family. “They are comedies, so it’s an opportunity for a good nigh, and then there’s the matinee on the Saturday. There will be the enjoying of
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the plays, as well as a bit of music and singing throughout the day,” he said. The Wandin Players put on multiple plays a year where group members can take part. Each season, the group becomes enveloped in its routine of weekly Wednesday night rehearsals at the Wandin Baptist Church. The group always welcomes new members and Mr Sims encouraged anyone interested to join. “Even though we are a theatre group, our emphasis isn’t necessarily just on doing theatre. That’s part of the reason why we’re called Wandin Players and not necessarily Wandin Theatre Group or anything. “There’s an emphasis just as much on the social interaction over supper after rehearsal as there is in actually having time doing the rehearsing. It’s an opportunity for people to interact with other people,” Mr Sims said. He said there’s been a loss of community after the Covid-19 lockdowns, and he encouraged people to join the group to help establish that connection once again. “In a way, coming out of a lockdown—even though it was five years ago—we kind of have lost some of that sense of community. Joining Wandin Players gives that opportunity to be able to foster a sense of community with others in the area. “It’s also an opportunity to explore different aspects of your personality, skills, and talents you may not have realised you had,” he said. For those shy of the stage, there’s also plenty of roles available backstage, such as helping with props or assisting the stage manager. “Whether you want to be on stage or whether you want to be backstage, we can always find a role for people,” he said. If you’d like to see one of the Wandin Players’ upcoming productions, call 0466 156 835 or email wandinplayers.comedy@gmail.com.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Midnight book launch By Claudia Mather Last week, on the evening of Monday 28 September, book lovers flocked to Novel Nook in Yarra Glen for an exclusive after-hours midnight release party of Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros. Threshing Day is a fantasy companion novella that is a part of the Empyrean series, popularly known as the Fourth Wing series, and hit the shelves at midnight on 29 September. The series sold millions of copies worldwide and with help from the online world, has generated a large fan base invested in the themes of love, fierce dragons, high-stakes betrayal, rebellion, and survival. Novel Nook owner, Naomi Gibson, organised and ran the event for fans in the outer east to celebrate and buy their copies of Threshing Day once the clock struck midnight. “When I saw Rebecca Yarros was releasing Threshing Day, even though it was just a novella, a lot of people really, really love her work,” she said. Ms Gibson had a good response from her book shop community and fans looked forward to attending the event. “It was a nice event with bookish people to celebrate those that were keen to dive back into
that world.” Around 40 local and new dragon loving fans travelled to Novel Nook for the celebration to take part in the evening, some even arriving in costume. Ms Gibson set up a bookmark-making station, and served themed drinks and snacks. “We had handmade merch too because it’s hard to get good dragon merch,” she explained. “I’ve been busy making merch for the last few weeks.” The dedicated bookseller spent a multitude of hours creating and making hoodies, t-shirts and tote bags to sell on the night. Guests travelled far and wide to celebrate the book release with some driving from Ballarat, Frankston and even Puckpunyal. “I had some girls from Puckapunyal that drove from there and straight back, they didn’t get home until 2.30 in the morning,” Ms Gibson said. “A lot of people stay next door at the hotel so they can literally just walk next door and get reading straight away.” “It reminds me of the Harry Potter days when people would meet in Fed Square for the new releases.” Ms Gibson said seeing people so excited is what makes the hard work worth it.
“It’s a lot of hard work but it’s nice to know that it’s appreciated and people enjoy it and travel for it.” As the minutes ticked towards midnight, the guests were excited and gathered around Ms Gibson with phones at the ready to snap a picture of the shiny new release. “As soon as I brought the boxes out, people were very excited and they filmed the countdown,” she said. “Pretty much everyone grabbed their book and then went straight away to start reading it.” “Like you’ve got 40 people and then suddenly everyone’s gone,” she laughed. When Ms Gibson opened Novel Nook, she envisioned a space that didn’t just sell books, but served as a community hub for people to connect. “A lot of people have even met at these release events and I’ve had some girls become close friends,” she said. “I always encourage people to come by themselves because a lot of girls do and they do make friends and it’s really really nice to see people bumping into each other at different events.” Running book related events also keeps the magic alive in such an online-orientated world. “When these sorts of books come out, a lot of people do go to Amazon and Big W so they can
Midnight release atendee, Laura Attrill in her costume with the new release. (Supplied) get that sense of instant gratification,” Ms Gibson said. “It’s a way to offer something and bring people out and have that magic around it.” “People are so isolated already, you want to have some human connection.” Ms Gibson ran her first midnight release at the start of last year for book three of The Empyrean Series, Onyx Storm. As other popular book series release new titles, she intends to continue hosting similar events. The next being later this month for the highly anticipated release of Sarah J Maas’s next book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Beneath brings Yarra Ranges Elders’ untold stories to the stage By Gabriella Vukman Healesville’s Temple of Enthusiasm has once again become a stage for the Yarra Ranges’ untold stories, with the third annual Beneath production putting the experiences of local elders in the spotlight as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Fleur Dean, the production’s conceiver and artistic director, said this year’s theme was inspired by the need to listen more closely to elders and recognise the value of their lived experiences. “Culturally, it is common for Westerners to be too busy to listen to our Elders. This needs to change.” “We have encyclopaedias walking around amongst us and chatting with them is more fun than Googling!” Ms Dean, who has spent about 30 years working in community arts development, said the theme was driven by a growing concern that older generations were not being given enough opportunities to share their experiences, and that valuable stories and wisdom were being lost as elders passed away. Following the recent loss of her mother, Ms Dean felt an increased urgency to capture those experiences and share them with the wider community. “This year’s Beneath only scratched the surface of the treasure trove of Elders’ stories from the Yarra Ranges,” she said. The production comprised a series of vignettes written and performed by local people, many of whom are new to writing or performing, but have compelling stories to tell. Rather than following a conventional theatre format, Beneath brought together storytelling, music, poetry and multimedia in an unconventional setting, allowing audiences to encounter the performers and their experiences in unexpected ways. Previous productions have incorporated diverse performance styles, including stilt-walking and aerial work, while this year’s season explored identity, self-acceptance, creativity and the meaning of growing older. Ethne Pfeiffer, president of the University of the Third Age (U3A), said the production demonstrated the value of giving community members the opportunity to share experiences that might otherwise remain unheard. “‘Beneath is genuine community arts where locals are given the opportunity to tell the stories of their experiences in the Yarra Ranges that are not the ‘same old’, repeated tales,” she said. “Most are new to writing and performance and Fleur supports each storyteller with incredible skill, generosity and warmth.” According to Ms Pfeiffer, Ms Dean’s approach made the experience liberating for participants, while challenging conventional ideas about theatre and performance. “Fleur has been doing community arts development for about 30 years and knows how to connect with people who are not always the typical ‘success’ stories,” she said. “It’s liberating for people on a personal level and how we define ‘theatre’ and performance.” Ms Dean said her approach centred on build-
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This year’s Beneath saw all shows sold out. (Synthesis Productions) ing relationships, listening carefully and imagining how an individual’s story might be translated into an artistic experience. “Performers don’t have to have a particular talent or qualification or skill set. There’s no audition, just great conversations,” she said. “Within everyone there is a precious story. It’s about sitting and listening and divining that.” Ms Dean said it was equally important that participants felt confident their stories would be presented with sensitivity, respect and artistic quality. This year’s performances included gum-leaf music from local musician Jeff Wilmot, a vignette by Steve Curry reflecting on the creation of the venue, and rhythmic weaving by members of the Healesville Spinners and Weavers group. Other contributions included Ethne Pfeiffer reciting her verse ‘Remember’, Murray Alleway accompanying guest elder musicians, and Boinga Bob exploring plant vibrations through PlantWave recordings with Ryan Tews. Brooke Wandin also invited audiences to consider the question ‘What Is an Elder?’, encouraging reflection on age, wisdom and the role older people play in their communities. The Temple of Enthusiasm, located on Maroondah Highway in Healesville, is a three-storey artisan-built structure created by local Steve Curry using recycled materials and found objects. Its unusual architecture, intricate details and
unexpected doorways provide an experience in their own right, with performances unfolding in different corners of the building. Audience members were divided between the basement and ground levels before swapping locations during interval, allowing the small-scale production to maintain its intimate atmosphere. With capacity limited to 60 people per night across four performances, the season welcomed approximately 240 audience attendances. For Ms Dean, taking theatre beyond traditional venues and into community spaces is an important part of creating meaningful connections between performers and audiences. She said the experience offered something different from attending a conventional mainstage production, bringing people together through stories rooted in their own region. “It is special to be sitting in a rare space of uncommon story, in Melbourne’s best kept secret venue, amongst the lucky few folks who managed to get tickets,” she said. “It’s accessible, affordable, yet precious.” Last year’s production took the concept further, beginning in Coronation Park before audiences walked to The Memo, The Garage and finally the Temple of Enthusiasm, where the show concluded with supper. Ms Dean said experiences like these encouraged creative expression and problem-solving while helping relationships develop between people who might not otherwise have connected.
“A creative community, listening to Wurundjeri ground, is budding,” she said. “That feels exciting for the Yarra Ranges – and for others who visit, to be inspired too.” The latest season was the third iteration of Beneath, following an initial production that explored a broad range of lesser-heard community stories and a second season focused on young people. Ms Dean said council had indicated its support for the production to continue as an annual event, with each season exploring a different theme through the experiences of local people. The next season is set to focus on love, with stories exploring everything from romantic relationships and love of Country to connections between elders and the experiences of people on the autism spectrum. Ms Dean said the enthusiastic response to this year’s performances reinforced the importance of creating opportunities for older people to share their experiences. “There are wonderful elders, with a twinkle in their eye and incredible stories to tell if we just take the time to listen,” she said. Through Beneath, those stories are finding an audience, reminding the Yarra Ranges community that meaningful theatre does not need to come from professional performers or traditional stages. Sometimes, it begins simply by taking the time to listen.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Outback beauty depiction By Oliver Winn A renowned Warburton artist’s exhibition showcases an array of ardent and evocative outback landscapes at the Yarra Valley Waterwheel this October. Outback painter Steve Freestone’s exhibition, Australian Synthesis 1, is on display at the waterwheel’s exhibition space until 31 October. From deep gorges lined by rich rust-orange rockscapes, to vast red deserts littered with dry shrubbery, and sparkling blue rivers winding through the country, Mr Freestone’s paintings depict the breathtaking natural beauty of the outback. He uses vivid and saturated hues in combination with clever compositional techniques to create paintings full of feeling. Though he mainly paints still landscapes, there’s an undeniable energy that reverberates from the canvas. Mr Freestone said he’s inspired by famous painters such as Hofmann and Diebenkorn, Delacroix, Van Gogh, Hopper, Degas and many more. “I remember my painting lecturer at Monash said, ‘Steve, you must have a great artist standing next to you.’ “I’ve got five, which gets a bit confusing because they start arguing amongst themselves,” he quipped. Their influence is notable in Mr Freestone’s use of colour and composition. “What Van Gogh does is he combines three lots of complementary colours. So, without you knowing, I use that as a device for your eye to go around the work.” His artistic process begins with quick sketches when he’s at a scene, before expanding on them later in the studio. “When you get to areas like this, when you’ve got crocodiles in the rivers and all that, you don’t really feel like staying around the edge doing a painting for two or three hours. “So I do a quick thumbnail sketch, and then I’ve got a very long process in my journal where I develop the painting, so a lot of these scenes are created as well,” he said. He also divides his paintings into quadrants, painting each quadrant individually to create a work that stands alone. Though his art depicts a land vastly different from the lush greenery of the Yarra Valley, Mr Freestone also has a deep connection with the
Steve Freestone’s time travelling in the outback has left a lasting impact on his art. (Oliver Winn: 583436) region. He’s lived in Warburton since 1988 after he and his wife bought the Warburton Newsagency at the time. Since then, he’s worked briefly as an art teacher at the Upper Yarra Secondary College before becoming Yarra Valley Grammar’s head of fine arts. Australian Synthesis 1 is his first Warburton exhibition in 30 years after he last exhibited in the Arts Centre in 1996. During his time travelling through the outback, he said he formed a “strong spiritual connection” with the landscape that’s left a lasting impression on him. “The Australian outback is in my DNA. Even though I live here [in Warburton] and I love the area, I just love the outback of Australia.”
He said he’s always held a profound respect for Australia’s Indigenous peoples, having formed strong bonds with different communities during his travels. “I worked in Kalgoorlie for two years, based in Kalgoorlie, and then Meekatharra for two years. “In Meekatharra, I was part of a band. I was playing the drums, and our lead singer was First Nations. We went out into the stations, out into the different communities, always playing on the back of a truck, doing all that sort of thing,” he said. Mr Freestone said he felt grateful to be showcasing his work to the Yarra Valley. “I feel very privileged to be offered an exhibition space at my home town of Warburton.”
His exhibition is available to visit for free at the Yarra Valley Waterwheel until 31 October. (583436)
Lyster Opera’s Don Giovanni to grace Warburton Arts Centre By Oliver Winn The Lyster Opera will showcase the sensational drama of Don Giovanni at the Warburton Arts Centre on 21 October. It will bring Warburton locals the rare opportunity to witness a full staged opera at an accessible price and location. Local opera enthusiast Pamela Henderson was swept away when Lyster Opera performed the Mozart classic in Moe. It prompted her to contact the opera’s director and ask to bring the production to the Yarra Valley. “I was really stunned, actually, at the high quality of the performance. “And I just thought, you know, everything seems to miss the Yarra Valley… I think that’s a tragedy,” Ms Henderson said. She was over the moon when Lyster Opera had booked a show in Warburton and hoped to spread the word about the amazing opportunity. “They’re a really good quality group. There’s lots of people in our area, in the Yarra Valley, especially residents that would really love the chance to see live theatre on their own home turf,” Ms Henderson said. Don Giovanni was first performed in 1787. The story follows a wealthy nobleman womaniser who leaves chaos wherever he goes, touching on themes of comedy, drama, tragedy and even the supernatural. The work explores power and accountability, asking the question: what happens when someone believes the rules simply do not apply to them? Ms Henderson said the opera prompts the viewer to think about the human condition, taking them on a journey all while witnessing the incredible talent of the performers. “It’s comedy, there’s slapstick, there’s tragedy, there’s the supernatural, and there’s the good versus evil... It encompasses all the typical image 14 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
of theatre, which is the sad mask and the happy mask,” she said. Lyster Opera director Jamie Moffat said Don Giovanni is an accessible opera with great music, exciting set pieces and an engaging story. “It’s one of those operas where you sit there and you think, ‘Ah, I know that tune, that’s where it comes from’. “But it’s a great opera to take to new audiences because it is so accessible and it’s so engaging,” he said. The Lyster Opera has built a “solid” reputation in the regions, Mr Moffat said, but it’s always been difficult to break into new markets. He said he greatly appreciated Ms Henderson’s feedback because it opened the opportunity to performing in Warburton. “When somebody has actually experienced what we do and they come to you and say that this is something that their community would really respond to, that is incredibly rewarding. “That just makes you think, well, all the effort we go to really is for something,” he said. For those not acquainted with opera, it can seem like a niche that requires a lot of learning and education to appreciate. Mr Moffat said this isn’t the case and he encouraged newcomers to come and experience the joys of witnessing an opera performance. “I think we have this caricatured idea of what an opera is, and that you have to practically have a textbook with you to understand it. “But you really don’t need to think about it too much. It really just unfolds before you,” he said. The Lyster Opera is named after William Saurin Lyster (1828 to 1880), who is credited with bringing opera to Australian audiences. The suburb of Lysterfield is also named after him. Ms Henderson said the opera was a great way to connect over a highly entertaining story. “There’s so much division these days, and art and theatre is just one of those things that remind
Don Giovanni is about a wealthy nobleman whose lust knows no bounds and eventually pays for it. (Phil Thomson)
Lyster Opera have performed in many towns across Victoria’s regions. (Phil Thomson) us of what we have in common, I think. That’s a very uplifting thing, a great thing, and something we can share and enjoy together,” she said. Don Giovanni includes adult themes and is made for adult audiences. Find out more about the show here: shorturl. at/rE0cV.
Pamela Henderson praised the cast’s performance. (Phil Thomson)
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COMEDY IN THE VINES 2026
Comedy in the Vines returns Get ready for four days of comedy, music, wine and plenty of the unexpected when Comedy in the Vines returns to the Yarra Valley this October. Held at the iconic Cherry Hill Orchards from Thursday 22 October to Sunday 25 October, Comedy in the Vines brings together some of the best ingredients for a great spring weekend, with world class comedy, live music, local wine and a relaxed festival atmosphere all set among the beautiful surrounds of the Yarra Valley. At the heart of the festival is the comedy, with a major outdoor stage hosting a line up of top Australian comedians alongside exclusive international acts. Whether you are a dedicated comedy fan or simply looking for a good laugh with friends, there will be plenty happening across the four days, with big names and plenty of surprises along the way. But Comedy in the Vines is about more than just taking your seat and watching a show. The festival has been designed as a social, roaming experience where you can wander between the different areas, catch up with friends, discover something new and enjoy the atmosphere at your own pace. Music plays a big part too, providing the soundtrack throughout the day. Expect chilled DJ sets as the afternoon gets underway, gradually building into higher energy live music and evening vibes. It is the kind of festival where you can settle in for the afternoon and find yourself staying well into the evening. And, of course, being in the Yarra Valley, wine is very much part of the experience. Visitors can explore a curated selection of premium Yarra Valley wines, with tastings offering the chance to discover local varieties and meet the people behind them. For those wanting to learn a little more, interactive masterclasses led by experienced winemakers provide a relaxed and approachable way to explore the region’s wine.
Comedy in the Vines is back for 2026 at CherryHill Orchards. (Supplied) The festival format makes it ideal for all sorts of groups, whether it is a weekend catch up with friends, a couples getaway or a long table gathering with a larger crew. There is no need to stick to one spot, with plenty of opportunity to move around, grab a drink, listen to some music and soak up the spring atmosphere. And there is a special offer for the locals. Yarra Valley residents can enjoy 20 per cent off tickets to Comedy in the Vines. To redeem the
local discount, simply head to the QR code on the advertisement and follow the link to purchase your tickets. Set among the orchards at Cherry Hill, Comedy in the Vines offers a chance to enjoy one of the Yarra Valley’s most picturesque settings while experiencing something a little different. With four days of laughs, music, wine and the unexpected, Comedy in the Vines is shaping up as one of the regions must visit spring events. Gather your favourite people, make a
Merrick Watts performing at Comedy in the Vines 2025. (Supplied) weekend of it and get ready to laugh your way through the vines from Thursday 22 October to Sunday 25 October.
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Welcome from the president In 2026, Wandin Silvan Field Days proudly celebrates the 57th year of the event, an impressive milestone that reflects the dedication, hard work and community spirit of the many people who have contributed to this much loved event over the years. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Field Days continue to be run by a committee of local volunteers who are passionate about supporting our agricultural industry and bringing the community together. Set in the heart of the beautiful Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, the Wandin Silvan Farm Field Days are held at the picturesque Wandin East Recreation Reserve. Each year, we welcome exhibitors, industry representatives and visitors from across Victoria and interstate, creating avaluable meeting place for those involved in farming, horticulture and related industries. The team remain committed to the event’s distinctive horticultural and farm machinery focus, encouraging exhibitors to showcase the products, equipment and services that support these important sectors. The Field Days offer visitors an excellent opportunity to explore the latest machinery, technology and industry innovations, compare products and prices, speak directly with dealers and suppliers, and catch up with fellow farmers, businesses and local residents. Alongside the extensive machinery and equipment displays, the Field Days provide an opportunity to discover more about the region’s agricultural heritage and the people and organisations supporting the industry. Visitors can connect with local community groups, learn about rural services and enjoy the variety of displays and activities that help make the event a popular annual gathering. The Information and Lifestyle Pavilion, to-
Wandin Silvan Field Days president Brad Finger. (File) gether with General Interest Alley, adds another dimension to the event, showcasing a diverse range of exhibitors and products. Visitors can browse regional food and wine, locally produced beverages, gin, safety wear, homecrafts, nursery products, clothing, jewellery and much more.
As the event marks its 57th year, the team look forward to welcoming everyone back for another successful Field Days. The community’s continued support helps to celebrate the region’s agricultural heritage, showcase local businesses and strengthen the community connections that
make this event so special. On behalf of the committee, thank you to the exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers and visitors for being part of the Wandin Silvan Farm Field Days story. The committee look forward to seeing you there.
CELEBRATING
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Proud to support Field Days Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence is thrilled to again support and celebrate the annual Wandin Silvan Field Days. A fantastic showcase for our agricultural, horticultural and farm machinery sector, now in its 57th year of operation. Rain, hail or shine, Wandin Silvan Field Days’ volunteer committee do an exceptional job ensuring a wonderful event year after year supporting Yarra Valley farmers – our worldclass producers. Field Days is held in the heart of the Yarra Valley in the scenic and welcoming Wandin East in my local community. What sets Fields Days apart from other events across the state is the breadth of exhibits that are available to see and its welcoming family friendly atmosphere. At Field Days, you can see the latest in agricultural machinery, technology, tools, irrigation systems, pest management, automotives, work gear, and much more. There are always good deals on offer! Ms Vallence loves the display of machinery of yesteryear, presented by the Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society, which will once again feature a working display of their lovingly restored machinery. Another important feature of Field Days is the focus on biosecurity measures to help protect farmers and growers from invasive diseases and pests, such as the work done by Bronwyn and Agribusiness Yarra Valley on managing Queensland Fruit Fly. The vegetable and native plants produced by students at Yarra Ranges Tech School are always popular. And, Gruyere, Seville and Wandin CFA Fire Brigades are available to assist families with bushfire preparedness – and of course for the kids (and some adults) there’s the opportunity to sit in the ‘little fire truck’. There’s plenty more for the family. Whether it’s the baby animal nursery or reptiles, or the incredible live wood carvings, or the great variety of food options with Wandin Yallock Primary School hamburgers Ms Vallence’s favourite! And, for something sweet, you can’t go past the Wandin CWA’s delicious cakes, conserves and biscuits, which always sell early! Like all community events, Field Days does not happen without a team of dedicated volunteers behind the scenes who put in a considerable amount of time over many months preparing. Ms Vallence wants to acknowledge and congratulate the Wandin Silvan Field Day Committee, amazing contributors to our local community, for their professionalism and work ethic in making the Field Days a success. Thanks in particular to President Brad Finger, Treasurer Chris Manders and all volunteer members of the Committee for their tireless efforts to ensure Wandin Silvan Field Days is a premiere event for our region and the state. Over many years, whether in my boots in the rain and mud, or in glorious spring sunshine, attending Wandin Silvan Field Days is a highlight for Ms Vallence and her family, and she encourages everyone – from farmers to those who support our important agricultural sector – to come along to Field Days. Drop by her stall for a chat, she looks forward to seeing you there.
Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence will be out to support the 2026 Wandin Silvan Field Days. (Supplied)
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WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS
Aaron Violi will again have a stall at Wandin Silvan Field Days. (Supplied)
Aaron Violi in attendance The Wandin Silvan Field Days celebrate their 57th year in 2026, continuing a proud tradition that generations of farmers, growers and exhibitors have looked forward to each year. Agriculture has long been part of Aaron Violi’s family story. His grandparents arrived in Australia from Italy in 1953, where they settled and built their new life on a farm in Silvan. Their story reflects the hard work, determination and passion that continues to define our local farming community today. While Mr Violi doesn’t believe his grandparents could have imagined their grandson becoming a Member of Parliament in their new home of Australia, he is proud to serve as the Federal Member for
Casey, representing the place he calls home and the communities that make the region so special. The strong sense of community that defines the region is always on full display at the Wandin Silvan Field Days, which continue to bring together farmers, growers, exhibitors and local families year after year. The Field Days are so much more than an agricultural event. They are a celebration of the people, families and industries that have shaped the community for generations and continue to drive it forward. They recognise the strong contribution of the farmers, with more than 11,000 hectares of land in Casey dedicated to agricultural produc-
tion - growing everything from wine grapes and strawberries to cherries, apples and vegetables that help feed Australians from the rich soils of the Yarra Valley. And while you can usually count on those two days in October to be wet and muddy, the weather has never stopped the crowds from getting out to support local industry and see firsthand the latest technology, machinery and equipment driving their work. Whether you’re interested in farming, local produce, machinery, livestock or simply spending a day out with the family, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Mr Violi will once again have a stall at this year’s Wandin Silvan Field Days and looks forward to speaking with locals.
Celebrating and supporting the agricultural heritage of Casey is important to Aaron Violi. (Supplied)
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See you at the Wandin Silvan Field Days www.AaronVioli.com.au | 9727 0799 Authorised by A.Violi, Liberal Party, 110 Main St, Lilydale VIC 3140. 12803645-GS41-25
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Dealership here for locals For more than five decades, Yarra Valley Toyota has been part of the local landscape, with its history in the region dating back to 1968. Over the years, the dealership has grown alongside the Yarra Valley community, becoming a familiar name for generations of local families, businesses and industries. Being a local dealership is about more than providing vehicles and servicing. It is about understanding the people who rely on their vehicles every day and the important role those vehicles play in keeping the region moving. From families and small businesses to tradies, growers and primary producers, Yarra Valley Toyota has built its reputation around supporting the people who live and work locally. That commitment to the community is shared by Croydon Toyota, which has also maintained a long standing presence in Melbourne’s east. Together, the two dealerships have developed strong relationships with generations of customers, many of whom have returned over the years as their vehicle needs have changed. Today, both Yarra Valley Toyota and Croydon Toyota are part of the family owned Peter Kittle Motor Company. While being part of a larger automotive group brings additional resources and experience, both dealerships continue to maintain their strong local identities and, importantly, the relationships they have developed within their communities over many years. Supporting the local community has always been an important part of that relationship. From involvement with sporting clubs and community groups to supporting local events and initiatives, Yarra Valley Toyota understands that strong communities are built by people supporting one another. The Wandin Silvan Field Days are a great example of that community spirit. For more than
Yarra Valley Toyota, like the Field Days event, has been part of the community for over five decades. (Supplied) 50 years, the Field Days have brought together people from across the Yarra Valley and beyond, providing an opportunity for local businesses, agricultural and horticultural industries, primary producers, families and visitors to connect, share ideas and showcase what the region has to offer. For Yarra Valley Toyota, being part of the Field Days is a natural extension of its long standing connection to the region. It is an opportunity to get out from behind the dealership,
meet local customers and members of the community, and celebrate the industries and people that make the Yarra Valley such a special place to live and work. After more than five decades in the region, Yarra Valley Toyota remains proud of its local roots and the relationships that have been built along the way. Because when you have been part of a community for generations, being here for the locals is more than a slogan. It is simply part of who you are.
Croydon Toyota will be joining the Yarra Valley Toyota team at the 2026 Wandin Silvan Field Days event. (Supplied)
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A Queensland Fruit Fly laying eggs on an apple. (Supplied)
Bronwyn Koll will be at Wandin Silvan Field Days to help all growers prepare to protect themselves form the Queensland Fruit Fly. (Agribusiness Yarra Valley)
A trap with Queensland Fruit Flies caught on the sticky card. (Supplied)
Fruit fly management Thanks to some interim funding from the state government for 2026, Bron will be outside on the main oval at site G6, Drop in and check over your Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) preparedness plans and check out some insect netting displays. Is QFF really in the Yarra Valley? Yes, QFF is here in the region. Since the first detections in Seville, Healesville and East Warburton in 2018, QFF have shown up in about 30 townships in the Yarra Ranges. The highest QFF trap detections have occurred in Lilydale, where limited action is a likely issue, and where there are many unmanaged blackberry weeds. Other areas such as Silvan, Yellingbo, Monbulk, Yering, Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Gruyere and Kilsyth, have experienced QFF at varying levels – indicating that QFF shows up randomly, but it can be managed if detected early and multiple land managers actively contribute to the control. Why is so much being invested in preventing QFF? QFF has changed from “exotic pest’ status 20 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
Everyone needs to prevent and manage QFF.” to “established pest” in Victoria. QFF can affect individual fruit growers fruit harvest quality, it can disrupt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, and it can impact interstate and international fruit trade. If QFF is detected, controls are required to prevent the QFF from damaging the fruit. Treatments can be expensive, including labour, machinery and chemicals. Early intervention is the best option for QFF management, keeping the treatment minimal and targeted to just QFF, reducing the interference to beneficial insects used in fruit production. If QFF is missed or not treated promptly, treatment involves broad spectrum insecticide applications. Unfortunately, this can also wipe out the beneficial insects, which is a lost asset for fruit growers in the management of other pests and in pollination, plus beneficial insect programs are
expensive to reestablish. When QFF is a possible threat to fruit production, either fumigation or irradiation of the fruit is required to ensure that no QFF risk is transported to the destination region that does not currently have QFF e.g. Western Australia, Tasmania, or other parts of the world. This is an additional cost for fruit growers, and the treatments are not ideal for fruit longevity and quality. Who needs to act? The QFF cannot survive the Yarra Valley Winter months in dormant fruit trees and berry plants. Researchers have determined the QFF female is apt at overwinter survival in home gardens, where evergreen trees (such as citrus) and buildings provide shelter and warmth. The QFF female can carry her fertilised eggs, and as soon as the warm weather
comes, she can lay her eggs in the first fruit of the season – typically lemons and loquats. Everyone needs to prevent and manage QFF. Home gardeners, hobby fruit growers and community gardens typically need to control QFF because their fruit is growing year-round. In many area-wide studies, it is proven that QFF populations move from small ‘fruit salad’ gardens and hobby farms into larger commercial production orchards just as the fruit are starting to ripen – and the QFF cause destruction everywhere they are left unattended. Some properties host weeds that fruit (like Blackberries and Wild Tobacco). These weeds can allow QFF to move from infested areas to commercial orchards. Agencies, local council and state government are also a part of the equation when it comes to area wide management of QFF. Any property that hosts fruiting weeds (private or publicly managed) needs to concentrate on removing the QFF host risk as a part of the landscape management of this destructive pest.
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Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL 21
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WANDIN SILVAN FIELD DAYS
BWM Products ride-on mowers — built for reliable performance and effortless mowing. (Supplied)
B.W. Machinery returns Following a hugely successful exhibition in 2025, B.W. Machinery is excited to return to the Wandin Silvan Field Days in 2026, bringing an even bigger showcase of outdoor power equipment, machinery and leading brands for homeowners, acreage owners, farmers, contractors and professional operators. This year, you can find the team at Sites G1–G3 on the Front Oval, in the same location as last year. Last year’s Field Days gave the team a fantastic opportunity to meet customers from across Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and regional Victoria, demonstrate machinery and talk directly with people about finding the right equipment for their property or business. After the strong response received, B.W. Machinery are delighted to be returning again this year. Discover the extensive BWM Products Range A major focus of the 2026 display will once again be the BWM Products brand. Over the years, BWM Products has grown into an extensive range of outdoor power equipment and machinery designed to provide a strong combination of performance, reliability, practical features and value for money. Whether you are maintaining a suburban property, several acres, a farm, commercial site or contracting business, the BWM Products range offers machinery for a wide variety of applications. The range includes ride-on mowers and mini riders designed to make lawn and acreage maintenance faster, easier and more efficient. With options suited to everything from larger residential blocks through to acreage properties, customers can choose from compact mini riders for tighter areas through to larger ride-on mowers offering greater cutting widths, power and comfort for bigger mowing jobs. Different deck sizes, transmission options and engine configurations are available to suit a wide range of property sizes, terrain and mowing requirements. For firewood and property maintenance, BWM Products offers an extensive selection of log splitters, ranging from entry-level models through to larger heavy-duty machines for customers processing significant quantities of timber. With a choice of engines from Honda, Briggs & Stratton and Loncin, along with different splitting capacities and machine configurations, customers can select a log splitter that best suits their individual workload and requirements. The wood chippers and mulchers are another popular part of the range, providing practical solutions for branches, garden waste, pruning material and general property clean-up. Models are available for both residential acreage and more demanding applications. 22 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
B.W. Machinery is excited to showcase its products at Wandin Silvan Field Days. (Supplied) The Ringwood store is conveniently located on Maroondah Highway. (Supplied) The BWM Products range also includes a comprehensive selection of petrol high-pressure washers, designed for everything from general property cleaning through to demanding commercial work. With a variety of pressure ratings, Honda-powered options and professional accessories available, there are models suited to cleaning machinery, vehicles, concrete, workshops, farms and commercial facilities. Visitors will also be able to discover blower vacs, providing convenient solutions for leaves and garden debris, as well as our range of plate compactors for landscaping, construction, paving and ground preparation work. Across the BWM Products range, the aim is to offer customers practical machinery that performs well, is supported locally and represents excellent value. At the Field Days, customers will have the opportunity to see many of these machines up close, compare different models and speak directly with the experienced team about which machine is best suited to their property, workload and budget. B.W. Machinery also be offering exclusive Field Days specials, package deals and discounts across selected products — available only to customers who visit the display during the event. Don’t miss the chance to secure a great deal while seeing the machines in
person. STIHL, Honda and Other Leading Brands Alongside BWM Products, there will also be a showcase equipment from two of the most recognised names in outdoor power equipment — STIHL and Honda. Visitors will be able to explore a selection of STIHL equipment including chainsaws, brushcutters, blowers, battery equipment and other professional outdoor power tools. Honda is also an important part of the B.W. Machinery range, with Honda engines powering many of the machines supplied. Honda’s reputation for reliability makes it a popular choice across pressure washers, log splitters, chippers, compactors and other professional equipment. The team will be available throughout the event to discuss the differences between models, engine options and applications, helping customers choose equipment that best suits the work they need to complete. Meet the Ringwood Mowers Team This year, B.W. Machinery will also be proudly promoting Ringwood Mowers, part of the B.W. Machinery group and conveniently located at 50 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood. Ringwood Mowers provides sales, service and spare parts for a wide range of leading out-
door power equipment brands. For customers throughout Ringwood, the Yarra Valley and Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, the store provides convenient local support backed by the wider B.W. Machinery team. B.W. Machinery’s experienced staff understand that buying machinery is about more than simply choosing a model. Whether it is a chainsaw for property maintenance, a log splitter for firewood, a ride-on mower for acreage or commercial equipment for everyday work, the team can help customers compare options and select equipment suited to the job. See the Machines Up Close One of the great advantages of the Wandin Silvan Field Days is the opportunity to see machinery in person. Customers can inspect the build quality, compare different machines, discuss their individual requirements with our team and get a better understanding of which equipment will work best for their property or business. After such a successful event last year, the team are looking forward to returning in 2026, catching up with existing customers and meeting plenty of new ones. Come and visit B.W. Machinery and Ringwood Mowers at Sites G1–G3 on the Front Oval at the 2026 Wandin Silvan Field Days, and discover the extensive range from BWM Products, STIHL, Honda and other leading brands.
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NEWS
Story behind an iconic disco By Mikayla van Loon The 1970s: a decade of change and self-discovery, of politics and protest. Fashion, photography and music became instrumental for self-expression. Women’s liberation, gay rights and Aboriginal land rights gained footing. But as much as it was an era of freedom, police were noticing a general consensus of boredom among young people and decided to do something about it. It started with a simple conversation in the mess room at Mooroolbark Police Station, as the afternoon Div Van Crew and then a Detective Senior Constable, Ivan Ray, spoke about the state of young people in the area. Constables Bob Le-Guire, Glynn Withey, Bob Craig, Barry Hellings and Bill Entwistel, with the support and encouragement of then Station Commander Senior Sergeant Barry Hansen, turned the idea into reality. About a month later, on 12 July 1976, the first iteration of the Blue Light Disco was hosted in Mooroolbark with 83 kids in attendance. Not long after, Blue Light Discos would become synonymous with an early teenage experience for several decades. Fifty years later, founder and former chair, Mr Ray, still believes in the value of Blue Light Discos and the importance of giving young people positive interactions with police and each other. The Kilsyth resident recalled the $50 budget, the Mooroolbark Lions Club’s help and the discussion that led to the first dance. “The troops were grizzling about the fact that every time they spoke to a kid in the street, ‘oh, we’ve got nothing to do, we’ve got nothing to do’, and the conversation went on,” Mr Ray said. “Well, let’s find something for them to do and see what happens. So that’s when we decided to have a dance. It was what we called it. We advertised it through the schools, and we formed a committee, of which I chaired, and started planning how we were going to start this dance.” Sourcing two bands, one as the main attraction and one as the supporting act, King Rat, Mr Ray said that when the night rolled around, they thought they’d made an error. “Us being all knowledgeable as cops, we’re watching the kids, their responses, and when King Rat came on and started, they were all dancing, and we thought they were having a wow of a time. “The main band came on. They just stood around. They stood around the stage. They didn’t do anything. They didn’t show any emotion. They were just like zombies, I suppose. We thought, ‘we’ve made a big blue here. We’ve done the wrong thing’.” A fortnight later, the second dance was held at the Kilsyth Memorial Hall, “packed to the rafters” with 130 kids, with King Rat as the main band. “All they did was grizzle and groan at the second disco,” Mr Ray said. The committee later discovered that “if it’s a good band, you just listen to the music”. The kids told them, “We’re dancing because we’re bored with them”. That first month was a learning curve, but the popularity of the event only grew, and so too did the size of the venue. Moving to Pembroke High School, between 300 and 400 kids showed up to the next Saturday night dance. Volunteers from the Mooroolbark Lions Club supported the events and offered their time, as well as many of the police officers’ wives. The positive effect was almost immediate for police officers in the community, seeing the change in behaviour and comfort young people had in speaking with authoritative figures. “I said to the crew, ‘I think we’ve got something here’. These kids are off the street, and those in the group, people with a role in the community, said, ‘it’s terrific, you go down the street now and kids come up and talk to you’,” Mr Ray said. Mr Ray said the connections and friendships that sparked between the young people were also a positive outcome. “The kids would be talking about what happened at last disco, so they had a new conversation to work with. Then they’d spend the next two weeks and saying, ‘Oh, I saw this, and I saw that’. “The two weeks preceding the next disco, they’d be all doing the planning, who should go with them. “So it created a whole new level, which was the kids’ own space. It wasn’t parents, or any leader trying to force a view onto these kids. That was what they developed, and that’s what made it so bloody successful.” A similar concept had also been established in 24 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
Retired Victoria Police Inspector Ivan Ray founded the Blue Light Disco in 1976. (Stewart Chambers: 581928)
Blue Light Discos became a rite of passage for young people not only across Australia but around the world. (Supplied) Essendon, run by Senior Sergeant Gerry O’Toole, a former colleague and friend of Mr Ray. They came to an agreement that Essendon’s dance would be renamed to Blue Light. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mick Miller “thoroughly supported the idea” and backed Mr Ray’s suggestion of giving officers time in lieu for volunteering at the dances. It meant they gained a day off every two months. “What you have to remember, of course, is that for police, our Saturday nights are pretty special personally because we work shift work a lot of the time, and do work on weekends, so having a Saturday night off is important,” he said. “That was the real start. Police started to accept it, there were discos popping up everywhere.” Soon the initiative would take off not only across Victoria, but throughout Australia, New
Zealand, America and the UK. “America had a couple, and the UK had a couple, but they never took off big time in those countries. But that was the size of it; at one stage, there were about four or 500 discos operating worldwide.” The largest disco in Australia was hosted in Ringwood, where 4000 kids regularly attended the underground car park at Target Square. As Blue Light grew, so too did the interest from music luminaries like the Young Talent Time team and Jonny Young, who regularly visited discos, as did Molly Meldrum. “Seared in my memory was the diminutive Tina Arena visiting Diamond Creek Disco way back when,” Mr Ray said. “This very friendly little girl was not that interested in the Disco but wanted desperately to get in a police car and operate the siren.”
Mr Ray said that while each disco catered to its own demographic, the initial target audience was Grade 5 and 6 students. “Each committee was given a lot of leeway to make their own rules but I used to push them and say, ‘Look, if they start going along to a disco in Grade 3 and 4, they’ve got nothing to aspire to’, and kids need aspirations, something to aim for in life, and we tend to try and take all that away from them. “It’s a big move to go from Grade 6 to secondary school; mind you, they’re all very keen to do it. “It’s aspirational, but the changes in their life and the relationships and all the rest of that stuff is going to be quite significant and can be quite daunting for them. So it’s great to have something there for them at that age group.” In the current “crime tsunami”, as Mr Ray called it, he said, “What concerns me the greatest is that there’s no plan”. “There is no strategic plan that I’m aware of that I’ve ever seen that’s designed to deal with these problem kids. “There has never, in history, been a situation where you can arrest your way out of these problems because then you rely on the courts that are unreliable. “The two fundamental functions of policing are proactive and reactive, and there should be a balance between the two. Over the last two decades, it’s been imbalanced.” Although Blue Light Victoria has taken on a different form, with only a few discos still operating, Mr Ray said he still sees the same value in what they were trying to achieve all those years ago. “Everybody forgets. They all make excuses to say, ‘it’s all different’. No, you’re making it different. Kids are still kids. “Kids spend the whole time wanting to be older than what they really are. This is giving kids a grown-up something to do. It’s theirs.” Mr Ray retired from the force as an inspector after a career in uniform policing, highway patrol, crime investigation and as editor of Police Life. He chaired the Blue Light Foundation for 13 years.
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A century of kindness By Mikayla van Loon
Sue Thompson, Glenys Godkin, Gloria Reade, Margaret Tull and Beryl Turner. (583331) surance and the encouragement”, her confidence returned. Her next passion came from working at Kenworth Trucks Australia on Canterbury Road in Bayswater as secretary to the chief engineer for 10 years. “I loved it, right down to the last nut and bolt that goes in.” Finishing her time there in 1985, Ms Reade said she would always keep an eye out for Kenworth trucks when travelling, pointing out “that’s a Kenny”. As a self-confessed “tomboy”, Ms Reade was gifted a tour of Kenworth Trucks for her 99th birthday by her grandson. She was overjoyed. “They took us all round the plants, and oh, how it’s grown since I was there. Knowing that I had worked there, they took us into places that they don’t normally. “We went into the holding yard where they keep the trucks that are built, sold and ready to go out. Just lovely. I enjoyed that.” Travelling around Australia was a huge part of her and Bill’s life, as he worked for Keith Fraser’s Mount Dandenong Bus Service. “He used to take kids from the high school on holidays, and somebody said to him, ‘Well, if you can do it for the kids, why can’t you do it for the adults?’ So he started doing trips for the adults, and we would do three-week camping trips. “The first one we did was up to Cairns. Then we did Western Australia. We did the centre and up to Darwin. That’s how we started our travel. Then we had a lot of bus trips from here.” With friends and family scattered around Australia from the Gold Coast to Adelaide, Ms Reade said “we’ve seen most of Australia”. But she was quick to highlight her favourite spot. “The Kimberley. When we did our first trip with Keith up to up through Catherine, I thought Catherine Gorge was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen until I saw the Kimberley. “The colours are amazing. I can’t even explain it. If anybody hasn’t been around Australia, they’ve got to do it. Australia’s a wonderful place.” It was their love of travel that led Bill and Gloria to lawn bowls. “We were going to do a caravan trip with my sister. She’d already been round Australia, and we were going to do the last leg with her. “They were bowlers and had been for years. I looked up my husband. I said, ‘Well, listen, we have to learn to play bowls, otherwise we’ll be sitting in the caravan looking at each other’. So that’s how I came to get into bowls.” Ms Reade played bowls for 30 years at the Mooroolbark Bowls Club, until the age of 96.
Gloria Reade celebrated her 100th birthday with her friends and former teammates at Mooroolbark Bowls Club on Thursday 8 October. (Stewart Chambers: 583331)
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She’s lived by her grandfather’s mantra for 100 years, adopting the golden rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. It has carried Gloria Reade in good stead for those 10 decades, as proven by the room full of people at Mooroolbark Bowls Club who joined to celebrate her birthday on 8 October. “If you like the way you want to be treated, you treat everybody else the same way. Be kind to people. It’s a philosophy,” she said. Born in Lilydale on 4 October 1926, Ms Reade grew up on her grandparents’ farm in Yarra Glen. From a young age, she loved all things sports-related, something Ms Reade has carried with her to this day. “I love Collingwood. I’ve followed Collingwood since I was four years old. Until I hurt my leg, we’d go everywhere,” she said. “I played sport all my life. I was a golfer. I started to play golf when I left work in the ‘80s.” After finishing school, Ms Reade and her sister went to college in Melbourne, but her first job was cut short because of the impacts of World War II. “We went to business college learning typing and shorthand. I had a job for about six months during the war. So my sister and I, we both worked in the city, and we came home and worked on the farm and stayed there until the war finished.” She recalled the fuel rationing during the war and using petrol to start the farm’s machinery, but switching to kerosene to power the equipment. Despite this, Ms Reade said, “I lived through the war, and that was tough. There was no money around, but we were on the farm. We had our food. There were no real hardships.” The memories of those harder times were outweighed by the positive, because Yarra Glen was also where Ms Reade met her husband. “I met my husband Bill at the dance in Yarra Glen,” she said. “It was a small community. Everybody knew who lived over the river. My husband came from a farm next door to Madame Melba’s. He used to play with Pamela Vestey as kids.” In March 1946, Miss Gloria Ethel Hubbard of Yarra Glen and Mr James William Reade of Coldstream were announced in The Argus newspaper as engaged. They married in 1947. Once they’d welcomed their daughters and they both had gone to school, Ms Reade turned her attention to finding work. “I went back to work, but then I was starting from scratch,” she said. As a VFL enthusiast, the perfect role presented itself, and Ms Reade became secretary to Denis Cordner, former Melbourne Football Club ruckman and captain, who was at the time working at Fibremakers. “When I first went back to work, I hadn’t done shorthand for years and years and years, and the terms they used over at Fibremakers when they spun the yarn were cakes and biscuits. I’d never heard of the terms they used,” Ms Reade said. “So I did a draft, gave it to Denis, and the second month came along, and I had to do another monthly report. I said to him, ‘Well, if this isn’t any good, I don’t think I’ll make the grade’. And he came in, and he said, ‘Congratulations. You made it’, and I was with him for five years.” Doubting herself and her ability until that point, Ms Reade said, “once he gave me the as-
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Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL 25
OPINION
Strike up the band By Joy Gothe In April 1888, a new sound echoed through the township of Lilydale. It began with the formation of the Baptist Church brass band, a modest ensemble that quickly kindled a strong enthusiasm among the residents. This musical spark proved contagious; the townspeople soon desired a band that belonged to the broader community. By 1893, the church group was officially reconstructed into the Lilydale Brass Band. Within three years, their public performances had become so popular that the musicians began lobbying for a permanent open-air “Band Stand” to host regular weeknight and Sunday concerts. That ambition materialised in August 1900 with the grand opening of the band rotunda. Standing proudly as the centrepiece of Main Street, it instantly became the beating heart of Lilydale and the hub of local life. It was here, just a year later in 1901, that a wave of local pride washed over the town. Standing beneath its shelter, the community officially welcomed home Dame Nellie Melba and her family, celebrating a local girl who had conquered the global operatic stage.
Dame Nellie Melba made a visit to Lilydale in 1907 to open the Lilydale Brass Band’s Bazaar. (Lilydale and District Historical Society) By 1902 the band boasted nearly twenty dedicated members who faithfully gathered to practise every Monday and Friday evening. That’s a lot of puffing, polishing and practising! While the band survived many financial hardships, global events took a heavier toll. The outbreak of World War I led to a temporary demise, though the musicians successfully reformed in 1918. When the Great Depression hit, they went into recess once more, rallying back in the 1930s
before costs and dwindling support forced them to stop playing in 1938. Surviving the loss of the rotunda there was a temporary revival in the late 1950’s when they played at some sporting events, finally disappearing into permanent recess. Through it all, the rotunda still remained a town landmark. It had served as the official backdrop where dignitaries were welcomed and farewelled, where locals were entertained during Friday night shopping, and where weekend visitors were greeted. But by March 1951, the weathered and dilapidated structure was finally demolished. Its brick base survived until the 1970s, when it was removed to make way for additional car parking. Today, a replica crafted from those original red bricks stands at the Lilydale Memorial Park on Victoria Road. While the monument preserves a vital piece of local heritage, the historic centre of Main Street sadly remains altered forever and empty without its original centrepiece, leaving the rich, mellow tones of the town’s brass band era to drift away as a distant memory. If you are interested in discovering more stories about the history of Lilydale visit our Website at www.lilydalehistorical.com.au or think about becoming a volunteer.
CARTOON
Strong entry
Pinocchio: Unstrung Starring Richard Brake, Cameron Bell and Robert Englund MA15+ 3.5/5 In Pinocchio: Unstrung, the fifth film in the Twisted Childhood Universe franchise, Gepetto (Richard Brake) makes a living wooden doll named Pinocchio as a friend for his grandson James (Cameron Bell), but Pinocchio soon takes his duty to protect James too far with grisly results. Visceral, suspenseful and weirdly endearing, Pinocchio: Unstrung has buckets of bloody fun with its absurd premise. Brought to life with extremely impressive puppets and animatronics, Pinocchio is both sweet and scary, with plenty of hilarious lines, and his naive urge to defend James from bad people fuels several wild kills with great gore effects. Brake is warm yet subtly sinister as Gepetto (with some Jack Torrance in the mix by the end), and Freddie Krueger himself Robert Englund has a memorably slimy voice role as Pinocchio’s Cricket friend. Despite the clear throughline of Pinocchio protecting James and his desire to be a real boy, the pacing is somewhat erratic and meandering (a recurring issue in the TCU), and James and his friends learning of Gepetto’s macabre early experiments through recorded film reels is extremely inorganic exposition. The TCU is also reusing ideas: this and Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood And Honey both have a sledgehammer kill in a swimming pool, and Unstrung’s brutal chase climax feels too similar to the climax of Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare. Pinocchio: Unstrung is the first TCU film with a mostly positive reception (76 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes), but my favourite is still Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, which is creepier, smarter and blew me away with its cinematography and Martin Portlock and Kit Green’s performances. Still, Pinocchio: Unstrung is another highly satisfying watch for those who enjoy gory horror-comedies, and I had a wonderful time seeing it as part of Monsterfest at Cinema Nova. Seth Lukas Hynes
26 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
What’s coming up Gemco Players Community Theatre Ordinary Days Heartfelt, witty and beautifully layered, this contemporary musical is full of humour and heart - a reminder that even in life’s rush, the smallest moments can be beautiful. From one of musical theatre’s most exciting new composers comes Ordinary Days, a refreshingly honest and funny musical about making connections in the city that never sleeps (but probably should at some point. Ordinary Days tells the story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfilment, happiness, love and cabs. Through a score of vibrant and memorable songs, their experiences ring startlingly true to life. Ordinary Days is an original musical for anyone who ever struggled to appreciate the simple things in a complex place. With equal doses of humour and poignancy, it celebrates how three million individual stories combine in unexpected ways to make New York a unique and extraordinary home. Season: 6 - 15 November. The 1812 theatre Closer Set in London at the end of the 20th century, Closer explores the fragile intersections of love, desire, truth and betrayal through the intertwined lives of four strangers whose relationships evolve through attraction, manipulation and emotional confrontation. With razor-sharp dialogue and unflinching honesty, the play examines the complexities of intimacy and the emotional consequences of human
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Kemp’s curtain call connection. Season: 28 October – 8 November. A joint production by Avid Theatre and The 1812 Theatre. A Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie. An announcement in the local paper states the time and place when a murder is to occur in Miss Blacklock’s Victorian house. The victim is not one of the house’s several occupants, but an unexpected and unknown visitor. What follows is a classic Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death and a determined inspector grimly following the case’s twists and turns. Fortunately, Miss Marple is on hand to provide the solution – at some risk to herself – in a dramatic final confrontation. Season: 12 November – 5 December. Eltham Little Theatre THE Play – Bernnet’s Bride Mr Bennet’s Bride is an original period comedy, based on the characters of Mr and Mrs Bennet from Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’. It explores how this ill-matched couple met and married twenty-five years before the novel’s opening.
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Well worth the read PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is the sequel to Australian author Garth Nix’s bestselling urban fantasy novel The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. Set in a slightly alternate version of England in 1983, the story follows Susan, Merlin and Vivien as they enter a different time and space through a sorcerous translocation map. From this riveting start, the heroic protagonists and their fellow booksellers proceed to investigate mysterious ancient entities, monstrous living statues, centuries of disappearances and deaths, WW2 military depots, and how Susan should deal with her recently discovered magical inheritance while trying to stay alive. Writing a sequel is always difficult, as those readers beguiled by the dazzling first book often have high expectations for the follow-up to be equally if not more luminous and thrilling. This is certainly the case with fantasy series, where all the worldbuilding and character crafting tends to be done in book one. With the sequel, readers now demand something fresh but familiar, a comfortable yet somehow confronting plot. In this book, for example, we meet new booksellers and police officers who are quirky and charming. The new Ancient Sovereigns are majestic and powerful, each with their own unique characteristics and traits. As with its predecessor, throughout the pages there are mentions of a great diversity of books, art works, fashion styles, cars, weapons, mythical creatures, historical figures, buildings and locales, and lores and legends that are worth exploring, which makes a fun reading experience. There are also new villains, both divine and mortal, but with more devastating consequences to their crimes. The story’s scale is grander, the writing more serious and sober, the investigation process and relevant research more complex and intense, and the major characters more balanced in terms of their actions and responses to adversaries. Merlin, in particular, appears to have matured a great deal. However, the story’s focus is always Susan, who knows she is fighting a losing battle in her desperate attempt to remain an ordinary human. Her growth as a character is significant, developing from an innocent, wide-eyed girl to an independent young woman with a strong voice, a clear head and a strategic mind. Yet she can be emotionally fragile, which makes her transformation at the end of the book particularly awe-inspiring. Finally, in this story, the powers and moral responsibilities of the booksellers are challenged as they police the mythical Old World of England when it intrudes on the modern world. Sometimes the safest and/or easiest course is not the most ethically sound, which is perhaps why the word “sinister” is used in the book title. (That is, apart from the author’s assertion: “Of course [the word] only refers to left-handedness. Nothing else. Honest.”) Highly recommended. In the late eighteenth century, marriage was more a business transaction than a love affair. As the play opens, pressure is mounting on the young Mr Bennet to find a suitable match, but his refusal to play by the rules sets in motion a series of events that are both comic and moving. This play was written by amazing local playwright Emma Wood and debuts in London in 2026. Season runs for nine shows from 12 - 27 February with Sunday matinees and one Saturday matinee.
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OPINION
The immigration debate By Maria Millers Once again we are seeing the current immigration debate become a lightning rod for grievances and wider anxieties that fundamentally are not about immigration at all. Concerns about housing, jobs, cost of living, youth crime, and the impact of artificial intelligence dominate discussions. National identity and social cohesion arguments are also canvassed by some. Of course immigration can have real effects on population growth, can intensify pressure on housing, infrastructure like schools, hospitals, transport and the environment but also delivers economic and labour force benefits. What is clear is that anti-immigration becomes an issue at times when people feel unsettled and concerned about changes taking place and the impact on their lives. In a globalised world these events can be on the other side of the world as we daily feel the effects of the war in the Middle East and other events such as climate change. Throughout our history, immigration has been the most visible sign of change when the real causes were much broader and more complex. It is tempting for politicians of all stripes to look at solutions to problems by conflating them into an argument about the number of people entering the country and in some cases, regrettably playing the race/values card. Suddenly the acronym NOM is on everyone’s lips, and the major parties are involved in an unedifying numbers game in a race to the bottom to see how much migrant intake they can cut. There is nothing new about this current debate; it has a long lineage, and while a particular migrant group may bear the brunt of public finger-pointing at a point in time, grievances may change considerably from one era to another, but anxieties are often similar. In the 1850 -1890 gold rushes, Victoria’s population exploded in ten years from 77,000 in 1851 to 539,000 in 1861, including roughly 25,000 Chinese arrivals. Many were leaving southern China, where civil war had disrupted farming and staying was unsafe for many. Home by Warsan Shire: No one leaves unless Home is the mouth of a shark You only run for the border When you see the whole city running as well. Very quickly they became targets of resentment centred on their practices of working the less profitable claims and doing it cooperatively. Their appearance was confronting with hair braded into traditional long queues and topped with conical hats. Outright violence erupted at Lambing Flats in NSW and the Buckland River in Victoria. Then the issue expanded beyond the goldfields. By the 1880s, opposition to Chinese immigration had become a national political question, and was joined by opposition to Pacific Islander workers in Queensland’s sugar industry. Again, white workers and trade unionists saw indentured Pacific Island labour as a cheap source of labour that could undermine their wages and working conditions. So came the passing of the Racial Discrimi-
nation Act of 1901, known as the White Australia Policy. The message was clear: Australia was British in culture, European in population, politically secure but geographically in an overwhelmingly Asian region. To safeguard that security, government policy became “to populate or perish.” Of course, the preferred migrant initially was British, but to meet the desired goal after WW2 Australia began accepting large numbers from southern and eastern Europe. They formed the backbone of the major post-WW2 infrastructure and major building programs. Although there were undoubtedly areas of tension, Australians began discovering that migrants could be successfully incorporated into Australian society. Terms like wog and dago, initially insults, eventually became terms of endearment. As poet Komninos Zervos wrote: And, Australia, Whilst I’ve got your attention I’m a poet That’s right A poet I write, I read, I perform, I entertain I earn my living by poeting No. no other job No. not unemployment benefits A full time writer A poet with a mortgage And a wife, and kids And gas bills, and a tax file number Just like you New cultural practices from food, music and sport began transforming the once British dominant culture. By 1971, roughly one-third of Australians were either post-war migrants or the children of migrants. But while European immigration became increasingly acceptable, the idea of large-scale Asian immigration remained unpopular. The abolition of the White Australia policy in the 1960s–70s fundamentally altered the demographic trajectory of Australia. By 1983 Australia had accepted about 70,000 Vietnamese refugees. Still it wasn’t without anxiety and fear that a substantial numbers of Asian migrants would challenge the concept of Australian identity. What should be remembered is that the 1980s saw rising unemployment, particularly youth unemployment and just as in the past concern about immigration came to the fore again. When, in 1984, historian Geoffrey Blainey publicly attacked the scale of Asian immigration his intervention triggered a major national debate and opened up a platform for politicians
The debate around immigration isn’t a novel one. (File) with similar views. Australia experienced a severe early-1990s recession, accompanied by unemployment and job insecurity. This was also one of the major periods of anti-immigration sentiment: more than 70 per cent of Australians at one point regarded migration levels as too high. We began asking questions like: What does it mean to be Australian? Questions around multiculturalism, national identity and aboriginal policy can be seen as socially disruptive. Immigration, particularly Asian immigration becomes a lightning rod for those looking for easy solutions to these questions. In the years after 9/11 border protection became central in immigration debates and a hot election issue. Arrivals from the Middle East were ‘othered’ the burqa becoming the sign of an alien culture just as the conical hat and long queue of the Chinese gold diggers had once been. Migrant Woman on a Melbourne Tram by Jennifer Strauss: Impossibly black Amid the impudence of summer thighs Long arms and painted toenails And the voices Impossibly obscure She hunches sweltering Twists in sweating hands A scrap of paper – address, destination, Clue to the labyrinth Where voices not understood Echo Confusing directions. The target of unrest was no longer primarily the settled migrant community. It was increasingly aimed at unauthorised arrivals and asylum seekers, particularly people arriving by boat. Many came from war torn areas of the Middle East and Africa and the sub-continent of Asia Today migration is again front, centre and focus of everything that is perceived wrong in our society. Migrants are blamed for congestion, youth crime housing and rental shortages, a medical system showing signs of stress, an education system needing an overhaul. Ironically it’s the migrants that keep our hospitals and aged care homes functioning from doctors to cleaners. The pattern of blaming immigration for problems is as visible today as it was in the 1850s, 1980s, 1990s and again in 2001
Business leaders warn that services and industries would falter and our daily lives would be affected if there were severe cutbacks in migration. Today we are a contemporary population in which roughly one third of people were born overseas The question of identity is also once again at the fore and the recent and not so recent fears of being swamped by newcomers perhaps reflects the fact that Australian identity has an unusually complex foundation. We have 60,000 years of Indigenous histories and cultures and a history of dispossession, and have never completely resolved the tension between being a settler nation and accepting that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have an ancient and continuing connection to this continent. Also, a stubborn resistance to acknowledging and owning the difficult history of our past, which creates a paradox that a population whose presence here derives from colonisation can nevertheless develop a strong sense of ownership and exclusion. Bora Ring by Judith Wright: The song is gone; the dance is secret with the dancers in the earth, the ritual useless, and the tribal story lost in an alien tale. Only the grass stands up to mark the dancing-ring; the apple-gums posture and mime a past corroboree, murmur a broken chant. The hunter is gone; the spear is splintered underground; the painted bodies a dream the world breathed sleeping and forgot. The nomad feet are still. In 2025, the Scanlon Foundation’s research found that concerns about immigration being too high were much more strongly associated with economic and housing concerns than with opposition to multiculturalism itself. We should be wary of conflating discussions on Australian identity, race history and other social issues with attacks on levels of immigration. Discussions should be about which problems are genuinely amplified by immigration and what grievances are merely being expressed through the immigration lens. Make an early booking for the Woorilla Awards on 22 November at the Emerald Hub. Entertainment and refreshments. A great afternoon - www.woorilla.org.
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DECODER
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SPECK TAINT TELLS TEMPO TILDE TOKEN WRENS
7 LETTERS BLATANT FERTILE FORELEG PANCAKE STIMULI TOTALLY
6 LETTERS CRAFTY OTTERS PIGEON ROASTS
8 LETTERS ALLOCATE HONOURED HYGIENIC LOADABLE
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2
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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. 311
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SUDOKU
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Robbie, Gavan and Janet
www.heritagefunerals.com.au • Wantirna, Lilydale, Woori Yallock • 9800 3000 28 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
12711905-KG37-24
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PREMIUM CONTEMPORARY LIVING mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 29
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
PREMIUM CONTEMPORARY LIVING WITH SPACE, STYLE AND QULITY SHOWCASING quality, space and modern sophistication, 386 Glenfern Road presents a premium opportunity in one of Upwey’s most convenient locations. Only around five years old and finished to an impressive standard throughout, this beautifully presented home combines contemporary design, generous proportions and effortless family living on a fantastic flat block. From the moment you step inside, there is an immediate sense of space and quality. High ceilings, timber flooring and a light contemporary palette flow throughout the main living areas, while the thoughtfully designed single-level floorplan provides excellent separation between the bedrooms and living zones. At the heart of the home is the expansive open-plan kitchen, dining and family area, designed with both everyday living and entertaining in mind. The beautifully appointed kitchen features stone benchtops, extensive cabinetry, quality appliances, a large central island and a separate butler’s pantry, providing excellent preparation and storage space. The adjoining living and dining zones open through wide sliding doors to the covered alfresco area, creating a seamless connection between indoors and out. Overlooking the private rear garden, the flat and highly useable backyard offers established greenery, a generous lawn area and plenty of space for children, pets and entertaining. A separate front lounge adds another valuable living zone, complete with a feature fireplace and enough space to incorporate a home office or study area if required. Accommodation is equally impressive, with four generous bedrooms and two stylish bathrooms. The standout master suite is exceptional in scale, offering a true sense of luxury and privacy with a walk-in robe and beautifully finished ensuite featuring twin vanities and a large walk-in shower. The remaining bedrooms are privately positioned and serviced by a stylish family bathroom. Further highlights include a well-appointed laundry, excellent storage throughout, ducted heating and cooling, quality window furnishings, landscaped gardens and an oversized double garage with internal access. Modern, beautifully finished and completely move-in ready, 386 Glenfern Road represents a premium offering for buyers seeking space, style and quality without compromise. Positioned within easy reach of Upwey’s township, schools, cafes, train station and everything the Dandenong Ranges lifestyle has to offer, this is an exceptional family home in a highly regarded location. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 386 Glenfern Road, UPWEY Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,395,000-$1,534,500 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 and Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 9754 6888
30 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
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HOME FOCUS
WHERE COUNTRY CHARM MEETS CONTEMPORARY COMFORT TUCKED away at the end of a peaceful no-through road, this beautifully presented property offers an idyllic Hills lifestyle surrounded by nature. Set on approximately half an acre, the home enjoys a wonderful outlook across lush green pasture, magnificent established trees and distant ranges, while an abundance of native birdlife adds to the sense of tranquillity. At the heart of the home, the Caesarstone kitchen is perfectly equipped for both everyday living and entertaining, featuring an abundance of bench space, soft-close cabinetry, a Bosch dishwasher and quality cooking appliances. The north-facing living and dining areas are filled with natural light, while a set of double doors opens seamlessly onto the full-length deck. Whether enjoying your morning coffee surrounded by birdsong or unwinding in the evening with a glass of wine, this is a space designed to embrace the beauty and privacy of its surroundings. Thoughtfully updated throughout, the home is ready to move straight in and enjoy. Character features including timber floorboards and double glazed double-hung windows are complemented by contemporary fittings, downlights and quality finishes, creating a stylish yet welcoming environment. Comfort is assured with split-system heating and cooling. Three well-appointed bedrooms each feature built-in robes, with the master bedroom enjoying ensuite-style access to the central bathroom. Outside, the beautifully landscaped gardens have been carefully designed, offering a wonderful mix of native gums and deciduous trees to create a picturesque setting. Perfectly positioned for a peaceful Hills lifestyle without sacrificing convenience, this is an exceptional opportunity to secure your own private slice of country living, while remaining within easy reach of major arterial roads and just a short drive from the centre of Emerald. Enjoy the area’s welcoming community, schools, local shops, cafes and renowned eateries, all while coming home to your own private sanctuary. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 5 Duke Street, EMERALD Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Justin Barrot – 0438 683 781 and Brittany Barry – 0412 861 094, BARRY PLANT EMERALD – 5968 4522 mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 31
HOME FOCUS
ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED WITH A PEACEFUL OUTLOOK SET on a generous 2,025m² allotment, this architecturally designed residence offers a unique Hills lifestyle where thoughtful design, generous living spaces and a peaceful outlook come together beautifully. Spread across two levels, the home has been cleverly considered to embrace its natural surroundings, with an abundance of decks and outdoor spaces providing the perfect places to sit back and relax, entertain or simply enjoy the tranquillity of the setting. The lower level forms the heart of the home, featuring a generous living room with a feature fireplace, adjoining dining area and well-appointed kitchen with walk-in pantry. Large windows flood the home with natural light and create a strong connection with the surrounding landscape. A spacious bedroom with built-in robes, ensuite and private deck provides a peaceful retreat. Upstairs, a second bedroom also enjoys its own private deck and peaceful outlook, accompanied by a family bathroom, laundry and spacious sitting area. A carport and a garden shed provide practical storage and parking, while the established grounds create a wonderfully private and calming setting. With its distinctive architectural design, generous half an acre allotment, multiple living zones and abundance of outdoor spaces, this is a home that offers something truly special - a private Hills sanctuary designed to be enjoyed throughout every season. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 32 Seaview Road, COCKATOO Description: 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 garage Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Justin Barrot - 0438 683 781 and Brittany Barry – 0412 861 094, BARRY PLANT EMERALD – 5968 4522
32 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
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Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 33
HOME FOCUS
A TRULY SPECIAL LIFESTYLE PROPERTY SET in what could be seen as one of the most idyllic settings throughout the Dandenong Ranges, this much loved, large family home sits on over half an acre of fully useable land and looks out onto the nearby valley, offering stunning views and a very special lifestyle. Spacious and versatile, the floorplan has been well created to accommodate extended family, growing families, work from home options etc with each room being generously proportioned to allow each family member a bit more peace and privacy. With four living zones plus dedicated formal dining room, the layout is one to be desired. Spanning over two levels, there are four bedrooms (two acting as master suites if needed), three bathrooms, open plan kitchen with meals area, lounge and a sun drenched sitting space adjoined: perfect to take in the surrounding garden colour. Year round comfort is assured with gas ducted heating along with a charming wood fire. Add to this a large decking, a Juliet balcony on the second level and a pretty paved courtyard, all allowing separate, scenic spaces where you can feel the breeze of the warmer weather that’s to come. Outdoor storage has been well considered also with great shedding, a double carport and dual driveway access to the property. Combining space, flexibility, breathtaking surrounds and an unbeatable location, this is a truly special lifestyle property and a dream opportunity for the next lucky family. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 12 Georges Road, THE PATCH Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,030,000 - $1,130,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442 and Jonathan Arad 0490 393 328, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 9754 6888
34 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
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Real Estate you can trust! We’re here to help.
69Kallista-emeraldrd,ThePatch
4/12Bayviewave,Upwey
20Belgrave-Gembrookrd,Belgrave
3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1545m2
2 Bed | 1 Bath | 2 Car | 519m2
3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1 Car | 1655m2
For Sale $690,000 - $740,000
For Sale $696,000 - $730,000
For Sale $720,000 - $780,000
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Jonathan Arad 0490 393 328
12Georgesrd,ThePatch
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
11lyndallroad,BelgraveSouth
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Jonathan Arad 0490 393 328
386Glenfernrd,Upwey
4 Bed | 3 Bath | 2 Car | 2023m2
5 Bed | 3 Bath | 2 Car | 1003m2
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car | 965m2
For Sale $1,030,000 - $1,130,000
For Sale $1,300,000 - $1,395,000
For Sale $1,395,000-$1,534,500
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Jonathan Arad 0490 393 328
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Jonathan Arad 0490 393 328
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
03 9754 6888 office@chandlerandco.com.au 1689 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Vic 3160 mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 35
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Twilight comp tees off By Ron Hottes
David Mackey took the win for Wednesday’s midweek competition. (File: 563378) done, Barry. It’s great to see you back in form again! Saturday’s nearest-the-pin winners were Danny Fox on the third, that talented young man Manny Humphris on the fifth, and Clint Toohey on the ninth, finishing just 114 centimetres from the pin. Neil Leckenby claimed the 12th with a terrific tee shot finishing only 54 centimetres from the pin. Great shot, Neil! Jack Wyatt rounded out the winners by taking the 15th. An important reminder for the club - it’s Back to Warby Day on Saturday, 24 October. Get your teams together for our four-person Ambrose event. There’s plenty of fun to be had,
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and the committee and members would love to see plenty of fresh faces, along with some old faces returning to enjoy a great day at the club. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get together and enjoy a bit of friendly competition. I made a mistake in last week’s report, folks, so please take note. The Club Championships do not start at the end of October. They commence on 7 November, so if you’re planning to take part, you’ll need to get your entry in soon! Hopefully, the weather will continue to hold, and we’ll see some more terrific scores in the coming week. Thank you, everyone, and good golfing!
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PETS & SERVICES ADVERTISERS PLEASE NOTE Anyone advertising a puppy, dog, kitten or cat in Victoria for sale or re-homing will need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register and a microchip identification number. It is now an offence to advertise unless the source number and microchip identification number is included in the advertisement or notice. For further information, call 136 186 or visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au
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Fox on the third, just 106 centimetres from the pin, Chris Leighton on the fifth, and Clint Toohey on the ninth. Clint, our very talented A-grader, finished just 50 centimetres from the pin. And again, I’m sure he didn’t three-putt! Saturday’s competition produced some excellent scores. A-grade was won by Sam Dennis with 40 points, with Hamish Gemmill taking the runner-up prize. However, the B-grade award voucher went to my old mate Barry Maltman, who produced the best score of the entire week with a fantastic 43 points! Barry comfortably accounted for the rest of the field to take the B-grade honours. Well
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Well, folks, with better weather last week came better results, and there are plenty of them, as you shall see. The ladies got things started on Monday, although it was a small field. Michelle Jordan had a magnificent 23 points to take the win for the day, with Suzanne Barrett grabbing the runner-up prize with 17 points. I’m pleased to report that we also had a nearest the pin! Vicki Hottes claimed that honour on the 15th with a lovely tee shot that finished quite close to the pin. Unfortunately, she then three-putted from a short distance. Oh, Vicki, next time perhaps! Wednesday’s midweek competition saw David Mackey take the win with a nett 65, qualifying for the Mick McGrann Bag Day. David also claimed the A-grade prize, with Dazza Ward runner-up on 66. The B-grade prize went to Dale Horrobin, better known as The Prez, with a nett 68, while John Haynes was the runner-up with a nett 70. There were plenty of nearest-the-pin winners on Wednesday, too. Ian Junior Garside claimed the third, Dazza Ward had a good day by taking the fifth, and Dave Wappett came within a whisker of a hole-in-one on the ninth, finishing just 26 centimetres from the pin. I’m sure he didn’t three-putt! John Pietsch grabbed the 12th, and David Mackey rounded off a lovely day for him, by claiming the 15th as well as winning the qualifier. Well done, David, a terrific effort! Thursday saw the start of that wonderful and popular competition, Twilight golf. And I have to report on it because Vicki Hottes took out the first of this 2026-27 with 23 points. I didn’t think she had it in her! Well done, Vicki, and an easy win at that. Troy Murphy was runner-up with 21 points, while Shane Campbell and Deb Hamment deserve a mention for their very respectable rounds of 20 points. The nearest-the-pin honours went to Danny
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Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL 37
SPORT
It was a strong start for most teams at Lusatia Cricket Club. (File)
Wandin Cricket Club kicked off the season on the weekend. (Unsplash)
Great start for the Wandin Cricket Club By Greg Foden Wandin Women First XI travelled up to Belgrave in Round 2, going down by 79 runs after Belgrave posted 6/168 before restricting Wandin to 9/89. Wandin made a strong start in the field, taking two early wickets to have Belgrave at 2/24. Belgrave then steadied, but Wandin’s fielding remained sharp, with great catches from Chloe and Kim. Olivia, Charlotte and Tilly each claimed a wicket, while Audrey took two and combined with Charlotte for an excellent run-out. Chasing a challenging total, Wandin lost early wickets to Belgrave’s strong bowling. Charlotte Edwards steadied the innings with 21, while Gayle Burgi added a quickfire 16. At 6/43, the team was in trouble, but the lower order of Nyree, Lisa, Chloe and Lexi fought hard to finish on 9/89. While not the result hoped for, the match highlighted the team’s depth and determination as they look to improve each week. Wandin Women Second XI opened their season against Eastfield in a match full of enthusiasm and team spirit, featuring three debutantes and two juniors. Wandin elected to bowl, restricting Eastfield to 85 runs from 20 overs. The co-captains combined for Wandin’s only wicket, with KP taking a catch behind the stumps. Jacqui Lowrie starred with the ball finishing with 1/9(4o). Emma Curwood and Nat Lowe also bowled tight four-over spells. In reply, Jacquie and Kendall opened the batting, with Jacquie scoring 14 and KP contributing a quick 10. Ellie Craddock led the chase with an excellent 26
not out from 34 balls, while debutante Donna McGowan finished unbeaten on one. Wandin reached 76 from their 20 overs, falling nine runs short. Despite the result, it was a positive start to the season, with plenty of promising performances and opportunities ahead. Wandin Men First XI secured a strong 29-run victory over East Ringwood Third XI, posting 6/263 after being sent in to bat. Jayden Battaglene led the way with a superb 140, supported by Bryce Edwards (37) and captain Dylan Cuthbertson, who finished unbeaten on 32. Contributions throughout the order helped Wandin build a commanding total. East Ringwood responded strongly, putting pressure on Wandin’s bowlers early. However, disciplined bowling and excellent fielding after the drinks break helped turn the momentum. Jarrod Dobson claimed 3/26, Cal Gordon took 2/48, and Jamie Atkinson celebrated his first wicket for Wandin with figures of 1/14. Wandin eventually dismissed East Ringwood for 234 to secure a hard-fought win. Wandin Men Second XI welcomed East Ringwood to the Kennel, with the visitors making a positive start at 2/85 at drinks. Ethan struck at a crucial moment just before the break, shifting the momentum as Wandin’s bowlers began taking regular wickets. Strong fielding and well-held catches helped dismiss East Ringwood for 177. Ethan starred with 4/16, including a hat-trick, while Sam claimed 3/25 and Rory took 2/39. Wandin’s chase proved challenging against tight, accurate bowling, leaving the side at 5/69 at
drinks. Dan and Rory then combined for a vital 71-run partnership to take the match to the final over. Despite their efforts, Wandin fell agonisingly short by just one run. Dan top-scored with 66, supported by Luke (24) and Rory (22). Wandin Men Third XI began the season with a gutsy win over Healesville after electing to bowl. Marshall (2/13), Polido (1/27) and Vallence (2/32) led an effective bowling effort, while Brad Rayner celebrated his first senior wicket. M. Rayner also chipped in with 1/20 as Wandin restricted Healesville to 7/134. The chase began poorly, with Wandin struggling at 5/41. Captain McKenzie led the recovery with a determined 41, supported by Marshall (24*), Owens (17), Foden (13*) and Polido (12). Their combined efforts steadied the innings and guided Wandin over the line. It was an impressive team performance and an excellent start to the season. Wandin Men Fourth XI claimed a six-wicket victory over Chirnside Park after restricting the visitors to 6/157 across 36 overs through consistent bowling pressure. Wandin’s chase began in spectacular fashion, with G. Stubbs smashing a quick-fire 50 before retiring. Two wickets in consecutive balls threatened to derail the innings, but B. Richards calmly negotiated the hat-trick ball, while T. Richards added a rapid 35. B. Richards contributed 21, and K. Kennedy helped keep the chase on track under pressure before K. Lowrie joined the action late. Wandin held their nerve to reach the target in the final over, securing a fantastic win.
Warby bowls eyes off first fixtures for 2026/27 season By Garry Lewis The Warburton Bowls Club is looking forward to the start of the 2026/27 Summer Pennant Season this coming Saturday, 17 October. Warburton One plays Upwey-Tecoma Two away and Warburton Two plays Yarra Junction One away. Weekend pennant practice matches have concluded with a great warm-up against Upwey-Tecoma One away last Saturday. Thank you very much to the Tigers for their wonderful hospitality. The final midweek practice match will be held at home on Tuesday 13 October against Yarra Junction, with Warburton One travelling to Whittlesea for their first game on 20 October. The combined side with Yarra Junction will be playing Boronia Three at home in their first game. Pennant training continues Thursday evenings from 4.30pm. New players and interested beginners are most welcome to come along, with free Coaching available across all levels. The extremely popular Wednesday night bare38 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 October, 2026
foot bowls Jack Attack Triples Competition commences on Wednesday 4 November from 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Tickets include snacks and entry into the weekly raffle. All equipment provided. Drinks available from the bar. This is open for all interested people including beginners. All you need to do is put together a team of three people, think of a team name and enter a team. At the time of preparing this report, three more teams were still required to ensure a full complement of sixteen. Contact the club by email or text a message to 0473 653 137 and someone will contact you accordingly. A free community bingo night will be held for Get Online Week on Wednesday 21 October at the clubrooms. Doors open 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Social bowls continues each Monday from 12 midday. The club facilities are regularly utilised by out-
One of Warburton Bowls Club’s youngest members, Noah, prepares to bowl at the practice match against Upwey-Tecoma. (Supplied) side groups, including families and businesses, for social activities and barefoot bowls. Contact the club for further information via email warbbowls@outlook.com or come along and visit the club and speak to a member.
Lusatia looking good for season start By Kieran Cantwell This weekend saw the first hit-out for 2026/27 for our junior and senior men’s sides, whilst our Women’s XI were in their second round. Our First XI took on Yarra Junction at Woori Yallock Reserve. It was a strong bowling performance to start the game, with Tyson Gaskett, Adam Dunn and Lochie Winter-Annette all taking three wickets, dismissing the opposition for 139. The chase started in electric fashion, with Chris Reynolds blasting 67 from 69 balls to set the innings up well. A mini collapse saw the game tighten up, and in the past this team may have capitulated, but they rallied, with new coach Christian Stacey and Tyson Gaskett seeing us home with a mature batting performance. Our Women’s XI had their second match for the season, taking on Montrose at Woori Yallock Reserve. This season, the team’s focus will be on player development and gaining experience at a strong level of competition. Montrose were strong and gave the bowlers a challenge, hitting 263 in their innings. In the field, Lucy Pritchard got plenty of experience and saved a ton of runs at fine leg, showing great endeavour. With the bat, Sam Reynolds hit a blistering 89 not out off 88 balls, well supported by Olivia English, who showed great patience and technique for her 17 off 58. The Second XI also took on Yarra Junction, this time away from home. It was a strong team bowling and fielding performance to restrict the opposition to 148, with some mature late-innings bowling from youngster Tayte Hubbard a highlight. Some attacking batting saw the required total dwindle, but wickets continued to fall. However, with the middle order batting around Matt McConnell, they got the job done comfortably, with Matt hitting an unbeaten 46 off 52 balls. At Wickhams Road Reserve, the Third XI could not bring home the hat-trick of wins. Unfortunately, some decent bowling by Wonga Park and poor shot selection saw our batters dismissed for 49, with Bilal Ahmad top-scoring on 13. With such a low total to defend, the captain threw the ball around, but only young Joel Pritchard could snare a wicket as Wonga Park chased down the total one wicket down. On Sunday, our Junior Girls side played their first-ever match as a team, marking an exciting new chapter for our club. We took on Eastfield at Benson Park, with Amelia, Imogen and May all playing their first-ever games, and everyone had a blast! Acasia and Layla both retiring not out in our total of 79, whilst Ella and Acasia both took wickets as Eastfield scored 147. Our Friday night juniors have some combined teams with Hoddles Creek this season. The Mini Bash and U12 sides started positively, with a win for our U12 side against Yarra Junction. Maxwell was a standout with 15 not out and a wicket. On Saturday morning, our U14 side got their season off to a winning start with a comprehensive victory over Seville at Woori Yallock Reserve, Mason McNeill starring with both bat and ball. Our U16 combined side with Eastfield also had a strong start to the year, notching up another win for the club. They hit 147 before dismissing Templeton/Glen Waverley for 56, with contributions across a strong team.
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SPORT
H-Bomb takes fight to Bendigo By Oliver Winn A local fighter will compete for a major Victorian boxing title while honouring one of Australia’s most respected boxing legends on Saturday 14 November. Yarra Valley’s Hayden “H-Bomb” Wright will take on Jono Stewart for the Victorian Amateur Boxing League (VABL) heavyweight championships in Bendigo. Wright said the event, titled Showdown at the Allies Two, will be a tribute to influential Australian boxer, Colin Wilson, who died from cancer on 5 October. “I feel proud. I had a lot to do with Colin, especially over the last year with our conversations and just talking about his history. “I grew up watching him as a kid on TV, and I always aspired to do what he’d done around the world,” Wright said. With both fighters ranked in Victoria’s top ten, the matchup is expected to produce a highly entertaining bout. At six foot four and 110 kilograms, Stewart will look to rack up the points during the two-minute rounds with solid jabs and good footwork, in a style Wright compared to Muhammad Ali. “[Bendigo fighters] come really ready and prepared. They’re known for their reputation of being fit and ready.” But Wright said he’ll close down the space quickly and “take the fight to him”, using his smaller size and high-pressure style to get up close and personal. “As long as I can get my fitness up, keep my
Wright with his son Sonny after he won heavyweight championship of Melbourne on 22 June, 2024. (MARTY’S KNOCKOUT PHOTOGRAPHY)
Victorian heavyweight boxing champion Hayden Wright. (Gabriella Vukman: 547793) weight down through the next five weeks of hard training, stick to my plan and diet, my sort of style will make for a great fight,” Wright said. The fight takes place at the Allies Hotel in Bendigo and it’s expected to draw in crowds far and wide. Alongside honouring Colin Wilson, Wright
said he hoped the bout would motivate Yarra Valley’s youth to achieve their goals in life. For Wright, inspiring younger generations is a personal cause, working as a disability and youth support worker and running the Coldstream Boxing Club. Wright said winning the fight would cement
his name in Australian boxing and could lead him on to “big things” like the world title. “Bringing the world title back and having that at the Melbourne viewing under Big Time Boxing Promotion, they would want me to go for the world title under their banner. “It’s all a matter of getting past this one and getting this one first,” Wright said. Wright thanked his coach Zac Thompson for working him hard during their training sessions. “We often train together, spar together, and he wants the best for me, so he’s always by my side giving me advice and motivating me,” he said. He hoped the fight would make Colin Wilson proud. “I think it’s a little token if we can give him something back, remember him, fight for the night,” Wright said.
Josh Handasyde made 65 runs for Healesville Cricket Club. (Supplied)
Josh Handasyde hits 65 despite Healesville loss Dressage in the Valley entries close on Sunday 18 October. (Supplied)
By Chris Handasyde First XI - Healesville 9/212 defeated by Chirnside Park 7/223: Healesville won the toss and elected to bowl first in a 40-over one-day game. An early wicket to Dan Ebbels was the only highlight for the home team as dropped catches and erratic bowling enabled Chirnside to post 7/223. Healesville lost two quick wickets to be 2/23 but a great partnership of 103 from Josh Handasyde (65) and Ash Hamer (78) kept the game interesting. Unfortunately, the tally was too great with Healesville finishing up at 9/212. ■ Second XI - Healesville 163 defeated Hoddles Creek 130 (Raff Morcombe 47*, Mark Powell 35, Jack Drummond 3/13). ■ Third XI - Healesville 8/143 defeated by Mt Evelyn 163 (D Hyndman 40, Harry Thomas 31*, Louis Keath 3/34).
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■ Fourth XI - Healesville 7/134 defeated by Wandin 7/139 (Kael Senti 33, Glen Stevenson 31, Angus Boyle 2/19). ■ U12-4 - Healesville 4/110 defeated Yarra Glen 6/100 (Reggie Morcombe 26*, Taylor Harman 15*, Felix McMahon 2/5). ■ U12-9 - Healesville 7/61 defeated by Wandin 6/62 (Charlie Hamer 17* & 1/4, Reece Morley 1/4). ■ U14-4 - Healesville 54 defeated by Boronia 8/141. ■ U16-2 - Healesville 6/119 defeated Mooroolbark 6/91 (Louis Keath 29, Raff Morcombe 20, Nate Caldicott 2/9, Taylor Caldicott 2/11). ■ U16-5 - Healesville 7/126 defeated Hoddles Creek 110 (Jack Robinson 25* & 2/13, Tully Ellis 20 & 1/12, Alex Simmons 2/11). ■ Stage Two Girls - Healesville 5/80 defeated by Nth Ringwood 4/81 (Olivia English 19*, Veronica Leanard 9*, Elodie Handasyde 8* & 1/8, Abbie Hamilton 1/5).
Dressage entries close soon By Anita Prowse It was lovely weather last weekend; congratulations to all who were out and about all over the state competing. A reminder that Dressage In The Valley entries will close Sunday 18 October on event secretary so don’t forget to get them done. This week I have a “fluffy white dog” story for everyone - I know, I don’t do that very often! As some of you know I was involved in an accident while towing on Saturday (thankfully empty!!). Bluey and Belinda, the absolute champions, were helping before I even knew what was happening, Robyn and Darren just always
seem to be there, Mick and Candice helped me home and quick fixes, then Melissa insisted I take her float to use and Sarah organised panel work for me. I mean, how great is our local equestrian community! Incredibly grateful to all of you and quite humbled by all the great people around me... but that’s not all! A relaxing (boy did I need that) ride at Kurth Kiln National Park on Sunday, where we met multiple vehicles and people, all of which stopped on the side of the road, talked to us and were incredibly considerate. So there it is, faith restored in humanity. Happy and safe riding everyone!
Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 | MAIL 39
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