Tuesday, 13 May, 2025
Race Mathews remembered as reformer
Chestnut Fest success despite thieves
Olinda’s Fly By Night scores grant
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Beloved SES icon steps down By Tanya Steele A highly regarded SES Unit Controller officially stepped down from his position recently, but has no plans to slow down as a volunteer for the community of Emerald. After a few days off duty, Mr Owen has said it has felt ‘a bit weird’ because for so long he has been in tune with everything happening at the unit. “Now, all of a sudden, you don’t have to be or not to the same level, not the same degree,” he said. New Unit Controller Jess Rice said that Ben has been a pillar of the Emerald SES Unit for over 20 years, and his contribution is nothing short of remarkable. Read more on page 5
Ben has been a pillar of the Emerald SES Unit for over 20 years, and his contribution is nothing short of remarkable. (Stewart Chambers)
The burn-off blues By Cal Ludwig An unseasonably warm start to May saw many caught out while burning off once the end of the fire danger period occurred earlier this month. Firefighters responded to numerous out-ofcontrol burn offs throughout the Yarra Ranges within the first few days of the danger period lifting, igniting a reminder that while you can burn off, it doesn’t mean you should. Emerald CFA Captain Klaus Brodeck said their brigade has attended no fewer than six incidents
since Saturday 3 May. “It is a really high number for us, and the majority of those were on Monday and Tuesday where we did experience higher winds than normal, so that was what kept us busy the last few days,” he said. “They do vary from burn-offs that have run up a tree, or the resident hasn’t been actually manning the fire and they’ve lost control and it’s spread to a neighbour’s property, to other ones which have been large burn piles which again
may not have been supervised,” “I think they (residents) should identify what the Council restrictions are for their area.” Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade reported attending two preventable fires caused by unattended burn offs and some fires, which had been lit safely during the day, reignited overnight, like one in Warburton. Tuesday 6 May saw firefighters across the region attend and they were required throughout the day to ensure it stayed under control.
“It was brought under control around 4am but had burnt out approximately three acres which meant a lot of blacking out was going to be required,” Warburton CFA captain Ron McIntosh said. Since the lifting of fire-danger period restrictions, there have also been fires in Cockatoo, Macclesfield, Gruyere, Healesville, Seville and Mt Evelyn. To read more, turn to page 2
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