Tuesday, 24 June, 2025
Council budget faces backlash
Community unites for Truth Walk
Michelle’s pet photography fundraiser
Real estate liftout inside
PAGE 5
PAGE 6
PAGE 11
PAGE 21
A Star News Group Publication
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
Kallista PS brings colour to parade By Dongyun Kwon and Shamsiya Hussainpoor Belgrave hosted its beloved annual Lantern Parade on Saturday, 21 June, filling the streets with vibrant colours and creativity to mark the Winter Solstice. Hundreds gathered to admire lanterns in all shapes, with Kallista Primary School students excitedly showcasing their creations. Students eagerly crafted bird-themed lanterns during a special workshop run by the school’s Parents and Friends group. The stunning creations celebrated the feathered visitors that frequent the school’s leafy grounds. Grade 4 student Olivia’s colourful parrot lantern set the tone, while her younger brother Jackson, in Grade 1, designed his own colourful cockatoo. “It can fly faster than a motorbike,” he proudly said. Harper, Jedediah, and little Huckleberry also joined in, each with their unique creations. Jedediah’s bold secretary bird lantern wowed the crowd, while Huckleberry’s playful energy shone through as he marched with his own bright parrot lantern. The school’s acting principal, Stuart McLean expressed his pride in the students’ creativity and the school’s strong community spirit, making the Winter Solstice even brighter. To read more, turn to page 13
Kallista Primary School students showed off the lanterns they made. (Dongyun Kwon: 485874)
FTG’s Kelsey Szabo is walking 100km to raise funds for her sisters...
A journey of love By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Ferntree Gully resident, Kelsey Szabo, is set to walk 100 kilometres on Saturday, 5 July, to raise $90,000 for a new wheelchair-accessible vehicle for her two sisters, Ayva (22) and Jorja (16), who both live with ataxia telangiectasia (A-T), a rare and degenerative genetic condition. A-T impacts mobility, immunity, and life ex-
pectancy, leaving the sisters reliant on wheelchairs and full-time care. Their current van is no longer suitable as it can’t accommodate both of their wheelchairs, and their mother must manually lift them in and out of the car, which is exhausting. Ms Szabo, a mother herself, decided to take action when their van started breaking down. “I just thought: ‘This is it. This is the moment’,”
she said. The walk, called “Borrowed Steps 100k for A and J”, will begin at Portsea and end at the Upper Ferntree Gully Football Club, with a community event and silent auction. Support from local businesses has been incredible, raising over $28,000 so far, with more donations still rolling in. Ms Szabo’s walk honours her sisters, symbolising “taking the steps they can’t.”
The community has rallied around her, with a sold-out fundraiser and an outpouring of support from local groups. “This van will change everything,” Ms Szabo’s aunt, Nicole Botsman-Joyce said. The event aims to raise awareness about A-T while providing the sisters with the independence they deserve. To read more, turn to page 9
Combined experience of over 219 years! Experience + Expertise = A Great Result! We Put You First. 9754 6111
Widetread
•TYRES•WHEELS•SUSPENSION•
UV 4&S the4x ialsts c e Sp
!
nuff said
Approved Dealer for
F E R N T R E E G U L LY 9758 9288 1158 Burwood Highway (towards Belgrave) www.widetread.net.au
12394728-ACM32-18
12779045-KF25-25