Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
YRC approves annual report
Kallista’s new community gathering begins
Tecoma runner bound for Nationals
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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18 years of blooming memories By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Val Jackson with her four-legged gardening companion, Poppy. (Stewart Chambers: 587589)
For 18 years, Monbulk resident Val Jackson has opened her garden, The Nook, to the public in memory of her late husband, Don, whose horticultural expertise helped create the beautiful space. The annual fundraising event, held in partnership with Monbulk CFA, returns on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, from 10am to 4.30pm at 5 Tavistock Road, Monbulk. Visitors can explore approximately 90 roses, clematis, camellias and colourful seasonal displays, while enjoying local artwork, handmade garden pieces and plants for sale. Entry is $10, with proceeds supporting Monbulk CFA. For Ms Jackson, the event is also a chance to share Don’s gardening knowledge and bring the community together. Read the full story on page 7
Lighting concern
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Research in Melbourne has identified up to 17 microbat species, with studies showing reduced diversity and activity in brightly lit areas. Artificial lighting can also make otherwise suitable habitats inaccessible to some species. Dr Yokochi said unnecessary lighting could undermine conservation efforts such as revegetation and tree planting. She encouraged residents to turn off lights when not needed, use warmer-coloured bulbs, reduce brightness and install motion sensors. Outdoor lights should also be directed down-
wards and positioned as low as possible. With Christmas approaching, she suggested keeping decorative lights indoors where possible, closing curtains to prevent light spilling outside and limiting outdoor displays. Reducing unnecessary lighting can benefit wildlife while also saving energy and money. Friends of Sassafras Creek is a volunteer group dedicated to protecting native plants and wildlife around Perrins and Sassafras Creeks, new members are welcome. Read the full story on page 4
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Artificial light at night may seem harmless, but it can have significant consequences for wildlife, disrupting natural behaviours, breeding patterns and ecosystems. This issue will be explored by Deakin University wildlife ecologist Dr Kaori Yokochi at an upcoming community talk hosted by Friends of Sassafras Creek at Monbulk Living and Learning Centre at 7.30pm on Thursday, 12 November. The talk will be followed by the group’s annual general
meeting. Dr Yokochi, whose research focuses on wildlife conservation and microbats, said artificial lighting had disrupted natural light patterns that animals, plants and fungi had evolved with over millions of years. Insects are particularly vulnerable, often becoming trapped around artificial light sources and struggling to navigate. This can have flow-on effects for other wildlife, including insect-eating microbats, which play an important role in controlling insect populations.
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By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
NEWS
YRC adopts its first-ever heritage policy By Callum Ludwig iYarra Ranges Council has approved its first-ever Heritage Strategy and Policy at the Tuesday 27 October council meeting. The new strategy and policy will work in tandem with the heritage overlays in the planning scheme to help guide Yarra Ranges Council’s decision making on issues of historical and heritage significance to the region. Secretary of the Mt Dandenong & District Historical Society and current chair of the Yarra Ranges Heritage Network Wendy Britt spoke to the motion and said the policy is something the network have been working towards for a long time. “As a group we have witnessed the highs and lows of council’s heritage decision-making, celebrating council’s commitment to acknowledging the value and importance of history, while seeking a framework that would guide everyone involved to be well-informed and sensitive to heritage issues,” she said. “Now, the amount of work and consultation put into this policy and strategy is commendable, and to have it adopted tonight would be of immense benefit to the wide range of communities making their home in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, we are privileged to live in an area that has a rich heritage, referred to as a living mosaic of heritage in the proposed policy. “This begins with the First Peoples, followed by early settlers, economic settlers, migrant communities, and cultural groups such as artists and authors who have been drawn to the area and added to this mosaic of heritage. There has been change, but also a stream of continuity that connects newcomers to the stories of what has gone before.” Several groups within the Yarra Ranges Her-
itage Network are involved in operating and preserving heritage attractions such as the Yarra Valley Railway, Puffing Billy, Gulf Station, Mont de Lancey Historic Homestead, Upper Yarra Museum, and the Running Rabbits Military Museum, as well as serving as a source of historical records or knowledge from across the region. Ms Britt said a lack of understanding of historical significance and missed opportunities in learning about the historical value of sites and objects has occasionally led to damage or destruction that erodes and devalues our knowledge about the past. “A well-thought-out heritage policy, this heritage policy and strategy, can change this, it puts in place a strong framework with shared goals, it fosters and appreciates heritage organizations, and hopefully will convince Council to seek information from relevant heritage groups before engaging consultants who themselves turn to the volunteer groups for information,” she said. “The strategies put in place to implement the policy focus on understanding, researching, documenting, protecting, supporting, and communicating, all in a way that involves the community and acknowledges the differing cultures and needs of the people it seeks to res- represent. “There are many places in the Yarra Ranges where you can stand still, look around, and imagine what life was like, not just a hundred and seventy years ago, but thousands of years ago, you can only do this because enough remains to give you a sense of history, a sense of what life was like, how the community’s developed, and why.” Yarra Ranges Council mayor Richard Higgins then used his power to put forward a motion to invite former president of the Lilydale & District Historical Society Sue Thompson to speak,
Esteemed local historian Sue Thompson was invited specially to speak to the strategy. (File: 378495) which was carried unanimously. Ms Thompson said it was a momentous evening and that heritage had come a long way from being just a line in the Council’s cultural plan in the late 2000s. “Today, with this strategy, Council recognises heritage is a core business of Yarra Ranges Council at last, it is embedded across many areas of council activity from planning and parks to community and cultural development,” she said. “Heritage is finally being recognised in its many forms: natural, cultural, tangible, movable, intangible, and heritage tourism, thankfully, heritage no longer is just about buildings, important as they are. “There is much more I can say, but I will conclude by saying that this is a well-developed, clear document with lots of one, two-year implementation timelines, which I like, I am sure you will ensure funding is available to promote, protect, and support our heritage in its many forms.” The inaugural 10-year policy has five goals: to deepen understanding of the region’s heritage, to advance cultural safety and shared heritage values, to champion equity, diversity and inclusion in heritage, protect and activate heritage for future generations and to empower community-led heritage management and interpretation. Councillors all chimed in with their support for the motion.
“With the heritage organisations involved, it’s not just with the community, it’s with the people that know their heritage… to delay the adoption of the strategy would increase the risk of postponing improvements to heritage management and guidance in accordance with community aspirations and expectations,” Streeton ward councillor Jeff Marriott said. “I’ve noted down some of the comments that really resonated for me around a much more inclusive approach to talking of history and heritage, very aligned with our approach to reconciliation, and again, acknowledging the custodianship that we do share for this amazing country with the incredible stories it has to tell, support for heritage and history groups in our community, and very grateful for some joining us tonight, and we are incredibly blessed to have 13,” Ryrie ward councillor Fiona McAllister said. “History gives us an understanding of what we’re capable of, one of the problems that we see again and again and again is we, we think the future’s gonna be like it was yesterday, just a little bit different but when we look through history…what we see is that we’re called on to do extraordinary things at particular times and understanding history is the thing that gives us that full extent of what we’re capable of,” Lyster ward councillor Peter McIlwain said. The updated Heritage Strategy and Policy was unanimously approved.
Cardinia Shire Council releases annual report By Ethan Henson Council have released their 2025 to 2026 Annual Report, providing the community with an overview of what they have and wants to achieve. Cardinia Shire Council have recently revealed and endorsed their Annual Report for 2025 to 2026 during the council meeting on Monday 19 October. The Annual Report provides the community with a transparent and comprehensive overview of Council’s performance over the past financial year. Cardinia Mayor Councillor Brett Owen said the report demonstrates the council’s work towards building liveable and connected communities. “It tells the story of how Council has worked towards delivering our collective vision while continuing to respond to the needs of one of Victoria’s fastest growing communities,” Mayor Owen said. “Across the report you’ll see how those strategic objectives translate into tangible outcomes for our community. “From supporting thousands of families through maternal child health services, youth programmes, libraries and community facilities to creating opportunities for people to connect and thrive.” In their report, it included a list of achievements that they have accomplished over the past 2 MAIL | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
Cardinia Shire Council urges locals and residents to read the annual report to understand what they have achieved as a community. (Supplied) year, such as: ■ Supporting local families through more than 21,000 Maternal and Child Health consultations and more than 2,500 community kindergarten enrolments. ■ Helping more than 850 residents access support through Bring Your Bills Day, helping to resolve over $1.5 million in debt. ■ Creating opportunities for young people through more than 22,500 youth service interactions. ■ Restoring local habitat and biodiversity throughout the shire, including the establishment of more than 16,000 indigenous plants in Emerald alone. ■ Supporting housing growth and development with almost 2000 building applications issued.
Councillor Samantha-Jane Potter said everything they have achieved is about the people and believes the annual report reflects that, but recognises the continuous challenges ahead. “We need to keep reaching people who don’t always find it easy to engage with Council, including our multicultural communities, people with disabilities and others whose voices may not always be heard,” Cr Potter said. “I am genuinely so proud of what has been achieved but also honest about the challenges ahead, the cost of living pressures, growth, infrastructure, financial sustainability and protecting the environment and character of Cardinia Shire.” However, Councillor David Nickell urged residents and locals to read the report, due to “mind-boggling” items on pages 79 to 81.
“That’s where we start talking about our infrastructure and development contributions, and this is a really complex part of our operation,” Cr Nickell said. “I’m personally looking forward to actually getting my head around a little bit more over the next 12 to 18 months to understand. “Whether the developer contribution plans and the ICPs, how far they actually go to finishing the job on building these new suburbs and how much the ratepayers are left to pick up. “The numbers look impressive on paper, but how much they actually achieve in building the complete suburb, I don’t know.” To read the annual report, visit: https:// www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/about-council/governance-and-transparency/annual-reports
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IN BRIEF Man charged following Ferntree Gully assault Police have charged a man after an elderly man was assaulted in Ferntree Gully in July. It is alleged the man verbally abused the 82-year-old man on the Blind Creek Trail after he asked him to slow down on his e-scooter about 1.30pm on Monday, 6 July. He allegedly assaulted him multiple times, pushing him to the ground before fleeing on his e-scooter. Police will allege the man returned and assaulted the man again on Rankin Road. The victim was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers executed a search warrant at an address in Scoresby on 19 August, where a 21-yearold man was arrested. He was interviewed and released pending summons. Officers arrested the man again on Sunday, 25 October and charged him with recklessly causing injury, common law assault and unlawful assault. He is due to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 21 January, 2027.
Upwey bank branch to close temporarily Supporters out in force during the campaign to end commercial kangaroo harvesting. (Supplied)
Some relief for Ranges kangaroo population By Callum Ludwig
flict through practical support, research and innovation,” she said. “There are successful international coexistence models (such as California’s Statewide Wildlife Coexistence Program, and B.C. Canada’s WildSafeBC program) that serve as a precedent, and show how a dedicated coexistence taskforce can achieve better outcomes for people and wildlife. “Until the government takes responsibility for coexistence measures, we are fortunate that landholders can reach out to Kangaroos Alive (info@ kangaroosalive.org) for kangaroo coexistence advice as it will vary depending on the circumstances.” Landowners suffering damage to their properties or crops caused by kangaroos may still be eligible to kill kangaroos through the Authority to Control Wildlife program (ATCW), which allows people to apply for a permit to kill a certain number of a target species as a last-resort when non-lethal control methods have failed. Unlike under the KHMP, the skins or carcasses of these animals cannot be sold commercially. Animal Justice Party MP for Northern Victoria Georgie Purcell and said it was an absolutely momentous win in the ongoing fight to end the commercial slaughter and exploitation of our kangaroos. “My calls have echoed those of the local community, kangaroo advocates, wildlife rescuers, farmers, local businesses and even the local council who wanted this cruel practice stamped out. “The Yarra Ranges was the final remaining metropolitan local government area where kangaroos could be killed for commercial purposes. “This is a long overdue change and I thank Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes for making it happen.”
Motorcycle riders urged to prioritise road safety Motorcyclists are among Victoria’s most vulnerable road users, with riders being urged to make safety a priority every time they hit the road. Police are reminding riders to wear approved helmets and protective gear, use bright or reflective clothing, keep headlights on and adjust their riding to suit road and weather conditions. Riders are also encouraged to adopt a defensive approach, assuming other motorists may not see them. This includes positioning themselves to remain visible, watching for turning vehicles, checking blind spots and staying alert at intersections. Motorcycle riders must also follow road rules, including holding a valid licence, riding a registered motorcycle, wearing an approved helmet and complying with lane filtering regulations. Police say risky riding behaviours contribute to serious crashes and are continuing to work with the riding community to improve safety and save lives.
Police issue scam warning for upcoming Christmas period Outer east locals are asked to exercise caution when online shopping with Christmas approaching. Victoria Police community engagement inspector for Eastern Region Dale Maxwell said scams are common around Christmas time and Yarra Ranges residents should watch out as they shop around. Shoppers should also ensure the person/business they are buying from has a valid phone number or email address. If the price is too good to be true, it could be a scam. He said to check online reviews and pay safely. Importantly, don’t click on a link provided by the seller to buy - make sure you start the purchase process yourself.
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After advocacy from both community members and the council, the Yarra Ranges has been temporarily removed from the Kangaroo Harvesting Management Plan (KHMP). The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) will use the pause, which starts from 1 January 2027, to assess whether the current harvesting arrangements in place are appropriate for the peri-urban area. Environmental characteristics of the region, urban growth, land use change and local kangaroo management patterns will be factored into any further decision on the Yarra Ranges inclusion in the program going forward. DEECA was contacted for comment. Manager of resilient environment at Yarra Ranges Council Corinne Bowen said they welcome this outcome and are pleased for the many Yarra Ranges residents and community groups that have continued to advocate strongly and passionately to protect our kangaroos and local environment. “In April 2025, Yarra Ranges Council requested that the then Premier and Minister for Environment in Victoria exclude the Shire of Yarra Ranges from the Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan,” she said. “This week, the Minister for Environment, Jaclyn Symes MP, fulfilled this request, approving a temporary prohibition on harvesting of eastern grey kangaroos in the Yarra Ranges from 1 January, while the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change (DEECA) undertakes a review of its Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan. “We look forward to hearing the outcomes of the State Government’s review.” Thirty one Victorian councils are exempt from
the KHMP, with multiple councils having successfully petitioned to be removed in previous years, such as Mornington Peninsula and Nillumbik which were approved. Founder of the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance (VKA), and Animal Justice Party candidate for Monbulk, Alyssa Wormald said they are truly beyond delighted that the immense grassroots effort to end the kangaroo wildlife trade in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, which gained support first from Council and then MP’s Georgie Purcell and Daniela De Martino who were able to secure this wonderful victory. “It means the world to us to know this beautiful region will be free from this cruel, dangerous, and profit-driven wildlife trade,” she said. “Kangaroos are an ancient and unique native species that have essential ecological roles in seed dispersal, fuel reduction, and soil fertilisation and aeration, they hold deep cultural significance to many Aboriginal people, and bring great joy to residents and tourists alike. “They also hold inherent value as intelligent and social animals deserving of care and respect.” A report from Wildlife Victoria in 2023 recorded a 55 per cent increase in gunshot wounding-related incidents in kangaroos in the four years since the introduction of the KHMP in 2019. Ms Wormald said commercial kangaroo shooting has only been available for a few years in the Yarra Ranges, and the cessation of this program unfortunately does not mean that lethal controls cannot be accessed by landholders under permit. “Australia is lagging behind when it comes to wildlife coexistence measures which is why we are advocating for a Victorian Wildlife Coexistence Taskforce that would help landholders and communities prevent and resolve human-wildlife con-
Community Bank Dandenong Ranges’ Upwey branch will temporarily close from Thursday, 5 November, for renovations. The branch is expected to reopen on Tuesday, 17 November, following a makeover aimed at giving the premises a fresh new look. The ATM will remain available at the Upwey branch throughout the temporary closure. Community Bank Dandenong Ranges has thanked customers for their patience and continued support during the works.
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Remembrance at Boronia RSL As the autumn leaves turn in the Tim Neville Arboretum, Knox prepares to mark a solemn milestone – the 108th anniversary of the end of World War I. This year’s Remembrance Day ceremony, set for Sunday 8 November, carries special significance as it showcases the next generation’s commitment to preserving the memory of those who served. Unlike traditional ceremonies across Australia, Knox’s commemoration stands apart through its unique approach: local primary and secondary school students take centre stage in conducting nearly all aspects of the service. From delivering readings to laying wreaths and managing the flag ceremonies, these young citizens demonstrate that remembrance transcends generations. “The involvement of our youth ensures that the sacrifice of those who served will never be forgotten,” said Boronia RSL President Steve Everett. “Seeing students participate with such reverence and understanding gives us hope that the importance of Remembrance Day will
Residents are invited to lay poppies at the memorial in honour of those who served.(Stewart Chambers: 547218) continue to resonate with future generations.” The ceremony will commence at 10.45am at the Knox War Memorial, preceded by a march beginning at the Francis Street rotunda in Ferntree Gully. Veterans and family members are encouraged to wear their service medals or those of their relatives who served,
creating a visible link between past and present. Originally known as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day marks the historic moment when silence fell across the battlefields of World War I. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns finally fell silent after four years of devastating conflict. The war’s scale was unprecedented – mobilising over 70 million people worldwide and claiming between 9 and 13 million lives, many of whom still lie in unmarked graves. The tradition of observing one minute’s silence began on the first anniversary of the armistice in 1919, a practice that continues to hold deep meaning today. Following World War II, the observance was renamed Remembrance Day to honour all those who have served, fallen, or been affected by military service across all conflicts. A school choir will provide musical accompaniment to the ceremony, their young voices carrying the weight of history through traditional songs of remembrance. The symbolic raising and lowering of flags, performed by
students under careful guidance, serves as a powerful reminder of the protocol and respect that underpin military tradition. Community participation remains a crucial element of the ceremony, with organisers inviting all residents to join in this act of remembrance. Provisions will be made for attendees to lay poppies at the memorial, continuing the tradition of the red flower that bloomed across the battlefields of France and Belgium. As we gather to remember the cost of war and the price of peace, Knox’s ceremony demonstrates that remembrance is not just about looking back – it’s about ensuring future generations understand and appreciate the sacrifices that have shaped our nation. The participation of our local students ensures that the promise ‘We will remember them ‘continues to echo through time, carried forwards by young voices who understand its profound importance. Residents wishing to participate in the march should arrive at the rotunda no later than 10.30am. All community members are welcome to attend this moving tribute to service and sacrifice.
Hidden cost of light pollution on animals and organisms By Shamsiya Hussainpoor The impact of pollution on wildlife goes beyond litter and contaminated waterways, with something as seemingly harmless as artificial light having far-reaching consequences for animals and other organisms. This is the focus of an upcoming community talk hosted by Friends of Sassafras Creek, where Deakin University wildlife ecologist Dr Kaori Yokochi will discuss the ‘Impacts of pollution on wildlife and what we can do to help’ at the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre at 7.30pm on Thursday, 12 November. The talk will be followed by the Friends of Sassafras Creek annual general meeting. Dr Yokochi, a lecturer in ecology and conservation biology at Deakin University, researches ways humans and wildlife can coexist and thrive together, with a particular focus on the effects of light pollution. She said artificial light at night had disrupted natural patterns that organisms, including animals, plants and fungi, had evolved to rely on over millions of years. “Most of the organisms, including animals, plants, fungi on earth, actually have evolved with a natural pattern of light,” Dr Yokochi said. She said the introduction of artificial lighting over the past 150 years has changed those patterns, disrupting biological cues that many species depend on. While light pollution might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think about environmental damage, its effects can be significant. Dr Yokochi said artificial light could disrupt animals’ sleeping patterns, behaviour and even reproduction, with insects among those particularly affected. Insects are often attracted to artificial light at
L-R: Jane Hollands, Clair Walk, Georgia Angus, Gary Visser, Florian Strauss, Shabana Strauss, Shyla Foots, Judy Jubb and Mark Phelan. (Supplied) night, becoming trapped around light sources and unable to navigate away - their decline or disruption can then affect other wildlife that depend on them for food, including insect-eating bats. Dr Yokochi’s research focuses particularly on microbats, small bats that play an important role in the environment by controlling insect populations, including mosquitoes. She said research in Melbourne had identified up to 17 different microbat species, with studies showing that their diversity and activity levels could be reduced in brightly lit areas. Some species, particularly those that tend to avoid open spaces, were more vulnerable to artificial lighting. Dr Yokochi said this could mean otherwise suitable habitats were effectively becoming unavailable to wildlife simply because of artificial light. Even efforts to improve local environ-
ments through revegetation and tree planting could be undermined if those areas were subsequently exposed to excessive lighting. “You might be doing a lot of revegetation and all of that, but as soon as you put the light in, you might be actually undoing some of that effort,” she said. While the impacts on wildlife are concerning, Dr Yokochi said there were practical steps individuals could take to make their homes and neighbourhoods more wildlife-friendly. Her first recommendation was simple - avoid using artificial lighting when it is not needed. “If the humans don’t need the light in that area at that time, turn it off or don’t have it,” she said. For areas where lighting is necessary, residents can reduce its impact by lowering brightness, choosing warmer-coloured lights instead of bright white or blue lighting, and using mo-
tion sensors so lights are only switched on when needed. She also encouraged people to ensure outdoor lights are directed towards the areas where illumination is required, rather than pointing upwards, and to position them as low as possible. With the festive season approaching, Dr Yokochi said families could still enjoy decorative lighting while being mindful of its impact. She suggested keeping lights indoors where possible, closing curtains or blinds to prevent light spilling outside, and keeping outdoor decorations to a minimum. Where outdoor lighting is used, choosing warmer colours and switching lights off after a couple of hours can make a difference. Dr Yokochi said reducing unnecessary lighting was not only beneficial for wildlife but could also help people save energy and money. She hopes the upcoming talk will help raise awareness about the often-overlooked impacts of light pollution, including its effects on human health and wildlife. “The main thing is to really raise awareness how light that we are putting out there can impact wildlife and ourselves as well,” Dr Yokochi said. She also hopes attendees will leave with a better understanding of the small changes they can make to help create darker, more wildlife-sensitive environments. Friends of Sassafras Creek is a group of passionate volunteers of all ages and abilities working together to care for the habitat and wildlife of Perrins and Sassafras Creeks. The group aims to help native plants, animals and fungi thrive through weed removal and the growing and planting of native species. New members and helping hands are always welcome. For more information about joining the group, contact foscreek@gmail.com.
Boronia RSL Remembrance Day Service When:
Sunday November 8 at 10.30 am
Where: The Knox War Memorial Located at the Tim Neville Arboretum Dorset Road Ferntree Gully cnr Dorset Road and Francis Crescent Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the commemorative service on this very important day Boronia RSL 198 Dorset Road Boronia | 9762 2314 4 MAIL | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
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Council quizzed on stormwater compo By Callum Ludwig A question submitted at the Tuesday 27 October Yarra Ranges Council meeting has highlighted the cost of the council’s legal fees when residents have brought claims against the council for stormwater damage. Lilydale resident Rachel Kennedy submitted the question and asked the council to disclose how much it had spent on external legal fees and how much it paid for its public liability over the past two years, as well as questioning how the council determines whether to fight a claim rather than opt for “immediate remediation of the municipal drainage failures causing the property damage.” Yarra Ranges Council’s director of corporate services Vincenzo Lombardi was asked to respond to the question. “Over the last two financial years, Council has
incurred approximately $17,711 in fees related to stormwater infrastructure claims, including legal fees, insurer costs, and other related fees, council has also paid approximately $15,324 in legal fees regarding to drainage and stormwater infrastructure advice,” he said. “Due to the complexities, nature of resources, and risk profile of Yarra Ranges, Council’s insurance program is quite complex and expensive, Council’s public liability insurance covers all types of claims against Council, whether it be physical injury in the form of trips and falls or damage to property, which in this case includes stormwater infrastructure claims. “The annual premium is publicly available in the annual financial report, and Council paid $2,377,787 over the past two financial years.” Yarra Ranges Council has advice for any residents seeking compensation from the council
for injury, loss, or damage to property that they may believe was due to negligent actions by the council. Residents are advised to contact their insurer about the incident, contact the council and request a compensation form. The council’s risk management team will review the completed form, which may take 6-8 weeks, before responding with a status update and written decision outlining the reasons for decision and options to have it reviewed. To find out more, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ Apply-pay-report/Online-services/Report-an-issue/Request-compensation-from-council. Mr Lombardi said all public liability claims are managed on a case-by-case basis. “Depending on the individual circumstances, Council will work with our insurer to determine the most appropriate response once considering all factors involved in each claim,” he said.
Flooding has been a consistent problem in Lilydale and other parts of the Yarra Ranges in recent years. (File)
YRC backs annual budget By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Yarra Ranges councillors have unanimously signed off on the Council’s 2025-26 Annual Report, along with its financial statements and performance report, covering the first year of the 2025–2029 Council Plan. The reports were approved at the council’s meeting on Tuesday, 27 October, after considering a recommendation to formally endorse the Annual Report and its accompanying documents. Deputy Mayor Cr Gareth Ward moved the recommendation, which was seconded by Cr Jim Child. Speaking to the motion, Cr Ward said the Annual Report was an important way for council to account to the community for its commitments and achievements. “This annual report is how we account to
the community for what we said we would do, and this one covers our first year of the Council Plan,” he said. Cr Ward, who represents the council alongside Cr Child on the audit and risk management committee, said the committee had reviewed the financial and performance statements and given them strong support. He said the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office had issued an unqualified audit opinion, with no high-risk issues identified during the audit process. Cr Ward also addressed the deficit recorded for the financial year. “This result shows a deficit this year, largely from a one-off write-off of past projects that could not be capitalised,” he said. Cr Ward thanked officers in corporate services and across the organisation for preparing the report, as well as the independent members
of the audit and risk management committee. The 2025-26 Annual Report provides an account of council’s operational and financial performance over the 12 months to 30 June 2026. It includes the Annual Report of Operations, Annual Financial Statements and Performance Statement, prepared in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020 and the Local Government (Planning and Reporting) Regulations 2020. The report outlines council’s achievements, capital works projects and progress against the first year of its 2025-2029 Council Plan. Among the reported service achievements, council reconstructed 21,414 square metres of sealed local roads, received 1199 planning applications and managed $1.95 billion in assets, excluding land. The council also reported 1,248,868 library collection item loans, 80,204
unique visitors to its Shaping Yarra Ranges page and 20,522 visitors to the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum. Its customer experience team answered 105,424 calls, while 12,802 service requests were recorded. Environmental figures included 46,318 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill during the year, alongside 5255 tree management service requests. The report also recorded 5085 children enrolled in maternal and child health services, 181 immunisations given and 3214 animals rehomed. Council’s financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2026 were prepared in accordance with the model statements. The motion was carried unanimously, with no councillors speaking against the recommendation.
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Have your say Help shape Council’s budget priorities! Planning is now underway for Cardinia Shire Council's 2027–28 Budget, and the community is invited to help shape Council's priorities for the year ahead. Whether you live, work and spend time in Cardinia Shire, this is your opportunity to help shape Council’s priorities and how available funding is allocated across community needs. Have your say by: • Visiting our Creating Cardinia engagement platform and completing the Community Priorities Survey or using the Fund It tool. • Making a written submission. • Attending one of our community pop-up sessions. Feedback closes 16 November. For more information, and to provide feedback, please visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay
Authorised by A Hannam, Liberal, Level 12, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000 12912686-MS45-26
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Council on track over drainage By Oliver Winn The Yarra Ranges Council’s recent review of its Stormwater Management Plan revealed steady progress in tackling the region’s “drainage issue”. Councillors highlighted steady progress in the Stormwater Management Plan 2024-2034 Biennial Update at the 27 October council meeting. The report showed that of the 32 actions in the plan, 12 were completed, 13 were progressing or being delivered through ongoing business-as-usual activities, and three were to be completed in the future. Melba Ward councillor Mitch Mazzarella said the report demonstrated the council’s “commitment to tackling the drainage issue”. “It’s a significant issue that’s playing out across much of our shire… There’s only three that are going in the future, so we’re making pretty good progress to tackling this issue,” Cr Mazzarella said. The Yarra Ranges Council manages around 800 kilometres of drains and around 29,000 pits. The Department of Transport and Planning manages drains along major roads, while Melbourne Water is responsible for some 2000 kilometres of drains. “Now, I’m not a drainage expert by any means, but that sounds like quite a lot… Given the fact that we are such a large municipality, this is expensive, no doubt, to maintain,” Cr Mazzarella said. The 32 actions support improved flood risk management, water quality outcomes, integrated water management initiatives and community engagement across the region. A key action for the plan, and the most expensive one, is developing flood mapping in partnership with Melbourne Water. It will cost $1 million funded by existing grants. “This mapping will certainly help inform council’s drainage program and its priorities going forward,” Cr Mazzarella said. But many of the 32 stormwater management actions are “low to no cost”. Most actions will cost less than $100,000; 16 have no cost.
The region’s “drainage issue” is being addressed under the council’s Stormwater Management Plan. (File)
Flooding on Gleghorn road in 2024. (Supplied) The actions are grouped across six different objectives: using stormwater as a resource, addressing existing and future flood risks, healthy and valued waterways, healthy and valued urban and rural landscapes, and community values reflected in stormwater planning and strategic partnerships. One action for the plan is to create a Stormwater Community Reference Panel which Streeton Ward councillor Jeff Marriott said was “very significant” in contributing to the overall plan. Councillors Mazzarella, Marriott, McIlwain and Heenan are members of the panel, which
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also includes community members. Cr Mazzarella said the panel gives the community a “strong voice at the table” to inform council’s plan. “It’s also great to have groups like Melbourne Water come and present at the panel and give these community members a strong understanding about the way that Melbourne Water work.” He encouraged community members to join the panel and to give local input on drains in the region. “We’re not meeting every single day or every single week. It’s not a full-time job.
“But it’s certainly important that we hear from people right across the shire, and we do,” Cr Mazzarella said. The Yarra Ranges’ diverse topography and environment make it a complex region for drains and stormwater management. Cr Mazzarella said the community felt stormwater management had been “neglected” for a long time. “I’m glad to see that it’s finally been taken seriously and we’re actually acting on it in the community’s best interests. “There is still more to do. There’s still drains to improve, and this issue is a huge one which will take a long time to tackle. It will outlive this term, no doubt,” Cr Mazzarella said. The motion was moved unanimously.
Summerset Chirnside Park is a modern village with resort-style facilities that will redefine retirement living, with the reassurance that there will be a residential aged care home onsite.^ We take care of the garden and home maintenance,# so you can find more time to enjoy the things you love. Our first residents have moved in and the village is coming to life. We encourage you to come and experience the lifestyle firsthand at our spring open day or book an appointment with our friendly team. Love the life you choose.
Join us at our spring open day Thursday 12 November, 10am to 2pm Summerset Chirnside Park 10 East Ridge Drive, Chirnside Park 03 8777 4242 | chirnsidepark.sales@summerset.com.au
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*Homes are secured by purchase of the licence to occupy and are subject to availability and entry criteria. Rental options are not available. Images and facilities are indicative. ^Pending completion. #Excluding resident-caused damage and maintenance of any permitted additions and installations.
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NEWS
The Nook is thrown open again for a blooming good cause By Shamsiya Hussainpoor For 18 years, Monbulk resident, Val Jackson has opened her garden, ‘The Nook’ to the public, sharing the beautiful space she and her late husband, Don, created together. What began as a shared love of gardening has grown into an annual tradition, with Ms Jackson opening The Nook to visitors on Saturday 7, and Sunday 8 November, from 10am to 4.30pm at 5 Tavistock Road, Monbulk. This year will mark the 18th time Ms Jackson and Monbulk CFA have joined forces for the fundraising event, inviting visitors to wander through the carefully cultivated garden, take in its colourful displays and enjoy a little time away from the everyday. For Ms Jackson, however, opening the garden is about much more than fundraising, it’s an opportunity to honour the memory of her late husband, whose horticultural knowledge and garden design expertise helped shape The Nook into what it is today. “My darling Don, he was the horticulturist and garden designer, so he was my mentor,” Ms Jackson said. “Each time I open it, it’s in his memory, because it wouldn’t be a garden like this without Don.” The couple moved to the property in 2000, immediately falling in love with its sunny aspect and the opportunities it offered for the plants they enjoyed growing. While the property already had established brick garden paths, the couple gradually developed the garden together, eventually opening it to the public after being
Val Jackson and Poppy in the garden. (Stewart Chambers: 587589) approached by Open Gardens Australia in 2003. The garden was also featured on Channel Nine before making an appearance on Gardening Australia in 2010. After Mr Jackson passed away in 2007, Ms Jackson chose to keep the tradition going, continuing the garden they had both poured so much love and effort into. Now, 26 years after first arriving at The Nook, Ms Jackson continues to find comfort and purpose in tending to the garden, describing it as “one of the most important parts of her life”. “It’s just the love of my life. I’ve always loved it, and it just gives me so much comfort,” she said. “It’s very therapeutic. It’s great exercise, and the opening is a lovely social day because you meet so many people.”
Visitors will find plenty to explore, with approximately 90 roses, clematis, perennials, established camellias, rhododendrons and beautiful deciduous trees throughout the garden. The roses are among the garden’s standout features, with Ms Jackson particularly enjoying sharing her knowledge of the different varieties with visitors. She said she was always happy to answer questions about planting, pruning and fertilising, and often gave away cuttings to fellow gardening enthusiasts. For Ms Jackson, passing on the knowledge she gained from her husband is just as rewarding as seeing visitors enjoy the garden. “I learned all this from Don, and I want to pass on his knowledge,” she said. She also hopes the garden offers visitors an
opportunity to slow down, connect with others and enjoy its peaceful surroundings. Some visitors spend several hours wandering through the garden, while others simply find a quiet spot to sit and take in the surroundings. Ms Jackson said she had even welcomed people who came seeking a little peace and quiet during difficult times. “It’s a happy garden because it’s bright and cheery,” she said. Alongside the garden, visitors will also be able to browse artwork and handmade garden pieces from local couple Jill and Craig, as well as plants sold by Lorraine, who propagates the plants herself. Ms Jackson expects the additional attractions, combined with growing interest in the event, could draw between 300 and 400 visitors, potentially more. Entry is $10, with proceeds going towards Monbulk CFA, which has supported the event over the years, including helping with the printing of promotional flyers. The partnership is one Ms Jackson particularly values, saying she is always pleased to be able to support the volunteer organisation through something she loves. With Poppy, her much-loved dog, also part of life in the garden, The Nook remains a place shaped by years of dedication, shared memories and a genuine love of gardening. For Ms Jackson, seeing familiar faces return each year, alongside visitors discovering the garden for the first time, makes the effort worthwhile. And while the flowers may be the main attraction, it is the sense of community that keeps the tradition blooming.
Unplug, unwind and connect By Shamsiya Hussainpoor A new weekly gathering of puzzles, embroidery and knitting is bringing Kallista locals together. The Hills’ first Hoi Polloi, a name derived from ancient Greek meaning ‘the many’ or ‘the people’, brought together a group of guests, each finding their own way to enjoy the space and connect with others. Dee Appleton and Angie Cockrem are behind the new weekly gathering, which offers a welcoming space for locals to connect and spend time together at Kallista Mechanics Hall every Wednesday from 5.30pm to 9pm. A few worked together to complete a 500-piece puzzle, with others dropping in to help along the way, while one guest brought along a favourite top in need of repair and used an embroidery hoop and yarn to give it some attention. One of the attendees, Janette said the gathering offered exactly the kind of welcoming atmosphere she had hoped for. “Attending the first Hills Hoi Polloi was like stepping into the lounge room of a good friend,” she said. “I met a few people who I hadn’t met before, shared some laughs over a jigsaw puzzle and had the most delicious chai.” Some guests brought along their favourite games and showed others how to play, giving everyone a chance to join in. There was also time for creativity, with one
Guests gather at the inaugural Hills Hoi Polloi event. (Supplied) guest producing an artwork that he gifted to the organisers, while a small knitting project gradually became a communal effort, with others adding to it and the organisers are now considering whether it could grow into a joint Hoi Polloi blanket project. Food was also part of the evening, with a shared meal, chai and treats provided by donation. Janette said she enjoyed seeing people embrace the space in different ways, with some quietly reading while others chatted, ate and spent time together in the kitchen. “What a wonderful initiative to bring a gathering space alive and to build a stronger community. I loved it and hope to introduce some of my local friends to Hills Hoi Polloi,” she said.
Board games at the Hills Hoi Polloi event. (Supplied) The idea behind Hills Hoi Polloi is to create opportunities for people to connect in meaningful, wholesome ways, making time for activities and conversations that can easily be pushed
aside in everyday life. Its organisers describe the Hills as a place that attracts people looking for a different pace of life, often with a desire to live a little slower, more creatively and a little left of centre. The weekly gatherings at Kallista Mechanics Hall are designed to offer a regular place for people to explore those interests, whether that means learning something new, practising an old skill, reading, making, playing games, working on a puzzle or simply enjoying the company of others. The space has been set up to feel like a comfortable lounge room, complete with lamps, a couch, armchairs, rugs and cushions. Guests can also make use of a range of art and craft supplies, games, puzzles, a writing nook and a library of books. Beyond the weekly gatherings, Dee Appleton and Angie Cockrem are planning a series of roving events towards the end of the year and into 2027, taking activities and gatherings to different locations around the mountain. Ideas include workshops, flea markets, bush dances and live music, with the aim of creating soulful community experiences that are grounded, a little unexpected and small enough to remain personal. At its heart, Hills Hoi Polloi is about the value of being together and the sense of joy and wellbeing that can come from sharing time, skills, food and conversation. As its organisers put it: good people doing good things, together.
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OPINION
Two sides of the big race WOORILLA WORDS By Maria Millers
The Melbourne Cup carries a complicated legacy. (File)
From The Melbourne Cup by Jenny Moxham: For horses whipped, with bursting hearts This race that stops a nation, Is just another race of pain And heartless exploitation. There is something wonderfully Australian about the first Tuesday in November. The fashions, the flutter of excitement, the hopeful punters and, above all, the magnificent horses gathering at Flemington. However, a sporting tradition can become so familiar that uncomfortable questions are overlooked. The race that stops a nation has traditionally been celebrated across Australia from office sweeps and Cup parties to the downing of tools as the race is run. And is viewed by millions across the world. But more and more questions are being raised about the use of animals for human entertainment, gambling and commercial profit. And in tough economic times there is something unsettling in seeing the contrast between wealth on display and knowing of the financial pressures facing ordinary households. More so on the day the Reserve Bank announces the latest interest rate. For centuries, horse racing, known as the Sport of Kings, has been one of the most popular sports. It is now a multi-billion dollar industry. The Melbourne Cup total prize pool is $10.2 million, including prize money and trophies. And according to the VRC it brings $5.5 billion in
economic activity to the state each year and supports nearly 34,000 full-time equivalent jobs. But while thousands dress up, drink champagne and celebrate extraordinary wealth and privilege in corporate marquees in the Birdcage, many ordinary Australians are worrying about mortgage repayments, rising living costs and household budgets. Of course, those who love the atmosphere and spectacle are prepared to put such considerations aside for the day and hope their yearly flutter may bring some joy. This hope of backing the winner is vividly described by Banjo Patterson in A Dream of the Melbourne Cup (1886). The poem opens with a wonderfully humorous description of how he intends to dream up the Cup winner by making sure he eats heartily to get a good sleep and be able to dream up the winner. Bring me a quart of colonial beer And some doughy damper to make good cheer, I must make a heavy dinner; Heavily dine and heavily sup, Of indigestible things fill up, Next month they run the Melbourne Cup, And I have to dream the winner. But we should not forget the horses whose welfare deserves our consideration. The Melbourne Cup, Australia’s major annual thoroughbred horse race is for horses three years and over. It’s regarded
as the most prestigious two mile handicap race in the world and the most challenging. Over the years concerns about the welfare of the horses has been growing. As reported by the ABC the annual DeathWatch report by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR), which tracks racing-related deaths nationally, has upped Victoria’s list of racing related deaths of horses in 2025 to 48. Racing Victoria disputes the methodology saying that the Victorian figure was 22 racing fatalities. That disagreement itself raises an important question about transparency and accountability for horse welfare. As well, the group behind the Nup to the Cup anti-horse racing campaign has declared Victoria the deadliest state for horses last racing season. Even that first Melbourne Cup had not been without its drama. A fall brought three horses down, killing two and injuring two jockeys. The race was not stopped and ended up as a contest between the local favourite Mormon and a NSW entrant Archer. Archer who won was to go on and win the Cup twice adding fuel to interstate rivalry and further excitement to the running of the Cup. By the end of the 19th century the Melbourne Cup had become a national event. In 1877, the first Tuesday in November was officially declared a public holiday in Melbourne which ensured crowds flocking to the track. Faced with waning crowd attendances in the 1960s, the VRC Committee held the first Fashions on the Field competition at Flemington in 1962, in an effort to woo female racegoers to back the races. Now a national competition, state finalists from heats staged around the country during the Spring Racing season are flown to Melbourne, where the Victorian finalist is selected during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The National Final then takes place on Crown Oakes Day. Some may remember the shock caused by UK model Jean Shrimpton at the 1966 Cup wearing a mini dress no hat, no stockings. The emphasis was
once on elegance; today some outfits are jarring and almost verging on bad taste. The champagne flows, the fashions shine, The wealthy gather, dressed to dine. The crowds applaud, the punters cheer, While household budgets disappear. The Birdcage itself has evolved from a practical horse-racing enclosure into a major corporate hospitality and entertainment precinct. Originally, it was the paddock where horses were prepared and saddled before racing. It was enclosed in 1887 to keep spectators at a safe distance. The exclusivity of the area soon made it a fashionable place to be seen. Today, it serves three main purposes: corporate entertaining for invited guests, promotion of luxury brands .and social networking for business leaders, celebrities and clients There has been consternation about behaviour at the Cup, the mismatch between the TV images of Fashions on the Field and people gambling, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol and engaging in disorderly behaviour This raises an interesting question: Has the festivalisation of the Melbourne Cup become as much a business event as a sporting event? To continue thriving, horse racing will require a strong social licence to operate, strong enough to counteract the increasingly loud critical voices. Certainly, there are, and will always be, those who continue to defend the practices and ethics surrounding horse racing. Indeed, the importance of the Cup in the national economy is well established, and virtually guarantees its survival, at least in the short to medium term. Nonetheless, we cannot rule out the power of social media, and the possibility that in time, opposition to the race may gain enough momentum to threaten the long-term future of the industry. TThe Woorilla Prize Awards event will be held on Sunday 22 November at 2pm. Visit: woorilla.com.au.
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Regional migration reaches equal-record June quarter high as Northern Queensland emerges as a growth hotspot Regional migration reaches equalrecord June quarter high as Northern Queensland emerges as a growth hotspot. The latest Regional Movers Index reveals a northerly trend as Queensland’s Burdekin, Tablelands and Douglas regions attract some of nation’s strongest growth in net internal Migration. Australians are continuing to embrace regional living, with the latest Regional Movers Index (RMI) showing capital-to-regional migration reached its equal-highest June quarter on record, matching levels last seen in 2021. The RMI is a partnership between the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) and Regional Australia Institute (RAI), and tracks population movements between Australia’s capital cities to regions, and region-to-region migration. The latest results show capital city residents moving to regional. Australia continued to outnumber those moving in the opposite direction by 30%.
While established destinations continued to attract the largest share of movers, this quarter also points to a broader spread of migration into more regional communities as the benefits of regional living draw people further afield. Northern Queensland was particularly prominent, with the LGAs of Burdekin, Tablelands and Douglas among the nation’s fastest growing destinations. RAI CEO Liz Ritchie says movement typically eases during the June quarter as fewer Australians tend to relocate in the cooler months, which makes this result particularly noteworthy. “The Regional Movers Index recorded its equal highest June quarter on record, matching the height of migration reached during the pandemic in 2021. This tells us the appeal of country living remains incredibly strong all year round, even outside the traditional peak moving periods,” Ritchie said. CBA Regional and Agribusiness Banking Executive General Manager Kylie Allen says Northern
Queensland’s growth comes alongside broad industry investment helping generate diverse local economies. Burdekin is supported by agriculture, manufacturing and renewable energy, while the Tablelands is strong in both agribusiness and tourism benefiting from its proximity to Cairns. Douglas is backed by a vibrant tourism economy and continued investment in local Infrastructure. “Across Northern Queensland, local investment is helping regions capitalise on their distinct strengths and drive broader economic growth. When local businesses invest and expand, the benefits flow through the wider economy, creating jobs, attracting skilled workers and strengthening the services and supply chains that help regional communities thrive,” Allen said. Not to be outdone by the Sunshine State, Central Goldfields in Victoria took out the number one spot for the fastest growing destination in the country. “As more Australians embrace regional living, sustained migration is
strengthening local economies while underscoring the need for services and infrastructure that keeps pace with growing communities,” Allen said. Find out more at CommBank Newsroom 12909190-JO45-26
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LILYDALE & YARRA VALLEY SHOW 12915245-EA45-26
A weekend of family fun The Lilydale & Yarra Valley Show is set to bring the community together for a weekend celebrating agriculture, entertainment and local talent, with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained. A much loved tradition in the region, the annual show celebrates the area’s agricultural and horticultural heritage while providing a fun filled experience for people of all ages. Visitors can look forward to a variety of attractions, with animal displays, agricultural exhibits, art and craft, cookery, photography and horticultural competitions showcasing the talents and dedication of local exhibitors. For families with young children, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved, with free entertainment for the little ones including sand art card making, pony rides, games and other fun activities. These attractions offer younger visitors the chance to get creative, try something new and enjoy a memorable day at the show. A special highlight for children will be the Hobby Horse Decorating Competition, giving budding young creators the opportunity to use their imagination and decorate their own hobby horse. It is a wonderful way to encourage creativity and bring a little extra fun to the showgrounds. Families are encouraged to keep an eye out for competition details and entry information. Those who enjoy the sights and sounds of a traditional country show will find plenty to explore. From browsing competition displays and discovering handmade creations to enjoying carnival rides, showbags, food stalls and entertainment, there is something to appeal to visitors of all ages. The show also provides an opportunity for local residents to see the skills and creativity of people across the community. Competition entries celebrate everything from gardening and cooking to artistic and craft achievements, helping keep traditional show activities alive for another generation. Families can make a day of their visit, enjoying the attractions together, sampling a range of food and refreshments and soaking up the lively atmosphere. Whether it is a child’s excitement at the pony rides, creating a colourful sand art card, decorating a hobby horse or discovering a favourite show treat, there are plenty of opportunities to make lasting memories. Beyond the entertainment, the Lilydale & Yarra Valley Show plays an important role in supporting the local community. Bringing together exhibitors, volunteers, community organisations, stallholders and visitors, the event provides a valuable opportunity to recognise local talent and celebrate the people who make the region special. With its combination of country traditions, family activities and community spirit, the Lilydale & Yarra Valley Show continues to bring generations together for a fantastic local celebration. For ticket information, opening times and updates on the program, visit lilydaleyarravalleyshow.com.au. Gather the family, invite friends and enjoy a weekend celebrating the traditions, talent and community spirit of Lilydale and the Yarra Valley.
The Lilydale & Yarra Valley Show is always fun for all the family. (Supplied)
since 1904
Creatives across the region will be showing off their works.
Scan for ticket
See the showcase of local produce.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
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Dr Anuj Bohra, Donna, Alannah, Vanessa, Nurse Kirsten, Dr Sadia Chowdhury, Kate, Dr Tina Zhong and Dr Binay Kumar. (Stewart Chambers: 574362)
Measured way to better health Weight gain isn’t simply about eating too much or moving too little. Genetics, age, sleep, medications, menopause, medical conditions and mental health can all play a role. A personalised, medically supervised approach can help identify what’s affecting your weight and provide practical support that is tailored to your health, goals and circumstances. At Lilydale Doctors and Mount Evelyn Doctors, our Weight Management Clinic helps you understand the factors contributing to weight gain and develop a realistic plan for sustainable progress — not a one-size-fits-all program. GP and director Dr Binay Kumar said weight management is about more than the number on
the scale. “It’s about understanding what’s driving your weight and giving you the right support for sustainable change — including how weight and metabolic health affect your heart, so risks are identified and managed early,” he said. Weight Management: Assessment may include a review of your medical history, medications, eating patterns, activity, sleep, mental health and previous weight-loss attempts. We may also check your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, waist measurement and body composition. These checks can identify health risks associated with excess weight, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes,
abnormal cholesterol and increased cardiovascular risk. Where appropriate, your doctor will discuss nutrition, activity, behavioural support and medical treatment options inc injectables. Ongoing reviews allow your plan to adapt as your health, circumstances and goals change — helping you stay supported and make progress over time. Weight and Your Heart: Weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar are closely linked to heart health. Carrying excess weight — particularly around the waist — can increase the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, abnormal cholesterol and heart disease. A Heart Health Check is recommended
if you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, excess weight or a family history of heart disease. It doesn’t diagnose blocked arteries directly — it estimates your overall cardiovascular risk and helps guide the next step, whether that involves lifestyle changes, medication or further testing. Having an assessment can help you understand your current risk and identify opportunities to protect your health before problems become more serious. Our clinics offer cardiovascular risk assessment, ECGs and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, with echocardiograms, Holter monitoring and visiting cardiologist review available where clinically indicated.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
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Put physical wellbeing first In a world where busy schedules and sedentary lifestyles increasingly affect physical wellbeing, access to quality healthcare has never been more important. Local businesses that prioritise movement, recovery and preventative care play a vital role in helping communities remain active and healthy. Form & Practice, a physiotherapy and movement business serving the Dandenong Ranges and Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, reflects this growing need. With practices in Olinda, Mount Evelyn and Chirnside Park, alongside its new Boronia clinic, the business highlights the importance of making health and movement accessible to more people. The opening of Form & Practice’s Boronia clinic marks an important step in the business’s continued development. Having first opened in Olinda in 2004, the business continues to expand its reach, helping more people access professional support for injuries, pain and physical limitations closer to home. At Boronia, physiotherapists Mitchell Mullens and Riley Anastasi bring complementary expertise to patient care. Riley’s special interests include osteoarthritis and osteoporosis management, lower-limb and hip injuries, while Mitch focuses on sports and athletic injuries, shoulder and upper-limb conditions. Both also treat general musculoskeletal conditions, helping patients improve mobility and return to everyday activities. At the centre of Form & Practice’s approach is the relationship between physiotherapy and movement. Physiotherapy supports people managing injuries, persistent pain and mobility difficulties, helping them regain confidence in their bodies. However, recovery does not necessarily end when pain subsides. Building strength, improving flexibility and maintaining physical activity are equally important for long-term health. Across its four locations, Form & Practice combines personalised physiotherapy with services including remedial massage, myotherapy, strength and conditioning, and clinical exercise to support people at different stages of their wellbeing journey.
At Form and Practice, the team believe better movement lead to better living. (584491) This philosophy extends to the business’s Pilates offerings. Mount Evelyn and Chirnside Park feature dedicated Reformer Pilates fitness studios, providing a controlled, low-impact approach to developing strength, balance, flexibility and body awareness. Alongside these studios, physiotherapist-led strength and clinical Pilates classes are available at all four locations, including Boronia. These classes offer a clinically informed approach to movement, helping participants work towards their individual strength and mobility goals. By connecting physiotherapy with ongoing exercise, Form & Practice encourages people to view movement not simply as a way to recover from injury or improve fitness, but as an essential part of maintaining physical wellbeing. Form & Practice is built on the belief that better movement leads to better living. Across its practices in Olinda, Mount Evelyn, Chirnside Park and Boronia, the business brings together professional expertise, personalised care and purposeful movement to help people recover, build strength and maintain an active lifestyle. Through its commitment to accessible healthcare and long-term wellbeing, Form & Practice strives to make a meaningful difference in the communities it serves, helping people move better, feel stronger and live well.
With four locations across the Outer East, including a new clinic in Boronia, you can find your local Form and Practice with ease. (584491)
NOW OPEN IN BORONIA OLINDA 1542 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd P: 9751 0400 hello@formandpractice.com.au
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Dr Hannah Skehan & Dr Bridie Homfray Your local Hills optometrists, from Monbulk to Belgrave
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Principal physiotherapist Ben Croxford in the studio. (Stewart Chambers: 584491)
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Come see if Lilydale Valley Views is the place for you or your loved ones. (Supplied)
Lilydale Valley Views has built a strong sense of community over 15 years.
Retirement living with heart Where the Yarra Valley meets the Dandenong Ranges, Lilydale Valley Views offers more than a place to live, it’s a vibrant community where retirement is enjoyed to the fullest. For over 15 years, the village has grown into a welcoming environment where residents feel at home. With 139 residences, including semi attached two and three bedroom units and cosy terraces, there is a style to suit every preference. Whether it’s sweeping valley views or the ease of low maintenance living, each home is designed
for comfort and connection. Lifestyle is at the heart of Lilydale Valley Views. A heated indoor pool and spa provide year round relaxation, while Tai Chi, dancercise, and other group activities keep minds and bodies active. A strong sense of community sets the village apart. The resident social committee organises a calendar filled with outings, celebrations, and casual get togethers, ensuring there are always opportunities to connect. Friendships form quickly and newcomers are warmly welcomed, making it
easy to feel part of the community from day one. The location adds to the appeal. Doctors, supermarkets, and the train station are all within walking distance, while the nearby Warburton Trail offers scenic walks and bike rides. On site, a thriving veggie and flower garden brings people together in the simple pleasure of growing and sharing. It is this blend of convenience, activity, and companionship that makes Lilydale Valley Views such a special place. Here, retirement is not about
slowing down, but about enjoying life surrounded by people who value the same. We invite you to experience it for yourself. Discover the comfort of terrace living, the beauty of the views, and the warmth of a truly connected community. For more information, visit us at 471 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale, email manager@lilydalevalleyviews.com.au, or call 03 9735 5944 to speak with our manager, Rosemary Seymour. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
A better retirement lifestyle. Our current property for sale.
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Please contact Rosemary Seymour to make an appointment to view A107.
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Large and comfortable two bedroom home, featuring two bathrooms & small study area. The open plan living dining area is ample in size and gives an even greater sense of space due to the amazing north facing views over the Yarra Valley mountains.
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12914523-MS45-26
Come speak to Hills local Debbie and the Nurse Next Door team. (File)
$1m of free nursing care Almost 154,000 older Australians are waiting to receive approved in-home aged care funding, facing wait times of up to eight months. For families across Melbourne’s Outer East— including Ringwood, Croydon, Lilydale, Knox, and the Dandenong Ranges—this means months
of trying to manage everyday tasks at home without vital support. For those without the financial means to pay privately in the meantime, a dangerous gap exists between the care they need now and the care available to them. To bridge this gap, Nurse Next
Scan Me
Making Lives Better,
®
Door has launched The Making Lives Better Million, a national commitment providing $1 million worth of free, short-term care to older Australians who have fallen through the cracks. This initiative provides immediate, temporary care—such as personal care, clinical support after leaving hospital, companionship, or professional nursing—while individuals wait for a sustainable, government-funded solution. Locals Caring for Locals In Melbourne’s Outer East, this initiative is delivered by local caregivers and nurses led by Debbie Hill, a local Tecoma resident and Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience in Intensive Care, Emergency, and GP clinics. “We know there are older people in our local neighbourhoods who need help right now, but the care simply isn’t there yet,” Debbie said. “We can’t solve all the challenges in aged care, but we want to make lives a little better while they wait. This is about locals caring for locals.”
Before care begins, a Nurse Next Door Care Designer (Registered Nurse) assesses the applicant’s needs to ensure the free care makes the greatest possible difference. Debbie’s team can also help families navigate the My Aged Care system at no charge. Who Can Apply? The program operates as one national pool of free care. Applications are considered individually based on urgency, financial circumstances, and care needs. To qualify, applicants must live within a Nurse Next Door service area, which includes suburbs across Knox, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges, and Monash (such as Ferntree Gully, Belgrave, and Glen Waverley). Older locals, family members, or healthcare professionals are encouraged to apply or nominate someone today. Apply online: nursenextdoor.com.au/themaking-lives-better-million or call the local team: 1300 070 247 (or 24/7 Care Services on 1300 600 247).
In your own home, on your own terms. From Caregiving to 24/7 Nursing.
Nurse Next Door has helped keep local legend Desi doing what he loves in Belgrave. (File)
• Disability Support
• Companionship
• Dementia Care
• In-Home Nursing
• Personal Care
• Transportation
• 24/7 Home Care
• Respite Care
• And more...
1300 100 247 mailcommunity.com.au
12779489-MS26-25
We are a Government Approved Home Care Package Provider.
nursenextdoor.com.au Reach out to Debbie and the Nurse Next Door team to help with in-home care. (File)
Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 | MAIL 15
12914779-KH44-26
SENIOR LIVING
Every feature of the design is focused on what it would be like to live at Hamlet Lilydale.
See whether the Hamlet Lilydale lifestyle is for you.
What a floorplan fails to show The Hamlet approach to home design At Hamlet Lilydale, the details that never appear on a floorplan are the ones homeowners feel every day. Before a single wall was drawn, the Hamlet team asked a simple question: what would it feel like to live here? To wake up here, cook here, or sit on the deck with a coffee on a Sunday morning. Every decision since, from the curve of the streets to the placement of a window, comes back to that. It begins with the street The streets at Hamlet Lilydale gently curve, and that’s deliberate. A straight road draws the eye down the bitumen. A curved one turns it towards gardens, trees and the green corridors beyond. In fact, 65 per cent of the site is kept as open green space, including a naturally landscaped reserve running down to Olinda Creek. Where homes in many communities sit hard against the street, Hamlet homes are set further back. That extra depth makes room for layered gardens that filter the light and offer privacy, windows that look out onto greenery, and somewhere for visitors to park. It’s also why many Hamlet homes have a single or one-and-a-half car garage, with room to park in the driveway. If they were all double car garages, they would swallow both the parking and the garden. One less car door, one more tree, and a greener street for everyone to enjoy. Inside the homes Inside, the same thinking carries through. Hamlet homes don’t fill their lots, so there’s more light, more garden and more air between neighbours. Bedrooms and living spaces look to the street or the garden rather than the fence. Many rooms have a second window on another wall, bringing in light at different times of day and letting the breeze through. Every home runs east-west, with morning sun on one side and afternoon light on the other, and living rooms face north. The homes are generous where it counts. Living spaces are open, and entries have room for a shoe rack, a hall table and a proper hello with friends. Rooms are planned so homeowners can bring the furniture they love. The kitchen has a 2.5-metre porcelain island bench with room for bar stools and conversation, with a custom-designed double sink, so the washing up is done facing out, not facing a wall. Well-sized garages and generous cupboards mean downsizing a home doesn’t mean giving up everything in it, only the upkeep that came with it. Comfort that’s felt, not seen Some of the best features of a Hamlet home are hidden in the walls. Each home has doubleglazed windows, high-performance floor, ceiling and wall insulation, weather seals on every door and window, and ducted heating and cooling. Together they achieve the equivalent of a 7-star NatHERS rating, keeping warmth in through winter and heat out through summer. The homes are also all-electric, with no gas connection and induction cooking. That means one less bill, and one less supply charge. Homeowners notice it at 6am in July, when the floor isn’t cold underfoot. And they notice it again
16 MAIL | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
Find a home at Hamlet Lilydale. (Supplied) when the energy bill arrives. A look of its own From the outside, Hamlet homes have a modern country look of their own. Instead of the Victorian verandahs typical of the over-50s sector, they feature clean gables, honest materials and colours drawn from the surrounding landscape, so they sit naturally in their setting. Homeowners don’t have to adapt to these homes. They were designed to fit the people of the Yarra Ranges who will live in them. None of these details shout from a floorplan: a considered streetscape, orientation that makes the most of the sun, low-VOC paints and finishes, double glazing no one will ever think about, and energy bills that are noticeably smaller. But together, they’re felt the moment someone walks in: room to breathe, light that moves through the day, and green views from every room people live in. Feel the difference for yourself Floorplans only tell part of the story. To find out more about the homes at Hamlet Lilydale, contact Marion for a chat or to book a place at an upcoming information session via marion@hamletliving.com.au or 0482 672 325.
Hamlet home are carefully curated for comfort.
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Beautiful to live in. Effortless to keep. A boutique over 50s downsizer community beside Bellbird Park & Lillydale Lake. Fewer than 40 homes remain.
Morning sun on one side of the house, afternoon light on the other. A porcelain kitchen bench with room for friends to pull up a stool. An entry with space for a hall table and a proper hello. These are the details we designed Hamlet homes around. We also designed them to cost less to live in. Every home is all-electric, double glazed and well insulated, so they stay warm through winter and cool through summer without the heater or air con working overtime. There’s no gas bill, and your fixed water and sewer charges are already covered in your weekly Hamlet fee. Fewer bills, smaller bills.
Book your personal consultation today with Marion. Visit hamletliving.com.au or call 0482 672 325.
12882311-LD45-26
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Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 | MAIL 17
OPINION
Dutch settlers in Mt Evelyn Dutch immigrants to Mt Evelyn, particularly after World War II, have helped to shape the character of the local community. Earlier this year the Monbulk Historical Society created an exhibition at the Monbulk Hub called From the Lowlands to the Ranges: Celebrating Dutch Heritage in the Monbulk District, which was followed by a book of the same name. The book contains nearly twice as many family stories as the exhibition. Members of Mt Evelyn History Group, some of whom had worked on the Monbulk Project and attended the exhibition and book launch, were inspired by the stories they read, and wanted to know more about the people from the Netherlands who settled here. The end result of our research will be a publication on the topic of Dutch
Looking
back
Paula Herlihy
Mount Evelyn History Group President settlement in Mt Evelyn. Jill Koolmees has created an online survey. We invite all people with Dutch heritage who have lived in, worked in, or had an attachment to Mt Evelyn to please go online and fill in the survey at:
tinyurl.com/hr33tcs5. We are interested in the facts of your immigration journey and settlement, but also in your impressions, feelings and stories. Most of the questions enable you to give a long answer, so please feel free to respond at length where appropriate. Not all questions need be answered – they are there to guide you towards what we plan to write about. The survey concentrates on the experience of migration and settlement, but Mt Evelyn History Group is interested in all aspects of the Dutch experience, including that of Australianborn generations. We are fortunate to have enthusiastic members and friends who have offered to meet with families and help them to write their stories, armed with a print copy of the survey to guide
the sort of information we hope to obtain. Your responses will be stored in the MEHG archives, and be used to illustrate chapters in the book on topics such as Work, Artists and Community Organisations, and perhaps published in our newsletter, Things Past. A printed version of the survey can also be obtained from emailing us at mtevelynhistorygroup@gmail.com. This can be downloaded, filled in, and emailed back to that address, or mailed to PO Box 289, Mt Evelyn. Please share these forms with any members of the Mt Evelyn community with Dutch heritage. For more information, please contact Gerry van Horick at gahorick@bigpond.com or Paula Herlihy, President Mt Evelyn History Group, on 9736 2935 and leave a message.
Klara and the Sun review
CARTOON
Klara and the Sun Starring Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams and Mia Tharia M 3.75/5 Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun is the latest film from Kiwi writer-director Taika Waititi, and follows a quirky android named Klara (Jenna Ortega) as she bonds with her new human family. Ortega plays Klara with an immensely cute naive optimism. Some viewers found Klara’s perky awkwardness rather autisticcoded (pun intended), and Klara develops a deeply touching relationship with Josie (Mia Tharia), a gifted teenager for whom Klara serves as a store-bought robotic companion. The film is full of warm, colourful cinematography, and Josie’s distant, quietly grieving mother Chrissie (Amy Adams) has an amusing arc of slow begrudging acceptance toward Klara. The backstory of Josie’s deceased sister Sal is a little underbaked, but Klara and Josie’s friendship, the latter’s chronic illness and Klara’s vendetta against a polluting harvester robot weave together nicely into an affecting journey of love, loyalty and above all faith, as Klara talks and prays to the Sun as if it were a god. I can’t comment on book-to-film accura-
cy (and the film has been widely torn to shreds on that front), but film Klara’s warm and fuzzy story left me satisfied. Josie is a genius thanks to “Lifted” genetic engineering, but the film barely acknowledges the obvious privilege of the Lifted class beyond a terribly on-the-nose party scene with other Lifted teens, whom are presented as pompous jerks dressed like Hunger Games characters. Moreover, the film only barely acknowledges how Klara and other androids, as sentient consumer products, are basically slaves. Klara and the Sun feels like Blade Runner and Gattaca filtered through Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amelie, so it’s a shame that the worldbuilding is so shallow. Even so, Klara and the Sun is a sad but sweet sci-fi fairytale with beautiful art direction. - Seth Lukas Hynes
Closer review: A sterling success Kemp’s curtain call Karralyka Theatre All Revved Up – Ultimate Rock Experience It’s a spectacular live concert experience that transcends typical tribute shows with all the drama, emotion and sheer spectacle that Meat Loaf’s legendary performances command. This Adelaide-based theatrical rock production brings the extraordinary music and powerhouse performances of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf in all their glory – soaring ballads theatrical storytelling and unforgettable themes. Released in October 1977, Bat Out of Hell to the singalong magic of Paradise by the Dashboard Light, every song is performed with passion, power and ethnicity. Season: Saturday 6 March 2027. CPP Community Theatre Love Rides the Rails Set in the US in 1892, this classic melodrama has everything you could want from the genre: dashing heroes, distressed damsels, sinister villains, scheming feminine fatales, narrow escapes, and plenty of audience interaction. With larger-than-life characters’ highly stylised performances, a live musical accompanist and plenty of laughs, Love Rides the Rails is a wonderfully entertaining ride from start to finish.
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18 MAIL | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
CPP Community Theatre will be holding an information night where you can meet the director, hear about her vision for the production, learn more about the unique world of melodrama, take part in the script readings and sign up for an audition. This production will also feature ensemble opportunities, musical interludes and a variety of performance styles (think juggling, conjuring, plate-spinning), making it a fantastic chance for performers of all experience levels to get involved. Attendance at the Information Night is highly recommended for anyone interested in auditioning as it forms an important part of the audition process. Even if you are not planning to audition, come along anyway – there are plenty of opportunities both on and off stage to be part of this exciting production. The 1812 Theatre A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie. An announcement in the local paper states the time and place when a murder is to occur in Miss Blacklock’s Victorian home. 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 amid 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 - 12 December REVIEW Closer A co-production between Avid Theatre and The
•
Kemp delivers the run down on outer east theatre productions. (File) 1812 Theatre held in The Bakery at 181. A show definitely not for under 18-year-olds. Full of incorrect language and quotes not suitable for the younger members of our society. The story is of an American woman in London who was hit by a car. On going to the doctor, she falls for him and then another man enters and she falls for him. Her name is Alice and she was played by Abby Pettigrew. Abby gave a wonderful portrayal of the character with her scenes with the other characters were very successful. Dan was played by Tim Cox, who gave a good portrayal of such a character and worked well with the other actors.
Larry was interpreted by Michael Fenemore who also added to the high standard of the production with a polished performance. Anna was played by Kate Lawson, who gave a sterling performance and handled the role with finesse. All the cast worked well with each other, thus adding to the high standard of the evening. The set was simple: a large screen to the rear with the various scenes projected onto it. Except in one scene where the two men communicated by computer and the comments were projected on the screen. The remaining set was basic and moved in and out by the cast and rear staff. Very smoothly done and added to the play’s success.
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TIMELESS HILLS CHARM WITH A CONTEMPORARY TWIST mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 19
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
TIMELESS HILLS CHARM WITH A CONTEMPORARY TWIST ON 1,144M² PERFECTLY positioned in one of Upwey’s premium locations, this captivating two-storey residence delivers an exceptional combination of architectural charm, contemporary comfort and generous family living. Set on a magnificent 1,144m² (approx.) flat and usable block, the home showcases a striking dark timber façade, warm brick accents and a distinctive design, creating a wonderful sense of character and individuality in a peaceful Upwey setting. Step inside and discover a home brimming with personality, where exposed timber beams, feature brickwork and a striking spiral staircase set the scene. The expansive open plan lounge and dining area is filled with natural light, complemented by timber look flooring and sliding doors that effortlessly connect indoor living with the outdoors. At the heart of the home, a spacious family kitchen impresses with distinctive green cabinetry, quality appliances, extensive benchtops, a generous breakfast bar and excellent storage, providing the perfect space for everyday family life and entertaining. Upstairs, the versatile floorplan offers exceptional accommodation with five bedrooms, including a generous master retreat complete with a walk-in robe and beautifully renovated ensuite featuring a luxurious freestanding bath, double vanity and walkin shower. A second living area opens onto a covered balcony, while an additional rear balcony overlooks the sparkling swimming pool and surrounding gardens. A family bathroom, dedicated study nook and flexible home office or additional bedroom provide further versatility, while multiple split-system heating
and cooling units ensure year-round comfort. Outside is where this property truly shines, offering a spectacular setting for entertaining, relaxation and family enjoyment. A sparkling swimming pool surrounded by timber decking and established greenery creates a private resort-style atmosphere, while the expansive, level backyard provides an abundance of usable lawn for children and pets to enjoy. With beautifully established gardens, exceptional privacy and plenty of room to spread out, this impressive outdoor space is a rare find in the Hills. Completing this outstanding package is an oversized double garage and extensive off-street parking, ideal for accommodating additional vehicles, boats or caravans. Perfectly positioned within easy reach of Upwey Village, cafes, shops, schools and public transport, the property delivers the tranquillity of Hills living without compromising on everyday convenience. Rich in character, generous in proportions and offering a fantastic family lifestyle on a substantial flat allotment, 66 Mahony Street is a truly special opportunity in the heart of Upwey. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 66 Mahony Street, UPWEY Description: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $1,100,000 - $1,210,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 and Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 9754 6888
20 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
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HOME FOCUS
A STUNNING GARDEN SANCTUARY WITH ELEGANT FAMILY LIVING SET on a magnificent 2,507sqm allotment and surrounded by some of the most spectacular gardens in the Hills, this beautifully presented three-bedroom residence offers an exceptional lifestyle of comfort, tranquillity, and timeless appeal. Ideally located just moments from Emerald township, Wellington Road, and public transport, it delivers the perfect balance of peaceful country-style living and everyday convenience. Thoughtfully designed for family living, the home features a practical and versatile floorplan with excellent separation between the accommodation zones. At one end of the home, two generous, carpeted bedrooms, each fitted with split-system heating and cooling, are serviced by a stylish family bathroom complete with a luxurious spa bath. One bedroom includes a walk-in robe, while the other is equipped with a built-in robe. Privately positioned at the opposite end of the home, the spacious master suite provides a peaceful retreat. Complete with a walk-in robe, split-system comfort, and a large ensuite featuring a corner spa bath, this inviting sanctuary also enjoys direct access through glass doors to a private undercover outdoor area, perfect for a quiet morning coffee while taking in the beautiful garden surrounds. Rich Jarrah timber flooring adds warmth and character throughout the main living areas. An elegant formal lounge and dining room offers a welcoming space to relax or entertain, enhanced by the ambience of a gas log fire. At the heart of the home, the open-
plan kitchen and family living area creates a relaxed setting for everyday life, with yearround comfort provided by an additional split system. The well-appointed kitchen is designed with both functionality and style in mind, featuring a gas cooktop, dishwasher, walk-in pantry, generous bench space, and ample storage. A large window frames views across the rear gardens while filling the space with natural light. Just outside, a conveniently located vegetable patch offers easy access to fresh homegrown produce. Adjoining the kitchen is a versatile mudroom or study with direct outdoor access, ideal as a work-from-home space or practical family utility room. Flowing seamlessly from the living area, the expansive undercover entertaining deck overlooks the stunning grounds below. With elevated garden views, it provides the perfect setting for alfresco dining, family gatherings, or
simply unwinding in a peaceful natural setting. A spacious laundry and ducted vacuum system further enhance everyday convenience. Outside, the property truly comes to life. The established gardens create a breathtaking display of colour, texture, and greenery throughout the seasons. Meandering pathways invite exploration, leading to hidden sitting areas nestled amongst the beautiful plantings. Whether you’re a passionate gardener or simply appreciate being immersed in nature, these remarkable grounds offer a private sanctuary unlike any other. Adding further versatility, a substantial workshop beneath the home presents endless possibilities, including use as a home gym, teenage retreat, creative studio, or hobby space, while additional under-house storage provides excellent practicality. A double carport, generous off-street parking, and easy driveway access ensure convenience for family
and guests alike. Practical features include a garden shed and approximately 12,500 liters of water storage servicing the automatic irrigation system that maintains the gardens year-round. The fully fenced rear yard provides a secure and safe environment for children and pets to enjoy. Combining breathtaking gardens, flexible family living, and an enviable location close to Emerald, Wellington Road, and public transport, this remarkable property presents a rare opportunity to embrace the very best of Hills living. This exceptional property truly has it all. Don’t miss your opportunity to inspect. Call today to arrange a private viewing. Please note: All property details were correct at the time of publication. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours, and we recommend confirming inspection times directly with the listing agent or our office. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 252 Belgrave Gembrook Road, MENZIES CREEK Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $950,000 - $1,045,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Bethany Sullivan 0438 844 968 and Aaron Day 0407 365 994, BELL REAL ESTATE EMERALD
Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL / Australian Credit License 237879. (2402235) (10/26) 12913543-AD45-26
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Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 21
HOME FOCUS
A HILLS HOME FRAMED BY EXTRAORDINARY VIEWS A beautifully considered 1920s weatherboard home, this captivating Hills residence combines heritage character with contemporary comfort, thoughtful design and an extraordinary connection to its surrounds. The expansive views across the Dandenong Ranges are the defining feature. From the living spaces, two bedrooms and especially the vast deck, the ever-changing panorama becomes part of everyday life. North-east facing and filled with natural light, the home showcases clever use of space, bespoke fittings and a considered interplay of colour, texture and landscape. The light-filled living room features a gas log fireplace, while the contemporary kitchen is designed for both everyday living and entertaining, with stone benchtops, excellent storage and a dining area. Both bedrooms capture the spectacular view. The bathroom includes a bath and shower, complemented by a separate toilet and laundry. The generous deck provides an idyllic setting for entertaining, quiet mornings or simply taking in the changing landscape. Beyond, terraced gardens filled with mature ferns, citrus and fig trees create a private, layered setting, with a versatile studio offering an inspiring space for work, art, creativity or wellbeing. Every element has been thoughtfully considered, creating a home that feels both generous and intimate. The location adds to its appeal, with both The Patch Primary School and Kallista Primary School approximately 1km away and easily reached on foot, along with The Patch Store community hub. Kallista village and numerous forest walks are also within walking distance, while nearby Monbulk provides both primary and secondary school, further shops and services and Belgrave offers rail connections to the CBD. A home of rare outlook and individuality, where heritage character, thoughtful design, gardens and landscape come together to create a truly special hills home. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 28 Kallista-Emerald Road, KALLISTA Description: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 garage Price: $730,000 - $790,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Janet Hawkins 0409 117 432 and Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE 9754 6111
22 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
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Ranges PLeNTY OF SheDDING & A POOL
MACCLESFIELD 78 kIrkPATrICkS rOAD
We put you first
eXTrAOrDINArY hOMe WITh MULTIPLe GArAGeS
$1,300,000-$1,400,000
CLEMATIS 5 WOODLANDS AVeNUe
$1,550,000-$1,650,000
PRIVACY & POTENTIAL WITH DUAL LIVING POSSIBILITIES! 5 A 3 B 8 C
BIG ON SPACE & BUILT FOR ENTERTAINING
Some properties are special for what they are, while others are special for what they could become. Set on just over 4 hectares of usable land, this private country property offers an exciting opportunity to create something truly your own, with the space, setting & foundations to bring your vision to life. embrace the country lifestyle & make the most of every moment. A character-filled home featuring multiple living areas, beautiful floorboards, a separate bungalow, 4 car garage, large shed & plenty of usable land.
Offering an incredible amount of room both inside & out, this enormous residence delivers a lifestyle of comfort, flexibility & endless possibilities, all on a generous 1,191m2 (approx.) block in central emerald, just moments from town. Features include a dedicated study, an impressive WIr in the master suite, a fantastic deck & outdoor entertaining area with wet bar, an excellent potential for multi-generational living with 2 bedrooms positioned off the deck, tremendous shedding and extensive garage space perfect for car enthusiasts.
Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522
Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937
reNOVATeD & reIMAGINeD
BELGRAVE 10 LAUreL GrOVe STANDING PROUD FOR TODAYS MODERN LIVING
9754 6111
rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au
Jackson Acott 0494 142 438
DUAL LIVING OPTIONS & STUDIO
$795,000 - $874,500
BELGRAVE 11 DALkeITh CreSCeNT
$870,000 - $946,000
3A 2B 2C
JUST A SHORT WALK TO BELGRAVE
5A 2B 2C
This is where real functional design meets mountainside magic. Beautifully renovated and reimagined for light and features an open plan concept forming the heart of the home and seamlessly connecting to the outdoor living/BBQ area. Inside, you will find a privately zoned master suite, separate study/work from home space & raked ceilings with square set cornices. Gabion stone retaining walls create flat outdoor usable terraces, plus ample parking, a single garage all on the low maintenance 1,015sqm landscaped gardens.
Grant Skipsey 0418 528 102
Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522
6 A 3 B 13 C
Offering generous proportions, versatile living spaces & exciting dual-occupancy potential, this substantial two-storey home presents a fantastic opportunity for growing families or extended households. Outside features a brick-paved entertaining area, established landscaped gardens and a studio. With its generous 1,066sqm landholding, adaptable floorplan and outstanding potential it offers many possibilities. The home embraces relaxed ‘hills’ living while close and convenient to Belgrave Central.
Mick Dolphin 0429 684 52
‘We Put You First’
Jackson Acott 0494 142 438
1660 Burwood Highway, Belgrave Shop 2/24 McBride St, Cockatoo Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 23
HOME FOCUS
35 ACRES OF COUNTRY LIVING, DUAL ACCOMMODATION AND EQUESTRIAN OPPORTUNITY SET amongst 35 acres of picturesque rolling countryside, “Chayah” offers an exceptional lifestyle opportunity combining a seven-bedroom, four-bathroom home, dual accommodation, established equestrian facilities and multiple income opportunities. Surrounded by green pastures, mature trees and a beautiful spring-fed creek, this remarkable property offers peaceful country living just an hour from Melbourne. Perfectly suited to large families, multigenerational living or two families looking to purchase together, the thoughtfully designed homestead incorporates two interconnected residences, providing flexibility and independence. Featuring recycled red brick, rustic timber finishes, double-glazed windows and an innovative airlock design connecting the two homes, the property beautifully combines character with practical, ecoconscious living. The main residence welcomes you into an inviting open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, where large windows capture natural light and the surrounding countryside. The well-appointed kitchen features stone benchtops, an island bench, gas stovetop, dishwasher, large walk-in pantry and excellent storage. A woodfire and split system provide year-round comfort, while doors open onto the deck, where beautiful views stretch across the rolling hills and down to the meandering creek. Whether enjoying a morning cuppa, relaxing in the afternoon sun or entertaining family and friends, this is a wonderful place to appreciate the peaceful setting. The master bedroom features a walk-in robe, ensuite and sliding door access to the deck. Two further bedrooms, one with builtin robes, share the family bathroom, while downstairs offers another two bedrooms, a central bathroom and laundry. The adjoining second residence provides ideal accommodation for extended family or guests, featuring two bedrooms, a bathroom, modern kitchen, open-plan living and a private rear balcony overlooking the countryside. Additional features include a double garage with internal access, single garage, under-house storage, enclosed dog yard, solar power and approximately 60,000 litres of rainwater storage, complemented by a spring-
fed water supply. Outstanding Equestrian Facilities With an established horse agistment business already operating, the property is exceptionally well-equipped for horse enthusiasts and those seeking an equestrian business opportunity. Facilities include: • 60m x 20m arena with riversand base • 20m round yard • 10 paddocks with water and shelters • Six undercover tie-up bays and horse wash bay • Shed with storage lockers and saddle racks • Well-maintained fencing throughout • Extensive Farm Infrastructure The rolling acreage offers excellent versatility for livestock, hobby farming or agricultural pursuits, with goat-friendly paddocks, creek access and cattle yards with truck access. A standout feature is the 20m x 7m insulated shed, complete with concrete flooring, power, office space and toilet facilities, ideal for business use, workshop activities or storage. Further improvements include 6.6kW solar, a hay shed, machinery shed, woodshed and chicken shed with enclosed run. Established gardens and fruit trees, including pomegranate, apricot, fig and blood orange, add to the property’s rural appeal. This property has it all so don’t miss out call to arrange a private inspection today. Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office.●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 1475 Pakenham Road, MOUNT BURNETT Description: 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 5 garage Price: $1,950,000 - $2,145,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Bethany Sullivan 0438 844 968 or Aaron Day 0407 365 994, BELL REAL ESTATE, EMERALD
24 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
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P 5968 6222 311-313 Main Street Emerald
2 Redwood Road Gembrook
$680,000 - $740,000
5 Vincent Street Cockatoo
$800,000 - $860,000
A Charming Home in a Walk-to-Everything Location.
Character, Space & Family Living on Half an Acre.
Just a short stroll from Gembrook’s charming main street, this beautifully presented two-bedroom home combines modern comfort, character and everyday convenience. Inside, 9ft ceilings, floating floors and fresh neutral tones enhance the light-filled lounge, complete with an open fireplace and split system. The adjoining dining area flows into the stylish kitchen featuring timber benchtops, electric cooking, dishwasher and ample storage. Both generous bedrooms include built-in robes and are serviced by an updated bathroom with walk-in shower and double vanity, plus a separate powder room. A practical mudroom and laundry lead outside to the landscaped backyard, featuring a level lawn and undercover entertaining area, while a single lock-up garage provides secure parking.
Set on a generous 2,023sqm in Cockatoo, this character-filled three-bedroom, two-bathroom home offers flexible family living with plenty of space inside and out. The spacious lounge features high ceilings, exposed beams, a large bay window, open fireplace and split system, complemented by gas ducted heating and new carpets throughout. Adjoining dining and a well-equipped kitchen with gas cooktop, dishwasher, excellent storage and bench space complete the central living zone. Two bedrooms, one with built-in robes, are serviced by the family bathroom, separate toilet and laundry, while a second lounge opens directly to the backyard. Upstairs, the impressive master suite provides a private retreat with large windows, walk-in robe and ensuite. Outside, enjoy half an acre of space with a fenced dog run, multiple garden sheds and a welcoming front deck.
Aaron Day M 0407 365 994
Bethany Sullivan M 0438 844 968
Aaron Day M 0407 365 994
2
189 Swales Road Macclesfield
A
1
Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451
B 1 C
$1,600,000 - $1,750,000
3
18 Lenne Street Upper Beaconsfield
A
2
B
C
$870,000 - $945,000
A Rare 40-Acre Holding with Water, Views & Endless Potential.
Charming, Light-Filled & Full of Character.
Spanning 40 gently undulating acres, this sun-filled rural holding delivers space, water security and serious potential. A winding creek, three dams and a valuable 2-megalitre water licence provide a rock-solid foundation for lifestyle living, livestock or future vision. Elevated points across the land capture sweeping 360-degree views, creating those postcard moments where the countryside rolls away in every direction. At the centre sits a neat and original two-bedroom home, comfortable now and ready for renovation, extension or reinvention over time. Practical infrastructure includes a machinery shed, garage and established cattle race and yards, making the property immediately usable for farming or hobby stock. With sunny paddocks, natural water sources and multiple access points, everything is in place for easy rural living.
Set on 1,144sqm in Beaconsfield Upper, this light-filled 3-bedroom home offers comfortable living, character & a welcoming backyard. The lounge features timber flooring & a woodfire, while the adjoining dining area includes a split system & direct garden access. The charming kitchen offers timber benchtops, a farmhouse sink, electric cooking, dishwasher, large pantry, skylight & ample storage, with an incorporated laundry. Down the hall, 2 carpeted bedrooms with built-in robes are serviced by the central bathroom & separate toilet, while the master bedroom is privately positioned at the end. Outside, the fully fenced backyard provides room for children & pets, complemented by an undercover entertaining area & separate home office/study. A single garage with workshop, front & rear access, double carport & enclosed garden shed complete this appealing property.
Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032
Aaron Day M 0407 365 994
2
A
1
B 1 C
Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451
3
A
1
B 3 C
bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 25
HOME FOCUS
ARCHITECTURAL APPEAL IN A BEAUTIFUL HILLS SETTING BEAUTIFULLY positioned amongst the lush greenery of the Dandenong Ranges, this impressive family residence offers a captivating combination of contemporary style, architectural character and exceptional versatility. Spanning multiple levels and showcasing soaring ceilings, expansive windows and stunning treetop outlooks, the home has been thoughtfully designed to provide an abundance of space, natural light and effortless indooroutdoor living. The main living level makes an immediate impression with gorgeous polished timber floors, a striking stone feature wall and magnificent floor to ceiling windows that frame the surrounding greenery. Overlooking this inviting space is a fabulous mezzanine sitting area, complete with elevated highlight windows that enhance the home’s wonderful sense of light and openness. Flowing through to the kitchen and dining area, the distinctive green cabinetry, quality appliances, excellent storage and generous breakfast bar create a practical yet stylish space for everyday living and entertaining. Upstairs, four comfortable bedrooms provide fantastic family accommodation, including a spacious main bedroom with built in robes and its own private ensuite. The remaining bedrooms feature built in storage and are serviced by a modern central bathroom and separate toilet. A dedicated study nook and additional mezzanine retreat provide further flexibility, ideal for working from home, studying or simply enjoying a quiet space away from the main living areas. Adding another dimension to this exceptional home is the lower level rumpus room, complete with its own bar area, creating the perfect teenagers’ retreat, games room or second living zone. Outside, an expansive balcony provides a wonderful extension of the main living areas, while a separate entertaining deck nestled amongst magnificent tree ferns offers a truly magical setting for weekend barbecues, afternoon drinks or relaxed gatherings with friends and family. Further features include ducted heating, split system heating and cooling, a double carport, generous storage areas, a separate workshop and a practical laundry. Offering a wonderful combination of contemporary comfort, generous accommodation and unique Hills character, this versatile residence presents an outstanding opportunity to embrace the peaceful lifestyle that makes Upwey so special. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 33 Centre Road, UPWEY Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: $865,000 - $920,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 and Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 9754 6888
26 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
mailcommunity.com.au
Real Estate you can trust! We’re here to help.
56acaciaavenue,Upwey
18Murrayroad,ThePatch
2 Bed | 1 Bath | 1 Car | 978m2
3 Bed | 1 Bath | 2 Car | 1540m2
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 3 Car | 1056m2
For Sale $690,000 - $759,000
For Sale $765,000 - $830,000
For Sale $865,000 - $920,000
Daniel Steen 0434 979 142
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
10Banoolroad,Selby
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
66MahonyStreet,Upwey
33Centreroad,Upwey
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
11lyndallroad,BelgraveSouth
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 4 Car | 1826m2
5 Bed | 2 Bath | 8 Car | 1144m2
5 Bed | 3 Bath | 2 Car | 1003m2
For Sale $1,150,000 - $1,195,000
For Sale $1,100,000 - $1,210,000
For Sale $1,240,000 - $1,295,000
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
03 9754 6888 office@chandlerandco.com.au 1689 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Vic 3160 mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 27
PUZZLES To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
easy
8 7 3 9 7 8 3 2 9 3 7 5 8 4 9 2 6 7 6 4 1 8 9 8 3 5 6 2 2 6 3 8 medium
2 9 5 3 5 6
6 8 2 9 8
11 12 13 14 15 19 20 24 25 27 28 29 30
1 5 9 3 6
2 3 4
12
8
25
24
24
25
12
19
21
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21
17
17
25
11
9
20
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24
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25
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24
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24 24
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19
1
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18
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11
11
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22
2
21
9
16
22
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24
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11
9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
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19
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26
15 2
16 3
17 4
18 5
19 6
20 7
21 8
22 9
23 10
24 11
25 12
26 13
R N
9-LETTER WORD
easy
medium
1 8 5 7 2 9 6 3 4 6 4 7 5 3 8 9 2 1 3 2 9 6 1 4 7 5 8 2 3 1 9 7 5 8 4 6 5 9 8 2 4 6 1 7 3 7 6 4 1 8 3 2 9 5 8 7 3 4 9 1 5 6 2 4 5 2 8 6 7 3 1 9 9 1 6 3 5 2 4 8 7
2 9 4 7 5 6 3 1 8 7 5 1 3 8 4 2 9 6 3 6 8 1 2 9 4 7 5 5 1 2 8 6 3 7 4 9 6 3 7 9 4 5 1 8 2 4 8 9 2 7 1 6 5 3 1 4 3 5 9 2 8 6 7 9 7 6 4 3 8 5 2 1 8 2 5 6 1 7 9 3 4
hard 7 6 4 5 8 3 1 2 9 1 2 3 9 4 7 5 8 6 5 9 8 1 6 2 7 4 3 9 1 5 6 7 8 4 3 2 8 7 2 4 3 9 6 1 5 4 3 6 2 1 5 8 9 7 3 5 7 8 9 1 2 6 4 6 8 9 7 2 4 3 5 1 2 4 1 3 5 6 9 7 8 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in 's'.
L
Today’s Aim: 14 words: Good 21 words: Very good 28 words: Excellent
N
I
A
C
I P
U
M
alumni, cilia, cilium, claim, clip, cumin, iliac, laic, lain, limn, limp, lumina, lupin, mail, main, manic, mica, mini, MUNICIPAL, nail, pail, pain, panic, pica, pilau, plain, uncial, unclip
9 1
25
24
9
P Y X C T M Z B D K S J H
9 2 4 6 9
11
1
3
9 2 6
N
24
V W F U L O Q I A G E R N
5
R
1
5 3
25
5
13
9
24 26
23
22
22
7
24
4
24
21
23
20
21
15
R
17
1
11
25
1
14
8
20
N
11
11
24
R
26
11 24
No. 346
25
24
26
14
3
2 3 5 6 7 8 9 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 26
24
10
N
24
19
R
23
hard
1 5
Distress caused by being away from residence (8) Word division (8) Source of light (7) Cooperates (7) Coil (6) Cycle for two (6) Speed contest (4) Russian author, Leo – (7) Junior (7) At an angle (8) Annihilates (8) Straight (7) Instance (7) Stops temporarily (6) Spit (6) Coward (coll) (4)
1
8
24
R
22
6
4 5 9 4 6 9 8 1 6
15
22
1
2
3
4 8
DECODER
9
2 3 7
No. 314
DOWN
Jostle (6) Enclosed recess (6) Cantaloupe or honeydew, to name two (5) Worship (9) Brazen (9) Raised platform (5) Settlement (6) Runs (4) Condescending person (4) Very small and elegant (6) Over (5) Proprietor of a general store (9) Invertebrate (9) Soft, musically (5) Divided (6) Reveals, – up (coll) (6)
1 4 10
4
7
4
4
ACROSS
12
7
9
QUICK CROSSWORD
10
5
17
18
11
12
13
14
15 16 19
20
21
23
22 24
25
26
27
28
29
30
3 LETTERS ACT AIR BOW DAY DIM EAT IDS INK LIE LOG LUG MEN NEE OAR ONE PAR PEP PRO RED THE VIE WAD
5 LETTERS ADULT AMBOS ANNUL APART ARENA ARISE AROMA AVAIL BENCH BESET
7
9
WORDFIT
4 LETTERS CLAP DUBS DUCT ELSE EPIC POUT RITE SLED TRIP WETS
6
No. 314
E P I C
BUDGE CASTS CLANK CLIMB DAUNT DOERS EASEL ELITE ELUDE ENROL FIELD GENES LILAC LLAMA MANOR MORAL PACES SAGAS SCALP SCENE SEALS SEEDY SENDS
SKEWS SLEWS SMEAR SOFAS SOLVE STAGE STARE STRAP TAINT TASTY THROW TIARA TIGER UNDER UNITS 6 LETTERS BODICE CURDLE PEBBLE PLAYER SHRINK STATUE
7 LETTERS APPEARS ARRAIGN ERUPTED IDOLISE LANTERN TRUSTEE
10 LETTERS PREDICATES TRESPASSED
8 LETTERS INSERTED INSULTED LOLLIPOP OVERSTEP
A M B O S S O L V E S O F A S A V A I L T A I N T D A U N T U N D E R G E N E S A R E N A L O G A P A R T E A T L U G C U R D L E T R E S P A S S E D C R T R U S T E E S M E A R B E N C H D U B S T R I P N E E L O L L I P O P E R U P T E D I D O L I S E WA D E P I C I N S U L T E D S L E D C L A N K T A S T Y A P P E A R S D M P L A Y E R P R E D I C A T E S A I R B OW A R O M A I N K E L I T E S T A R E C L I M B E A S E L T I G E R T H R OW S C E N E S E N D S S E A L S
No. 314
H U S T L E C L O S E T Y A R T I P A O A D O R A T I O N M E L O N E L T C L I R D S T A G E S H A M E L E S S B R T E L M I J O G S C O L O N Y K E Y Y S D S N O B P E T I T E S I U X D S P N E W S A G E N T A G A I N U L C G U M W R P I A N O S P I N E L E S S V R R S L Y Y E F E S S E S S H A R E D
SUDOKU
06-11-26
Robbie, Gavan and Janet
www.heritagefunerals.com.au • Wantirna, Lilydale, Woori Yallock • 9800 3000 28 MAIL | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
12711905-KG37-24
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12888367-AD31-26 12518757-DL44-21
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SPORT
Strong wins Round 3 of weekend pennant concluded on Saturday with some matches abandoned due to heavy afternoon rain. Fortunately, 3 of the 4 matches being played by Upwey Tecoma BC were completed following a delay in play during the match due to the weather. Our Div 2 side hosted Croydon and after a slow start where the visitors were leading by 5 shots with 20 ends completed, were able to dominate the middle stages of the match and ran out winners by 17 shots at the end of play. Two of the four rinks recorded wins with Dan Zaffarese’s rink of Cam Davison, Ken Williams and Col Davey outclassing their opposition to record a very strong 17 shot win 27 to 10. With 3 wins from 3 matches, this side now sits clear on top of the ladder in their section. Club legend, Ken Williams also chalked up his 500th official appearance in pennant matches for Upwey Tecoma on Saturday. Congratulations Ken on a fantastic achievement and thank you for your great loyalty to our club. Our Div 4 side were also at home and played host to Boronia. In a very tight contest, we were able to edge out the visitors by 4 shots, 73 to 69. This side also got off to a slow start and Boronia led by 7 shots at the completion of 20 ends. However, the home side were able to recover and outscore the opposition over the remaining ends of the match to record their second win for the season. Two rinks recorded wins with Durk Florisson’s team of Paul Stevenson, Terry Brown and John Ford once again outclassing their opponents to record a 12 shot win, 24 to 12. This side has now moved up to second position on the ladder in their section, just 6 points behind Boronia on top. Our Div 6 side travelled to Ringwood to play on their grass green and after leading by 4 shots at the half-way mark found it difficult to adapt to the changed conditions after the heavy shower of rain and eventually went down to the home side by 25 shots. One rink was able to bring home some points with John Bulmers team of Steve
From Tecoma to Nationals By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
A fantastic milestone for club legend, Ken Williams, celebrating 500 official pennant appearances for Upwey Tecoma. (Supplied) Mileham, Melissa Failla and Michael Nixon proving too strong for their opponents winning by 6 shots, 21 to 15. This side now sits in 4th position on the ladder in their section. Our Div 8 side travelled to Glen Waverley for their round 3 clash but unfortunately, the heavy rain during the afternoon forced this match to be abandoned. The Upwey Charcoal Chicken rink of the week is awarded to Dan, Cam, Ken and Col for their dominant display at home against Croydon. This rink won 15 ends and scored 11 shots from 3 multiples whilst conceding just one multiple for 4 shots. Col and Ken set up the win with some precision front end play which allowed Cam and Dan playing back to force home the advantage. This rink line up is undefeated after 3 rounds. Congratulations and please collect your award from the Tiger Bar.
Trades & Services
Tecoma Primary School student Alma is celebrating an impressive athletics achievement after finishing fourth in both the 800m and 1500m races at the State Track and Field Championships on Thursday, 29 October, and securing her place in Team Victoria for the upcoming Nationals in the 1500m. It’s been a rewarding season for Alma, whose love of running and commitment to training have helped her reach this exciting milestone. The State Primary Track and Field Championships are a sporting event that brings primary school students together from across the state to compete in a range of athletics disciplines, the championships also serve as the selection event for the Team Victoria 1012 Years Track and field team, with selected students going on to represent the state at the School Sport Australia Championships, held later in the year. While qualifying for the State Championships was thrilling, Alma said she felt a mixture of “happiness and nerves” when she first discovered she had made it through. “I was very excited and happy but also a little bit nervous,” she said. The 1500m is Alma’s favourite event, with the young runner explaining that she prefers longer distances and appreciates that there is more opportunity to recover if things do not go to plan at the start. Her preparation has involved training twice a week with Run Uprising, under coach Shane Grund, while also taking care to avoid injury ahead of competition. Alma said it was achieving fast times at the district and division competitions that made her realise she had a genuine chance of reaching the State Championships. Her mother, Abigail Wilson, said the family was extremely excited when Alma quali-
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1. Telstra is proposing to upgrade a mobile phone base station on the existing 35m Monopole at 1166 High Street Road, WANTIRNA SOUTH VIC 3152 2. This upgrade will improve Telstra 4G and 5G services in the area and the upgrade works consist of: • Removal of (6) Panel Antennas and ancillary equipment • Installation of (6) Panel Antennas on the existing headframe • Replacing and installing ancillary equipment • Internal works within the existing shelter • There will be no increase in height to the facility
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fied, with both parents eager to support her at the event. Ms Wilson was there when Alma received the news, while her father, who was returning from a work trip, rang as soon as he landed to hear the result. At the State Championships, Ms Wilson made sure her daughter knew she had plenty of support. “I think everyone at the track heard me cheering for her,” she said. One of the most emotional moments came at the finish of the 1500m, when Ms Wilson and Alma’s PE teacher, Nicole Cumming, shared a tearful embrace after Alma secured her qualification for Nationals. Ms Wilson said those around Alma understood just how much running meant to her and how dedicated she was to the sport. She also praised Ms Cumming for the support she provides Alma, particularly in helping her manage the nerves that come with competing at major events.
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Alma with her PE teacher, Nicole Cumming.
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2012 Special Edition 20ft. Excellent Cond. V11805 Full ensuite + W/Machine. Twin beds, A/C + Diesel heater. Kitchen inc: fridge, microwave & gas electric stove. Electric-Gas hot water. TV & radio, twin batteries + solar panel. 2 x 80ltr water tanks. Emerald area.
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SPORT
Monbulk brings the thunder By Rob Wilson Saturday Pennant Round 3 Team 1 Division 3 Monbulk 94 v Boronia 58 On a cold and overcast day accompanied by a forecast of thunderstorms the Monbulk first side travelled to Boronia for their game against what has been a tricky venue and opponent for the Hawks in recent times. In the final game last season with the result impacting the final standings Boronia got the job done with a resounding win. So with a bit of pride and a desire to get the season off on the right foot being on the line a strong showing was imperative. And that strong showing was delivered in spades with all rinks bursting out of the blocks leading by 25 shots early with all the momentum with Monbulk. However whilst victory appeared inevitable and Boronia were not going to stop the momentum the weather might, as thunder and lightening and loads of rain rolled in. Play was halted, with a restart delaying play for about 45 minutes. But when the game got back underway Monbulk brought some thunder of its own with most rinks picking up from where they left off and ultimately Monbulk was able to bank a resounding win of their own. The rink of (Skip) Rob Espernberger 31/10, Calvin Connell, Mark “Candles” Hoefer, Ernst Espernberger produced the headline numbers with their big win highlighted by terrific games by all members. Also showing good numbers were (Skip) Eric Markham 27/14, Anne Ward, Irma Turner, Ray Aarts with Ray dominating in his lead position. (Skip) Rob Wilson 23/16, Karen Wilson, Chris Clerici, Martin “ Grumpy” Williams produced a solid performance with Grumpy and Karen producing some terrific form. ( Skip) Brian Smith 13/18 and his team of Jenny Holmes, Craig Ward, Rick Giurini were in the game till the end but just got shaded Craig played an outstanding game in the loss. Team 2 Division 5 Monbulk 69 v Heatherdale 73 Playing at home against the undefeated Heatherdale and early flag favourite this was always going to be very tough. But the locals showed some serious ticker to go oh so very close, just getting beaten on the very last end. Sadly it was not to be victory this time, but it definitely would have been a great win if they had of been able to pull it off and should give the team great confidence to take forward. Andy Smith (Skip) 28/15 rink of Brendan Griffiths, Andrew Thomas, Peter Higgins, were the architects of the resistance nearly producing the performance that got the team
Saturday Pennant Round 3 saw a fantastic win for Hawks Division 3. (File) over the line, whilst the other 3 rinks battled hard for tight losses. (Skip) Don Barnetson 14/18, Margaret Obrien, Peter Koomen, Klaus Eisele. (Skip) Norma Clerke 15/21, Loise Thomas, Peter Lee, Ron Bishop. (Skip ) Mark Johnston 12/19, Mick Hygate, Sasha Wolfe, Jason Dekker. Team 3 Division 8 Monbulk v Mitcham Monbulk Received a walkover Midweek pennant Round 2 Team 1 division 1 Monbulk 57 v Vermont South 62 This round 2 clash at home against Vermont South was as tightly fort contest as you could get, with the scoreboard dividing the teams by no more than a few shots all game, as the lead exchanged hands a number of times throughout. Even though the rink of Rob Wilson (Skip) 22/21 Karen Wilson, Martin Williams, Saha Wolfe was the only one to slip over the line all 3 rinks were close and could have taken the wins. There were
very small margins that could have seen the game go either way in this one and on another day the result could have easily gone the other way. (Skip) Brian Smith 19/20, Rob Espernberger, Greg Myers, Craig Ward put up a great fight in a match that typified the day, credit to their performance. (Skip) Eric Markham 16/21 has showed some strong early season form however he and his team Jenny Holmes, Anne Ward, Ray Aarts were not quite able to produce the goods this team, and the top side will have to lament what may have been. Team 2 Division 3 Monbulk 35 v Eastwood Golf 82 Whilst the top side was wrestling it out to go down in a close battle at home the opposite can be said for the 2s who travelled off the mountain to Eastwood Golf to be greeted by a strong team that meant business. The Golf club were anything but friendly hosts as they teed off against a Monbulk team that had few answered, but experience and lessons are best learnt in the heat of competition,
and another opportunity awaits next week. (Skip) Ray Pike 13/25, Loise Thomas, Peter Koomen, Jason Dekker. (Skip) Don Barnetson 11/27, Andrew Mackie, Andrew Thomas, Ron Bishop. ( Skip) Graeme Seymour 11/30, Margaret Obrien, Peter Lee, Darren Ward. Team 3 Division 5 Monbulk 32 v Yarra Glen 69 Unfortunately in what was to ultimately produce the 3rd loss of the round for the Hawks our team visiting Yarra Glen were no match for the oppositions 2nd side. No rinks were able to get a foothold in their matches and despite fighting hard against a stronger opponent not allowing any of their scores to blow out all rinks were to go down. Special credit has to be given to the rink of (Skip) Mark Knight 11/23, Case Broekhof, Mike Fardel, who played a player short due to illness but still produced respectable performance. ( Skip) Graeme Godkin 11/24, Des Ray, Peter Dowsett, Brian Henderson. ( Skip) Michael Harris 10/22, Ann Philpott, Pat Ray, Kaye Lee.
FTG celebrates court success and community spirit Ferntree Gully Tennis Club has enjoyed another busy week of competition, a well-deserved volunteer award and excitement is building ahead of its upcoming Australian Open 1 Point Slam event. The club’s Midweek Eastern Metropolitan Region Ladies’ Tennis Association Section 6 team continues to enjoy an outstanding season, recording a convincing 6-0 victory over Hallam. With the competition now at the halfway mark, Ferntree Gully sits proudly at the top of the ladder. There was further success in the Ferntree Gully and District Ladies’ Tennis Association, where the Thursday Section 3 team defeated Seville Gold 4-2. It was a mixed week for Ferntree Gully’s teams in the Knox District Night Tennis Association, including an all-Ferntree Gully clash in Tuesday Section 1. The FTG (AI) team claimed victory over fellow club team FTG (DP), winning 6-0. In Tuesday Section 3, Ferntree Gully went down to Cockatoo 4-2, while the Section 4 team was defeated by Eildon Park 6-0. Thursday competition saw the Section 1 team lose to Ferny Creek 5-0. In Section 5, FTG (AS) was defeated by Parker Reserve 4-1, while FTG (JB) secured a closely contested 3-2 victory over Mooroolbark Heights. Several Ferntree Gully teams celebrated victories in the Waverley Tennis Association competition. Section A7 enjoyed a convincing 6-1 win over Wheelers Hill, while Section A14 defeated Eley Park 5-3. The A Reserve 6 team also
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James Barrigan receiving his Monbulk District Volunteer Award from Daniela De Martino MP. (Supplied) produced an excellent performance, defeating Narre Warren 5-0. Other results included a 5-2 loss to East Camberwell in Challenge Cup A2, a 6-0 loss to HE Parker Reserve in Section A1, and a close 5-3 defeat against Narre Warren North in Section A5. In the juniors Eastern Region Tennis competition the Rubbers 17 team recorded a strong 4-1 victory over Mount Evelyn, while JOSD 7
delivered an impressive clean sweep, defeating Mooroolbark Heights 6-0. The JDC 3 team played out an exceptionally close contest against Box Hill, finishing level at one set apiece and 12 games all. Elsewhere, Rubbers 21 lost to Heatherdale Blue 4-2, while Rubbers 25 and Rubbers 33 both went down to Wantirna by the same 4-2 margin. JDC 6 was narrowly defeated by Park Orchards 2-1.
Ferntree Gully Tennis Club is delighted to congratulate dedicated volunteer James Barrigan, who was presented with a Monbulk District Volunteer Award by Daniela De Martino MP. The award recognises James’s valuable contribution to the local community, particularly his work as the club’s Night Tennis Coordinator. James plays an important role in keeping the club’s night tennis competitions running smoothly, coordinating teams and helping ensure players can enjoy their weekly matches. Community sporting clubs rely heavily on volunteers who generously contribute their time and skills behind the scenes. James’s recognition is thoroughly deserved, and the club thanks him for his ongoing commitment and contribution. The countdown is on for Ferntree Gully Tennis Club’s AO 1 Point Slam, with entries closing soon for the event on Sunday 15 November 2026. Forget lengthy rallies and marathon matches - in this competition, a single point can decide everything! Players of all ages, abilities and experience levels are invited to test their nerves in a thrilling knockout competition where winning just one point takes them through to the next round. The winner of Ferntree Gully’s event will advance to the State Championships to play for a spot in the AO 1 Point Slam Main Draw at Rod Laver Arena with a $1 million prize. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a social player who fancies their chances, this is a fantastic opportunity to be part of the Australian Open excitement. For details see play.tennis.com.au/ ferntreegullytennisclub
Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 | MAIL 31
Unwavering commitment to delivering excellence! Welcome to Clovelly Cottage. Nestled in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges but still within close proximity to the Boronia Junction shopping precinct and amenities, it is a place our residents are proud to call home. Featuring abundant indoor and outdoor spaces with a choice of private sanctuaries and communal living, we are dedicated to delivering excellence in care and services that enable residents to live well and celebrate the autumn years of their life.
Why Clovelly Cottage?
A comprehensive leisure and lifestyle program designed to engage and entertain with ample opportunity to socialise and connect with others.
Delicious and highly nutritious meals meticulously planned by an executive chef, and all prepared fresh on site in a modern commercial kitchen.
A dedicated nursing team on site to provide round-the-clock care ensuring residents receive the highest quality of clinical care at all times.
The culture of care and genuine regard for residents is exemplary. - Gwen (daughter of resident)
Contact us today on 1300 428 886 to discuss your care needs!
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16 Stewart St, Boronia 12662059-SM07-24
32 MAIL | Tuesday, 3 November, 2026
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