Mail - Mt Evelyn Star Mail - 20th January 2026

Locals answer

By Mikayla van Loon

The devastating Longwood fires that swept through Victoria’s Highlands on Friday January 9 have left behind a trail of destruction, but they have also ignited a powerful wave of community resilience and generosity.

For one Lilydale family, the blaze marked the end of a 26-year era at “The Block,” a beloved bushland sanctuary in the Highlands.

Purchased by Montrose grandparents, known as Nan and Pa, the property served as a multigenerational retreat where siblings, children, and over a hundred friends gathered to ride motorbikes, fish, and connect with nature. While the

fire “targeted anything man-made,” destroying five cabins, a camp kitchen, and storage sheds, the family’s spirit remains intact.

Shaun Jacobs, who grew up visiting the property, described the aftermath as resembling a “war zone.” However, amidst the charred remains, signs of hope emerged: Nan’s “Covid garden” and her fruit trees miraculously survived.

This resilience was mirrored by the family’s younger generation; Shaun’s daughter, Charlotte, launched a GoFundMe page that far exceeded its $500 goal, raising over $10,000 in just four days to assist with the massive cleanup and eventual rebuild.

Parallel to the Jacobs family’s story is a massive grassroots relief effort led by Lilydale business owners Jacinta and John of Meat Inn Place. What began as a plan to cook breakfast for firefighters rapidly evolved into a regional logistics hub after a single social media post reached 150,000 people.

Within a week, the butcher shop became a central drop-off point, delivering 700 slabs of water, 1000 bread rolls, and thousands of dollars in medical and fencing supplies to fire-affected communities and relief centres.

As the immediate threat of the fire subsides, the focus has shifted to long-term recovery, with the community now pivoting toward donating fencing materials and fuel vouchers to help farmers and landowners rebuild.

“Fires can take your property... but it can’t take the memories,” Shaun Jacobs said. It is this sentiment, backed by the overwhelming support of both strangers and neighbours, that is defining the recovery in the Highlands.

Read more about the community effort on pages 2 to 6

The relief effort has seen local businesses like Baker’s Delight and The Fine Food Merchant join forces to ensure volunteers and displaced residents are fed and supported.

Lilydale steps up to support

In the aftermath of a disaster, communities rallying for other communities, most of the time unknown to them, showcases the goodness of humanity.

Lilydale’s Meat Inn Place was quick to offer support, at first thinking they could cater and cook bacon and egg rolls for firefighters deployed to suppress the Longwood fires.

This quickly shifted to taking loads of donations to fire-affected communities after a single social media post reached around 150,000 people.

The overwhelming number of people wanting to give back came as a shock to owners Jacinta and John, as donations of bottled water, snacks and essential items flooded their doorstep.

“With one simple post asking for a contact, our community and wider network responded immediately, trusting us to ensure supplies were delivered to the right people, in the right places, as quickly as possible,” Jacinta said.

“Within two hours of our very first post, our initial plan of cooking bacon and egg rolls completely changed. Instead, we became a central drop-off point and began delivering essential goods directly to affected communities.

“Every day since, we have had between one and four vehicles on the road delivering necessities.”

The Lilydale CFA were able to put Jacinta and John in touch with the CFA’s catering division to ensure they could deliver what was most essential to firefighters on the ground.

“When we first spoke to them, they said, the things we need are water, electrolytes and easy snacks to eat in the truck. So that’s what we asked for, and that’s what we got,” Jacinta said.

The first lot of donations collected on Friday 9 January filled a van to the roof and were delivered on Saturday morning to Yarra Glen, to then be safely distributed to the fire grounds.

On the Saturday alone, they were able to deliver 180 slabs of drinks, alongside food and snacks.

Jacinta said that throughout Saturday 10 January, until about 11pm that night, donations from the community were being dropped off for them to deliver.

“We felt honoured that people trusted us to make sure that it got to the right places,” she said.

Requests from the CFA volunteers evolved into needing sunscreen, baby wipes and lip balm, which were all generously donated.

John headed to Alexandra once able and was met with immense gratitude.

“When John got to Alex the second day, there was a line of firefighters, like a production line, just unloading from the cars. And at the end, he said it was like they all just got together and had a big hug and thanked him.

“He said they are so thankful for everything we’re doing. It’s great that our little community can help their little community.”

Once the fire was further contained and controlled, Jacinta said they were able to turn their

attention to supporting the relief centres.

The list of groups and locations John and Jacinta have helped, visited, or been in direct contact with includes: Whanregarewen Station, Molesworth CFA, Yarck Station, Yarck Community Hall, Yarra Glen Relief, Lilydale CFA, Salvation Army, Fawcett Community, Yea Community House, Seymour Relief Centre, the Highlands Hub, Alexandra CFA and Menzies Support Services.

The aim for Friday 16 January was to provide support to the Euroa Relief Centre, Euroa FoodWorks, and Ruffy Hall.

“Whoever reaches out, that’s where we go. We just open up our cars and vans when we get there, and they take what they want, then we drive on to the next destination,” Jacinta said.

Although Meat Inn Place issued the initial call out, Jacinta said the snowball effect of people wanting to help was phenomenal, with many businesses stepping in financially but also with time, resources and energy.

The Fine Food Merchant’s Ethan and Jack, Jacinta said, had been instrumental in this, offering to do deliveries, seeing the two businesses take it in turns.

Baker’s Delight provided unlimited bread whenever required, and the team at Rural Trade and Fencing in Coldstream supplied materials at below cost, playing a vital role.

Jacinta said with most of the relief centres now well supplied, she, John, Ethan and Jack would be delivering a truck’s worth of fencing materials on Saturday 17 January, as working bees get underway over the weekend.

“Our aim at the moment is to get fencing and fuel for these communities. That’s a big priority now,” she said.

Not taking cash donations, Jacinta said fuel vouchers would be welcomed, or people can purchase a $50 fencing bundle from Rural Trade and Fencing, to be gifted on behalf of the family or individual.

All other donations can be dropped off at Meat Inn Place during business hours, or contact them via Facebook or Instagram for different arrangements.

In a single week, Meat Inn Place, supported by the broader community, was able to provide 700 slabs of water plus other drinks, 500 cases of snack foods and non-perishable supplies, 1000 bread rolls and 400 loaves of bread, 100 cases of medical and hygiene supplies, 100 bags of clothing and bedding and around $5000 worth of fencing supplies.

“The response from affected communities has been incredibly moving. We have been welcomed with open arms, hugs, and genuine gratitude on every delivery.

“One community told us they had been living on biscuits and chips before we were able to provide a barbecue dinner one night.

“Firefighters who had only had access to snacks jumped out of their trucks when they saw fresh sandwiches being delivered.

“We’ll just keep going as long as we can, as long as they need us, and as long as we can get stuff to take to them.”

Crews return home after long battle

By Mikayla van Loon

Firefighters who had been deployed from Lilydale Fire Brigade to Alexandra last week returned to the station safe but tired on Wednesday afternoon.

The last remaining Lilydale volunteers who spent three nights further up the highway arrived at the station at around 1.30pm on 14 January.

“From our brigade itself, we had nine go throughout the duration of the (Longwood fire) and more are on standby once again,” Captain Warren Davis said.

The first crew of Lilydale CFA firefighters were sent to Alexandra, facing a big task.

“The first crew, they went up on the day of response, they protected Alexandra. They performed a coordination of vehicles, of tankers around the town, and they were protecting the assets around Alexandra,” Mr Davis said.

But the response continued, with a convoy of firefighters from District 13 headed for Walwa on the New South Wales border to assist with the firefighting efforts, departing headquarters on 15 January.

Eleven major fires continued to burn on Wednesday afternoon after blackening more than 400,000 hectares.

More than 700 structures have been destroyed or significantly damaged, including 228 homes and 450 outbuildings.

Easing conditions have allowed Victorian fire authorities to focus on containment and burnout operations a week on from bushfires breaking out across the state.

Several relief packages have been announced by the State and Federal Governments to support Victorians affected by the devastating fires.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced a $100 million support package on Wednesday, including $40 million in grants to fire-affected primary producers.

A new $15 million recovery package was also announced on 14 January focused on helping Victorians start the massive clean-up process following the devastating fires.

The 2026 Victorian Bushfire Appeal is now open for donations to support fire-affected communities, with Victorians able to contribute via vic.gov.au/2026-Victorian-Bushfire-Appeal.

Donations of food, clothing and essential items have also started being collected across communities, as well bales of hay being transported to farmers.

Mr Davis said, however, from his experience in the past with the recovery effort post-fires, often man’s best friend can be forgotten.

“Donations will be starting to roll in shortly, what they need to consider as well is a lot of farmers are up there with their dogs,” he said.

“They’ve lost their houses and everything like that. They’ve lost stock for their cattle, but a lot of people tend to forget about the dogs, the farmers’ dogs. They’ve got no food up there for them.

“There’d be people who would be willing to

run the food up to these areas to make sure the farmers’ dogs are fed.”

On Thursday 15 January, the Lilydale CFA and the Lilydale Rotary Club, organised a donation drive for non perishable food for any pets and wildlife.

Items can be left at the front door of 300 Main Street Lilydale, ensuring the driveway remains clear and and people park on the street so the fire trucks and volunteers can get past if needed.

In a post to social media, the Lilydale Fire Brigade said it was “immensely proud” of the effort and dedication of its members but also the broader CFA volunteer base and the community.

“Our team performed great work over the past days but we are a cog in a significant machine that

has responded to these fires and it’s not over yet,” the post read.

“Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the events of yesterday (9 Jan) and we also send our well wishes to the firies up there who have had to fight fires while their own properties were under threat.

“We’re thinking of you and we hope the challenges to come aren’t anything like the ones you faced yesterday.”

General Enquiries Tel: 5957 3700

Email: enquiries@mailcommunity.com.au

Distribution Enquiries Tel: 1300 654 910

Advertising Group Advertising Manager –Tracey Aitken

Email: advertising@mailcommunity.com.au

Editorial Email: editor@mailcommunity.com.au

IN BRIEF

Coldstream arrest

Lilydale Uniform members have arrested a 24-year-old Yellingbo male after he was found in Coldstream on 31 December asleep at the wheel of a vehicle he allegedly stole from Devils River Parks Victoria Depot.

A search of the vehicle revealed that the man was allegedly in possession an amount of drugs of dependence and numerous stolen items.

The male was later arrested and remanded into custody.

Hard rubbish collections coming

Now’s a great time to start preparing your items for a smooth pickup.

To help Yarra Ranges Council crews collect everything safely and efficiently, please:

• Separate your items into clear, distinct piles

• Keep each pile under 3 cubic metres

• Place your hard rubbish where you normally put your bin out for collection

Getting organised early means you’ll be ready once your collection week arrives.

For your collection date and a full list of FAQs, visit the website: yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Our-services/Waste/Hard-rubbish

Car involved in multiple hit and runs in Lilydale and Yering

Local law enforcement are seeking help from the public after a car was involved in two collisions and seen doing burnouts across Yering and Lilydale last week.

Police are appealing for any witnesses after a hit and run collision happened on Melba Highway, Yering at approximately 4pm on Thursday 15 January.

They are looking for a white 1991 Toyota Camry bearing registration XLM708.

The vehicle was seen doing burnouts in Melba Park, Lilydale shortly after and involved in a further collision on Castella Street, Lilydale at approximately 4pm.

The occupants of the vehicle were spoken to by police a short time later, however the driver, who is known to police, is currently outstanding.

If anyone has any CCTV, dashcam footage or social media posts of the vehicle driving, please contact Senior Constable PASCOE at Lilydale Police Station on 9739 2300.

Reports can also be made via Crimestoppers at crimestoppersvic.com.au or call 1800 333 000.

Family’s sanctuary lost

By Mikayla van Loon

“You never expect something like this to happen to you. The chances of this happening to you are so rare, so when it does, it’s hard to come to terms with.”

Memories of riding motorbikes, fishing in the dam and playing hide-and-seek among the trees of Victoria’s Highlands are what remain for a Lilydale family after the Longwood fires.

Shaun Jacobs’ parents purchased a property in the Highlands 26 years ago, so he and his siblings could camp, enjoy nature and ride motorbikes. It lovingly became known as The Block.

As Shaun and his siblings had children of their own, the property developed and changed into a bushland sanctuary, where the families would gather and make incredible memories.

Over the course of two and a half decades, cabins were built, boats and caravans were stored and gardens were established, all adding to the true joy of the place.

The fire that raged on Friday 9 January saw all of this wiped away.

Shaun said while a traditional house wasn’t built on the property, it was home to five cabins, an indoor camp kitchen and storage sheds. And it was home away from home for his parents.

The Montrose-based grandparents, who asked to be named Nan and Pa, spent the majority of their time at their beloved property, returning to the eastern suburbs only when needed for health appointments or family events.

“We knew there was fires everywhere, but thought the block was OK. And then Saturday morning, we got the call from Nan and the neighbour had been down and said, we’ve lost a lot of stuff, but we didn’t know, and she hadn’t come all the way down,” Shaun said.

“It’s a steep driveway down to the main area. So we were optimistic and hoped some stuff would be left and then we waited till Monday, and then drove up on Monday, followed my parents up and just found nothing.

“To go in the driveway and just see that there was almost nothing left. Nothing was saved. And just bizarrely, it just seemed to target anything that was man made, the fire just chased any kind of structure. The best way to describe it is like a war zone. It’s very heartbreaking.”

Shaun’s daughter Charlotte said “not knowing what you’re going into, was a very nervous and sickening feeling”.

“When you’re expecting something to still be standing and it’s not, it’s even worse. It wasn’t easy.

“You never expect something like this to happen to you. The chances of this happening to you are so rare, so when it does, it’s hard to come to terms with.”

Shaun and Charlotte estimate that over the 26 years, the block would have welcomed over one hundred different people, if not more, with so many friends and family using the property.

“Everyone would come and stay. Friends, family, our friends, the kids’ friends, cousins. I reckon it’d be in the couple of hundreds of people who have come and stayed,” Shaun said.

“(My parents) don’t ask for anything. They remove all the rubbish for everyone. They supply the gas bottles for the barbecues and things like that, the water everything, they don’t ask for any-

thing. It’s just ‘come and have a good time’.”

From playing backyard cricket to sitting around a campfire chatting or playing games, Charlotte said growing up at the block was full of adventure and learning new things.

“It’s hard to put into words, the property, because it’s just so many things all at once,” she said.

“It’s endless entertainment. When we’re little, all our cousins, we would go out and play tiggy at nighttime with our torches, or we have little radios up there.

“If we didn’t know what to do, we’d go make something up. We made a cubby house out of bits of wood and nails, Pa gave us hammers, and we just went and made a tree house.”

That was always the intention of purchasing the property, to provide a space where the family could disconnect from the world and enjoy the time together, but also their hobbies.

“Pa’s just built tracks everywhere for kids to ride. And they’ve got a dam up there that they restock with fish,” Shaun said.

“I’ve been going there since I was probably about 23 or something, I’m now 48 and the kids were just brought up there. They’d ride their mini bikes there and step up to the bigger bikes.

“It’s just been a safe place to bring your family and your kids, and you don’t need to think or worry about them. They’ll be safe.”

The quiet moments of days and evenings at the block were spent watching nature’s television, as kangaroos, echidnas, wombats, the occasional

koala and deer would fill the property.

This was a much loved past-time for Nan and Pa.

“They called it deer o’clock. They’ve got a spot down in the valley where they drive down quietly and park, and then they walk another couple of 100 metres or so. There’s a rock that they can sit on and they can see into and out of a valley,”

Shaun said.

“They can watch the deer come past. They say just before dusk is deer o’clock. They always love and enjoy seeing that.”

While all of the property’s structures were burned, Shaun said one surviving aspect was Nan’s “Covid garden”, a beautiful rock garden she created during the pandemic lockdowns and some of her vegetable garden.

“When we got to the property on Monday after it all, one of the first things she said was, I’ve still got my fruit trees.”

Shaun couldn’t believe this positivity but then again he said, “they’re old school, they’re tough as nails, they’re so resilient”.

With so much accumulated over the years, either second hand or for little cost, Shaun said his parents didn’t have insurance and therefore, the cost of replacing everything would be expensive.

Looking over at Charlotte, Shaun said “this little gem as we were driving home decided she was going to do a GoFundMe page. It’s been amazing”.

Initially hoping they could get $500 to replace some of the tools or buy a chainsaw, this quickly

grew beyond expectations.

In just four days, it surpassed $10,000, an “unbelievable” total.

“It’s this rollercoaster of gratefulness but also why do we deserve this?” Shaun said.

Charlotte said, with her grandparents being in their seventies, the world of the internet and social media is somewhat foreign, and they can’t grasp how widespread the help has been.

“I don’t think they knew that this many people support them. So they’re a bit overwhelmed,” she said.

All the money that has been donated to the family will initially be used to clear the property of the debris. The idea is to then rebuild, providing a granny flat for Nan and Pa that is easily accessible as they get older.

“There’s so much to rebuild. So much to clean up. That’s one side of it you don’t even think about. But the cleanup is just unbelievable,” Shaun said.

But the generosity of people willing to help, donate and offer equipment has been overwhelming, and is what is keeping the family going.

“(Fires) can take your property and take all the buildings, the structures, but it can’t take the memories or the views, that’s what we’ll rebuild on.”

The GoFundMe can be found here: gofundme. com/f/please-help-re-build-our-familys-serenity

Bowlers raise $5000

The Yarra Glen Bowls Club has rallied around one of its own in a moment of need following the fires in Longwood last week.

Matthew Creighton, known affectionately at the club as ‘Athlete’, is currently hosting his parents, Evelyn and David, who lost their home in Gobur near Yarck, and the club hosted a fundraiser dinner on Thursday 15 January to support the family.

Yarra Glen Bowls Club director Troy Stafford said it’s probably moments like last week that should put things into perspective for us.

“Where we realise what’s really important… there’s a greater good and a greater part to life, that’s what brings us here tonight and shows what sort of community we have,” he said.

“I think most of us associated with the bowling club understand our community, the Yarra Glen Bowls Club community, and how strong it is, but the bowls community as a whole as well in times of hardship.

“We really understand what being part of a community is all about, and this is a testament to it.”

One of the club’s favourite sons, Mr Creighton has played across the Yarra Valley and Eastern Ranges region for over 20 years, won many club championships, and was a key part of Yarra Glens’ years in the Premier League.

Mr Creighton said his family has lived up that way for pretty much all their lives.

“Mum and Dad have lived in the community for 50 plus years, they started off at Rubicon and then moved into Alexandra once they had the kids and then once the kids moved on, my brother bought the Yarck pub and they were out there for seven years,” he said.

“It was a good little life, a good little spot, it wasn’t a whole lot and there wasn’t a whole lot to do but they made it home.”

At the fundraiser, around $5000 was donated through a variety of meal donations, raffles, and some interesting bowls competitions

on the green. The ‘Spida Man’ competition alone yielded a $1000 donation from the local RACV representative.

Mr Stafford said there was support that came from the greater bowls community for the Creighton family.

“Big thanks to Mitcham Bowls Club who have donated $200 which is absolutely fantastic, but don’t go soft on them because we still play them and we still want to beat them, in 10 minutes we can hate them again,” he said.

“And to Lilydale, who are donating all their green fees from next weekend’s pennant, which is actually $800.”

The Croydon Bowls Club also supported the fundraiser, as well as generous donations from a number of local businesses, including Bakers Delight Chirnside Park, Henselite, Yar-

Glen IGA and local retail shops as well.

Mr Creighton said he and his brothers at least found it funny that the fires meant his parents finally listened to their boys.

“I rang them and said I think you need to go, and they’re like ‘Yeah nah, we’ll just see how it goes’ and then I rang them about two hours later, I rang them at ten o’clock and I rang them at twelve o’clock,” he said.

“Between that timeframe, they’d gone from sitting on the balcony watching everything going on to being in Yea, so it was good that they finally listened.

“They’re living with me at the moment… they’re doing fine, but they couldn’t make it tonight, but I’m going to try them really hard to get them to come next Saturday night.”

Donations quick to pour in

By Callum Ludwig

Community members from Healesville and surrounds have donated in their droves to support communities affected by the fire in Longwood last week.

When Gunther Real Estate, alongside Yarra Valley Images, put the word out on Tuesday night, they couldn’t have anticipated how many donations would arrive at their door by 1pm Friday 16 January.

Yarra Valley Images Krystal Farkashazy, of Buxton, said she had to evacuate from the fires herself but wanted to be able to help out in some way.

“Because I had to evacuate, I couldn’t really help on the line, I couldn’t make the CFA sandwiches or help them get everyone together to put the fires out,” she said.

“So this is our way of thanking them and looking after each other in the community, I think that’s the one thing that has really pulled everyone together when situations like this occur.”

Gunther Real Estate got involved after seeing a post from Ms Farkashazy, who is friends with a former employee as well as having multiple connections to other former employees, their families and regularly travelling to affected areas for work purposes.

Gabriella Gunther said Ms Farkashazy couldn’t go back and forth to pick things up from everyone’s house so they offered to have everyone bring everything to their office.

“We have such a good community, we said everyone bring what you can, if you want to donate anything and here we are, it’s just been nuts,” she said.

“A lot of the feedback and just through chatting with all the people that have brought stuff in has been ‘We lost everything in Black Saturday in ‘09’, they know what it’s like.

“So this is what the result was, which we thought was incredible, we’ve all been through ‘09 so we remember, and it gives me chills thinking about it, so doing what we can for the com-

munity is important.”

Remembering the devastation of Black Saturday, there were even donations that arrived from as far as Dixons Creek, set to be loaded into Ms Farkashazy’s trailer to take up to relief cen-

tres in Yarck and Alexandra.

Ms Farkashazy said she didn’t expect there to be so many donations and they certainly underestimated it.

“I know people who have lost houses, lost sheds and lost hay and even just the number of animals that have been lost,” she said.

“It makes everyone snap back to reality and think ‘Hang on, I’m human, let’s help each other’, it’s back to basics.”

Plenty of non-perishable food, clothing, bedding, personal and hygiene items, farm and fencing supplies and even some children’s toys were donated to deliver to those in need as they look to recover and rebuild from the devastating fires.

Ms Gunther said people had still been calling on Friday morning to bring more, so there may be another donation effort in a couple of weeks if there is more to deliver.

“It’s a terrible way for it to happen but it brings people together and just brings us back to why we live out here, it’s a beautiful community and

I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” she said. “I think it’s unfortunate that it comes to this to bring people together but it has and even the day the fire started, it was sad just just being in town here when everyone was evacuated.”

Cause close to her heart

By Oliver Winn

The Eastern 80 Charity Bike Ride has announced its 2026 ambassador as it gears up for another year of riding for a special cause.

Deni Walker was selected for this year’s fundraiser for the Good Friday Appeal where she’ll act as the “face of the event” due to her experience as a young girl at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Organised by Warburton local Norm Orr, the Eastern 80 is an annual bike ride fundraiser which sees riders fill the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail one day of the year.

The event has come a long way since its inception in 2015 and has raised a whopping $115,000 over the past decade, helping fund the Royal Children’s Hospital to deliver crucial care.

Ms Walker, who is the coach and president of the Warby Weapons Basketball Club, said she was honoured to have been selected as the ambassador as it was a cause close to her heart.

“It’s actually really special. It’s hard to know, particularly beyond finance, how to give back and I feel really grateful to have this opportunity,” Ms Walker said.

Ms Walker was born with several holes in her heart which essentially impacted every facet of her life.

“Because of how hard my heart had to work to kind of compensate for all of that, my heart became enlarged which meant that old blood and new blood would get mixed up with each other.

“I wasn’t getting enough fresh oxygen through my body, so I was getting very tired. Things like exerting myself in the everyday activities of being a little girl was too much for my body to hold.

“Even being excited about being asked to a birthday party was too much for my body to handle,” Ms Walker said.

She wasn’t able to get surgery until she’d grown old enough for her body to withstand the procedure, and at three-years-old, she was the youngest Victorian at the time to receive the sur-

gery.

“I had a plaque in my name in the wing where I had my surgery,” she said.

The basketball coach is almost completely free of any complications, save for some extra caution if she suffers any open wounds.

She called it an honour to embody the story and cause the Eastern 80 is raising money for.

“That honour of being that person on the day to embody a story that people can directly tie a meaning to today’s achievements, I think it’s pretty special.”

Taking place on 21 February at 7.30am, the Eastern 80 is sure to attract hundreds - if not

thousands - of participants and onlookers.

It begins at Cog Cafe in Warburton and an 80 kilometre and 50km riding options are available, while a nine kilometre walk can also be completed. A 30km mountain biking option is also on offer.

Mr Orr said this year’s event will incorporate the new Warburton Bike Park.

“This year one of our local bike shops is going to line up some mountain bike riders so we can have a mountain bike section,” Mr Orr said.

“So that is new, we’re hoping they’ll sign up with us just to help us raise another good total.”

Entrants to the bike ride pay $100 which goes

towards the fundraiser, but Mr Orr said there were payment plans in place for those who can’t afford the fee upfront.

“If say for argument’s sake somebody hasn’t got the $100, if they can get five members of their family to give them $20, I can write out the tax receipt for them.

“So that shares the burden,” Mr Orr said.

The Alpine Hotel has reserved an area for after-ride celebrations, which will see live music, face painting for the kids, lunch and a raffle for the riders, walkers and event supporters. To register for the event, visit trybooking. com/DGATE or call Norm Orr on 0408 592 504.

Summerset Chirnside Park has officially launched and we are excited to announce that our first release of homes are selling off the plan now. Offering a choice of 2, 2.5 and 3 bedroom homes.

Summerset Chirnside Park is a modern village with resort-style facilities that will redefine retirement living, with the reassurance that there will be a residential aged care home onsite.*

For a limited time, you can save on the lease to occupy cost of your home with our Early Bird $20k Cashback offer. Simply sign a sales application for a selected first release home before 31 May 2026 and settle by 30 September 2026.*

Love the life you choose.

Homes selling fast! Book your appointment today to secure your preferred home.

Summerset Chirnside Park

Sales Suite: 273 Manchester Road, Chirnside Park 03 8777 4242 | chirnsidepark.sales@summerset.com.au

Reducing our rubbish

By Gabriella Vukman

Severe fires are not the only environmental threat to the Yarra Ranges.

A group of committed locals has banded together to combat another ecological hazard that hides in plain sight.

This threat is scattered sporadically throughout the Yarra Ranges, harming wildlife and polluting waterways.

This threat is litter. Rubbish. And Cindy de Luca and Kylie Shorter are waging a war against it through the creation of their not-for-profit organisation ‘No Reason for Rubbish.’

What started as a few neighbours with gloves and garbage bags has grown into a fully fledged organisation that is making a real difference across the Yarra Ranges.

Co founder of No Reason 4 Rubbish Kylie Shorter said, “The beauty of No Reason for Rubbish is that it is volunteer led.”

“A lot of people ask ‘do you get paid to do that?’, and we definitely don’t, but anyone can do it,” Ms Shorter said.

“We provide the gloves, and the grabbers, so everybody’s kitted out.”

No Reason for Rubbish was founded in 2020 during Covid by both Kylie and her friend Cindy De Luca.

“Cindy and I bonded over a social media post someone had made mentioning rubbish at Maroondah Dam,” Ms Shorter said.

“We saw each other’s comments on the post and we reached out to each other and formed a Facebook group.

“In the very early days, it was just Cindy and I picking rubbish up during Covid for a few hours a day within a five kilometre radius.”

It wasn’t long before the founders were joined by others. Now the No Reason 4 Rubbish Facebook group has over 600 members, with regulars who turn up every Sunday to collect rubbish together.

Ms Shorter said, “We have been fortunate to have been supported by Bendigo Bank and the Yarra Ranges Council in terms of grant funding.”

“That has helped us buy safety vests, logos, stickers, and rubbish grabbers.

“We have also worked with the council to help with a rubbish dump site. Now we have someone that comes and collects all the rubbish that we collect ourselves.”

In 2025, No Reason for Rubbish received a $500 donation from the Healesville Lion’s Club for equipment, however the organisation is keen on some extra funding and government support.

“It needs to be advocated probably from a government level to put a really good, strong campaign in place. There needs to be a stronger emphasis on waste management,” Ms Shorter said.

“We are just a small volunteer group. We’re just doing what we can, but I think there needs to be a bigger focus on the rubbish. There needs to be a statewide campaign.

“Victoria is no longer the garden state. It is the rubbish state.”

Reflecting on previous years, Ms Shorter has noticed a dramatic increase in rubbish in the last 20 years.

“It doesn’t seem to be like it was maybe 20, 30 years ago,” Ms Shorter said.

“I remember when I was growing up as a kid, we would have to do litter pickups during recess and breaks.

“You had litter monitors, and it was instilled in us as young people that you don’t litter, that’s a bad thing to do. That kind of thing just doesn’t seem to be happening anymore.”

While the Victorian Government has launched an $8.5 million Illegal Dumping Cleanup Rebate Program to help land managers, such as councils and Crown land Committees of Management, clean up waste in public spaces, Ms Shorter believes that the focus should be on educating the public.

According to Ms Shorter the No Reason 4 Rubbish’s focus in 2026 will be on spreading awareness.

“2026, will be a bit more about educating probably our younger generation of people, working a little bit more closely with the Council on different things we can do,” Ms Shorter said.

“We need more cash for cans deposit sites. They just don’t seem to be working very well out here in the Ranges.

“Parks Victoria also needs to look at how they dispose of their rubbish.”

According to Ms Shorter, while Parks Victoria do a surface clean, it is left up to the No Reason 4 Rubbish volunteers to conduct a deep clean of Maroondah Dam and Thatcher Weir, among other areas.

As for 2026, No Reason 4 Rubbish are already planning their ‘Ground Cleanup Australia Day.’ For information on how to volunteer, head to the No Reason 4 Rubbish Facebook Page.

A spokesperson for the Victorian Government told Star Mail “We know illegal dumping is a big issue across Victoria.”

“To catch more people flouting the law and hold them to account, we have boosted funding for EPA to establish the Illegal Dumping Taskforce to ramp up surveillance, compliance and enforcement across Victoria,” they said.

“Everyone has a part to play in preventing waste dumping and littering.”

Studies show that today’s increasing rates of pollution are having catastrophic effects on Victoria’s ecosystems.

According to the Yarra Ranges Council’s Community Waste and Resource Recovery Plan, all kinds of waste including plastics, electronics pose a contamination threat to the natural environment and community health.

At the moment single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, cotton bud sticks, plastic shopping bags and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers were banned from sale and supply in Victoria.

In addition, Rubbish dumping and littering on public land is illegal with the maximum penalty for individuals being $800,000 and, or five years imprisonment.

Outer East “most at risk”

By Callum Ludwig

A new report by the Climate Council and Emergency Leaders for Climate Action has investigated the impact of a Los Angeles-style (LA) bushfire event that hits the outer-metropolitan areas of Australia’s capital cities.

It’s ugly reading for the Outer East, with the region identified in the report as among the most atrisk regions in the country.

Founder of Emergency Leaders for Climate Action Greg Mullins AO ASFM said the findings of the report are deeply concerning.

“Over the past 20 years, outer suburban populations have more than doubled in Melbourne, wputting far more families right where suburbs meet flammable bushland,” he said.

“The report shows places like the Dandenong Ranges are among the most fire-exposed urban areas in the world, and up to 90 per cent of homes in high-risk fire zones were built before modern bushfire standards, leaving communities dangerously exposed.

“The Dandenongs have a long history of major fires, including Ash Wednesday in 1983, and climate change has increased that risk.”

Some of the most concerning findings in the report centre on the Outer East, with the dense forests neighbouring on residential areas in the Dandenong Ranges, Warburton Valley and Warrandyte all identified as the areas under greatest threat in Victoria.

According to the report, insurance prices have increased by 138 per cent in the Yarra Ranges, the most of any LGA in the country and 15 per cent more than nearby Nillumbik, since 2020. This increases the likelihood of underinsurance to cut household costs and means residents can be left financially devastated by a significant fire event. The recent Longwood fire has seen the Victorian government provide $52,000 grants to people whose homes were uninsured and lost in the blaze.

Mr Mullins said insurance premiums have jumped 78 per cent to 138 per cent since 2020 in bushfire-prone LGAs in Sydney, Melbourne and

Perth, and that forces more households to underinsure or go without cover.

“That means a big fire is not just a tragedy, it’s a financial shockwave through families, small businesses and councils,” he said.

“We’ve already seen Black Summer cost the economy an estimated $10 billion, and the bill will keep rising if climate pollution keeps rising.

“The LA fires have also cost Australian families as major insurance shocks increase costs charged by global re-insurers used by the Australian insurance industry.”

The increase in fire-generated thunderstorms, or pyroconvective events, is also evidence of the impacts of climate change on significant fire events. Previously, they were relatively rare with 60 such events recorded in Australia in the 40 years up to 2018 but during Black Summer, there were at least 45 fire-generated thunderstorms. The recent fire at Walwa also was recorded to have generated a thunderstorm.

“Given the long history of major fires and property losses, and the intensifying effect of a hotter climate, fires in these areas can be unstoppable, moving too fast and burning too hot for any fire

service to control, especially where dense forest meets streets and back fences,” Mr Mullins said.

“We are also seeing more fires that generate their own violent weather, including fire thunderstorms like those on Black Saturday 2009, that can throw embers and lightning well ahead of the main front.

“In Los Angeles, a modern city with well-resourced fire services, more than 16,000 structures were lost in a single firestorm when extreme wind, drought and urban sprawl collided.”

Despite being in the middle of winter in January 2025, the firestorm in LA killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures despite a very well-resourced fire department doing their best to combat the blaze.

The record dryness, non-arrival of a typical annual wet season and wind gusts up to 160 km/h contributed to the disaster, which the report argues are evidence of the impact of climate pollution and not dissimilar to the extrme fire conditons experienced in Australia.

Mr Mullins said they have three priorities for improving resilience to bushfire.

“Cut climate pollution from coal, oil and gas, because burning more fossil fuels is like pouring petrol on the fire,” he said.

“Second, make homes and neighbourhoods harder to burn: targeted retrofits for older houses, safer planning at the urban fringe, and clear evacuation options and refuges that can cope on the worst days.

“Third, boost frontline capacity at the edges of our cities with more local crews, land management staff, and better warnings and hazard reduction burning, because these are the growth corridors now in the firing line.”

According to the report, the growth in populations for outer-metropolitan areas like the Outer East also presents significant risk, with the figure having more than doubled in Melbourne in the past two decades and more than 6.9 million Australians now living where suburbs meet the bush.

A large number of these people may also be living in homes that are not built to bushfire-resilient standards, just like many in LA. 90 per cent of Australian homes in high-risk fire zones were also built before modern bushfire standards existed, increasing their chances of ignition due to ember attack and house-to-house fire spread.

Mr Mullins said climate pollution is driving more explosive fire conditions and more frequent serious fire seasons in Victoria.

“This increases the risk of bad fires turning disastrous, just like Victorians experienced over the past week when intense fire weather hit. The old rules no longer apply,” he said.

“Fire seasons are longer, fires are behaving more violently and erratically, and warmer nights often rob firefighters of the cooler conditions they once relied on to control blazes. We cannot keep expanding into risk and then act surprised when disaster hits.

“Protecting lives on the fringe of cities and large rural centres means turning off the tap on climate pollution, and better preparing communities and emergency services for the more frequent and intense fire weather we are already living with.”

Cherry Tree Grove has undergone a remarkable transformation, with refurbished community spaces and amenities, setting a new standard for retirement living.

Experience a lifestyle filled with connection, convenience, and comfort with a lively social calendar, and easy access to local shops, public transport, and recreational hubs.

Choose from a selection of retirement homes with the flexibility to pay for services as needed, giving you peace of mind now and into the future.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT $7k to support collective

By Callum Ludwig

The Yarra Ranges Queer Youth Writers Collective (QYWC) formed in 2025 and is making a return this year for keen young writers in the LGBTQIA+ community.

The group has also received a $7000 grant from the Youth Affairs Couincil’s latest round of Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) grants to help facilitate their activities this year.

Workshop facilitator Sophia Thomas said this year’s grant will go towards the young people making their own workshops and leading group sessions, as well as four author sessions.

“We started with an expression of interest to find out what the prospective participants wanted to talk about, and where they wanted it to be and I established a connection with Mooroolbark Library to set up as a home base, with satellite sessions at Healesville and Belgrave,” she said.

“The Yarra Ranges Council Youth team supported me throughout the process, and for me to lead the first session, we had a local zine group run by young people lead a session about zines, and another group member led two sessions about character design.

“Last year was my first time leading a group and workshop, this program has helped me and other young people to build the skills and confidence to talk about our creative practice and teach others.”

Throughout 2025, QYWC participants has opportunities to lead workshops and activities, with sessions on zine making by a local zine group, two sessions on character design by a group member, mini-presentations from everyone in the group about themselves as writers before two editing sessions at the end of the year to refine their stories with the help of a member of the Voiceworks Editorial Committee.

Ms Thomas said having a regular LGBTQIA+

group has helped create a sense of community.

“Learning and writing together has increased their motivation and skills to write, increasing their wellbeing through enjoyment and fulfillment,” she said.

“We had five author sessions last year, these really helped connect us to the local queer writing community, as well as learning from professionals, our author sessions covered talking about identity, giving and receiving feedback, writing about queer history and editing our work.

“Our authors also gave us reading recommendations and let us know of project opportunities like the Emerging Writers Festival and Voiceworks.”

Ms Thomas combined the young people’s stories into an anthology and printed as a zine/ booklet and the group ended the year with a cel-

ebration where they sat and read each other’s stories.

Ms Thomas said the sessions follow a loose structure of around two to three activities with a lot of discussion.

“The first session we started with an icebreaker of ‘What’s our favourite book or genre?’, we then discussed our favourite aspects of stories and wrote them down and made a collaborative list, and by the end, we came up with our own prompts or blurb using words from the list to write a story about,” she said.

“I also ran a session on comics/graphic narrative, we started with a discussion about storyboards and beat sheets, about how they are used to outline and show important story moments and then took a paragraph from our own stories and separated it into ‘beats’ or actions, and drew

a grid of panels to separate these actions out.

“I talked about how panel length and height can convey a sense of time, as well as the gutter in between, we discussed how we can put emphasis on certain moments using this technique, and had a go laying out a page of panels.”

In 2026, the group intends to run more collaborative sessions where multiple group members run activities, lead discussion or give presentations.

Ms Thomas said it doesn’t matter where you are at with your writing, the group is all about learning from each other and having time and space to write.

“Additionally it doesn’t matter whether you write non-fiction, plays, fantasy etc, we can have discussions about different writing forms, and see about getting an author to run a workshop on it,” she said.

“Or if you want to, you can run an activity or workshop teaching the group about it, or workshopping your writing.”

The HEY grants have been supporting community-led projects by young LGBTQIA+ Victorians for 15 years, with 15 initiatives sharing in $100,000 this year.

“We’re building a Victoria where everyone is welcome and celebrated - these grants are supporting young LGBTIQA+ Victorians to live their best lives,” said Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt

“These projects help ensure LGBTIQA+ young people feel safe, supported and empowered in their communities,” Minister for Equality Vicki Ward said.

By Tanya Steele

Cafe owner and operator from ‘Cafe Have ya Bean’ in Upwey, Paul had a bit of a surprise in store when a regular work day saw an Aussie icon pop in for a casual lunch on Monday 12 January.

Gary ‘Angry’ Anderson was out in the Dandenong Ranges this week, much to the delight of locals and was spotted taking in a relaxed lunch at a local cafe while he was there.

The Australian rock singer, songwriter, television personality and actor has been the lead vocalist and longest remaining member of the hard rock band Rose Tattoo since 1976.

Best known for his international hit “Suddenly” from 1987, as a solo artist, he happily posed for a photo with Paul, chatting to the cafe owner towards the end of his visit.

“He was a really nice, genuine bloke,” said Paul.

Initially busy working, Paul said he hadn’t realised who the celebrity was, noticing him towards the end of a busy lunch rush and said the younger staff certainly didn’t clock who Mr Anderson was.

“They had no idea,” he said.

The shared pictures by the cafe on social media read “Look who rock n’ rolled in to Cafe

Have Ya Bean yesterday.”

“The legend himself, Angry Anderson from Rose Tattoo.”

It was back to business as usual after the Angry left and despite having seen a number of local legends stroll through his cafe doors, Paul said he’d never had anyone quite so famous pop in for lunch before.

“It made my day, that’s for sure,” he said on a quick phone call to the Star Mail later that week.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Cloud Time floating locally

By Gabriella Vukman

You can feel the space even before you cross its threshold.

It is almost like a grandparent’s kitchen, or a meditation circle. The cloud time exhibition certainly has a warm, zen feel to it.

Local artists Mandy Pickett and Amanda Ruck have come together to create an exhibition that explores the questions: ‘How do we respond to and care for each other during times of crisis and conflict?’ and, ‘How can we maintain inner peace, social cohesion and deeper connections within our natural environments, public spaces and communities?’

The exhibition merges various practices, including dance, circus, physical theatre, painting, projection, film, storytelling, poetry, digital art, and soundscapes.

Project Manager and artist Mandy Pickett said, “This project has been quite a while in the making and it’s evolved into various versions.”

“It has been exciting to finally have it up and running here in the gallery space,” Ms Pickett said.

“In this exhibition, I am particularly focussed on our relationship with the environment.”

Tree imagery and artist Amanda Ruck’s paintings of vast cloudy sea scapes line the walls of the gallery.

Ms Pickett said, “I have been inspired by Amanda’s work for a long time, but as a performing artist, I was really looking for a way to involve my visual art.”

“I started having dreams of dancing in the sky and then I imagined myself in Amanda’s paint-

ings, flying and dancing.”

“I knew what I was going to do then.”

The concept of ‘Cloud Time’ wherein one sits down and gazes up at the sky, also informs this exhibition.

“Taking yourself into another space is really what we are trying to do with this exhibition,” Ms Pickett said.

“We want to practice and explore how we can

bring ourselves into a space that is present, and our own, but it is also more than that. It is the power of the imagination” she said.

The Cloud Time exhibition is also about collaboration and the sharing of community and personal insight.

In collaboration with the community, both Ms Pickett and Ms Ruck will be constantly creating an evolving installation in the gallery space. Visitors are welcome to contribute their own

items to the exhibit as time passes, providing for an immersive and sensory experience.

“And I focus on, in this exhibition I’m particularly focussing on our relationship with the environment,” Ms Pickett said.

“I want to know how we relate to nature and how we relate to and care for each other,” she said.

“Anyone can come in and share how they nurture themselves. The space is all about that.”

Ms Pickett will be performing in the exhibition, and will venture outside onto the streets of Healesville for some experimental pop-up art installations.

The Cloud Time exhibition will be on display at the Memo in Healesville from 8 January until 29 March.

Open hours are from Tuesday 5 to 9pm, Wednesday 12 to 9pm, Thursday 12 to 4pm, Friday 12 to 9pm, Saturday 12 to 9pm and Sunday 12pm to 4pm.

Phoenix’s queer Naarm photography exhibition is here

By Oliver Winn

Warburton-based photographer Suzanne Phoenix’s biggest exhibition yet will showcase 13 years of Melbourne’s queer community at the Midsumma Festival.

The Queer Naarm exhibition takes place from 20 January to 1 February at the SOL Gallery in Fitzroy, where 50 photos act as a celebration of queer identity and history.

Ms Phoenix said the body of work documented Melbourne’s biggest queer events and the strong culture within them.

“From 2013 to 2025 I’ve been documenting some of the biggest queer events in Melbourne over that period of time, including Pride March and Midsumma Festival and Victoria’s Pride Street Party,” she said.

“It feels pretty exciting and it feels a bit nerve-wracking as well.”

Ms Phoenix released a book for the exhibition and was also nominated for the Midsumma Art Award.

The exhibition depicts colourful scenes of unfiltered joy and people expressing themselves freely, surrounded by likeminded people and shielded from the hate and discrimination the LGBTQIA+ communities are often subject to.

There’s certainly a sense of freedom throughout the series. Exaltation beams from the faces of those pictured, not bothered by gender conventions.

The extravagant outfits worn are a fashion statement as much as they are an act of resistance. From risque fetish fashion to the defiant drag wear, the outfits themselves represent physical freedom.

Ms Phoenix said it was crucial to have the consent of those pictured.

“The main thing that I photograph is people in these scenarios. It’s all about people, so consent is really important to me. It’s really just representing them and putting them out into the world,” she said.

“I’m excited because these photos are people showing amazing sides of themselves and that they’re happy for those to be put out into the world.”

When the State Library Victoria approached Ms Phoenix to acquire her esteemed International Women’s Day (IWD) series, they were

also interested in her documentation of queer communities in Melbourne.

“Rather than the photographer not being part of that community and just documenting from outside, one of the boxes I ticked was they really wanted the artist to be part of the community they were documenting,” she said.

After reviewing the initial 2000 photographs, the State Library settled on a final cut of 50 photographs which make up the exhibition.

Ms Phoenix identifies as queer herself and when she moved to Warburton in 2013, she would regularly travel back into the suburbs to attend queer events tp strengthen her connection with her own community.

“There’s multiple reasons why I go to the

events but certainly being able to connect and be part of something much bigger, which doesn’t happen a lot out here.

“It definitely was a way for me to be part of a community.”

The exhibition teems with positivity and Ms Phoenix said a lot of the photos are in moments of celebration.

“When I watched someone go through the book the other day, they laughed and certainly a smile was on their face most of the time. I think the work creates an uplifting feeling,” she said.

“The marriage equality rally was probably not celebration, it’d been a hard week for everyone.

“But even in those photos I think they’re

showing strength and they’re positive images,” Ms Phoenix said.

Iconic figures of the queer community are also seen, such as Australian drag artist Reuben Kaye and the much-loved Miss Candee who sadly died in 2022.

With one of Ms Phoenix’s photos being nominated for the Midsumma Art Award, the Warburton photographer is hopeful she’ll take home the prize.

“It’s one of the things I’ve long hoped one day I’d be in, I’ve applied for submissions for years and years and years, so I was very excited as this is the first time [I’ve been nominated],” Ms Phoenix said.

AUSTRALIA DAY

Citizens will be celebrated

With Australia’s national day fast approaching, Yarra Ranges Council is preparing to name and award excelling community members for their achievements and contributions, while also welcoming new citizens to the municipality.

For more than 20 years the council has presented community-nominated and driven awards to people and groups who have shown leadership, commitment and been a role model.

“Each year on Australia Day, we present awards to community members who are outstanding in serving their communities through volunteering, leadership and environmental action, following our Citizenship Ceremony,” council’s corporate services acting director Kim O’Connor said.

“Nominations are reviewed by a panel including the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and a delegate from the CEO. Council has a selection criteria document and all nominations are checked against this for eligibility.”

Mr O’Connor said the quality of nominations each year makes for a difficult process in deciding who receives a Community Award.

“We regularly receive brilliant nominations, for community members doing tremendous work. Unfortunately, we can only select a few each year for an award,” he said.

“But we thank all community members who nominated someone who gives back to their communities.”

The awards distributed fall under seven categories, commending individuals and groups from

across the shire.

These are Citizen of Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Environmental Achiever of the Year, Young Environmental Achiever, Community Group of the Year, Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Ian De La Rue Award for Community Leadership.

On the same day, a group of people are officially acknowledged and welcomed as citizens of Australia, a special and emotional moment for many.

“This day is celebrated by people who are proud to receive their citizenship, and we’re proud to bestow it upon them.”

While this is just one of the citizenship ceremonies held throughout the year, Australia Day is a proud day for new citizens.

“Our Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony, like our other Citizenship Ceremonies through the year, follows a legislated guideline from the Department of Home Affairs.

“Following the ceremony, conferees - who have just taken their pledge and received their citizenship formally - will have a morning tea with our Mayor, Councillors and Local MPs.”

Due to limitations on numbers, the awards and citizenship ceremony is invite only but news of awardees will be shared via Yarra Ranges Council and the Star Mail soon after.

“We look forward to sharing the award winners with the community on Australia Day, and welcoming our new citizens.”

AUSTRALIA DAY

Free family fun on for all

On Monday 26 January the Rotary Club of Wandin’s Free Family Fun Day will take place at the Wandin North Recreation Reserve.

All are welcome to attend and the event will run from 11am to 4pm.

This year’s Australia Day event is set to be bigger and better than ever with some exciting new activities to keep everybody entertained.

Expect a jam-packed day of free ice creams, free coffee, free sausage sizzle and free face painting, along with all your favourite activities, plus some exciting new additions (think silent disco, mini golf, a dunking machine, and more!).

The Free Family Fun Day is also sponsored by the Wandin-Seville Community Bank.

GP bulk-billing on the up

By Callum Ludwig

Healthcare directory Cleanbill’s first Blue Report since the Australian Government expanded the bulk-billing incentive to non-concession patients has been released.

The government’s decision appears to be vindicated with the report finding that over 40 per cent of GP clinics nationwide are fully bulkbilling.

Cleanbill chief executive James Gillespie said they were able to collect data for 6877 GP clinics across the country and compare thepricing and availability data against the same data that have collected over the last few years.

“What we’ve seen, at least in the headline findings, it is a significant uptick in the number of fully bulk billing GP clinics across the country, in fact, the proportion of fully bulk billing GP clinics across the country has almost doubled since last year, which is a massive increase.

“We’ve also seen a surge in average out-ofpocket costs so if you’re not able to go and see one of the 40 per cent of GP clinics across the country that are fully bulk billing, your average out-ofpocket costs have increased substantially over the last year as well.”

In the three years prior, Cleanbill found bulkbilling rates had been on a steady decline from 35.1 per cent in 2023 to 24.2 per cent in 2024 and 20.7 per cent in 2025.

The government incentive appears to have helped address bulk-billing rates in ‘deserts’ such as Tasmania, where a third of clinics are now bulk-billing (37 throughout the state) compared to none last year, while the Northern Territory rose 47.6 per cent to 57.1 per cent of clinics.

Victoria experienced a 24.5 per cent rise to 43.6 per cent of clinics bulk-billing, while Western Australia (19.8 per cent, up 13.6 per cent) and the Australian Capital Territory (11.5 per cent, up 8.2

per cent) are the only states or territories with a bulk-billing rate below 20 per cent.

Mr Gillespie said it’s an encouraging sign and they’re always keen to see there being more bulk billing on the ground.

“With Tasmania it’s a really interesting case study, Tasmania and the Northern Territory as well, in that we’ve often seen these less urbanised jurisdictions with higher increases in fully bulk billing proportions when compared with more urbanised jurisdictions like WA and the ACT,” he said.

“The Northern Territory and Tasmania saw two of the highest increases in the proportion of fully bulk billing clinics, and they are almost entirely made up of rural and regional areas, whereas you compare that to the ACT which is entirely made up of metro and WA where a large proportion of the clinics are concentrated in metro areas and for those jurisdictions you’ve seen some of the lowest increases in proportion of fully bulk billing clinics.

“That’s an interesting reflection on how the incentive changes are playing out amongst clinics across the country.”

Minister for Health Mark Butler was asked about the report in an interview with ABC Radio National, and despite previously holding and maintaining a view that Cleanbill’s data ‘should not be relied upon’, said if there are other parts of the country that also are finding it difficult to see levels of bulk billing that we enjoy in other parts of the country, then they’re open to looking at intervention.

“It’s really hard to tell why ACT clinics charge such high gap fees and have such low bulk billing rates compared, for example, to Western Sydney where it’s pretty expensive to find property and run a business, but they have bulk billing rates over 95 per cent,” he said.

“That’s why we’ve decided to intervene in the

market in the ACT and to support the establishment of a number of new general practices which bulk bill all of their patients, because we frankly think there needs to be more competition in a market like that.

“Since 1 November, only 10 weeks or so ago when that record investment took effect, more than 1200 general practices across the country have moved from charging gap fees, which is what they were doing just in October, to bulk billing all of their patients all of the time and that number of general practices is increasing every day.”

Nationally, Cleanbill found the average out-ofpocket cost rose 13.5 per cent up to $49.23, likely impacted by lower-charging clinics being those most likely to make the switch to fully-bulk billing. The same figures applied to Victoria a rise of 14.7 per cent, up to $48.18.

Mr Gillespie said noticing this, they also completed an analysis that controlled for these changes.

“We removed all the clinics that have become fully bulk billing in 2026 from our 2025 numbers and then recalculated our 2025 numbers so that we were effectively doing it on the same clinic spaces and only seeing the average out of pocket cost increase for clinics that have remained private or mixed billing over both years that we’ve been considering them,” he said.

“What we found is that there was still a 6.8 per cent increase in average out of pocket costs over the course of 2025, which is a fairly substantial increase, even over and above what we regularly see, the increase between 2024 and 2025 was only 4.1 per cent.

“So it’s partly due to that statistical difference, but also it’s partly due to the reality on the ground.”

Mr Butler was also asked about this in the interview with ABC Radio National.

“That’s always been the case, and gap fees have been rising for several years, which is exactly why we’ve put this focus on increasing bulk billing rates,” Mr Butler said.

“We want to make sure that as many Australians as possible feel able to go to a GP when they need to rather than when they feel they can afford to.

“Yes, those gap fees have been increasing for years now, that’s precisely why we’re putting such an effort and such significant investment into turning bulk-billing rates around.”

6877 clinics were included in Cleanbill’s data collection, while 286 clinics did not respond, which has been a criticism of the health minister.

Cleanbill will release an electorate breakdown of the data collection later in the year and Mr Gillespie said it will be really interesting to see how these newly fully bulk billing clinics across the country stack up in different areas, as well as see how many clinics retain bulk-billing in 2026.

“What’s been really interesting is over the course of this collection period, our researchers and callers have come across clinics saying that they had switched to fully bulk billing, but that they were only doing so for a 6 to 12 month trial period,” he said.

“Each of these clinics has to make the decision on their own billing based on the economic factors that they’re facing, and their perception of those…which makes it very, very difficult to predict how many clinics will take up these changes in future, how many will hold on to them, and how many will drop them.

“Now, we don’t have exact numbers on that, but the fact that we were hearing it at all means that there’s still some uncertainty amongst clinics as to what the impact of these changes will be on their bottom line, and so as a result, uncertainty as to where we’re going to see these numbers go in future.”

Discovering Dunedin

By Kylie Mitchell-Smith TRAVEL WRITER/PODCASTER

www.travellingsenorita.com

Having explored the tourist meccas of the South Island of New Zealand (Queenstown and Christchurch) I thought it was time to venture further afield and head to the more hidden gem that is Dunedin in the Southeastern region of Otago.

Dunedin often likened to a mini-Edinburgh (the Edinburgh of the south), complete with Scottish vibes, the four seasons in one day weather and even it’s own castle. And that was our first stop on our ‘Discover Dunedin’ itinerary - Larnach Castle perched high in the hills above Otago Harbour.

The surrounding Peninsula is a hilly slither of volcanic land, abundant in flora and fauna – a place to see Sea Lions and Penguins and one of the few accessible places where Albatross nest.

Larnach Castle is like stepping back in time and swapping hemispheres. Commissioned in 1871 by local character William Larnach, the castle is a gothic masterpiece with plenty of stories to tell. The property was derelict for quite some time after William’s passing with a New Zealand couple - the Barkers – buying it in 1967 and bringing it back to life.

The library and dining hall host long table dinners showcasing all the South Island has to offer. While the tastefully decorated stable and lodge accommodation offers breathtaking views across the harbour. There’s also a garden cafe and exquisite grounds to wander making the castle a true ode to the past.

Following our tour we check into Distinctiona downtown hotel in the centre of the city before we head out again to admire the colourful murals that adorn the streets. We wander the high street and devour a classic cheese roll at Good Oil Cafe, a locals juice at Buster Greens and a hearty pub meal at Speights Ale House. We are getting the sense that this city is all about bakeries and breweries.

The next day we plan a trip on the Taieri Gorge Train. The train leaves from the Dunedin Railway Station – one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. Built in 1906 it’s famed for its renaissance architecture. The train takes us across Otago’s sweeping countryside, with towering viaducts and the gushing Taieri River below-while the onboard storyteller recounts tales of a gold rush era. As the sun sets over Otago Harbour, we take a

short trip to the surf beaches, stopping at St Clair for Cocktails at Piccolo, Pasta at the Esplanade and Dessert at Sorello-housed in an iconic beachfront location. We stroll along the promenade and admire the locals as they brave the newly opened (heated) saltwater pools.

The next day we jump on our trusty e-bikes and take on the newly opened bike and pedestrian path that follows the harbour to Port Chalmers, a quaint port town. From there we book a water (bike) taxi across the harbour to pretty Portobello, passing Quarantine and Goat Island along the way.

Lunch is served at the local Portobello Pub, fresh Blue Cod and chips washed down with a local Speights ale and Central Otago wine, which really hit the spot. After lunch we cycle up the road to a new farm gate cafe, Augustine, for the tastiest of scones with lashings of berry jam and local cream.

We take in the sights of the University of Otago - billed as a leader in education it ranks in the top 200 Universities in the world. There’s a vibrant student population living on the outskirts which has attracted cafes like Strictly Coffee - a roaster with one of the best brews around.

We take a bespoke tour to the tip of the Otago Peninsula with local guides, Clearwater Wildlife Tours. Walking through a working farm to the rugged clifftops and pristine beach of Cape Saunders, spotting sealions and yellow-eyed penguins along the way.

A trip to Dunedin isn’t complete without a visit to the Otago Farmers Markets, held each Saturday in the carpark adjacent to the railway station. We taste Dunedin Craft Distillers Gin made from bread scraps and sample a delicious Short Black chocolate from local makers Ocho (Otago Chocolate Company).

Rug up and discover the delights of Dunedin, it’s the ideal stopover to explore the South Island, with direct flights from the East Coast it’s fast becoming the next ‘go to’ New Zealand destination.

EAT-

• Larnach Castle dining

• Portobello Hotel

• Piccolo St Clair

• Noble Dunedin

PLAY-

• Speight’s brewery tour

• Clear Water Wildlife Tours

• Tairi Gorge Train

• Otago Farmers Market

STAY-

• Larnach Lodge

• Distinction Hotel

The last great wilderness

The Kimberley - Discover Australia’s Last Great Wilderness with PONANT Explorations

While Australia’s east coast is celebrated for its beachside cities and lush coastal landscapes, another side of the country awaits that is wilder, more remote and profoundly humbling. To the far north-west lies the Kimberley region, a vast ancient landscape shaped by time, tide and story. For travellers seeking something beyond the expected, PONANT Explorations invites you to this extraordinary frontier in unmatched style.

PONANT Explorations’ Australia’s Iconic Kimberley expedition offers one of the most seamless and enriching ways to experience the region. This all-inclusive, small-ship journey brings together expert-led exploration, rare access and refined comfort aboard the elegant vessels Le Jacques Cartier or Le Soleal. With just 184 or 264 passengers respectively, you’ll enjoy an experience that feels personal, immersive and effortlessly curated for you.

Sailing from June to September in 2026 and 2027 between Darwin and Broome (or reverse), this 10-night voyage reveals a land of towering gorges, powerful rivers and cultural significance dating back tens of thousands of years. You’ll explore the dramatic King George River, cruising by Zodiac beneath sheer sandstone cliffs to witness the thunderous Mitchell Falls, one of the Kimberley’s most awe-inspiring natural spectacles. Along the way, you may even be surprised by a signature Champagne moment on the river; a distinct touch to elevate your adventure.

What truly sets PONANT Explorations apart is access. Guided by onboard expedition leaders, naturalists and local Indigenous experts, you’ll gain privileged entry to ancient First Nations rock art sites, including the sacred Gwion Gwion paintings, estimated to be more than 12,000 years old.

These moments of connection that are quiet, respectful and deeply moving will transform your journey from sightseeing into genuine discovery.

Each day brings a new perspective on this untamed coastline: navigating the crocodile-rich waterways of the Hunter River, drifting through the remote Montebello Islands, or exploring secluded reefs and waterfalls inaccessible by land. Zodiac landings and small-group excursions ensure an intimate encounter with the environment, while the

ship remains your constant sanctuary of comfort.

Onboard, PONANT’s signature French-inspired hospitality elevates every moment, offering the perfect balance of refined yet relaxed service. Enjoy gastronomy across two restaurants, including alfresco poolside dining under the balmy Kimberley sky. The experience is complemented by inclusive beverages, elegant staterooms (with room service if you’d like to enjoy breakfast on your private balcony) and a serene onboard spa of-

fering Clarins or Sothys treatments to refresh and unwind after a day of exploration.

The Kimberley may be close to home, but it feels worlds away. With PONANT Explorations, this great wilderness unfolds in a way that is seamless and deeply meaningful, where true luxury lies not just in comfort but in the privilege of rare access and the thrill of being completely in awe. For bookings and enquiries please contact Exclusively Cruising on 03 9762 2799.

Iconic Experiences, Expertly Escorted

Full day Barossa Valley tour with lunch and wine tastings including: Saltram wine estate, lunch and wine tasting at Lambert Estate, visit to Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, photo stop at Menglers Hill Lookout, vineyard tour & wine tasting at Jacob’s Creek visitor centre, stop at Beerenberg Farm, and free time in Hahndorf to explore the historic German settlement

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, and Flinders Chase

National Park

Full-Board River Elegance

3 night Murray River cruise on board PS Murray

Princess with all meals and sightseeing

Tour of Murray River Bridge and historic Roundhouse

Guided nature walk of Salt Bush Flat

Taste Riverland food and wine

Dragon-Fly flat-bottomed boat wildlife tour

Hand-Picked Hotel Stays

3 nights four-star hotel stay in Adelaide with breakfast

1 night four-star hotel stay in Kangaroo Island with breakfast, lunch and dinner

2 day Kangaroo Island tour including: Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, Clifford’s Honey Farm, In-Flight Birds of Prey Display at Raptor Domain, Seal Bay Conservation Park guided beach walk, lunch at Emu Bay Lavender Farm,

All Flights, Taxes & Transfers

Army Duck tour of the rainforest

service and entertainment Iconic Experiences, Expertly Escorted Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway tour including^: Kuranda Village, Rainforestation Nature Park, Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, Tropical Fruit Orchard, Dreamtime Walk, Koala and Wildlife Park, and Amphibious

‘Reef Magic’ Great Barrier Reef cruise, including: Airconditioned catamaran transfers, 4 hours of reef time, marine life touch tank, underwater observatory, and fish feeding presentations

Hand-Picked Hotel Stays

1 night four-star hotel stay in Brisbane at the Amora Hotel Brisbane

5 night four-star hotel stay in Cairns at the Crystalbrook Bailey

All hotel stays include breakfast

All Flights & Taxes

EUROPEAN SOJOURN

Amsterdam

From

GRAND EUROPEAN TOUR

Budapest to Amsterdam or vice versa

15 DAYS • 4 COUNTRIES • 12 GUIDED TOURS

SET SAIL • MAR-NOV 2026; APR-NOV 2027; MAY-DEC 2028

From $8,895pp in Standard Stateroom From $12,995pp in Veranda Stateroom

PASSAGE TO EASTERN EUROPE

Budapest to Bucharest or vice versa

11 DAYS • 5 COUNTRIES • 8 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL • MAR-NOV 2026; MAR-NOV 2027; MAR-NOV 2028

From $7,195pp in Standard Stateroom From $9,095pp in Veranda Stateroom

COMMUNITY COURSE GUIDE

All set and ready to go

We’re back and ready to go for Term One! Will you join us?

There are some new activities we are offering this term. We have a series of free craft workshops on Tuesdays, including Papercraft, Faux Stained Glass, Quilling, Reimagined craft from recycled goods, paper cutting designs and beading. Book in quick as there are limited places.

Starting on 10 February, we will have Begin-

ner’s Rock ‘n’ Roll and Jive, 6-7pm. By popular demand Creative Arts – Oil Painting with Leigh will be back, a Nervous System Workshop with Eliza and Beginner’s Watercolour with Anne.

Exercise classes have expanded to two classes on Fridays, with the first class at 10am and second at 11am.

The Lilydale & District Historical Society

will again be facilitating a guided tour, this time on the history of Melba Park. $10 with all proceeds going to the society. EACH will be coming along to provide an information session about their Financial Counselling Services, and Bunnings Lilydale will be holding a Garden Talk including Q&A.

All the usual programs are back again, including our popular Soup & Stories, Table Tennis, Singing Circle and Cooking for One and

Lilydale Community House

We offer a variety of classes, workshops and social activities at low cost or no cost Our activities forTERM 1, 2026 startingTuesday 27 January

more. There will also be an additional Table Tennis session on Friday afternoons from 2-4pm, please call us for further information. All activities can be found and booked through the website: www.lilydalech.org.au or phone 7036 6813 for details and enquiries. Programs can also be picked up from Lilydale Community House at 7 Hardy Street, Lilydale.

MONDAYS

Paint, Draw, Create, Explore

10.30–12.30pm Gold coin donation

Soup & Stories

11am–1pm FREE

Make soup together and eat together

CreativeArts - Oil Painting (4 weeks)

February 2, 9, 16, 23, 1–3pm Cost: $100 Join Leigh to learn how to paint in oils. Materials supplied.

Qi Gong & Tai Chi

6.30–8pm. $15 a session, pay on the night.

TUESDAYS (except March 10)

Craft Workshops Varying times and dates – FREE – see website

Table Tennis

1–3pm. Gold coin donation

Beginner’s Linedancing

Join Duree to learn to linedance. 4–5pm $10 a session

Beginner’s Rock ‘n’Roll & Jive

JoinAnn to learn to R ‘n’R and Jive! 6–7pm $10 a session

WEDNESDAYS

Nervous System Workshop 18 February 7–8.30pm. Cost: $10 Understanding the nervous system and how it impacts your body and its regulation.

THURSDAYS

Step & Connect Women’s Social Walks

Group leaves the House 9.30am sharp. Return for a cuppa. FREE Cooking for One

February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5. 11am–1pm Cost: $50 for 5 weeks.

The Singing Circle

Join Barb for singing and laughter each week. 1.30–3.00pm. $10 per session. Pay on the day.

FRIDAYS

Exercise for OlderAdults (Class 1) 10–10.45am. $10 a session.

Exercise for OlderAdults (Class 2) 11–11.45am. $10 a session.

SATURDAYS

Beginner’s Watercolour (4 weeks)

February 7, 14, 21, 28 9.30am–12pm Cost: $110

TALKS

History Walk Guided Tour – Melba Park Tuesday 24 February. $10 (all proceeds go to the Historical Society) Meet: Lilydale

Community HouseTime: 10.30am.

7 Hardy Street Lilydale | Ph: 7036 6813 Website: www.lilydalech.org.au

EACH - Financial Counselling Services

Thursday 19 February

Information sessionTime: 11.00–12.00pm

Garden Talk – Bunnings

Tuesday 5 March

Information sessionTime: 10.00–11.00am

Coming March 10

RSPCAlow cost clinic

More details to come.

TALKING CAFE

Wednesdays at 2pm @Hendriks, 54 John Street, Lilydale

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

1 Spiritualists’ meeting (6)

Tramp (8) 9 Elicit (5)

10 Accept reluctantly (9) 11 Gather piecemeal (5) 12 Talents (9) 13 Tollway (8) 15 Lifts balloon (3,3)

16 Help (6)

18 Emblem of Islam (8)

23 Relating to the body (9)

24 Low woody plant (5)

26 Hosiery (9)

27 Person of English ancestry (5)

28 Astonishment (8)

29 At one (6)

1 Dexterity (7) 2 Dwelling (5) 3 Make a big profit (5,2) 5 Pronounce not guilty (6) 6 Japanese emperor from 1989–2019 (7) 7 Stubborn (9) 8 Sideboard (7) 10 Startled, disconcerted (5) 14 Storage tank (9)

16 Charges (7)

17 Cue sport (7)

19 Guidelines (5)

20 Support (7)

21 Forbidden (7)

22 Sport (6)

25 Just (5)

Hamnet deserved better

The 83rd Golden Globes took place on January 12, and I have mixed feelings about the results.

Nikki Glaser hosted the ceremony for the second time this year, and once again did an excellent job, delivering plenty of biting, risque humour without being too mean.

My favourite gags were Glaser comparing Sean Penn to a ‘sexy leather handbag’, poking fun at Leonardo Di Caprio’s trend of very young girlfriends, and a naughty pun I can’t repeat here about Michael B. Jordan in Sinners.

Stellan Skarsgärd won Best Supporting Actor as Gustav in Sentimental Value, and his charming acceptance speech espoused the magic of cinemas, where the lights go down and you ‘share the pulse’ of the rest of the audience.

Teyana Taylor won Best Supporting Actress for One Battle After Another, but I wish Amy Madigan from Weapons or Elle Fanning from Sentimental Value won instead.

Taylor is alluring and terrifying as the unhinged revolutionary Perfidia, and is the counterpart of fellow psychopath Colonel Lockjaw (Penn), but Madigan and Fanning have a greater presence in their films and portray more interesting characters.

As the witch aunt Gladys, Madigan’s doddery, even goofy moments give way to horrifying sadism, but she retains a weary, vulnerable aura. Fanning is a very talented actress, so as Rachel Kemp in Sentimental Value, she does a great job roleplaying as a kinda bad actress, with an engaging arc of deeper emotional understanding.

One Battle After Another won the most Globes (four): Supporting Actress for Taylor, Best Screenplay and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, and Best Picture, Comedy/Musical.

One Battle After Another is a very good film that I don’t like: it’s highly-suspenseful and full of dry humour, but a very harsh film in which even the ideologically good guys are egotistical jerks.

Bugonia took home nothing, and while it’s also a dark film that I have problems with, it’s much funnier (which is important for a Comedy category) and the cutthroat CEO and conspiracy theorist abductor main characters are somehow less hateable.

While it hadn’t come out yet in Australia when the Golden Globes aired, I wish Hamnet, in hindsight, had come out ahead of One Battle After Another, although two Globes — Best Actress for Jessie Buckley and Best Picture, Drama — are nothing to sneeze at.

Based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet dramatises the life of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), his wife Agnes (Buckley), and how the tragic death of their son Hamnet informed Shakespeare’s iconic play Hamlet.

Presented mostly from Agnes’s perspective, Hamnet is an achingly moving portrait of love, loss and healing through art. Buckley is a captivating lead of sorrowful resolve and earthen wis-

Democracy without freedom of speech?

dom as Agnes (her Oscar is almost guaranteed), Mescal is dashing but down-to-earth as William, and Noah Jupe delivers a heartwrenching standout performance as Hamnet.

Chloe Zhao’s slow, measured direction captures Agnes and William’s touching relationship and the growing schism between them due to family tragedy and William’s long absences for work.

The film has gorgeous period costumes and sets, the Globe theatre is a bridge between the Shakespeares’ rural, rustic home and the bustling grime of London, and it’s refreshing to see a modern film with steady camerawork (as opposed to the shaky-cam so common even in other historical dramas such as Train Dreams).

The soaring, intimate final act will leave you misty-eyed, and brilliantly recontextualises the play Hamlet as a grand tribute, atonement and symbolic farewell.

Hamnet, a sumptuously-made, heartbreakingly beautiful film that deserved more Golden Globes but will hopefully rake in the Oscars, is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

Seth Lukas Hynes

By Maria Millers

WOORILLA WORDS

January is when we start easing back into our yearly routines. The chaos of Christmas behind us,.

Xmas leftovers finally eaten; newly minted New Year resolutions most likely already breached, the return to school or work looming and perhaps a last trip to the beach to test out that latest ‘must have’ beach accoutrement the cabana.

Disturbing news from overseas still continues but for many hovers only at the edges of their concerns.

The tyranny of distance even in this connected age allows a feeling of complacency.

This year however these summer routines are shadowed by the December 18th Bondi tragedy and its aftermath; followed in the last two weeks by devastating fires and floods.

For me personally the Bondi tragedy brought back innocent childhood memories.

Growing up, Bondi was my closest beach and I can still taste the strawberry ice cream cones from the Pavilion, feel the hot sand under my feet and smell the suntan oil on my skin.

But now this loved local beach and tourist mecca will always be remembered for the murder of 14 innocents celebrating the Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah, clearly targeted for who they were.

The shock has been felt not only in that community but also in the wider community and seen across the world.

These were confronting alien scenes.

We pride ourselves as the world’s most successful multicultural country and in most respects we are but prejudices still persist.

Antisemitism is a long-standing form of prejudice, hostility, or discrimination directed at Jewish people.

Its history stretches over more than two thousand years and has taken different forms in different times and places.

But it is not the only one that …. As a shocked city, indeed the whole country, watched, the questions came thick and fast.

How and why did it happen? So too the calls for government action and answers.

What was a human tragedy very quickly became a political one.

The immediate unedifying behaviour of politicians as one after the other made appearanc-

es of performative grief, laying flowers on the growing mound, has now grown into a partisan jockeying for political expediency.

Our political culture does not allow for time to reflect, to weigh up the national good. The media plays a part in promoting hyper partisanship, loudness leading to knee jerk reactions.

There is no time to reflect, to change your mind.

So after weeks of escalating public, political and community pressure — from business leaders, victims’ families, Jewish community groups and even former Labor MPs, the Prime Minister was pushed into calling a Royal Commission and then to abandoning his all - encompassing Omnibus Bill, which combined several major reforms into one package: hate speech and crimes, migration, gun law reforms.

This is being strongly challenged and at the time of writing a consensus on issues like gun restrictions and hate crimes and speech are still unresolved.

It is hoped the debate which is necessary will not be just motivated by politics only.

And though the tragic deaths at Bondi were clearly aimed at those of Jewish faith and the government focus has revolved around antiSemitism, Islamophobia is an equally disturbing problem as seen by the attack on an Imam and his wife last week.

Time and time again we hear of Muslim women accosted for wearing hijabs.

Attacks on mosques do not receive the same coverage as other crimes.

Independent MP Allegra Spender has rightly argued that any legislation should protect all minority groups not only on the basis of religion but also gender, sexuality and disability.

A democracy doesn’t weaken by protecting minorities —it weakens when protection becomes selective, politicised, or incoherent.

It is timely to remember that unlike other countries freedom of speech is not enshrined in our constitution.

And as a society we do not have a culture of deep and uncomfortable conversations in social settings.

Universities have always been places where the contest of ideas took place.

But lately this has been threatened and certain courses where controversial ideas could be voiced and debated have been downgraded or cancelled.

Equally culpable is mainstream media which does not foster public debate on substantive issues or give space to dissenting voices.

However, throughout history writers and poets have always been the strongest defenders of free speech and across eras have written powerfully—sometimes directly, sometimes obliquely—about freedom of speech, censorship, and the moral duty to speak truth.

Defending free speech isn’t just legal or institutional — it’s also deeply cultural and humanistic.

Many of these figures argued not just for their own right to speak, but for the right of ideas they despised to be expressed.

As French philosopher Voltaire put it: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

John Stuart Mills’s On Liberty remains one of the strongest philosophical defences of free speech, especially of unpopular or minority opinions: Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience.

And in the 20th century George Orwell was perhaps the clearest literary defender of free speech: If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

If you watched or read Margaret Atwood’s

The Handmaids Tale, Atwood consistently links literary freedom with democratic survival, warning that censorship often arrives disguised as protection or morality: The moment when freedom of speech becomes restricted is the moment when a society starts sliding toward authoritarianism.

Australia has a strong group of contemporary poets whose work engages directly with democracy, free speech, protest, and who gets heard. Some are indigenous poets such as Lionel Fogarty, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Ellen van Neerven and Samuel Wagan Watson : We learned early how to speak quiet in a loud country.”

Today Writers Festivals have often been left to provide safe spaces for wide ranging discussions to take place.

The Adelaide Writes Week is the premier event of this kind, attracting writers and speakers from across the world.

SO what happened at the Adelaide Writers week should send a warning to anyone who values free speech as foundational to a democracy.

This year Australian Palestinian writer Randa Abdel Fattah was ‘disinvited’ with the reason given that it would be ‘culturally insensitive’ to have her attend following the Bondi shooting.

An outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause, her latest book Discipline explores the experience of Australian Palestinians during the Gaza War.

By January 13th around 180 writers had withdrawn from Writers Week in protest and all members of the board bar one had resigned, including the director Louise Adler who said she could not be party to silencing writers.

Writers and writing matters, even when they are presenting ideas that discomfort and challenge us.

We need writers now more than ever, as our media closes up, as our politicians grow daily more cowed by real power, as Australia grows more unjust and unequal.

This week Parliament has reconvened to debate the proposed bills.

We hope that foremost in their sights will be the need for national cohesion and the ability to put aside personal political and partisan politics to achieve this and build on the positives of our much lauded multiculturalism.

For the rest of us we must stay informed and involved.

Silence is a political act and democracy is eroded when language itself is regulated or suppressed.

For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.

If only we’re brave enough to be it.

From The Hill we Climb by Amanda Gorman

The poem insists that free speech is not merely permitted in a democracy—it creates democracy.

Crucial steps

It’s been a difficult and anxious week for many as bushfires rip through the state, inching close to our own community on Friday 10 January.

Marked the worst fire danger day since the Black Saturday bushfires, the sweltering heat, gusty winds and smell of smoke in the distance brought to the surface the traumatic memories of that fateful day on 7 February 2009.

Victorians are heartbroken by news of the loss of life in the Longwood fire, and my thoughts remain with the family and friends of all those who have been impacted by these ferocious fires.

Amid the tragedy and heartbreak, we saw the very best of our community spirit.

CFA volunteers from across our region met the call and ran towards the danger, spending countless hours defending property and protecting life in and around Yarck, Alexandra, Longwood, Mt Lawson, Cudgewa and other parts of our state.

Volunteers were also quick to jump on fires here in our own community – swiftly bringing under control fires in St Andrews, Warburton and Seville and preventing larger incidents here on home soil.

But the experience of those on the frontline also exposed flaws in our emergency preparedness – in particular, in our communications network that is supposed to keep Victorians connected when it matters most.

We’ve seen reports of CFA volunteers losing phone service while on active firefighting duty on the worst day Victoria has seen since the Black Saturday bushfires.

There were volunteers left finding other trucks on the ground to relay vital information, and reports of locals evacuating towards town with no reception and no knowledge of which way the fire front was heading.

I witnessed firsthand the impact of communications going down during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, and again in the June 2021 storms that ravaged through my community in the Yarra Ranges.

As a tree fell across the driveway, I remember the frightening realisation that if another tree dropped through our home and injured us, we wouldn’t have been able to call for help.

It’s a feeling I won’t forget. The panic of losing access to information and help during a natural disaster is something I don’t want any Australian to experience.

A connected phone line can be the difference between life and death.

From my From my desk

Federal Member for Casey

Telstra has confirmed a power outage near the Natimuk bushfire temporarily cut services, with a back-up generator suffering a mechanical fault in the extreme conditions. Optus also underwent outages in some areas.

It is for this reason that the government must prioritise the implementation of Temporary Disaster Roaming (TDR).

This would allow customers of one mobile network to temporarily connect to another network in a disaster affected area – regardless of who they normally pay their bill to.

This means if your provider’s network is down, but another provider’s network is still available, your phone would automatically connect to use basic services, like making a call, during an emergency period.

This technology already exists in countries like the United States and Canada.

In April 2024, the former Communications Minister told us that she was ‘optimistic’ that a workable capability of TDR would be available ‘by the end of the year.’

Well, the end of 2025 has come and gone, and we now approach the historically hot and humid month of February with no solution in place.

Providers have been doing their part to make TDR a reality. They’ve undertaken successful testing and they’re working together to make this capability feasible.

It’s now the Government’s responsibility to ensure that this emergency capability is rolled out across the country.

The best time to act was months ago. The second best time is now.

We must do all we can to ensure Australians remain safe and connected during times of disaster. Will the Communications Minister answer the call?

Aaron Violi is the Federal Member for Casey and Shadow Assistant Minister for Communications

Guest article by Leanne Margaret

Lilydale Lakeside Writers Group open for all PASSION FOR PROSE

Christine’s Note: Many thanks to local author Leanne Margaret, of Croydon, for sharing her experiences and insights of hosting the Lilydale Lakeside Writers Group. Leanne also teaches a Thursday writing class at the Coonara Community House in Upper Ferntree Gully.

Back in 2019, Lilydale Library called for expressions of interest from writing enthusiasts who would like to meet and form a new group.

I had recently self-published my second book; but, like many writers, the path was as lonely as it was arduous.

So this sounded like an ideal way to meet like-minded creators.

Around thirteen writers attended the first meeting, and I volunteered to maintain a spread-sheet of participants and send them a monthly reminder.

At first it was just an admin role, and I referred to myself as a facilitator.

But I have gradually stepped up into the role, and participants have enjoyed my writing prompts and inspiration.

The first couple of years were challenging, with work commitments and Covid restrictions.

Eventually we found our rhythm, and the group has been thriving ever since.

Initially it was a Monday group. As time went on, I felt that a Friday afternoon group would be a great way to start the weekend –and so it was.

On the fourth Friday of each month, we meet at the library at 3:30pm; sometimes going out for a drink or a walk around Lilydale lake – which is just next door. Some writers come in early with their laptops to grab some precious writing time before group.

The group has become one of the highlights of our month. Not everyone is writing actively all the time, coming just to listen, providing feedback and encouragement.

Some writers perform their poetry, while others read us a bit at a time of their current

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

book manuscripts.

We have watched some projects evolve from their infancy into completed works and self-published books. We have also watched each other’s performance skills and confidence grow.

Some writers show up every single month, while others drift in and out sporadically –like our writing muses! Most months we have between six and thirteen in attendance.

Library facilities include disabled access, computers, soft chairs and lovely staff who set up every month.

Lilydale Lakeside Writers Group is made up of writers of all levels: recreational writers, poets, authors, content writers, writing teachers and even a journalist.

We are light on criticism, preferring a nonjudgmental atmosphere that is welcoming to new writers.

I want to create a safe space for beginners, as well as an interesting space for emerging and established writers. We care more about community than quantity or even quality. There’s laughter, tears, understanding and support.

Interested writers can find us in the What’s On guide, produced seasonally by Your Library.

We welcome new members and you can book your place in the group via the Your Library website.

Let’s write!

BREATHTAKING VIEWS, STYLISH LIVING ON SIX ACRES

BREATHTAKING VIEWS, STYLISH LIVING AND A GREAT LOCATION ON 6 ACRES

NESTLED in one of Emerald’s most coveted locations, this exceptional property offers the perfect balance of convenience and serenity. Just a short stroll from schools, cafes, transport,  sporting facilities and all conveniences you’ll enjoy every moment of this great location while coming home to a private retreat that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle.

At the heart of this home lies its stunning backyard—a true sanctuary with uninterrupted views of Emerald’s picturesque landscape. Overlooking the scenic Pepi’s Land and offering front-row seats to the historic Puffing Billy steam train as it chugs past, this outdoor haven is designed for both relaxation and entertainment. Whether you’re cooling off in the pool, unwinding on the deck, or hosting gatherings in the covered alfresco area, every moment spent here is special.

Set on over six acres, this property is a dream for horse lovers and animal enthusiasts alike. Thoughtfully designed facilities include three stables, five paddocks, and a floodlit arena, all supported by with ample water to ensure effortless care for your animals.

Inside, the home radiates warmth and sophistication, with an inviting open-plan living area enhanced by stylish plantation shutters. The beautifully updated kitchen offers ample storage, sleek stone benchtops, and breathtaking backyard views, making it a delightful space to cook and connect.

The master suite is a private retreat, complete with a walk-in robe and a newly renovated ensuite, while the additional bedrooms are tucked away in their own wing, serviced by a spacious main bathroom. Designed for both comfort and functionality, this home effortlessly blends contemporary living with country charm.

This is more than just a property—it’s a lifestyle. A rare opportunity to own a piece of Emerald’s beauty, where nature, history, and modern living come together in perfect harmony.

Don’t just take our word for it — come and experience it for yourself! ●

HOME FOCUS

WHERE SPACE, PRIVACY AND LIFESTYLE COME TOGETHER

SET privately within the picturesque surrounds of Macclesfield, this exceptional lifestyle property spans approximately 10 acres, delivering the space, flexibility and infrastructure so many families are searching for, yet rarely find.

The home welcomes you into a large openplan kitchen, dining and living zone, where a grand brick open fireplace with an impressive mantle creates warmth, character and a natural gathering point for family and friends. Positioned off the main living area, the study / fifth bedroom offers outstanding versatility, ideal as a home office, guest room or additional bedroom for growing families. The kitchen is designed for both everyday living and entertaining, featuring stone benchtops, generous cabinetry, two stainless-steel ovens, a 900mm gas cooktop, dishwasher and an expansive butler’s pantry, ensuring functionality at scale.

A separate hallway leads to the main accommodation wing, comprising four generous bedrooms, all fitted with built-in robes. The central bathroom is modern and well appointed with a stone vanity, bath and shower, while the spacious master suite enjoys peaceful backyard views and is complemented by a luxurious ensuite with floor-to-ceiling tiles and stone vanity.

Entertaining continues outdoors with a purpose-built area designed for cooking and hosting, complete with a setup ideal for BBQs and gatherings, the perfect space for family and friends. Adding further flexibility is a separate portable dwelling, complete with one bedroom, living space and bathroom, ideal for teenagers craving independence, guest accommodation or extended family.

For tradespeople, hobbyists or car enthusiasts, the garaging and workshop facilities are exceptional. A four-car garage with power and water incorporates an impressive built-in bar, creating a unique space for entertaining or unwinding after a day’s work. In addition, a separate single garage and workshop, also equipped with power and an attached water tank, offers ample room for tools, equipment and prized vehicles.

Located in the heart of Macclesfield, this property delivers the rare combination of privacy, expansive land, family focused living and outstanding storage, all within a welcoming lifestyle setting. Whether you’re accommodating a growing family, supporting teenagers who need their own space, or seeking room for business, hobbies or vehicles, this is a home that truly adapts to every stage of life. ●

PRIVATE RURAL RETREAT ON 22 ACRESHOME, BUNGALOW AND SEPARATE COTTAGE

PRIVATELY set on nearly 22 picturesque acres in one of the area’s most sought-after locations, this exceptional property combines quality living, natural beauty, and outstanding versatility. Just 6km from the heart of Emerald, you’ll enjoy the convenience of town nearby while being surrounded by serene bushland, open pastures, and abundant local wildlife.

The character-filled main residence has been built and renovated to an exacting standard, showcasing high ceilings, ornate ceiling roses, beautiful timber floors and premium fixtures throughout plus there is a 6.6KW solar system. Inside, you’ll find three spacious bedrooms, including a master suite with walk-in robe and 2 new luxurious bathrooms with heated flooring. The brand new kitchen is both a statement of style & sophistication with quality 2 pac cabinetry, a walk in pantry, falcon oven, integrated dishwasher & beautiful stone bench topsperfect for entertaining or family living.

Two large living zones provide space and comfort for all seasons - the main lounge and dining area features a Coonara wood heater, while the separate rumpus room offers a charming open fireplace and French doors opening to the covered alfresco area. There is also gas ducted heating for added convenience.

A separate studio/teenagers retreat or home office offers a versatile fourth bedroom option, ideal for guests or those working from home. Outdoors, the property is equally impressive with a mix of cleared paddocks and natural bush providing privacy and rural charm. A huge 28m x 8m shed with concrete floor and power is perfect for trades, storage, or hobby enthusiasts. The land also includes a veggie patch, a spring fed dam, an original barn and plenty of privacy plus there is sealed road access.

Adding even more flexibility is a selfcontained two-bedroom cottage located just down the road - ideal for extended family, guests or possible extra income.

Offering privacy, lifestyle, and space in a truly beautiful setting, this unique property provides the perfect balance between rural living and modern convenience.

An outstanding lifestyle opportunity - an inspection will impress. ●

PRIVATE AND PROMISING 7.5 ACRE (APPROX.) PROPERTY

COMPRISING 3 substantial structures on a spectacular, sunny 7.5 acre ( approx.) allotment, this unique offering is what property dreams are made of.

Featuring a dramatic 4-bedroom family dwelling, an original 2-bedroom miner’s cottage brimming with potential, and an expansive workshop/studio with private drive and abundant parking, the possibilities are endless at this exceptional property.

In addition to boasting a whisper-quiet landscape featuring level gardens, 2 paddocks, greenhouse, 2 creek lines, dam, and 3-phase power for a previously pondered Airbnb venture, this property is also entirely private. Situated at the end of a no-through road, this parkland setting is a one-of-a-kind pocket of the Dandenong Ranges.

The primary residence is an artists’ oasis with 4 generous bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a central courtyard garden. Recycled bluestone, clinker bricks, cabinetry, open fires, and leadlight evoke the feel of a faraway destination, while the family-friendly layout with 2 living areas and a sprawling studio can be configured to suit your needs.

With so much on offer, this unparalleled property must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Guaranteed to inspire, prompt viewing is advised. Join us for a tour today.

• Completely private 31,100sqm (approx.) property

• Unique family residence with dual living areas, versatile studio, and charming central courtyard

Original miner’s cottage ready for refurbishing

• Sprawling shed/workshop with kitchenette, office, and wood fire

• Gorgeous gardens with level lawns and parking, greenhouse, paddocks, creek access, dam, playground, and abundant local wildlife. ●

THE ULTIMATE HOBBY FARM AND TRADIE HEAVEN

IF you’ve been dreaming of space, freedom, and a whole lot of lifestyle perks, this is it. Set on 2.5 glorious acres in Pakenham Upper, this brilliant 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom home was built in 2010 by the current owners—and it’s got all the right ingredients for country living with a luxury twist.

Electric gates open to a private world of peace and potential. Step inside and you’re greeted with a warm brick feature wall, loads of natural light, and slab heating underfoot (yep, throughout the whole house—your toes will thank you). Add in a wood fire with heat transfer, ducted vacuum, and reverse-cycle heating/cooling and you’ve got comfort sorted in every season.

The kitchen? A dream. Granite benchtops, gas cooking, a large walk-in pantry with automatic lighting, and a bi-fold servery window that opens to the sunroom—perfect for morning coffees or sunset snacks with a view. The open-plan living and dining area is ideal for family hangs, while a second lounge adds that much-needed extra space.

The master suite is your private retreat, perfectly positioned to soak up the peaceful outlook. Large glass doors let in plenty of natural light and open directly to the outdoors, giving you that morning coffee-in-the-sun moment every day. Inside, you’ll find double walk-in robes and an open-plan ensuite that feels more like a personal spa—complete with a deep spa bath, oversized shower, and loads of space to unwind at the end of the day. Four more bedrooms (with robes) and a central bathroom offer flexibility for every setup. The laundry even includes a shower and toilet—no queues here!

Now let’s talk outdoors: a huge undercover entertaining area, fully fenced salt and chlorine pool, fire pit zone, and all the shedding you could hope for. There’s an 18m x 9m powered shed with 4.3m walls, double garage, 4-car carport, and even a generator plug for backup.

Need more? How about a separate studio with a split system, wood fire and kitchenette— perfect as a teen retreat, guest space or workfrom-home setup. There’s also a fenced dog run, veggie gardens, a massive chook pen, two stables, hay storage, and two paddocks with water and shelters.

Tucked between Emerald and Pakenham, this is more than just a home—it’s a lifestyle upgrade waiting to happen.

This property has it all so don’t miss outcall to arrange a private inspection today.

Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●

CharmingHomein aTranquilGardenSetting. Setonalmostone-thirdofanacre,thischarmingdouble-storeybrickhomeofferspeacefulliving surroundedbybeautiful,bird-filledgardens. Awideundercoververandahwrapsaroundthreesides, creatinginvitingoutdoorspacestosit,relax& enjoythenaturalsetting.Inside,9ftceilings,polished floorboards,gasductedheating& double-hungwindowsenhancethehome’swelcomingfeel. Thecentraltimberkitchenincludesanislandbench,greatstorage, adishwasher,walloven &gas stovetop,flowingtobothformal& informallivingareas.Upstairs,theprivatemastersuitefeaturesa walk-inrobe,ensuite& studynook,whiletwoadditionalbedroomswithtriplerobesshare acentral bathroom.Outside,thefullyfencedyardisidealforchildren& pets,withanundercoverentertaining area,circulardriveway,remotedoublegarage &highcarportperfectfor acaravanorboat.

MudbrickCharmonOveranAcreinCockatoowithDualRoadAccess!

Seton5,060sqmwithdualroadfrontagein apeacefulCockatoosetting,this4-bedroommudbrick homeofferswarmth,space& timelessHillscharacter. Awraparoundundercoververandahsets thetoneforrelaxedindoor–outdoorliving.Inside,themainliving &diningzonefeaturesslatefloors, pitchedceilingswithexposedbeams,leadlightwindows& anopenfireplace.Thekitchenincludes agascooktop,excellentbenchspace& amplestorage.A secondsittingroomwithtimberfloors, woodfire &verandahaccessaddsflexibility.Themasterhasbuilt-inrobes &outdooraccess,with 2furtherrobedbedroomsplusa flexiblefourthorhomeoffice,allservicedby acentralbathroom. Outside, acoveredentertainingareaoverlooksestablishedgardens,complementedbyunderhousestorage,a doublegarage &circulardrive.

ARare40-AcreHoldingwithWater,Views &EndlessPotential. Spanning40gentlyundulatingacres,thissun-filledruralholdingdeliversspace,watersecurity& seriouspotential.A windingcreek,3 dams &a valuable2-megalitrewaterlicenceprovide arocksolidfoundationforlifestyleliving,livestockorfuturevision.Elevatedpointsacrossthelandcapture sweeping360-degreeviews,creatingthosepostcardmomentswherethecountrysiderollsawayin everydirection.Atthecentresits aneat& original2-bedroomhome,comfortablenow& readyfor renovation,extensionorreinventionovertime.Practicalinfrastructureincludesa machineryshed, garage &establishedcattlerace& yards,makingthepropertyimmediatelyusableforfarmingor hobbystock.Withsunnypaddocks,naturalwatersources& multipleaccesspoints,everythingisin placeforeasyruralliving.

5CurtisRoadEmerald

$1,400,000-$1,520,000

ABotanicalWonderlandSurroundinga TrulyUniqueHome. Thisextraordinaryresidenceis araremasterpiece,shapedbydecadesofcraftsmanshipandset withinbreathtakingstorybookgardensonnearly1.5acres.Everydetailreflectstimelessartistry— fromcorbelsandtessellatedtilestoleadlight,bluestonefeatures,andsoaringceilings.Atitsheart, acircularbluestone-and-glassconservatoryinvitesyoutopauseandtakeinthelushgardenviews. Twoprivatewingsinclude amainsuitewithwalk-inrobe,ensuite,anddeck,plus aguestsuitewithits ownensuite.A formalloungewithopenfireplace,elegantdiningroom,officewithJarrahcabinetry, anda granite-toppedkitchencaterbeautifullytodailylivingandentertaining.Additionalspaces includea rumpus,cellar/workshop,studio,secondgarage,and5kWsolar.Despiteitsserenesetting, thehomeisjustmomentsfromEmerald’scharmingvillageandPuffingBilly.

AaronDay M 0407365994

BrennanMileto M 0422996451

3 A 3 B 4 C

SPORT

Cricketers shine at MCG

By Damian Ford

A group of Montrose Cricket Club’s youngest players enjoyed a night they will remember forever, stepping onto the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground as part of a special Big Bash League experience with the Melbourne Stars.

On Tuesday night, 13 January, the Montrose Cricket Club was invited by Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Stars to have 13 boys and girls take part as Woolworths Cricket Blast mascots during a Big Bash clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

For the children, aged between four and eight, the excitement was instant and infectious. From the moment they arrived, wide smiles and wide eyes told the story of how special the opportunity was. Walking onto the MCG, standing where cricketing heroes have played, and soaking in the atmosphere of a packed Big Bash crowd created priceless memories for the young cricketers and their families.

Each child received an Indigenous-designed Melbourne Stars playing shirt, along with a cap and flag to keep as a lasting memento of their experience. The night included two unforgettable on-field moments. While the Stars were fielding, the children paired up with players, meeting them face-to-face and having their caps signed. Later, they returned to the field to form a guard of honour as Tom Rogers and Sam Harper walked out to bat, waving their flags as fireworks lit up the stadium.

As mascots, music and fireworks filled the ground, the joy on the children’s faces said it all. One young participant could hardly contain their excitement after meeting a Stars player, beaming with pride as they took it all in. For parents watching from the stands, it was a powerful reminder of how sport can create moments that last a lifetime.

Montrose Cricket Club said it was incredibly proud to be able to offer such opportunities through its strong relationship with Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Stars. The invitation reflects the club’s commitment to junior development and providing positive, memorable experiences for young players starting their cricket journey.

Families interested in giving cricket a go are encouraged to take part in Montrose Cricket Club’s upcoming five-week Pop-Up Cricket Blast program. The program costs $49 and runs on Friday evenings from 5pm to 6pm on the back oval at Montrose Reserve, including a presentation event at the conclusion.

Registrations are available via PlayHQ or through the Montrose Cricket Club website and Facebook page, giving more local kids the

Mustangs launch netball for 2026 season

The Mooroolbark Mustangs have announced that netball will be added to the fixture for 2026, with multiple teams registered for the upcoming season.

Mooroolbark Football Club shared on Thursday 15 January that it would be joining the Eastern Football Netball League’s netball competition for 2026.

“It is an exciting new chapter for the club and one that has been a long time coming,” the club’s statement reads.

“As one of only six EFNL football clubs without a netball program, our arrival into the competition feels overdue, and we could not be more proud to finally take this step forward.”

The EFNL netball competition spans 15 divisions across the outer east.

Mooroolbark has confirmed that it will begin the season with three registered teams, taking on the names Mooroolbark Gold, Mooroolbark Green, and Mooroolbark Black.

The Mustangs’ netball sides have been slotted into Divisions 5, 10 and 15.

A dedicated Instagram page, @mooroolbarknetball, has been established to “be the home of everything netball”, with team announcements, game day action, behind-the-scenes moments, and social events to be posted here, but the main channels will post major updates and milestones.

“Whether you are pulling on the dress, cheering from the sidelines, supporting a teammate or simply excited to be part of something fresh, this is your invitation to jump on board.

“Netball is coming to Mooroolbark in 2026, and the future is looking brighter than ever for the Mustangs community.”

SPORT

Tough weekend all round

A tough weekend for the cricketers in maroon as victories were hard to come by.

The Mounters were only able to post one win as the teams battled against tough opposition, whilst injuries and absences meant the club could only field five teams.

The Community Bank - Mt Evelyn 1st XI travelled to East Ringwood in a game that promised to be a shoot out after the teams put on over 700 runs in their two day clash at Mt Evelyn earlier in the season.

In a bid to get a feel for the contest and what would be required of the run chase, East Ringwood sent Mt Evelyn in to bat.

Considering their top order woes, the Mounters started cautiously with newly promoted Brad Westaway combining with Daniel Fraser to give the visitors a wicket-free opening ten overs of the innings.

Praying for an opening wicket, the visitors feasted when the partnership was broken.

Instead of the innings flourishing after the steady start, the batting lineup was squeezed with regular wicket to see the innings stutter to 5/92 in the 30th over.

If the Mounters were going to compile a decent score, they would need a big finish to the innings.

Dan Giblin (44) and Jett Hartman (27 not out) would beef up the innings to help the Mounters score 80 runs over the closing ten overs, but one would imagine that a score of 8/172 would be slightly under par.

The Mt Evelyn attach would be disciplined enough to keep things in check, but with a required run rate of just over four an over, they needed to make some inroads into the opposition’s batting order and quickly.

Unfortunately, regular wickets weren’t forthcoming, and each time a wicket feel, they would need Kangaroos were able to steady the ship with another useful partnership.

Eventually the hosts would chase down the total with the loss of just four wickets and four overs still in hand.

A comfortable chase. All the bowlers would battle manfully, but none could capture the bag of wickets required.

Coming off a comfortable win against top of the table Wandin, the Professionals Outer East 2nd XI were chock full of confidence to take on the high flying Seville Burras, another stern challenge.

Mt Evelyn elected to bowl first and were promptly put to the sword by a dominant opening partnership.

Jackson Merrett was thrust into the action after a long lay off and wasn’t disgraced bowling his eight overs up front, and despite being economical, he couldn’t provide the breakthrough.

The rest of the bowling order would then be put to the sword as Seville openers Leigh Aitkin and Caleb Frankovic would master the conditions to put together an amazing partnership of 236 on the way to helping the visitors to a monumental total of 2/288.

Luke Jones’ spin option was the only other bowling spell than Merrett’s to contain the score under a run a ball.

Although the chase looked out of hand on paper, all and sundry knew that of the Mounters could keep wickets in hand, then the required run rate would be more than achievable on a ground that has conceded some massive totals this season.

Unfortunately for the Mounters, wickets would be the costly factor in their run chase.

There would be an even contribution of runs across the entire innings however the fact that no batters would achieve a half century points to the fact that when the run rate needed to be ramped up, a new batter was taking the time to establish themselves at the wicket.

Eventually stumps would be called on the innings with the score at 7/245, by no means a terrible result, but a disappointing one nonetheless the less.

Adam Smith would continue his good form at the top of the innings scoring 46, whilst Chris Morrow would try his best to accelerate the innings with 44 off 30 deliveries, but this innings needed a big individual total or a decent partnership if the Mounters were going to mount a significant challenge to Seville’s total.

The Rhead Group 3rd XI have had a tough return to cricket in the new year.

Last week they were put to the sword by a dominant batting performance from Warrandyte and if they thought things would get easier, they would soon be tested by a trip to Templeton to take on the league leading Taipans.

The Mt Evelyn bowlers would acquit them-

selves with more discipline this week beginning with tight spells from openers Daniel Meades and Luke Shepherd.

The innings would ebb and flow throughout.

A significant 3rd wicket partnership of 111 for the Taipans threatened to blow the contest open when it was time to ramp up the run rate, but regular wickets to Alex Whiting (4/46) and Sam Van Hoogstraten (2/38) meant the eventual damage was limited even though the final total of 9/228 would be a tough one to chase.

The chase could not have got off to a worse start as the visitors quickly stumbled to be 5/49 to almost end the Mounters chances before they could muster any resistance.

The shining light in the batting gloom was opener Campbell Finch who held his nerve, and his wicket, and when Meades joined him at the wicket, they started the rescue mission.

A half century partnership followed giving the visitors an outside chance at victory.

Meades would raise a half century of his own, and when Finch departed, Whiting would prove a useful ally.

Eventually the cost of early wickets would prove fatal as the task became too large at the back end of the innings as the asking run rate became too large.

Although the Mounters wouldn’t be disgraced against top opposition, they would be disappointed their top order didn’t fire. The eventual total would be 9/194, 34 runs shy of the Taipans.

The Hop Hen Brewing 4th XI have enjoyed a good run of form, and despite a blip on the radar last week against Ainslie Park, they entered their clash against Yarra Glen in good shape.

The Mounters would bat first and even contributions throughout the top order would ensure the hosts would compile a big total. Kadyn Newport would be the star of the innings compiling an unbeaten score of 66 leading the team to a score of 7/244.

Yarra Glen would have to bat well to chase this total down.

For much of Yarra Glen’s innings, Mt Evelyn controlled the pace of the innings and it looked as if the River Pigs wouldn’t have enough time to chase the total despite some intermittent lusty

blows. Wickets would be shared for the bowlers as they strangled their opponents. With 60 required off the last six overs, the win was almost in the bag for the hard working Mounters. Yarra Glen would have none of it and captain Matt Donnelly would lead his team to a remarkable victory courtesy of some late order big hitting. The visitors would secure victory in the last over of an amazing game.

The Lilydale Tyres 5th XI have been quietly going about their business sitting mid-table and after last week’s tough loss against a strong Croydon North lineup, the Mounters travelled to North Ringwood in what appeared on paper to be a much easier challenge.

That couldn’t be further from the truth as the game would turn out to be a classic going down to the last ball of the game.

Mt Evelyn would bat first and would struggle to gather momentum due to regular wickets. The scoreboard would tick over, courtesy of a steady knock from Paul Flavel, but innings needed a much needed scoring injection.

This came in the form of young gun Ben Dunstone who would real off a near run a ball 63 featuring 10 fours and a six to boost the score beyond 200, after it looked as if the innings wouldn’t get beyond 150. The final score would be 9/213, what looked to be a challenge too far for the bottom of the table Bulls.

North Ringwood probed they would be up for the fight and with Paul Wheatley anchoring the innings with a masterful century it was challenge few saw coming for the Mounters. Harry Dunstone’s performance would belie his young age as he would lead the attack with figures of 3/31, but the rest of the Mt Evelyn bowlers would struggle to contain Wheatley’s brilliance. Eventually, it would all come down to the last over of the game with Ben Dunstone given the duties of defending the last 15 runs, Wheatley the Bulls last hope. Dot, six, four, one, Wheatley century, game on, four needed off the last two balls for victory.

The Mounters would hold their nerve in the field and with Wheatley run out on the penultimate ball of the innings trying to regain the strike, Dunstone would close the game out and hand the visitors a heart stopping victory.

Unters and Gommers top ton

By Les Hutchings

Last Saturday saw Kilsyth Cricket Club’s Men’s Firsts, Thirds and Fourths record victories, together with the Women’s First XI on Sunday.

The U16’s and U12’s also had good wins on the weekend.

Mark “Unters” Unternahrer scored his second consecutive century (110 off 98 balls, including 11 fours and five sixes) playing for the Third XI.

He now joins Daniel Caton on nine senior centuries for the Club, one behind Club record holder Nigel Foden.

Furthermore, Unternahrer captured 3/9 off 8 overs (2 maidens) in a match winning all-round performance.

After getting married and missing the previous Saturday’s match, Fourth XI Co Captain Greg Gommers also scored a magical century.

Playing against Warrandyte, he made his equal highest ever score for Kilsyth CC, 112 off 101 balls, including 15 fours and 4 sixes.

Opening bowler Nuwan Sampath helped set up the First XI’s win after taking 4/22 off 8 consecutive overs (2 maidens).

Lecia Baldry was also in good form for the Women’s First XI, taking 3/12 off 6 overs (2 maidens).

Additionally, Russell Hutchings (Third XI), played his 150th senior game for Kilsyth CC. The First XI played against Warranwood at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve in the Wilkins Cup competition.

Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bowl.

Warranwood started off in an attacking manner and were 0/21 off 2.3 overs, but then left arm opening bowler

Nuwan Sampath captured two wickets off the last two balls of his second over to see Warranwood 2/21 off 3 overs, after good catches by Mackenzie Scott-Thomas and ‘keeper Andy Solomons.

The third wicket fell on 32 in the 7th over when opener Xavier Farrell was caught by Mackenzie Scott-Thomas off Sampath for 21 from 27 balls (4 fours).

With the score on 48, the batsmen ran two before confusion over the third run resulted in a relay runout after Anthony Cook chased down the ball and threw it in from deep backward square leg to ’keeper Andy Solomons, who then threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end in spectacular fashion..

It soon became 5/54 when Andy Solomons took a catch behind the stumps to give Nuwan Sampath his fourth wicket in the 13th over.

At drinks after 20 overs Warranwood were 5/68 and Kilsyth had gained the ascendancy.

In the second over after the drinks break, spinner Kolitha Hapuarachchi captured two wickets with the score on 76. Tod Cordwell was the first of the two wickets to fall when he was caught by Nuwan Sampath for 31 off 54 balls (4 fours).

From there wickets fell regularly: 8/91, 9/102 and all out for 111 in 32 overs.

Liam Russell was the best of the lower order batsmen, scoring 15 off 24 balls (1 four).

For Kilsyth, opening bowler Nuwan Sampath took the bowling honours for the second week in a row after capturing 4/22 off 8 consecutive overs (2 maidens).

The other wickets takers were Dylan Smith, 2/11 off 4 overs, Kolitha Hapuarachchi 2/25 off 8 overs (2 maidens), and Mackenzie Scott-Thomas 1/28 off 7 overs (1 maiden).

Bowlers were well supported by some excellent fielding with wicket keeper Andy Solomons taking three catches and a runout, Mackenzie Scott-Thomas three catches, and Nuwan Sampath and Kolitha Hapuarachchi one catch each.

After the tea break, Glyn James took the first wicket (clean bowled) with the score on 21 after 5.3 overs.

Then a second wicket partnership of 52 between Jack Childs and Mackenzie Scott-Thomas ended in the 11th over when Scott-Thomas was bowled by spinner Robert Sayer for a scintillating 43 off 19 balls (7 fours and 1 six). From there, Kilsyth cruised to victory and finished on 2/114 off 17.5 overs.

The not out batsmen were opener Jack Childs, 37* off 45 balls (5 fours), and Kolitha Hapuaracchi 24* off 21 balls (4 fours).

Hapuarachchi hit the last 3 balls of the match for consecutive boundaries to secure the win.

Warranwood’s wicket takers were Robert Sayer 1/24 and Glyn James 1/42.

The surprising thing about this result was that Kilsyth’s star all-rounder Andy Solomons was not required to bat or bowl in the match.

The Second XI also played against Warranwood at Quambee Reserve in the MeehanShield competition.

Warranwood won the toss and elected to bat.

An opening partnership of 105 in 16.4 overs between Captain Daniel Turner and Judd Walhout set the game up for Warranwood. Walhout was the first wicket to fall, lbw to leg spinner Kyan Harper after scoring 39 off 51 balls (6 fours).

Kilsyth fought back from there with wickets falling at 2/112, 3/118, 4/130, 5/154 and 6/159 after 31.2 overs.

A seventh wicket partnership of 37 in 4 overs between Darcy Brush and Tom Matthews took the score to 7/196 from 35.2 overs.

Warranwood were eventually all out for 222 in 38.2 overs.

The other main run getters were Daniel Turner, who top scored with 60 off 52 balls (11 fours), Darcy Brush 40 off 29 balls (7 fours), and Ayden Robinson 22 off 32 balls (4 fours).

For Kilsyth, Captain Justin Smith took 3/36 off 8 overs, Ryan Tooth 2/31 off 6.2 overs, Matthew Young 2/46 off 6 overs, with single wickets to Daniel Caton, 1/25 off 8 overs, and Kyan Harper 1/28.

In the run chase, Kilsyth were dismissed for 154 after 35.3 overs. The top scorers were Daniel Caton, 34 off 45 balls, Tim Asbury 27 off 24 balls (5 fours), and Ryan Tooth 17 off 24 balls.

Warranwood’s multiple wicket takers were Daniel Turner, who took 2/4 off 3 overs, Nathan Lingwood 2/26 off 7.3 overs, and Oliver Cowie 2/39 of 8 overs.

The Third XI played Croydon Ranges at Roy Baldwin Oval, Pinks Reserve.

Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat. After losing early wickets and being 3/31 after 8.4 overs, Mark Unternahrer and Robert Hutchings put on 65 for the fourth wicket to see Kilsyth 4/96 after 24.2 overs when Hutchings was stumped by ’keeper Owen Brown for 25 from 48 balls (3 fours) off the bowling of Daniel Gauci.

At that stage Unternahrer was on 30*.

Some useful partnerships progressed the score to 5/134 and then 6/154 after 31.5 overs with Unternahrer picking up the run rate on 74*.

U16 player Joshua Bock then joined Unternahrer and they batted well with “Unters” bringing up his century before being run out on the last ball of the innings for a brilliant 110 off 98 balls.

Bock remained 26* off 29 balls with Kilsyth compiling 7/233cc off the allotted 40 overs.

Unternahrer and Bock had added 79 for the eighth wicket in the highest partnership of the innings.

The main wicket takers for Croydon Ranges were Toby Warr 2/30 off 6 overs (1 maiden), and Nathan Paisley 2/60.

In reply, Croydon Ranges lost wickets on a regular basis and were 1/5, 2/44, 3/54, 4/60, 5/75, 6/85, 7/91 and 8/103 after 25.5 overs.

To that point, opener Daniel Gauci was the best of the batsmen with 38 off 60 balls (6 fours and 1 six).

A threatening ninth wicket partnership of 73 between Captain Matthew Stephen and Toby Warr came to an end when Warr was caught by Robert Hutchings at mid-off from the bowling of Hayden Monds for a well made 39 off 37 balls (6 fours and 1 six).

At that stage Croydon Ranges were 9/176 off 36 overs and finished on 9/197cc off 40 overs.

Matthew Stephen top scored with a fine 61* off 66 balls (11 fours).

Mark Unternahrer was the best of the bowlers with 3/9 off 8 overs.

U16 player Hayden Monds took 2/30 off 7 overs, Brodie Goodwin 2/43, Matthew Burgess 1/40 and Luke Childs 1/30.

The win places Kilsyth Third XI in second place on the ladder with 3 rounds remaining.

The Fourth XI played Warrandyte Fourth XI at Warrandyte High School.

Kilsyth won the toss, elected to bat, and were all out for an impressive score of 250 off 35.5 overs.

As mentioned earlier, Greg Gommers was the standout batsmen scoring 112 off 101 balls, including 15 fours and 4 sixes.

It was his second senior century for Kilsyth CC. Jordan Relf was the next best with the willow, smashing a whirlwind 45 off 13 balls, including 3 fours and 5 sixes.

The multiple wicket takers for Warrandyte were Ben Trayford, 2/24 off 3.5 overs, Cooper Winter 2/37 off 7 overs, and Scott Brimelow 2/44. Warrandyte set about the run chase positively and after 16 overs were 4/109.

A fifth wicket partnership of 85 between Tim Winter and Flynn Whetters took the Bloods to 5/194 after 30 overs and within striking distance of the target. Whetters had made 32 off 39 balls (5 fours) before being caught by Greg Gommers off the bowling of Trent Potter.

At the end of the 31st over with the score on 200, opener Tim Winter was bowled for 96 off 88

balls (11 fours and 1 six).

After 35 overs with one over remaining, Warrandyte had reached 7/233, needing 18 off the last over.

Greg Gommers came on to bowl the last over and took a wicket with his first ball, caught by Pieter Van Gent.

In the end, Warrandyte finished on 8/242cc off 36 overs to give Kilsyth a win.

The other main run scorers were Ben Trayford 24 off 16 balls, and Mark Butcher 23 off 29 balls.

The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Adriaan Van Gent 2/38, Trent Potter 2/39, Ryan Kaal 2/30 and Greg Gommers 1/37.

The Fifth XI played Seville Burras Third XI at Elizabeth Bridge Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat but found the opposition challenging and were all out for 130 in 30.1 overs.

Kilsyth Captain Shane Smith batted well to score 51 off 43 balls (8 fours and 1 six), whilst Ashleigh Katoa struck 28 off 35 balls (6 fours). For Seville, Josh McKenna took 3/2 off 2 overs, Dean Troyahn 3/30 off 8 overs, and Jake Troyahn 2/19 off 4.1 overs (1 maiden).

Seville chased down the target in 16.1 overs and finished on 0/131.

Opener Dean Troyahn retired on 50 not out off 26 balls (6 fours and 3 sixes), whilst Jake Troyahn was 41* off 62 balls (5 fours), and Dale Treller 20* off 15 balls (3 fours).

On Sunday, the Women’s First XI played their first game after the break against Lusatia Park at Woori Yallock Reserve. Kilsyth won the toss and elected to bat.

Opening bowler Ella Amore snared two wickets (caught behind and bowled) off the last two balls of the first over to have Kilsyth rocking on 2/1.

After 4 overs the score was 3/16 when Abi Diggins took the third wicket (lbw).

Captain Ashleigh Katoa and Stephanie Gibbs steadied the innings with a fourth wicket partnership of 47 before Stephanie was bowled by Caitlyn Parker for a sparkling 24 off 15 balls (2 fours and 2 sixes).

Ashleigh was the next wicket to fall, caught at midwicket by Georgia Parker off the bowling of Melissa Page for an attacking 37 off 24 balls (6 fours), with Kilsyth now 5/83 from 11.3 overs.

Belinda Hutchings and Courtney Anderson then set about batting some time with plenty of overs left in the innings.

They added 28 before Belinda was bowled for 20 off 32 balls and Kilsyth were now 6/111 off 19.3 overs.

A partnership of 40 between Courtney Anderson and Sarah Gibbs took Kilsyth to 151 when the seventh wicket fell after 29 overs.

That’s when Sarah Gibbs was bowled by Ella Amore for an important 9 after Ella was reintroduced into the attack.

Kilsyth went on to score 8/173cc with Courtney Anderson playing a fighting innings of 28* off 74 balls (2 fours). For Lusatia Park, Ella Amore captured 3/22 off 7 overs, Amelia English 1/5 off 3 overs (1 maiden), Ellen Bradley 1/14 off 4 overs, Caitlyn Parker 1/18 off 5 overs, Abi Diggins 1/24 and Melissa Page 1/35.

After the break Lusatia Park lost early wickets to be 3/8 after 7.3 overs with a wicket each to

Lecia Baldry (caught and bowled), Serena Gibbs and Stephanie Gibbs (both caught by Tegan Unternahrer).

With the score on 29, Michaela Healey was the fourth wicket to fall, bowled by Tegan Unternahrer in the 14th over.

Then Caitlyn Parker and Sam Reynolds batted quite well in a steadying partnership until Lecia Baldry was reintroduced into the attack and dismissed Caitlyn Parker (caught and bowled) for 21 off 35 balls (4 fours).

Baldry’s wicket maiden saw Lusatia Park now 5/55 from 17 overs.

The batters fought it out until the end, but wickets continued to fall as follows: 6/73, 7/94, 8/100, 9/113 and all out for 113 in 31.4 overs. Sam Reynolds scored 13 off 21 balls (2 fours), Ella Bradley 19 off 23 balls (4 fours), Georgia Parker 15 off 14 balls (3 fours), and Melissa Page 10 off 25 balls. For Kilsyth, Lecia Baldry was outstanding, capturing 3/12 off 6 overs (2 maidens) as well as taking thee catches in the field, including two caught and bowled.

Stephanie Gibbs completed a fine all-round game taking 2/21 off 7 overs.

The single wicket takers were Serena Gibbs, 1/15 off 5 overs (1 maiden), Sarah Gibbs 1/11 off 5.4 overs (1 maiden), Nisansala Hettiarachchi 1/8 off 2 overs, Courtney Anderson 1/12 off 2 overs, and Tegan Unternahrer 1/15 off 2 overs. It was a good win for the Kilsyth