Issuu

Mount Evelyn

Tuesday, 7 May, 2024

Mail

Sustainable schools recognised

Helping Montrose businesses in tough times

Mitchell Pointon sets men’s laser run record

See Real Estate liftout inside

PAGE 7

PAGE 8

PAGE 10

PAGE 15

A Star News Group Publication

Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

Small but mighty She may only be seven-years-old but Annabelle has a heart of gold by wanting to support people going through cancer treatment as well as work towards finding a cure. The Lilydale Grade 1 student cut off her long hair on Friday 26 April so that she “could help other people”. In the process, she was also able to raise over $2000 for the Cancer Council, no mean feat for anyone let alone someone so young. Rallying behind her was her school, her parents, grandparents and swim school, who were all so proud to see her achieve such a big thing. To read more about Annabelle’s story, turn to page 6

Annabelle, from Lilydale, wanted to donate her hair to help people needing a wig. 405047 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Arsonist release By Callum Ludwig An arsonist responsible for contributing to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires has been released from prison, with a local trauma psychologist advising that local residents affected by the disaster can be ‘taken back’ to the experience by this news. Brendan Sokaluk was released on parole on Tuesday 30 April, having served 14 years of a 17-year and nine-month sentence on the condition he stays in secure accommodation 80km or more away from his former town of Churchill in the Latrobe Valley.

Yarra Glen resident and clinical psychologist Dr Rob Gordon has dedicated his life’s work to supporting victims of disaster and said the news of Mr Sokaluk’s release can stir up the feelings from that day for the victims. “They probably put it aside, hopefully for all this time but there are probably very strong feelings of anger and helplessness about such a thing happening which, presumably for many people, caused a huge change in their life in various ways and it’ll take them back to those really raw, painful feelings,” he said. “The problem is the legal process is usually not very satisfying for the victims, and the

natural feeling is that the legal process should be a bit of a solution for the victims but it usually isn’t.” In 2012, former CFA volunteer Mr Sokaluk was found guilty in the Victorian Supreme Court of ten counts of arson causing death by deliberately starting fires in multiple locations that contributed to the Black Saturday disaster on 7 February 2009. A Victoria Police spokesperson said they are aware of the release from prison on 30 April of a 54-year-old man. “The man has been released on parole and

is subject to a range of conditions,” they said. “The man was charged with a range of offences following a fire in Churchill in 2009.” “Victoria Police is always pro-active in monitoring those in the community who are subject to these conditions and have a history of high-risk offending,” the Victoria Police spokesperson said. “It would not be appropriate to comment further on specifics, however the safety of the community remains our number one priority.” Continued page 3

We buy copper, brass, aluminium, etc . . . We Buy Steel Tel: 9736 2853 Clancy Road, Mt Evelyn 3796