Upper Yarra
Tuesday, 23 April, 2024
Response disappoints Indigenous educator
60 years of history at Wandin Preschool
Anzac Day services taking place locally
See Real Estate liftout inside
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Accepting diversity By Dongyun Kwon
Easton (left) and Etana enjoyed making cloud dough.
Picture: DONGYUN KWON
Lyrebird College held a special day to raise awareness and acceptance of autism on Friday 19 April as April is the national autism acceptance month. Teachers wore a special t-shirt symbolising acceptance of autism and students took part in fun activities playing with colours. Lyrebird College behaviour support specialist and teacher Sharryn Veto said the school had a whole range of activities to suit all of the kids’ interests and needs. “It’s always a colour theme for autism awareness as different colours symbolise accepting diversity, so we have everything around colour. We have lots of sensory activities like coloured shaving cream, cloud dough, dot painting and craft activities,” she said. Lyrebird College wants to promote the beautiful personalities that its students have and their ability to become contributing members of society. Turn to page 12 for more
Push for justice Ahead of Anzac Day, Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence and local RSLs are continuing to push for stricter penalties and a greater deterrent for those who vandalise, desecrate and damage war memorials. In recent times, the Mafeking Tree in Lilydale (Anglo-Boer War Memorial), Lilydale War Memorial, Lillydale Lake Militia Camp Storyboard, Seville War Memorial, Mt Evelyn War Memorial, Montrose War Memorial and the Mooroolbark War Memorial in the Evelyn
electorate alone have been targeted and sometimes on multiple occasions. Ms Vallence who has brought up the question multiple times in Parliament and did so again at the beginning of April said the increase in vandalism of war memorials across the Yarra Valley is devastating and disturbing. “I have received an overwhelmingly positive response from Veterans and many residents in our community about advocating for stronger penalties for the desecration of war memorials in Parliament,” she said.
“Veterans and community members have told me of the sadness they have experienced in seeing these sacred war memorials being desecrated,” “I hold grave fears we will see more attacks. These attacks are not just happening here in Evelyn, they are happening all over Victoria, with many public monuments being disrespected and destroyed. Unless the Government takes stronger action against these crimes, I fear these attacks will worsen.” Attacks in Evelyn have largely included ‘tag-
ging’ and theft; The Mafeking Tree had a 124-year-old plaque stolen The Lilydale War Memorial was tagged with texta, which also happened to the Lillydale Lake Militia Camp Storyboard (also scratched), Mt Evelyn War Memorial (also had flag pole pulled down) and the Montrose War Memorial (also scratched and graffitied with political slogans on the eve of Remembrance Day). Continued page 3
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