Tuesday, 3 March, 2026
YR councillors back youth mental health
Repower Fest returns to Yarra Ranges
Upper Gully CFA hits century
See Real Estate liftout inside
PAGE 5
PAGE 8
PAGE 10
PAGE 25
A Star News Group Publication
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
Donders at Tigers AFLW By Shamsiya Hussainpoor A former Emerald Football Netball Club player, Jarrad Donders, has been appointed head coach of Richmond Football Club’s women’s team. He previously worked as a physical education teacher and assistant principal at Emerald Secondary College, where he established an extra-curricular AFL program. Mr Donders’ coaching journey began at Emerald Football Club before joining Hawthorn NGA as an assistant coach and later Eastern Ranges Boys and Girls teams. Under his leadership, Eastern Ranges Girls reached the grand final in 2024 and won the championship in 2025. He also coached Vic Metro at the Under-18 Championships in 2025. Richmond Club’s chief executive officer, Shane Dunne praised Mr Donders’ leadership and player development skills. “Jarrad is highly driven and genuinely invested in developing people, not just coaching players,” Mr Dunne said. Read the full story on page 35
Jarrad Donders has been named head coach of Richmond Football Club women’s team. (Supplied)
Sentence appeal guilty to two charges of sexual penetration of a child under 16, two charges of sexual assault of a child under 16, and one charge of grooming for sexual conduct with a child under 16. The offending occurred over a brief period between 23 July and 10 August 2024, involving a 15-year-old co-worker at a bistro. Ms Bridge was originally sentenced to a total effective term of three years and two months, with a non-parole period of 23 months.
By Shamsiya Hussainpoor A Gembrook woman has been granted leave to appeal part of her prison sentence by the Victorian Court of Appeal after pleading guilty to multiple child sexual offences. At a hearing on 17 February before Justice Kaye, the court considered the 30-year-old’s application to appeal her County Court sentence from last year. Veronica Bridge (a pseudonym), she pleaded
She was declared a serious sexual offender for three charges, requiring community protection as the primary sentencing purpose, and is subject to lifetime reporting obligations under the Sex Offenders Registration Act. The court noted that without an early guilty plea, her sentence could have been four years and eight months with a three-year non-parole period. Her background includes substance dependence, six residential drug treatment admissions
between 2021 and 2023, and participation in the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre program in 2024, where she was described as “exceptional.” Judge Kaye rejected a separate mental impairment argument but described the rehabilitation evidence as “quite impressive,” granting leave to appeal on the ground that her sentence may have been excessive. The original sentence remains in place while the Court of Appeal hears full arguments on whether it should be reduced.
Over 220 years of experience combined. Experience = Expertise = A Great Result. We Put You First. 9754 6111
Widetread
!
nuff said
Approved Dealer for
F E R N T R E E G U L LY 9758 9288 1158 Burwood Highway (towards Belgrave) www.widetread.net.au
12394728-ACM32-18
12848971-CV10-26