Tuesday, 3 March, 2026
Overcrowding on buses sees kids left behind
Mt Evelyn CFA take up medical response
International Women’s Day events in the Valley
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Hope to all By Callum Ludwig The Rotary Club of Lilydale’s Wishing Tree continues to extend its branches year by year to bring Christmas cheer to more families in need. Supporters gathered for a celebratory dinner at The Sporting Globe in Chirnside Park on Tuesday 24 February, including the chance to hear from guest speakers who helped distribute gifts near and far. Anchor and the Lilydale Proactive Policing Unit have been long-time recipients of the gifts from The Wishing Tree but as the initiative has grown, more and more organisations have become involved, whether helping gather gifts or distribute them The 2025 Wishing Tree is a bittersweet one as Anne and Gerry van Horick are set to step down from leading the initiative for the first time since its inception, though they were awarded a certificate of recognition for their efforts. They will still be involved, but it won’t be their garage stocked to the brim with presents in 2026. More on page 16
Supporters of the Wishing Tree gathered for a dinner to celebrate the community effort. (Callum Ludwig: 536985)
Sentence appeal By Callum Ludwig The County Court of Victoria has heard an appeal for a lesser sentence from Mark Martinaj, the man convicted of beating ‘Millie’, the Maltese Shih Tzu belonging to his neighbours, the Wood family. Judge Diana Manova presided over the case, acknowledging the significant community interest and highly emotional nature of the case. Mr Martinaj was appealing a total effective sentence of two months imprisonment.
A 13-minute excerpt of CCTV was played for the court, while victim impact statements, which had to be redacted, were not read aloud and instead read privately by Judge Manova. Mr Martinaj is recorded attacking Millie and the Wood family’s golden retriever Brinny after they entered his property for a period of five minutes, striking them at least 16 times, with the majority of strikes directed at Millie. Judge Manova considered the five-minute attack to be a ‘very significant time to be adminis-
tering blows’ and asked whether there are prospects for rehabilitation through a community corrections order, such as for anger management support or animal welfare work. The defence argued the retribution faced by Mr Martinaj has consisted of 24 events of ‘extracurial punishment’ over the space of the year. These have included multiple attacks on vehicles on his property, an arson attack on his fence, spray painting, physical and verbal threats, a threatening sign erected on the Wood property
facing his home and online commentary threatening the lives of him and his family. Judge Manova said both parties are reminded every day of this terrible tragedy and expressed concern that without a resolution to the case, there might be escalation in the neighbourhood and wants to ‘put out the fire’ before that occurs. An assessment for a community corrections order (CCO) will be carried out on Tuesday 3 March before sentencing on Wednesday 4 March. Turn to page 3 for more
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