Tuesday, 12 November, 2024
New council set to take the helm
CFA brigades boosted by VESEP grants
Family favourite Little Women comes to stage
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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’30s class on display After repairing and getting the vehicle running again, Lady Pamela Vestey’s 21st birthday gift visited Coombe Estate on Friday 8 November. Restorers Terry Sully and Mal Clark drove the 1930s vehicle to the Yarra Valley, slowly and steadily, to greet Lady Vestey’s grand-daughter, Saffron Foster, who was visiting with her family. The excitement and thrill of seeing the car in all its beauty, as well as taking it for a gentle spin, was enjoyed by all. To read more, turn to page 9
Terry Sully, Saffron Foster, Mal Clark and historian Courtnay Lucas with Lady Vestey’s car at Coombe. (Mikayla van Loon: 442858)
Mooroolbark one of state’s worst suburbs for postie dog attacks and they are ...
Just barking mad By Mikayla van Loon Mooroolbark has ranked in the top three suburbs in Victoria where posties have experienced a dog attack in the last six months. As the busy festive season approaches, Australia Post and its posties fear the number of uncomfortable or vicious encounters will only increase. Australia Post’s latest data revealed that 114 dog-related incidents occurred in the state with Caroline Springs (13), Hoppers Crossing (11) and Mooroolbark (nine) topping the list, with Belgrave not far behind on seven. Melbourne based postie of 26-years Jamie Perri said he’s experienced nearly all kinds of incidents, from being chased to cornered, which “can be quite scary”. “My worst two experiences involve the same breed of dog, and that’s the German Shepherd,
which I guess traditionally we know as guard dogs,” he said. “On one occasion, two jumped through the front lounge room window to get out to catch me and chase me in the front yard but I got out of the front yard in time. “The worst occasion was when I was delivering down this particular street, and a house had a high fence, and I’d see the dog every day, and he’d run from left to right, barking at me as I delivered. “But on this day, he ran parallel to the front fence, hurdled the side fence into the neighbours front yard which didn’t have a fence at all. He then proceeded to chase me for a kilometre and a half. “It’s not like he chased me along a straight road, I had left and right intersections to approach, T-intersections, and it was just a matter of whether a car was going to be coming. So it’s
quite scary.” Eventually Mr Perri said the dog gave up the chase. And while training for posties instructs them not to run away because it might encourage the dog, Mr Perri said instinct says run. “When you’re in the moment, it’s hard not to try and get away,” he said. Mr Perri said when he first started the job over 20 years ago, the likelihood of having to get off the bike to deliver something to the front door was rare. “Since the online shopping boom dog interactions with posties, particularly in front yards, have skyrocketed. Back in the day, 20 years ago, we never delivered parcels unless we had a passport letter.” With the peak delivery period fast approach-
ing, Australia Post is urging councils to enforce stricter measures for dog-related incidents and for residents to keep their dogs secured. “Dog attacks remain one of the highest safety concerns for our people. As we head into our peak season and delivery volumes increase, there is a serious concern for the physical and mental wellbeing of our posties, particularly around dogs,” Australia Post general manager of safety and wellbeing Rod Maule said. Mr Perri too said he and his colleagues just want to be safe when doing their job. “We just want the dogs to be secure so we can do our jobs and at the end of the day we can go home because I know posties that haven’t gone home at three o’clock because they’re in the hospital getting stitched up,” he said. Continued page 3
100+ Market Stalls, Food Trucks, Showbags And Much More! Friday 29th November, 4-8PM Kimberley Drive, Chirnside Park Presented by:
Supported by:
Free Event 12729193-KG46-24