Tuesday, 7 January, 2025
Factories, cafe targets of separate firebombings
Reflect on the news stories of 2024
Memorable moments from the sporting year
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Defining moments BEST STORIES OF
2024
The Southern Aurora made a dazzling appearance in 2024 captured here by Hills photographer Tracy Dasler. (Supplied) ries that made the year, re-read the inspiring story of Tom who’s love of trucks brought the community together to celebrate his 10th birthday and the remarkable outcome of his leukaemia diagnosis. Revisit the call of SES volunteers requesting a new funding model and the moment a Mount Evelyn McDonald’s proposal was refused. In this special edition, see a selection of the best stories, photographs, entertainment and art, as well as all the great sporting moments from Olympic debuts to sailing wins, national records and AFL draftees.
Lilydale’s Kelland O’Brien celebrated the gold medal win on Wednesday 7 August. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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What a year 2024 was. It saw a Lilydale boy score gold at the Paris Olympics, Holy Fools find a home in Lilydale, a community heartbroken by the sudden loss of a friend, Amigo, and movement on the management of stormwater after continuous community outcry. But like all years, it also came with tough moments, as the Montrose intersection works started impacting business greatly and people again struggled with the rising cost of living, seeing community organisations providing higher amounts of food relief. Tragedy on Yarra Ranges’ roads was immense with accidents and in some awful circumstances, deaths of motorcyclists and pedestrians. Star Mail also had a heavy focus on gendered violence and family violence, with a reflection of the work in this space over the year getting a space of its own in this edition. Among all the good, bad and everything in between, the community has had a strong voice of reason and passion, and an ever growing sense of kindness and support. As Star Mail takes a look back through the sto-
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