Tuesday, 17 February, 2026
Chum Creek PS families left in the lurch
Volunteer orgs face unsteady future
Healesville butcher celebrates 50 years
See Real Estate Liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Bubble of peace By Oliver Winn When 28-year-old Britney PotterTilsom made the difficult but necessary decision to separate with her partner last May, she and her two children left her Seville rental without a place to live. “Unfortunately, by the time we came to the end of the lease there, trying to find housing on my own had just beaten me down,” Ms Potter-Tilsom said. But, a life-saving opportunity came her way in October when she found temporary accommodation at Benwerren in Yarra Junction, a retreat for women and children As she finally finds her footing after almost a year of constant pressure, an opportunity to repaint the accommodation came her way thanks to Dulux’s Community Donation Program. Read more on page 8
Britney Potter-Tilsom and her two children had been living from place to place last year. (534341)
Hoons headache By Oliver Winn Mount Donna Buang Road was once again ravaged by hoons on the weekend in what one Warburton local thinks is the “worst incident yet”. John Ashby reported the matter to the Star Mail after the carpark at the popular natural spring was littered with multiple shredded tyres, burnt rubber and shattered glass on 8 February. The presence of dangerous drivers in the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges have long disturbed lo-
cals, and Mr Ashby said police should step up enforcement to deter hoons and protect the roads. “I don’t think that the police do enough surveillance of the place. “If they flog that road each weekend for three weeks, then drop off… then do it again for another two, they’ll soon get the message,” Mr Ashby said. But local police worked with VicRoads and Parks Victoria to address the issue. “Police are aware of hoon activity in carparks
along Mount Donna Buang Road and conduct regular patrols to deter dangerous driving behaviour.” “Anyone who witnesses hoon activity as it is occurring should contact Triple Zero (000),” a Victoria Police spokesperson said. The Star Mail reported on hoons who had trashed the same natural spring carpark in August last year, which prompted Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol to ramp up enforcement efforts. “Following thorough investigations, a search
warrant was executed at a Dixons Creek residence, leading to the identification of a man in his early 20s. He is set to face multiple charges related to hoon driving and will be summoned to appear in court,” Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol acting sergeant Steve Jenner said in a 2025 Star Mail article. Police enforcement against hooning behaviour remains largely a reactive endeavour, where increased enforcement takes place as a result of increased hooning in the area. Turn to page three to read more
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