Tuesday, 10 March, 2026
Nursery petition gains traction
Cuckoo Restaurant history collection begins in earnest
Iconic IWD photographer wraps at 15 years
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Springing ahead By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Two best mates from school, Olinda’s Bell Real Estate director, Zac Bell, and philanthropist Edward Dickey of Embers Trust have joined forces to launch The Olinda Spring – a fundraising campaign aimed at providing clean water to communities overseas. Drawing support t from a number of local businesses, Mr Bell said living in a place where we have rainforest conditions and access to clean drinking water every day makes you realise how lucky we are. “We just turn on a tap and don’t give it a second thought but there are villages around the world where people don’t have this, and we wanted to help make a difference.” The campaign is being run through ‘Charity: Water’, a globally recognised organisation that has funded tens of thousands of clean water projects across roughly 29 countries in Africa, Asia and beyond, helping communities gain access to safe, clean drinking water. The fundraiser is aiming to raise $10,000 USD (just over $14,000 AUD) which will fund the construction of a clean water source in an underprivileged village to provide filtered water to schools, hospitals, or even entire towns. Read more on page 10
L - R: Brad, Zac, Eddie and Aneke at the Storehouse Roastery cafe in Olinda. (Stewart Chambers: 538959)
Man avoids jail By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Mark Martinaj has avoided jail after being found guilty of beating his neighbours’ two dogs, Millie and Brinny, in an incident that shocked the local community. The County Court handed down the sentence on Wednesday, 5 March, following an appeal against a two-month jail term previously imposed in Ringwood Magistrates Court. Instead of imprisonment, Mr Martinaj received a 12-month adjourned undertaking, a
$1000 donation to the RSPCA, and an 18-month Community Correction Order - the also order includes anger management programs and 50 hours of unpaid community work. The attack occurred in December 2024 when the Wood family’s Maltese Shih Tzu, Millie, and golden retriever, Brinny, entered Mr Martinaj’s backyard, which also housed chickens. CCTV footage shown in the earlier hearing captured him arming himself with a pole and repeatedly striking the dogs over five minutes, with Millie suffering the brunt of the assault.
Both dogs were trapped inside by chicken wire that Mr Martinaj had erected across his driveway. Brinny was examined by a veterinarian and, while unharmed physically, appeared distressed. Millie’s whereabouts remain unknown, and a dead chicken was later found on the property. County Court of Victoria’s judge, Diana Manova described the abuse as part of a vigilante campaign, noting ongoing harassment of Mr Martinaj and his family, including attacks on property, threats, arson, and provocative signage from the
Wood family. She expressed concern about the impact of such behaviour on neighbourhood children and highlighted the personal toll on Mr Martinaj, acknowledging the fear and distress caused. The judge said the abuse was “appalling, unjust and severe” and warranted a reduced sentence. She stressed the importance of allowing people to serve their punishment without further torment. Read the full story on page 2
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