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7 OCTOBER, 2025
Placing poles for peace Aintree is home to two new peace poles, with an unveiling ceremony held to celebrate their installation. Installed in Woodlea estate in Aintree by Rotary Club of Caroline Springs, the two poles were unveiled on September 21 and features the message ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ in a selection of languages most-spoken in the local region. Woodlea community development and partnerships manager Pauline Turner said that the poles are a visual statement that send a clear message of “who we are as a community and who we aspire to be”. “When I think about peace … I think about harmony, about everyone coming together. Peace starts from those small neighbourly gestures,” Ms Turner said. Rotary Caroline Springs president Martin Farrugia said the organisation was absolutely delighted to install the new poles in Woodlea. “In light of the recent tragic events, it’s now more than ever we need to be putting in … that’s the good thing about peace poles – they stand there as a beacon of hope to the wider community,” Mr Farrugia said. There are plans to install more peace poles throughout the Woodlea estate. Rotary Club of Caroline Springs members Elisabeth Paterson, Simarjeet Singh, president Martin Farrugia, Colin Paterson and Woodlea community development and partnerships manager Pauline Turner with one of the new peace poles. (Damjan Janevski) 506839_01
‘Incredible’ response The community has rallied to support a Hillside family who lost their home and belongings in a house fire on Tuesday, September 23. Thirty firefighters fought the blaze at Whitmore Place occupied by James Bell, Rochelle Ellis, and their three children Zayne, 7, Izaiah, 9, and Ava-Leigh. The family escaped the blaze but suffered burns. Mr Bell and Ms Ellis were rushed to The Alfred hospital in serious conditions
while Izaiah and Zayne, who was in a critical condition, were transported to the Royal Children’s Hospital. Neighbour and family friend Louise Sheehan said Ms Ellis and Izaiah have since been released from hospital, and that Mr Bell and Zayne — who both suffered more severe injuries — are making slow but good progress. Ms Sheehan was asleep when the fire started. “At the time I had no idea what had happened. The neighbour in between our two houses knocked on my door
and mentioned there was a fire so I grabbed my kids and went out the front and just saw smoke everywhere,” Ms Sheehan said. “I looked to the right and the house was just in flames.” Ms Sheehan expressed gratitude for two of her neighbours, Zac and his wife Tahlia, who immediately took action. “They’ve lost everything. The house will have to be demolished and rebuilt,” Ms Sheehan said. The day after the incident Mr Bell’s sister, Laressa Turetahi, started an online
GoFundMe campaign for the family. On the fundraising page, where donations have surpassed $140,000, Ms Turetahi wrote that the fire was caused by an oil heater. She also said the youngest child, Ava-Leigh, only suffered minor burns. After the incident, Sydenham Hillside Primary School, which is attended by Zayne and Izaiah, opened up its gym for donations and received an outpouring of items for the family. Continued: Page 3.
Helloworld Travel Bacchus Marsh
12736651-MP03-25
By Sam Porter