Tuesday, 1 April, 2025
Council delivers 2025/26 draft budget
Capturing the arra Ranges: Council’s CCTV stance revealed
Tribute to market president
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Beans of success By Dongyun Kwon The annual Ron Goding Award was given to Montesanto Coffee Roasters owner Mario Morales by the Rotary Club of Healesville. Mario, who was born and raised in Costa Rica, has brought his home country’s coffee into the town. Costa Rica is known for its coffee industry which produces high-quality coffee beans. “People in Melbourne love coffee, and the coffee culture here is massive, even bigger than in Costa Rica,” the award recipient said. “There was already a lot of coffee. I wanted to bring a unique type of coffee bean into a very big coffee culture.” The Costa Rican coffee roastery was originally opened up at the west end of Healesville in 2023. The shop then moved to the east end in August last year and reopened in October after renovation. “I believe that even though Healesville is a tourist town, I don’t feel I could make it without the local support,” Mario said. “I think any business in Healesville has to cater to the locals because they’re the ones always there, looking after and supporting you. “I’m very thankful for the community. I obviously do get tourists, but I try to focus on the locals.” Healesville Rotary Club’s Ron Goding Award winner Mario Morales. (Stewart Chambers: 466890)
Turn to page 13 to read more
Powering up hope By Callum Ludwig Sometimes, it can be surprising how far a story can spread. The story of Yarra Junction resident Alice Underwood and her mother’s battle to get access to electricity for their home spread far, so far in fact, a retired electrician living in Queensland named Richard Lukoszek came across it and decided to do something about it. “This is where I came across your article and it gave me an insight into the long frustrating battle
the family had been going through over the last 10 years. I subsequently spoke to Energy Victoria, and they confirmed there was no plan to extend the line and that power would never reach them,” Mr Lukoszek said. “I felt the family’s frustration and knew this would be a very long, frustrating and fruitless endeavour, your article confirmed what I already knew that a lot of people in comfortable public office roles, wake up every morning, go to work with absolutely no intension to fulfilling their mandate
to make everyday citizens lives a little better than it was the day before,” “It was then and there that I was hooked and decided that this family would not be without power another year.” Mr Lukoszek received a notification in November 2024 from Change.org about Alice’s story and said his first reaction was disbelief, given he was raised in Melbourne and knew first-hand how the city had spread along with all normal city services such as water, sewage, power, communi-
cations and public transport. Alice said she was really amazed and really grateful when she heard about Mr Lukozszek’s offer. “I’m just blown away by people’s kindness and Richard is a lovely guy and I hope it all works out,” she said. “It’s a long way to travel, all the way down here, from Queensland, he’s doing so much effort to try and help me.” Turn to page 5 for more
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