Tuesday, 12 August, 2025
Laneway Healesville supports the homeless
Warburton railway’s 60th anniversary sparks memories
Coldstream FNC’s Indigenous guernsey
See Real Estate Liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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RSL honour By Dongyun Kwon Brian Luscombe, who accomplished many milestones for the Healesville RSL while taking different leadership roles, received the life membership certificate on Monday 4 August. One of the many achievements by Mr Luscombe, Healesville RSL’s former general manager Gary Slater pointed out, was changing the Healesville RSL to be more accessible to every community member, not just to veterans. “Brian made it easier for community groups to join and come to the RSL, and he initiated programs within the RSL members and the community could participate in, and he ensured the RSL supported a wide range of community events,” Mr Slater said. Looking back on his journey with the Healesville RSL, the award recipient could come up with many memories, from renovating the club, Anzac badge sales, to bus trips. “You can’t do anything unless you’ve had a lot of people help you. We’ve got a good committee. The staff are terrific, and you’ve got that backup,” Mr Luscombe said. Turn to page 9 to read more
Looking back on his journey with the Healesville RSL, the award recipient could come up with many memories, from renovating the club, Anzac badge sales, to bus trips. (Dongyun Kwon: 494993)
Anger bubbles up By Oliver Winn A $31 million plan to transform the old Warburton Hospital into a spa health resort has sparked robust discussion among the community. While some are angry the old site won’t be used for its original purpose as a hospital, others are glad it will be utilised after 25 years of disuse. The Star Mail reached out on local Facebook noticeboards to gather the opinion of Warburton locals and its surrounds. Amid a lack of healthcare services in the outer
east, those against the development believed it would be missed opportunity that’d only exacerbate the issue. Warburton local Peter Downey said the proposed spa health resort would be a “white elephant in the cost of living crisis”. But those who were for the spa health retreat and resort saw the redevelopment as an opportunity to boost the tourism economy and provide employment. “A brilliant development which will bring jobs
and opportunity to Warburton. You only have to look at the Mornington Peninsula Spa example and the tourists that visit then stay on the peninsula,” Ally Troth said. The planning permit application was submitted by Villa Spa Pty Ltd, which stated it would transform the old hospital into a “sustainable oasis showcasing the unique character of the local community”. Many pointed to an expected increase in injuries with the opening of the Warburton Bike Park
as a need for a hospital in Warburton. However, Warburton Advancement League (WAL) president David Pratt pointed to the fact that the old Warburton Hospital was privately owned and shut down due to financial losses and that establishing a new one would be unviable. “I believe the economics paints the picture more than anything. The hospital wasn’t economically viable in its operation back 20 years ago. It most certainly isn’t in the current state.” Read more on page 2
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