Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 25th November 2025

Yarra Valley

MOUNTAIN VIEWS UPPER YARRA

This is Waffles. He’s just one of many awaiting a permanent home through adoption from Animal Aid.

The six-year-old Siberian Husky is described as the fluffiest drama king around, thinking he’s part wolf, part comedian, and part professional singer.

If that super smiley face doesn’t win you over, then the crystal blue eyes might just have you racing down to Coldstream.

Each year around 6000 animals find their way to Animal Aid through no fault of their own.

As you’re dusting off the decorations, planning festive feasts and cherishing time with family and friends, why not add a donation to the list of things to do these holidays.

Do something a little different this year and give the gift of giving by visiting the shelter or their website.

CHRISTMAS IN YARRA GLEN CFA spreads festive cheer

Mark your calendars! The Yarra Glen CFA is once again preparing for their beloved annual tradition: the Santa Run on Christmas Eve, 24 December.

Starting in the early evening, around 5pm, Santa will be climbing aboard a fire truck to cover every single street in Yarra Glen. It’s an event the whole community looks forward to, bringing a special touch of magic just before Christmas Day.

Children, families, and adults are all encouraged to step out onto their front lawns or verandas of their houses to meet Santa as he passes by. Make sure you’re ready, as Santa’s helpers will be handing out lollies to everyone along the route!

The dedicated volunteers of the Yarra Glen CFA want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their incredible support throughout the year. They extend their warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. They hope everyone stays safe over the holiday period and into 2026 while spending quality time visiting family and friends.

CHRISTMAS IN YARRA GLEN

Yarra Glen Carols by Candlelight 2025 will begin at 7pm in the McKenzie Reserve, Yarra Glen.

With performances from Voice Code Studios, Muse Vocal Studios and Encore Vocal Studios, professional singers and their students bring joy to the stage.

Georgia Page is a new face who will be joining this year.

They will also have Yarra Valley Ballet ready to entertain and return singer Rebekah Bennetts. A long-time favourite, Anthony Gerace, will

make an appearance, as well as a new high-quality entertainer, Elin Tomos.

The more traditional carols will be performed by Discovery Church; they have changed things up this year, though, so expect them to sound a bit different.

There will be plenty of family-friendly engagement and quite a few fun surprises throughout the night as well, including a raffle.

Food vans will be on site this year and will be ready for trading by 6pm, or feel free to bring a picnic of your own.

Wishing all of our loyal customers the very best wishes for the festive season & thank you all again for your support this year. We will be closed for the Christmas break from Monday 22nd December 2025 and reopening on Wednesday 7th January 2026

They will have glow products back at the Carols, provided by an event retailer.

This year’s Carols event is proudly supported by local businesses, Convergint, Integrity Real Estate, Hirsch Wine Group, Yarra Valley Racing and Eastern Subaru.

Healesville Lions Club and local church, St John’s Healesville.

There are many more groups that add to the funds, who will be thanked in the lovely Songbook. Be sure to pick one up.

If you are a regular at the Yarra Glen Christmas Carols, make sure you pop 13 December on your calendar.

If you have never been to the carols before, make sure you make the effort to join; you will be glad you did!

To keep up to date with the singers’ names, friend their Facebook page!

From all who bring you the Yarra Glen Carols, they wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

CHRISTMAS IN HEALESVILLE

Healesville celebrates

Healesville will be buzzing on Thursday 4 December as traders stay open late for the annual Christmas Twilight Shopping Night, a relaxed summer evening of festive shopping, food and entertainment.

Now an annual tradition, the popular community event invites locals and visitors to explore Healesville’s retail and hospitality scene after hours and find unique gifts from independent makers and stores, with special offers, live music and a visit from “the man in red”.

“Healesville has such a strong sense of community, and this event captures that perfectly,” says Nina Sturgess, President of Healesville Traders Inc. and owner of Verso Books.

“It encourages people to shop locally for gifts you won’t find in the big centres, to support small businesses and celebrate the incredible creativity and hospitality that our town offers.”

Visitors from across the Yarra Valley and beyond are encouraged to make an evening of it. Enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere while browsing gifts, sharing a meal with friends, and supporting the small businesses that make Healesville distinctive, while soaking up the Christmas spirit.

A prize giveaway with donations from local businesses will also run on the night. Details

• What: Healesville Christmas Twilight Shopping Night

• When: Thursday 4 December 2025, from 5pm

• Where: Healesville township – Main Street precinct and surrounds

Follow Healesville Traders Inc. on Facebook and Instagram for updates. For more information, contact admin@healesvilletraders.com.au

Join Healeville’s traders for some late-night shopping and meet the big man in red himself. (Supplied)

CHRISTMAS IN HEALSVILLE Carols around the corner

The annual community carols event is returning to Healesville on Saturday 13 December.

It is organised by the Liberty Family Church with several sponsorships from local businesses.

Liberty Family Church community pastor Laura Hawting said she looked forward to the event which would bring the community together to celebrate Christmas.

“We’ve been putting it on for many years now. It’s always a wonderful event. We’re always completely in awe of how the community comes together with a sense of fun and vibrant spirit,” she said.

“The carols this year will be special because all the entertainment is put on by the local community. People are encouraged to enjoy local performances and support local schools, community groups and choirs.”

Performers, mostly locals, include Dr Peter Rogers, Lachlan Rogers, Ken Glenn, Soulsville – Friends and Family, Healesville High School Choir, Leila and Justin Hoogenraad, Jan Home and others. And of course, there will be heaps of Christmas carols for the crowd to sing along with.

The event will start at 6pm at the Queens Park with pre-show entertainment.

Santa and Mrs Claus will also visit, with a photo opportunity of course.

“The event itself is free. But, we’ll be selling all the usual Christmas paraphernalia, fairy floss, drinks and food,” Ms Hawting said.

“All these are to raise funds for the event running for future carols.”

There will be kids Christmas craft, temporary Christmas tattoos, glow sticks, fairy floss, food trucks, HICCI barbecue, and a collection for HICCI.

“It’s a great chance to see a real local flair. Community is coming together in support of the community and in celebration of the community.”

Confirmed sponsors include YV Financial Services and Liberty Family Church. Other sponsors will be announced as they are locked

Terminus Hotel

in. If any local businesses would like the opportunity to sponsor the Healesville Community Carols, they can contact carols@libertyfamily-

church.net.au

CHRISTMAS IN HEALESVILLE

A raffle for Healesville SES

By Gabriella Vukman

Every

Single tickets can be purchased for $5 each, or five tickets can be purchased for $20.

All funds raised this year will go towards purchasing a new rescue vehicle.

The SES would like to add a Light Rigid Rescue Truck to their fleet, as they currently have one Medium Rigid Rescue Truck, one Support 4WD and two Rescue 4WDs on loan.

The Light Rigid Rescue Truck would enable the SES to attend to multiple rescue jobs.

A spokesperson for the Healesville SES said, “In preparation for getting our new vehicle, a few of our members are training for their Truck licence.”

“The community might have already seen them driving around town with the Driver Under Instruction signs on,” they said.

“We hope our community can support us this year by buying a raffle ticket, and then they have a chance to win one of those fantastic prizes!”

The Healesville SES thanks the many local businesses that have donated prizes to the raffle. These prizes include:

1. A Meletos / Farmhouse weekday accommodation, dinner and breakfast for two people (not including beverages), valued at $600

2. A Linen House quilted coverlet King size, valued at $599

3. A Creswick fire blanket and discounted Global Balloon voucher for two people. Total value $250

4. A Four Pillars Gin gift box, a $50 voucher for

Verso books in Healesville, and a $30 voucher for Cheesemonger Sophie Condiments. Total value $180

5. An Olive @ Loch High Tea Voucher for two people, and a $50 Toscano Healesville voucher. Total value $200

6. A Punt Road hamper valued at $130, and a $50

Toscano Healesville voucher. Total value $180

7. A Soul Pattinson Chemist Healesville Gift Hamper valued at $110, and a $50 gift card for Via Cucina coffee. Total value $160.

8. A Gewurzhaus middle eastern spice box valued at $100,and a $50 Toscano voucher. Total value $150.

9. A $100 voucher for the Healesville Hotel, and a $50 voucher for Cicely Healesville. Total value $150

10. A Healesville Hardware smoking chips starter combo kit valued at $125, and a $50 Toscano voucher. Total value $175. Raffle winners drawn on Monday 22 December.

CHRISTMAS IN HEALESVILLE

You can call Santa Claus

Free Calls to Santa is back — with kids across the country lining up at Telstra payphones to be first through to the big man in red, following almost 100,000 calls to Santa’s out-of-office since last Christmas.

Santa fanfare kicked off across Australia on 13 November, with kids up bright and early to be first in line as Telstra’s Free Calls to Santa hotline switched on for its fifth year. Queues formed at local public phones as eager callers waited to share their Christmas wish lists.

From 13 November right through to Christmas Eve, Aussies can once again dial #HOHOHO (#464646) for free from any of Telstra’s over 14,000 public phones nationwide to chat directly to the North Pole.

There are five public phones in Healesville, three on Maroondah Highway, one on Healesville-Kinglake Road, and one on the corner of Eleva and Chum Creek Roads. You’ll also find one on Don Road Badger Creek.

What began in 2021 as a simple idea to help kids learn the all-important skill of using a public phone has, five years on, grown into one of Australia’s favourite festive traditions – with over 1.5 million free payphone calls into Santa HQ (and counting).

Even when Santa’s main line is closed, the calls don’t stop. Since last Christmas, almost 100,000 public phone calls have come through to Santa’s out-of-office line – that’s around 300 calls a day while kids eagerly await the hotline’s return.

The festive season can be busy, and our national network of payphones gives families from Broome to Bendigo a simple, cost-free and direct way to reach Santa. In one quick dial, kids can chat about everything from reindeer snacks to how things are tracking in the lead up to Christmas up at the North Pole.

Calling Santa isn’t just festive fun, it’s also a great way for kids to learn how to find and use a

public phone in case of an emergency. Free Calls to Santa is a way to show kids what a payphone is and how it works. With all standard national calls and texts free year-round, it’s the perfect chance to help them memorise one important phone number.

Back in August 2021, Telstra made all standard national and mobile calls from our payphones free. It was their way of stepping up support, especially for those in need.

Since then, payphone usage has more than

tripled. In the past year alone, over 25 million free calls were made, including more than 300,000 to Triple Zero and other emergency services. Now, over 4000 Telstra payphones also provide free Wi-Fi access, and they’re working to bring this to even more locations soon.

Festive books kids will love

Children love festive story books and books make great stocking fillers. Here are six festive children’s books recommended by librarians. Pig the elf by Aaron Blabey

No one loves Christmas more than Pig. And the world’s greediest Pug will stay up all night to get his presents.

Why I love Christmas Illustrated by Daniel Howarth

Featuring children’s own words, this book is an ideal stocking filler. From Christmas trees to Christmas cake and everything in between, it includes the things that children love about Christmas.

Santa Claus and the three bears by Maria Modugno

Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear weren’t expecting any company when they went for a walk on Christmas Eve.

This book delivers a festive twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, with Santa Clause stepping in as a cheerful intruder.

The prose is accompanied by beautiful watercolour pictures.

Dave’s Christmas

by

Dave loves Christmas. There are friends, decorations, presents and, best of all, there is an enormous Christmas meal including lots of Brussels sprouts. Rumble, rumble goes Dave’s tummy. Christmas is going to be explosive!

The Bush Santa illustrated by Mandy Foot As the sun sets on Christmas Eve, the Bush Santa’s big night begins. He travels around Australia delivering special presents to all the Aussie animals from the cockies in Cairns and the crocs of the Top End, to the wallabies in Canberra and the quokkas of Rottnest Island.

An Aussie Night before Christmas by Yvonne Morrison

Christmas in the middle of an Australian summer means Santa has to find new ways to deliver his presents.

The obvious solutions are to don a sun hat, shorts and a pair of thongs, not to mention ditching the sleigh and reindeer for roos and a ute.

Each line of this traditional verse has been rewritten with Aussie references.

CHRISTMAS IN HEALESVILLE Options for a sweet treat

While plum pudding, also known as Christmas pudding, is a traditional festive dessert in many parts of the world, some people prefer to explore alternatives that offer different flavours, textures, or dietary options. Whether you’re looking for something lighter, more modern, or a treat that caters to various dietary preferences, there are plenty of delicious options.

Here are some popular alternatives to plum pudding for Christmas Day dessert:

Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)

The Yule log is a classic French dessert traditionally enjoyed during the holiday season. Made from a light sponge cake rolled with a rich buttercream or ganache filling, it is shaped and decorated to resemble a wooden log. The cake can be flavoured with chocolate, vanilla, or even fruit, offering a delightful contrast to the heavier plum pudding. Decorated with festive accents like powdered sugar (for snow), meringue mushrooms, or fresh berries, the Yule log is both visually stunning and delicious.

Trifle

Trifle is a layered dessert that’s perfect for Christmas, as it can be made ahead of time and looks festive in a clear glass bowl. It typically consists of layers of sponge cake (often soaked in sherry or another liqueur), custard, whipped cream, and fruit. Popular fruits include strawberries, raspberries, or peaches, and some versions include jelly (gelatin) for an extra layer of flavour. You can customise it to be as rich or as light as you prefer, making it a versatile dessert for guests with different tastes.

Panettone

Panettone is an Italian sweet bread that has become a popular Christmas treat worldwide. Its light and airy texture, studded with dried fruits and candied peel, offers a more subtle sweetness compared to plum pudding. Panettone can be served on its own, with a dusting of powdered

sugar, or toasted and served with butter, mascarpone, or a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Its slight citrus flavour and fluffy texture make it an appealing alternative, especially for those who prefer a less dense dessert.

Pavlova

For a lighter, more summery alternative (particularly popular in Australia and New Zealand), pavlova is a fantastic option. This dessert consists of a crisp meringue shell with a soft, marshmallow-like interior, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruits such as strawberries, kiwis, and passionfruit. Its light texture and refreshing fruit toppings make it a perfect end to a rich Christmas meal, especially in warmer climates.

Fruitcake

For those who enjoy the fruitiness of plum pudding but want something a little different, fruitcake is a great option. Traditional fruitcake is packed with dried fruits, nuts, and spices, often soaked in rum or brandy for added flavour. It’s dense, flavourful, and lasts for weeks, making it a popular choice for Christmas. There are also lighter variations, such as a light fruitcake made with fewer dried fruits and a fluffier batter, offering a balance between richness and lightness.

Tarte Tatin

This French upside-down caramelised apple tart is a delicious, elegant alternative to plum pudding. The combination of buttery pastry, soft

caramelized apples, and a hint of cinnamon creates a comforting and indulgent dessert that pairs beautifully with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For those who enjoy fruit-based desserts, tarte tatin offers the perfect balance of sweetness and richness without being overly heavy.

Chocolate Mousse or Chocolate Tart

For chocolate lovers, a decadent chocolate mousse or tart can be a sophisticated yet indulgent alternative to traditional Christmas pudding. A rich, silky chocolate mousse served in individual glasses can be topped with whipped cream and berries, offering a luxurious dessert that’s still light in texture. Alternatively, a dark chocolate tart with a buttery crust and a rich ganache filling is both elegant and satisfying, perfect for those who prefer a more modern twist on Christmas desserts.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

For a fun and customisable alternative, an ice cream sundae bar is a crowd-pleaser, especially if you have children or guests with different preferences. Offer a variety of ice cream flavours, from classic vanilla and chocolate to more seasonal options like peppermint or eggnog. Provide an array of toppings such as hot fudge, caramel sauce, sprinkles, nuts, and fresh fruit, allowing guests to create their perfect sundae. This option adds an interactive element to the dessert course and provides a lighter, refreshing end to the meal. While plum pudding is a traditional Christmas dessert, many alternatives can be just as festive and delicious. From the light and fruity pavlova to the rich and indulgent sticky toffee pudding, there’s a dessert option to suit every taste and preference. Whether you’re looking for something light, chocolatey, or fruit-based, these alternatives offer a wide variety of flavours and textures to complement any Christmas feast.

Entries now open for Christmas competition

Businesses across the Yarra Ranges are being urged to get into the Christmas spirit by decorating their storefronts, as part of the council’s annual Christmas Window Competition.

The competition, which is now open for entries, aims to find the most festive store window via public vote.

Entries for businesses opened on Wednesday 5 November and will run until Wednesday 3 December, while public voting will open on Tuesday 25 November until Wednesday 10 December.

If you are a business and want to be part of the fun:

Upload your entry on the Yarra Ranges Christmas Window Competition 2025 Shaping Yarra Ranges page with a picture and a short description of your display.

Make sure you include your business/shop name and suburb in the title.

CHRISTMAS IN HEALESVILLE Have a HICCI Christmas

The shop with the most votes (or likes) for its window, at the end of the competition, will be one of four winners.

For residents wanting to support local business:

• Follow the Yarra Ranges Christmas Window Competition 2025 Shaping Yarra Ranges page (you need to be registered to Shaping Yarra Ranges), you will get a reminder email when voting opens.

• View the entries and vote by ‘liking’ to support your favourite.

• Be in the running to win one of four $150 vouchers by logging in/registering and leaving a comment on your favourite display.

• The Shaping Yarra Ranges page can be found at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ yarra-ranges-christmas-window-competition-2025.

By Gabriella Vukman

Healesville Interchurch Community Care Inc (HICCI) is gearing up to support those in need this Christmas.

Calling on community members to contribute financially to hampers and Christmas gifts, as well as donate food, HICCI donations can be made via the HICCI website listed below, or be dropped off in-person.

With Christmas donations already beginning to come in, the team at HICCI is busy packaging and organising goods in preparation for the festive season.

Executive Officer at HICCI Alison Gommers said, “Christmas at HICCI starts on the first of December.”

“We have our Christmas shop starting next Monday and we will have vouchers as well from some local traders and the Yarra Ranges Council who will be supplying swimming passes,” she said.

The Christmas shop is open in the mornings for people to come in and choose a gift to take home.

There is also a registration list for people to put their name down to receive a hamper. Otherwise HICCI will be open from 9am to 2:30pm on weekdays for people to pop in and choose one.

To donate via the website, visit hicci.org.au

HICCI is located at 231 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville to donate.

By Gabriella Vukman

Badger Creek area

CHRISTMAS IN HEALESVILLE Elves busy bringing cheer

The Rotary Club of Healesville Christmas Elves are at it again.

They have already distributed their grant gifts to HICCI and St Brigids care groups.

Next will be the installation of the beautiful street lamp wreath decorations on 1 December.

At the same time, they are busy organising the Healesville and Yarra Glen Christmas windows competition.

They need the locals to vote for their favourite Christmas shop window display.

Drop your best choice and your contact details into Healesville Jewellers or Yarra Glen Newsagency.

Entries close on 12 December.

Those who nominate a business become entrants in the Rotary Christmas Hamper giveaway.

The elves have booked a Santa visit as well. He will be seated on his throne outside the jewellery shop on the following dates

• Friday 5 December – 3 till 5pm

• Saturday 6 December – 11.30 till 1pm

• Friday 12 December – 3 till 5pm

• Saturday 13 December – 11.30 till 1pm

• Friday 19 December – 3 till 5pm

• Saturday 20 December – 11.30 till 1pm

Take your photo and make a small donation to assist Rotary with its service to the Community.

If you would like to become a Rotary volunteer, have fun and meet like-minded locals, they’d love to hear from you. Follow them on Facebook.

The Rotary Club of Healesville’s Christmas Elves will be out and about on 1 December installing Main Street’s Christmas decorations. (Supplied)

CHRISTMAS IN HEALESVILLE

Deliciously easy Christmas

There’s something extra special about Christmas in Healesville — kids buzzing with excitement, families piling into the car for last-minute treats, and that warm feeling of slowing down just enough to savour the sweet moments that make the season magical. And right in the middle of it all is Beechworth Bakery Healesville, proudly celebrating 20 years of festive cheer, belly laughs, and good old-fashioned country hospitality. If you’re looking to give gifts people will actually enjoy, this year’s Christmas range makes it wonderfully easy. The shelves are full of edible goodies perfect for sharing, gifting, or sneaking away for yourself. From delightful little treats to

show-stopping table toppers, everything is handmade with care — and just a sprinkle of Christmas magic.

Want to be everyone’s favourite gift-giver? Pick up one of our beautifully packaged Christmas Hampers, or take your gifting up a notch with our new low-gluten light fruit cake, Christmas Rum Balls, or our famous Tom’s Festive Fruit Cake, a rum-soaked classic made using a recipe loved for over 100 years.

If you prefer fun, festive, and family-friendly gifting, you’ll love our Hug Mugs paired with festive shortbread, or the ever-popular Gingerbread Decorating Kits — perfect for keeping little hands

busy and happy. And with our new gift packaging, your presents will look beautiful under any tree.

Whether you’re picking up something for teachers, neighbours, colleagues, or your own Christmas table, Beechworth Bakery Healesville has something for every moment, big or small.

• Visit us: Beechworth Bakery Healesville

• 316 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville

• Open daily (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day)

• Order online: beechworthbakery.com.au

Because nothing says “Merry Christmas” like something delicious, handmade, and shared.

CHRISTMAS IN YARRA JUNCTION

Carols 2025 ups the ante

The Yarra Junction Community Group warmly invites everyone to a joyful evening of music, family activities and festive cheer at this year’s Community Carols.

Bring your picnic rug, chairs and dinner and settle in from 5.30pm at the picnic area at the Yarra Centre, Yarra Junction.

Children can enjoy free Christmas craft activities and face painting, and the Yarra Centre canteen will be open throughout the evening.

The YJ Rotary Club will also be firing up the barbecue, selling sausages as a fundraiser—plus every child will receive one free sausage, with vouchers available at the gate.

At 6.30pm, the entertainment begins on the outdoor stage, hosted by two fantastic MCs from the Yarra Junction Community Group.

Audiences will be treated to performances by choirs from Saint Joseph’s Primary School and Yarra Junction Primary School, followed by talented local musicians including Georgia Page, Ben Wynne, and Geoff Wood.

A lively five-piece brass band will add to the festive spirit.

A Yarra Junction Community Choir, formed especially for the event, has been having a lot of fun rehearsing and will lead the community in carol singing.

The evening will conclude with a show-stopping finale featuring the choir and brass band together.

If the weather is unsuitable for an outdoor event, all activities will move inside to the basketball stadium at the Yarra Centre.

This is the second community carols hosted by the Yarra Junction Community Group and it promises to be the best one yet.

With a dedicated garage sale fundraiser in November on top of grant funding, the Yarra Junction Community Group have well and truly gone all out for this year’s celebra-

CHRISTMAS IN YARRA JUNCTION

Help to fuel festive feels

Gabriella Vukman

Not feeling the Christmas spirit just yet? Here’s 10 things you can do that will have your festive feelings flowing.

Decorate

Yes it’s an obvious one but decorating the space around you will remind you that it really is ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ as Andy Williams says. From your workplace to your home, string up some lights and wrap that tinsel around everything. If you aren’t going to put up a real Christmas tree this year, source some real pine needles for that extra special warm and fuzzy festive scent.

Host or attend a Christmas party

Find time in your busy schedule to unite with those you love to be around. Be it a lunch, Christmas cookie baking session or a group decorating effort, having your friends and or family together before the actual day of Christmas can really ignite your Yuletide spirit.

Visit some Christmas Lights

Doing a neighbourhood Christmas light walk or drive is not just an activity reserved for the youngsters. Appreciate the effort people go to at Christmas time to fuel the festive feels. A relaxing driveby or exciting brandy-charged stroll with friends never fails to deliver a smile.

Bake gingerbread

That’s right. -Let your creativity run rampant as you lose yourself in a world of flour, spices and sweets. Whilst there are a lot of great recipes out there, a lot of them require the gingerbread to be prepped the night before the building process.

Have a Christmas movie night

It is now that time of the year where you reach for the classics. Elf, Love Actually, the Polar Express you name it. Get your fix of Christmas cinema

whilst snuggled somewhere with a cuppa.

Add a touch of festivity to your outfits

It’s not dorky, rather it’s just joyful. Be it earrings, socks, a t-shirt or even a hair ribbon, turn each outfit into an opportunity to celebrate December.

Commit to your advent calendar

If you haven’t got one, get one. There’s nothing like the childhood excitement that accompanies the ticking off of each day in the lead up to Christmas. Whether it’s a calendar filled with goodies or with a quote for each day, make it a Decem-

ber ritual to reach each day with a smile. You can even make your own!

Be thoughtful Christmas is a time of celebration and giving.

Whether it’s writing a Christmas card, doing something kind for someone or even preparing someone’s stocking, you’ll find that spreading cheer and thoughtfulness only enhances your own.

Listen to Christmas music

Don’t be a Grinch. Hurry up and finalise that

playlist and listen as often as you can. A good dose of Buble whilst you’re cleaning, driving or putting up a tree cannot go amiss.

Attend a community Christmas carols. Go and watch your local choir perform or enjoy a CFA or community-hosted Christmas carols event. There will be so much Christmas spirit in the air that you are guaranteed to be infected. Join the Yuletide pandemic of enthusiasm and spread it as far as you can.

CHRISTMAS IN WANDIN

Supporting season’s spirit

Each December, the excitement of the festive season takes on a uniquely local feel when Seville CFA’s much-loved Santa Run makes its way through the community. It’s a tradition that brings smiles to children, families, and residents of all ages, and one that the Wandin Seville Community Bank is incredibly proud to support year after year.

Our partnership with the Seville CFA Santa Run began in 2020 and has grown into one of our most cherished annual commitments. While our contribution may be small, they know that every little bit counts for our hardworking local CFA volunteers. Each year, the Community Bank order and donate a huge tin of 1000 lollipops that Santa hands out along the route. It’s a simple gesture, but one that plays a meaningful role in spreading joy and helping to ease the load on the CFA during one of their busiest times of the year.

In 2022, the bank formally pledged to continue sponsoring the Santa Run for at least five more years, ensuring support is locked in until at least 2027. The CFA is always appreciative, and for the Community Bank, knowing they are lightening their workload in even the smallest way makes this sponsorship particularly rewarding.

Wandin Seville Community Bank’s connection to the Seville CFA is part of a much broader and deeply valued relationship with local emergency services. As a community bank, they understand how essential these volunteer-run organisations are to the safety and wellbeing of the region. Over the years, they have proudly provided sponsorships and donations to the Seville, Wandin, Coldstream and Gruyere CFA brigades, strengthening the important partnerships that hold our community together.

They believe strongly in giving back, and they are able to do so because of the ongoing trust and support of their customers. Every account opened, every loan taken out and every banking

decision made with them helps generate profits that are reinvested into local projects, initiatives and groups just like the CFA. It’s a powerful reminder that when locals bank locally, the whole community benefits.

The annual Santa Run is a perfect reflection

of what makes our region so special: volunteer spirit, community pride and people looking out for one another. They are honoured to play a small part in keeping this tradition alive and spreading a little Christmas joy throughout Seville each year.

As the fire truck’s siren jingles through the streets this December and Santa waves from atop the red truck, we hope everyone enjoys the magic of the moment — made possible by the dedication of our CFA volunteers and the strength of our local community.

CHRISTMAS IN WARBURTON

All I want for Christmas...

The Warburton Advancement League’s Christmas in the Park will bring the festive spirit and cheer to the Upper Yarra this December.

Taking place on the green next to Warburton Water World on 20 December, this exciting event is sure to get you in the Christmas mood.

Kicking off at 6pm, jazz band Paige Burney Quartet will play some classic Christmas hits before Santa himself shows up at 6.50pm.

Following the appearance of Father Christmas will be the highly anticipated carols from 7-7.20pm.

Once everyone has sung their carols, from

7.20 through to 9pm an internationally renowned Celtic band called Claymore will brace the green with bag pipes and all.

A shuttle bus will be running from the Warburton Football Oval from 5.30pm.

Food and coffee vans will be onsite to quench any hunger.

This event is a free entry but a gold coin donation is always welcomed.

If the weather’s bad and it’s not looking likely that the event will run, check wal.org.au for more information.

Find the perfect gift today

Haven’t sorted this year’s Christmas gifts yet?

The Warburton Waterwheel are hosting a Christmas Market on 6 December and it’ll feature a wide array of gifts for everyone.

But this market isn’t like any other - the Warburton Waterwheel can guarantee that each and every stall will only offer high quality, locally made, hand crafted artisan goods from sellers in the region.

From 4pm to 8pm, the green spaces surrounding the Waterwheel and the Cog Cafe will be littered with stalls and food will be on offer at the carpark area near Cog Cafe (which will also be open and serving food and drinks, of course).

On top of all that, local musicians will get the vibes going at the market. Get ready to get moving with Kofi Kunkpe and the Yarra Valley Drummers, while the multi-talented Jeff Wilmott and his group of fiddlers and other musicians will be along to entertain as well.

No matter who you’re buying for, unique gifts for everyone can be found at the market.

This includes, but isn’t limited to, jewel-

lery, woodworking, beaded and other handmade ornaments, pottery, felted goods, hand-painted glassworks, home decor, herbal medicines, books by local authors, paintings, cards, crocheted toys, 3D printed items, handsewn clothing, and much more.

Alongside this extensive list of offerings, the Warburton Waterwheel will also be open with its own handmade gift shop, information about the region, and the Waterwheel Gallery featuring Ben Winspear’s exhibition “The Moods of the Yarra Valley”.

Originally created to feature just the handmakers who sell their works in the Waterwheel itself, the market has expanded to include other creatives in our community as well as information stands such the Warburton Film Society.

It has also been intentionally scheduled on the evening of the first Friday in December to allow the local community members to attend the market, so people can get their gifts sorted before they leave for any trips over the summer.

BEST PRICE, BEST TANKS WITH A LIFETIME GUARANTEE

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Concrete water tanks built correctly will last a lifetime. They keep your water cool, clean and algae free. This is because our tanks have 130mm walls and a 300mm base, and are poured with 40-mpa strength concrete not 25 or 30 mpa. We also use plasticiser to keep up the strength in the tanks instead of water. And after 28 days of curing the strength of the concrete will be between 48 and 52 mpa. And each tank is poured individually on site. These tanks come out white, which is a sign of the strength in the tanks. The MPA is a measure of how much concrete there is as parts per 1000. The walls of the tank are vibrated all around to ensure that there are no air bubbles and that the concrete is compacted down. Terry generally builds tanks in three sizes, 50,000, 105,000 and 120,000 either with a silo (metal) roof, concrete top or open top tanks.

The tanks will not blow away or fall apart, and this is particularly important in areas where there is high wind, or in fire prone districts. In the event of a fire, a large tank (120,000 litres) can supply water back up to the main house. By setting up a petrol powered generator and pumping water up onto the house directly, via a reverse water sprinkler system, you will keep your home cool and wet. Or if need be, you can jump into the tank to keep cool and be protected from flames and radiant heat. Water is our most important resource, and we cannot have too much of it! So for all your water storage needs when you are thinking of installing your next tank, please call Terry for a quote on 0419 462 814 or 02 6026 7021 or check out our website, www.terrymillerconcretetanks.com.au.

Nearly four years ago, we suffered our own fire here, in Barnawartha, and we were lucky. But it made me realise how important good water storage is. We are in for a long, hot, dry summer, and fire restrictions are in. Having an ample supply of safely stored water is imperative. So why not contact Terry now about your water supply needs, BEFORE, the heat builds up and water scarce. There is nothing more refreshing than your own cool, clear, clean water!

Car thrills

By Oliver Winn

The first show of the 2025/26 Wandin Custom Car and Bike show series took place on Wednesday 19 November attracting hundreds of cars and almost a thousand spectators.

Owners of classic cars and bikes rocked up to show off their vehicles with pride as competitions took place to determine the best among the pack.

Debbie Wilson won best original car for her 1966 S 600 Honda, which has been in the family for 50 years.

Meanwhile, best car in show went to Jim Mullins with a fully rebuilt 1967 Chevy Nova SS.

The event is a fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital and is the last seven years the Rotary Club of Wandin has given the Royal Children’s Hospital over $100,000.

On the day, traffic congestion caused cars to pile up, despite Wandin Rotary’s warnings to not turn up earlier than 5pm.

Read more on page 19

Health hesitancy

By Callum Ludwig

When Eastern Health and Alexandra District Health announced they were exploring a voluntary amalgamation on Thursday 6 November, it prompted calls from the catchment of both areas to consult their communities.

A series of ‘Tea Talk’ community engagement sessions, including one each in Yarra Glen and Healesville, have been hastily organised within a quickfire consultation period, which closed on Friday 21 November.

Healesville resident Jane Judd, who previously worked for both organisations and attended the

Healesville session, said she felt the representatives of both organisations were very open, candid and willing to answer their questions.

“The fact that it is a voluntary merger and the fact that both boards have to agree that there is a benefit is good, but defining that benefit was what was important,” she said.

“I got the impression that they learnt from their experience here (in Healesville) with the response of the community... no one can say they haven’t had an opportunity to attend and contribute and that’s really good as that’s not how it was here.”

An Alexandra community meeting was called for Tuesday 18 November, inviting both health organisations, but no representatives attended.

Alexandra and District Traders and Tourism Association (ADTTA) secretary Caolán O’Connor said their community are hearing lots of ifs, coulds, shoulds, and hopefully’s.

“What we are very aware of is that Murrindindi has a very small population and that the rest of the eastern catchment has a very large population so just by law of averages, the chances of us having some seats around the table are statistically so much smaller,” he said.

“There is a pathway here for local people to be part of the Community Engagement Committee (CEC), that’s basically our mechanism to have a voice into the broader Eastern Health Board... but the current Alexandra CEC only found out about the potential amalgamation on the same day that everyone else did.

“If the hospital is telling us how to trust the process, the CEC is your avenue to have a voice, but in the past, the CEC have been the last person to find out about this, then there’s some issues with us being able to trust the process.”

Read more on pages 5-6

CCTV eyes War Memorial

By Oliver Winn

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, two CCTV cameras will finally protect the Seville War Memorial from malicious vandals.

At this year’s Remembrance Day service, Seville War Memorial Committee chair Anthony McAleer OAM announced two security businesses had offered their labour and money to have the cameras installed.

“It’s fantastic. It just gives us that level of protection that I think we need.

“We certainly want to ensure that the memorial is there for generations to come, and anything else we can do to protect it and look after it is fantastic,” Mr McAleer said.

The head of local security company Advanced Security Grant Tucker will install and monitor the cameras for free, while security system suppliers Provision ISR have donated the cameras and covered installation costs.

The new cameras aren’t just any ordinary, consumer-grade products either - Mr Tucker said he got commercial-grade cameras because he wanted to ensure the criminals would be clearly identifiable.

“They’ve got a 60-metre infrared and they’re pointed directly at the war memorial, so I’m putting two cameras in, one either side of it, so we’ll see them coming in and see them going.

“Having that longer lens on them, that’s the key to be able to get the image. A lot of cameras only have a 25-metre IR, but I’m getting a longer-range one through my supplier.”

Mr Tucker has a strong connection to Seville and said when the memorial got damaged, “it wasn’t a vandalism to the community, it was a vandalism to our heritage”.

With no cameras to catch the criminals, Mr McAleer said it was disappointing their wasn’t any evidence to provide to the police.

“The fact that we didn’t have any extra evidence we could give the police in regards to it was very disappointing. So, it’s certainly labelled the need to have that extra surveillance there on the memorial.”

With Advanced Security monitoring and installing the camera and Provision ISR donating the cameras themselves, it saved the committee roughly $4000 in upfront costs.

But Mr McAleer said the real savings will be avoiding the costs of damages from vandals.

“Having this here, this is what we’re hoping

is going to deter anything like that. So that will hopefully be ongoing savings to the community.”

He noted how damages from the vandalism in 2023 were paid for through grants, which meant the public were funding the costs to fix the memorial.

“So even though we missed out on that funding that was supposed to be given to us earlier, it’s still not going to cost the general public any funds. And it’s the kindness of a local community group and an organisation that has been able to make this to happen.”

The Yarra Ranges Council have taken a long time to give the committee permission to use its nearby power supply to install the cameras, citing concerns surrounding privacy with the Seville Water Play Park close by.

But Mr McAleer said he reassured the council the waterpark won’t be in the camera’s field of view.

“We’ve worked out with the shire, the cameras aren’t going to be aimed at the water play park, they’re going to be aimed at the memorial itself.”

Mr Tucker said the CCTV cameras’ contents

are only accessible by the technician and Victoria Police, as the network isn’t connected to the internet.

“It’s actually a localised system. So it doesn’t have any internet connection.”

A Yarra Ranges Council spokesperson said council was working with the Seville War Memorial group on the installation of CCTV.

“It is hoped that the presence of the cameras deters future acts of vandalism against the Memorial and could assist VicPol investigations should another incident occur.”

Unique map gives community big disaster insights

By Tanya Steele

Key community players across the Yarra Ranges gathered in Belgrave on 14 November to participate in a unique exercise being run nationally on disaster preparedness.

The Yarra Ranges Council (YRC), in partnership with Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), hosted representatives from Warburton to Upwey and over 80 stakeholders, some from opposite ends of the Yarra Ranges, gathered for the session.

Clad in their socks, the groups began the day with introductions, then people began to walk across a printed fabric map of the region they live, work and respond in.

A representative from Disaster Resilience Australia led quite open conversations to draw out local information from several different perspectives.

Yarra Ranges Council Director Communities, Leanne Hurst, said on the day, the simulated scenario of a catastrophic fire event sparked some rich dialogue on roles and responsibilities in an emergency, as well as how decisions are made across the response, relief and early recovery phases of an emergency.

“The Big Map provided us with a unique perspective of the hazards and risks we all live with, so it’s a powerful tool that is linking agencies with the community, to help strengthen those relationships while also building awareness,” she said.

Community members, including Upwey High School students, contributed great insights on their recovery priorities and asked direct questions of agencies.

With a large contingent of people having freshly moved to the Yarra Ranges in the last five years, it means some people haven’t been through major bushfire or flooding events at all - the number given was around 35 per cent of the population.

Representing CFA in Kalorama, long-term fire brigade member Virginia Porter said she thought

it was an excellent exercise and highlighted the extent of our risk areas across the ridgetop.

“The communication between the various agencies and community groups was paramount and highlighted the different priorities in an emergency situation,” she said.

With the bigger picture being the recurring theme, organisations like CFA, SES, Yarra Ranges Council and more, ran through the scenario, with smaller non-government-led agencies like township groups, radio stations and food relief groups chipping in with their own priorities and the realities of things that could be happening on the ground.

“The exercise showed that, as agencies, we need to focus more broadly and connect with the community to increase the benefits of the work we all do,” said Ms Porter.

The whole day continuously touched on the mental strain that is placed on the community when big climate and emergency events happen, and the necessity of having a safety net and proper coordination between the council, emergency services, and community groups to ensure effective response and support.

In the first days of an event, it was asked, How would people communicate? Check on their neighbours. Would family violence go up? Would schools go back? How are vulnerable and single-parent households coping?

Vice President of the Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG), Phil Pomaroff, said the exercise was a unique and interactive way to gain a better understanding of the place community lives.

“Importantly, the surrounding areas as well,” he said.

“Placing dots across the location of critical infrastructure around us, such as roads, bridges, telecommunications, emergency services, and community assets, the map gave insight into precious resources that could be drastically impacted by fire and flooding in extreme weather events,” he said.

“We learnt how all the emergency management services need to work together and how the community can play its part in a mock disaster scenario.”

Anecdotally, the facilitator mentioned that in times of disaster, there will always be community members who will step up and naturally create support for others.

Belinda Young from Mothers of the Hills was present on the day and said via social media that being part of this community-wide conversation was an important step in strengthening how our local families prepare and connect.

Lilydale SES Unit Controller Shaun Caulfield said the Big Map was an excellent way for community and emergency services, as well as support agencies such as the council.

“To connect with each other, in a unique way – it gives a unique perspective to the landscape, and was well facilitated, and ensured a wide range of community voices were heard by those that respond in different ways to emergencies and crises,” he said.

“It gives communities a sense of empower-

ment during a time when they can be at their most vulnerable.”

“The Big Map is a useful tool to engage with the community and help them better plan and prepare for any potential disaster,” said Mr Pomaroff.

Ms Hurst said, having now run this session with agencies and other stakeholders, Yarra Ranges has identified some enhancements that will be incorporated into a session for community members in the future.

The exercise hopefully creates real, actionable opportunities that will, in turn, be used to strengthen disaster resilience and improve emergency planning at a local level. Established in 2016, Disaster Relief Australia is a veteran-led not-for-profit that brings together the skills and experience of veterans and other dedicated volunteers to help communities prepare for and recover from disasters.

Big Map will hopefully be run for all community in early 2026 and will offer anyone who lives in the Yarra Ranges to learn and connect in a safe and productive way.

“We encourage anyone interested in learning more to keep an eye out for future events and to get involved,” said Ms Hurst.

Fire preparation key

By Callum Ludwig

With the Fire Danger Period imminent for the Yarra Ranges, local police are urging residents to be prepared and aware of the dangers of fire season. Planning is key to surviving any major fire event but police also want residents to understand the consequences for any reckless or intentional behaviour that causes fires.

Local area commander for the Yarra Ranges, Inspector Lee Coulthard-Clarke, said they’re expecting the fire danger period to start in the Yarra Ranges in late November or early December, and it’s really important that people understand that fires are likely to start, especially in hot, dry or windy weather.

“We all need to be aware of our surrounds in respect of fire, Victoria Police is committed to the ‘You Light It, You Own It’ campaign which is being run by Crime Stoppers and it’s important to know that any spark can start a fire,” she said.

“There is a penalty for recklessly starting a fire and that’s up to 15 years imprisonment and police will take action for those who recklessly light fires or deliberately light fires.

“We have a zero tolerance approach around that.”

Residents need to be wary of different causes of fires such as sparks from farm machinery or power too, leaving campfires unattended or burning off without a permit.

Inspector Coulthard-Clarke said she’d also like to ask people that if they see behaviour that could lead to a bushfire, they report it to their local police, Triple Zero or Crime Stoppers either by phone or online.

“The details that you should include or look to include in your report are the time, the place, the age of the person or persons, weight, height, hair colour, clothing and any vehicle description and police will then use that information to make relevant inquiries to identify those people,” she said.

“Going back to the Montrose fire, it was the observations of the local community that led us to identify those responsible.”

“Locally in the Yarra Ranges, we’ll be running a dedicated fire patrol during the fire danger period, which uses an intelligence-led approach to identify areas of interest or persons of interest who have previously been known to

deliberately light fires in our community.”

Police encourage all residents to refresh themselves on their fire plan and if they don’t yet have one, to make one now.

Inspector Coulthard-Clarke said if the Fire Danger Rating is extreme or catastrophic, you are risking your life if you wait and see if the fire is coming.

“We can’t guarantee the presence of police or other emergency services during an evacuation time and we can’t always ensure that we can evacuate you so please look at the warnings and leave early,” she said.

“I would encourage everyone to download the VicEmergency app so that you can be proactive in keeping your eyes out for those warnings… the Montrose fire was so unexpected, being extreme and in the middle of the night, it caught everyone unaware.

“Our main remit is around traffic management and evacuation, and we support the control agency to do those things as best we can… we are in constant communication with our other agencies, so we can be absolutely prepared as possible for any emergency, whether that be flood, fire or otherwise.”

IN BRIEF

Car stolen from Wandin East

Mount Evelyn Police have called on the public for information surrounding the theft of a car from Wandin East on Wednesday 19 November.

The victim was attending the Rotary Club of Wandin’s Custom Car and Bike show when their distinctive VN Holden Commodore was stolen from their Old Baker Road home. The car’s is registration 2378H8 (Club Plates) and anyone with any information or dashcam footage of this vehicle can contact Mount Evelyn Police on (03) 9736 2473 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000. Reference 250481275.

Yarra Centre swimming lane time changes this week

Due to school swimming, some lanes may be closed at the Yarra Centre on Monday 24 to Friday 28 November.

Up to three lanes will be closed from 122.30pm.

Please note change rooms will be closed at 1pm, 1.45pm and 2.30pm for 15 mins at time.

Old Warburton Bridge works progressing

Works to construct the Warburton Bike Park bridge across Old Warburton Road continues, with traffic control measures in place.

During working hours one lane will remain closed at the site.

During construction this can change at any time. Please obey traffic control in place.

For details of the bridge project go to: shorturl.at/R7Sq7

Community Sentiment Survey outlines concerns

Police in the Yarra Ranges have identified three key community safety concerns after its Community Sentiment Survey received over 700 respones.

The announcement was made by the Yarra Ranges Eyewatch page on Facebook on 20 November which highlighted safety of property and possessions, safety in public places and road safety related issues as the main concerns.

“If you completed an online survey, submitted a hard copy survey or were part of the many residents that shared your insights to police while they were on foot patrols, thank you for your involvement,” the post read.

Armed robbery in Lilydale

Police have charged a teenage boy following an attempted armed robbery at Lilydale Railway Station this afternoon.

It is alleged the victim, an 80-year-old Lilydale man, was in the railway station carpark off Main Street when he was approached by a male on a scooter about 1.50pm.

The boy allegedly produced a knife and made demands for the victim’s wallet.

When the victim refused, the boy allegedly slashed him with the knife before fleeing.

The man was transported to a medical centre with non-life-threatening injuries.

The 16-year-old from the Yarra Ranges area was located on Main Street a short time later and arrested.

He has since been charged with attempted armed robbery, recklessly cause injury, intentionally cause injury, posses controlled weapon and common law assault.

He was remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

Wilson welcomed as leader

By Mikayla van Loon, with AAP

The Victorian Liberal Party has seen its third change in leadership in under 12 months but this time, in a historic step, a woman is at the helm.

Opposition Leader and Berwick MP Brad Battin lost the top job to Kew MP Jess Wilson on Tuesday morning, 18 November, after a successful spill.

The 35-year-old is the state party’s third leader in 11 months after John Pesutto was dumped and replaced by Mr Battin in late December.

The first-term millennial MP is the first woman to be elected leader of the party, helping also make history with both Labor and Liberal now led by women.

Eildon MP Cindy McLeish congratulated Ms Wilson on her appointment and said it is a positive step for women in politics and the Liberal Party, noting several positions held by women.

“The election of Jess Wilson, the first female leader of the Victorian Liberals, speaks volumes,” she said.

“The Liberal Party now have a federal and state leader which are positive steps.”

Ms McLeish also pointed to the Northern Territory’s Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, and newly appointed State Director of the party, Alyson Hannam, also the first woman to hold the position.

Bringing the state budget back under control, ending the “crime crisis”, boosting healthcare and increasing home ownership were among Ms Wilson’s top priorities heading into the November 2026 election.

“Victorians have a clear choice,” Ms Wilson said.

“A choice between a tired, out-of-touch Labor government or a new generation Liberal team.”

Supportive of both Ms Wilson as a person and a leader, Ms McLeish was pleased to see Ms Wilson take the reins.

“Jess is an amazing talent who has an incredible work ethic. She understands the need for a clear vision so that the state can get ahead. She has a policy focus and a strong grasp of the miserable state of Victoria’s economy,” she said.

“Complexity isn’t a deterrent; rather, it’s a challenge. At the same time, Jess has a young family and knows what it is like to juggle a career and motherhood.”

Portfolio changes haven’t yet been established but some key positions have been decided.

Former tennis ace turned MP Sam Groth fended off David Southwick to remain the party’s dep-

uty leader.

Bev McArthur replaced David Davis as the party’s upper house leader, with Evan Mulholland retaining his upper house deputy position to round out Ms Wilson’s leadership team.

The leadership coup sets up a head-to-head battle between Ms Wilson and Premier Jacinta Allan to run the state.

Former opposition leader Michael O’Brien said Ms Wilson was the premier’s “worst nightmare”.

Ms Wilson is viewed as a more electorally potent challenger to Labor as a member of the party’s moderate wing and a young mother with

business savvy.

The former staffer to ex-federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg has previous experience as a Business Council of Australia executive and was immediately elevated to the key portfolio of education after entering parliament in 2022.

Mr Frydenberg immediately thrust his backing behind Ms Wilson, declaring she “has what it takes to lead the state”.

“I have seen first-hand her ability to get across complex policy and to communicate ideas effectively and with empathy,” he wrote on social media.

Ms Allan, who took over from Daniel Andrews

as premier after his retirement in September 2023, deflected when asked if she faced a tougher election fight with Ms Wilson as Liberal leader.

“No matter who is the leader of the Liberal Party, they’re still a Liberal,” she said.

The coalition will need to gain at least 17 extra seats to form a majority government.

The Liberals and Nationals have been out of power in Victoria for all but four years since the turn of the century.

Tensions within the Liberals have simmered since a crushing defeat at the 2022 election, spilling into a defamation lawsuit launched by firstterm MP Moira Deeming against Mr Pesutto.

A local perspective on the optics of women in politics

By

From the first woman elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1933 to the first female Premier in 1990, this year marks a significant and historical moment for the Victorian Liberal Party.

Kew MP Jess Wilson being elected as the leader of the Liberals marks a new chapter for the major party, and irrespective of political alignment, it’s a positive step forward for women in government.

Politically engaged Yarra Ranges resident and former council candidate Amy Muratore said, optically, having two female leaders is positive but women are not “necessarily exclusively (recognised for) their experience and leadership qualities”.

“I think Jess Wilson is going to be an excellent opposition leader. She’s incredibly intelligent and she’s a great communicator, and obviously has a wealth of experience,” she said.

“However, we need to acknowledge that the goalposts and the way in which women in positions of leadership are judged is far different to the way men are judged.”

Ms Muratore said she would hope the tropes and stereotypes that are typically rolled out when women are in “positions of power”, like their age, whether they have children and what they’re wearing, can be left behind.

Drawing comparisons between the election of Sussan Ley as Federal Liberal Party leader and Ms Wilson, both rising to power during times of unsteadiness, Ms Muratore said it would take the full backing of the party to ensure Ms Wilson was respected for her leadership.

“When it comes to women in positions of leadership, it takes the people who stand behind them, and also the men that are in the room, when that leader, who is in charge is making the decisions and calling the shots, that they stand by their leader.

“She’s a young, 35 year old, very new MP. Yes, she’s experienced. Yes, she worked for the treasurer. But it will be really interesting to see how the senior men in the Liberal Party respond to having to take orders from her.”

Describing Ms Ley’s appointment as that of “a sacrificial lamb”, Ms Muratore said she felt that her role was undermined by a need to rebuild the

party brand.

It could also be a “glass cliff” scenario, a term coined by Australian National University gender equality expert Michelle Ryan and her research partner Alex Haslan, the idea of women and people from minority groups, being thrust into leadership roles during times of crisis.

With more than two decades of parliamentary experience under her belt, Ms Ley was “incredibly qualified” for the job, Professor Ryan said.

“But the timing definitely suggests that it’s somewhat of a glass cliff,” she told AAP in May.

“The fact that they’ve come out of an unprecedented loss at an election, and this is the first time a woman is leading - I don’t think those two things are unconnected.”

Jacinta Allen, who was elected as Labor Party leader after the resignation of Daniel Andrews, Ms Muratore said was “surrounded by a great group of senior and experienced women who are part of the optics and part of the messaging”, making the two parties “apples and oranges”.

She hoped Ms Wilson had the same support network.

As for the outward encouragement for more women to join all levels of government, Ms Muratore said it would “come down to how both women are treated in the media” and just treated in general.

It would require less “gendered rubbish” and a focus on good policy to shift the tide.

Five years ago Ms Muratore ran for council and one of the most asked questions was how she was going to “juggle it with being a mother”, something she doubted male candidates were asked.

“If people are looking to our two senior women leading the state, and they’re actually criticised and critiqued based on leadership and policy, maybe (it will encourage more women).

“But the global trend of women in politics, it’s

really depressing. More and more women are not entering because they don’t feel safe to do so, and the women that are, are behaving like men to get to the top.”

With a historic number of women elected to Federal Parliament in the 2025 election, Australia’s reportcard in the global ranking system jumped 11 places to be 13th out of 146 in the Global Gender Gap Index.

In Victoria, 50 per cent of parliament representatives are women. The Liberal Party has 12 female MPs across the upper and lower house from the 32 MPs, including Ms Wilson.

“I’m hopeful that perhaps it will influence the next generation of kids that are politically activated,” Ms Muratore said as a teacher by trade.

“It’s going to be a really interesting time having two women against each other. I think the optics of a young, let’s face it, conventionally attractive, good communicator in the Liberal Party against Jacinta Allen, who has been framed as older, tired, all this kind of stuff will be an interesting thing to watch.”

Women For Election was also contacted for comment and perspective. A response is being prepared.

Speak up on health plans

By Callum Ludwig

The quickfire consultation regarding the potential amalgamation of Eastern Health (EH) and Alexandra District Health (ADH) continued with a visit to Yarra Glen and Healesville.

Two ‘Tea Talk’ sessions were designated for the Yarra Valley towns, the only ones included in the consultation that are currently run by EH, ahead of a final business case being prepared for the merger.

Chief executives Jane Poxon (ADH) and David Plunkett (EH), ADH Board Director Alan Studley and other staff attended the session in Healesville on Wednesday 19 November, with three members of the community also present.

The same survey has been made available to staff at both organisations and community members to provide their feedback, which is largely focused on assessing the importance of different health services and needs rather than thoughts on the merger itself.

A ‘Community Frenquently Asked Questions’ section also answers a number of community queries on the Connecting Care website.

ADH representatives argued an amalgamation would improve and enhance their current services, improve and increase their access to specialists, allow more career development for staff, improve their long-term financial sustainability and make better use of their existing facilities, with only six of their 25 beds in use.

The likely benefits for EH are largely being able to tap into ADH’s unused or underused facilities, accessing the block-based funding that is available for small rural health services rather than activity-based funding (based on the volume of services provided) for metropolitan areas, enhanced opportunities for health services research and improved staff choice, especially given the incentivies available for health professionals to work in regional areas.

EH and ADH have an existing relationship, operating a joint oncology unit and working together on a nurse graduate program.

If the merger is approved by both boards, a new entity would be formed, but is likely to be reflect the current form of EH, and a new board would be elected.

There is no guarantee that a local representative for Alexandra would be elected, unless it was deemed that their skills and expertise was most appropriate for a board position.

Healesville resident Jane Judd, who previously worked for both organisations, said she felt the representatives of both organisations were very open, candid and willing to answer their questions.

“The fact that it is a voluntary merger and the fact that both boards have to agree that there is a benefit is good but defining that benefit was what was important,” she said.

“So for me it was more about clinical services, less management and a demonstration that there were economic benefits but that the communities were being respected in terms of their individual needs for services.”

During the meeting, Ms Judd pressed representatives on whether there was opportunities for co-location of specialists and other services between Healesville Hosipital and Alexandra District Hospital, whether the financial benefits of the merger would be going into administration spending rather than on improving access to clinical services, whether funding for rural health services would be lost at Alexandra as a result of the merger,

how the history of Alexandra District Health would be preserved and reassurance that issues that previously plagued both organisations at management level were not repeated.

Ms Judd said she emphasised the importance of respecting the history of all that went before it, because that was what they could have done better in Healesville.

“Eastern Health is a very large organisation, we’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars compared to 20 million for Alex (Alexandra) so they’re as different as chalk and cheese, but they have actively gone slowly,” she said.

“Eastern Health has invited Alex to offer opportunities for rural placement for nurses, and that’s gone down really well over a period of about eight or nine years and they have actively gone to the board to find out what the issues are, so that’s positive, that they are not going in blind.

“I got the impression that they learnt from their experience here with the response of the community and I think they’ve gone slowly, no one can say they haven’t had an opportunity to attend and contribute and that’s really good as that’s not how it was here.”

During the meeting, representatives of ADH acknowledged that there had been a ‘mixed response’ from their community who want to ensure ‘autonomy and local voice’ especially after trust had previously been eroded in the board in previous years.

They stressed that the new board had an ‘understanding of recent historical events’ but had done work to ‘repair issues and relationships’.

Former nurse Heather Storen attended and said she thinks the merger won’t affect Yarra Ranges residents as much.

“But it was nice to hear what was going to happen, I came in at the end of Healesville here and was just worried about seeing what happened here may again happen up there,” she said.

“They are further away from the city than we are… it has to be for Alex’s benefit.”

Another community attendee expressed frustration with the current administrative delays faced when dealing with EH already, had concerns about how EH would represent the needs of people in Alexandra when the organisation is based in Box Hill and feared the ‘distance and disconnect’ would affect the services offered to the locals.

Community is concerned

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Community consultation, while limited to only a 15-day period, has made clear that the majority of concerns regarding the potential amalgamation of Eastern Health (EH) and Alexandra District Health (ADH) lie in the Alexandra community.

The proposed merger leaves the community on the other side of the Black Spur wondering why the consultation period is so short, whether the new entity will have any local influence and why they can’t get any assurances of what health services they will have available to them going forward.

Separate from the official consultation, a community meeting was held at the Alexandra Town Hall on Tuesday 18 November, with both health organisations invited though neither were in attendance.

The Alexandra and District Traders and Tourism Association (ADTTA) has submitted a 37-page document titled ‘Mergers are not magic: What an Alexandra-Eastern Health Merger Requires to Succeed’ regarding the proposal.

ADTTA Secretary Caolán O’Connor said overall, they’ve been hearing lots of concerns around the idea of potential amalgamation, and those concerns broadly fall into three buckets.

“The first one is really around the lack of timing to really do a deep and effective dive into what this would look like, we’re aware that the regional consultation period is 15 days, and many people in the community don’t feel as though that’s adequate to completely understand not just the potential opportunity here, but some of the potential risks as well,” he said.

“The second part of that really is around some sort of feelings of loss of local leadership… you get used to your own doctors, you get used to your own staff, you get used to your own system. but I think to some degree, just this idea of change and being owned by someone else in metro Melbourne can be quite threatening to people.

“The third part is we’ve been through lots of change recently, not long ago, we obviously had a local health network system announced… there’s lots of feelings that we should give that an opportunity to do what its supposed to do.”

As of only 1 July 2025, the East Metro and Murrindindi Local Health Service Network was launched, which created partnerships between Alexandra District Health, Yea and District Memorial Health, Eastern Health, and St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Murrindindi Shire Council Mayor Damien Gallagher spoke at the community meeting and said the amalgamation is not a small matter, and touches on something that is at the heart of the community, their access to health services, to care, and the trust they place in local institutions.

“Let me acknowledge the feelings many of you may have right now; Uncertainty, concern, even frustration, these are valid,” he said.

“When changes of this scale are proposed, especially involving a smaller health service like Alexandra District Health, we need time to digest the information, formulate our questions and have those concerns addressed.

“I must extend credit where it’s due, 17 months ago in this room, and in the days that followed, I pleaded with the Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas to abandon forced amalgamations of Murrindindi hospitals, and to her

credit, nudged by your support and petitions carrying 16,000 signatures, she listened, and the policy was abandoned, instead the Minister encouraged healthcare networks.”

In a statement on the Eastern Health website about the launch of the local health network, it reads that “each health service retains its individual identity” but the announcement would “strengthen collaboration, increase access, and improve health outcomes for our community, while providing that care as close to home as possible.”

Cr Gallagher said the strong attendance of Yea residents at the meeting demonstrated that concern extended beyond Alexandra to all rural Murrindindi and asked whether the uniquely rural generosity and community need would be understood by a metropolitan board and executive.

“Why has the network only been given 4.5 months to prove its worth, what is the fate of the network now, and what does this uncertainty mean for Yea and District Memorial Hospital,” he said.

“In this room, in June, this year, Andrew Embling and his Truck Show Committee raised $130,000 in a single night to fund the purchase of a mobile clinic to extend mental wellbeing and preventative health outcomes across Murrindindi Shire.

“What assurances do we have that an amalgamated entity will continue to take specialist services to the community, like the home-grown, world-first initiative of blood pressure, skin, and cholesterol checks for farmers and livestock transporters at the monthly Yea cattle sales.”

Cr Gallagher also raised the test case of the amalgamation of Mt. Buller, Mt. Hotham, Mt. Baw Baw, and Lake Mountain into Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) as a recent example of amalgamation that didn’t benefit their community.

Cr Gallagher said amalgamation doesn’t tend to work so well for the little guy.

“The promise was great, and the business case was strong, and yet ARV’s merger has yielded fewer days of operations and reduced investment at Lake Mountain,” he said.

“What assurances does the community have that healthcare services and standards won’t diminish, what reporting will be provided to demonstrate that our unfavourable health indi-

cators around the likes of alcohol impacts and obesity rates are improving and not sliding further.”

“Amalgamation is not the only option, there are other pathways to strengthen services and secure financial sustainability, we have an obligation to explore these alternatives thoroughly, this must not be rushed.”

ADH’s catchment area (as of 2021) consists of only 6826 people and 140 staff, compared to EH’s 908,984 people and 11,920 staff, furthering concerns ‘the little guy’ will be shut out.

Mr O’Connor said their community are hearing lots of ifs, coulds, shoulds, and hopefully’s.

“What we are very aware of is that Murrindindi has a very small population and that the rest of the eastern catchment has a very large population so just by law of averages, the chances of us having some seats around the table are statistically so much smaller,” he said.

“There is a pathway here for local people to be part of the Community Engagement Committee (CEC), that’s basically our mechanism to have a voice into the broader Eastern Health Board... but the current Alexandra CEC only found out about the potential amalgamation on the same day that everyone else did.

“If the hospital is telling us how to trust the process, the CEC is your avenue to have a voice, but in the past, the CEC have been the last person to find out about this, then there’s some issues with us being able to trust the process.”

Female pilots flying north

By Mikayla van Loon

From inland Victoria to the coast of far north Queensland, three female pilots are set to embark on an incredible challenge following the trail of explorers Burke and Wills.

Theresa MacDonald, Amanda Deed, and Delia Jones, who all trained at Lilydale Flying School, are jetting off in early December to attempt to complete the trail by air between dawn and dusk.

It’s all part of the International Dawn to Dusk Competition, primarily a northern hemisphere challenge, but something the three women hope to encourage more Australians to participate in.

This next challenge will mark the third for Theresa and the second for both Amanda and Delia.

Leaving from Melbourne and following the route of Burke and Wills, through the central parts of New South Wales and outback Queensland, they intend to arrive at Karumba, in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The whole trip is 2518 kilometres.

But the team, named Ships of the Desert, has factored in several contingency plans given the differences in climate, especially the unpredictability of the northern Queensland monsoon season.

“We’re now heading into the wet season. So ideally, in the wet season, you want to fly in the morning, but because we’re starting off down here, we won’t get there until the afternoon,” The-

resa said.

“We’ve got contingency plans in case. If we don’t make it up there in a day, then we’ll probably get there the second day, and we’ll do it in reverse. That’s plan B.”

Amanda, who previously worked in central Australia and has now flown all over the world, said the outback flights provide a different set of challenges they have to consider.

“Any flight you do, where you go somewhere that’s unfamiliar to you as a pilot, in terms of flying, and especially like those more outback places as well, where there’s less chances of diversions and things like that, obviously, we have many, many contingency plans if we need to divert, but a lot more thinking and planning goes into how to actually navigate in those areas, and we will take our paper maps with us as well,” she said.

There were several reasons for choosing this trip, but a few standout points did influence the decision.

“It being linked to England with the actual Dawn to Dusk Competition coming from England, and the original explorers from there,” Amanda said.

“And then doing that outback exploration, and getting from south to north and finding that inland way that so many others either failed to do or didn’t get as far, or different areas and things like that, it’s quite interesting.”

Delia had also already begun researching the Burke and Wills trek for a potential book, making

it a perfect fit to not only link Delia’s writing but also satisfy the criteria of the competition.

So far, her research has explored the towns that were there at the time, and those that came later, but also the story of the dig tree.

“There are so many interesting things about the little outback towns, and it would be so good to get people to visit these towns as tourists,” she said.

“The dig tree is where they came back to and found the people who were meant to be waiting for them had left in the morning of that same day. They were almost dying of starvation, and when they headed on towards Innamincka, Burke died, and Wills died.

“(John) King was looked after by the Aboriginals, which was very, very good, and then rescued a few months later by another explorer coming to find him. The dig tree is amazing. They were here, and all the suffering they went through.”

King lived with the Yandruwandha people, who saved his life using their knowledge of the land and natural remedies, for three months.

Of course, the beauty of the landscape and the contrast from the air were also deciding factors when choosing this route.

“It’s just seeing that beautiful aspect of going from Victoria into New South Wales and then into Queensland, and I love the red dirt,” Amanda said.

“I would probably say not a lot has changed, aside from the townships, and perhaps the river

systems of outback Queensland, which had the floods earlier in the year as well.

“So the landscape will be looking quite different, no matter what time of year you fly, but certainly more washouts I’m expecting we’ll see from the air, but maybe a bit more green too.”

A hugely important aspect for these women when doing these flight challenges is fundraising for a cause.

Because of the large outback expanse the team will fly over, they have chosen Outback Futures as their charity.

Outback Futures supports the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people, adults, families, and entire communities living and working in rural and remote locations, where support services are few and far between.

Amanda said the impact of the floods in Queensland and the everyday challenges of living rurally, like the isolation from larger townships, helped set the target of $10,000 for Outback Futures.

Their message: Your donation will support real change, real support, and real hope in the outback. Support the Ships of the Desert mission. Fuel the flight. Change lives.

As of Friday 14 November, the team had raised over $4000 for the cause. To support Ships of the Desert, go to: gofundme.com/f/Ships-of-theDesert

To find out more about Outback Futures, visit: outbackfutures.org.au

Shelter network growing

By Callum Ludwig

Stable One welcomed people passionate about the plight of homeless people from around the country over the weekend for a conference on the benefits of safe, community-based shelters.

Held at Eva Burrows College in Ringwood over Friday 14 and Saturday 15 November, attendees came from Queensland, Western Australia and across Victoria who either run a winter shelter or are interested in establishing one in their community.

Stable One chief executive Katherine Kirkwood said as a small grassroots charity based in the Yarra Valley, it’s always incredible to see how far the impact of Stable One’s work has reached.

“Preparing for the event involved months of planning - coordinating presenters, preparing workshop content, gathering stories and data from across our Network, and arranging accommodation and logistics for attendees coming from interstate, there was a real sense of anticipation leading into the weekend, and I’m so pleased at how it all went,” she said.

“We had approximately 50 people attend across the Friday night and Saturday program, this included representatives from our Winter Shelter Affiliates in Frankston, Wangaratta, Bass Coast, Bendigo, Benalla, Toowoomba, Gympie

and Nambour, and of course from our own Yarra Valley Winter Shelter.

“We also welcomed emerging groups exploring shelters in Bundoora, Mildura, Bunbury and Warragul and key local partners such as Anchor Community Care also attended, as well as several Stable One Board members.”

In 2025, eight winter shelters operated in over 60 partner churches, staffed by over 1300 volunteers, homing 180 guests for nearly 3500 ‘bed nights’. Two more affiliates of the Winter Shelter Network are working on starting up in 2026.

Ms Kirkwood said the diversity of the group - volunteers, pastors, welfare workers, coordinators, Council representatives and community leaders - made for really good conversation, and the feedback they have received tells them that this is what participants appreciate the most.

“Connecting with others who have a similar commitment to supporting people facing homelessness, learning new ideas and exploring our differences and similarities is hugely encouraging for those who attend,” she said.

“The conference was incredibly important while each region has its own challenges and strengths, homelessness is a shared social issueand bringing people together to listen, learn and encourage one another is vital.

“The work is undeniably hard and complex, to be with like-minded people, and to foster this sense of shared mission, helps project coordinators and volunteers feel supported - it also shows others that perhaps they can do it to.”

The conference focused on three main themes:

Hospitality and justice - Ms Kirkwood and Board Consultant Dr David Wilson reflected on the very “un-religious” and radically ordinary hospitality demonstrated by Jesus, and explored how the concept of social justice is so intricately woven throughout the bible.

Mental health and empathy - where attendees heard from Leanne Nicholson and the Opening Doors team at Anchor Community Care who provided key tips on engaging with, and caring for, those who are struggling with mental illhealth.

Restorative practice - Project Coordinator of Wang Night Shelter Di Duursma helped attendees see how conflict experienced within shelters, when addressed through the right lens, can become an opportunity for growth and healing.

Ms Kirkwood said for her, the biggest takeaway was the widespread excitement for this community-driven initiative.

“Winter Shelter isn’t a top-down programit grows through relationships, generosity and

local leadership, hearing stories from so many regions, and seeing how each shelter is making waves beyond their own community, confirmed again that this movement really is what we call a repeatable and contagious miracle,” she said.

“My hope is that more regions will feel inspired to explore establishing a Winter Shelter program in their own communities, already this year we had welcomed four new Affiliates to our Winter Shelter Network - at the Conference we announced the fifth - Nambour in Queensland.

“When a small, grass-roots Yarra Valley charity can help spark and support this kind of movement across multiple states, it really shows what’s possible when communities collaborate, I’m so proud of this good work our founder, Jenny Willetts, began back in 2017, and it’s an absolute privilege to help lead it forward.”

Attendees also broke up into small groups at different times to address relevant questions, covering topics such as mental health, the ‘alongsider’ role, volunteer management and the affiliation process with Stable One.

“It’s so uplifting to be part of a growing faith movement, knowing Shelters have a proven role in restoring hope & creating connection,” Toowoomba Winter Shelter project coordinator Helen McGrath said.

“Thank you for bringing us all together.”

Hats off to Treeka Allen’s Pride of Workmanship award

By Gabriella Vukman

On Monday 23 November, the Rotary Club of Healesville awarded the Pride of Workmanship Award to local resident Treeka Allen.

Recognising vocational excellence in the community, the Pride of Workmanship Award is handed out annually and provides employers with an opportunity to recognise high quality workmanship.

Treeka has worked for Country Smart for 17 years and is, at this stage, a part of Healesville’s woodwork.

From starting in the Knox store in 1994 to selling the Healesville store’s first customer a hat before they even had cash in the till, Treeka has built great rapport with Healesville locals and visitors alike.

Meticulously managing the shop’s selection and display windows, Treeka’s devotion to her vocation is evident day-in and day-out.

Treeka said, “17 years ago I was so excited when I got the phone call letting me know a new menswear store was opening in Healesville and that I had been offered an interview.”

“I look forward to coming to work every day - spending time with my work friends, meet-

ing people from all over the world, and being proud of the merchandise we sell,” she said.

Treeka’s employer and owner of Country Smart Russel Key attended the award event and said, “We are much better people for knowing Treeka.”

“We appreciate Treeka, probably more than she understands. As an employee she still gets asked to do Saturdays and Sundays and fill in the gaps but she manages the whole thing really well.”

“The whole town knows Treeka and her ability to retain customers has brought them back to Healesville and back to the store.”

“As a Healesvillian, you couldn’t ask any more than that of an employee of a small business in a town.”

Healesville Rotary President, Sally Piper,

“Having personally known Treeka for so many years, I can say that she has always been really smiley and nothing has ever been a trouble.”

“I know the amount of work that she does getting that Christmas window in, and it has been an award winner as well,” she said.

“Treeka is somebody who does not just look after the customers, which is the job that we do in business, but she takes pride in presenting

the stock as well, and that has a huge impact on how the community feels when they wander down our streets and see our shops.”

Beginning her career as an apprentice chef, Treeka then transitioned to an apprenticeship in car spraypainting, a field that, at the time, was not a common field for women.

“I was the first female to go through my TAFE and it was very difficult for women to get work in the field of car spray painting in those days,” Treeka said.

“My boss at my apprenticeship was fantastic and I was painting Porsche cars as a first-year apprentice. I even painted cars that were featured in Street Magazine,” she said.

It was not until the car spray painting business she worked for closed down that Treeka moved into menswear.

“When I was spray-painting, I had to wear chequered shirts and work boots and overalls, so I grew to like mens’ clothes.”

Treeka’s favorite things about working at Country Smart are the local community and her creative freedom.

“I love having the creative freedom to be able to set the store up the way I think it needs to be set up to run smoothly and I love that I get

input into the things that we buy for the customers,” Treeka said.

“I love the people and I love coming here every day and meeting different people from everywhere and it’s not just standing at a register and passing over money,“ she said.

Living locally with her husband and children in Healesville is another of Treeka’s pleasures.

“I see my customers at the supermarket or when I am out at a social event. It is wonderful being a local,” she said.

“My local Cafe already knows my coffee order and they just take my cup. We really are a community here in Healesville and I love it.” Treeka loves her job and plans to continue working at Country Smart for a long time.

“I love our shop and our staff - who have become some of my dearest friends,” she said.

The Pride of Workmanship Award has been around since 1976 and employees are nominated by their employers or colleagues based on their outstanding service and contributions.

For more information or to nominate someone for 2026, visit the Healesville Rotary Club’s website at: https://www.rotaryhealesville.org/

BUSHFIRE PREPAREDNESS Preparing for fire season

By Gabriella Vukman

With the arrival of a bushfire season that is forecast to be particularly potent in the Yarra Ranges, preparation is key to protecting the local area and its people.

While each region of the Yarra Ranges is affected differently by bushfire and therefore has its own set of actions specific to each individual landscape, there are some universal initiatives that can be taken by all residents to preserve their own safety, as well as that of the local area. Have a Bushfire Plan

When it comes to preparing for fire season, it is common knowledge that it is better to get out as early as possible. But what do you do if you don’t have much warning?

According to the Country Fire Authority, a bushfire plan should answer the following questions;

1. Which Fire Danger Rating is your trigger to leave?

2. Will you leave early that morning or the night before?

3. Where will you go?

4. What route will you take - and what is your alternative in the event that a fire is already in the area?

5. What will you take with you?

6. What do you need to organise for your pets and livestock?

7. Who do you need to keep informed of your movements?

8. Is there anyone outside your household who you need to help or check up on?

9. How will you stay informed about warnings and updates?

10. What will you do if there is a fire in the area and you cannot leave?

Vice President of the Millgrove Residents Action Group Phil Pomaroff said, “bushfire preparedness is having your plan, and these days the advice is to have a resilient property plan, but also that you have a ready-to-go-box with items such as a battery operated radio, key documents and key information.”

“You should leave as early as you can. You sometimes don’t get a lot of notice about fire advancements or the change of wind directions that can occur. So having a simple plan to get out as soon as possible and keep aware of what’s going on is important,” he said.

Mr Pomeroff also suggested that residents download the VicEmergency Application on their phones.

What To Do With Pets

No one likes to think about what to do with their pets in the case of a bushfire, so Community Safety Coordinator at the Kalorama CFA, Virginia Porter, has done the thinking for the community.

Focusing on dogs, Ms Porter wishes to prompt the community to plan where they will go and what they will do with their pets on days with severe fire warnings.

Finding that many people feel as though they cannot leave the area, due to having pets, Ms Porter sought to address this issue.

“What we found is that a lot of people won’t leave because they can’t take their dogs with them,” Ms Porter said.

“We want to make sure everyone can leave, as soon as possible, before a fire strikes. We want people to leave on an extreme or a catastrophic day when there’s no fire in the area so that they’re out before something happens.

“Especially up in the Dandenongs, if a fire starts up there on one of those days, it’s going to impact people very, very quickly. So we want their plans to be that they’re going to leave before there is a fire.”

Ms Porter has compiled a list of dog-friendly activities and places to visit on extreme fire danger days.

“There’s dog-friendly cafes, there’s dogfriendly pubs and bars, breweries, there’s paths and beaches that you can take them to,” she said.

“You can take your dog to work with you, if you have that discussion with your employer beforehand.

“You can go down to Studley Park Boathouse, hire a rowboat and take your dog for a row on the Yarra River. There are whole sections of dogfriendly shops in South Yarra and all sorts of different things people can do.”

Ms Porter’s list of dog-friendly destinations in-

cludes parks and beaches, various activities, dogfriendly accommodation, cafes, breweries, shops, pubs and bars.

The full list can be found on the Kalorama Fire Brigade’s Facebook page.

In terms of other pets, Ms Porter suggests purchasing carriers for cats and other small animals, and securing access to large open areas with water sources for livestock and larger animals.

Making Your Home More Fire Resilient

While property owners are always advised to leave in the instance of a fire, there are ways to mitigate fire damage to property.

First among Vice President of Millgrove Residents’ Action Group Phill Pomeroff’s list of property protection types is guttering.

“You have got to install fire guards in your guttering. That is priority number one,” he said.

“Most fires occur through ember attack, so the fire might be five kilometres from you, but the embers can fly over, and if they get into your roof or under your house, they can start their own fire.

“It is essential to have your roof protected from anything getting into it, which can be done with guttering, but it is also important to have venting and guards to protect underneath the house, through allowing air to flow and stop the embers from getting in.”

Ensuring gardens, wood and trees are cut back from, and moved away from the house is another suggestion of Mr Pomeroff’s.

Member of Healesville Community Emergency Group, Graeme George, suggested other actions on top of fuel reduction for rural areas outside of townships.

The Healesville Community Emergency Group has created a plan for whole landscapes that takes weather patterns and terrain into account.

The plan recommends a tripartite approach to the mitigation of impacts from fire, including fuel reduction, the protection of forests that are regenerating and landscape modifications that slow wind speeds, provide heat shields and trap embers to protect assets.

Mr George told the Star Mail in October, “We live in a very fire-prone environment, but our problem now with climate change is that fires are more frequent, they’re more intense, and in combination with past logging practices and prescription burning, there’s too much fire in the landscape and it’s doing too much long-term damage to ecosystem resilience.”

“The critical amount of fuel is the fuel within 100 metres of an asset. Houses are most likely to burn down if there’s fuel within 100 metres of them,” Mr George said.

Finding that the risk of fast-moving fires on open farming landscapes where original tree covers have been removed has been overlooked, the Healesville Community Emergency Group’s Bushfire Mitigation Plan recommends the installation of wind breaks on open landscapes.

Situated away from assets, these windbreaks can be formed from native vegetation and, along with slowing strong winds, can double as habitats for local wildlife.

Mr George said, “there’s shelter belts that can be designed with a slope to them so they can lift the wind over assets that you want to protect, such as livestock in a refuge paddock, or a house or other farm infrastructure.”

“The shelter belts need to be species that are less flammable than our native vegetation, which

means moving away from the stringy barks, pine trees, conifers and tea trees, which can lift the fire into the canopy very quickly,” he said.

According to Mr George, keeping paddocks closely grazed is another action landowners can take to mitigate bushfire damage.

When it comes to bushfire preparedness and protection, Mr George insisted that the community is key.

“The government and the CFA’s approach to making communities safer is that community involvement is critical to getting good outcomes,” Mr George said.

“We can’t rely on agencies to do all the work for us. The community has to get behind it, they’ve got to support the agencies, and particularly landowners have got to do their bit.”

Mr George encourages locals to go along to the Healesville Community Emergency Group’s meetings, attend events such as forums and trivia nights and help out.

BUSHFIRE PREPAREDNESS

Keeping up with the literature and being in touch with the local fire brigade were also among Mr George’s recommendations.

Chair of the Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group, Virginia Porter, noted that when it comes to property maintenance, it is important that everyone takes responsibility for their own property, for themselves and for the sake of their neighbours and local community.

According to Ms Porter, efforts that individuals need to implement include maintaining their properties and creating their fire plan.

Ms Porter said, “What we’re telling people in Kalorama and Mount Dandenong might differ from what people are being told in Sassafras and Ferny Creek, so they need to go to their local brigades. And most of the local brigades that I know of are having community events in the lead up to summer.”

“Kalorama-Mount Dandenong Brigade actually has a service called Property Advice Visits where trained people will go out and walk around the property with the property owner and give them advice on what they need to do.”

The Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group meets every second month and will be hosting drop-in sessions where the community can bring their fire plans in for discussion.

Ms Porter said, “We’re also always looking for people who are keen to come along and give us a

to do with your kids and your dogs and your animals and horses or whatever you’ve got.”

“The CFA guys are always happy to talk and help out, so people should really go and make use of that.”

According to Chair of the Kalorama and Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group, Virginia Porter said, “What we’re telling people in Kalorama and Mount Dandenong might differ from what people are being told in Sassafras and Ferny Creek, so they need to go to their local brigades.”

“And most of the local CFAs are having community events in the lead up to summer.

“Kalorama-Mount Dandenong Brigade actually has a service called Property Advice Visits where trained people will go out and walk around the property with the property owner and give them advice on what they need to do.”

Environmental Scientist Graeme Lorimer confirmed that every location in the Yarra Ranges is affected by fire differently.

“Each particular location has its own unique aspects and vegetation, and subsequently, needs to be considered on its own merits,” he said.

“There is a lot of online information that can guide people so that they get more specific information that’s tailored to them.”

Mr Lorimer used Montrose environmental features as an example.

“In Montrose, there are north-facing steep slopes, there are south-facing slopes, there are urban areas, there are larger properties, including some of the ones that got burnt last March and each of them has different requirements,” Mr Lorimer said.

“Everybody though, should be paying attention to what the official guidance is for a property like theirs and they need to be aware that things are changing almost year by year, not just because each season is different from the last but because climate change has completely changed the way that we have to manage bushfires.”

The Yarra Ranges - A Changing Landscape Mr Lorimer noted that new weather patterns are among the effects of climate change, and alter the patterns of bushfire.

“Going back 20 years ago in Montrose, we’d always say you need to be principally concerned about the strong northerly winds after a very dry period, and also the south westerly change after one of those northerly winds so you should be looking to your north, particularly and looking to your southwest,” Mr Lorimer said.

“Now we get really strong winds from the northeast and that’s changing. Almost yearly, we’re seeing a trend towards different wind directions, such as more winds like over recent weeks.”

“We have had so much more strong wind than historically and fuels are changing, vegetation is changing in response to climate change, and so people need to be alert, firstly to what the guidance is online from the authorities like the CFA and CSIRO but they also need to keep up to date and understand how things are changing.”

Professor in Bushfire Behaviour Trent Penman noted that climate change is already negatively impacting ecosystems and could lead to increased risk of fire and severe weather.

Chair of the Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group, Virginia Porter noted that all kinds of people have attended the VR workshops thus far.

“We have had new residents, people with young families, empty nesters, and some experts who had been in the CFA for over 55 years attend sessions.

“At the beginning, I was a bit concerned about how these different participants would find the workshops, but so far, most people have come away going ‘wow,’” Ms Porter said.

“Everyone that we’ve put through the session so far has said that they will be going away and reviewing their bushfire plan, so it’s got them all thinking, which is amazing.”

The program’s main message is not just about having a good plan.

Ms Porter said, “The sessions are also about how one’s ideas, judgement and mindset can change under pressure.”

“The program is terrific and it is going to save lives,” Ms Porter said.

The Virtual Reality program is funded by a foundation and was created by x and y, who have experienced the devastation of bushfires firsthand during Black Saturday.

Ms Porter hopes that the program will soon be taken up by local CFAs and other community groups.

“I would like to see this virtual reality program embraced across the board in the future because after the first session we had, it was clear that everybody living in a bushfire area needs to do this,” Ms Porter said.

“We have had virtual reality for things like gaming for ages. We should have been doing this years ago. It is good we are catching up now.

“It’s great that there is funding to do this because it is a really expensive process to put together.”

Tecoma local and mother of two Tanya Steele shared her perception of the immersive fire experience.

Tanya’s Experience

“I’m a 41-year-old, with two kids, two cats and a partner, living in Tecoma. I grew up in a town in the north west of WA, so I have memories of getting ready for potential cyclones every year - luckily, my town was never hit too badly, but I have a healthy respect for the weather,” Tanya said.

“I wasn’t prepared to think about some of the questions in the workshop, but they were vital ones, like who would be likely to take charge in an emergency.

“I couldn’t quite get my head around why people would want to stay to defend a property, my family’s plan has always been to leave.

“But hearing and experiencing the realities of how quickly fire can move - I now think we really need to get off the mountain first thing in the morning.”

Tanya said the VR itself wasn’t super realistic, but it was enough, and that she could hear a radio playing and a family and other background noise.

“What struck me about it was the increase in volume, embers hitting the roof and the wind picking up; it really bothered me,” Tanya said.

hand when we need it.“

Deputy Chief Fire Officer and Director Forest and Fire Operations for Port Phillip Region, Tamara Beckett, noted that the responsibility of fire preparation and risk management does not fall on home-owners alone.

Along with property maintenance such as trimming trees, keeping up to date with information and having a fire plan, Ms Beckett said, “Businesses, community organisations and agencies all need to work in tandem to prepare and minimise risk.”

The installation of water sprinklers on roofs is also highly recommended.

Check in With Your Local CFA

Due to the varying topography, flora and fauna, and climates of the Yarra Ranges, there are specific fire preparedness and risk mitigation practices that are suggested for individual suburbs.

Member of the Warburton Emergency Planning Group Gordon Buller said, “The best advice I can give the local community in terms of bushfire preparedness is to chat to their local CFAs and go to their open days.”

“They have got heaps of written information that you can take home in the form of a handful of brochures,” Mr Buller said.

“They have got all the information you need on how to prepare your house, how to prepare yourself, how to leave early and what to take, what

“We really need to have some hard conversations about what environments we are wanting to keep around in the future and what that means for fire,” he said.

“If there’s species or ecosystems that are under severe threat from climate change, and the interaction with fire, will the state invest in protecting those, or will we have to accept that there are communities that are not going to be viable under climate change. If so, should we place our efforts elsewhere?”

New Technology and Local Bushfire Preparedness Events

Virtual reality (VR) has been brought to the Yarra Ranges, and features among new technologies designed to assist bushfire preparedness.

The VR program runs as a series of two-hour, free immersive workshops and provides an opportunity to strengthen emotional preparedness, sharpen decision-making under pressure, and help protect local neighbourhoods this fire season.

Participants answer a series of questions about household emergency planning and preparedness before donning a heat jacket and VR headset equipped with noise-cancelling headphones.

Titled Heat of the Moment, the virtual reality experience aims to prompt participants to think about their action plans in the case of a fire.

The Kalorama-Mount Dandenong Fuel Management Group is the first community group to try out the new fire safety technology, and the response has been positive.

“I know now to be aware that noise is a major stress trigger for me.

“Watching the scenario and hearing the family interact, become stressed and try to leave - I hadn’t considered how everyone’s stressed versions of themselves could really slow down leaving. I found myself panicking a little for them. Why weren’t they gone already?

“I want to go through it with my family properly and do a rehearsal, so they know and so they can help on the day.”

Tanya said the experience of it will stay with her and it has given her a healthy respect for getting prepared.

“I am trying to think about my bushfire plan and practice as kind of like a first aid course. We’ll practice, refresh regularly and hope we’ll never have to use it, but when you do, perhaps it will be automatic,” Tanya said.

“I would also like to know what my neighbours will do and let them know what we plan to do.”

Anyone can attend the VR sessions and the next three are scheduled to take place at the Fernlea Community House at 356 Belgrave-Gembrook Road in Emerald.

The dates for the upcoming sessions are: Tuesday, 25 Nov 2pm to 4pm.

Sessions are free and there are twelve spots available per session.

Register at www.ibe.org.au/sign-up-consent

For more information on bushfire preparedness, visit the Country Fire Authority and the Yarra Ranges Council websites.

YOU CAN TEACH IN REGIONAL VICTORIA

The future is calling, and we need your help to educate the next generation. With secondary teaching scholarships, employment-based degrees, and a range of supports to help get you into the classroom, there’s never been a better time to become a teacher in Victoria.

Ross seeks new sanctuary

By Gabriella Vukman

Healesville Sanctuary bids farewell to director Ross after years of leadership.

After almost nine years at the helm of Healesville Sanctuary, Director Ross Williamson is preparing to say his goodbyes, leaving behind a legacy of optimism, and unwavering commitment to conservation.

Ross first stepped into the role nearly a decade ago, a move he is glad he made, albeit he admits, not entirely of his own planning.

Embedded in Zoos Victoria’s Threatened Species Team, Ross said, “I hadn’t really thought about coming up here to the sanctuary.”

“I’m glad I did because where else would you want to be,” Ross said.

“It’s a tremendous privilege and an honour to work at the sanctuary.”

Living on the property, Ross noted that his walk through the sanctuary to work each morning was a major highlight of his day.

“It is such a beautiful patch of bush and whether it is cold and foggy or bright sunshine, it is always great to walk through,” Ross said.

“I also really love collaborating with the people I work with. They are really smart and dedicated people, so the conversations I have at work are endlessly interesting. It is so great to work with clever people,” he said.

Upon moving to the area, Ross very quickly came to love the township of Healesville and the surrounding community.

“Healesville’s a lovely town and the Yarra Valley is just exquisite. Whenever my wife and I go and visit family over in Essendon we come back through Diamond Creek and over through Yarra Glen. It’s a magic moment when you get over the Christmas Hills and see down to the valley,” Ross said.

“I also love the community here in Healesville and in Badger Creek. There are some really nice people,” he said.

When it comes to the ins and outs of being a director at the sanctuary, according to Ross, being the custodian of day-to-day operations was not the hardest part of the job.

“The staff here have been running the place for 90 years so they really know how it all works,” Ross said.

“Most of my focus goes towards shaping the future of the sanctuary, and working out where we are trying to go.”

While Ross outlined many of the joys of his job, he noted that the Covid period was one of great difficulty.

Ross said, “Most certainly the biggest challenge in my role at the sanctuary was Covid. That had really knocked us all around.”

“We were closed for over 300 days over that period, so financially, it was a huge challenge,” he said.

“It was hard because some staff had to keep working on the property and some staff couldn’t come in at all, so that really broke down the cohesiveness and on top of that all were the challenges of just living life in lockdown.”

While the sanctuary and its staff received government support during lockdowns, much of their emergency and project funding was eaten away during the Covid period.

Ross said, “We had some money stashed away to do things and all of that disappeared.”

“Bouncing out of Covid has been an interesting process as well,” he said.

“We were doing really, really well before Covid and we had had 470,000 visitors in the year before Covie and we were heading for half a million before we closed down the first time.”

Since Covid, the sanctuary has been struggling to get back to their almost half a million target.

Ross said, “We are bouncing around the 400,000 mark. It’s been slow for people to come back to the sanctuary and I think that’s probably a bit of an issue across the Yarra Valley.”

“There’s quite a few businesses that have found it a bit of a challenge,” he said.

Originally studying as a botanist, Ross has had a vast and varied career, with conservation always at its centre.

From working as a biologist for national parks, to heading up Victoria’s post-fire recovery program after Black Saturday among other work experience, Ross is ready to relax in the coastal town of Foster for a little while.

“I turn 65 next birthday and I think directors have a use by date,” Ross said.

“Although I would love to hang around for another five years, I think it is time for some fresh thinking, and I suppose, it is time for me to just move on.”

Despite being ready to relax in Foster, Ross insists that he will be back to visit, - even though he firmly believes that “old directors shouldn’t hang around”.

“I will have a perpetual interest in the success of the sanctuary so I will certainly come back and haunt my lovely colleagues here,” Ross said.

“But I will give them a bit of space first and let the new people settle in,” he added.

Referring to conservation as “tremendously rewarding…and a driving force” behind his career, Ross asserted that in terms of conservation, “there is so much to do.”

The Healesville Sanctuary works closely with Zoos Victoria in their Fighting

Extinction Program.

Ross said, “We have got 13 species from the Fighting Extinction Program here at the sanctuary that we are working incredibly hard to stop going extinct.”

“It has been tremendously successful, particularly in the last couple of years. We’ve seen some real wins in places where we had struggled to get some progress, so I would love to see that program go from strength to strength,” Ross said.

Despite the strength of the Fighting Extinction Program, Ross maintained that serious growth in conservation support is urgently needed.

“It would be great if there was more support for conservation in general. Not just for us at the sanctuary, but for our partners as well,” Ross said.

“There are some wonderful people working so hard like the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, our colleagues at Parks Victoria, and lots

of community groups that are working so hard to preserve Victoria’s wildlife,” he said.

“The more support we can give them, the better off everybody is going to be. Victoria’s wildlife is so precious. It’s something that, if we start losing bits of it, and we have lost chunks over the years, if we lose more in the future, then that’s going to be tragic.”

Ross’ sanctuary service will draw to a close in early December and his colleagues and the community of Healesville Sanctuary are sad to see him go.

While he is ready to relax by the seaside in Foster, Ross confirmed that the sanctuary will always have a place in his heart.

“I will certainly be supporting the sanctuary wherever I can,” Ross said.

“It’s been a wonderful privilege. I really landed in the right place when I came here.”

Raising the bar(ber) Craft, Culture, and a Clean Cut

You might be imagining a dimly lit barbershop sitting darkly above a deserted pie shop in London when you hear the word ‘Barber,’ but Lefty’s Barbershop couldn’t be further from these ideas, in the best way. On the main street of Healesville, the shop stands out in a brilliant flash of red and white paint, with stripes adorning capes and walls. With a peek into the window, you see, of course, the iconic leather chairs, hardworking barbers, scissors and the tools, but the best thing upon entering the shop is the delicious smell of quality products, the soft tunes, and the true welcome from Tara and her staff.

Lefty’s Barbershop, first established in Lilydale in 2018, has recently opened on Healesville’s main street this September (2025), and Tara and her team are ready to cut through any outdated notions about barbershops. Tara said in earnest, “Our whole focus is service.”

They believe every haircut is a chance to lift spirits, create connection, and offer a moment of relaxation and care. After having a chat about the stigma and popular media regarding barbershops (such as silver-handled razors and Oscar-worthy dialogues amid too much shaving cream) Tara laughed and said, “We cut hair, which does not discriminate based on gender… everyone is welcome here.”

While Lefty’s specializes in shorter hairstyles, they are happy to work with any style and/ or length. With a team of barbers offering a myriad of skills and high quality, Lefty’s will cater their service and barbers to you to achieve your needs and your dream haircut. They may even drape a hot towel around you for that extra moment of relaxation.

Make sure to book your Christmas holiday haircut before it’s too late at Lefty’s Barbershop and enjoy a friendly, professional experience in the heart of Healesville. Seats are filling fast, don’t miss out on your next best look.

Christmas at Lefty’s

As we head into the busy festive season, we want to take a moment to say a huge thank you to all our incredible clients and friends who’ve supported us throughout the year.

This has been such a special time for us, being welcomed into the Healesville community and getting to know so many new faces has truly been a pleasure. We’re so grateful for the love and support you’ve shown.

Bookings are now open for the remainder of 2025, and spots are filling fast for the holiday period, so be sure to grab your appointment early!

Mon 10:00am-6:00pm Tue 10:00am-6:00pm Wed 8:00am-7:00pm Thu 8:00am-7:00pm Fri 8:00am-6:00pm WEEKENDS CLOSED

We close for our Christmas break from December 24th. Back to business on January 7th.

Here’s to more moments together in 2026. From the team at Lefty’s Barbershop Lilydale & Lefty’s Barbershop Healesville.

please contact us at: leftysbarbershop.com.au for mor info

A rosy tribute blooms once more

By Oliver Winn

At the Little Yarra CFA, an explosion of colour has taken place.

The dark green rosebush at the base of the brigade’s sign now blooms with clusters of peach, pink and orange, its frilly petals fanning outwards.

But these roses aren’t just decorations - they’re known as the Firestar Rose, planted as a tribute to those affected by the devastating 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Little Yarra CFA captain Peter Cookson said the firestar rose was a potent reminder of the widespread damage and loss caused by the Black Saturday fires.

“It was very big what happened, and it’s there as a reminder that we had buddies that went out to fight the fire.

“We had families that lost everything and people lost lives, it’s just a reminder for everyone,” Mr Cookson said.

The firestar rose is considered the official rose of the CFA and was developed after the bushfires by Knight’s Roses.

Mr Cookson said the rose was similar to national remembrance events such as Anzac and Remembrance Day in the way it’s designed to pay tribute to those who sacrificed themselves to stop the spread of the bushfire.

“Every year you have Remembrance Day and you have Anzac Day to remember the fallen at wars and that, so it’s something for CFA to remember Black Saturday.”

The money earnt from purchases of the roses from Knight’s Roses website go directly back into the CFA to help support brigades.

The Black Saturday bushfires are largely considered as the worst in Australia’s history.

The Black Saturday disaster killed 173 people and displaced a further 7000, burnt over 450,000 hectares of land and destroyed 3500 buildings including more than 2000 houses.

It was so significant that the fires prompted a 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission to analyse the cause of the fire, and resulted in a shift in approach from defending homes to leaving early when threatened by a fire.

Mr Cookson said it was important people don’t get complacent and stay wary of the threat of bushfires.

“You don’t want to become complacent with things, a lot of the people on that day didn’t think it was gonna happen.

“It’s amazing, people don’t realise how strong fire can be once the wind comes. It can be miles away and then in no time it’s on top of you,” he said. In September the CFA launched its statewide Get Fire Ready initiative at the Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Station, and across the month of October, more than 530 CFA brigades hosted events to help communities prepare for the summer season. Marysville CFA second lieutenant Glen Fiske was in Marysville fighting the devastating Black Saturday bushfires when he lost his wife Liz and son Dalton.

Speaking at the Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Station, he pleaded with residents living in high fire risk areas such as the Dandenongs and the Yarra Ranges to prepare and act early to avoid disaster.

“We just hope that no one ever sees what we saw, it was truly the biggest fire that I’ve ever seen,” Mr Fiske said.

He expressed concern at those ignoring advice and not taking the fire risk seriously.

“It troubles me when I see areas where people obviously aren’t helping themselves. You’ve got to help yourself,” Mr Fiske said.

As we head into what’s predicted to be a dangerous fire season, the symbolism of the firestar is twofold.

Not only does the mandarin tinged petals offer a beautiful yet sombre tribute to those who lost their lives - it’s also a reminder to be ready for a bushfire this summer.

CAR PARK SALE

Same name with new look

If you have travelled along York Road, Mount Evelyn recently you may have noticed changes happening at Yarra View Nursery and Yarra View Garden Centre. It’s a new, but old name all at the same time.

Knoxbrooke was established in the 1960s to provide support and opportunity for people living with disability. Knoxbrooke established Knoxbrooke Nursery in the late 1980s as a pioneering social enterprise during the era, which provided employment and training options. In 2000, the name changed to Yarra View Nursery when Knoxbrooke acquired the current York Road site and today Knoxbrooke Nursery employs over 130 people from the local region, producing over two million plants per year.

“Returning to our original name is about recogniding the strength in all of Knoxbrooke’s services from school-leaver education to community access programs and of course, employment through our varied social enterprises,” general manager Scott Buckland said.

It’s a new (old) name, but has the same amaz-

ing products and great service that Mount Evelyn locals have come to expect. And of course, every purchase you make helps continue to support jobs for people of all abilities.

Knoxbrooke Nursery Car Park sale commences on Thursday 27 November and continues until Sunday 30 November. Open from 8.30am to 4.30pm every day during the sale.

Fun for a good cause

By

Students of St Brigid’s Primary School in Healesville had a day filled with fun for a good cause on Friday 21 November.

The school’s annual Social Justice Market day saw all 14 classes involved in running stalls and activities which raise money for St Brigid’s Parish Care Group.

Principal Tess Dwyer said the school has a really rich history of supporting the local area.

“It’s very important that the children really learn how to contribute positively to a community, it’s not just about themselves, it’s about really being compassionate and focused on helping others,” she said.

“St Brigid’s Care Group make a really big difference to the local community in supporting those that are in need and this is just one way that the school connects with the Care Group.”

Money raised by the Social Justice Market each year goes towards Christmas hampers handed out by the care group to people in need within the community.

Ms Dwyer said student leaders of ministry help make sure everything runs smoothly throughout the day.

“Ministry is all about serving other people so it’s really good for them in the development of their leadership skills and a great opportunity for them to practice those,” she said.

“It helps the children to really understand that even these small little things that we do by putting 50 cents in to buy a tattoo or whatever it is, it all contributes to something much, much

bigger and really does make a difference to others in need at a difficult time of the year.”

The Year 6 Social Justice Ministry group will also later assist with the buying and packing of the hampers.

Ministry leader Ollie said it’s one of the best days of the year and it’s also great to know it’s going to a good cause.

“It’s really important to us because we have a lot of luxuries of people that other people don’t have and it’s important that we can donate some of our time and money and effort to helping people who aren’t as lucky as us,” he said.

Students become business owners at Market Day

By Oliver Winn

Students channelled their inner entrepreneur for the Yarra Junction Primary School’s Market Day on Monday 24 November.

From 11.30am, the school’s stadium was transformed into a bustling market place manned by an enthusiastic cohort of five-six students.

It’s the third annual market day for Yarra Junction Primary School, and grade five-six teacher Shannon Ford said students have fully embraced the challenge of running their own business.

“The excitement has developed over the years because they’ve been able to see what’s possible, and they see that putting in the hard work is rewarded,” Ms Ford said.

A mashup of stalls lined the stadium’s perimeter selling tasty treats, tattoos, beauty salons, mini games and many more.

“It’s like a traditional market you’d see within the community, like in a town hall.”

For the entirety of term four, the five-sixes have been tasked with developing a business idea which includes coming up with a product, service or activity to sell, and doing research to determine pricing.

Funds raised from the market will go towards this year’s grade six graduation, while children can reimburse their business purchases with their stall revenue.

Students have also used the graphic design website Canva to come up with promotional posters with catchy slogans such as “kriss krumbles”, “lucky ducky dip” and “pop, shake and pick”.

But, aside from being a fun and unique project, the market day project was also a way of prepping children for the adult world.

“I feel that we’re providing students with a real-world application of the content that’s in the business and economics curriculum.

“They’re actually running a business themselves and can experience the challenges and reap the benefits associated with running a business,” Ms Ford said.

At the same time students have had the chance to develop confidence by approaching business owners and managers for support.

“To go in and talk to managers of businesses and that confidence that’s required to speak to people, I think it’s an important skill that’s being gained by these grade five sixes.

“It’s so important to develop those skills of writing a formal letter and how you address it properly and state what you’re seeking in a formal way,” Ms Ford said.

“We all had to bring in a few bottles of soft drink, we’ve got all the tables up and we’ve got the cups and ice cream so today we’ve been bringing them out of the fridge and into the esky and that’s how we set up for today.”

Activities and stalls included spiders to drink, face-painting, a chocolate toss, a disco, a bake sale, a lucky dip and much more.

Ministry leader Amelia said she had been working at the face-painting stall.

“We’ve done a lot of ‘ six-sevens’, we’ve done a couple yin and yangs and rainbows,” she said.

“Everyone’s having such a good time and it’s good that it goes to a good cause.”

Local businesses, such as two dollar shop Cortella in Yarra Junction, Chook House and CJ’s Pizza in Warburton and many more have put in to support the school.

Ms Ford said collaboration was encouraged to demonstrate how small businesses rely on each other to thrive in a small town setting.

“We’ve seen that [collaboration] massively, and it’s been needed as well amongst the groups for this to be a success.”

Outside of school, students took it upon themselves to meet up and share ideas.

“Even outside of school hours the engagement has been high. We’ve heard feedback from parents, and it’s great to have had parents jump on board too and support the learning that their children are doing at school.”

A CLARION CALL

Growing with foundation

Community foundations are, at their heart, quiet powerhouses.

They are the organisations that see a community not as a set of problems to be solved but as a living ecosystem rich with potential, talent, resilience and imagination. Their purpose is simple and profound: to harness local generosity and transform it into long-term, locally governed impact. In places like Healesville and the surrounding district—where the landscape itself teaches us about interdependence—a community foundation offers a model of leadership that is both humble and visionary.

A community foundation exists to notice what others overlook: the small organisations keeping young people connected; the carers who hold families together; the volunteers who bridge cultural divides; the environmental stewards who guard fragile ecosystems; and the quiet innovators whose ideas could flourish with just a little support. By building an enduring fund, responsibly invested and community-directed, a foundation becomes a perpetual engine for local wellbeing. Every donation—whether modest or a significant philanthropic gift or bequest —joins a long-term pool of resources that will support the region not just next year, but in 20, 50, even 100 years.

The value of this model is not only in the funding it provides, but in the way it dignifies local decision-making. Community foundations are guided by people who live in the place, understand its rhythms, and hold its stories. They are not bound by election cycles or external agendas. Instead, they are accountable only to the community itself. This form of leadership matters, because lasting change rarely comes from outside; it grows from deep local roots and from people willing to invest in the futures of their neighbours.

To serve on the board or a community committee of the new Healesville and District Community Foundation is to take part in an act of stewardship. It is an invitation to shape a legacy that will long outlive any one of us. It means

helping to articulate a clear and compassionate vision for what a thriving community could look like: how young people are supported, how elders are honoured, how creativity and culture are nourished, how environmental care is woven into everyday life, how disadvantage is addressed with dignity rather than judgement. Board and committee members of community foundations are not merely governors; they are connectors, listeners, advocates, and

bridge-builders. They hold both the strategic view and the human one. They bring their expertise, insight and networks not to elevate themselves, but to elevate everyone around them. For a person with intelligence, compassion and a commitment to community life, these roles is not simply a responsibility—but rather a chance to contribute to something deeply meaningful.

The Healesville and District Community

Foundation is at a beginning: a rare moment when structures, priorities and culture are being shaped. Joining its board or one of its community committees now means helping to define how generosity flows, how needs are recognised, how opportunities are seeded, and how hope is sustained. It is a chance to stand at the confluence of vision and action—to help build an organisation that will quietly, steadily enrich our district for generations to come.

Bubsie’s turning heads

By Oliver Winn

A replica of the first car to drive around Australia braced the streets of Warburton on Sunday 16 November as it marked its 100th anniversary.

The 1923 Citroen 5CV, known as Bubsie, stopped by the ADRA Community Care Centre Warburton where community stalls, live music and a radio broadcast roadshow took place.

Faith FM presenter and Warburton Seventh-day Adventist Church minister Peter Watts said the people of Warburton stopped in their tracks as the iconic car came down the street.

“We drove in Bubsie out of the ADRA Community Centre, through town, honking the horn and we got lots of waves from people as we went by.

“People were stopped in their tracks and watching it, pulling out their phones to take videos and photographs of Bubsie as it came in.

“It was a wonderful entrance for the car and it was the main attraction of the event,” Mr Watts said.

Bubsie’s arrival in Warburton is a part of a larger journey which celebrates the 100th anniversary of its original trip around Australia in 1925.

In 1925, a 22-year-old man named Nevill Westwood went on a missionary trip and drove his 1923 Citroen 5CV around the entire coast of Australia.

A missionary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Mr Westwood’s connection with Warburton is a unique one, and his story was told on Mr Watts’s show on the day.

“Myself and John Weeks, we regularly host a live show called A Light in the Dark that’s in a studio in Melbourne each Thursday, but this was the first time we’d done a road show out on location together.

“It was great, we talked a little bit about the story of Neville Westwood on his journey and what motivated him to go.”

The event itself had plenty on offer, with a strongman competition, a performance from the Youth Advent Brass Band, an Adcare Op Shop stall with second-hand goods, a craft stall and food from the ADRA Food Trailer.

Flyers were distributed prior to the event with locals taking notice as Busbie pulled into town.

“There were certainly two or three of the shops where people were waving, and they must have recognised that this was the car that they’d heard about coming to town.”

Staying true to the original journey, Bubsie mirrored the path the original would have taken as it entered into Warburton.

“When Bubsy came 100 years ago, it came over Acheron Way. So it would have gone west-

ward through the town as it went on its journey, so we did the journey that way and then we came back as well,” Mr Watts said.

Busbie began its trip from Perth in June this year, stopping off at Port Headland, Brisbane, New South Wales and now in Victoria.

Since Sunday, Bubsie has continued its journey, briefly pausing in Wandin before making its way to Melbourne, and eventually crossing the Nullarbor Plain.

Mr Watts said it was a day to celebrate a great story that has some local ties to the area.

“It’s a great story of one man’s determination to battle on, and this event is really commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first car to go right around Australia.”

“He would go to these remote communities… he would have Christian books that he would share, and the books that he shared were printed here in Warburton at the Signs Publishing Company.”

“Warburton was one of the places that he stopped on his way around Australia and he went to the publishing house, he also went to the San-

itarium health food factory when that was open here as well,” said Mr Watts. What Mr Westwood did is an incredible feat by today’s standards – but Mr Watts said one must consider how significant it was back in 1925.

“There are no roads at this point in time. There’s only one car for every 60 people in Australia. There were no service stations, virtually no mechanical parts available.

“The car did break down a number of times on the way round, and they had to fix it up and patch it up and back on the road it went.”

Upper Yarra SES comedy fundraiser a roaring success

By Oliver Winn

The Upper Yarra SES had a roaring night at the Warburton Golf Club for its Comedy for a Cause fundraiser on Saturday 15 November.

The night was a great turnout for the unit, with 125 people rocking up and over $8000 in funds raised through ticket sales, helping the Upper Yarra SES inch closer to purchasing crucial rescue equipment.

Upper Yarra SES unit controller Hannah Brunton said it was a great night with a large amount of newcomers turning up to the event.

“It was really really great because we had a lot of community there that was external to the SES so people who were basically strangers to us.

“So it was a really great opportunity for us to meet some of our neighbours and people who we turn up to help in a social and fun way,” she said.

The night was led by MC Matt, with comedians Andrew Portelli performing the opener and Nick Capper doing the headliner.

“We had Andrew as our opener comedian, he was very entertaining and he had some great crowd engagement.

“Then Nick was our headliner and he was also really good,” she said.

The event’s success was a relief for Ms Brunton after two of the three Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) grants they were relying on to cover equipment costs were rejected.

“We were hoping that the ticket sales would be to offset a grant that we’d applied for, but we found out last week we weren’t successful for that grant. So now we need to pay for that in full,” she said.

The Upper Yarra SES recently purchased a new truck which will be dedicated to mountain

bike rescues and assisting ambulances when patients are in hard to access spots.

“We do get quite a lot in that area, whether it’s mountain bikes, dirt bikes, pretty much anybody that has an injury on any surface that is not asphalt or concrete, we get called in to help to transport that person back out to the ambulance.”

The truck will be fitted with four new radios and a range of specialised tools.

“If we were to get called out to a mountain bike job, and as an example, if the person was entangled in the chain or anything like that, it’s the small hand tools to be able to break that.”

Ms Brunton said the four radios were essential for communication with other emergency service crews.

“The radios we were looking to purchase because when we’re doing these carryouts, we often have to split into groups.

“We have enough radios for one per vehicle, but when we’re working with other emergency services, we can’t always get on to the same channels.”

The success of the Comedy for a Cause event meant the unit were able to cover for half of what the grant would’ve been paid for.

“So it is almost half of what we need to get that list of equipment, which is super helpful,” Ms Brunton said.

She thanked the Warburton Golf Club for hosting their event.

“Their staff are incredible. They literally let us come in, take over their facility, use it for what we need.

“We absolutely couldn’t do it without the support of the golf club. They’re really great people,” she said.

Alongside the comedy, silent auctions and raffles also took place on the night, with plenty of items donated from local businesses going to lucky audience members.

Ms Brunton thanked Seville Tractors, Sanders Apples, Oasis Air Conditioning and Solar, Britannia Creek Soaps, Diamond Boots Australia, Lucky Kids Equine and Warburton Golf Club.

Custom car craze in Wandin

By Oliver Winn

The first show of the 2025/26 Wandin Custom Car and Bike show series took place on Wednesday 19 November attracting hundreds of cars and almost a thousand spectators.

Vintage car and bike enthusiasts gathered en masse at the Wandin East Recreation Reserve for the highly popular event where prizes were handed out to those with the best vehicles.

Rotary Club of Wandin foundation chair Brian Hogdson said the show was a great way for car enthusiasts to celebrate.

“There was a real buzz in the air as car enthusiasts shared their motivation and enjoyed the large variety of food available.”

But, Mr Hodgson said the overwhelming enthusiasm from attendees might’ve been the event’s downfall with major traffic delays and

lengthy queues causing chaos.

“Unfortunately the event did not start as planned.

“On behalf of the show committee Brian Hodgson wants to apologise to local residents for the inconvenience and particularly apologizes to those people attempting to drive home from work and facing traffic congestion.”

Once the traffic cleared the event kicked on well and many prizes were won.

Debbie Wilson won best original car for her 1966 S 600 Honda, which has been in the family for 50 years.

Meanwhile, best car in show went to Jim Mullins with a fully rebuilt 1967 Chevy Nova SS.

The event is a fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital and is the last seven years the Rotary Club of Wandin has given the Royal Children’s Hospital over $100,000.

The huge congestion was caused by a

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change in starting time for the event, and despite being “advertised extensively” in the show’s marketing material, people still showed up early.

“The event managers advertised extensively that gates would open at 5pm yet by shortly after 4pm over 100 cars were in a queue to get in. The roads became congested to such an extent that the traffic management team could not get into place.”

The show’s press release stated the start time was changed to 5pm in response to suggestions it ended too early.

“We also have difficulty recruiting our many supporting volunteers before 5pm,” the show’s press release stated.

“So, the gates will not open until 5pm. The event will not have traffic management in place before then and parking staff will not be on duty before then. It is requested that you don’t

arrive early – it will only create unnecessary congestion on the roads.

“

Mr Hodgson said the message from attendees was “clearly received” and that in future the event will be staffed from 4pm.

Aside from cars and bikes, the show was also host to a rockabilly village with fashion from the vintage era, as cars and culture are often intrinsically linked.

The Rotary Club of Wandin was supported by the Templestowe and Yarra Valley Auxiliary of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Seville CFA, Wandin CFA, Upper Yarra Rotary Club and many individual supporters.

“I’m looking forward to the next show on 17 December and I’m taking steps to make the event even better,” Mr Hodgson said.

The show was one of four in the 2025/26 series, with shows taking place on 17 December, 18 February 2026 and 18 March 2026.

Local piper in record book

By Callum Ludwig

A Healesville resident is now the proud holder of a new world record, alongside 373 others.

Walter Skilton was one of 374 pipers who descended upon Fed Square in Melbourne on Wednesday 12 November to mark the arrival of AC/DC in the city with a rendition of ‘It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)’.

Mr Skilton said he started playing the bagpipes when he was in school, so has been piping for over 55 years.

“My mom was born in Glasgow, but after I went to school, I did a bit oo piping and after that, on and off, and then when I came here I joined the Hawthorn Pipe Band,” he said.

“When I came to Healesville, the closest one was the Ringwood Highland Pipe Band so I joined them about 15 years ago, we’ve got 24 pipers practising of all different ages and different genders.

“We play pretty actively, we played the Maroondah Festival a couple of weeks ago, we played at the Lilydale market last weekend, we play music festivals and we played at the Balnarring Racecourse at their picnic day on the 26th of January.”

The congregation of pipers in Fed Square smashed the previous world record of 333 pipers in Sofia in Bulgaria, in 2012.

Mr Skilton said it was amazing to be in the middle of it.

“It’s a very simple tune to play, but just quite amazing to hear everyone play that together, it was very crowded but there was a passage that the bagpipers could move up,” he said.

“We were going to have two practice sessions,

but the pipe manager there was pretty happy that it was going well, so we just had one practice session and then we played the real version.

“After we finished, the crowd just roared, I don’t know how many people but there but it was intense, but great.”

The iconic AC/DC were back in Melbourne for two shows at the MCG on the Wednesday and Sunday 16 November for their first shows in Australia in a decade.

Mr Skilton said members of the Ringwood Highland Pipe Band found out about the record attempt on the internet and they had people asking on the train if the record was broken.

“We got back on the train, and everybody was across it asking ‘Did you make it’ and whether we got the record, even a lady from the police asked and I said my wife had a recording,” he said.

“We just started the recording and it sounded just like when the actual pipes came in, it was amazing to hear.

“I felt so privileged to be part of that.”

Remembrance Day seen through two different lights

By Maria Millers

November 11th holds major significance in Australian cultural and political memory for two key reasons —one solemn and one political.

The first, Remembrance Day, observed annually commemorates the Armistice of World War One when the guns stopped.

At 11am Australians observe one minute silence to honour those who died in conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

The second is the day the Whitlam government was dismissed.

The first calls on us for national reflection on war and sacrifice, the second is a symbol of democratic tension and political controversy.

This year marks 50 years since that momentous day and the scars from the events of that day still live on.

Therewere61,966Australianmilitarydeaths, including those killed in action and those who died of wounds, disease, or accidents while serving with the Australian Imperial Force.

The red poppy is the central symbol of remembrance, referencing the poem In Flanders Fields.

The expression is commonly attributed to H. G. Wells, the British writer, who used it in a series of newspaper articles in 1914.

Some like Wells believed that the experience of unprecedented destruction and loss of life during World War One would destroy militarism and lead to lasting peace through international cooperation and the spread of democracy.

That phrase captured the idealistic hope many people held during and after the conflict: that the destruction and loss of life would be so horrific that humanity would never again resort to such large-scale warfare.

After and during World War One, a powerful group of poets emerged who vividly described the horrors, trauma, and futility of the conflict.

They’re often called the War Poets or Trench Poets.

These writers were mostly soldiers themselves, who wrote from direct experience of the trenches.

Their work transformed war poetry from patriotic idealism into brutal realism.

Wilfred Owen, “Dulce et Decorum Est” (1917)

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted

lungs…

WOORILLA

WORDS

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

(Latin for “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country).

This idealistic hope was shattered completely as World War Two broke out and to this day conflicts are being played out across the globe.

Since World War Two, Australia has deployed forces to at least 15 major conflicts.

And poets have continued to use poetry to resist, mourn, or expose the lies of war as in a five-line American masterpiece of horror and compression: The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner By Randall Jarrell.

From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.

Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,

I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.

When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

Or in Bruce Dawe’s Homecoming

They’re bringing them home, now, too late, too early.

Body bags return from Vietnam in bureaucratic monotony.

Pity and rage at political indifference.

But 11 November is also the day when Australia experienced its most dramatic constitutional crisis when the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

This day for many older Australians is a day remembered with clarity.

Like Americans who remember the moment

they heard of Kennedy’s assassination.

Its effects are still felt in Australian politics, culture and constitutional debate.

Most would be familiar with the image of the newly deposed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam descending the steps of Parliament House to rage against his dismissal and replacement.

A scoop of reporters throng toward himchief among them Gold Logie-winner, beloved larrikin, and Wollongong’s favourite son: Norman Gunston, an intrusion so Australian, that even in 1975 it’s unlikely to have been possible anywhere else.

With his booming patrician voice and compelling presence Gough Whitlam delivered those famous words: “Well may we say ‘God save the Queen’, because nothing will save the Governor-General” which remain iconic in Australian political history.

It triggered intense debate about the reserve powers of the Governor-General: that a man unelected to an office dismissed a government elected by the Australian people, using powers which even the Queen (whose representative he was) didn’t have.

The trigger appeared parliamentary deadlock over budget supply.

While the dismissal was a constitutional crisis largely driven by the Governor-General’s action, the Whitlam Government itself had genuine failings and vulnerabilities that contributed to the event.

There was an impression of chaos, even though many reforms (Medibank, free university education, recognition of China) were significant.

But in 1974–75, Australia was hit by stagflation.

Inflation exceeded 15 per cent, largely due to the 1973 oil crisis, rapid spending, and wage blowouts.

Whitlam’s expansionary budgets — for education, health, and welfare — were visionary but poorly costed and timed in an overheating economy.

Whitlam had become embattled by scandals caused by his ministers – Dr Jim Cairns and his affair with the voluptuous Juni Morosi, and Rex Connor’s dealings with Khemlani, a supposedly shady character from the Middle East, over petrol dollars.

In essence it was a quixotic attempt by Connors and Cairns to raise US $4 billion to buy back some of the farm.

The opaque and clumsy handling of this petrodollar loan made the government look reckless and secretive, damaging the government’s credibility.

Both these ministers were consequently sacked, causing Labor to lose the balance of power in the parliament.

And the dismissal still fuels ongoing debates about who were the key behind the scene players.

The secrecy surrounding Kerr’s actions, and his communication with Buckingham Palace, led to decades of suspicion and inquiry.

For Emeritus Professor Jenny Hockings, the story of the dismissal speaks to democracy, transparency, power — and how even established democracies are vulnerable when key decisions are taken opaquely.

She sees the release of the Palace Letters in 2020 — correspondence between Kerr and the Queen’s private secretary as a major victory in reigniting debate about whether the monarchy had knowledge of, or influence over, the dismissal.

The dismissal remains one of the most polarising events in Australian history.

The secrecy surrounding Kerr’s actions, and his communication with Buckingham Palace, led to decades of suspicion and inquiry.

Even fifty years on, the dismissal prompts Australians to ask enduring questions:

It remains a reminder that even stable democracies can face moments when power, legality, and legitimacy collide — and that Australia is still defining exactly what kind of democracy it wants to be.

In The Dismissal Mark O’Connor responds directly to the 1975 dismissal of Gough Whitlam.

O’Connor portrays the event as both constitutional crisis and moral theatre.

The ink of law was thin that day — democracy signed away in silence.

Someone once said Whitlam reached for the stars but tripped on the stairs.

So two events converging on 11 November hold enduring significance for Australians. Remembrance Day may invoke feelings of sadness at the loss of young lives and mostly in wars that were not of our making and reflect on the futility and aftermath of wars.

The second should make us think of the kind of country we want to leave to our children.

Their legacy of excellence

Nestled in the heart of Lilydale, AG Automotive has been a cornerstone of the community for over three decades.

Established in the 1980s, this family-run business began humbly in a Wandin home garage, specialising in fitting LPG systems imported from Holland.

The high standards and exceptional quality of their installations quickly earned them a stellar reputation, necessitating a move to a larger facility at 21 Industry Court in Lilydale.

Today, AG Automotive stands as a beacon of excellence in the automotive industry, offering a comprehensive range of services including automotive repairs, Vicroads inspections and certificates, and specialised services for EV/Hybrid vehicles, LPG systems, and automotive air-conditioning systems.

Their commitment to quality is evident in their use of the latest specialist equipment and employment of highly trained and skilled technicians.

One of the most respected names in the LPG industry, AG Autogas has a rich history of innovation and customer satisfaction. After a brief hiatus, the business was rejuvenated in 2006 when John, the original founder, returned to the LPG industry.

In 2017, John entrusted the leadership to David, a longtime employee, ensuring that the same high standards and dedication to excellence would continue.

AG Automotive is committed to providing great value for money, a tradition that continues with their latest offer: a 10 per cent discount for readers who mention this article. This gesture reflects their ongoing dedication to serving the community and providing topnotch automotive services.

For all your servicing and customising needs, AG Automotive remains your trusted one-stop shop, delivering unparalleled service and expertise.

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every

ACROSS

1 Australian tree which bears yellow flowers (6)

4 Not representative of a type or group (8)

9 Notions (5)

10 Doom (9)

11 Zest (5)

12 Offering (9)

13 Dodge (8)

15 Resident doctor (6)

16 Oppose (6)

18 Omission represented by three periods (8)

23 Opinion (9)

24 Writing material (5)

26 Result of a taipan attack; cocktail (9)

27 Sugary (5)

28 Observation (8)

29 Against (6) DOWN

1 Complains (coll) (7)

2 Layers (5)

3 Classes (7)

5 Ditch (6)

6 Modern Iranian language

7 Skinny wind instruments (9)

8 Source of light (7)

10 Deputised group (5)

14 Dilapidation (9)

16 Amends (7)

17 Wise (7)

19 Liquid measure (5)

20 Way that has no outlet (7)

21 Impish persons (7)

22 Hanger-on (6)

25 Newspapers (5)

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more

GRAND FAMILY ESTATE WITH DUAL LIVING ON 12.25 ACRES OF SCENIC EMERALD LAND

SET in one of Emerald’s most exclusive pockets, this stately, fully rendered brick residence delivers space, style, and flexibility on a grand scale. Melbourne, CBD is an easy hour away—yet here, you’ll feel a world apart.

From its elevated position, the home captures sweeping views across 12.25 acres of beautifully cleared land. Inside, the main residence offers four spacious bedrooms (all with WIRs), including a luxurious master suite with a superb ensuite. Multiple living zones— formal lounge and dining, family, meals, and rumpus—ensure comfort and room for the largest of families.

The gourmet timber kitchen is a chef’s delight, featuring granite benchtops and quality stainless steel appliances. Large, lightfilled windows frame the countryside views, while ducted gas heating and reverse-cycle air conditioning ensure year-round comfort.

A triple garage links the main home to the second, fully self-contained residence—ideal for extended family, guests, or even as an Airbnb income stream. Designed for complete independence, it offers two bedrooms (BIRs), a spacious living area, central kitchen, and large bathroom—all with separate utilities for ultimate privacy.

For the equestrian or hobby farmer, the property features eight fully fenced paddocks, each with water and electric fencing, plus a huge six-bay powered shed with lockable storage and hay bays. An extra-height 15m x 9m powered shed with drive-through access is perfect for trades, storage, or serious hobbies.

Outdoors, relax or entertain in the covered alfresco area, surrounded by immaculate gardens and sweeping lawns—ideal for summer cricket or family gatherings.

This is a rare opportunity to secure a premium lifestyle property just 4km from Emerald’s charming township. Grand, flexible, and beautifully maintained—homes of this calibre seldom come to market.

THE PERFECT BLEND OF HILLS LIFESTYLE

BEAUTIFULLY positioned on a tranquil nothrough road just moments from the heart of Belgrave, this exceptional property combines modern updates, flexible living options, and a true connection with nature. Set on a picturesque 1,220sqm (approx.) block with Monbulk Creek gently meandering by, it’s a home that perfectly captures the relaxed Hills lifestyle.

From the moment you arrive, the home’s striking street presence impresses - a sealed driveway, double garage, and stylish steel balustrades lead the way to a residence that is both sophisticated and welcoming.

Across two thoughtfully designed levels, this home delivers outstanding versatility. The lower level features a stunning open-plan living zone warmed by a wood fire, anchored by a gourmet kitchen showcasing Smartstone benchtops, 2-pack cabinetry, a Bosch dishwasher, gas cooktop, and stainless-steel oven. Entertain with ease thanks to the seamless flow out to a covered alfresco area and a lower deck complete with pizza oven - all overlooking lush gardens that roll down to the creek’s edge.

Upstairs, the clever retention of the original kitchen (with gas cooktop, wall oven, and dishwasher) adds impressive flexibility - ideal for multi-generational living, guest accommodation, or growing families. A cosy lounge and meals area with a second wood fire and reverse-cycle heating/cooling ensures comfort year-round. Four adaptable bedrooms, two stylish bathrooms, and an additional living zone complete the layout, ensuring there’s room for everyone.

Every detail of this property reflects thoughtful design and quality living, from the inviting indoor spaces to the serene outdoor zones perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying the sounds of the creek.

Homes offering this level of versatility, privacy, and beauty are a rare find - and this one delivers it all. ●

CHARACTER FILLED HILLS HOME

BRIMMING with charm and overflowing with opportunity, this expansive two-storey hills home offers versatility, space and unforgettable character, all in a superb Upwey location. Perfect for large families, multigenerational living, home based businesses, or those simply seeking room to grow, this property promises a lifestyle rich in comfort and flexibility.

Set across a generous block and with an inviting wrap around verandah, the home features multiple living areas and inviting entertaining spaces, providing an adaptable floorplan that can easily shift with your family’s needs. Four large bedrooms are thoughtfully positioned throughout the home, accompanied by a spacious main bathroom. The master suite includes a walk-in robe and full ensuite, offering a peaceful retreat for parents.

Large and spacious, the kitchen allows for everyday cooking with its huge amount of bench space, cupboards and practicality whilst two great dining spaces have been well designed for formal and informal gatherings.

One of the standout original features is the exquisite, pressed metal ceilings: A beautiful period detail that adds so much warmth and timeless charm.

At the rear of the property lies a beautifully tiered, landscaped garden complete with terraced flat lawns that are perfect for children, pets and outdoor gatherings. A paved entertaining area with a convenient outdoor toilet elevates alfresco living even further.

This home excels when it comes to flexibility:

• A separate home office or teenage retreat includes its own modern bathroom and kitchenette, ideal for extended living requirements or business use.

Inside the main house, a second kitchen offers options galore-use it as a galley bar or additional facilities for extended family living.

Practicality is also well covered, with a workshop, storage and plenty of off-street parking for multiple vehicles. Public transport is mere metres from the front gate, and schools and shops are just a short walk away, ensuring everyday convenience is always at hand.

With its character-filled charm, versatile spaces, and rare multi-accommodation options, this is an absolute must-see for buyers seeking a home that can adapt to their lifestyle with ease.

RIVERSIDE LIVING MADE EASY

DISCOVER this neat and inviting home set on a flat, low maintenance block directly across from the picturesque Yarra River. Offering a blend of comfort and convenience, this property presents a fabulous opportunity to secure a no fuss lifestyle in a sought after location.

Featuring three bedrooms plus a study, this home has been thoughtfully updated with a modern kitchen and bathroom—ready for you to move straight in and enjoy. The lightfilled interior flows effortlessly to an outdoor entertaining area complete with a fire pit, ideal for relaxed evenings with family and friends.

Stay comfortable year-round with a wood fire for winter warmth and a split system for cooling in summer. Outside, you’ll find a double carport, plenty of additional parking, and a super-tidy yard complete with lock up garden shed, and a front verandah ideal for the morning cuppa’s.

Situated just steps from river walking tracks and only minutes to public transport, this property will appeal to a wide range of buyers— first-home seekers, downsizers, or those looking for an easy-care lifestyle in a beautiful riverside setting.

FamilyLivingwithSpace,ViewsandConvenience

Agreatfamilyhomelovinglycaredforandlookedafterforyearsandsittingin afantasticlocation. Offeringthegrowingfamilyloadsofspacetoexploreandenjoy,thehomeoffers 3bedroomsplusan ensuiteandwalkinrobeinthemainbedroom.Plentyoflivingspacewith aseparatelounge/living roomplus aformaldiningandadditionalmealsareaandgoodsizekitchenwithamplebenchand cupboardspace.Ventureoutsideandenjoytheopenspacesittingon afantasticparcelofland of2023sqmwithbeautifulestablishedgardenswith acolourfularrayoffloweringtreesandshrubs. Adoublecarportandbiglockupgarageprovideamplecaraccommodationplusextraroom forcaravans,boats,trucksandtrailers.A greatfamilypropertythatofferssomethingforthewhole family!Greatviewsandsituatedjust ashortwalktolocalschools,shopsandtransport.

LightandBrightin aHandylocation

Ideallylocatedwithlocalschools,shopsandtransportnearbythissuperneathomeissuperbly presentedinsideandoutandwillsuitifyou’rewantingtodownsizeorfirsthomebuyerswithanthe easycarelifestyle.Offering 2bedrooms,largeopenfamily/livingareaand agoodsizekitchen/meals area,thereisnothingtodobutjustmoveinandenjoy.Outsideoffers apavedarearearyard, securelyfencedgarden,shedandcarportplustheaddedbonusofsolarpoweraswell,situatedat theendofthecourtandsetinpicturesquesemiruralsurroundingsit’stheperfectplacetoliveand enjoytherelaxedlifestyle. 25HilltopCrt,YarraJunction

DavidCarroll

595ThonemansRoad,HoddlesCreek $1,500,000 -$1,650,000

TheUltimateCountryHideawayon172Acreswitha Bonus! Arareandveryuniquelargeacreageproperty,offeringtheultimatebushgetawayinstunning surroundingsand acompleteoffgridlifestyle -sittingonapprox.172gloriousYarraValleyacres. Offering 3bedroomsallwithbuiltinrobesplusanensuiteandwalkinrobeinthemainbedroom. Thekitchenisveryimpressivewithqualityappliancesandfixturesthroughoutwithamplebenchand cupboardspaceplus aseparatemeals/diningarea.Outdoors,a hugelockupgarage,beautiful openrollinggrassedareasandacresandacresofbushtoexploreandenjoy.Boastinga fantastic rurallifestyle,thispropertyboasts averyuniquefinancialbonusofferinggenerousbiodiversitycredits offeringthenewownersa substantialfinancialincomeandbonusfortheyearsahead. Atrulyunique andspecialpropertyoffering afantasticlargeacreagerurallifestyle.

DavidCarroll M 0419539320

2WaterlooAvenue,Warburton$1,260,000

AWarburtonMasterpiecewithBreathtakingViews Thisnewlybuiltexceptionalhomehasbeendesignedwithstyleandsophisticationthatwillappeal toall.Thishomefeaturespremiumefficiencythroughout,boasting a6.5starenergyrating,double glazedwindowsanddoors,lowenergyLEDlighting,andnaturalgashydronicheating.Theversatile layoutincludesfourbedroomsandthreebathrooms.Upstairs,themasterbedroomfeaturesquality carpets, alargewalkinrobe,and asumptuousensuite.Entertainerswilldelightinthekitchen,which servesasthecenterpieceofthehome.Withamplespace,stonebenchtops,seamlessandextensive cupboards,qualityappliances,anda butler’spantry.Twoadditionalbedroomsanda largefamily bathroomcompletethislevel.Downstairsoffers afabuloussetupwith adoublegaragespanning around56m², astoreroom,and astudio/bathroomwithitsownpatioandaccesstothegardens.

RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068

FAMILY ENTERTAINER IN THE HEART OF COCKATOO

TUCKED away in a peaceful pocket of Cockatoo, this beautifully presented home combines family comfort, modern functionality and exceptional outdoor living. Designed with family life and entertaining in mind, it offers generous proportions, multiple living areas and a warm, welcoming atmosphere throughout.

At the heart of the home, a spacious openplan living zone showcases a stylish kitchen with stone benchtops, quality finishes and a large butler’s pantry. The adjoining dining and lounge area is the perfect place to gather, complete with a cosy woodfire (with the added bonus of a Turboheat heating system) for the cooler months, while a separate rumpus room provides a versatile second living space to suit all ages and occasions.

Accommodation includes four generous bedrooms, with the master suite offering a private retreat featuring a walk-in robe and ensuite. The remaining bedrooms, each with built-in robes, are serviced by a sleek family bathroom, and a dedicated study provides the option for a fifth bedroom if required. Comfort is assured year-round with ducted heating and evaporative cooling. To help keep the costs down, there is an extensive solar array connect to a 9.8kwh battery.

Step outside and discover the impressive alfresco area that flows seamlessly from the main living zone, ideal for relaxed entertaining or weekend gatherings. Beyond, the inground pool and spa create a resort-style ambience, surrounded by neatly landscaped gardens and lush lawns. A double carport, large 6m x 6m shed/workshop, wood shed and additional side access add practicality and convenience to the property’s appeal.

This home offers the perfect balance of lifestyle and comfort. Just moments from local schools, shops, parks and the charming township centre, it presents an exceptional opportunity to secure a spacious, stylish home designed for modern family living.

Warburton downed

By Garry Lewis

Unfortunately, all Warburton’s pennant sides went down over the past week, despite playing determinedly in all games.

Warburton One played Croydon Two away and led for most of the first half on their grass green. The home side lifted in the second half to claw back the lead and hold onto a 25-shot victory, 95 shots to 70.

Rink scores were:

S. Lord 11/ 37; T. Appleton 25/ 15; G. Walsh 19/ 22 and C. Neale 15/ 21.

The Burras next play Monbulk One at home determined to have a more positive result.

Warburton Two hosted top side Mooroolbark Four at home and tried their best across all rinks before going down by 13 shots overall, 77 to 90.

Rink scores were:

S. Darwall 26/ 15; D. Key 14/ 28; P. Summers 22/ 21 and P. Woods 15/ 26.

They play Eastwood Golf One away this weekend in another challenge for the Burras.

Warburton’s Midweek side travelled to Croydon on Tuesday hoping to kickstart their season. After a tight first session, the Burras began to extend their slender lead and looked good for the win.

But Croydon Two fought back in the last couple of ends to claim victory, 57 shots to 52.

Rink scores were:

A. Dostie 20/ 21, R. McKail 12/ 20 and G. Walsh 20/ 16.

The Burras play Healesville One at home this week, determined to get back on the winners list.

Another enjoyable evening of the Jack Attack Triples Competition last Wednesday with first timer, David Swankie, from the Stirling Effort Team, winning the prize for the first person to hit the jack.

Results were Stirling Effort d Bowled and the Beautiful; Wessie Wonders d Bowl Controllers; Pensioners d Sheep Assist; Can’t Remember d Hit the Jack; Bowls to the Wall d La La’s; Thomos d T.B.C.; Gunners d Lawn Rangers and Bowl Move-

ment d Giddy Gout. The Warburton Bowls Club Barefoot Bowls evenings commenced last Friday with a good crowd in attendance for the first night.

Thank you to all the club members who attended to assist throughout the evening.

It will continue this Friday from 6pm to 9pm.

All equipment, music and coaching are provided. All community members, including fam-

ilies and friends, are invited to come along and give bowls a try and enjoy the company of others.

A barbecue sausage sizzle and a raffle are also held during the evening with the Bar open for drinks.

Social bowls continues each Monday from 12 midday.

For more information contact the club.

Horse Talk news

By Anita Prowse

Another busy weekend on the competition front, HRCAV TTT Dressage was held at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre, Upper Yarra ARC’s team, Upper Yarra Canter Queens, did very well with the team placing 22nd out of over 125 teams, so well done to the riders for taking the trip down.

Next weekend, the Shirley Heights EC are running round three of their Show Jumping Classic, with freshmans on Friday and EA events Saturday and Sunday.

Entries are now also open at event secretary for round one of the Summer Series Dressage Training starting in December.

Yarra Valley Horse Show is also coming around quickly, pre-entries at event secretary open now, or entries on the day for a higher cost.

One dollar from every class entry will be donated to the Cancer Council, as well as our instant raffle proceeds, so even if you are not competing, there are many ways to support and donate both on the day and through the Cancer Council website.

Congratulations to all who competed this weekend, and happy riding everyone.

Healesville wins seconds

By Ian Milgate

Tuesday’s firsts side played Upwey/Tecoma at home and we knew we were in for a hard time as Upwey were sitting on top of the ladder, whilst we were sitting at the bottom.

Two of our three rinks came out firing and were able to keep up with Upwey in a sea sawing match all day.

The lead swapped on numerous occasions until the end when they managed to scrape home for the win.

Upwey got the jump on our third rink early in the piece and to their credit they kept trying with some good ends being played, but were unable to make much headway, and overall we finished going down by 32 shots, 41 to 73.

The scores were as follows;

Gerda Otto, Steve Graham, Rob Broadhurst, Robyn Turville 15/17, Bob Brown, Ian Milgate, Rita Featherstone, Steve Bulled 15/19, Col Jarvis, Anne Knibbs, John Fitzpatrick, Gary Broussard 11/37

Tuesdays seconds side played Ringwood at Ringwood.

This was also going to be a tough game as Ringwood were sitting second on the ladder and we were on the bottom.

Healesville were determined to win this match over their rivals and right from the start all rinks jumped out of the box to control the match in the early stages.

They continued after the break, stopping Ringwood from making up ground, and in the end held a comfortable margin to win by 17 shots, 67 to 50.

The scores were as follows;

Jim Viggers, Tino Macari, Damian Key, Bernard Godde 23/17, Karl Tok, Glenda Graham, Mike Adams, Len Cosson 28/14, Barry Parker, Jill Cookney, Leone Fitzpatrick, Russell Smith 16/19.

Well done everyone, you all played a great game.

Wednesday night saw the fourth week of the Community Bowls Challenge, and once again

Yarra Junction’s successes

By

Yarra Junction Bowls Club has welcomed many new members to the club this year with some starting off as social members and switching to pennant after catching the bowls bug.

They have already made their mark with their enthusiasm for the club environment and their awesome bowling so early in the season.

The future looks bright in more ways than one.

A great game at home in round five of the midweek pennant tournament saw division four Yarra Junction take the win from Yarra Glen by 41 shots

Always a friendly rivalry with “the Glen.”

Two rinks pulled ahead and stayed that way for most of the game.

The battle was on for third rink points towards the end of the game with both teams bowling well and even on 24 going into the last end.

Yarra Glen took the end by two points in an exciting finish to a great day.

Round six will be away at Mooroolbark next week.

The weekend competition was much warmer

we were lucky to have a nice night without rain. Watts River brewery continues to leap ahead and hold a ten-shot buffer over their next competitor.

The results after last night are- Watts River 74, Caddie Shackers 64, Pink Cantina who struggled in the first couple of rounds are now in contention with 60, Code Art one point behind on 59, with quite a few teams biting at there heals. All teams need to be on their game next week to get into the finals, so good luck everyone.

Saturday’s side one played at home against Mitcham who were above us on the ladder and it was going to be a big effort to win. Healesville came out of the blocks with their tails between their legs determined to win on their home ground. By the half time break Healesville had a 16 point lead 53 to 37.

After the break we knew we had to keep the pressure up and to our players credit, we continued to push on putting some great ends together to finally win by 14 shots, 91 to 77. Well done to all rinks.

The scores are as follows;

this week with hats and sunscreen a sign of what’s to come.

Yarra Junction two played Ringwood away.

The Eagles were challenged on the grass green with some playing on a grass green for the first time. Everyone enjoyed the game, put in a great effort and had fun.

Ringwood secured the overall win by 38 shots but the Eagles still retain top of the ladder.

Yarra Junction one played at the newly renovated pavilion at Chirnside country club.

The synthetic green was only slightly slower than the home green and most players adapted well.

There were so many superb shots put down throughout the day by both teams, making for a great game.

Victory went Yarra Junction’s way 114 to 54 with all rinks winning their respective games.

Winning an away game is always a positive.

The very popular Barefoot Bowls season will get underway at the club again in the new year with more details to come closer to the time.

We look forward to another great week of bowls.

Saturday’s side two played at home against Berwick.

They were sitting one above us and if we won today it would put us in second spot. Right from the start it was tit for tat and by the half time break there was nothing in it with Healesville two shots up, 25 to 23.

After the break a few nerves started to appear and Berwick were pushing hard until the end whereby Berwick won by 12 shots 50 to 62.

A great effort by everyone to make it a close finish.

The scores were as follows; John Allen, Jill

Karl Tok, Glenda Graham, Barry Parker, 18/17, Jude Wallace, Mark Cookney, Tino Macari, Bernard Godde, 13/18.

Yarra Glen downed in all matches played

By Rodney Bates

A much better week for weather saw all games played in both midweek and weekend pennant.

On Tuesday, Yarra Glen Side 1 hosted Ferntree Gully at home. Whilst the home side held a slightly additional at the break, Ferntree Gully came home the better in the second half, w1ith the final result a loss 58-61 (2 points). L. Thurkle 23/17; A. James 18/21; C. Boland 17/23.

Side 2 came up against a strong Yarra Junction team on their quick greens, resulting in a loss 4586. L.Baker 24/26; D.McMenaman 9/28; T.Dickson 10/34. On the weekend, two games complet-

ed, with one postponed.

SideSi’s opponent Bundoora had multiple players at the Bowls Australia National Sides event, so the game has been postponed to later in the season.

Side 2 hosted Ringwood in an important game for both clubs after a slow start to the season. A close encounter that came down to the last end and a win 78-74 (14 points). R. Thurkle 24/20; S. Smith 26/15; B. Grund 10/19; A. Thurkle 18/30. Side 3 headed to Ringwood and another close contest, this time Ringwood the winners 80-90 (2 points). T. Dickson 21/11; P. Ramage 11/32; L. Baker 19/26; D. McMenaman 13/33.

Seville wins by 191 runs

By Mitch Wynd

First XI v Heathwood at Heathmont Reserve.

With close to 300 runs on the board, a disciplined bowling performance was all that was required for the First XI to claim victory against Heathwood.

The first 10 overs saw the opening batsmen slowly try to establish themselves at the crease, but tight lines and lengths from the Seville bowlers made scoring difficult.

Riley Foster was the first to strike, removing the Heathwood captain Robert Cranmer thanks to a sharp diving catch at short cover from Harvey Smith.

Soon after that, Jack Woodford struck twice in the 14th over to have the home side reeling at 3/23 and well over 250 runs in arrears.

Heathwood bunkered down until Liam Kay took wickets in consecutive overs, and Foster returned to take two more - Heathwood losing 4/12 in that period.

Jace Hamilton sent stumps flying with his first wicket and caught the edge for a second, before the match was brought to an end with the final wicket being a run out.

Heathwood all out for 99, the final margin of victory a massive 191 runs.

The win keeps Seville in third place on the ladder in Stuart Newey Plate, and they next face fourth-placed Healesville at home in another two-day match.

Seville 7/290 (80) - Kane Jones 140, Finn Saurine 71, Jack Woodford 18.

Heathwood 99 all out (51.2) - Riley Foster 3/16 (10), Liam Kay 2/16 (7), Jace Hamilton 2/20 (9).

Seville won by 191 runs.

Second XI v Mt Evelyn at Seville North Oval

The Second XI entered the second day of their match against Mt Evelyn knowing that they had runs on the board, but that victory would be far from a guarantee.

Early wickets would be the key to defending 253 - Trevor Williams was the first to strike removing the opener Luke Shepherd for just two.

The top order for Mt Evelyn got into their work, with Luke Jones (44) and Jamie Shaw (61) building a dangerous partnership.

Three middle-order wickets were taken by Jack Darwall who finished with 3/28 from his 14 overs, and Jordan Foster found himself on a hattrick towards the back end of the innings, finishing with 3/27 off 14.

Other wicket takers were Rowan Prouse, Nate Lucas, and a run out to Ned Macdonald as Mt Evelyn fell 55 runs short in the end.

With the win, the Second XI have leapfrogged Mt Evelyn into second place on the David Beatty Shield ladder.

Their next match is a two-day away game against bottom-placed North Ringwood.

Seville 253 all out (79.1) - Jared Carroll 91, Liam McGookin 35, Ned Macdonald 31. Mt Evelyn 198 all out (69.3) - Jordan Foster 3/27 (13.3), Jack Darwall 3/28 (14), Rowan Prouse 1/22 (11).

Seville won by 55 runs Third XI v Templeton at Seville South Oval Continuing their impressive streak of winning

tosses, Seville Third XI chose to bat first at home against Templeton.

The top order did not fire as they had through the season so far, losing three wickets early on in the innings.

The middle-order recovery was largely led by a pair of teenagers in Archie Graham and Darcy Tilney, who saw off some hostile bowling to navigate their way to the drinks break and build a platform.

Tilney (who earlier that morning blasted a 46-ball century in the U14s) started to find some boundaries and lift the scoring, while Graham played the more old-fashioned way, strong in defence and putting a high price on his wicket.

After both were dismissed, Dale Treller hit a quick fire 22 at number eight, before the team were eventually all out in the final over for 133not an easy score to defend.

Seville needed to come out firing with the ball and make quick inroads into the Templeton batting lineup, and that’s exactly what happened when skipper Jamie Hamilton bagged two wickets in the opening over. Ryan Vassallo and Dale Treller each took a wicket of their own before young Jake Troyahn made an immediate impact

with three wickets in three overs, leaving Templeton’s batting in tatters.

The final blows were dealt by Darcy TIlney and Mitchell Wynd - Templeton bundled all out for just 46 runs in under 22 overs.

The Third XI remain undefeated with a 6-0 record in second place on percentage behind the also undefeated Bayswater Park, and will face fourth-placed Chirnside Park next week at Lilydale Heights College.

Seville 133 all out (35.1) - Darcy Tilney 36, Dale Treller 22, Archie Graham 19.

Templeton 46 all out (21.4) - Jamie Hamilton 3/11 (6), Jake Troyahn 3/11 (3), Darcy Tilney 1/1 (1).

Seville won by 87 runs. Fourth XI v South Warrandyte at Rieschiecks Reserve

The Fourth XI travelled to Doncaster East to face the undefeated ladder-leaders South Warrandyte.

The home side won the toss and batted first, losing an early wicket to Bailey O’Keefe.

Opening batsman Paul Milne scored freely from one end, but at the other end wickets were falling regularly.

Two collapses of 3/14 and 3/3 had the game in the balance at 8/127.

But the South Warrandyte tail had some hard hitting in it, and before long the last two wickets had piled on 100 runs in 12 overs.

Suddenly faced with a much bigger chase than expected, Seville opened with the father-son combination of Scott and Max Darwall. Scott made 47 off just 35 balls with six boundaries and three sixes, before being trapped LBW just short of his fifty.

Captain Andrew Cummins (29*) and Dax Munro (32) put together a 49-run partnership, but once Munro was caught out the required rate kept increasing.

Seville batted out their overs, falling 78 runs short of the total.

Despite the loss, they remain in second place on the ladder, and will next face fourth-placed Chirnside Park in a home match at Warburton.

South Warrandyte 9/227 (36) - Andy Heal 3/44 (6), Bailey O’Keefe 1/15 (3), Max Iskra 1/17 (3).

Seville 7/149 (36) - Scott Darwall 47, Dax Munro 32, Andrew Cummins 29*. South Warrandyte won by 78 runs.

Lusatia’s First XI puts on a disciplined display of bowling

By Kieran Cantwell

Defending 218 against Wonga Park, the First XI had a job to do with the ball, and they took that job very seriously.

With such tight bowling, the skipper only had to use five bowlers; spinner Tyson Gaskett bowled 22 overs for 23 runs, workhorse Terry Bennett bowled 25 overs taking 4-28, and Lochie Winter-Annette bowled 10 overs finishing with 2-6. Angus Gelly also bowled impressively, finishing with 4-56 off his 19 overs. Wonga Park just could not find a way to get runs, and were eventually dismissed for 123, in a superb display by our bowlers and fielders, getting win number three. Women’s First XI

Fresh from the first win of the year last week, our Women’s XI were on a roll taking on Wandin at Wandin. Bowling first, everyone contributed brilliantly, and never let Wandin get away, consistently taking wickets throughout the innings.

Wickets to Stacey Mercuri, Ella Amore, Melissa Page, Amelia English, Caitlyn Paker and Lucy Pritchard kept the pressure on, but the highlight was Reina Kodama’s first ever bowling effort in a match, finishing the innings off in style with 2

fantastic wickets, bringing the crowd to their feet. Wandin were dismissed for 84, and we set about chasing that down as quickly as possible.

Sisters Caitlyn and Georgia Parker got off to a flyer with a 57 run opening stand in nine overs.

Georgia dismissed on 21, but Caitlyn kept her run of form going and steered the ship home with an unbeaten 38, ably supported by Nikki Philpot, who was quick to remind her husband that she outscored him this weekend with her 5*.

Second XI

The game at Woori Yallock against Chirnside Park was evenly poised at the close of play last week, so this could have gone either way.

Council had dumped a few truckloads of sand on the ground during the week, so batting was going to be a bit more difficult for us this week.

Young Flynn Pritchard did the hard work last week, but was dismissed early, while Michael Dwyer was his usual consistent self, scoring 35 off 136 balls before being dismissed.

Evencontributionsfrommostbattersthroughout the innings kept the game alive, but when Stephen Morgan was dismissed after smashing a ball into the umpire, which ricocheted and was caught, it was looking like trouble at 7-121 still needing 70 to win.

Lucky for us, Matt McConnell was still at the crease, his perfect blend of defending the good balls, but punishing anything he could with inventive stroke play saw him and Viren Kumar get us over the line eight down.

Viren ending on 24* and Matt 45* in a finish to remember.

Third XI

Our Third’s has their work cut out for them, with the split innings format seeing Wonga Park on 0-179, and us resuming batting at 4-115.

Stuart Parker was the rock of our innings,

scoring freely whilst most fell around him, Marty White provided some support with 19, but with ducks a plenty down the order he was running out of partners.

Saxon Madsen was valiant at number 11, scoring seven runs before being dismissed, unfortunately stranding Stuart on 99* with the score at 221.

Only needing 43, Wonga Park chased down the runs without losing any wickets.

Fourth XI

In their second game of the season, the Fourth XI took on Warrandyte at Lilydale.

Batting first, captain Paul Broussard once again retired with 52 off 51 balls.

Some good batting from the youngsters in the team, Cameron Philpot, Oscar Broussard and Noah Kelsall all giving it a good go, and getting the score to 7-130 off their 36 overs.

A great start from Mason McNeill saw him snag a wicket in the second over.

Once again, everyone had a bowl, gaining some great senior experience for the younger players, and the not so young getting to enjoy the cricket too.

Warrandyte managed to pass our score one wicket down in the 26th over.

A second chance

By Mark Menze

As the year winds down and calendars fill up, it can be hard to find time for the things that really matter.

That’s why Animal Aid Coldstream is opening its doors after hours on Friday 28 November, giving the community a chance to meet the animals waiting for a second chance, at a time that works.

From 4.30pm to 7.30pm, the Coldstream shelter will host a Twilight Adoption Evening, inviting locals to discover the joy of adoption in a calm, early evening setting.

With shelters at capacity and kitten season already in full swing, this event is about making

aid Animal

Mark Menze Animal Aid CEO

it easier for good people to meet great animals, and maybe take one home.

There’ll be free microchipping, practical advice from our vets and trainers, adoption spe-

cials, and some tasty food and sweet treats on offer.

You can even bring your own friendly, vaccinated dog along to meet a potential new mate. If adoption has been on your mind but hard to fit in, this is your chance.

The team will be there to help you find the right fit - no pressure, just genuine conversations and real opportunities to open your home to a new furry family member.

Twilight events will also run in Sale and Bairnsdale.

Twilight Adoptions: Friday 28 November | Coldstream Shelter open until 7.30pm.

CPP Community Theatre

Cosi Set in a psychiatric facility, Cosi is a play about friendship, romance, community and difference. It’s 1971 and Australia is protesting the war in Vietnam.

But inside the facility, the resident patients are listening to Mozart, learning their lines and occasionally skipping their medication - it’s art, it’s mayhem.

It’s a wonderful roller coaster all the way to opening might.

CPP Community Theatre will be holding an information night, where you can come along to meet the director, hear about the vision for the production, partake in some readings of the script and sign up for an audition.

It’s highly recommended that you attend if you are interested in auditioning for Cosi, as this is the start of the Company’s audition process.

Even if you are not planning to audition, come along anyway – there are plenty of other ways to get involved.

Information Night:

• Tuesday 25 November at 8pm (doors open from 7.30pm).

The Factory – 71 Bayfield Road East Bayswater.

Auditions:

• Sunday 30 November 30.

• Tuesday 2 December.

• By appointment only – You will have an opportunity to book an audition at the Company’s information night.

• Please note, for this production the Company will be looking to cast those aged 18 years and over.

Performances:

• April 10 – 18 2026.

Inquiries:

The Information Night, or have any further questions, if you are unable to attend and have any further questions, please email auditions@cppcommunitytheatre.com.au.

Burrinja Art Fair:

Join us for a vibrant day of art, music, food and community as Burrinja transforms into a festive marketplace celebrating local activity.

This special event is set to be unmissable, perfect for families, friends, and anyone who loves handmade, original art.

Wander through Burrinja and explore more than 40 artisan stalls, take part in hands-on activities, enjoy live music performances, and discover unique gifts – all lovingly created by local makers.

No imports. No mass production, just true artisan craft.

The perfect place for Christmas gifts. Every stall is unique – making this ideal opportunity to find something special for a loved one or to spoil yourself.

• When: Sunday 6 December 10.30am – 4pm.

How wicked was it?

For Good Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

Rated M

3.5/5

Wicked: For Good, the second part of John Chu’s epic film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, won’t win over nonfans (largely due to the messy plot), but For Good will delight fans for the same wellacted, beautifully-produced reasons as last year’s Part One.

Erivo is still a sensitive, commanding force as Elphaba, a freedom fighter branded a public enemy by Oz, and Grande is a ditz of deep pathos as Glinda, a beloved public figure in a regime she secretly abhors. The musical numbers are joyful and lavishly-staged, the art direction is still stunning, and For Good has a darker, more mature tone.

The oppression of Oz’s talking animals is a major focus in the first Wicked film but almost an afterthought here. I felt little sympathy for Elphaba’s sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode), who strips the Munchkins of their rights out of spurned love, and as a dictator who supports (albeit reluctantly) a worse dictator, I can’t shake the impression that Nessarose is essentially Oz’s Mussolini. A contrived love triangle emerges between Elphaba, Glinda and Captain Fiero (Jonathan Bailey) in the rushed third act, along with an incredibly obvious twist about Elphaba’s origins, and even with the bad guys deposed and displaced in the end, it troubles me that Glinda retains her power and prestige by preserving the oppressors’ deceptive narrative.

Moreover, much like that mediocre Dark Tower movie from 2017, For Good is less interesting when it draws directly from L. Frank Baum’s novel and the 1933 Wizard of Oz film, with cameos from Dorothy (whose face is never shown) and a poignant but inconsequential subplot about the creation of her companions.

Lively, vibrant and moving but sloppilyplotted, Wicked: For Good is like the title – good, not great – and is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

Grit, Soul and Musical Alchemy – Tex Perkins and Matt Walker

Two of Australia’s most revered musicians unite for a raw, powerful live show, blending new material, timeless covers, and iconic classics. Tex Perkins has been around for a while now, The Beasts. The Cruel Sea, The Dark Horses, The Man In Black, to name a few.

Tex has built his reputation on a restless sense of adventure, an ability to evolve and adapt, a dark sense of humour, and a knack of teaming up with uniquely talented players who help to bring out the best in him.

Matt Walker is one such player, long established as a respected singer-songwriter and much sought after guitarist.

He’s worked wit many great people over his 30-year career.

Tex and Matt finally released the self-titled album Tex Perkins and The Fat Rubber Bad in QQAQ while they wrote and produced together, and was followed by the band’s second album, Other World, in 2023.

• Season: Saturday 29 November at 8pm.