Tuesday, 8 April, 2025
Election survey: what the people want
Healesville resident wins division speech competition
CFA celebrates 80 years, local brigades reflect on the past
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Lasting gift By Dongyun Kwon A past Badger Creek Primary School pupil donated two woodcarvings to his old school. Mervyn Bullas, 85 years old, travelled from Dromana, Mornington Peninsula to Badger Creek to attend the centenary event of his hometown community hall. As part of the event, he toured his primary school which has been equipped with state-of-theart facilities. “I couldn’t believe how well the brand-new system that they have for education,” the 85-year-old said. “I thought it was magnificent and it’s time to do a little bit of input from my point of view.” Previously, Mr Bullas donated a woodcarving of the school logo in 2011. He made busts of two Australian animals, a kangaroo and an emu, this time. Mr Bullas’ family members have attended and still attend Badger Creek Primary School over generations. Daniella Bullas, a grandniece of Mervyn Bullas, went to the school and currently works for the school as an educational support worker. Kathryn Douglas, Mr Bullas’ extended family member, didn’t attend the school but now works there as a classroom teacher, and her son Will Douglas is a Grade 5 student at the school. Turn to page 12 for the full story
(L-R) Daniella Bullas, Kathryn Douglas and Will Douglas with Mervyn Bullas’ woodcarvings. (Dongyun Kwon: 470122)
Urgent care debate According to Star Mail’s federal election survey, the readers of Mountain Views and Upper Yarra papers raised the need for urgent care and emergency services in the Yarra Valley. The majority of the respondents indicated Healesville Hospital and Yarra Valley Health (Healesville Hospital) would be a good spot to
have urgent care service. Last month, the Labor Government announced an election promise to open 50 urgent care clinics across Australia including 12 in Victoria during the 2025-26 financial year. The government has released a list of target areas, in which Lilydale is one, but the final sites would be decided independently. Services for Healesville Hospital Action Group
(SHHAG) has been advocating for establishing an urgent care service in Healesville Hospital, as the closest hospital equipped with the service, Maroondah Hospital, is about 50 minutes away from the town. SHHAG chairperson Jane Judd said the Healesville Hospital would be the best place for an urgent care clinic. “It’s a perfect site because they have a GP
clinic on site, so there are actually medical professionals up there, seven days a week. They have pathology services, X-ray services, an operating theatre, highly skilled nurses, 19 beds and palliative care beds designated for caring for people at the end of life,” she said. “It’s co-located on the site with Monda Lodge, so it’s the natural home of an urgent care centre.” Turn to page 5 for more
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By Dongyun Kwon
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