By Oliver Winn
The fight to reinstate the Little Yarra Ranges Egg Farm’s recycling depot escalated with a petition in Parliament, while Visy face potential consequences as a council investigation gets underway. With just under 2000 signatures at time of publication, the petition has seen support come in droves as the Yarra Ranges community bands together.
By Oliver Winn
Whether he’s overseas tearing up sand dunes with broken bones, or battling council over zoning disputes, Daniel “Chucky” Sanders is certainly a force not to be reckoned with.
The Sanders Apple Farm have secured existing use rights to host motorbike races at the farm, two years after the Yarra Ranges Council shut the events down.
“It’s been a long time coming since 2023, since we got shut down,” Mr Sanders said.
The development closed the lid on the lengthy zoning dispute between the farm and the Yarra Ranges Council.
Mr Sanders has big plans for the farm’s return, with a fundraiser event to take place sometime in April.
“We’ll make a really good event, it’ll be fun you know, not a racing competition, it’ll be just to enjoy the property we have here and enjoy riding a dirt bike.”
Read more on page eight
The petition opened on 5 February and was sponsored by Eildon MP Cindy McLeish in what was described as the “last real option” by farm owners Greg and Sue Gimmill.
“If we don’t get the signatures, it won’t convey the sentiment of the Upper Yarra Valley. So, if you want it done, you’ve got to be noisy,” Ms Gimmill said.
Rather than petitioning to have Visy reinstate the farm’s license, it calls for an exemption to be
given to the East Zone operator, Return-It-Vic, to manage the site outside of its zone.
Ms Gimmill said the alternate approach was because Visy had “washed their hands” from the matter.
Meanwhile, Yarra Ranges Council planning and sustainable futures director Kath McClusky said the council launched an investigation into Visy’s reverse vending machine in Yarra Junction on 5 February over reports it may be breaching its permit conditions.
“Council has been in direct communication with Visy and will continue to work with the operator to address the issues and ensure the site operates in compliance with the planning permit,” Ms McCluksy said. It came after Visy shutdown the egg farm’s depot for noncompliance in December.
Read more on page four
By Oliver Winn
The decline in volunteering among Australians has highlighted the need for volunteer clubs to adapt in order to stay alive.
Rotary Club of Upper Yarra vice president Janice Burney said a rapidly changing world was impacting the way how people connect and as a result, meant a decline in volunteerism.
“Rotary had begun at the start of last century
so let’s face it - the world we were living in has changed.
“I do believe that it has declined somewhat over the years,” Ms Burney said.
An ABC article reported 92 Rotary clubs to have closed between 2020 and 2025 with an average membership at 22 members.
The national peak body for volunteering, Volunteering Australia, said clubs were adapting to provide more flexible arrangements and niching down to cater to special interests.
“People are just grabbing the opportunity, grabbing some friends and going and doing things that they are either interested in or need to be done without going through organisations,” Volunteering Australia chief executive Mark Pearce said.
Ms Burney echoed the sentiment and said clubs were offering more non-committal opportunities.
“You don’t necessarily have to attend meetings. You don’t necessarily have to be committed on a monthly slash weekly scenario.
“It could be, ‘This is a job I can help with. This is something I’m good at. I’ll do that this afternoon and maybe not reconnect for another six months or so.’”
Ms Burney is also a member of the Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG) and said the change in approach had seen some success.
“We’ve been able to put a call out for people who would like to do a particular role and have had some really good responses and it’s been obviously positive to get somebody to help out with the job, but also the gains that current members have had just by listening to a person’s different view on something is huge.”
Though Rotary saw a lot of clubs fold after Covid-19, it’s also seen 21 new clubs start since 2020.
Rotary South Pacific public image chair Liz McDougall said these new clubs were better at attracting younger members.
“Many smaller clubs have seen their members age out or, sadly, pass away, but in recent years, the development of new-style clubs are attracting younger members,” Ms McDougall said.
Ms Burney said there was potentially a correlation between the rise of the internet and the decline in volunteering.
“People saw Rotary as a club to of course have friendship and fellowship but also to to be able to discuss problems,” Ms Burney said.
“Now, for young people… they think that they’re engaging with the world [on social media].
“To a certain extent, I guess you are - with social media, you can speak to anybody anywhere.”
“But we’re pack animals, we’re born to be connected and socialised, and you just won’t get the same feeling from an electronic interaction”
She said the gains of volunteering were “immense” and that people who’ve never tried it should give it a go.
“The value that you can bring and the reward you get from when you volunteer is immense.
“There’s so many studies about how it’s good for self-esteem, self-worth. Having that sense of being a rounded person moving about in your life with a balanced perspective to the hours in your day.
“Now you’re clearly not getting paid because you’re a volunteer and you may not get praise or rewards but in your heart or in your soul or in your being, it feels good.”
Mr Pearce said the future of volunteering was dependent on clubs adapting to meet the change of volunteering behaviours.
“In order for volunteering to survive and thrive into the future, we need to engage with volunteers in a way that makes sense to them,” he said.
“We need to look really closely at improving the volunteer experience.”
By Oliver Winn
A number of workplace incidents occurred in the Yarra Ranges over the past year.
These incidents reveal the consequences of when safety procedures aren’t followed. From horror injuries to unsafe workplaces, here is a list of incidents which took place in 2025.
A Ferntree Gully-based concrete supply business, Congy Pty Ltd, copped a $45,000 fine after an employee sustained nerve damage when his hand was entangled in a dosing machine.
When the employee was cleaning the dosing machine it had multiple safety features removed and was powered on, despite the operation manual stating no maintenance should be carried out on the machine while it is in operation.
The employer also failed to provide their employees with the necessary information, instruction and training.
Congy Pty Ltd pleaded guilty on 15 December 2025 and was forced to pay $4365 in costs.
In September, a principal contractor from building company Initial Homes Victoria Pty Ltd was given an $8000 fine after a visit from
WorkSafe identified no protection was installed to prevent fall from at height.
The workplace was a building site in Kilsyth, where a lack of guard railings and stair void protection was observed.
The offender engaged LBR Frames Pty Ltd to complete framing works, and they too were convicted alongside the offender.
Shortly after being issued improvement notices, the offender installed the required safety features and compliance was achieved.
The offender had been previously put on notice about the risk of falls from height.
In September 2020, WorkSafe attended a workplace under the offender’s control in Warranwood where six double storey domestic dwellings were under construction.
An improvement notice was issued after three workers were observed working on the first floors of two units, in close proximity to live edges.
An employee of a Bayswater glass supplier, Tomlinson Glass Pty Ltd, suffered severe injuries after a two tonne glass pack pinned him to the wall of a shipping container.
The injured employee suffered a bro-
ken nose, a broken wrist, a severed tendon in his left hand, a broken sternum, broken shoulders blades, a large laceration to the neck, collapsed lungs, and a number of broken ribs.
A crane had to be used to remove the glass pack from the employee, and he was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Tomlinson Glass Pty Ltd pleaded guilty and on 27 August was forced to pay a $50,000 fine and $5626 in costs.
If it weren’t for the guilty plea, the offender would’ve been sentenced with conviction and a fine of $80,000.
When sentencing, the Magistrate noted the seriousness of the incident and the significant departure from health and safety standards.
The offender also had no prior convictions and entered an early plea.
Over in Mooroolbark, VBD & C Pty Ltd was the principal contractor for 26 townhouses and two basement car parks when it failed to provide a safe workplace.
Carpenters were observed working at height with no adequate protections.
VBD & C Pty Ltd was fined $25,000 and paid $5802 in costs.
The Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol are seeking information on a man who was riding erratically on his illegal e-bike in Seville on 3 February. This rider was requested to stop by police but he ignored the calls to stop.
“Some say he is just a young lad out having fun; however, it isn’t fun when we have to knock on the door of his parents when they come off them and are seriously injured or worse,” the Yarra Ranges Eyewatch social media post read.
If you have any information regarding the identity of the rider, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Emergency road works in Wandin now finished
The Warburton Highway in Wandin has reopened after it was closed due to emergency roadworks.
A stretch of road had collapsed and works were in place from Clegg Road in Wandin North to Hyne Street in Lilydale. Authorised access (residents, bus and heavy vehicle access only) while others were asked to use an alternative route.
The road has now reopened and can be used by the public.
High risk driving event on Melba Highway
Late on Friday 6 February, Kinglake Police received multiple calls for anti social behaviour at the intersection of Melba Hwy and Kinglake Healesville Road, Castella. On arrival roughly 30-40 vehicles disbursed from what was believed to be a high risk driving event.
Multiple registrations were obtained by police and enquires will be made with those drivers.
Located on scene were two vehicle rims and a red car jack believed to be involved in the event. Police would like to reunite the items with their owner and are intrigued on how their vehicle managed to drive home on only two rims.
Proof of ownership will be required.
■Property reference: 202602-E-0661
■Kinglake Police (03) 5786 1333.
Boy stabbed during Croydon aggravated burglary
A 17-year-old boy has been stabbed during an aggravated burglary in Croydon in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Police have confirmed they are investigating the circumstances and it is understood offenders entered a property about 3.45am.
“A 17-year-old boy was stabbed during the incident. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” a spokesperson said.
“The offenders fled the scene, and no arrests have been made at this stage. A crime scene is in place.”
Investigators are looking into whether the people involved are known to each other.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics attended the scene. “A teenage boy was transported by road ambulance to hospital in a stable condition with upper body injuries.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic. com.au
By Oliver Winn
Just under 2000 people have signed a parliamentary petition to reopen the recyclable container refund point at the Little Yarra Ranges Egg Farm.
The petition opened on 5 February and was sponsored by Eildon MP Cindy McLeish in what was described as the “last real option” by farm owners Greg and Sue Gimmill.
“If we don’t get the signatures, it won’t convey the sentiment of the Upper Yarra Valley. So, if you want it done, you’ve got to be noisy,” Ms Gimmill said.
It’s the latest development in the battle to reinstate the community depot after the North Zone network operator, Visy, shut down the site on 17 December for breaching its contractual obligations.
Rather than petitioning to have Visy reinstate the farm’s license, it calls for an exemption to be given to the East Zone operator, Return-It-Vic, to manage the site outside of its zone.
Ms Gimmill said the alternate approach was because Visy had “washed their hands” from the matter and wasn’t open to negotiating with the farm.
Visy replied to a Star Mail media enquiry and stated it would no longer be replying to requests for comment surrounding the egg farm depot closure.
Ms Gimmill said attempts to escalate the matter to other government departments were unsuccessful.
“We’ve been met with a little bit of obstruction
from the office at DEECA. So they’ve more or less stated that because Victoria has 600 sites, it’s easy and efficient for all Victorians to participate in the recycling scheme.”
“We’re trying to raise awareness to the Minister that it’s not actually very easy or efficient. And members of the Upper Yarra Valley would actually probably really like to reinstate our service.”
Visy shut the egg farm’s beloved community-run refund point for breaching its contractual
obligations, such as not counting each individual can and checking them for eligibility.
But Ms Gimmill said the reasons for the closure were “very interpretative” and believed Visy’s self-appointed auditors to be grasping at straws.
“Every time that it goes to a higher person to make a decision, they’ll go back to Visy for clarification.”
“But we’ve never been able to tell our side of the story about what it is that came to the closure.”
Ms McLeish championed the farm’s fight and Ms Gimmill said she was grateful for her representation in Parliament.
“I can’t convey how nice it is that someone [Cindy McLeish] with a capacity to make change has bothered to listen.”
The opening of an automated reverse vending machine in Yarra Junction just one day after the closure casted doubt over Visy’s shutdown.
As part of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic), the Little Yarra Ranges Egg Farm refund point was used by people as far as Croydon and Neerim, while organisations and businesses could earn valuable income by depositing bulk amounts of containers.
The shutdown galvanised a huge community pushback, with multiple organisations speaking out in support of the egg farm.
The Upper Yarra SES said the egg farm’s depot point was a huge help for the unit and called on people to sign the petition.
“The Container Deposit Scheme has been a huge help to our unit, giving us an easy, low-key
way to fundraise without constantly asking people or local businesses for hand-outs,” the Upper Yarra SES said on a social media post.
“Since the drop-off was moved to a shopfront with an automated machine, it’s been a real struggle. Our volunteers have tried multiple times and each visit involved the machine rejecting more containers than it accepted.”
“Allowing Little Yarra Free Range Egg Farm to operate again as a drop-off point would make a massive difference, not just for our unit but for many people in the community who, for all sorts of reasons, find the shopfront hard to access.”
Ms Gimmill said everyone needed to make their voices heard.
“I think that they thought that we would go away much more quietly.
“But I encourage everyone to get on and sign the petition. It can be every husband and wife and children, it’s not age limited, everyone in your household.”
The petition closed on 4 March and can be found at the link: shorturl.at/rQmCk.
By Oliver Winn
Recycling company Visy could be fined or taken to court if a council investigation finds it to have breached its permit conditions.
The Yarra Ranges Council launched an investigation into Visy’s reverse vending machine in Yarra Junction on 5 February over reports it may be breaching its permit conditions.
It came after a Star Mail article highlighted community concerns surrounding traffic and pedestrian concerns, prompting O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child to call for an investigation.
Yarra Ranges Council planning and sustainable futures director Kath McClusky said the council is investigating reports about the Visy Return It Centre in Yarra Junction.
“We have received community reports that the site is not operating in accordance with the planning permit condition.”
“Council has been in direct communication with Visy and will continue to work with the operator to address the issues and ensure the site operates in compliance with the planning permit,” Ms McCluksy said.
Cr Child’s request for an investigation surrounded collection trucks blocking the Warburton Highway due to inadequate parking and excessive noise caused by the operation.
“When I looked at the conditions and what’s been flying out there on Warburton Highway in front of that operation, to me, the conditions of the planning permit are not being adhered to,”
Cr Child said.
Ms McClusky said the reverse vending machine is managed by Visy and overseen by the Container Deposit Scheme Victoria (CDS Vic).
The reverse vending machine located at 2467 Warburton Highway opened a day after the popular community refund point at the Little Yarra Ranges Egg Farm was shut down by Visy on 18 December.
Individuals and businesses would cash in on recyclable containers at the egg farm as part of CDS Vic, which could process large quantities of recyclables.
Ms McClusky emphasised that the decision to close the egg farm’s refund point was not
made by council.
“Visy’s recent decision to close another container deposit scheme point in the area was not a decision of council.
“Council’s role on these matters is to investigate potential breaches of the planning permit,” Ms McClusky said.
In response to the community reports, a Visy spokesperson said it “implemented collection systems designed to prioritise safety and minimise disruption to nearby businesses and the community”.
But with limited designated parking spaces available, the collection trucks have been double parking on the busy Warburton Highway, blocking traffic and potentially endangering pedestrians.
The other permit condition Visy has potentially breached is the excessive noise caused when the trucks load the material into its bins.
Red Relish Cafe manager Sue Cordina said it was “louder than a car accident” and was ruining the atmosphere of the area.
“When the glass smashed, everybody jumped. Like, it scared me. I thought somebody had a car accident out the front. It’s absolutely awful,” she said.
Complaints have been made against council for approving the planning permit in the first place, but Cr Child said it wasn’t the permit itself which was the issue.
“The important thing to remember is that they’ve got to abide by the conditions of the planning permit.”
By Gabriella Vukman
At approximately 12:30 am on Sunday, local CFA units were notified of a house on fire in Healesville.
The Healesville Fire Brigade, alongside the Badger Creek CFA attended the scene in Centre Grove near the RACV Club.
On arrival, the crews were faced with a house already engulfed in flames.
Healesville CFA Captain Brian Earl said, “We had a fair amount of crew from Healesville Fire Brigade responding, and the information that came to us from triple zero was that the structure was well alight and some banging and popping had been heard by nearby neighbours.”
“By the time we arrived at the fire, it was fairly well established throughout the property,” Mr Earl said.
“Crews worked pretty hard for the first little while there to try and pull it under control and stop it spreading any further.”
Once the fire was contained to the house of origin, further breathing apparatus operators arrived at the scene and worked to extinguish the large fire by using Thermal Imaging Cameras to find and put out hot spots.
The incident was marked safe by 4 am, with the bulk of the house left damaged by fire.
Mr Earl said, “Shortly after Badger Creek CFA arrived, we were supported by Bayswater, who came up to help us replenish gear with their breathing apparatus support.”
No one was injured during the fire, and its cause is under investigation by both fire investigators and Victoria Police.
There were no residents on the scene.
Mr Earl extended a thank you to all of the crews who turned up and gave the Healesville CFA a helping hand.
By Jacob Shteyman, AAP
The Reserve Bank of Australia has hiked interest rates by 25 basis points, becoming the first major central bank to go from rate cuts to rate hikes following the post-Covid inflation spike.
In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, the RBA’s monetary policy board lifted the cash rate to 3.85 per cent.
The move was tipped by most economists and expected by financial markets, which attributed a three-quarter chance of a rate rise ahead of the decision, after inflation surged back above the RBA’s 2-3 per cent target band.
Labour force data and consumer spending was also above RBA forecasts, heightening fears that the economy was running above capacity and contributing to inflationary pressures.
But the decision was a difficult one for the Reserve Bank nonetheless, having only last cut interest rates in August.
After bucking the trend of peer economies by intentionally keeping rates lower for longer to prevent a spike in unemployment, the RBA becomes the first major central bank to return to interest rate rises since the pandemic.
Some economists had predicted the RBA would prefer to wait for further data, given recent monthly inflation data had been softening and strength in the Australian dollar would take some heat out of the economy.
Domain chief economist Nicola Powell said while it would reduce homebuyers’ borrowing power, the hike would take some momentum out of the housing market.
A borrower with a $600,000 mortgage would see their monthly repayments increase by about $90, assuming lenders pass on the increase in full.
Attention now turns to what tone governor Michele Bullock strikes in her post-meeting press conference, with economists less sure about whether the RBA will follow the hike with further rises or make it a one-and-done affair.
In updated economic forecasts, RBA staff revised up their inflation assumptions, with core inflation expected to come in at 3.2 per cent by the end of 2026, up from their November prediction of 2.7 per cent.
Summerset Chirnside Park has officially launched and 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
By Callum Ludwig
Alongside the Labour Hire Authority (LHA), the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has put the Yarra Valley’s horticulture industry under heavy scrutiny.
The FWO revealed in June 2025 that the horticulture industry in the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley region had the highest rate of overall non-compliance, with 83 per cent of targeted employers found to have failed to meet obligations under the Fair Work Act.
An FWO spokesperson said their horticulture compliance report showed the non-compliance rates for employers targeted for surprise inspections in 15 regional hotspots under the regulator’s Horticulture Strategy 2021-2024.
“Having identified the nation’s five leastcompliant hotspots, the FWO announced a fresh campaign of horticulture sector inspections in the ‘troublespots’, these regions are Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley; Sunraysia; Shepparton, and NSW’s Riverina region and Coffs Harbour/Grafton,” they said.
“The troublespots inspections, which roll out across two years, have a focus on labour hire operators as such operators had notably higher breach rates than growers in every region where both were investigated, if we receive intelligence however, about notable suspected non-compliance by growers we will act.
“The regulator hopes for improvement since the Horticulture Strategy inspections and the deterrent effect of non-compliant employers having faced penalties, back-payments and other enforcement action from us and/or other regulators.”
The FWO targets employers for inspection on its own intelligence, such as a history of noncompliance (including the outcomes of the Horticulture Strategy 2021-2024), as well as anonymous reports, advice of government departments and agencies and more.
The spokesperson said the Horticulture Strategy 2021-2024 found that non-compliance with workplace laws was significantly higher among labour hire providers than growers who employ workers directly.
“For example, 91 per cent of Infringement Notices were issued to labour hire providers. In the top five worst-performing regions, 80 per cent of non-compliant employers were labour hire providers,” they said.
“In the worst-performing region, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley, 100 per cent of the 23 labour hire providers inspected were noncompliant (compared with 54 per cent of the 13 growers targeted).
“As mentioned above, labour hire providers are a focus of the fresh inspections because of their higher rate of non-compliance.”
Between 74 per cent and 83 per cent of labour hire providers in the other worst-performing regions were found to be non-compliant.
Common themes identified with labour hire providers included:
A lack of record-keeping (leading to difficulty for Fair Work Inspectors in determining workers’ correct pay) .
Cash in hand payments (including allegations involving non-payment of taxation obligations and superannuation guarantee).
Contracted workers not knowing who their employer is.
Workers not wanting to engage with the FWO (including workers deliberately avoiding Fair Work Inspectors undertaking site inspections).
Use of ‘straw directors’ who are not involved in the operation of an entity.
Use of ‘supervisors’ who act as intermediaries (making identification of the ‘true employer’ difficult to determine at times).
Provision of false or misleading records.
Use of social media and group communication applications to interact with the workforce (making it difficult for Fair Work Inspectors to trace or recall communications to workers in the absence of records).
Fraudulent claims of holding a labour hire licence.
Misrepresenting the true employer of labour.
Fraudulent use of ABNs.
The spokesperson said improving compliance in the agriculture sector including horticulture is a priority for the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), as the sector often involves manual-intensive, often low-skilled, seasonal work, commonly relies on vulnerable visa holders, and often engages with complex supply chains and labour hire arrangements.
“Many workers in horticulture are visa holders, including young backpackers, and these workers are more vulnerable to exploitation, as they are less likely to be aware of their rights and Australian workplace laws,” they said.
“Visa holders may also be reluctant to speak
up because of language barriers, or be worried about repercussions for their visas if they speak up about workplace issues.
“However, it is crucial that migrant workers in Australia know that they the same rights and protections under the Fair Work Act as other employees. The FWO does not tolerate the exploitation of any worker, especially vulnerable or ‘at risk’ workers such as migrant workers.”
The FWO has filed 171 litigations against employers involving visa holder workers, resulting in $39 million in penalties, in the eight financial years to June 2025.
Information is available for employees and employers at our visa holders and migrants webpages and it is important that visa holders are aware they can’t get into trouble or have their visa cancelled for contacting the FWO: fairwork.gov. au/find-help-for/visa-holders-migrants.
To address workplace exploitation of visa workers, the Australian Government is also conducting two pilot initiatives, the Strengthening Reporting Protections Pilot and Workplace Justice Visa Pilot.
The FWO spokesperson said one of the best defences for any worker against being underpaid is an awareness of their workplace rights and entitlements.
“Workers can go to fairwork.gov.au and use the Pay Calculator to help determine their minimum wage rates and entitlements, they can familiarise themselves with sector-specific information in our Horticulture Showcase,” they said.
“The FWO has a range of resources including a step-by-step guide to help employees when their
pay doesn’t seem right and a free online course to help with difficult conversations in the workplace.
“We’re conscious that some workers may be reluctant to come forward for a range of reasons – so we also have an area on our website where workers can leave anonymous tip-offs about noncompliance issues. The online anonymous report tool includes options to report in languages other than English.”
Any worker who is concerned they have been underpaid and would like some assistance can lodge a request for assistance via the FWO website – or by calling Fair Work Infoline (13 13 94). There is also a free interpreter service on 13 14 50.
The spokesperson said the FWO is committed to building a culture of compliance across the horticulture sector through education and enforcement.
“We know we can’t do this alone, and we’re continuing to work closely with employer groups and unions to highlight how employers can get it right in the first place,” they said.
We encourage horticulture businesses who wish to engage a labour hire operator to familiarise themselves with the information we provide… employers who think they may have underpaid their workers can see our step-by-step guide on how to fix an underpayment.
“When businesses are looking to contract out labour, the FWO expects them to understand the cost of employment. If the price of a proposed contract seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Employers can find more at horticulture.fairwork.gov.au/sourcing-labour
By Callum Ludwig
With the world on edge as the Cold War rumbled on and fears festered over a third world war only a few short years after the last, the Menzies government acted to shore up Australia’s defences.
By 1951, national service was implemented and for eight years, young men were called up for basic military training whether they liked it or not.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the National Servicemen, or the ‘Nashos’, and two Yarra Ranges locals, Les Hutchinson and Don Ingram, shared their memories ahead of commemorative services being held around the country on 14 and 15 February.
Local historian Anthony McAleer OAM said with tensions growing due to the Cold War and the Korean War having already started, the government believed something significant was going to happen.
“We didn’t have the men in our defence forces so they decided to bring in National Service… you would be compulsorily brought in to undertake military service during that period and every 18-year-old was conscripted,” he said.
“The only way that you got out of it was if you didn’t pass the medical or for some other valid reason, but there were very few reasons they would allow.
“These two men as 18-year-olds were called up, they had to go and do basic army training at Puckapunyal, then from there, they had to spend the rest of their time in a CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit, which nowadays, we would call the reserves, but in those days, it was a unit made up of part-time soldiers, guys who had volunteered to undertake military training and service parttime.”
Les Hutchinson, from the Hutchinson family with a long history in Lilydale, would have been one of the first in the town to be called up.
Mr Hutchinson said it was in early January when he got the notice, while he was at a church camp.
“When I was to finish the camp, two days later, I was to go to camp for national service so I didn’t
have long to think about it.
“I went by train up, they took off my ‘civvy’ clothes, gave me army clothes and I marched out.”
National Servicemen were required to undergo training with either the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force, for an active standard training obligation of 176 days.
Mr Hutchinson said he was glad to do it because his dad was in the army.
“I liked to see the soldiers marching and I wanted to march and so I enjoyed it but some hated it,” he said.
“There was one in our hut and he had a calendar and he’d put a big cross in it every day waiting for the three months to move on.
“But the best part was my girlfriend liked the uniform, and we got engaged.”
Mr Hutchinson had also started working at a bank when he was called up, and despite missing time at work, he luckily received the same promotions as everyone else when he got back, while earning better money with the military.
Mr Ingram wasn’t as pleased with his call-up and said he was playing footy at Yarra Glen and they’d just won the last game to make into the finals when he got the call-up and had to miss the
finals series.
“I wasn’t very happy about it, I can tell you that, especially afterwards in the CMF, I was chasing a girl that lived at Yarra Glen, and it was Friday night that we had to go to train at East but the pictures and dances were on Friday night at Yarra Glen and I wasn’t happy about missing all that,” he said.
“At the time I wasn’t too keen on it, I didn’t like it, because we had a very good corporal and sergeant to start with, but then somebody decided our outfit wasn’t up to scratch, so they sent our sergeant packing and sent a new one in, and he was a real mongrel, he gave us a hard time but looking back, it was a good experience.
“Once I got over the initial part of everything, I did enjoy it.”
Those in the Army could not be sent abroad, since they had not volunteered for overseas service, but anyone who served in the navy or the air force may have been asked to serve overseas, though not in an active war zone.
For over six years from 1951, 33,000 youths were trained annually under national service, and in 1957 it dropped from 33,000 to 12,000 youths trained annually.
A favourite memory of Mr Ingram’s time in
training he said was when they put on a concert in the hall and the whole camp attended, with 200-300 there.
“After it was all finished, of course, there was two girls at the time that were on the television, Heather Horwood and Gaynor Bunning, and when they came on stage, the whole place erupted after not seeing girls for a couple of months,” he said.
“When we got back to out hut, the sergeant came in and he said ‘Alright everybody, full-battle gear on’ so put everything on, that we had to go down the parade ground, march from one end to the other, take our gear off, stand there for two minutes, put everything back on, march up the other end, and this went on until right after midnight.
“Until the guy who actually arranged all the concerts, the acts and everything, he was the first one to crack it, he took his bayonet’s gabbard off and tried to tie it up in knots and the sergeant decided we’d had enough.”
Mr McAleer estimates that between 1951 to 1959 there were possibly about 50 local 18-yearolds in the district who underwent the compulsory National Service Training.
More about National Service and how it impacted the local area will be found in a book released later this year, sponsored by the Lilydale RSL and written by Mr McAleer, that will deal with the military history of the area from 1945 to 1995.
By Oliver Winn
Daniel “Chucky” Sanders may have lost the 2026 Dakar Rally, but he has won the battle against council to continue holding motorbike races at the Sanders Apple Farm.
It was a huge win for the farm in Three Bridges, which had hosted motorbike races for over 40 years before the Yarra Ranges Council banned the events in 2023.
Mr Sanders announced the win on 4 February and said it was a “massive relief” after two years of back and forth between the Sanders family and the council.
“It’s been a long time coming since 2023, since we got shut down,” Mr Sanders said.
“The family’s super relieved and excited as well, it’s good news and we are passionate about what we do here.”
Yarra Ranges Council planning and sustainable futures director Kath McClusky said council approved an existing use rights permit for the farm to host motorbike races.
“A previous application for existing use rights was refused for this same property in July 2025 due to the application not demonstrating that the site had been used for motor bike racing for a period over 15 years,” Ms McClusky said.
“The new application was submitted in November and included significant additional information which demonstrated the site had been used for 15 years for motor bike racing.
“This satisfied the criteria to establish existing use rights on the site, and the application has now been approved.”
Home to the former world champion rally-raid Mr Sanders, the Sanders Apple Farm was established in 1976 and has hosted motorbike races since 1982.
A cornerstone of the motorbiking community, the farm shaped Mr Sanders’ career and provided a safe, legal place hosting motorbike races, junior coaching, ride days, fundraisers and trail rides.
The Sanders family and the motorbiking community were devastated when in October 2023, the council banned races at the property due to its agricultural zoning, shutting down a de-
cades-long establishment within the motorbiking community.
But, after countless hours of digging through files, 1300 documents scanned and one failed application, the Sanders family can finally be at ease.
“We have put in a lot of work and a lot of time, especially myself going through all the paperwork and gathering all the information… we didn’t want to leave any stone unturned.”
“Not a great percent of people succeed with this, so it’s a good story,” Mr Sanders said.
Looking forward, the Sanders Apple Farm will host its first event back - a fundraiser day in April to raise money for legal costs.
Mr Sanders plans for the event to be a celebration with no high-stakes competitions - just pure motorbiking fun.
“We’ll make a really good event, it’ll be fun you know, not a racing competition, it’ll be just to enjoy the property we have here and enjoy riding a dirt bike.”
“We’ll bring some good riders in and open up to the community. Anyone who wants to bring their family along to ride can camp here as well if they need to travel.”
“The apples will be ready too, so I’m sure we’ll have some apples there as well,” he said.
Mr Sanders finished fifth overall in the highly coveted 2026 Dakar Rally, where he suffered a broken collarbone, sternum and teared groin after an unfortunate crash.
But, he powered through the remaining stages of the gruelling race with his injuries, truly embodying the Australian spirit.
“Mum and dad didn’t raise no quitter, so I’m not pulling out now until someone else tells me to pull out, or they drag me out of the race. I’m not stopping,” Mr Sanders said after his crash in what surely will go down as one of Australia’s most iconic sporting moments.
Mr Sanders rests up back at home while he prepares himself for the second round of the Rally-Raid World Championship in Portugal.
“While I’m still a little bit injured, I’m gonna have a couple of weeks off the bike.”
“The body’s healing, the collarbone’s been
By Tanya Steele
Local families in Cardinia and the Yarra Ranges were both confused and upset by sudden school closures on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 February.
A statewide policy that informs what is known as the bushfire at-risk register (BARR) in the school system has affected schools across the outer east region last week, with more closures possible before summer’s end.
Community across Emerald and Cockatoo questioned the decision by the Department of Education to close some schools in their area but not others last week, with confusion around fire danger ratings, while a Yarra Valley primary school now has to relocate on days forecast as high because of it’s BARR rating.
A department of education spokesperson said that Emerald Secondary College’s local government areas’ fire danger rating for Tuesday 3 February had increased to extreme.
“All relevant Bushfire At-Risk Register schools were contacted immediately to communicate the need to close or relocate in line with their pre-approved plan,” they said.
“The local fire danger rating for the following day is released by the Bureau of Meteorology twice daily at 5.30am and at 4pm, which determines what actions schools on the Bushfire AtRisk Register (BARR) take.”
All schools across Victoria are ranked annually on the BARR register, and under the Department of Education’s policy, all category two services are required to close or relocate when the LGA fire danger rating reaches extreme.
The BARR can place a school or kinder into Category zero, one, two or three with category zero having the highest bushfire risk profile.
To determine a school’s BARR rating the CSIRO considers the site’s terrain, fuel and vegetation type, its Bushfire Prone Area designation and Shelter-in-Place (SIP) building.
The BARR ratings on a school are then used to decide if the school will operate, shut down or move to a partnered school on extreme fire days.
The issue? The Fire Weather District Fire Rating is public. The LGA fire rating is not public. Community have to wait for late afternoon or
evening communications from their schools for their LGA rating.
While the system is all about safety for students and the staff across these schools, it has appeared to create major headaches for families and schools when the forecast is different for the LGA over the district.
Department of Education’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy has been created by expert advice from across the emergency sector and the CSIRO, and schools, kindergartens and childcare facilities deemed to be at the highest risk of fire are placed on the department’s BARR.
“The safety of students and staff is always our highest priority, particularly on days of elevated fire danger when the safest action for some schools is to relocate,” said the Department of Education.
The year in Cardinia, Emerald, and Cockatoo have schools that are now classed as both two and three in their suburbs.
This means families with kids attending across schools will have some children required to stay home or relocate, while others attend as normal.
Cardinia Council released a list of BARR category two schools and after-school services on their website on 2 February that also closed for the two days, which included Beaconsfield Upper Primary School, Beaconsfield Upper Primary School TheirCare, Cockatoo Primary School, Cockatoo Primary School Council OSHC, Emerald Secondary College, Upper Beaconsfield Community Early Learning Centre, Upper Beaconsfield Kindergarten and Upper Beaconsfield McBride Road Kindergarten.
The night before social media notice boards flooded with people questing how the decision was made and expressed frustrations over it.
“We recognise the impact this may have on families, particularly at short notice, and appreciate the community’s understanding as agencies work to prioritise the safety of children, staff and the wider community,” read the website post.
Some schools in the Yarra Ranges were completely closed, like Chum Creek Primary and its OSCH, relocating to Healesville Primary on those days.
The school as of 2026 has a BARR ranking of zero on the register and now has to relocate classes on LGA high days as well as extreme days.
The primary school faces a similar challenge that Selby Primary School in the Dandenong Ranges did last year, with it’s shelter in place building on its site that is no longer meeting required building codes.
Ranges Ward Councillor David Nickells took to social media last week with the issue and said he’d consulted the shire’s emergency management team, who had explained that the Tuesday LGA rating for Cardinia was 50, extreme.
“While the public fire weather district fire danger rating of 46 was High,” he said on social media.
“This disconnect regarding school closure thresholds is really disruptive and confusingand doesn’t help create clear and consistent public messaging, around which we can all create and follow our bushfire plans with our families.”
“I will discuss this week’s events with our Emergency Management Team at Council and with my Councillor colleagues, to find the best way Council might escalate this situation,” he wrote on social media.
In the Yarra Ranges, at a ‘Zero’ rating, Chum Creek Primary and its OSCH, At a ‘One’ is Outdoor Education Camp, Ashwood School in Chum Creek.
At a ‘Two’ is Camp Australia, Selby Primary School OSHC, Cire Community School | Cire Training, Cire Community School in Monbulk, Ferny Creek Primary School, Ferny Creek PS TheirCare, Hills Community Childcare, Kallista Kindergarten, Kallista OSHClub, Kallista Primary School, Macclesfield Primary School, Macclesfield PS TheirCare. Melbourne High School - Millgrove Outdoor Education Centre, Menzies Creek Primary School, Menzies Creek PS TheirCare, Monbulk College, Mount Dandenong Primary School and their OSCH, Mt Dandenong Preschool, Olinda Primary School, Sassafras Preschool, Sassafras Primary School Sassafras PS TheirCare, Scotch College - Chum Creek Campus, Selby Community House, Selby Preschool, Selby Primary School, Sherbrooke Community School, St Joseph’s School, The Patch Kindergarten, The Patch OSHClub, The Patch Primary School, Toolangi Primary School Council, Warburton Preschool, Warburton Primary School, Warburton Primary School Combined OSHC, Wesburn Primary School, Wesburn Primary School OSHC and Yarra Ranges Special Developmental School. In Cardinia, at a ‘One’ Rating is the Outdoor Education Camp, Garfield North Outdoor Education Centre in Garfield North.
At a ‘Two’ Rating is Beaconsfield Upper Primary School, Beaconsfield Upper PS TheirCare, Cockatoo Primary School, Cockatoo Primary School Council OSHC, Emerald Secondary College, Upper Beaconsfield Community Early Learning Centre, Upper Beaconsfield Kindergarten and Upper Beaconsfield McBride Road Kindergarten.
For a full list of the schools on the BARR, community can head to the Department of Education’s website at: vic.gov.au/bushfire-risk-register-barr
Chemists are now treating more conditions without the need for a visit to the GP. From UTI’s to the contraceptive pill refill and more, save time and get it at the chemist.
By Oliver Winn
A 300-strong crowd in Seville celebrated and cheered as they saw off a convoy of trucks donating hay to farmers affected by the Longwood bushfires.
Consisting of five semi-trailers and 157 utes, the Cute Ute Crew drove through Seville on 31 January.
The donation was organised by the Aussie Hay Runners which have been tirelessly providing farmers with support during the January bushfires.
Branded Burgers and Bar owner Lyshea Pushie said the sight brought a tear to her eye as she witnessed the scene in front of her.
“We sort of stopped for a second when they were coming through town, we’d been very busy doing coffees and drinks and brekkie.
“I kind of grabbed everybody together… I was like, ‘Hey, turn around for a second, soak this in, because this is really moving.’”
“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” she said.
The main street of Seville was a cacophony of honks and cheers. Australian flags, thank you signs and bunting flew in the air as crowds brimmed on the borders of the road.
It was a momentous occasion for the Cute Ute Crew leader Mark Petkovski as he drove through the township.
“It was a pretty surreal feeling leading the convoy in a proud moment of doing something good.
“Just knowing you’re doing a good deed for people that are struggling in these times of the fires.”
Mr Petkovski said he felt proud to be Australian as it was the epitome of what Australia’s culture is about.
“That’s what it should be about, banding to-
gether when it’s needed,” Mr Petkovski said.
The entire operation was a collective effort and the result was greater than the sum of its individual parts.
Jake Bakker from Bakkers Agricultural supplied and helped load the hay, the Lions Club of Croydon - Mooroolbark provided breakfast, Branded Burgers and Bar ran 102 coffees to the drivers, Skyy High Media filmed the convoy with its drone.
But this only scratches the surface of those who helped the operation.
Motivated by his experience during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, Mr Petkovski knew what it was like to feel helpless during times of crisis.
By Gabriella Vukman
A guaranteed $16,000 is headed into the pockets of 10 CFAs from the Yarra Ranges Shire. Coldstream, Badger Creek, Dixons Creek, Gleburn, Gruyere, Healesville, Hillcrest, Lilydale, Montrose, Powelltown, Seville, Wandin, Warburton, Wesburn-Millgrove, Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction CFAs are all set to be recipients of the donation.
This imbursement is an initiative of the Healesville Greyhounds, who are hosting a full day’s worth of fundraising on Sunday 15 February. Healesville Greyhounds general manager Peter Frost noted there would be two races held for the CFA with a total guaranteed giveaway of $16,000.
“First prize is $3000, second prize is $1500, third prize is $1000 and then four to eight is $500,” Mr Frost said.
“We will do a box draw that will allocate each participating CFA to a dog,” he said.
“If that dog wins, that local fire brigade receives the money.”
Along with the greyhound races, the fundrais-
ing event also includes a concert, food trucks, face painting, and jumping castles, among other activities.
“We totally believe that the work our firefighters do is very underestimated,” Mr Frost said.
“Their whole ethos is to keep the community safe, and they do an amazing job and need as much support as they can get,” he said.
“We have had overwhelming support from our sponsors, which has enabled us to generate the $16,000 to cover the two races.”
While some fire brigades will win larger amounts than others, together the CFAs will disperse their winnings among them to ensure that those with less liquidity are being supported.
“We have also given all of the brigades ten complimentary VIP tickets, so all of their food and beverages will be provided on the day.”
“It is a great feeling to give back,” he said.
Tickets to the fundraiser cost $35 and all sales will be donated to the local CFA brigades.
The event will take place at the Healesville Greyhounds at 263 Don Rd, Healesville.
For more information, visit the Healesville Grayhounds facebook page or email the organisation at pfrost@grv.org.au
“When you go through those things, you think you’re sort of helpless, and you rely a lot on the community to help you,” he said.
“What we’re doing now is the right thing to be doing… because I know what it’s like to lose everything and rely on the community there to give back.
“So to have Aussie Hay Runners doing what they’re doing, and for us to jump on board, I think it’s really important.”
As the long line of utes drove through Seville, hundreds of people showed their appreciation, gratitude and pride.
Ms Pushie said the moment was not like anything she’d seen before.
“There was a group that came down and
booked a table days in advance to watch the hayrunners come through. They had a bag full of bunting and flags.
“I walked out… to a table on the corner with a mum and dad and their young boy in a high chair. He had his little monster jam truck… so I guess his parents were taking him down to see the trucks and he was loving it,” she said.
“It felt like a bit of a festival almost.”
The Aussie Hay Runners thanked the Cute Ute Crew for their tireless efforts in running the hay to those who needed it most.
“These last couple of months have been so devastating for so many communities but our drivers were loaded and ready to go the minute they were needed, the minute their phones rang they were on the road and heading to these communities,” Aussie Hay Runners said in a Facebook post.
“Our drivers deserve the biggest of thanks and love for everything they do for Aussie Hay Runners, without complaints they just get in and get the job done because that’s the kind of people they are.”
Firefighters and their communities have welcomed the establishment of a Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 summer fires, passed by the Victorian Legislative Council.
The inquiry follows a growing groundswell of community concern. A joint petition calling for a Select Committee on fire services funding and resources received more than 12,500 signatures in under 3 weeks.
The inquiry, to be conducted by the Environment and Planning Standing Committee, will examine preparation and planning ahead of the fire season, the causes and circumstances of the fires, emergency response capability, and the resourcing and resilience of Victoria’s infrastructure and services.
Importantly, the inquiry’s terms of reference include funding for equipment and appliances for Fire Rescue Victoria, the CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria, as well as recruitment and retention of CFA volunteers.
The inquiry provides a long-overdue opportunity for frontline personnel and communities to put evidence on the public record about fleet condition, equipment shortages, safety risks and funding shortfalls that continue to place lives at risk.
Those who signed the petition will now have the opportunity to have their concerns formally heard by a non-partisan Parliamentary committee.
The UFU, CFAVg and AVA look forward to contributing constructively to the inquiry and representing the experiences of firefighters and communities across Victoria.
Andrew Weidemann AM from the Across Victoria Alliance said the inquiry is critical.
“The strong public support shown through the petition demonstrates just how deeply Victorians care about managing fuel loads and the safety and preparedness of their fire services.”
United Firefighters Union Secretary Peter Marshall said firefighters have been raising serious concerns for years.
“After years of gaslighting by the Allan Government, Firefighters will now have a forum, that cannot be controlled by the Allan Government before the Final Report is published mid-year. Firefighters have been campaigning for safe equipment and proper allocation of funding that comes from Victorian taxes. These issues, and others, can now be examined independently without the Allan Government controlling the narrative and outcome.”
“This inquiry gives us a proper forum to put the serious issue of ageing trucks, unreliable equipment and inadequate resourcing on the record.”
John Houston President of CFA Volunteers Group Inc said volunteers want to serve their communities safely and effectively.
The Warburton Bike Park is taking things to the next level with the first trail network expansion set to arrive on 4 April.
Yarra Ranges Council announced the development which will include the highly anticipated shuttle bus services, giving riders more time on the trails.
The network is expected to more than double the initial 30 kilometres of trails, and mayor Cr Richard Higgins said riders were in for a treat.
“We’re really excited to share these new trails. World Trail have been working hard to craft some truly exceptional riding experiences, and this next stage will really show what Warburton Bike Park can deliver.”
While the initial 30 kilometres featured predominately beginner friendly trails, this new expansion will satiate the more experienced riders out there.
Cross country mountain bike world champion Paul van der Ploeg is the Warburton Bike Park ambassador and he said the new trails were exciting.
“It’s super exciting to be part of the Warburton Bike Park team as an ambassador for the new trails. The area has an incredibly diverse landscape and all on Melbourne’s doorstep. It’s one of the most anticipated mountain bike trail networks in Australia and in April there are some amazing trails opening. It’s going to be a massive year for Warburton and the area.”
“The new trails will particularly excite intermediate and experienced riders. With 750 metres
of elevation, it’s the perfect time to introduce the shuttle services,” he said.
Shuttles will begin running from the fourth of April, with bookings opening in March via the website at: warburtonbikepark.com.au.
As well as providing an additional way for riders to experience the trails, the shuttle service plays an important role in the ongoing success of the Park, with revenue going towards the management and maintenance of the trails to ensure they continue to meet the very highest standards.
“Now is the moment to start planning a visit to the beautiful upper Yarra Valley region. Alongside world-class riding, the surrounding townships are home to fantastic hospitality, retail and wellness experiences that will make your stay truly memorable,” said Cr Higgins.
Warburton Bike Park is jointly funded by the Federal and State Governments, and Yarra Ranges Council, with a contribution from the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise. The Park is operated by Yarra Ranges Council.
CFA is encouraging brigades across Victoria to register a team for the upcoming 2026 CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships in Stawell.
After 20 years, CFA’s showcase event returns to the historic North Park Oval with the Urban Junior competition kicking off on 21-22 March, followed by the Urban Senior, Rural Junior and Rural Senior events on 28-29 March.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said it’s great to see the event come back to western Victoria after five successful years in Mooroopna.
“After several consecutive challenging fire seasons in the west, this is an opportunity to come together, reflect on the strength of our people, and celebrate what CFA does best,” Jason said.
“One organisation, one competition and everyone’s welcome.”
For 18-year-old Stawell Fire Brigade member Jai Smith, getting involved in the Championships was a key step in his CFA journey.
Jai joined CFA at just 14 years old through the junior development program before progressing into the senior competition.
“Champs is where I learnt a lot early on, both on and off the track,” Jai said.
“It gave me confidence, helped me build skills, and introduced me to people right across CFA.”
Now an operational firefighter, Jai has been deployed on multiple strike teams across western Victoria in recent fire seasons, including recent deployments to Skipton and Natimuk during the January bushfires.
He now plays an active role in supporting and mentoring younger members in the brigade.
“When you’ve been involved from a young age, you want to help the next group coming through,” Jai said.
“Champs gives younger members something to aim for and a way to feel part of the brigade early on.”
Brigades interested in competing in the 2026 CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships are
Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society (YVMPS) are eager to be running the Wandin Draught Horse and Yesteryear Festival this February (21st & 22nd) at the Mont De Lancey Museum in Wandin North. Composed of volunteers and humble enthusiasts, YVMPS has been operating since 1988, with their mission to preserve and restore old machinery that have mostly ceased use due to our modern day essential, electricity. Mont De Lancey, the historic homestead of the Yarra Valley, a settler family (the Sebires) built this homestead in the 1880’s. Not limited to just the museum, there is the milking shed, a slab kitchen, even a very old dairy and chapel. Forged from the very timber he felled, Henry Sebire built Mont De Lancey and now his own descendants are proudly showing their personal history. There are many ‘lost trades’ that YVMPS showcase, including woodturning, blacksmithing and of course, vintage machinery.
Many of these old, but very loved machines, lay dormant unless specifically scheduled to be shown and come to life, although the yesteryear will definitely be showing off some ancient magic. Goers will have the opportunity to see engines running, water pumping and flowing, and much more machine animation than what we can maybe imagine with our modern appliances and experience.
Although with a deliberate balance of modernity and history, members are showcasing these vintage practices alongside every-day fun. There will be a variety of food and market stalls, vintage motorbike & classic vehicles, with many garden areas for festival goers to graze and relax in-between all the exciting festivities. YVMPS members are not horsing- around when it comes to throwing an all encompassing and unique weekend long festival. Face painting, honey eating, iconic western fashion, to name some of the fun.
The 4 legged celebrities of the festival, the Draught Horses, our Australian icons, will also be an important feature of the event. When the Yarra Valley was once adorned with gold, our Draught Horses helped pave the towns we know today. Helping Victorians elevate our agriculture, assist transportation and even helped build our infrastructures, Draught Horses were specifically bred by settlers in the early 19th century. Also bred to endure and live in Australia’s climate, to work alongside us in the ever changing, and sometimes difficult weather conditions. Draught Horses love their work, as well as they are friendly and beautiful to look at.
After their hard work with some small farming practices at the Yesteryear Festival, they’ll be waiting for some extra love and much deserved pats by attendees, while they rest in their paddocks. Of course now these beauties aren’t used to build towns, they are now more often able to compete in small competitions, maybe some small-scale farming, but of course, await your love during events such as the festival.
Forged in fire and smoke, tastes of sweet honey and jams, do not hold your horses and go ahead to book a ticket for this uniquely crafted event, full of history & fun. $15 ticket entry for Adults & free for all kids under age 15.
CFA is encouraging brigades to register for the upcoming 2026 CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships. (Supplied)
encouraged to register their teams, with entries open now via the VFBV website. Entries close Sunday 15 February.
By Oliver Winn
The death of a beloved goat at the Forever Friends Animal Rescue has rippled throughout the animal shelter’s volunteers as they mourn his passing.
Buddy the Goat was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in February 2025 and was given only three months to live. But, he had other plans, and he’d fight on for just under a year before he died on 22 January.
Old and wise, yet carrying a mischievousness typical of goats, Buddy was an icon for the sanctuary. With dashing looks, magnificent horns and a confident yet gentle demeanour, the goat was loved by all.
Buddy’s carers, Wendy Hetherington and Deb Arbuckle-Bracken, were the closest to Buddy and knew the goat intimately from when he first arrived at Forever Friends Animal Rescue (FFAR) four years ago.
When Ms Hetherington first met Buddy, he was scared and fearful. His coat was matted with debris and he was skinny to the bone.
“I spent many hours on gaining his trust and I was able to groom him, little by little, which was a painstaking process,” Ms Hether-
ington said.
“When it was finally finished, he had his first bath and his coat was like silk. He looked
beautiful and happy.
“Our journey together started from there on and I will forever cherish it.”
As time passed and Buddy grew more comfortable, he showed his wise and gentle soul to his friends and carers.
For Ms Hetherington, hanging out with Buddy was always therapeutic. He’d patiently listen to her life’s troubles and had a calming presence.
“This I will miss the most about my friend,” she said.
Ms Arbuckle-Bracken said she developed a trusting friendship with him over the 19 months she knew him.
“Our meet ups would begin with a big hug and a gossip, then I’d brush out his beautiful angora coat,” Ms Arbuckle-Bracken said.
She recalled how he’d close his eyes in glee while getting brushed or feasting on strawberries.
“My visits with Buddy were always so uplifting, he had a knack of reassuring you that all will be fine in life and he advised me to take life one step at a time.”
He absolutely loved wheatbix, regularly raiding the esky where they were stored, and also had the funny knack to chomp on the ug-
liest of weeds.
Buddy’s resilience was incredible, outlasting his three month prognosis and even surviving a horrible attack from another goat which saw him undergo emergency surgery.
Ms Hetherington was by Buddy’s side while he underwent the intense emergency surgery, which had to be done without full anaesthesia as he wouldn’t have survived in time.
“I kept him calm, talking to him while the vet went to work. He laid totally still for the whole traumatic procedure.
“I was so very proud of him, he trusted I was there for him, showing our deep connection.”
Brave Buddy recovered from his injuries while Ms Hetherington and Ms Arbuckle-Bracken looked after him.
During his final moments, Buddy was surrounded by his favourite people. Everyone gathered in his pen with his fellow sheep friend Lamington by his side.
A rainbow glistened in the sky as he passed peacefully in their arms, and he’ll be missed by all those who were lucky enough to know him.
By Oliver Winn
The Yarra Ranges Mountain Biking Club’s (YRMBC) stance on e-bikes was set in stone on 29 January when it adopted its e-bike policy.
With an aim of formalising what was already an existing rule, the policy firmly rejects the use of any e-bike that is not legally compliant.
“I think what’s important to make clear is that this is the formalisation of what was an existing policy really,” YRMBC vice president Paul Larkin said.
“So that’s in writing now, but it’s always been a policy at a club that bikes that come on our rides or that we take into the forest whenever we go in need to be safe, and that includes being legally compliant.”
He said the fire along the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail spurred the group to put the rule into writing in order to make its rules crystal clear.
“What’s kind of spurred it was there’s been a lot of concern about e-bikes out in the area with the Warburton trail development.
“I think a lot of that is people are invested in the communities and no one wants a fire or any kind of risk.”
It gave the group’s ride leaders a reference point for whenever they needed to enforce the
policy on their rides. The policy itself states e-bikes must comply with applicable Australian safety standards, be
unmodified from their original compliant configuration, and be maintained in a safe and serviceable condition at all times.
The club reserves the right to exclude a rider from a club activity if their e-bike does not meet this policy, or require a rider to withdraw from a ride if safety concerns arise during an activity.
Mr Larkin said the club supported the proper enforcement of existing standards around ebikes.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily easy or fair for local authorities to do, like it’s pretty hard to be checking e-bikes, they shouldn’t really be coming into the country if they’re not safe,” he said.
He pointed out how Australian based companies are more likely to sell higher quality e-bikes.
“It’s just actually quality assurance, quality control where they’ve been made. If somebody sends a bike over the border and they’ve got no responsibility.”
“That probably indicates that they’re not too worried about it whereas if you look at the bikes that are sold in Australia, all of the e-bikes those sold by companies that have a presence here, they’re invested in the community in different ways and they’ve got insurance as well which means that they’ve got liability so that that’s a real incentive for them to be selling things that are safe,” Mr Larkin said.
Local not-for-profit, Different Journeys is celebrating 10 years since its first community event, marking a decade of walking alongside autistic people, carers and families whose support needs are often overlooked by mainstream systems.
Founded by two Victorian mothers of autistic children, Different Journeys was created to address the systemic gaps that leave many families without support. Today, the peer-led organisation supports more than 10,000 autistic people, carers and families, providing inclusive social connection, education and practical help navigating complex systems.
Since its founding in 2016, Different Journeys has often held and organised various opportunities for people with autism, carers and families, such as playing lawn bowls, as well as being advocates for the autistic community and their families.
For co-founder, chief executive and Croydon resident Mel Spencer OAM, who is autistic and a carer to three autistic children, lived experience is the organisation’s greatest strength.
“We don’t just understand the system, we’ve survived it,” Ms Spencer said.
“Our staff are autistic people and carers who have had to navigate these supports for their own families.
“That shared experience means families don’t have to explain or justify themselves – we already get it,” said Ms Spencer.
Over the past year, Different Journeys delivered support across 59 metropolitan and rural local government areas, hosting 280 events and connecting with 6258 Victorians, including more than 3500 carers.
Co-founder Merrin Ayton, who cares for two autistic adults and leads the Carer Peer Support program said carers are often the invisible ones.
“Carers come looking for support for their loved ones, but it’s often the carers themselves who are exhausted and close to breaking point,” said Ms Ayton.
Those who attend should bring a plate to share and a gold coin donation.
The Redwood ADRA Community Centre is hosting a program for those wanting to get fit without the costly price tag.
Free Chair Pilates runs weekly on a Monday from 12.30pm to 1.20pm.
The Seville Community House will be hosting its Seville Friendship Group on Wednesday 11 February.
These meetings will take place every second Wednesday of each month from 10am to 12pm at the Seville Community House, located at 590 Warburton Highway, Seville.
Sign up for the session here: club.reclink. org/programs/4GRZ2S
Chair Pilates is a low impact exercise that improves strength, flexibility and balance. The chair provides support, reducing stress on joints while still allowing for a full body workout.
To find out more, contact Kristy on 0434 319 977.
The program is sponsored by the State Government through Reclink Australia.
callout
The Koha Community Cafe in Warburton called
“Being seen, heard and supported can be life changing.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022), one in eight Australians provides unpaid care for someone with additional support needs. Without adequate support, many carers are forced to reduce hours or leave the workforce,
for new volunteers as it prepares for another year of providing meals to those who need it most.
There is a gap which needs to be filled after some volunteers retired after years of service to the cafe.
“We are looking for a few volunteers to help out with prep on Thursdays between 12-4pm and in the evening between 5-8.30pm,” it said in a social media post.
The space is located at 25A Dammans Road, Warburton.
Those who are interested are encouraged to get in touch via Messenger on Facebook: facebook.com/KohaCommunityCafe
The Yarra Ranges Council is running its annual community satisfaction survey over the next two months to better understand what matters most to the community.
The survey will help the council to improve the services it delivers.
Over the next two months, some Yarra Rang-
impacting their wellbeing and costing employer valuable skills and experience.
In response, Different Journeys develope CARE@WORK, a program helping organisations better support employees with caring responsi bilities. Early adopters, including State Librar Victoria, report improved staff retention, in creased flexibility and reduced absenteeism.
Mrs Annette White, a parent of two autistic children, has attended Different Journeys events since 2016.
“From our first teens event, we knew we’ found our people,” Mrs White said.
“There was no judgement, just understanding We could finally relax and be ourselves.
“One-on-one peer support helped me acces financial and home assistance I didn’t even know existed and gave me the confidence to return t work.”
After 10 years, Different Journeys continues t grow, but its purpose remains the same: ensurin autistic people and carers are never left to navi gate systems alone.
es residents may receive a phone call, surveyed about their experience with council services and facilities.
Calls will come from a mobile number, and the caller will clearly identify themselves at the start and end of the call.
Participation is voluntary, anonymous, and responses are confidential.
If you are contacted, the council encourages you to take part. Your feedback plays an important role in understanding how the council is performing and what it can do to improve.
Learn more at the link: shorturl.at/KhpiF Ambulance Victoria AED session
Ambulance Victoria will host a Call, Push, Shock session at the Woori Community House on 18 February.
Paramedics will show attendees how to respond to emergency cardiac arrests using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
The event is free of cost and will go from 1pm to 2.30pm.
By Callum Ludwig
A successful program is set to return to the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum after a recent funding announcement.
Funding was received from the Department of Education and Training’s Strategic Partnerships Program (SPP) for 2026 and 2027 which will enable the continuation and expansion of the museum’s ‘I Connect’ program.
Exhibitions curator Maddie Reece said the museum is thrilled to be able to continue the delivery of the I Connect program for another two years.
“The Strategic Partnerships Program funding offered through the Department of Education allows us to continue to work with the amazing First Nations educators who have invested so much in the I Connect program over the last 18 months and enhance the education offerings across the region,” she said.
“We have seen increased confidence in students’ cultural literacy and greater understanding of the role of Museums, as well as the history and heritage of Yarra Ranges region, a place many students call home.
“Key successes that teachers have shared with us post visit, is the increased pride and confidence for First Nations students, teachers commented that the students leave feeling prouder of their culture and themselves.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll announced grants to almost 90 organisations as part of the program.
Ms Reece said the SPP funding allows the museum to offer the I Connect program free to all Victorian Government-run schools, not just our local schools.
“Importantly, this funding also allows us to offer assistance with the hiring of buses to bring students to the museum, we have heard directly that transport is often the biggest barrier for schools to secure their attendance.
“With the current cost of living crisis, we hope that by being able to reduce this cost attendance from more regional and remote locations becomes more achievable.
“We hope this eases the pressures on families too, as often excursion costs are passed on to them which currently can add more stress to already stretched family incomes.”
The I Connect program was developed and delivered with SPP funding over the 2024/25 period and delivered onsite at the museum on Wurundjeri Country in Lilydale by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program facilitators, like Melissa Jones, providing students with a meaningful and authentic learning experience.
Ms Jones, a Yorta Yorta woman and Up-
per Yarra Secondary College teacher, said she thinks the first iteration of the program was very successful and is very excited to see it returning.
“The kids that I had that came in with their groups, we even had letters and pictures back from some of the schools, so they went away and actually thought about what we were talking about and continued the sessions at their schools, which was great engagement with the community,” she said.
“Absolutely (it’s important) for them to come
and hear the stories of the connection with Coranderrk and the Koori family, and to see the artifacts there and the pictures to make those connections, it’s a place that they might have driven past or they’ve been to the Healesville Sanctuary, so they’ve made that connection with something local that’s our history.
“I think some educators, not being Aboriginal, don’t like to talk about truth-telling or they feel like they’re not going to do it the right way, there’s this fear around talking about our his-
tory…talking about our history is better than not doing it at all, and I think when they see me talking about it and we have those conversations with the little kids, they feel more comfortable to go back into the classroom and have more conversations.”
For returning schools and students, Ms Jones and other facilitators will have new and different stories to share and Ms Jones hopes to encourage more connection to Country through time outside with her groups.
Ms Reece said their hope for the I Connect program is that it doesn’t just offer learning beyond the classroom by attending the Museum on an excursion.
“The program and lesson plan structure has been intentionally designed to deliver handson, engaging, and inclusive activities that incorporate object-based learning methodologies, that extend students understanding of what a Museum is and their relationship to the Yarra Ranges,” she said.
“We hope that having the students actively involved in each activity will help them to further develop their own critical thinking and practical learning skills.”
Museum staff are looking to forward to more students visiting and sharing the new ways in which they see the collection, objects and stories in new ways over the next two years.
Ms Reece said they feel it is important to create a culturally safe space for students and teachers to explore and hopefully develop a deeper understanding of local and regional history, First Contacts history and the impact of that history on First Nations people in this area.
“As with any museum visit, people bring their own stories and understanding to that visit or experience, we hope that the students do this too - and that by the end of the lesson, after engaging with the First Nation educators and the activities, they have added something to their own story and understanding,” she said.
“When students arrive at the Museum, we often let them know that we don’t have dinosaur fossils which is always disappointing for them, Yarra Ranges Regional Museum is a place-based museum focused on highlighting the people and stories from across the Yarra Ranges, the students really embrace uncovering the stories about the region and then connecting objects in the displays to those stories and visa-versa.
“On a number of occasions, students have brought their families back into the Museum on weekends to share what they learnt during their excursion. We love that this is a place they want to come back to. We want them to feel proud of the place they are from, proud of their shared heritage and proud of what they have learnt.”
By Gabriella Vukman
A new youth street art initiative is making waves in the Yarra Ranges, giving young people a chance to express themselves boldly through urban art.
‘Be Like Banksy’ is a hands-on street art program presented by Healesville Living and Learning Centre (HLLC) and Sonsie Studios in partnership with Yarra Ranges Youth.
Designed for young people who are not afraid to speak their minds and paint their truth, the program teaches real world street art techniques including stencil work and large scale composition.
Participants are free to create their own statement pieces while learning how to reflect on and communicate personal issues.
The program kicked off last Sunday with a buzzing first session at the HLLC Art Room, setting the tone for an energetic and creative month ahead.
The program consists of four Sunday sessions throughout February with three sessions dedicated to working on art skills and the creation of the pieces.
The artwork will be installed in a prominent place in Healesville during the final session on Sunday 22 February.
Community Development Coordinator at Healesville Living and Learning Centre Shona Rimmer wrote the programme.
“We are hoping for the installation to be in a place that is already a little bit graffitied, perhaps an alleyway that the kids have already claimed,” Ms Rimmer said.
“We are looking at the alleyway in the East End which is already covered in graffiti but we are still
having to confirm that space,” she said.
“These kids are so unseen but they have a lot to say and lots of people have a lot to say about young people without actually engaging much with them, so we thought this would be a really nice way to start that process.”
The programme is inspired by the work of contemporary artist Banksy, who specialises in tackling hard-hitting political messages in his work.
Ms Rimmer said, “There was a Banksy exhibition in Melbourne about a year ago and we went and were quite amazed at how vast his work was and the messaging which is always really clear, impactful, tactful and just thought provoking.”
“We want youth to be able to express themselves and participate in and express those difficult topics that they might not otherwise be able
to weigh in on,” she said.
A lack of platforms for young people to weigh in on discussion was what prompted Ms Rimmer to write the program.
“A lot of the conversation is about young people but we are not actually hearing from young people,” Ms Rimmer said.
“We are just happy for the kids to be turning up and feeling like that they have a space where they belong and where they’re appreciated and heard,” she said.
“That was the main goal of the programme.”
While the programme is intended to provide local youth with an outlet for self expression, it is also dedicated to reestablish the Healesville Living and Learning Centre.
“We have never done anything like this before
at the HLLC in its nearly 50-year history, so we really want to reinvigorate that space for young people,” Ms Rimmer said.
“It has been great to get that response from young people, but what has been unexpected is that we have had people of all ages saying they would really like to do the ‘Be Like Banksy project’,” Ms Rimmer said.
“Receiving the positive feedback that we have, has been really great and to see that we are actually getting people thinking about that stuff too, which is really cool.”
Ms Rimmer would like to thank the Margaret Lawrence bequest for supplying the programme’s funds.
“We approached a couple of grant opportunities and did not receive funding before we were finally able to secure funding through the Margaret Lawrence Bequest,” Ms Rimmer said.
“We are very grateful that they are providing that funding for us to do this project,” she said.
“We are also really grateful that we have got such an incredible art community art space here in Healesville.”
By Gabriella Vukman
On the afternoon of Wednesday, 4 February, young artists from throughout the valley were brought together to meet for the first time.
This assembly occurred in preparation for the Threshold Youth Concert, which will be returning to the Healesville Pop-Up Space on Saturday, 7 March from 5 to 10 pm.
The Threshold Youth Concert is a part of the 2026 Connecting Community Festival.
Artist liaison and concert Stage Manager Ethan Prentice attended Wednesday’s meet-cute and is one of the main organisers of the event.
“I’ve organised the artists who are playing,” Mr Prentice said.
“We sent out a form to a whole bunch of people and got them to forward it on, but I also have connections to some local artists, and we reached out to them too,” He said.
According to Mr Prentice, the Connecting Communities Festival originated from Healesville’s Gateway Music Festival, which was held in the nineties.
The nineties rendition also had a youth concert called ‘Threshold’, with the name referring to people who are up and coming and are on the threshold of music.
Mr Prentice said, “In Healesville, we don’t do youth music very well.”
“A lot of the places where you can play music in, are all licenced venues and are therefore all places you can’t get in unless you’re 18 or you have to be accompanied,” he said.
“You sit on the bus, and you see it’s full of 25, 16-year-olds who are going somewhere else because that’s where you can go and do creative things. We really want to keep this creativity in Healesville.”
Designed as a free, all-ages, alcohol- and drug-free event, ‘Threshold’ provides a performance platform for young musicians aged 12–25 in a region where most live music venues are licensed and inaccessible to under-18s.
Mr Prentice said, “It is trying to create a bit more of a space for people who are youth.”
“I’m just most looking forward to there being some young, interesting live music in Healesville, because I go to a lot of live music around the place and it’s kind of the same guys playing all the time,” he said.
“They are all excellent, don’t get me wrong, but it is always nice to see some fresh faces and get people exposed to stuff that they haven’t seen before.”
This year’s concert will feature nine youth acts ranging in age from 15 to 20, including solo artists, duos and full bands.
The line-up showcases a wide range of emerging sounds, from the dynamic trio ABC (Ari Cooper, Benjamin Seymour and Callum Eade), to folk-acoustic storyteller Celeste Amelia, punk-tometal outfit Lost In It, and grunge-psychedelic act Tigris, whose members began producing original music as early as age 14.
Solo artist and Yarra Ranges Resident Celeste Amelia is 21 and will be accompanying herself on guitar at the festival.
Ms Amelia said, “I play mostly folk music, and I create my own material, so it is singer-songwriter kind of stuff.”
“I’ve been playing since I was about 16 and writing songs for even longer. Writing is really the main thing for me,” Ms Amelia said.
Where her songwriting draws heavily on lived experience, Ms Amelia’s work is filtered through narrative.
“A lot of what I write is based on my life, but I like to write from a storytelling perspective,” Ms Amelia said.
“That’s the part I enjoy most.”
Ms Amelia became involved in the Threshold Youth Concert through fellow musician Ethan Prentice.
For Ms Amelia, the appeal of the Threshold Concert extends well beyond the stage.
“I love that they’re giving young people a platform to perform,” she said.
“I don’t think we have enough of that sort of thing in Healesville. It’s important to be involved in something like this and to get to know other people around my age who live here.”
Balancing creative work with study and employment, Ms Amelia works locally at Worawa Aboriginal Girls Boarding School and at the Healesville indoor pool as a lifeguard and duty manager, while studying social work at university.
She noted the community-focused nature of the festival aligns closely with her own values.
“The community aspect is really appealing,” Ms Amelia said.
“I’m excited to see people out and about, enjoying the music together. I’m also really looking forward to performing. It’s one of my favourite things.”
A pre-event artist gathering earlier this month
gave performers a chance to meet and familiarise themselves with the venue. While Amelia could only attend briefly, she said the experience reinforced the sense of connection the event aims to foster.
“I actually found out that I knew most of the people involved, but I didn’t realise they were part of the concert,” Ms Amelia said.
“It was really nice to meet everyone and to see what the whole event is about.”
Coordinator of the Connecting Community Festival, Catherine Nolan said, “This is our third festival, and the exciting thing about this year is that we’re bringing back some of the events that occurred way back in Healesville between 1992 and 1999 during the Gateway Festival, which was really popular.”
“It brought the whole town together, and so the Connecting Community Festival also aims to do that,” she said.
“We want to bring young people together not only to promote the young bands, but to provide an event for 15 to 25-year-olds and younger people that is specifically for them.”
Before Wednesday’s meeting, none of the artists had met each other.
Ms Nolan said, “The wonderful thing was that they did meet each other, and this aligned with the aim of the Connecting Community Festival to connect people as much as possible.”
“The musicians will be meeting each other again on Saturday, March 7th, and hopefully they’ll be able to combine their gifts and talents further along the track,” she said.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, 4 February, young artists from throughout the
were brought together to meet for the first time. (Supplied).
“They will be able to support each other at gigs and in general.”
The Threshold Youth Concert event will also offer far more than live music.
On the night, audiences can explore a Headspace sensory and quiet room, Yarra Ranges Youth market stalls and activations, a Healesville Soccer Club BBQ, and a live art graffiti wall hosted by Healesville Living & Learning Centre.
The concert will also be live-streamed on Yarra Valley FM, creating a full festival atmosphere.
Supported by Yarra Ranges Council, Yarra Valley Arts and the Lions Club of Healesville, Threshold continues to build towards a future where the entire event is led and managed by local young people.
Ms Nolan said. “I’m just really looking forward to seeing fresh faces on stage.”
“There’s great live music in the area, but it’s often the same people. This is about showing what’s coming next.”
By Oliver Winn
An exhibition showcasing fabulous upcycled fashion, framed artworks and intricate patchwork is on display at the Warburton Waterwheel for the month of February.
Warburton artist Kate Twohig’s exhibition, A Stitch in Time, offers an exciting experience for visitors with an eye for style, while satisfying the artistic interests of local creatives.
Ms Twohig said her fascination with fabrics emerged from time spent browsing through second-hand clothes at op shops in the Dandenong Ranges.
“In those early days it was only purely a matter of need because I didn’t have a wealthy family. So the only way I could get new clothes was to source op shops and things, so I just did that,” Ms Twohig said.
Though it started as a means to an end, she soon found herself engrossed in giving forgotten garments a new life, stitching pre-loved pieces together to create something new.
She’s also driven by a desire to create more sustainable and waste-conscious clothing, con-
tributing to the circular economy and reducing landfill.
Interestingly, the limitations of only using second-hand materials fuels her creativity, as if her way of harvesting artistic inspiration itself is sustainable.
“I’m not one of those people that likes to buy some brand new fabric and buy a pattern and make it. I don’t really get any satisfaction out of that, it’s just not difficult enough, it’s not creative for me.”
Drawing upon her studies in graphic design and experience sewing costumes for a Melbourne theatre company, her work in the exhibition combines many influences and techniques.
The exhibition has proved popular so far, with streams of people browsing and even purchasing some of the garments on display.
Ms Twohig roamed around the gallery as if she was a part of the display itself, sporting an outfit she can proudly claim as belonging to nobody but herself.
She wore bright red sneakers contrasted against light blue distressed denim jeans, with Japanese inspired patchwork sewn on top.
A white denim jacket accented with intricate designs she drew on using a blue biro pen completed the tasteful take on double denim.
She enjoyed the unique nature of every garment and knowing it couldn’t be replicated and mass produced brought her a sense of pride.
“That’s the beauty of this, you can’t do it again. No, I can’t mass produce anything,” she said.
The exhibition itself also acted as a form of therapy for Ms Twohig.
Her world turned upside down after losing her husband in May last year.
Her best friend who she’d spent so much time with was gone, and suddenly she was left with an
empty space in her heart.
“It was hard, I thought, ‘What am I going to do now,’ because my whole life is different.”
She “threw herself into it like therapy”, pouring her time into creating new garments to prepare for the exhibition.
But she didn’t do art to distract herself - rather, she felt as though he was watching over her shoulder while she worked away, offering his two cents whenever she needed reassurance.
“I remember one day looking at something, and as though he was there, I said to him, ‘So what do you think of this?’
“And he said, ‘Not sure about that blue,’ and I thought, ‘You’re right, I’m not sure about it either.’”
Ms Twohig managed to lean into her passion and as a result, she had “the best fun” preparing for the exhibition.
“I know if Gary were here, he’d think that’s great, because he was always very encouraging with my art and he would have loved this.”
His judgement must be pretty sound - the constant buzz from visitors wandering through the exhibition certainly proves so.
Queensland’s Granite Belt comes alive this month for the long-running Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival - a celebration of food, wine and community.
The event, starting on Friday 27 February and running through to Sunday 8 March, marks its 60th anniversary this year, making it one of Queensland’s longest-running and most successful festivals.
For 60 years, the festival has celebrated what makes Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt so special – cool-climate wines, apples at their peak, passionate growers and producers, and a community that knows how to welcome visitors and put on a proper celebration.
The biennial event is a celebration of the Granite Belt region’s produce and booming wine industry, which attracts an average of 70,000 people, making it arguably Australia’s leading harvest festival.
The Diamond Jubilee honours that history while inviting people to experience it first-hand.
The main festival weekend brings the energy to the streets of Stanthorpe, with the town buzzing from morning to night.
The Queensland Country Bank three-day Food and Wine Fiesta fills the park with Granite Belt flavours, 18 local wineries, breweries and meaderies, local producers and live music, while the streets host the much-loved Grand Parade, a vibrant street carnival, bustling markets, and the challenge of the Ergon Energy Mt Marlay Run.
As the sun sets, the weekend is capped off with crowd-favourite fireworks, lighting up the Stanthorpe sky.
Across the full 10 days, festival-goers can also
enjoy live music, Open Gardens brought to by Braeside Homestead, cooking demonstrations, creative experiences like Bubbles and Brushes, orchard and farm tours, and hands-on harvest moments.
The festival has something for everyone, including things you might not expect – like the
Australian National Busking Championships.
Buskers will be dotted along the street on Saturday 28 Feburary with “Busking Tokens” available to drop in a favourite performers bucket and judges wandering the main street.
This all culminates in the Winners Concert at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre for announcement of
the Grand Open Champion and all the other winners and a chance to enjoy more fabulous entertainment.
Then there’s the iconic Balancing Heart Grape Crush. This event is already nearly sold out, with only limited places remaining for those keen to take part in one of the festival’s most memorable experiences.
The foot stomping, grape crushing fun is an iconic highlight of the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Festival with the community grape crush on Friday 6 March and Celebrity Crush just after the main parade in the main street near the Stanthorpe Post Office on Saturday 7 March just after the big Grand Parade.
Sponsors are Balancing Heart Vineyard – voted Best Small Cellar Door by Gourmet Traveller Wine – just one of the many Vineyards worth a visit while in the area for the festival.
The 60th anniversary is a significant milestone for both the festival and the region, according to the event’s president, Russell Wantling.
“This festival has been shaped by generations of volunteers, growers and community members, and reaching 60 years is something we’re incredibly proud of,” he said.
“The Diamond Jubilee is about celebrating our history, our harvest and the people who continue to make this festival what it is.”
With accommodation filling quickly and ticketed events close to capacity, visitors are encouraged to plan now.
Many experiences have limited availability and will sell out. Tickets, program details and the full festival calendar are available at www.appleandgrape.org.
Mention this advert for a 10%
EXCLUSIVE BONUS USD$200 per person Onboard Credit plus Free Bottle of Champagne on select expeditions with Atlas Ocean Voyages.
Atlas Ocean Voyages is a luxury expedition cruise line offering highly curated journeys to some of the world’s most captivating destinations, including Antarctica, the Arctic, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America and the Caribbean.
Sail aboard a fleet of state-of-the-art expedition yachts, each featuring fewer than 100 elegantly appointed suites and staterooms to ensure an intimate, highly personalised, all-inclusive onboard experience.
Your expedition aboard an Atlas Ocean Voyages yacht includes enriching experiences, cultural immersion, gourmet dining, unlimited beverages, including fine wines, spirits and craft beers, gratuities and more.
Epicurean Expedition Cruise – Riviera Marvels
Your Epicurean Expedition includes onboard beverages, onboard culinary demonstrations, cuisine and wine tastings, enrichment programs and workshops, a gourmet Josper Grill charcoal grill dining experience in the ship’s 7AFT Grill restaurant and special culinary experiences such as market-to-table experiences and shoreside tastings.
Aboard your Riviera Marvels voyage you can experience the treasures of the French Riviera, Italy, and Spain with overnights that let you savour each destination fully. In Livorno, explore Florence, Pisa, and Lucca or venture into the Tuscan countryside for a truffle-hunting adventure. Portofino invites kayaking and views from Castle Brown, while Nice offers medieval Èze and scenic drives to Grasse.
Cultural Expedition Cruise – Nordic Ice & Isles
On a Cultural Expedition cruise, engage with communities, explore cultural icons and marvel at natural beauty with local experts who join you on board and ashore to lend insight to your discoveries.
Enchanting isles and sweeping fjords spark the imagination on your immersive Nordic Ice & Isles adventure. Staying overnight in the picturesque village of Seyðisfjörður, there’s time to explore the beautiful Skalanes Nature reserve. On Grímsey Island, look for the puffins that call
it home and make your way to the Arctic Circle demarcation stone.
Polar Expedition Cruise to Antarctica –Crossing the Antarctic Circle Atlas is a perfect fit for Australians who want to explore the far ends of the Earth like the Antarctic and the Arctic in affordable and inclusive comfort with other like-minded travellers who also value refined adventures free of fuss and formality. You’ll be accompanied by an expert team of up to 13 seasoned professionals, from naturalists and biologists to mountaineers and conser-
vationists, who help guests gain a deeper understanding of the polar environments they visit.
On your Crossing the Antarctic Circle Expedition, penguin chicks hatch along rocky shores, seals bask on floating floes, and whales rise from icy depths. Your expert expedition team guides you deeper into the Peninsula’s wild heart. Book one of the above expeditions with Exclusively Cruising and you will receive BONUS USD$200PPOnboardCredit+FreeBottleofChampagne. Call on 03 9762 2799 , or email cruise@exclusivelycruising.com.au to find out more.
7 Nights
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
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, 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
All Flights, Taxes & Transfers
Barcelona to Istanbul or vice versa
29 DAYS • 8 COUNTRIES • 23 GUIDED TOURS
SET SAIL • JUL, AUG 2026; FEB-MAY, JUL SEPT 2027; MAR, APR, JUL, AUG 2028
From $24,595pp in Veranda Stateroom
From $30,295pp in Penthouse Veranda
Venice (Chioggia) to Istanbul or vice versa
15 DAYS • 5 COUNTRIES • 12 GUIDED TOURS
SET SAIL • MAR, APR, JUN, AUG 2026; MAR-MAY, JUL-OCT 2027; MAR, APR, AUG 2028
From $12,995pp in Veranda Stateroom From $15,795pp in Penthouse Veranda
Barcelona to Venice (Chioggia) or vice versa
13 DAYS • 6 COUNTRIES • 10 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL • MAR-OCT 2026; FEB-NOV 2027; APR-SEP 2028
From $10,995pp in Deluxe Veranda From $12,295pp
By Callum Ludwig
A ‘comedic who-done-it’ is coming to the stage of the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company (LATC) this month, sure to have the audience guessing and laughing along the way.
Directed by Lucia Morris, attendees can look forward to the tale of Ken Ludwig’s ‘The Game’s Afoot’, set in December 1936 in Connecticut, USA.
Ms Morris said the story is about William Gillette, famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on the Broadway and London stages, who invites his ensemble cast to his Connecticut castle for Christmas eve dinner.
“During the evening, a murder occurs and Gillette channels his famous detective character to find the killer, it’s a very fast-paced play with hilarious physical comedy and filled with classic mystery themes and surprising twists,” she said.
“When you set out to make a production, you need to start 10 to 12 months beforehand.
“I started in May last year; researching the era, the costumes and the music, watching lots of Sherlock Holmes TV shows, thinking about the set and the way the actors will need to move around it, thinking of how to block (the actors’ movements), preparing a rehearsal schedule, thinking of the sound effects and lighting effects that are needed.”
William Gillette was a real playwright/actor/ producer during the late 1890s to 1930s, famous for converting Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novels into plays for the Broadway and London stages and used his resulting wealth and fame to buy a castle in Connecticut, though a murder never occurred within it.
After auditions in September, a final cast of three men and four women, a set-building team
of six, a production manager, stage manager and two backstage crew, a costume designer and maker, a lighting and sound designer and a team of three set painters and two prop makers have worked diligently to prepare for the show.
Ms Morris said a number of the cast will be very familiar to their regular audience.
“Mark Cluning, Audrey-Maeve Barker and Francesca Carl were all in shows at Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre last year, Kim Edwards and
Genevieve Ryan have both been in past productions at Lilydale, Rosemary Buchanan, Lindsay Fletcher and Alexander Ingham are all new actors to LATC,” she said.
“And then there’s my Stage Manager, Fiona Carter, who will be familiar to our audience – she is the Theatre Manager at LATC, has performed on our stage numerous times, and appeared in the ABC’s TV series, ‘The Piano’ last year.
“So, as you can see, the behind-the-scenes or-
ganisation is run in a very professional manner and that’s the level that we aim for… when you add up the number of people (25 so far and that doesn’t include Front of House and Box Office volunteers) and the many hours/days/ weeks involved, it would surprise most people.”
By Gabriella Vukman
Former Yarra Ranges local Luke Stephens has found himself back on the Melbourne stage for the return of a well-loved musical theatre classic, and he is carrying the valley with him.
The Yarra Ranges-raised thespian will be returning to Mamma Mia The Musical, having performed in the original production when it first came to Melbourne 25 years ago.
Now staged by Melbourne’s new independent company AG Theatre, Mamma Mia opens at The National Theatre from 7 February.
Set on a sun-drenched Greek island, the musical follows 20-year-old Sophie as she secretly invites three men from her mother Donna’s past to her wedding, hoping to finally uncover her father’s identity.
Chaos, confessions and a lot of ABBA inevitably follow.
Despite Mr Stephens’ excitement at his fullcircle Mamma Mia moment, the performer told Star Mail that his love for the musical in the early days was not immediate.
“I didn’t like ABBA before I started Mamma Mia,” Mr Stephens confessed.
“But then I started learning the music, and I was like, ‘Wow, this stuff is awesome. These guys are geniuses,’ and I have loved their music ever since,” Mr Stephens said.
“The actual story of Mamma Mia in itself is terrific and so clever. Some of it is cheeky and quite tongue-in-cheek, but there are also some songs that really have an impact.”
Mr Stephens’ first appearance in Mamma Mia was somewhat unexpected.
“I was doing Shout the musical, and then before the end of it, someone from Mamma Mia got injured, and then I was asked to go in for them,”
Mr Stephens said.
“I was in the show for two years after that, and I really loved it,” he said.
“I really think it is the best jukebox musical ever.”
This time around, Mr Stephens is playing the role of Bill Austin, one of Sophie’s three possible fathers at the heart of the story.
For Stephens, stepping into Bill’s well-worn sandals brings both nostalgia and a new perspective.
“He’s a bit of a dag, which I can relate to. I think I’m a bit of a dag,” Mr Stephens said.
“Bill’s relationship with Sophie is what anchors the role, and I think that is my favourite part about the character. He is very fun to play,”
Mr Stephens said.
“He is completely moved by the fact that he might be standing in front of his daughter, and when Bill talks to Sophie, they are really levelling with one another. It matters.”
Growing up in the Yarra Valley, Stephens at-
tended Mount Lilydale Mercy College, a place he credits with shaping both his work ethic and his creative life.
“It wasn’t like a prestigious private school or anything like that,” Mr Stephens said.
“Everyone was pretty working class… it was a very earthy place.”
Despite Musical theatre being a new territory for the school at the time, it stuck with Stephens.
“I got my first taste for musicals, and I loved it, and years later here I am still doing them,” Mr Stephens said.
“Musiclas give me life. They have the ability to move people and I love the fact that people can walk into a theatre in one state and then walk out feeling a completely different way,” he said.
“I think the beautiful thing about working in theatre is that you can change people for the better.”
Stephens’ career has spanned children’s performance, musical theatre, straight plays, and an extensive list of television credits, including City Homicide, Home & Away, Underbelly Files: Chopper, My Brother Jack, The Heckler and Monday Dump with Roy & HG.
These days, he also juggles teaching work and parenting his children.
“My kids know that I performed, but they have never actually seen me perform,” Mr Stephens said.
“This is a good opportunity in a fun show for them to see what I do,” he said.
Offstage, Stephens is also working on a very different project, and this one is deeply tied to his Yarra Valley roots.
He is producing a documentary titled The Endless Bend, centred on Mr Stephens own experience of a school trip to Uluru that ended in
tragedy when their bus crashed in 1993.
“One of our friends died during the crash, and so we were approached by Mount Lilydale to put together something to mark the 30-year anniversary,” Mr Stephens said.
“We have been working on that for the last, probably three years now and we are chasing funding,” he said.
What began as a commemorative project has become something larger.
Mr Stephens said, “We started interviewing our fellow schoolmates and all the first responders and we just went, ‘wow, this is huge’.”
The film, now several years in development, focuses on trauma, survival and the power of community.
“We feel that there’s a lot that people can learn from our accident,” Mr Stephens said.
“We were in the middle of a desert without any help, digging one another out with spoons and forks… we didn’t even know if anyone knew we’d crashed,” he said.
By Becki Vandenboom and Ross Polkinghorne, Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society
The Upper Yarra has been home to at least 20 different hotels and wine halls. As the occupation and population of the land fluctuated, so did the opportunity for commercial ventures. Some of these hotels are still well loved by locals and visitors alike. Part of the charm of these hotels are their fascinating stories, folklores and traditions.
This Upper Yarra hotel story is about an establishment that no longer exists. The ‘Worri Yallach Creek Hotel’, its name known only through an article that appeared in the Australasian Newspaper (Melbourne) in 1865, by a ‘recent visitor’ who was
traveling the Yarra Valley route to the tin mines. The visitor, upon leaving the home of his host Mr. Mitchell (Dame Nellie Melba’s father), recalls that he came to the end of Mitchell’s run and was met by a ‘respectable-looking weatherboard house, built for a hotel’. At the time a ‘dismantled’, sign proudly demonstrated the name and occupation of the house.
The location (but not the building) of the 1865 “Worri Yallach Creek Hotel” is now the Woori Yallock Creek Bushland Reserve, approximately 1km along the Old Warburton Highway from Woori Yallock. Maps from both 1865 and 1899 indicate the existence of both Williams place and an ‘Old Hotel’ respectively, in this location by the creek.
The United Kingdom recently concluded the National Storytelling Week. Established in 2000 by the Society of Storytelling, the annual event celebrates the power of stories. The theme for 2026 is “Speaking Stories into the Darkness”. “We encourage everyone – storytellers, story lovers, story enthusiasts and those of you who are new to story – to take this week to immerse yourselves in telling, sharing and listening to stories,” stated the event’s official website. Meanwhile, the National Literacy Trust designated this year’s theme as “Soundtrack your story”, highlighting artistic and community programs that explored “the magic of storytelling through sound, lyrics and rhythm”.
Specifically, the organisation’s research on children and young people’s reading shows that exploring stories through lyrics “can be an effective way to re-engage young people with reading for enjoyment and writing for pleasure”.
The National Storytelling Week marked a great start for the National Year of Reading 2026, a major initiative in the United Kingdom led by the Department of Education and the aforementioned National Literacy Trust. Launched in January, the campaign aims to reconnect people of all ages with reading as a relevant and rewarding activity.
“The campaign asks the nation to Go All In on their passions and interests and discover how reading can unlock the things they already love – be that music, football, baking, family-time, sci-fi, or… anything,” announced the official website.
The initiative could not be more timely. As The Guardian reports, reading is in crisis in the United Kingdom, with reading for pleasure among children and young adults being at its lowest level in 20 years. “Half of adults in the UK don’t read regularly themselves, and
research shows that many parents don’t enjoy reading to their children.”
Other countries are experiencing the same profound decline in reading enjoyment. In Australia, recent data reveal that more than a quarter of Australians have not read or listened to a single book in the space of a year. One in three Australian children cannot read proficiently, and 29% of Australian teenagers are choosing not to read for pleasure at all.
In the United States, 40% of adult citizens did not read any book last year, compared to the median American who only read two books. It prompted ThriftBooks – one of the largest sellers of used books in that country – to launch the “500 Billion Page Challenge”, hoping to “help America fall back in love with reading”.
As ThriftBooks suggests: “Three pages a day is how a movement starts. If we all read just a little more, only a few pages a day, or a chapter before bed, we don’t just slow the decline. We reverse it.”
Particularly in these unusual and uncertain times, it is vital that we “speak stories into the darkness”. Let us connect with each other through stories and storytelling. Let us remain hopeful that open-mindedness and empathy can prevail over prejudice, bigotry and wilful ignorance.
The tenant publican, a Mr. TJ Williams was an innovative and flexible businessman. He was a publican, taxidermist and local natural history expert. Further, at the time of the visit, Mr. Williams had been ‘summoned…for ‘“sly-grog” selling’ being ‘fined by the very magistrates’ who had previously been perfectly happy indulging in his unlicensed alcohol.
Despite the ‘respectable-looking’ nature of the outside, the visitor likened the interior of the hotel to a laboratory. ‘Every description of birds and beast indigenous to the district’ were crowded into the bar. ‘Skins in various stages of perfection, stuffed and unstuffed, hung upon the walls and covered the seats’ moving them aside to gain a
seat was the discretion of a wary patron. The visitor lists ‘tiger cats, water rats, wombats, bears and wallabies’ in place of the ‘usual bar adornments’. It can’t have been an easy place to relax, surrounded by all those dead bodies and I wonder what the visitor could have been referring to in his representation of a ‘tiger cat’ indigenous to the Upper Yarra. Surely the taxidermist’s laboratory bar must have served as a precaution against over-imbibing! The Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society and Museum is full of stories like this, some more fantastical than others. If you are interested or have stories of your own to share, come visit us on Wednesdays and Sundays 10-4 or contact us via our website.
We Bury The Dead Starring Daisy Ridley, Brandon Thwaites and Mark Coles Smith MA15+ 4/5
Directed by Zak Hilditch, We Bury The Dead is a lean, well-paced, beautifully-shot survival horror film that uses zombies as a backdrop to examine the human condition.After an experimental pulse weapon wipes out Tasmania, some of the victims start coming back to life, and Ava (Daisy Ridley) joins a body retrieval team in the hope of finding her husband Mitch (Matt Whelan) in the ruins.
Ridley conveys dignified sorrow and resolve as Ava, and has fun chemistry with Brandon Thwaites as Clay, a noble larrikin who helps her on her journey. The film has a lilting, otherworldly score by British musician Clark, and the starkly beautiful cinematography captures vast rural vistas and melancholic suburban scenes of everyday life caught in decomposing stasis after the pulse.
Some viewers may be disappointed with the lack of zombie action (even with several unnerving, grisly scenes) or the minimal world-building on how the undead work. However, We Bury The Dead is far more concerned with grief, hope and our need for closure. The second act takes a disturbing detour into psychological thriller territory with Mark Coles Smith as Riley, a kind soldier with shady
motives who can’t move on from a lost loved one.
We Bury The Dead is reminiscent of the 2005 bestselling Swedish novel Handling The Undead by Jon Ajvide Lindqvist, which is also about a disturbing but largely non-violent undead uprising. We Bury The Dead’s backstory for Ava and her husband, coupled with musings on how the pulse changes its victims, also feels slightly derivative of Alex Garland’s 2018 film Annihilation. The hopeful ending also stretches credibility a little too far.
A swift, poignant zombie drama with a powerful performance from Daisy Ridley, We Bury The Dead is playing in most Victorian cinemas.
Seth Lukas Hynes
The 1812 Theatre
Cue on Stage
Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game , Clue is a hilarious farce-meetsmurder mystery.
The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests, each disguised as characters from the board game, assemble for an unusual dinner party; only to find themselves embroiled in murder, blackmail, and mayhem, as they try to uncover the killer among them,.
• Season: February 19 – March 14.
• Bookings: 9758 3964
The round
Good Lovin; and More – David Vampbell
Features David Vampbel’e album in full – a thundering collection of classic 60s blue-eyed so will be bought to the stage with David’s larrikin charm and incredible voice.
David and his seven-piece band will also perform material from his multi-platinum Swing Sessions albums, so expect class Johnny O’Keefem some Dream lover Bobby Darin chart toppers and so much more!
• Season: Saturday March 14 – 1.30pm & 7.30pm.
The Eagles Greatest Hits
A two-hour performance of songs that defined an era, take It To The Limit, Desperado, Lyn Eyes and the world famous Hotel California. A six-piece band led by Walen Hughes and David Thomson as Con Henley and Glenn Frey,
arguably the best sounding anywhere in the world.
• Season: Friday February 26 at 7.30pm. Karralyka Swan Lake
Presented by Victorian State Ballet With a cast of internationally recognised artists. Swan Lake will bring the superb ballet technique of Petipa’s original choreography to the stage. This stunning production is also beautifully choreographed and re-staged by Victorian State Ballet’s director Michelle Sierra. Don’t miss the unforgettable White Swan pas de deux, the thrilling 32 fouettes of the Black Swan and the world-famous ACT II –Four Cygnets Dance!
• Season: Friday February 27 at 7.3pm, Saturday February 18 at 2pm and 7.30pm and Sunday March 1 at 2pm.
By Maria Millers
Modern life throws situations at us that no rulebook covers well: wars, natural disasters, social media call-outs, messy relationships, workplace power dynamics and cultural pluralism
In a less complicated world such as Ancient Greece, philosophers promoted developing virtues.
A virtue is a positive character trait that is considered a foundation for living well, and a key ingredient to greatness
In daily terms, virtues are habits of character — the qualities we admire in people because they make life more liveable and relationships work better.
They’re not just beliefs; they’re ways of behaving consistently. Amongst them were honesty, courage, kindness, justice, wisdom…
In Greek myths virtues are dangerous when taken to extremes, heroes are admired and then destroyed by their virtues.
Moral clarity is rare; tragedy is common.
So Achilles’ courage becomes rage and Odysseus’ cleverness becomes deception.
Hubris is the great anti-virtue — not because ambition is wrong, but because forgetting human limits invites ruin.
Something we still have not learnt.
Contemporary societies are deeply pluralistic: culturally, religiously and politically.
Today we’re more likely talk a lot about values rather than virtues.
Virtues sound old-fashioned, moralising, even religious; values sound personal and negotiable.
In everyday life, we usually notice virtues when they’re tested: during conflict, stress, temptation, or loss.
A virtue isn’t proven on an easy day.
Aristotle would say a virtue is a practice — something you acquire by doing it repeatedly, not something you’re born with fully formed.
And while in the past philosophers like Plato and Aristotle and others were able to assume shared moral context, today in a pluralistic society such as ours and in US, Canada, UK and Europe we cannot expect that.to hold.
Virtues implied shared moral standards; values imply individual or group priorities.
Just think of the current visit of the Israeli President to meet with the Jewish diaspora post Bondi.
For many his visit is anticipated as moral support following tragedy, but not for all.
Even among the Jewish community there is concern about his visit and those Palestinians
Dear Mr Violi,
I am writing as a constituent of Casey to express my deep disappointment and anger at your complete silence regarding President Donald Trump’s false claim that America’s allies did not fight and die alongside US forces on the front line.
with relatives still in Gaza feel betrayed.
There are other social divisions over immigration, housing affordability, cost of living crisis, indigenous issues and the list goes on.
Youth crime constantly dominates, not that it’s not a major social problem, but that the response never digs deeply into the causes of youth disaffection, and alienation settling on tightening existing laws of criminal responsibility and bail.
As a result our governments look increasingly evasive and wary of declaring one set of virtues as universal, though when politically expedient the concept of shared values is often evoked.
So instead of courage we now talk about being authentic or even speaking your truth.
And instead of the Victorian era sounding virtue of temperance we talk of self-care or setting boundaries.
And that exalted notion of justice becomes equity or accountability: public outrage replacing justice, visibility replacing courage and signalling replacing sacrifice. Now they even sound strange to the modern ear, not being words we frequently use.
A virtue, traditionally, is quiet and consistent. Today algorithms reward the opposite. Developing virtues is not about being better than others, but about developing our own potential.
Being seen to care can matter more than actually doing the difficult, hard yards work of caring.
This is why people talk about virtue signalling — not because virtue is bad, but because appearance has become easier than action.
The point is: we need to focus on our strengths, but we also need to pay attention to the virtues we lack the most.
We end up looking for ways to get us through the minor and ethical dilemmas of modern everyday life.
Sometimes it is easier to avoid making sense of the confronting news on our screens and there are many diversions to help us: endless sport, vacuous gameshows and salacious
This statement is not only incorrect — it is an insult to the memory of the 47 Australians who gave their lives fighting alongside our allies, and to every ANZAC who has served in conflicts overseas.
Blood cancer… the single biggest tragedy impacting Aussie kids and forcing them out of classrooms
As Australian children return to school, hundreds will not.
Their desks sit empty as they fight blood cancer – the single biggest disease threatening the lives of school-aged children in Australia today. This year alone, around 350 children will be diagnosed with blood cancer. It now accounts for more than one in three childhood cancers, yet remains a largely hidden national tragedy.
A blood cancer diagnosis is sudden and brutal.
Children are forced out of classrooms and into hospital wards, enduring aggressive treatment that can last years.
Many miss 40 to 60 per cent of school in their first year alone, with some absent for up to 18 months.
The impacts on learning, wellbeing and so-
reality shows.
A virtue can be looked at as a personal asset and as something which can be developed through habit.
Take courage, which can be described as the willingness to act despite fear.
This could be a heroic act like the young WA boy who swam for hours to help save his family from drowning.
But it also takes courage to speak up for something you strongly believe, to expose yourself, to risk alienating friends or even family.
To go against the group for what you believe in.
Equally courageous is to admit and own a mistake.
To default the easy way to the path of least resistance might feel comfortable in the moment, but in the long term it doesn’t make you happy.
Contemporary society has complicated relationship with virtues.
We talk about them constantly, but often without naming them, and sometimes while quietly distrusting them.
We retreat to the less rigorous comfort of wellness practitioners or filter them through psychology.
Modern culture often re-frames virtues in therapeutic terms.
Patience becomes emotional regulation, humility self-awareness, courage resilience and wisdom emotional intelligence.
And while the aim of classical virtues was about how to live well together; therapeutic virtues often focus on how to cope, shifting the emphasis to private rather than communal.
Two American poets illustrate how especially good poets are in exposing the gap between what we say, value and how we actually behave, because poetry lives in the space between intention and action.
For Mary Oliver the world becomes moral when we learn humility, how to look and be human without apology.
And to pay attention, however discomforting it can be.
Though never naming the virtue directly, for her attention is the root of ethics: “Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination.
The world consoles you. Nature holds you You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves and Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
On the other hand for Ocean Vuong courage is to speak the unspeakable:
“I write because they told me not to.
For him bravery is naming what history tries to silence and
Tell me how to survive, not as a lie.”
Attention here is sharp, desperate, necessary. Missing details can mean erasure.
Ocean Vuong believes the world becomes moral when we dare to speak from where it hurt us.
Let no one mistake us for the fruit of violence—but that violence, having passed through the fruit, failed to spoil it.
Compassion means seeing damage clearly without denying beauty.
Unlike the other virtues listed so far, wisdom it is not something that you can directly practice.
Rather, it is the result of contemplation, introspection, study, and experience.
It unveils the other virtues, informs them, and makes their practice easier.
It points out the truth behind the surface, and the connection among things.
So do virtue ethics have any relevance today?
Algorithms, anonymity, and speed reward impulsiveness and cruelty.
Virtue ethics pushes back by training for patience, practical wisdom and restraint.
The risk: flourishing becomes private rather than communal.
Virtues however struggle today because we don’t share one vision of the good life.
This is because we live in a multicultural society with contested norms.
Virtues need supportive social conditions or else they sound hollow judgemental or nostalgic. They also work best as a lifelong practice and in crises like bushfires, pandemics, floods, wars, climate anxiety where we embrace courage, solidarity, self-sacrifice and leadership.
The Mower by Philip Larkin:
“The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found A hedgehog jammed up against the blades, Killed. It had been in the long grass. I had seen it before, and even fed it, once. Now I had mauled its unobtrusive world Unmendably. Burial was no help: Next morning I got up and it did not. The first day after a death, the new absence Is always the same; we should be careful Of each other, we should be kind While there is still time.”
You have spoken publicly about the importance of honouring the ANZAC legacy. Yet when that legacy is directly undermined on the world stage by a demonstrably false statement, you have said nothing.
Frankly, silence is not leadership.
As our elected representative, I expect you to:
Publicly call out this falsehood.
Raise the matter in Parliament.
cial development are profound and long-lasting. Over the past two decades, blood cancer incidence among children aged five to 14 has risen by almost 30 per cent.
If this trend continues, more than 400 children a year could face this devastating diagnosis within the next decade.
At the Leukaemia Foundation, we see the toll this takes on children and families every day –emotionally, financially and socially.
While we provide vital accommodation, transport, education and support services, and invest in life-saving research, we cannot do it alone.
As the World’s Greatest Shave launches nationally, I urge Australians to stand with these children and all Australians impacted by blood cancer. Participating by shaving, cutting or colouring your hair helps ensure no person faces blood cancer without support.
Register to participate in the World’s Greatest Shave at worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 088.
Chris Tanti CEO, Leukaemia Foundation
Use your platform and social media to defend Australian service personnel.
Demand that the statement be withdrawn and an apology issued.
Anything less suggests that references to honouring ANZACs are simply symbolic words with no substance behind them.
People in the electorate of Casey expect our MP to stand up for Australians who served and died in defence of shared values and alliances — not to remain quiet when their sacrifice is
dismissed.
If you truly believe in respecting the ANZAC spirit, now is the time to demonstrate it through action.
I look forward to your response and to seeing you publicly defend the truth and the honour of Australian service members.
Sincerely,
Deane Morley
A constituent of Casey
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.
Skin on the head (5)
Relying on or exploiting others (9)
Poland’s longest river (7)
Try (7)
Long pasta (9)
Uncomplaining (5)
Container (3)
Energy (11)
The signatory (11)
Male sheep (3) 20 Fastening (5) 22 Having a disease of the joints (9) 25 Make better (7)
Adorable (7)
Pleases (9)
Glossy (5)
Violent disaster or upheaval (9)
Nations (9)
Flagrantly bad (9)
Grumpy (9)
17 Resident of Jerusalem or Tel Aviv (7)
18 Mildly irritates (7)
21 Opinions (5)
23 Shifts (5)
24 Small river (5)
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many
“VIENNE”
‘VIENNE’, a magnificent tree lined driveway leads you and invites you to an exceptional Yarra Valley residence.
A quality craftsmen built home with a touch of European influence throughout, set on approx. 37 glorious acres with beautiful views and mountain vistas at every angle. The residence is warm and inviting and boasts 3 bedrooms plus a study/library or optional 4th bedroom.
Enjoy the multiple living areas with a flexible and functional floorplan with a formal dining area, separate living and family rooms.
The kitchen is equally impressive and at the centre of entertaining and gatherings with family and friends. Venture outside and you are spoilt for choice with acres and acres to explore and enjoy.
The adventurous family will love the huge spring fed lake - it’s just the spot for a bit of fishing, relaxing or paddling around in a tinny or kayak.
A gardeners dream with a 5 star veggie patch, exotic established trees and shrubs and an impressive array of fruit trees to keep you full of fruit and veg all year round -plus plenty of olive and almond trees.
For the horse enthusiast or hobby farmer, there are 5 separate paddocks with shelters and plenty of pastured land to suit a variety of uses. Ample car and machinery accommodation with a double lock up garage plus a separate workshop area, storage sheds and a large open high clearance machinery shed.
A truly amazing property beautifully presented and situated in the picturesque, tranquil and colourful rural surrounds of Gladysdale.
A stunning estate that offers an exceptional country lifestyle with peace and privacy assured. There is so much to see at ‘Vienne’, an opportunity not to be missed.
IF you have been searching for all the charm of yesteryear, you have just found it. With pride and perfection, this brick home has been lovingly maintained and boasts all of the comforts of today’s living.
The appeal is timeless, as is the welcoming facade of traditional design with striking wraparound verandahs,12’ ceilings throughout, limestone sills, feature leadlight windows and feature French Doors in some rooms.
The generous floor plan meets the needs of a large modern family with its 4 lavish bedrooms, (main with substantial spa ensuite and dressing room) plus two further period bathrooms.
The fireside formal lounge is a standout of the living rooms that have 12’ ceilings above and wide hand-cut skirting boards below. The adjacent formal dining is set just off the showpiece granite kitchen with popular central island bench, built-in Miele espresso machine, Ilve cooktop/oven and intricate cabinetry.
The windows from the adjoining family room frame a ‘soul-restoring outlook’ towards the fenced rear yard looking over treetops - NOT ROOFTOPS. Cosy combustion wood fire and central heating keeps the comfort year round.
A brilliant outdoor entertaining deck with bar/kitchen, ideal for those family gatherings. Other features include solar and generator stand by, oversized garage-workshop, sealed driveway ,extra garaging ,shedding and parking for additional cars /trailers/vans/boat/plant and equipment plus a host of features only an inspection will reveal.
All of this in a prime location handy to Wellington Road, (city arterial access) and Aura Vale Lake Park that makes this one worthy of your immediate attention and inspection! ●
Address: 17 Old Menzies Creek Road, MENZIES CREEK Description: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $1,175,000 - $1,290,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Grant Skipsey 0418 528 102, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE - 9754 6111
or upon request
WELCOME home, immerse yourself in nature and meander the driveway and feel the outside world fade away as you arrive at this private sanctuary of calm and seclusion. Surrounded by birdsong and the gentle movement of the forest, this property offers a rare sense of peace and connection to nature.
Set on approx. 9.1 acres, (3.69ha) the family home is thoughtfully positioned well back from the road, framed by open paddocks to the front and rear, creating an exceptional level of privacy. With the added benefit of backing directly onto state forest, the setting is as tranquil as it is picturesque.
Inside, the home features a modern kitchen with generous bench space, electric oven, and a well designed butler’s pantry, ideal for keeping appliances neatly out of sight. The kitchen flows effortlessly into the dining and living areas, where a cosy wood fire provides warmth in the cooler months, complemented by a split system for year round comfort.
Three well-proportioned bedrooms, all with built-in robes, enjoying peaceful views across the surrounding forest and paddocks. A large modern bathroom, and the bonus of an additional toilet off the laundry add practicality and comfort for family living.
Outdoor living is a standout, with the front deck capturing sweeping views across open land and treetops perfect for quiet mornings or sunset relaxation. To the rear, a shaded alfresco area invites outdoor dining while overlooking the serene landscape beyond.
Completing the property is a large powered shed offering ample space for vehicles, storage, and recreational equipment, along with water tanks and established vegetable gardens.
This is a rare opportunity to escape the everyday and embrace a lifestyle of peace, privacy, and natural beauty in the heart of the Yarra Valley. ●
YarraValleyacreagelivingatit’sbest, astunninglocationandanexceptionalpropertyinallaspects offeringtheidealrelaxedsemirurallifestyle.Thewarmcountryhomeboastsperiodcharmwith moderncomfortoffering 4largebedroomsallwithbuiltinrobesincluding awalkinrobeandensuite inthemainbedroom.Thekitcheniswellappointedwithqualityappliancesandplentyofbench andcupboardspace,entertaininstyleallyearroundwith ahugeundercoverentertainingarea overlookingthesprawlingacreageandpanoramicvista.Headoutsideandyouarespoiltforchoice withapprox.30gloriousacrestoenjoyandexplore,forthehorseenthusiasttherearemultiplefenced paddocks,stables,roundyard,hayshedandcattleyards,loadsofextrasheddingtosuitlarge trailers,trucks,floatsandcaravans. Aspectacularpropertywithpremiumfacilities.
beautifulviewsfromthefrontbalcony.Wellsuitedtoanarrayofbuyersgiventhefantasticlocation andpotential.Thehomefeaturestwowellproportionedbedroomsand acentralbathroom, alongwitha functionalkitchenthatincludesa dedicateddiningarea.Thelightfilledlivingspaceis equippedwitha split-systemforyearroundcomfort.Additionalhighlightsinclude asinglelockup garagewithinternalaccessto aprivaterearcourtyard,providinga secureandlowmaintenance outdoorspace.Setina peacefulpocketofWarburton,thishomeoffers alovelybalanceofserenity andconvenience.Anexcellentopportunitytodownsizeoradd asolidinvestmenttoyourportfolio.
FantasticValueThreeBedroomHomeinWesburn Setina quietno-throughroadina highlydesirablelocation,thisinvitinghomeoffers arelaxedYarra Valleylifestyle.Thesunny,wellsizedbackyardincludes abungalow,maybe asuitable4thbedroom orgreatforstorage,carportandgardenshed,allseton agenerousflat919sq.m,fullyfencedblock. Thehomefeaturesthreewell-proportionedbedroomswithbuilt-inrobes,including acharmingmain bedroom.A well-appointedkitchenofferinggenerousbenchspace,amplecupboardsandopento thediningarea.Centraloriginalbathroomanda additionaltoiletforconvenience.Justafive-minute drivetotheshopsandfacilitiesofYarraJunction,andaneasywalktothelocalpub,patisserieand bakery.Plentyofparkingandhorseshoedrivewaywillappealto adownsizerorsuperbfirsthome, offeringoutstandingvaluein asoughtafterlocation.
RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068
PositionedprominentlyonthebustlingmainstreetofWarburton,3381WarburtonHighwaypresents arareandexcitingcommercialopportunityinoneoftheYarraValley’smostloveddestinations.Set ontwotitlesofapprox.602sq.m,thisiconicCommercial1 zonedbuildingenjoysprominentdouble shopfrontexposuretotheWarburtonHighway,whileattherearitoffersaccessfromThomasAvenue andadjacenttothebeautifulYarraRiver.Withthepotentialtoreturntotwoseparateretailshops orutiliseasonecommercialspace,thechoiceisyours!Inside,you’llfindanimpressiveamountof openfloorspaceofapprox.188squaremetreswith afunctionalmixofstoreroom/kitchenareas, allservicedbyfoursplitsystemheatingandcoolingunitsandthebonusofa solarinverter.Practical featuresincludea toiletandbasin,handykitchenetteareaandevena quirkylaundrychute.
IDEALLY located just moments from the heart of Emerald village with easy access to Wellington Road, the property delivers the best of both worlds, peaceful country living without sacrificing proximity to cafes, schools, shops and transport. It’s a setting that allows you to slow down, breathe deeply and enjoy the freedom that acreage living provides. Perfectly suited to horses and a range of rural pursuits, it is a home where lifestyle, convenience and tranquillity come together effortlessly.
Set across five acres, the land is a standout feature: open, usable and thoughtfully configured to accommodate horses, hobby farming or space for children and animals to roam. Seven well-fenced paddocks, most electric and each with water access, are complemented by a 40 x 20 sand arena, tack room (or home office), feed room, vehicle or quad/tractor access to all paddocks and the rare ability to watch your horses graze while you relax inside. A hot wash bay and undercover tie up area complete the added extras for your horses. A picturesque, trickling creek winds through the bottom of the property, adding to the sense of calm, while a charming bridge provides direct access to the furthest paddock and the iconic Puffing Billy walking track, perfect for weekend adventures and daily walks.
For storage, you will be pleased to discover multiple sheds that include a machinery shed, workshop off the double carport, hay shed and a cute as a button cubby house – The perfect playground for children or new home for your chickens!
Positioned to capture beautiful garden outlooks from every angle, the home is filled with natural light thanks to expansive windows that blur the line between indoors and out. Comprises four bedrooms (or three and a study), two bathrooms and two generous living areas, there is so much flexibility for families of all sizes. A separate dining space and an open-plan kitchen, meals and lounge area make everyday living and entertaining easy and enjoyable, particularly for relaxed weeknight dinners.
Comfort is assured year-round with a wood fire creating warmth and ambience through the cooler months, complemented by split system heating and cooling for effortless climate control. For parking, there is a double carport and extra parking for up to five cars.
Surrounded by established greenery and enjoying a peaceful, private outlook in every direction, this is a property that offers a true sense of escape while remaining firmly connected to community. Rarely does a lifestyle opportunity of this calibre present itself in such a convenient and family-friendly Emerald location.
A magical acreage retreat where horses, hobbies and nature become part of everyday life, 9A Edenmont Road is an opportunity not to be missed. ●
PERCHED above it all, this striking split-level residence reimagines the indoor–outdoor lifestyle with confidence and calm. Framed by sweeping valley views that roll out to the bay and beyond, the home is a front-row seat to golden sunrises, slow sunsets, and birds drifting past walls of glass.
Classic hills architecture sets the tone, reworked with a bold, contemporary edge. Inside, vaulted ceilings, expansive living zones, and light-filled interiors create a sense of space that feels both elevated and laid-back. It’s a home that knows how to host — and just as easily lets you retreat. Spaces to connect, and spaces perfectly designed for switching off.
At the heart of the home, the central kitchen delivers on both style and substance: generous storage, premium appliances, and a seamless bifold servery opening to the bar — ideal for long lunches that turn into late nights. The dining and lounge zones flow effortlessly outdoors through bifold doors, making entertaining feel intuitive and unforced.
Accommodation is generous and well considered. Four bedrooms all feature built-in robes, while the main suite levels up with a walk-in robe and a beautifully on-trend ensuite — think barn door, boutique finishes, and serious style points.
The main bathroom is a standout: lux, custom, and undeniably indulgent, with a frameless shower, claw-foot bath, and bespoke vanity that feels straight out of a design magazine.
Outside, the massive deck is the ultimate social zone. With a built-in bar, BBQ area, and uninterrupted views, it’s made for sunset drinks, weekend gatherings, and memorable parties. A separate studio adds flexibility — perfect for working from home, a creative space, or teenage retreat — while the terraced yard smartly maximises usability on the allotment. You also have rear access at Dunstan Crescent, this may be the perfect spot for a shed (subject to council approval).
A calming water feature welcomes you at the front door, setting the tone from the moment you arrive.
Practical touches include off-street parking and excellent connectivity: the bus stop nearby, ice creams at the local service station, and easy access to trains with Upper Ferntree Gully or Belgrave just 10 minutes away. Knox City Shopping Centre is around 20 minutes, alongside a range of schools, William Angliss Hospital, and some of the region’s most beautiful national parks — including the iconic 1000 Steps — all within easy reach.
Where every detail invites you to slow down, soak it in, and live inspired.
* PLEASE PARK IN HUGHES STREETOffers closing Tuesday 10 February at 4pm unless sold prior.
****OffersclosingWednesday18thofFebruaryat4pm,unlesssoldprior**** Sethightocapturerollinghillviews,thisunique &thoughtfullydesignedhomeoffersthe perfectbalanceofcomfort,convenience& relaxedcountryliving.Offeringexcellent separationofspaces &aneasy,single-level flow.Featuringopenplanliving& diningwith seamlessindoor/outdoorconnection,GDH,wood fire,A/C’s,ceilingfansinall bedrooms, butler’spantry,solarpower,fullyfencedlandscapedgardens&alargesealeddriveway
MickDolphin 0429684522
CaitiEllis 0493136937
Thiscutecottageoffersa delightfulblendofcharacter,comfort& flexibilityastheversatile floor canadapteffortlesslytoyour lifestyleneeds.Soakupstunningcityviewsfrominside orfromthedeck,perfectforrelaxedmornings& evenings or entertaining. Private,lowmaintenancegardens providea peaceful retreatwithouttheupkeep.Closetoshops, transport,cafés& amenities. Atrulyspecialhomethat’sboth practicalandenchanting
JanBrewster 0409558805
****OffersclosingTuesday17thofFebruaryat4pm,unlesssoldprior****
Positionedon a1165sqmblock,thisexceptionalresidenceoffersrefinedfinishes,space &a seamlessconnectionbetweenindoor &outdoorliving.Otherfeaturesinclude a grandentry/hall& stairway,hardwood flooring,newrollerblinds,freshlypaintedinteriors soaringceilings,a stunningkitchenshowcasinga substantialCaesarstoneislandbench, entertainingareawithbluestonepaving&outdoorblinds,fruittrees &a sealeddriveway
MickDolphin 0429684522
ErinDavies 0494175410
JUSTMINUETSFROMTOWN
Positionedon agenerous2,200sqmblock,thisbeautifullyrefreshedfamilyresidenceoffers thespace,potential &lifestylegrowingfamiliesaresearchingfor.Designedwithfamily livinginmind,thehomefeaturesa privatemasterbedroom,multipleA/C’s,wood fire undercoverentertaining,ampleoff-streetparking, agardenshed,dualaccessalongwith servicesalreadyconnectedatthetopoftheblockand asolar-poweredrooftopsprinkler systemallsetin apeaceful,family-friendlylocationclosetoschoolsandamenities.
CaitiEllis 0493136937
By Garry Lewis
The Warburton Bowls Club recorded mixed results under pressure with two wins and a disappointing loss last week, leaving two sides still in the race for the finals.
The Burras top side played Monbulk One away on their challenging green hoping to continue their recent impressive form.
Unfortunately, they failed to get going and apart from one rink, struggled overall before going down, 100 shots to 69.
This leaves the Burras with a vital game this week against Heathmont Two at home in the final round.
Rink scores were: S. Lord 20/19, P. McConachy 17/31, C. Neale 18/ 20 and T. Appleton 14/30.
The second placed Burras seconds played Eastwood Golf One at home.
After the first half, the Burras were over ten shots up overall.
The visitors never gave up and fought back extremely well in the second half to really put the pressure on the Burras.
With only a few ends to play, the overall gap was about six shots.
All rinks managed to hold on in the finish resulting in the overall 81 shots to 75 victory.
Warburton Two need a good performance against Vermont South Three away in the last round this week to ensure they hold onto second place on the ladder leading into the finals.
Rink scores were: D. Nisbet 22/13, D. Key 13/23, P. Summers 25/12 and S. Darwall 21/27.
Warburton’s Midweek side travelled to play Healesville One on Tuesday.
What one would expect to be a regulation win, certainly didn’t turn out that way.
After Warburton holding a comfortable lead at lunch, Healesville came roaring back with excellent bowls and attitude.
The Burras were definitely rattled, and the overall score was level with two ends to play.
However, Greg Walsh’s rink stood up under pressure and secured a seven shot end to enable an overall win, 66 shots to 62.
Rink scores were: G. Walsh 27/23, R. McKail 16/18 and A. Dostie 23/21.
Unfortunately, the Jack Attack Triples Competition last Wednesday was cancelled due to the Extreme Fire Danger conditions.
The next three weeks, leading up to the finals’ evening on 4 March, will include two double headers.
The men’s and ladies’ Club Singles Championship Finals will be played this Friday 13 February from 4pm.
Steve Freestone vs Chris Lord and Michelle Foord vs Aimee Dostie.
Good Luck to all the players in what should be high standard matches. A BBQ sausage sizzle will be held during the game.
The Greenlow vote counting and pizza night will be held this Saturday 14 February after the final round of games before the finals.
The most valuable players for both weekend pennant sides will be awarded as will the overall pennant player of the year award.
The successful Barefoot Bowls Evenings concluded last Friday with another great crowd in attendance.
Well done to all the club volunteers who assisted during this highly successful program.
Social bowls continues each Monday from 12 midday.
The club facilities are regularly utilised by outside groups, including families and businesses, for social activities and barefoot bowls.
Contact the club for further information via email warbbowls@outlook.com or come along and visit the club and speak to a member.
By David Waters
The second round of the season’s pennant for the old golfers was held at Box Hill on Friday 6 February as the host club for the day, they were blessed with perfect weather.
A mild start, rising to comfortably warm and cloudless skies had all players hopeful of a good game. The practice putting green was well utilised. It looked like seagulls descending on chips as the players tried to gauge the speed of the green. Team managers seemed nervous as hit off time approached, waiting for last team members to arrive and register.
All things finally in order, directions to tees issued, groups headed out. First strokes made at 7.30am. Out of bed, into golf gear, waking with stiff joints, it became apparent youth had passed by long ago. Blurry vision had all sets of eyes searching for good shots and bad. Those who had their ‘weeties’ showed out with strong hits off the tee.
The Box Hill course was in immaculate condition. How the ground staff keep the fairways green is a miracle. particularly as other venues struggle to keep a tinge of green. The bunkers were almost a pleasure to land in as the sand was fluffy and well raked. The greens were very different to the one practised on before the game. Seemingly soft to land on, but lightning fast. Many short putts after touching the edge of the cup, rolled and rolled, to make the return difficult. The seventeenth hole was spoken about often after the game. A short uphill par three, sloping green, protected low by a bunker and high by trees and steep slopes. Putts uphill stopped, then rolled backwards, to finish off the green. The same result for very short downhill putts that didn’t fall in the hole. Ground staff and the Box Hill team captain all said that was the most difficult hole on the course. This week only one tied game, compared to last week with three. With Heritage on bye, Churchill/Waverley entered the fray. A very mixed result with gold outstanding with a huge win and green with a big loss. While ten individual matches were completed with four or five holes to play, the late finishes went the whole 18 holes. Only three of the late ones ended square. Groups finishing outback finally arrived with scores just after 12.30pm. The presentation room, excellent lunch, helpful catering staff, and preparation for the day by James Woight was recognised with applause from the participants. Announcements made included the
of
ed. Then the results were read before everyone departed with wishes for safe driving and better golf.
Results for the day: Gold group. Churchill/Waverley 7 def Yering Meadows 1. Box Hill 6 def Eastwood 2. Eastern 5 def Gardiners Run 3. Green group. Yering Meadows 5 ½. def Churchill/Waverley 2 ½. Eastern 5 def Gardiners Run 3. Box Hill 4 tied with Eastwood 4. Happy golfing.
By Anita Prowse
This week saw an early pony club rally for the Upper Yarra as we were practising for the big Seville Pony Club Horse Trials next weekend.
So far looks like good weather on the way, so be sure to get out to Shirley Heights Equestrian Centre in Gladysdale to watch the action and support all our local riders.
The Yarra Ranges Equestrian Alliance had an initial meeting, in which a committee was formed, and we have more people interested in becoming general committee members as well.
It is awesome so please come along to the next meeting or you can organise via proxy, just contact Anita on anita.horses@ gmail.com.
I would encourage everyone to get on board with this, the mission statement has been released via the Facebook group, so join up and be part of our equestrian future in our region.
Good luck to everyone competing next weekend, I will be there cheering you all on.
and
were
By Ian Milgate
Our Annual Open Four’s Tournament held last Sunday was a huge success with over 28 teams coming from all over Metro Melbourne and Country areas.
They included Yarra Glen, Yarra Junction, Yarrawonga, Heathmont Mitcham, Upwey, Kilmore, Mooroolbark, Mornington, FTG, Alexandra, Warburton, Boronia, Bairnsdale and a couple of Composite teams as well.
We started off with an egg and bacon breakfast and from all reports it was very delicious with many coming back for seconds. Then it was time to get down to some serious bowling.
We had 14 teams starting off on the synthetic green and 16 teams on the grass. Although there was a significant difference in the pace of both greens, everyone seemed to adjust to it very well.
After playing 2 games of 10 ends, half the teams went inside for a beautiful lunch prepared by Tiss, Robyn and helpers, while the other teams played another 15-end game before reversing rolls.
Although it was getting a little cool and windy in the afternoon, it didn’t affect some of the ripper scores that came in.
Adrian Beales and Wossha then spent some time adding all the scores for the day, before presentations could start. In case the masses were starting to get a little hungry, the kitchen staff pumped out afternoon tea which was devour in no time.
Finally, the winners were announced for the Tom Ayres and Keith Bacon Perpetual Trophy presented by members of both families.
First Place went to Ollie Senior, Geoff Senior, Ben Simmons, and Beau Simmons.
Second Place went to Barry Ward, Mathew O’Brien, Andrew McFarland, and Matthew Greighton.
Third Place went to Matt Bailey, Cam Davison, Chris Green, Ross Linton.
Best game green One, went to Chris Owen’s Yarra Glen Team.
Best game green Two, went to Bob Milligan’s Mooroolbark Team.
A special mention to Ollie Senior, who played in the winning rink.
For his age he has so much talent in his short years of bowling, so keep your eye out for Ollie as I believe he will represent Australia one day, Well done Ollie and enjoy the Prize money.
This event would not be possible without all of the planning to get everyone to the event, so a big thank you to Adrian Beales and Mark Ward(Woosha).
There are many other jobs that had to be achieved to make the event successful, including preparing the gardens so as they looked beautiful, preparing the greens, preparing all the food that was served during the day, the BBQ, Lunch, afternoon tea, the great raffle prizes, all of this takes a lot of effort, so thank you to all of the volunteers that helped out on the day.
There were so many that really deserve a medal but to name a few and I hope I don’t forget anyone.
Leonnie Fitzpatrick, Robyn Turville, Jill Cookney, Glenda Graham, Judy Wallace, Judy Veermann, Rita Featherstone, Steve Bulled, Effie Laban, Mick Featherstone, Robert Broadhurst, Rob Ayres, Bob Brown, Colin Jarvis, Sarah and Kenny Gallacher, and if I missed anyone I am really sorry.
Without these people, we would not have a club, so THANK YOU.
See you all next year for a bigger and better event.
By Ian McGregor
Another big week for the Yarra Junction Bowling Club, which saw all three sides achieving very valuable wins.
The Midweek Pennant side needed a win to maintain a spot in the top four and keep their finals hopes alive.
The Eagles hosted Mooroolbark on a hot, breezy day and a hard fought game was played in good spirit.
Yarra Junction prevailed posting a 59 to 51 shot win but won just one rink.
The 12 points earned kept Yarra Junction in third place and, with only 20 points separating top and fourth positions, the final two rounds will prove crucial.
Saturday saw The Eagles host another double-header with sides from Mitcham and Monbulk visiting.
It’s great to see all rinks filled with enthusiastic bowlers. Both Junction sides started strongly and maintained form to record very strong victories.
The Division Six side won all four rinks and defeated Mitcham 130 shots to 40.
This win ensures that, with one round still to play, Yarra Junction will finish in top position and will host a first round final.
The Division Eight side put in a very strong performance to defeat a side from Monbulk 85 shots to 39 and have moved back to the top of the table - by the slimmest of margins.
The Eagles are equal on points with Berwick and ahead on shot difference 107 - 106.
A nail biting final two rounds is in prospect.
Exciting times indeed at the happy club. The excitement continues with the Yarra Junction Bowling Club barefoot bowls season continuing to attract excellent crowds of local community members.
There are only two Friday evenings left to enjoy fun with family and friends on the green, (13th and 20th).
Bookings can be made on 0411 263 721. The final week is being heavily booked already.
Now that the party / holiday season is over, Rustic is back offering delicious food on Thursdays and Friday evenings. To make enquiries and make bookings please call Jason on 0411 263 721.
By Rodney Bates
After last week having all midweek games cancelled due to the heat, everyone was keen to get back on the green.
At home, Division Two played Mooroolbark. Yarra Glen was in a unique ladder position, just over a game out of finals, but also within a game of relegation.
At the lunch break, only one shot separated the teams.
Immediately after the break, Yarra Glen had gains across all three rinks and established a 10 shot lead, which we managed to maintain to the last bowl, including a last end three by Ash Skillern’s rink to win the rink points by one shot, and an overall win 58-47 (14 points).
P. Leonard 25/11; A. Skillern 19/18; P. Tirant 14/18.
In Division Four, Yarra Glen headed to Lilydale, and it was a tough day for us, going down overall 49-76 (0 points).
T. Dickson 13/28; C. Boland 20/21; D. McMenaman 16/27.
For our weekend sides, this week would determine finals for some, relegation potential for others.
Side One in Division One faced Kingsbury, who needed a win to push into a finals position. Yarra Glen looked for points to try and lock in a top two position, pending other results.
As expected, it was a close fought battle, with under 10 shots separating the sides across most of the contest.
At the finish, Yarra Glen held onto a seven shot advantage to take a three rink win, and just one point away from second on the ladder.
Final result 82-75 (16 points). B. Simmons 24/16; M. O’Halloran 16/25; M. Creighton 19/17; Beau Simmons 23/17.
Side Two in Division Three faced top of the table Upwey-Tecoma.
A win would mean jumping out of the relegation zone with one game to go, a loss and the last round against another top four side would be a huge challenge.
In the last three seasons, we have gained promotion to Division Three twice and were relegated to Division Four in between.
The club was hoping for some stability, build a platform to attract players to the club with the aim at a return to Division Two bowls in the next few years.
On our home deck, three of the four rinks got away to a good lead, and with one rink winning by more than 20 shots, we managed to come away with a season defining win.
We are now safe in Division Three for this year.
Final score 101-62 (16 points). W. Martin 25/16; A. Skillern 37/9; T. Haartson 16/23; S. Smith 23/14.
Side Three played away at Chirnside Park. Chirnside proved too good on the day, with Yarra Glen down 85-59 (2 points).
S. Crossland 12/18; G. Baker 14/23; P. Ramage 16/30; J. Leather 17/14.
The team remains third on the ladder, and a win in the last round would secure their finals position.
Next Friday, Yarra Glen Side One is hosting Bundoora in a top of the table clash.
The game is a catch up from earlier in the year when Bundoora were granted an exemption due to players committed to events in the Nationals held in Tasmania. Game starts at 7pm, and all spectators are welcome along in what should be a great encounter.
By Kieran Cantwell
Women’s XI
The Women’s team took on Mountain Gate at HV Jones Reserve on Sunday. Batting first, it was a rough start, with both openers going cheaply. Caitlyn Parker batted valiantly with 32, well supported by Ella Amore with 17, but finishing with only 108 it was going to be tough to defend. Ella Amore once again got us off to a good start with the ball, and some handy keeping by Michaela Healy with two stumpings saw wickets to young Abi Diggins as well as to Amelia English. Mountain Gate were too strong in the end, and passed our score three down in the 23rd over.
First XI
Finally getting to play some red ball cricket, the First XI headed to Benson Oval to take on 5th placed Eastfield in an important clash. Winning the toss, Lusatia Park sent them into bat; keeping the pressure on and not allowing them to score too quickly. Angus Gelly took one early, and then Adam Dunn struck in his return. Angus’ second spell was crucial, as he took three more in a few overs. Terry Bennett took one also, and Tyson bowled super economically all day, his figures 1-67 off 26 overs. Angus managed to snare his fifth for his best performance for Lusatia Park with the ball – taking 5-57 off 15, and they dismissed Eastfield for 219 in the 67th over. Tim Diggins and Michael Nicholls then survived the 13 overs remaining and Lusatia Park sit at 0- 58, going into next week in a commanding position.
Second XI
Also facing Eastfield, the Second XI were at home, and had a very similar day to the First XI. Winning the toss and bowling; Eastfield got off to a great start, as opening bowler Luke Thomas bowled his heart out without any luck. At 0-92 and pace not having much luck, super spinner Stephen Morgan once again spun a web against Eastfield, taking out the opener with some wily tricks. Jackson Wright dismissed the other dangerous opener
thanks to an extra sharp slip catch to Luke, and then Morgs continued his work taking three more. Just as a batter was getting away from us, Dean Sharman showed the versatility of this team and came on to trap the left-hander LBW before taking two more wickets of his own to end up with figures of 3-10 off nine overs, whilst Morgs ended with 4-41 off 20 overs. From 0-92 to all out for 197 we were very impressed with our efforts. Lusatia Park also had 12 overs to face, and Michael Dwyer and Corey Winter-Annette never looked troubled, finishing the day on 0-60, with 137 more to chase next week.
Third XI
With the two remaining matches being must-win, the Third XI are taking on Warranwood at Wickhams Road Reserve. Bowling first, Lusatia Park had a fantastic start with young Jacob Ahmad bowling the opener with a ripper on the second ball of the game. It put Warranwood on the back foot and they couldn’t score freely on a lightning fast Wickhams, on which anything past the infield is usually four. Lusatia Park’s bowlers kept it tight, and at the change of innings, Warranwood were 2-109. When it was Lusatia’s turn to bat, Simon Amore got another start before being dismissed for 11, and Ben Hubbard controlled his innings perfectly to be 70 not out at stumps, with a chance to go big next week. A few others got starts, and at
stumps Jacob Frankovic is batting with Ben and they finished at 4-150, with plenty of batters in the sheds and a handy lead in the split innings format.
Fourth XI
Taking on East Ringwood away, Lusatia Park batted first and it was up to some juniors to take on the opening duties. Unfortunately, this was without much success as 3-5 early on. Dale Fisher managed to get the innings back on track with 16, and Lee Philpot a quickfire 43 before Joel Pratt and Paul Broussard tried to finish the innings with some quick runs and we finished on 8-123. It was a whole team effort with the ball, as 11 bowlers were used in the innings, with father and son Paul and Alex Broussard the wicket takers. Some good catching from Dale as well as Cameron Philpot and run out from Paul as well. In the end East Ringwood chased down the score in the 24th over.
U/14
With a top two spot guaranteed, the U/14s squad look to try and get a couple more wins to try and nab top. Taking on Montrose at home, Lusatia Park batted like they wanted that spot; Jacob Ahmad (27) and Mason McNeill (30) both retiring. 21 from Chase Halls and 14 not out from Maxwell Diggins showed that it’s not just the usual suspects that can score runs for the side. They ended their innings on 5-168, a formidable total. Jacob showed he can do it all in what has been a good weekend for him, as he took the first two wickets in his first two overs. Everyone bowled solidly from there, as Mason, Cameron, Daniel and Chase all took wickets, and Montrose ended on 8-123 for another solid win.
U/12
Mini Bash had a bye, so the U/12 team was the only Friday night game. Batting first against Yarra Glen, highlights were 10 from Oscar Broussard, 29 not out for Joel Pritchard and 13 not out for Chase Halls as they made 110 in our innings. With the ball, Daniel Philpot and Eli Mills took wickets as Yarra Glen took the win.
The Yarra Junction Cricket Club celebrated two milestones over the past week as senior players Kevin Bomford and Justin Mead reached 250 and 50 games respectively.
Kevin “Bomma” Bomford played his 250th senior match for the club over the last weekend of January and it was surely a testament to his dedication to the club.
He debuted back in 1994 and has gone on to become one of the most influential figures in the history of the Junction.
And senior player Justin Mead marked his 50th senior match for Yarra Junction Cricket Club.
Mead made his way up the club ladder from the start, playing all of his junior cricket at the club, and it’s been great to see that pathway continue into his senior career.
Bomma’s 250 senior matches saw him rack up just under 5000 runs, revealing him as a fine player in front of the stumps, and with 307 wickets, good on the field, too.
These numbers place him firmly among the club’s all-time greats.
While Mead’s season so far has seen him contribute as a coach and as a player.
He’s played a key role in helping the freshfaced Fifth XI group, setting the standards and proving an excellent role model for the team.
Racking up the runs with 170 under his belt to date, Mead’s efforts on-field are also worthy of celebration. This was highlighted by his maiden half-century last week.
Bomma’s record 243 matches played at the First XI level puts him well above the rest, scoring 4894 runs and claiming 295 wickets, ranking second on both all-time lists.
Bomma has secured two premierships for the First XI, and even coached for one of those.
He’s enjoyed five club championships and is the recipient of seven First XI bowling awards and three First XI batting awards.
His career includes 23 half centuries, three centuries and seven five-wicket hauls with a best of six for 66.
Beyond the numbers, Bomma’s contribution to Yarra Junction runs far deeper.
He’s dedicated his life to the club, serving countless years as a junior coach and coordina-
tor leading the young ones in the right direction. Meanwhile, he’s served six seasons as senior coach and currently is in his fifth season as club president.
A member of three Team of the Decades and
Presented by the Victorian Government and Vicsport, nominations for the Victorian Sport Awards (VSAs) open on Wednesday 14 January 2026, acknowledging the full spectrum of Victorian sport and active recreation during the 2025 calendar year.
The most prestigious night for our state’s sporting and active recreation sector, the VSAs recognises 18 awards covering individual and team athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators, media personnel and the initiatives that ensure Victorians remain active.
The night provides the opportunity to celebrate the grassroots heroes who excelled at a community level, high-performance athletes who shone at a national and international level and everyone in between.
Nominations can be submitted via the Vicsport website between Wednesday 14 January and Friday 13 February 2026. The nomination process is open to all members of the public.
Vicsport chair Jason Hellwig said Vicsport was excited to celebrate the achievements of the state’s sporting community.
“In partnership with the Victorian Government, Vicsport is excited to once again recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our state’s sport and recreation community at the Victorian Sport Awards,” said Mr Hellwig.
“This is such a special night on the Victorian sporting calendar where we have the opportunity to honour the grassroots heroes who keep our sport and recreation sector thriving alongside the high-performance athletes who starred on the world stage.
“With 18 awards to be presented, I strongly urge all Victorians to submit their nominations to ensure their sport is well represented on the night.”
Following the closure of nominations on Friday 13 February, four finalists for each of the 18 awards will be decided by esteemed judging panels and announced in March. Winners will then be revealed at the VSAs on Wednesday 13 May 2026 in the Members Dining Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
All finalists, family, friends, sporting organisations and clubs are invited to attend the VSAs and celebrate the successes of sport in Victoria. Ticketing details will be announced soon.
More information on the 2025 Victorian Sport Awards can be found here: vicsport.com.au/2025-vsas
captain of the Team of the Half-Century, Bomma’s impact isn’t limited to those who are currently a part of the club.
Congratulations to Bomma and Mead on an extraordinary milestone.
