Mail - Mt Evelyn Star Mail - 24th March 2026

Art through the decades

Selby couple Gina and Ross Miller are celebrating 50 years of marriage in one of the only ways they know how - through their art.

Their retrospective exhibition titled 50 Years On combines a selection of their paintings and sculptures crafted over the decades they have been together.

From their travels across South America to their friendships on home soil, the couple delve into the many influences and shapes their works have taken throughout the years.

But one thing stays consistent - their never-ending support and encouragement of each other.

To read more, turn to page 14

Fuelled by crisis

By Oliver Winn

The escalating conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent Australian fuel prices skyrocketing, leaving households, small businesses, and volunteers in the outer east struggling already to cope.

Since late February, average petrol prices in major cities have surged by nearly 50 cents per litre, prompting the Federal Government to release 700 million litres of fuel from reserves to combat regional shortages.

Residents in the Yarra Ranges report that the spike is devastating local operations.

Nicki Shea, a local farmer, noted that her business has been forced to implement fuel levies to survive. Similarly, Red Relish Cafe owner Ms Cordina warned of a “butterfly effect” where rising freight costs are driving up food prices.

The rapid price hikes have sparked allegations of price gouging. In response, ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb confirmed a preliminary investigation into major suppliers, including Ampol and BP, regarding anti-competitive conduct.

“We are closely watching market conduct... and will not hesitate to act,” she said.

The crisis has also triggered panic buying, which Associate Professor Devika Kannan warns “worsens local shortages faster than the underlying disruption itself.”

This tension has unfortunately boiled over at service stations, with staff in Wesburn reporting verbal abuse from frustrated customers.

Perhaps the most poignant impact is felt by the Upper Yarra Wildlife Rescue Network.

“It’s very demoralising,” Ms Maynard said, noting that some volunteers have reached their emotional and financial limit, unable to afford the travel required to save injured animals.

Experts urge the public to prioritise essential trips to conserve fuel for critical sectors like agriculture and emergency services.

Turn to page 4 for more

Allegations over unlicensed labour hire

By Oliver Winn

Sanders Apples is facing court over allegations it sourced workers from an unlicensed labour provider, the Labour Hire Authority announced on 18 March.

The case comes after the the Labour Hire Authority (LHA) and the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) identified the Yarra Valley as one of the worst regions for worker exploitation and underpayment.

Dombin Workforce Pty Ltd allegedly supplied labour workers to pick and pack apples at the Three Bridges farm on at least 30 occasions between 1 November 2023 and 18 June 2024, despite not having a labour hire license.

Sanders Apples, Dombin Workforce and its director Bintari Endang Purwati face fines of up to $650,000 per breach, which could top a total of $19.5 million.

Labour Hire licensing commissioner Steve Dargavel said there was no excuse for growers who use unlicensed labour hire providers.

“We’ve made it easy for growers to avoid dodgy operators, so if you use an unlicensed provider, you can expect to feel the full force of the law,” Mr Dargavel said.

“It’s critical that Victorian business-owners know this: you face the same significant penalties for using an unlicensed labour hire company as you do for being an unlicensed labour hire company.”

Businesses can easily check if a labour hire provider is licensed through the Labour Hire Register.

Sanders Apples declined to comment.

Following an LHA compliance operation in February, and a 2025 Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) report, the Yarra Valley’s horticulture industry is a hotspot for serious issues such as labour hire licence fraud and unlicensed operation.

In the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula region combined, the FWO report found 83 per cent of investigated horticulture businesses non-compliant and 100 per cent of labour hire businesses in breach.

The FWO and LHA held a forum with local growers, industry groups and labour hire companies on 17 March to engage directly with local businesses and industry bodies about issues in the region and ways to improve compliance.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said it was a priority to improve compliance in order to protect labour hire workers vulnerable to exploitation.

“Improving compliance in the agriculture sector, including horticulture, is a priority for the Fair Work Ombudsman given its reliance on vulnerable migrant and seasonal labour, as well as its often complex labour supply chains. It is important for growers to have oversight of the labour on their property.”

Labour hire workers are vulnerable to exploitation and underpayment, are often migrants and usually reliant on their employment for income and accommodation.

Boost to police presence

Yarra Ranges Police will increase police patrols across three major retail precincts in the Yarra Ranges area to bolster safety and deter crime.

It was announced on 18 March as part of Operation Uplift, which aims to target anti-social behaviour and general crime such as theft at shops in the Yarra Ranges.

Chirnside Park Shopping Centre, Lilydale Mainstreet Shopping Precinct and Brice Avenue Mooroolbark Retail Strip.

Commander Yarra Ranges Local Area, inspector Lee Coulthard-Clarke, said the it was the police’s duty to ensure people are safe from crime at major retail precincts.

“In the coming weeks and months, you may notice an increase in police presence across many of our retail areas across our local government area.

“It’s really important to us that community feels safe and is safe and delivering operation uplift is part of our commitment to community in doing that,” Ms Coulthard-Clarke said.

She also encouraged people to report non-urgent crimes through the police assistance line on 131 444. In case of an emergency, please call 000.

Operation Uplift follows other policing initiatives such as Operation Pulse, which saw increased police presence in other outer east shopping centres such as Eastland Shopping Centre in Ringwood and Fountain Gate Shopping Centre in Narre Warren.

From December, police and PSOs in shopping centres were placed across Melbourne in response to violence, thefts and anti-social activity.

Worker exploitation is rife within the horticulture industry due to the seasonal and transitory nature of the work, and high proportions of migrant workers from a range of backgrounds, including Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme workers.

Mr Dargavel indicated links to organised crime within the horticulture industry in an ABC article.

“Some of the problems are associated with organised crime, money laundering, serious criminal matters,” he said to the ABC.

Dombin Workforce Pty Ltd was contacted for comment.

Sanders Apples, Dombin Workforce Pty Ltd and its director, Bintari Endang Purwati, will face the Supreme Court of Victoria on a date to be set.

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According to the Government, Operation Pulse led to 84 per cent of customers feeling safer at shopping centres.

It also led to a 73 per cent drop in retail theft stock loss and a 50 per cent drop in violent incidents.

Schools to stay open as strike starts

By Melissa Meehan AAP, with Star Mail

Retired teachers could be back in the classroom as public school staff in one state walk off the job after rejecting an 18.5 per cent pay rise.

Strike action for 24 March was confirmed by Star Mail for Healesville High School, while some parents of children attending Lilydale primary and secondary schools were yet to learn how classes would be disrupted as of Thursday morning, 19 March.

In the Dandenong Ranges, one primary school’s communication to parents said it was “expecting a large percentage of our staff will take part in the stop work” , and it would confirm the school’s program on Monday afternoon, 23 March.

A major high school in the Hills said students were expected to attend, despite some teachers most likely taking part in the action. Parents were advised, however, that if they knew students would not be attending school, to log an attendance note so it could plan accordingly.

The number of teachers from across the Outer East should become clearer for schools and families by the end of the week, with teachers required to confirm with the union whether they are participating on Friday afternoon ahead of the strike action.

The Victorian branch of the Australian Educa-

tion Union knocked back the latest offer from the state government on Monday night (16 March), saying it doesn’t deliver the pay increases that properly value the work of school staff.

It would also increase excessive workloads and exacerbate the more than 12 hours of unpaid overtime public school employees do each week, according to the union.

If the industrial action goes ahead, it’ll be the first statewide teacher strike in Victoria since Labor returned to government 13 years ago.

Victorian Branch President Justin Mullaly said the offer of 18.5 per cent was “completely unacceptable” and would do nothing to fix the staffing shortage crisis across the state’s public schools.

“An offer like this does not go far enough to keep experienced teachers in the system nor attract the next generation who are the future of the profession,” he said.

“I don’t think the premier and education minister could in good conscience look Victorian parents in the eye and say they are doing their best to support the workforce who teach their children.”

The offer is the first made by the state government after eight months of negotiations.

The offer proposes an eight per cent pay rise for teachers and principals, four per cent for education support staff on April 1, and three per cent each year across the following three years.

This figure is a far cry from the 35 per cent pay

increase the union had been demanding.

Education Minister Ben Carroll said he would continue to work with the union after they rejected the “very competitive offer”.

He said both the government and union would prioritise dialogue over discussion.

But if the strike goes ahead next week, Mr Carroll assured Victorians that schools would remain open.

“Our schools will be open, we are calling on the union again to work with us, this is a serious compelling offer,” he told reporters in Ascot Vale.

When asked how this was possible, Mr Carroll said school’s would use retired teachers and casual staff - but conceded if the strike went ahead, a normal curriculum would not be run.

Victoria isn’t the only state in pay negotiations with teachers, Queensland and Tasmania are offering an eight per cent pay rise, and the Catholic system recently offered a 13 per cent pay deal.

Mr Carroll said the rejected pay deal would have put Victorian teacher salaries in line with New South Wales, but provide better conditions - including flexible work arrangements.

Union members working in Victorian public schools will stop work for 24 hours on Tuesday 24 March, after the Fair Work Commission-endorsed ballot had 98 per cent of members vote to take stop-work action.

Teen charged

Croydon Divisional Response Unit detectives have charged two teenagers following a stabbing in Mooroolbark on 10 March.

It is alleged a group of teens were throwing rocks at the roof of a house on Lincoln Road in Croydon on 9 March about 10.15pm.

The group fled before returning hours later at 2.30am and continued to throw rocks at the victim’s property.

The victim got into his vehicle and chased the group to Manchester Road in Mooroolbark where an altercation occurred.

It’s alleged a member of the group used a machete to slash the victim before fleeing.

The 64-year-old man attended hospital with serious injuries and police were called.

Investigators executed four search warrants in Mooroolbark on 17 March, arresting three teenagers.

Two boys, a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old from the Yarra Ranges area, have been charged with intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury, common law assault, affray and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Both will appear at a children’s court at a later date.

A 16-year-old boy from the Yarra Ranges area was released pending further enquiries. Lambo joyride arrests

More teenagers connected to the alleged theft and reckless driving of a Lamborghini have been arrested.

The driver, originally reported to have been a 16-year-old from Croydon, but confirmed to be from Knox, was arrested on 12 March after crashing the car into a fence in Glen Waverley.

A 13-year-old girl from the Yarra Ranges area was one of three teens to have fled on foot.

She was arrested on 15 March and charged with aggravated burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.

She appeared in a children’s court and was bailed to appear at a later date.

It is alleged a group of offenders gained entry into a property on The Esplanade in Maribyrnong on 12 March, about 1.15am, and allegedly stole a black 2020 Lamborghini Urus wagon.

Police were alerted after a 16-year-old boy from the Darebin area removed or tampered with his ankle monitor on 11 March.

A second 16-year-old boy from the Darebin area, who is alleged to have removed or tampered with his ankle monitor on 11 March, was arrested on 18 March.

One offender remains outstanding.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Antisocial behaviour

Instances of anti-social behaviour in Mount Evelyn around Red Park, the Mount Evelyn Playspace, and the Warburton Trail have been reported to police, with active patrols now taking place at relevant times.

The people responsible appear to be getting around on e-bikes and scooters.

Local police are aware of the issue.

Mount Evelyn Police would like to remind the Mt Evelyn community that if you witness any anti-social behaviour in progress, please call 000 to request police attendance so that incidents can be addressed where possible at the time rather than after the fact.

Any information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Businesses, farm owners and residents are grappling with the rise in fuel prices. (Mick Tsikas/AAP)

Fuel price woes hit the region

By Oliver Winn, with AAP

Outer east residents have shared their experiences with the spike in fuel prices across the country, revealing the impact it’s having on households’ wallets.

It comes amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East which saw the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil corridors.

The Star Mail posted on local Facebook community groups where locals left comments sharing their experiences.

User Nicki Shea said it had made it harder to run their farm and keep their business afloat.

“It’s impacted our farm work and it’s impacted running our business. We’ve had to implement a fuel levy to customers to try and cover some costs,” the comment read.

Meanwhile, user Kate Lamb raised the issue of price gouging, which is being investigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

“Why did the prices increase the first day the war started? That fuel was already bought at lower prices. Investigate that and tell me petrol stations aren’t price gouging,” Ms Lamb said.

The ACCC announced an investigation into allegations of anti-competitive conduct by major fuel suppliers concerning diesel availability. Big fuel suppliers such as Ampol Ltd, BP Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, and Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd are under investigation.

ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said it’s not usual practice for the ACCC to announce investigations, but given the significance of the issue, the ACCC is confirming this enforcement investigation.

“It is important that fuel market participants

and the community know that we are closely watching market conduct in relation to all fuels and we will not hesitate to act swiftly to enforce Australia’s competition and consumer laws,”

Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Our investigation is at a preliminary stage, and therefore we are yet to form a view about these matters.”

Red Relish Cafe owner in Yarra Junction said small businesses were taking on extra costs as the fuel butterfly effect spread throughout key industry supply chains.

“Fuel price rises equals freight price rises equals food price rises.

“It’s not just about filling up the car. Businesses are already feeling the impact. I’ve received correspondence from our suppliers today that they are adding another fuel levy to our invoices, but they will monitor the situation closely,” Ms Cordina said.

Oil prices have soared and global supplies cut after Iran’s de-facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against US-Israeli strikes.

YarraRanges local Geoff McDonald touched on the topic of panic buying and said it’s only further contributing to the fuel cost crisis.

“While there are people filling up multiple jerry cans, the price will remain higher than if they only filled their car as needed.

“The greater the demand the higher the price. We are already being ripped off with the local service stations price gouging,” he said.

An Adelaide University supply chain expert, associate professor Devika Kannan, said panic buying was not justified and only worsened the situation.

“Many people are experiencing a sense of dejà vu… as panic buying re-emerges amid concerns about disruptions to oil shipments

Rescuers feel the brunt

By Oliver Winn

Some animal rescuers in the Upper Yarra have “reached their limit” under pressures caused by the rapid rise in fuel prices across the country.

It comes amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East which saw the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil corridors.

Karen Maynard is a member of the Upper Yarra Wildlife Rescue Network and she said the high fuel prices had forced her to cut back on the amount of animal rescue callouts she could respond to.

“As a member of the Upper Yarra Wildlife Rescue Network, with the price of fuel I am very careful about how many callouts and rescues I can realistically attend.

“At times we have had to go to Healesville Sanctuary three times in a day… with fuel costs this isn’t feasible,” Ms Maynard said.

The long distances she’d be required to travel have made her think twice about responding to callouts that often see her travelling the entire length of the Warburton Highway, from Seville to McMahon’s Creek.

“You’re driving everywhere you go, so for your costs, you think, ‘Oh, hang on a minute. I’ve already filled up once this week. Don’t know if I can fill up again.’

through the Strait of Hormuz,” she said.

“Panic buying can be understood in a psychological manner, as perceived threats and expectations of scarcity impact social norms and people’s behaviours.

“However, this is not justified from a supply chain system perspective because it worsens local shortages faster than the underlying supply disruption itself,” Ms Kannan said.

A worker from an independent service station in Wesburn reported being verbally abused by customers taking out their anger on staff behind the counter.

The Local Fuel and Country Fried Chicken Wesburn staff member, who didn’t want to be named, said it was the first time they’d experienced anything like it.

Motor Trades Association interim executive director Peter Jones told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that service stations across the country were reporting an increase in abuse to staff.

“We’ve had a lot of reports of service station attendants and staff being harassed,” he told AAP.“ hey are not the people that make the price. In rural areas where there is no fuel, whether it be diesel or petrol, emotions are relatively high ... we’ve asked for people to be respectful.”

Ms Kannan said both individuals and businesses have been urged to prioritise fuel for essential trips and rely on alternative modes of transport.

“In other words, this includes reducing non-essential car trips, increasing the use of public transport, e-mobility, and car-pooling, and expanding remote working.

“These can help conserve fuel for critical sectors such as freight, agriculture, and emergency services.”

“It’s very demoralising, because you never thought you’d have to make that choice,” Ms Maynard said.

Fuel prices skyrocketed after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February.

Iran has closed one of the world’s busiest oil corridors - the Strait of Hormuz - in response to the US-led war launched against it, causing a global shortage in fuel.

The Federal Government flooded the market with an extra 800 million litres of petrol and diesel in a bid to fix supply shortages plaguing some regional areas on 17 March.

Between late February and mid-March, average petrol prices have shot up nearly 50 cents a litre across Australia’s five largest capital cities, according to the consumer watchdog’s first weekly report on the fuel market since the start of the war.

For eight years, Ms Maynard has been a part of the network caring for vulnerable wildlife alongside other rescues in the area.

The network is volunteer run and some of its members are retirees, meaning they often don’t have the income to adjust for extra costs.

“Some people, they’re semi-retired, so they’reonaveryfixedincomeandtheyknow what they allocate every week.

“They’ll reply, and they’ll say, ‘Look, we really just can’t do it. We really can’t afford the fuel at these prices,’” she said.

Ms Maynard said some rescuers had “reached their limit”

“I know more than one that have reached their limit emotionally, where they’ve had to step away because of the pressures that they’re already under.”

Promotion overshadowed

By Mikayla van Loon

The promotion of Mooroolbark’s women’s soccer team to a higher division should have been met with true elation for the club and its players.

And while it was received with great excitement, it was slightly clouded by scheduling challenges and unequal access to facilities.

Women’s soccer at Mooroolbark has been on an upward trajectory in recent years, with a more than 20-year history, so the promotion from State 2 to State 1 was well deserved.

But club president Stuart Milne said teams in the State 1 competition are required to field both a senior and reserves side, structured so that the reserves play immediately before the seniors.

“While this is a great achievement for the players and the club, it has unfortunately highlighted the facility challenges we are dealing with,” he said.

Mooroolbark’s vision and ideal scenario, Mr Milne said, would be to schedule the senior women’s games after the senior men’s games on Saturdays to encourage crowds to stay on.

“(It’s) the ideal scenario to help promote the female game within the Mooroolbark and greater Yarra Valley community, building crowds, atmosphere, and visibility for the women’s program.”

Speaking with Star Mail earlier this year in a push for lighting upgrades, Mr Milne highlighted the costs associated with running and replacing lighting, estimated at $9000 in energy bills every quarter and a price tag of $140,000 to $180,000 for replacement.

Mooroolbark Soccer Club has historically scheduled its women’s games for Friday nights “because it allows them to have a weekend” but this may not be possible either for 2026.

“Our grass pitch lighting is not compliant for these competitions,” Mr Milne said.

Lighting grant recipients are expected to be announced on 26 April, but even if the club is successful, Mr Milne isn’t confident the lights

would be updated this season.

A lighting grant would solve one half of the scheduling problem, but without appropriate female-friendly change rooms, running men’s and women’s matches alongside each other is also not possible.

The club estimates funding of approximately $350,000 to $450,000 would be required for either portable-style change rooms or potentially more for a permanent extension to the existing facilities.

“Without both compliant lighting and additional female-friendly change rooms, it will be very difficult to properly support the continued growth of the women’s program,” Mr Milne said.

Interest in the sport remains consistent at

Mooroolbark, with a third, more social women’s team likely to have enough players for 2027.

Mr Milne said this would create another pathway for participation, but again, without lighting and facility upgrades, the growth of the program would stagnate.

“This leaves our newly promoted women’s program effectively stranded playing on Sundays for 2026.

“That creates real challenges for many of the players who have families or who are heavily involved in the club’s junior program.

“Four members of the squad currently coach junior teams and assist with clinics, so Sunday scheduling makes it difficult for them to balance those commitments.”

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Backlash to sulphur standards

By Callum Ludwig

In a bid to help avoid a fuel crisis due to the impacts of war in Iran, the Australian Government temporarily reverted fuel quality standards to allow higher sulphur levels until May 31 2026.

The decision reverses a change that game into effect in December 2025 but will allow around 100 million litres a month of new petrol supply that would otherwise have been exported.

Ampol Australia has committed to prioritising regions of shortage and the wholesale spot market that supports independent distributors and harvesters with this additional supply.

However, the higher sulphur context creates more risk once again for Australians living with heart and lung conditions, including asthma.

Yarra Glen resident Darren Lewis lives with emphysema, asthma and chronic lung and airway infections and said he is a living sensor for the toxicity in our air.

“When the sulphur goes up, my ability to breathe goes down,” he said.

“I am not alone in this, there are thousands of us with respiratory vulnerabilities who are being told that supply security is more important than our lungs.

“ The smack in the face is coming, and we are the ones breathing it first.”

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) was contacted for comment.

Prior to the introduction of the 10 parts per million (ppm) sulphur standard in December 2025, almost all petrol vehicles in Australia operated on fuels containing between 50 and 150 ppm sulfur.

Professor Brian Oliver, whose research is focused on lung diseases, wrote an article for The Conversation detailing the impacts of reverting to “dirty fuel”

“Because Australia only switched to ultra-low sulphur petrol in late 2025, there has been little time for large population-level health gains to accumulate,” Prof Oliver said.

“Air quality improvements from cleaner fuels tend to emerge gradually, rather than within weeks or months.

“That means a short-term reversal is unlikely to cause sudden, dramatic new health effects for the general population. There is no evidence a two-month increase will trigger a wave of new disease.”

Burning fuel creates air pollution, namely the gas sulphur dioxide and fine particles (called PM2.5) which are bad for your health when inhaled.

Prof Oliver said there are some caveats but the change is also not equivalent to introducing a brand new pollution source.

“Sulphur emissions worsen air quality and disproportionately affect people with existing heart and lung diseases (especially asthma),” he said.

“Traffic-related pollution causes harm even at the relatively low levels found in Australia, we do not know precisely how much additional SO2 or particulate pollution this temporary change will generate in Australian cities, because it depends on traffic patterns, weather and how petrol is blended at the refinery.

“We suspect any added health burden will be small, short-lived, and concentrated near busy roads and enclosed spaces – but not zero.”

The temporary allowance of up to 50 parts per million sulphur until 31 May is supported by the Fuel Standards Consultative Committee, whose membership includes state and territory air-quality and environmental-health representatives.

According to the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the monitoring stations in Warburton, Healesville, Yarra Glen and Moo-

roolbark all largely recorded ratings of ‘Good’ over a 48 hour period between Wednesday 18 March and Thursday 19 March. Mooroolbark saw a reduction to a ‘Fair’ rating between 5am and 7am on Thursday 19 March, Yarra Glen fell to ‘Fair’ between 5am and 1pm on Thursday 19 March and Warburton was recorded as fair from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 3pm on Thursday 19 March.

An EPA Victoria spokesperson said the relaxation of fuel standards is temporary and will not result in any measurable change in air quality over the short term it’s expected to be in place.

“In the meantime, the new standard of 10 ppm for sulphur content was only introduced in December last year and the temporary standard of 50 ppm brings Australian petrol back to the level that prevailed in most fuels before that change,” they said.

“For live air quality monitoring around Victo-

ria, visit EPA Air Watch epa.vic.gov.au/check-airand-water-quality.”

Prof Oliver advised that the precautionary measures for during this period are largely the same as all for reducing traffic pollution harm: Avoid idling vehicles in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces such as garages and underground car parks where exhaust pollutants can build up quickly.

Reduce unnecessary car use where practical, particularly in congested urban areas.

Keep your distance from heavy traffic, especially for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart disease, pregnant people and young children. Ensure good ventilation if driving in slow-moving traffic, including closing your windows and setting the car aircon to recirculate. Follow asthma or heart management plans and get medical advice if symptoms worsen.

Report claims genuine reasons for firearms are being exploited

By Callum Ludwig

A new report from think tank The Australia Institute has claimed that some gun owners may not be upholding the commitments they make to obtain a firearm for sport or hunting.

The report has drawn criticism from the national shooting organisation for its “inflammatory language” in the wake of the Bondi massacre in December last year.

Former Olympic shooter and president of Yering’s Melbourne Gun Club Craig Henwood said they have over 500 members, and a high percentage do get out to the club throughout the year.

“One thing I will say is we have found since Covid where the cost of everything has gone up, the cost of our ammunition, for instance, has more than doubled and the cost of our clay targets has gone up significantly so we have seen our members drop off, but I wouldn’t say you could put that down to non-compliance,” he said.

“It’s more that we’re in a climate at the moment where the cost of living is so expensive and people now just shoot for what they can afford.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to travel all over the world competing and I can definitely say that our firearms laws are definitely right up there, and that is important, as we need to make sure that the right people who are using firearms are the ones who have got them in their hands.”

In Victoria, to own a Category A/B firearm, similar to those used in the Bondi attack, having financial membership or a letter of support from a club are two potential methods to legally possess a firearm, but active participation is not required.

Hunting is another option, with shooters needing to have landholder permission to shoot on their property or financial membership of a club, with a support letter or active participation not required.

Primary producers, armed security guards, prison guards and other pre-approved employment purposes can also legally acquire these firearms.

Mr Henwood said shooting is a very inclusive sport and a very safe sport.

“It’s not uncommon to see a 13-year-old girl competing against an 85-year-old man in the same competition. We also have people who are in wheelchairs or are otherwise disabled who compete, and when you compare shooting on a level of injuries compared to the likes of AFL or netball, we have very little to no injuries,” he said.

“We’ve got three young juniors that are coming through now that are making Australian teams and it’s been great watching them come through, they started through the Lilydale High School program and were coming out and doing it as one of their school activities though unfortunately, the last 12 months they’ve had to cease that because they haven’t got a teacher available.

“We have a safety induction and our safety instructors won’t sign off on them until they’re 100 per cent certain that person ticks all the boxes… if there’s someone there that they feel needs to have another session with them, they will book them in for another session.”

Bondi shooter, Naveed Akram, has been reported by the ABC to have done ‘safety training’

with a hunting organisation years prior to the terrorist attack late last year.

“There are hundreds of thousands of people who don’t use their firearms for the reason on their licence, and that is a major concern,” said Rod Campbell, Research Director at The Australia Institute.

“The huge gap between those who say they need a gun for hunting or sports, and those who actually do either, exposes the façade that underpins gun licensing across this country.

“Australia’s firearm laws are rightly a point of national pride, but they can only keep Australians safe if they remain ironclad. Right now, this genuine reason loophole leaves the door wide open for someone with bad intentions to get around Australia’s firearm laws.”

According to the report, the Sporting Shooters Association (SSAA)’s Victorian branch is the only branch to publish its financial reports, and it reported $9,721,411 in revenue for the year ending April 2025.

“The Australia Institute consistently includes misinformation in their reports related to firearms which is helping no one, and is actually becoming dangerous,” SSAA chief executive Tom Kenyon said.

“Since the Bondi Terrorist incident, leaders across the nation, including the Prime Minister, have been calling on the community to lower the temperature when commenting on such sensitive matters, yet the Australia Institute seem to want to fan the flames with vigour.

“Real information is important, and we back our members to comply with the strict firearms regulation that already exists in Australia, and we are deeply concerned by any misinformation that may compromise the safety of the public, or our members and their families.”

The report has incited the ongoing feud between the SSAA and The Australia Institute in recent years, with The Australia Institute having taken aim at the SSAA for covert political spending, mimicking the tactics of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in the US, opposing gun reform and allowing ‘the incursion of the far-right into their ranks’

This story has been edited to remove a defamatory error that inferred The Australia Institute sent death threats to the SSAA. Star Mail apologises to The Australia Institute for this oversight.

NEWS Hard wastes rolls out

By Tanya Steele

Hard waste, love or loathe, is a regular fixture across the calendar for Yarra Ranges residents between January and March.

By the start of April this year, residents across the regions will have had the chance to purge larger and more hard to get rid of waste items, but sometimes knowing what to put out can create issues.

Strategic education officer from Waste Management at Yarra Ranges Council, Lisa Loulier, said that as hard waste is picked up, the council encourage residents to put out things that can’t fit in the bin out for collection.

“Anything large, like pieces of furniture, and things like e-waste, electronic waste, something with a battery or a cord, or battery-powered or powered with a power cord,” she said.

A good way of getting rid of those items that can’t go into household bins, hard waste pickup, and e-waste is particularly useful as they are banned from being placed into regular bin collections.

One item that may raise a question mark is bean bags, and residents should not be putting these out for collection.

“They won’t be picked up by the contractors, because once the compactor tries to compact, the waste bean bags will explode and put the polystyrene balls throughout the area,” said Ms Loulier.

Nearby in Knox, a company called Foamex can help people with the safe disposal of things like polystyrene.

Used tyres will also not be collected, and residents are encouraged to take these to both tyre stores and transfer stations.

“You can recycle the tyres so they cannot be made into new things, whether that’s rubber massing and a whole range of different rubber products,” said Ms Loulier.

Environmental groups are big advocates for recycling to avoid waste and weeds ending up in

Hard waste has specific items that must not be put out for collection. (Stewart Chambers: 540521)

local waterways and bushland.

“Other great drop off locations for harder to recycle items are Officeworks for stationery and office supplies, Plantmark for plastic plant pots, Bunnings also for plastic plant pots and batteries from old cordless tools, supermarkets for soft plastic and all types of batteries/phones,” said President Rown Jennion from the Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve group.

“Most people want to have their waste reused or recycled, but often aren’t sure where to start,” he said.

The Yarra Ranges also has an avid community

of people willing to comb through the piles and re-use and recycle kerbside waste.

Generally, it’s considered polite to leave it neat after you are done.

Right now, residents can put out three cubic meters of hard waste, metals and bundled branches.

Bulky items such as white goods, metal items, mattresses and electronic waste can also be placed out for special recycling.

Items that can be placed for hard rubbish collection include, unwanted furniture that cannot be donated or reused by others, metals, white-

goods, electrical items e.g. computers, televisions, monitors, all battery and power-operated items and items with an electrical cord, mattresses, up to 10 pieces of timber (not fencing), glass, shower screens and mirrors (must be wrapped and clearly marked as glass.

This includes glass from tables, windows, doors that contain glass etc.

Later this year, more options for e-waste will come into play as Sustainability Victoria announced recycling hub plans for four locations across the Yarra Ranges on 10 March, giving residents more places to safely dispose of batteries, electronics and more.

Ms Loulier said the hubs will hopefully be open as soon as May this year.

“We’re really happy, and we’re looking forward to having these available for people,” she said.

The centres will allow residents to drop off an array of items that can be tricky to recycle safely, giving them more options.

“It’ll also be things like light globes, fluoro tubes, X-rays, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, that kind of thing will also be accepted in those recycling hubs as well,” said Ms Loulier.

The council are trying to create more visual and easier-to-access information for hard waste, but things like hard waste can remain difficult for people who don’t have access or capacity to find the right information.

For now, the hard waste is almost done for the season, and residents can contact Yarra Ranges for any assistance in placing their hard rubbish out correctly, on their customer service number 1300 368 333.

• Or online at: www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Ourservices/Waste/Hard-rubbish

Residents can also consider donating items to charities, selling or giving them away via online sites such as Facebook, Buy Nothing Groups, Marketplace and Gumtree, or see if family or friends are interested.

AVEO  CREATIVITY NEVER RETIRES

Seniors take centre stage

Retirees across Aveo’s Melbourne communities will be uniting later this month to showcase their creative talents at In Residence, a vibrant art exhibition celebrating the artistic pursuits of older Australians.

The curated exhibition hosted at Fountain Court Retirement Living in Burwood on March 25 and 26, will feature original works by over 20 Melbournian seniors whose creations span intricate mosaics, abstract watercolours, delicate eggshell art, cartoons, woodwork and more.

Aveo’s State Operations Manager for Victoria, Valetta Johnston, said the exhibition sets out to celebrate the creativity within its retirement living communities, while also highlighting the broader benefits of artistic pursuits later in life.

“Staying mentally and physically active is incredibly important as we age,” Ms Johnston said.

“Retirement should be about continuing to live life fully, discovering new interests and sharing them with others.

“Many resident artists taking part in the exhibition hadn’t picked up a paintbrush, experimented with a new craft or discovered a hidden talent until they reached retirement. They are exploring passions they may not have had time for earlier in life, and we think that their talents should be celebrated.”

The In Residence art exhibition will transform Fountain Court into a lively gallery space, featuring over 30 artworks on display.

On Wednesday, March 25 from 3pm – 5pm, Aveo is hosting an exclusive event for the general public with complimentary prosecco and canapes, offering a glimpse into the creativity, stories and perspectives of residents at Aveo communities across Melbourne.

“Events like this remind us that creativity doesn’t have an age limit and life doesn’t slow down in retirement... in many ways, it’s just get-

ting started,” Ms Johnston added.

For Sackville Grange resident Adam Santilli, he was looking for something to do when he retired.

“I needed to find a hobby and I just love the mathematics behind mosaics. You really have to think about how all the little pieces come together and look intentional. One of my works had 6,000 pieces in it, so that was a challenge but also very rewarding.

“My technique is very unique... rather than using tiles for mosaics, I use plywood and a laser cutter because it’s a lot easier to work with, especially for the geometrical patterns in my larger pieces.

“We have a workshop here at the community, which is a huge benefit because it gives me the space to be creative.

“For me, art is a great way of getting familiar with history. I am drawn to Islamic-style mosaics so I research a lot about the 15th and 16th century styles and techniques used and then give it a crack. It’s been about five years since I first started and I’m very open to seeing where it takes me.”

Burwood retiree Lin Hughes lives in Aveo’s Fountain Court retirement village and has worked as an artist for over 30 years.

“It’s really important that everyone fills their time in a meaningful way at our age. It’s good for your dexterity, your brain and your awareness, and there is a lot to be said for that.

“It’s not about being perfect, it’s about personal satisfaction and doing what you love. I walk around the community to find the beauty, collect inspiration and forage for anything that could be my next piece of work.

“You don’t want to sit around in the house watching television all day. If you are an artist, you can’t help but see the world differently and I think everyone could benefit from that. I hope to encourage others in art so they can give it a go and maybe enjoy themselves.”

The In Residence art exhibition will be held at Fountain Court Retirement Living, 100 Station Street in Burwood on 25 – 26 March. To RSVP or for more information, call 13 28 36 or visit aveo. com.au/events.

Cherry Tree Grove has undergone a remarkable transformation, with refurbished community spaces and amenities, setting a new standard for retirement living. and comfort with a lively social calendar, and easy access to local shops, public transport, and recreational hubs. Choose from a selection of retirement homes with the peace of mind now and into the future.

‘Immediate and severe’

By Oliver Winn

Proposed regulations for the animal rescue sector could inhibit rescue groups and leave more animals to die in pounds, a Yarra Valley animal shelter has warned.

It comes after the Victorian Government’s works to finalise its Authorised Pet Rehoming Organisation (APRO) scheme - a voluntary, benefits-based scheme Victoria’s cat and dog pet rehoming organisations, including pet rescue groups and community foster care networks (CFCNs).

Forever Friends Animal Rescue (FFAR) founder Saskia Adams said rescue groups were concerned about privacy, unnecessary administrative demands and less capacity to care for animals.

“If regulatory changes force even a small number of rescue organisations to scale back operations or close entirely, the consequences for animal welfare outcomes will be immediate and severe,” Ms Adams said.

The APRO scheme doesn’t start until 10 April 2027.

Ms Adams said animal rescues that don’t join the scheme would be forced to provide personal details of foster carers and have them registered as the owner of an animal in their care.

“Foster carers are recorded as the ‘owner’ of the pet, and their personal details provided to the registry. We have had consistent feedback from foster carers that they do not want to be listed as the owner (after all, some carers will only have a foster animal for a few days) and it raises legitimate privacy concerns.”

Extra record-keeping requirements under the scheme would also result in less energy being devoted to rescuing animals.

“These incredibly selfless community volunteers, some who are already performing 100 hours a week of unpaid work - do not deserve these extra burdens. Further,

this will result in less time devoted to direct animal care

“If rescue capacity decreases, more animals will remain in pounds and shelters with no pathway to rescue placement, and euthanasia rates will inevitably rise as a direct consequence. This would not be acceptable to the wider community.”

While participation in the scheme is voluntary, groups that don’t join won’t have access to various benefits touted by the scheme.

The scheme’s benefits include avoiding council pet registration costs through a 12 month exemption for cats and dogs under their management.

APRO scheme groups would also receive a free Pet exchange Register source number - a requirement for any person selling cats and dogs in Victoria.

But how the APRO scheme will work hasn’t been set in stone, and an Agricultural Victoria spokesperson said feedback was being reviewed to shape the regulation.

“The scheme recognises the important role pet rehoming organisations play, while also providing consistent standards and oversight for the management and rehoming of animals by these organisations.”

“Consultation is an important part of getting the scheme right, and all feedback will be considered as we finalise the regulations,” an Agricultural Victoria spokesperson said.

Ms Adams said FFAR’s submission to the APRO scheme asked for animal rescues to be treated the same as shelters and pounds when it comes to record keeping.

“We recommended rescue groups be recognised as the legal owners of the animals in their care. We should not need to supply this information to an online registry, but be obliged to keep records of our foster care placements and make them available if required.

“This maintains accountability while protecting the privacy of volunteer foster carers and reducing a very demanding and unnecessary administrative burden,” she said.

Ms Adams highlighted how groups under the scheme would be prevented from selling or giving away declared dangerous or menacing dogs or cats or dogs with “known aggression”.

She argued these rules ignored the great potential of rehabilitation work and would result in an inevitable death sentence for animals once they’re declared dangerous.

“No responsible rescue organisation seeks to place genuinely dangerous animals in the community. Public safety must always remain paramount.

“However, the introduction of this regulation removes any recognition of the successful rehabilitation work that we undertake with dogs and cats once considered aggressive.”

She pointed to past examples of dogs once considered dangerous who’d been rehabilitated and had their dangerous declarations removed by relevant councils.

“Diesel the Staffy is one such example. Following rehabilitation, he went on to become an award-winning therapy dog at Headspace, supporting vulnerable teenagers.

“Another dog, Chief, declared ‘Dangerous’ many years ago after a homeless owner with addiction issues allowed him to roam, later spent four years here at our Sanctuary providing animal-assisted therapy to special-needs children, teens and non-verbal adults.

“Under this proposal, dogs like Diesel and Chief would not have been given the opportunity for rehabilitation, and countless children, teens and adults would have missed out on the love and healing they have provided.”

7:30- 9:30PM

Big future for flower farm

By Mikayla van Loon

It’s an unassuming entrance into Alison Healey’s cottage garden turned micro farm in Mount Evelyn.

From the front, you wouldn’t know a perfectly quaint but largely productive flower garden is nestled behind the house.

The meandering path that leads from the front yard and past the kitchen garden, opens into a green space fitted with a cubbyhouse, soon-to-be chicken coop, and dozens of fruit trees that blend into the space seamlessly.

To Alison, who first studied permaculture, stepping into the planted flower patch, organised in rows, is a way to remove herself from the chaos of the garden and enjoy the creativity of working with flowers.

Taking the leap into permaculture four years ago, Alison studied under Pete the Permie, who pointed out her creative flair and artistic way of design. It was that that led Alison to study floristry and launch Healey and Heath.

“I was already growing lots of our own food at home so it wasn’t a big adjustment to my garden or my life to dive into flowers,” she said.

JumpforwardtoMarch2026andAlisonispreparing for a debut appearance at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) from Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29 March.

Dish the Dirt podcast founder Rebecca Noble has engaged some of the country’s best florist and micro growers to create a breathtaking display in the Royal Exhibition Building’s grand hall called Growers Avenue.

Having listened to the Dish the Dirt podcast every Thursday evening on her drive home from floristry school, Alison said she “can’t quite believe it honestly” and “it never crossed my mind I would be a part of Growers Avenue”

“Seeing my name on the t-shirt, getting to meet and learn from all these incredible growers and florists. What a wild world of possibilities we live in,” she said.

“I am so excited to share this space next to growers I’ve looked up to and admired for years. It’s a surreal moment for sure.”

Alison has partnered with Healesville micro grower Brooke, founder of Luna and Bloom, “to create an exciting head turning installation” based on the MIFGS theme Kaleidoscope.

And although she wouldn’t give too many details away, Alison said it would represent both herself and Brooke but also the many growers at the Flower Hub, a local grower collective based out of Silvan.

“There are so many creative ways this theme can be interpreted and Brooke and I had to really think on this, but all will be revealed at the show.”

Aside from the creative possibilities that Growers Avenue is allowing, Alison said it also highlights the importance of small growers in the flower industry.

“A world-stage like MIFGS helps connect people to micro farms and shifts the awareness toward supporting local growers.”

Accepting the term ‘micro farm’ for her garden, Alison said still doesn’t feel real because gardening and being in nature feels like an extension of herself and her creativity.

Having grown up surrounded by family who

loved gardening, and recalling that her yard was once a cherry orchard, returning to those roots and repurposing the space for what it was once used for feels completely natural.

“The term ‘micro flower farm’ feels like such a grand description for what I’m doing here, but when I’m walking through the flowers with my morning cuppa at 6am on a summer morning it does feel quite special actually, and yeah some would even say ‘grand’,” she said.

Passing on the shared moments Alison once experienced in the garden as a young girl to her seven-year-old daughter, who works and tends the flowers with her, fills Alison with so much joy.

“I’m a wholehearted romantic and I love the entire story behind growing a flower.

“Giving, receiving, growing, creating with flowers - every single part of it is beautiful to me.”

Of course, as much as the beauty and artistic outlet flowers provide Alison is a driving force, she can’t let go of the permaculture foundations.

Building healthy soil first was a priority and continues to be a focus alongside biodiversity and water conservation. Alison also strays from using any pesticides or synthetics in her garden.

The goal now is to create “a closed-loop, regenerative garden, that is also beautiful”

Alison’s mentality of growing flowers is very much a ‘go with the flow’ scenario, understanding that seasons are unpredictable and can only be used as a guide.

She draws on a comment made by Paul Dalley from Mountain Nursery who said once on Dish the Dirt that “if you’re not failing, you’re not experimenting enough”

“That’s what gardening is all about in my experience, giving it a go and seeing what happens. Plants will die for sure, but most will live and some will be more beautiful than you could’ve ever imagined.

“Growing outside of a controlled environment means you have to roll with what nature brings you day to day, observe your growing space, and find solutions fast when you need to.”

The fluidity Alison has for Melbourne’s seasons and climate extends to her experimentation with flowers, but one thing for certain is that she is guided by low maintenance perennials.

Her love for the out of the ordinary flower truly captures her approach to floristry creativity.

The purple Cupid’s Dart seems the perfect choice for the self-confessed romantic but more than that, Alison loves adding the perennial to arrangements.

“To me it’s a mix between a cornflower and a strawflower but has a daisy-like flower on the end of a long strong stem, perfect for cut flower arrangements.

“But I have to say that the globe artichoke, though not traditionally celebrated as a cut flower, was what I first fell in love with in the flower world.

“The artichoke in all stages of its lifecycle completely captivates me and it will always be my first flower love. It makes me happy that I have so many growing throughout my garden now.”

While this life and work was never a dream, with the combination of nature and creativity, Alison said it’s “no shock that growing and creating with flowers has become my life and my passion”

Helping her local group

By Oliver Winn

While Facebook community groups can be chaotic spaces, well moderated groups can contribute vastly to a township’s ability to connect, a content moderation expert said.

In the Star Mail’s second article exploring the roles of admins in Facebook community groups, it shares the story of Mooroolbark Community.

Regina Atkinson is one of the admins for Mooroolbark Community, which is run by the Mooroolbark Traders and Community Group.

She said pride for her township was what sparked her moderation journey.

“I put my hand up just because I’ve lived here since 1980. So you know, I’m a proud Mooroolbarkian.

The Mooroolbark Traders and Community Group established the facebook group in 2018, to help locals connect and support local businesses.

The group saw significant growth during the Covid-19 lockdowns, as people increasingly turned to local networks to remain connected and engaged within their community.

But, Facebook community groups can be rogue spaces when not managed correctly.

Dr Timothy Koskie is a media communications postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sydney.

He said moderators have a large impact on the health of an online forum, such as a Facebook community group.

“What moderators do operates on a kind of dualistic level. On the one hand, they do exist as somebody is watching.

“And we know… that spaces where we feel like someone is watching operate very, very differently to spaces where we don’t feel like that,” Dr Koskie said.

He said groups that have active admins and moderators stay clean as the quality and relevance of posts are maintained.

Ms Atkinson said for the Mooroolbark Community group, measures such as restricting users from posting for 24 hours after they join gives admins time to perform background checks.

“It gives us time to do a little bit more of a background search, making sure that they’re affiliated either with Mooroolbark or even in the

country because it does waste a lot of time when we have someone from overseas posting stuff that’s just not relevant.

“So we make sure it’s very clean because if you look at some of the other sites, they get diluted,” Ms Atkinson said.

A charter establishes the rules of the group which helps guide enforcement actions.

“So the rules are about making sure that you engage in the forum in a really clear and kind manner. So there’s to be no hate speech, no racism. It has to be for us to keep a clean Facebook group.”

Dr Koskie said in any environment where power is concentrated in the hands of a few people (such as group admins), that power can be used for good or ill.

“But if you’ve got a moderator that’s particularly active… that’s going to change how the document looks at the end of the day. That’s going to change the attitudes it represents and the values that it represents.

“Any time you’ve got somebody who’s in a position to make decisions in what we might call a democratic environment in that case, any person who has the ability to push things or pull things back and they don’t have accountability… you’re going to start to see some damage coming from that lack of accountability in terms of how the group operates,” Dr Koskie said.

Therefore it was crucial to have a way to keep admins accountable.

Ms Atkinson said group’s moderators hold each other accountable to ensure the group doesn’t get affected by one person’s personal views or opinions.

“Definitely having a lot of moderators on there or admins certainly helps, but also it keeps us accountable too. So if I’m having a bad day I can’t go and delete multiple things,” she said.

Ultimately, Ms Atkinson and the others involved with moderating the Mooroolbark Community group are held accountable by their pride for Mooroolbark.

“We’ve all got the common goal of making sure that the page stays clean and moving forward and a benefit. We’re quite protective of what goes up there.

“It’s a great way of just keeping the community together as a whole and having pride.”

Enjoy Easter with market

The much-loved Healesville Community Market is set to come alive this Easter, offering a vibrant day out for locals and visitors alike. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, quality stalls and strong sense of community, the market’s Easter edition promises something special for every member of the family, including the four-legged ones.

A highlight for younger visitors will be the arrival of the Easter Bunny, joined this year by Mrs Bunny, bringing smiles, photo opportunities and a touch of magic to the day as they hand out Easter eggs to the kids and Easter doggo biscuits for the furry family members. But this year, it is not just the children who are in for a treat. Pet lovers will be delighted to discover a unique offering from Doggy Delights Australia, ensuring furry companions do not miss out on the festivities.

Based in Croydon, Doggy Delights Australia began as a humble homemade venture, inspired by a simple but heartfelt need. Founder and creator, driven by a love for her rescue dog Sash, struggled to find healthy store bought treats without additives, preservatives or confusing ingredients. The solutionwastocreateherown,simple,wholesome and made with care.

Today, that passion has grown into a dedicated shopfront business, but the philosophy remains the same. Every treat is handmade using human grade ingredients, with no preservatives or grains, and each product is tested and approved by Sash herself. It is a labour of love that resonates strongly with pet owners who want only the best for their dogs.

Market goers can expect an impressive range of goodies, from custom “pawty” cakes and pupcakes to dog friendly donuts, biscuits, ice creams and even puppuccinos. With each item crafted in small batches rather than mass produced, the focus remains firmly on quality, uniqueness and care.

Beyond the treats, Doggy Delights also showcases a range of essentials for dogs, alongside products from other local small businesses, further strengthening the sense of community that markets like this are known for.

The Easter market in Healesville is more than just a shopping experience; it is a celebration of local creativity, connection and shared values. Whether you are browsing handmade goods, enjoying delicious food, or simply soaking up the lively atmosphere, there is something undeniably

special about supporting small businesses face to face.

For those who consider their pets part of the family, this year’s event offers an extra reason to attend. With thoughtful, high quality treats available for dogs, it is a chance to include every member of

the household in the Easter celebrations.

As the community gathers once again, the Healesville Community Market continues to showcase the very best of local talent, passion and heart, making it a must visit event on the Easter calendar.

Easter Bunny will be here on Sunday April 5

H

10.30am - 12.00pm with the assistance of Mrs Bunny handing out treats for all the kids & all the fur babies also!

EALESVILLE COMMUNITY MARKET INC.

8.00am - 1.30pm

River Street Car Park

1st Sunday of the Month

Stallholder Enquiries Welcome

Coronation Park

3rd Sunday of the Month

Stallholder Enquiries Welcome

Large variety of Stalls including:

• Home made: cakes, candles, clothing, craft, jams, soaps

• New: carpets, clothing, collectables, paper & cards, shoes, tools, wool seedlings etc

• Produce: eggs, fruit, vegetables

• Recycled: books, bric-a-brac, DVDs, CDs, clothing, furniture

• Tools: new & old

• Hot food & drinks available

Contact: 0488 445 112

Egg-cellent Easter activities

When it comes to Easter, egg decorating is somewhat of a tradition.

And if you haven’t given it a go, here’s a how-to on dyeing, painting and marbling hard boiled eggs.

The first step may be simple but place the eggs in a pot of water and bring to the boil on the stove. Then let them simmer for ten minutes and cool.

Now it gets to the creative part.

Let’s start with dyeing eggs. Fill some cups halfway with hot water, a teaspoon of vinegar and a teaspoon of food colouring - repeat with all the colours you want to use.

Carefully place the egg in the coloured water and leave for five minutes - when it’s done, you’ll have one completely coloured egg.

If you want to go one step further, use string, tape or elastic bands to create patterns.

Should marbling your eggs take your fancy, here’s two ways to try.

*Using shaving cream or whipped cream (if you’d like to eat your eggs).

Place the eggs in a bowl of vinegar and leave for 20 minutes.

Using a large dish, fill with a layer of shaving cream and add some drops of food dye -

even divide the dish into two to four sections and do multiple colours.

Using a skewer, swirl and marble the colours together, then roll the egg gently over the surface of the shaving cream and once covered, place on some paper towel for 20 minutes.

Wash off excess shaving cream using a bowl of water.

* Using oil In a glass bowl, add one cup of hot water, a teaspoon of white vinegar and five to ten drops of food colouring (be sure to use a light colour for the base of the egg).

In another bowl, one cup of water with about 20 drops of food colouring and a tablespoon of vegetable oil.

When the egg is completely dry, place it into the bowl of oil mixture with a spoon and gently roll.

Take it out when marbled and dry on paper towel.

Other options include using watercolour paint or acrylic paint to make patterns and designs of all sorts.

Don’t forget to wear old clothes or an apron and maybe gloves too, it can get messy.

EASTER Magic at Blue Lotus here

As Easter approaches, families looking for a memorable day out need look no further than Blue Lotus Water Garden, where the beauty of the gardens meets the joy of seasonal celebration.

Set among breathtaking water lilies and tranquil landscapes, the gardens provide the perfect backdrop for a relaxed yet festive Easter experience. From 3 to 6 April, the focus turns to one of the most anticipated highlights of the season, the Easter Egg Hunt, offering children a fun and en-

gaging way to celebrate.

With the Easter Bunny and friends making special appearances throughout the event, youngsters can immerse themselves in the excitement of the hunt while enjoying the vibrant surroundings. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, explore the gardens and create lasting memories in a truly unique setting.

Tickets for the Easter Egg Hunts are available online only, and with demand expected to be high,

early bookings are strongly encouraged. The event offers excellent value, with children aged zero to 15 able to enjoy both the Egg Hunt and garden entry for just $10, while general garden entry pricing remains at $25 for adults and $22 for seniors and pensioners, conditions applying. Children under 16 who are not participating in the Egg Hunt can still enjoy free entry to the gardens.

Running from 21 March through to 19 April, the garden season offers visitors the chance to ex-

perience the full beauty of Blue Lotus Water Garden at its peak. However, it is the Easter celebration that truly brings an added sense of magic to this already stunning destination. Whether it is the thrill of the Easter Egg Hunt, a chance encounter with the Easter Bunny, or simply the opportunity to wander through one of the region’s most picturesque attractions, a visit to the gardens over Easter is sure to delight visitors of all ages.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Decades of art, marriage

From opposite sides of the world, Gina and Ross Miller described their meeting as a sliding doors moment and 50 years later, the artistic pair are celebrating marriage, their creativity and their many adventures together through an exhibition.

Star Mail journalist Mikayla van Loon sat down with the couple to discuss all things art, inspiration and never-ending learning.

The Selby-based couple have launched a commemorative exhibition called 50 Years On at the Round Bird Art Space in Lilydale, bringing together a selection of Gina’s abstract paintings and Ross’ sculptures that have defined 50 years married.

Gina, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, studied at the Society of Arts and Crafts as a teenager during summer school, before heading to Michigan State University to study painting and printmaking.

As a young boy attending Epping Primary School, Ross was first inspired by his teacher Mrs McClure, who would often draw incredible chalk drawings on the board. When he reached high school, his first art teacher James Morrison encouraged him to pursue his art, as well as becoming a teacher himself.

By chance, the pair ended up at the same high school in Kingston, Canada, teaching art, Gina in the junior school and Ross in the senior school. They worked as colleagues for five years before their friendship turned into something more.

“We both landed in Canada at a very opportune time. That was in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. And it was when you had the Vietnam War going on. You had race riots in cities like Detroit,” Ross said.

“It was a time of great change. The high school that we ended up teaching together at, that was a perfect example. All those kids, they were just so open to ideas and new things.”

Ross said the arts were flourishing during this era of discovery and rebellion to the status quo. The hippie movement was beginning and Woodstock claimed the attention of thousands.

And they, as teachers, were able to explore the development of the art scene through their students - swapping music recommendations and encouraging trial and error, never losing sight of their own creativity.

“An important thing for Gina and I is we always practice our art and I always thought of myself as a sculptor first, and a teacher second,” Ross said.

“We’ve always exhibited and practised. So since we’ve retired from formal work, you know, Gina’s produced an enormous amount of paintings and prints and I’m the same.

“I never had my first solo exhibition until I was 72 because I never had enough.”

Gina said, however, they have often exhibited together, despite coming from different artistic mediums; often, the themes or inspirations cross over and complement each other.

“Our studios are in separate spaces…So when you have an exhibition like this, it’s always nice to see what the connection is,” she said.

“And we do look at each other’s work, but it’s not the same as when it’s hung together or placed together. It really comes alive.”

Ross described his wife as “a master of colour” , while he works in the grey and monotone of brass, wood and clay.

“There’s the contrast, and yet there are a lot of similarities,” he said.

“We both use curved lines, and there’s a strong element of design. Abstract painting or sculpture

emphasises the construction and the material.

“There are still elements that I used 65 years ago, and I’m still using that same element today. It becomes part of your language.”

Gina and Ross draw inspiration from their travels around the world, and the people, places and times that influence them in the moment.

For Gina, this inspiration usually presents in the emotions she feels when discovering a new place or life events that translate to colour on a canvas to convey how she is feeling.

“Mine are more emotional unless I’m trying to do a landscape. There’s certain things that have happened during our life that go into the painting, or I feel go into the painting.

“It’s not necessarily that other people see it, but that’s what I think of when I’m sitting down doing it.”

Colour plays a huge part in conveying this. Particularly this year, in response to what is unfolding across the world.

Featured downstairs in the cafe area, Gina’s works titled Red Chaos and Peace After Chaos reflect on what she said was the Republican Party causing chaos and the hope for peace.

“I feel that we’re in this chaotic, turn the world upside down kind of thing, and hopefully, we’ll get to some sort of plateau or peaceful situation.”

For Ross, his inspiration is far more literal, sculpting machinery to depict his childhood

growing up on a farm or exploring the Inca culture through Machu Picchu-inspired sculptures after extensive travel in South America.

Gina and Ross are always refining their craft, albeit in different ways.

“The teacher part comes into play” , Gina said, when she sets up exercises and experiments for herself to discover dimension or texture through modelling paste.

“I still set things up for myself to try and accomplish.”

Ross takes a different approach to learning by using technology to enhance his vision for a sculpture.

“I take a lot of photographs of what I do…and I see what’s not right. So that’s the reviewing of what you’ve done and seeing it from a different point of view.”

Over 50 years, Gina and Ross have learned to be honest with each other about their art and push each other to expand and grow beyond what is comfortable.

“Ross has encouraged me to work on large canvases, which I really didn’t feel comfortable doing, but he gave me a lot of support and a lot of encouragement, and now I do like that much better,” Gina said.

50 Years On is showing until 15 April in the upstairs Artspace at Round Bird Food and Wine Merchant, located at 170 Main Street, Lilydale.

Immerse in Greek culture

By Lee McCarthy

One of the added joys of travelling on a Viking cruise in Europe are the mini vacations offered in buzzing cities before and after sailing.

These trips give guests the opportunity to soak up the culture and vibe of the port city while preparing for departure.

As part of their packaging, Viking offer threeday extensions on their cruise options where everything is taken care of in the same perfect fashion that passengers become accustomed to onboard.

They have just launched a new three-night pre or post cruise extension on their ‘Greek Traditions’ cruises available on select Mediterranean ocean voyages from 2026 onwards.

The extensions are available on the following itineraries: the Ancient Mediterranean Treasures cruise, Italy, the Adriatic, and Greece cruise; Journey to Antiquities cruise; Mediterranean Antiquities Venice cruise and the Adriatic and Greece cruise.

Based in Nafplio in the Peloponnese, the extension immerses guests in Greek culture and cuisine, with olive oil, honey and wine tastings, a visit to ancient Nemea, guided walking tours, and time to explore one of Greece’s most charming historic towns.

Greek Traditions extensions include hotel nights in Nafplio with seven meals, three guided tours: Nemea and Nafplio; Honey and Wine Tasting; Olive Oil Factory and Tasting.

With extension prices starting from $2,699 and fully escorted by a Viking Tour Director, with all transfers included these extra days on land offer a divine opportunity to absorb the essence of Europe and the mediterranean.

For those considering the ‘Venice, the Adriatic and Greece’ option, this eight-day, four country cruise with six guided tours is now very affordable with pricing starting from only $6695.

The cruise leaves from Venice and takes in the spectacular Adriatic Sea with stops in Split, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Katakolon and Athens. An exceptional holiday taking in all the yearned for destinations in one cruise.

Those booking now can save up to $2500 with a ‘companion flies free’ option available on selected 2026-2028 voyages (check with Viking for full terms and conditions).

This cruise with allow travelers to discover Venice exploring St Marks Square, or the Doge’s Palace, the famed Rialto Bridge or learn about Venetian mask crafting.

Another city to discover is Split, one of Croatia’s oldest cities, it has a promenade which commands majestic views over a bay and the Adriatic Sea. There is time to explore the city centre and Diocletian’s Palace, journey to Trogir or the Krka Waterfalls.

In Split, take the opportunity to join the Executive Chef for a unique, market to table experience where guests take an interactive culinary adventure. Immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine at the local market and handpick ingredi-

ents under the guidance of the chef.

Later that evening, dine on regional dishes prepared by the culinary team, using produce from the market.

Next stop is Dubrovnik where visitors can walk the marbled Stradun in Dubrovnik, pass Sponze Palace and see the 15t Century Onogrio’s Fountain or sample some of the best of Croatia’s wines during a winery tour and tasting in the beautiful Konavle Valley.

Sail through scenic fjords to the remarkably preserved Kotor, Montenegro’s historic gem. Explore its Medieval Streets, visit the Cathedral of St. Tryphon or immerse yourself in the Maritime Museum.

In magnificent Corfu in Greece stroll the streets of Old Town, see Mouse Island and the Vacherna Monastery. For those chasing more physically challenging activities explore Corfu’s spectacular natural landscapes and inviting villages by bicycle on an invigorating tour.

Katakolon is huddled around a pretty little harbour dotted with colourful fishing boats. Nearby, the fertile valleys of the western Peloponnese are a bounty of olive groves, vineyards and orchards, and lead to the legendary city of Olympia. In Olympia visit the Olympic park, see the Temple of Zeus, and browse the Olympic Archaeological Museum.

This truly stunning eight-day cruise sadly ends at magnificent Athens.

This is one of the best ways to visit these much-loved cities especially for those over fifty who want a little bit of luxury without having to decide where the best place is to stay, eat, drink, exercise, or shop.

Guests can extend their holiday in Athens by joining another extension tour to absorb more of ancient Greece for a few days before leaving for home.

Find out about this and many more cruises available from Viking at www.viking.com or phone 138 747.

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Experience a legendary trip

For 96 years, The Legendary Ghan has been taking guests on unforgettable adventures between Adelaide and Darwin, traversing the heart of Australia’s magnificent Red Centre and connecting deeply with the outback and the breathtaking scenery that unfolds along its route.

Today, The Ghan offers more than just transit. Onboard you will find sumptuous, regionally inspired dining, well-appointed private cabins, attentive service, and the camaraderie of your fellow travellers. From March to November, The Ghan offers immersive journeys with a range of included Off Train Experiences in Marla, Alice Springs, and Katherine. In 2027, The Ghan continues to evolve with a new extended three-night, four-day itinerary – providing the chance to explore South Australia’s stunning Flinders Ranges, recently named one of the world’s top travel destinations by Lonely Planet, before continuing north into the Australian Outback. For those boarding in Darwin, the southbound journey, known as The Ghan Expedition, includes stops in Katherine and Alice Springs, where you can enjoy a unique outback dinner under the stars at the historic Telegraph Station, before continuing to Manguri and the opal capital of the world, Coober Pedy.

For those who wish to journey deeper, extend your travels with a choice of premium holiday packages, including The Legendary Ghan and Adelaide Safari Stay package, which combines travelling onboard The Ghan or The Ghan Expedition with an extraordinary stay at the new Monarto Safari Resort.

Just an hour’s drive from Adelaide, Monarto Safari Resort is the perfect destination for those seeking a combination of comfort and wildlife immersion. With expansive views across the Mallee Plains, this new resort offers access to the new

Wild Africa precinct of

Park, making it an ideal getaway surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.

Comprising 78 rooms and suites that provide stunning views of the landscape, you will feel right at home while enjoying the serene surroundings. From the resort, guests will have the opportunity to observe remarkable wildlife including Giraffe, Zebra, Eland, Ostrich, Nyala, Oryx, Blackbuck, and Barbary Rams. You can also take advantage

Guests can also savour delicious contemporary Australian cuisine at Kutjera Restaurant & Bar which is open for breakfast, dinner and casual all-day dining.

During your stay, create unforgettable memories with an exclusive Sunset Wildlife Safari,

where you can observe and photograph freeroaming herds from purpose-built safari trucks as you enjoy the vast Wild Africa Plains of Monarto

Park after hours. General admission tickets to the park are also included, allowing you to explore at your leisure via a guided hop-on hop-off bus.

• For booking enquiries, please contact Julie at Exclusively Cruising today on Tel: 03 9762 2799 or Email: cruise@exclusivelycruising.com.au

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Hungry 4 Success celebrates

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Hungry 4 Success held a graduation ceremony for the latest intake of its retail training program (Kmart/Target Eastland) on Thursday, 19 March at Eastland.

Several students shared their experiences in the program with Star Mail.

Angelo Pezzimenti

Q: Before starting the program, what was your life situation, and what motivated you to try it?

A: Before starting, I was procrastinating over what work I would take on. Workforce suggested I try this course.

Q: You’ve been learning in a real retail environment at Eastland, what was that experience actually like day to day?

A: It made me more aware of what retail involves, things like structure, management, staff, and customer care.

Q: What’s something you’ve learned here that’s really stuck with you or changed how you see yourself?

A: Group activities.

Q: Now that you’re graduating, how are you feeling about what comes next?

A: I feel more confident in my approach with people when engaging with them, my communication has improved.

Q: Any highlights?

A: The program gets students to work and engage with one another in a positive way.

April Saaghy

Q: Before starting the program, what was your life situation, and what motivated you to try it?

A: I was completing Year 12 and applying for jobs but wasn’t hearing anything back. Through a family friend, I heard about this retail course. I was aiming for something in retail, so I said yes to signing up, and I can safely say it has been a really good experience.

Q: You’ve been learning in a real retail environment at Eastland, what was that experience actually like day to day?

A: Learning how to work with other people with different ideas and take that on board, it’s been good for me to approach everything with an open mind.

Q: What’s something you’ve learned here

that’s really stuck with you or changed how you see yourself?

A: How to see retail from a different perspective and how to deal with different challenges.

Q: Now that you’re graduating, how are you feeling about what comes next?

A: I feel very confident with everything I’ve learned and what the course has provided for me.

Q: Any highlights?

A: Being in a warm and happy environment has really helped me come out of my shell.

Jessica Kelly

Q: Before starting the program, what was your life situation, and what motivated you to try it?

A: Before starting, I was stuck in a rut with very little outside motivation. I was offered this program and thought retail would be a good first set of job skills to have for the future.

Q: You’ve been learning in a real retail environment at Eastland, what was that experience actually like day to day?

A: Having a mix of classroom learning and being in the shopping centre, and seeing what I’ve just learned being applied by workers around me.

Q: What’s something you’ve learned here that’s really stuck with you or changed how you see yourself?

A: That a lot of external pressure I put on myself doesn’t really matter in the workforce.

Q: Now that you’re graduating, how are you feeling about what comes next?

A: Confident, with an expansion of knowledge on how to handle the next steps in study and job interviews.

Q: Any highlights?

A: The mix of locations, having different people come in, and the amount Peyton was able to cover in the month we had.

Glen Park Community Centre’s chief executive officer, Heidi Butler-Moore, said the occasion highlighted the significance of the graduates’ achievements.

“Each of today’s graduates has shown incredible resilience,” she said.

“Their success is a reminder of the vital role Learn Locals play in our community and the meaningful outcomes we can achieve with the support of partners like Eastland.”

The great AI content heist

By Paul Thomas

In a recent Australian Financial Review opinion piece, “There is nothing creative about AI not paying for news content” , Rod Sims made a point Australia cannot afford to ignore.

Sims is now chair of The Superpower Institute and an Enterprise Professor at the Melbourne Institute at the University of Melbourne. He is also the former chair of the ACCC, and when he warns about market power and unfair extraction, people should listen.

His point is blunt, and correct. There is nothing creative about AI companies taking professionally created content, building commercial products on top of it, and then refusing to properly pay the people who made that content in the first place. That applies most urgently to journalism, but it also reaches writers, photographers, artists and other creators whose work is being vacuumed up to make these systems more useful and more profitable.

That is not innovation. It is extraction.

And for regional Australia, the damage will be greater than it is in the cities.

In a capital city, people may still have a range of big media outlets, institutions and voices competing to keep public life under scrutiny. In regional Australia and local areas, the local paper is often the trusted source. It is the paper that covers the council meeting, the court matter, the hospital issue, the fire warning, the local business, the sporting club and the decisions that shape daily life.

If that journalism weakens, country communities feel it first.

That is why the Canadian research on this issue is so important. The study is called AI News Audit. It was published in March 2026 by Taylor Owen and Aengus Bridgman of McGill University’s Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and the Media Ecosystem Observatory. It is some of the clearest evidence yet of what AI companies are actually doing with professionally produced news

content.

The researchers found AI models had absorbed Canadian journalism at scale and usually did not say so. In the technical brief, the researchers found that among knowledgeable responses, 92 per cent provided no source attribution at all. In the policy brief, they found AI systems gave no source attribution 82 per cent of the time, and when asked about specific recent articles, produced substitute answers in 54 to 81 per cent of cases while naming the original outlet in the response text only one to 16 per cent of the time.

That is the heart of the problem.

The journalism is being used. The value is being captured. The source is being erased.

AI companies do not send reporters to council meetings. They do not sit through court hearings. They do not verify facts during floods, fires or elec-

tions. They do not employ the local journalist, the editor, the photographer or the creator who actually did the original work. But they increasingly want to scrape that work, absorb it into their systems, and profit from it as if it were their own.

For regional and suburban Australia, that is not somedistantpolicydebate.Itgoestowhetherlocal journalism survives.

The Canadian research also found that the outlets getting the most AI visibility were the biggest, free, nationally prominent organisations, while paywalled and regional and local publishers fell well below proportional representation. That should ring alarm bells here. It means smaller publishers can be mined for value while losing the audienceandrevenuetheyneedtokeepreporting.

And the consequences go well beyond business.

We are already living through an era of misinformation, half-truths and outright falsehoods spreading across social media at extraordinary speed. Much of it is unchecked. Much of it is designed to inflame, divide and mislead. If AI systems now scrape reliable journalism, strip out the source, and serve up confident answers that people cannot easily verify, the danger only grows. The Canadian policy brief warns that when AI delivers answers drawn from journalism but stripped of source and context, the public’s ability to judge reliability is diminished.

That is a direct threat to democracy.

Democracy depends on trusted, checkable and accountable information. People need to know where a fact came from. They need to be able to judge the source, test its credibility and read further for themselves. If AI becomes a black box that swallows journalism and other original creative work, then spits out unattributed answers, the public loses one of its most important safeguards. Australia should be clear about this. If AI companies want to use local journalism and other professionally created content, they should pay for it. If they use original reporting and creative work to build commercial products, they should compensate the people and businesses that created that value. And if they rely on trusted journalism to make their systems useful, they should be required to clearly identify the source so readers can verify what they are being told.

That is not anti-technology. It is pro-fairness, pro-creativity and pro-democracy.

Rod Sims is right. There is nothing creative about not paying for news content. And in regional Australia, there is nothing abstract about the consequences. When local journalism is stripped for value and not sustained, it is our towns, our readers and our democracy that pay the price.

* Paul Thomas is co-owner and managing director of Star News Group, Today News Group and SAToday.Heisapastpresidentandlifememberof Country Press Australia.

How we react to crisis and what it means for future

By Maria Millers

The saying, Never Waste a Good Crisis is often attributed to Winston Churchill but echoed by many since.

At a government level it means using disruption to push through necessary change that otherwise would be resisted.

The current world crisis also brings to mind the phrase that Mark Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister recently unleashed, warning that the global order is in a state of ‘rupture.’ And looking around the world many would agree that: Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

This Poem The Second Coming by W B Yeats was written in 1919 in the aftermath of the First World War and the beginning of the Irish War of Independence in January 1919, but could have been written in response to today’s conflicts.

It’s not just the inexplicable war against Iran and its impact on the world economy and facing the uncomfortable truth of our dependence on the oil and its by products from that region of the world, but also the uncertainties on the home front that fuel concerns.

We do not have to cast our memories too far back to see that we have become a nation that doesn’t cope with disruptions to our lives of easy convenience.

During Covid-19, Australian consumers stockpiled goods such as toilet paper and petrol due to fear of shortages, even when supply chains remained relatively stable.

In both cases, herd behaviour and fear of missing out created self-reinforcing cycles.

Rising prices and empty shelves encouraged more people to buy, further exacerbating the situation.

And it seems the same behaviour has surfaced again.

Petrol shortage and escalating prices impact more than the shortage of toilet paper.

We are a society that has made the car central to our lives with sprawling far flung suburbs and

WOORILLA WORDS

a reluctance to invest in better public transport.

We drive energy guzzling cars and are slow in adopting new technologies

And even though we are becoming health conscious we are still over dependent on cars.

Convenience is the byword.

Similarly it’s easier to turn the heating on in the house than to put on warmer clothing.

Have you noticed how little winter weight clothing is now available?

But crises can bring clarity.

And as things fall apart whether through war, job loss, illness or a relationship breakdown, illusions often fall away.

Here is the chance to ask yourself: what is it that I really value and what truly matters to me? What is unsustainable in my life?

In ordinary times, people tolerate dissatisfaction because change feels risky. Crisis removes those feelings.

The key point is that a crisis lowers the cost of change because the status quo is already broken.

What governments do structurally such as reform systems, you can do personally: whether change your lifestyle leave a misaligned career, reset boundaries in relationships or abandon an identity that no longer fits

It takes a crisis to face up to questions such as these rather than avoiding them.

The real danger is not crisis itself, but complacency in its wake.

It can bring a moment of clarity, an opportunity to reset and rethink priorities achieve insights, lead to action and even transformation

On a personal level a crisis can translate into something surprisingly practical—and powerful, captured by American Poet Mary Oliver in

The Journey. A quiet but powerful poem about leaving behind noise, pressure, and fear. Crisis here is the moment when you stop living someone else’s life.

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice— though the whole house began to tremble you felt the old tug at your ankles.

“Mend my life!” each voice cried.

But you didn’t stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible.

It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones.

But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do— determined to save the only life you could save.

Of course there is the challenge of maybe having to tolerate uncertainty and be prepared to accept a lower standard of material comfort, but that is the calculus for each person to work through and weigh up whether the benefits outweigh the deficits.

But only if you engage with it deliberately:

reflect, tolerate uncertainty and are prepared to experiment with new directions

Crises compresses time and change that can take years to face up to may happen very quickly.

Is that yearly winter escape to the northern summer worth the cost and stress?

And as air travel will undoubtedly be dearer because of fuel scarcity will choosing to fly become an ethical as well as financial decision?

Yet poetry also warns us that a crisis does not automatically produce transformation.

In The Hollow Men, T. S. Eliot describes a world of spiritual paralysis: “Shape without form, shade without colour.” Here is a wasted crisis—the moment when nothing is learned, nothing is changed, and emptiness persists. We are the hollow men

We are the stuffed men

Leaning together

Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!

Our dried voices, when

We whisper together

Are quiet and meaningless

As wind in dry grass

Or rats’ feet over broken glass

In our dry cellar

Shape without form, shade without colour, Paralysed force, gesture without motion; T S Eliot’s The Hollow Men describes a desolate world, populated by empty, defeated people who exist without conviction.

A crisis—a loss, a failure, a rupture—can either harden into bitterness or open into clarity.

As Mary Oliver writes in The Journey, “One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began.” The turning point is not the crisis itself, but the decision that follows it.

It is to recognise that when the ground shifts, we are briefly freed from the weight of habit— and in that moment, we can choose differently.

And that applies to supporting our government in making policies that benefit our whole community as well as personal changes in our own lives.

Because the greatest tragedy is not that crises occur. It is if they pass—and leave us unchanged.

Council’s 2026 aims

My fellow Yarra Ranges Councillors and I recently launched our advocacy agenda for 2025-2027, which is linked to our Council Plan for 2025-29.

Essentially, our advocacy agenda lists priorities in our local area that we need to work on with others outside of Yarra Ranges Council to achieve, like other government departments, other Councils, or other funding bodies.

Sometimes it’s about securing funding for large-scale projects Council can’t afford on our own, and other times it’s about getting action on projects or issues that are important to our community but outside Councils remit.

We want better, more sustainable public transport. We’re calling on the State Government to strategically review key public transport projects, and provide funding, so community members in the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs can have services that are easy to access, connected to other forms of transport and reliable for their day-today lives.

We need safe pedestrian crossings with lights in high-risk areas. Nobody should have to risk

Best sci-fi of the year

Project Hail Mary

Starring Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller

M 5/5

Based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir and directed by the Lord & Miller duo behind the Spider-Verse series, Project Hail Mary is a transcendent work of high-concept, hopeful, heartwarming science fiction.

When an alien pathogen dubbed the “astrophage” causes the Sun to dim, science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) travels to a nearby star system and befriends an alien he names Rocky in his quest to save the Sun.

Gosling is immensely likeable as Grace, a kind, mild-mannered man who finds new depths of courage within himself. Project Hail Mary’s enthralling plot grips you tight from the first moments; when Grace wakes up with amnesia on the Hail Mary ship, the scenes of Grace adapting to his (and our) new environment deftly dovetail with flashbacks establishing his mission. The flashbacks feature plenty of dry humour drawn from Grace’s fish-out-of-water status and his blunt, no-nonsense boss Eva (Sandra Hüller), but never shy away from the severity of the situation, and the present-day humour emerges very organically from Grace and Rocky’s quirky coexistence as beings from vastly different species and cultures.

Drawing thematic and stylistic inspiration from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris, Planet of the Apes and the 2009 Star Trek reboot, Project Hail Mary is rich with reverence for scientific discovery and friendship across divides. Grace and Rocky’s relationship is deeply touching, and it’s incredibly gratifying to watch them bond and put their minds together to study and combat the astrophage. Project Hail Mary is mostly a smart odd-couple character study in space, but also has some thrilling spaceship action scenes, a few well-considered music choices and a cute motif based on the Rocky film series.

Project Hail Mary is a highly-intelligent but wonderfully charming triumph of blockbuster sci-fi, and is playing in most Victorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

Mayor’s desk

Richard Higgins

their life getting home from school or work and we have significant areas that are well visited but lack crossings across major roadways such as the Warburton Highway.

We’re asking for funding to connect the Yarra Valley Trail to Yarra Glen, with a bridge to cross the Birrarung/Yarra River. This infrastructure is expensive and crucial to complete this stage of the project.

We want to deliver a state-of-the-art aquatic and leisure centre. We’re going to need significant funding from the State and Federal Governments to make this happen.

CARTOON

We need better funding for services for young people, housing, better funding support for local animal habitats and better access to funding grants in the aftermath of the Growing Suburbs Fund being cut.

Ahead of the State Election, we’ll be highlighting our advocacy priorities to local representatives with the data and community feedback that proves they’re all worthwhile initiatives.

I, and other Council representatives will continue meeting regularly with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and contribute to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) push for these issues to get national attention.

We will also continue meeting with and writing to ministers to highlight local issues.

We will be encouraging the community – locals, businesses and community groups alike – to do the same and join with us on this cause.

You can visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/advocacy to find out more about our priorities and why they matter.

Sound of music coming

The 1812 Theatre

Summer of the Aliens

The year is 1962 and the world is worried about the Cuban missile crisis except for Lewis, a youth on the cusp of manhood growing up in a Melbourne housing commission suburb.

He is preoccupied with flying saucers much to the disgust of his friend Brian wo can only think of losing his virginity.

The play centres on relationships, especially the relationship between 14 year old Lewis and 14 year old Dulcie.

It is through Dulcie that Lewis begins to understand that the struggle to understand the world around him.

Summer of the Aliens is a vivid and amusing evocation of a family and a neighbourhood whose frequently strange behaviour Lewis is forced to interpret in the only way he can…the aliens must be amongst us.

Season: 9 April – 2 May. Bookings (03) 9758 2964. The Round

The Sound of Music – presented by Nova Musical Theatre

A amazing production commencing with the opening curtain, a picture of an Austrian Convent set in 1938.

All sets were provided with curtains of similar magnificent curtains magnificently painted and this critic sends congratulations to the artist or artists who painted the curtains.

Mariam the main character was played by Lauren McCormack.

A wonderful portrayal of the young novice at the convent to a governess to a wife in between a return to the convent seeking sanctuary from

love.

Kemp’s

urtain call curtain

A great performance though I did feel the technicians in the beginning let her down in some of the high notes.

Captain von Trappp, head of the Trapp family, was portrayed by Tristan Everret.

Another wonderful performance with a good singing voice and good acting especially with Laura McCormack. A good interpretation of the role.

The Mother Abbess was played by Meagan Gaffney, a wonderful portrayal and her understanding of Maria came through well.

Not only was Meagan a great performer she has a wonderful voice, and her singing brought the audience to applause.

Max Detweiler was played by John Leahy.

John really caught the character of a man who was happy to go along with whoever no matter what.

Burrinja Theatre Festival of Folk – Irish Mythen (Ire/Can)

Irish Mythen is an Irish-born Prince Edward Island-based singer-songwriter whose voice can quiet a festival field or bring it to its feet.

A joint winner of multiple Canadian Folk Mu-

Story about connection

PASSION FOR PROSE

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

Once I Was a Giant, by Melbourne-based author and illustrator Zeno Sworder, is the winner of the 2026 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature.

This visually astonishing book begins with a picture-book maker sitting frozen “in a concrete box where the light buzzes but nothing grows” , having run out of ideas. Suddenly his pencil speaks up. “When I say a small ‘hello’ he almost falls out of his chair. I explain that I have a story to tell. He stares at me, then he pinches himself, then he thinks.”

Thus we get to know the pencil’s past as a giant tree, having grown from a seed and experienced all the wonderful changes that took place in her forest.

From the sunshine to the starlights, from the birds chirping upon her branches to the insects living among her barks and roots, the tree had seen it all.

For she was the forest. She was a home. She also offered shelter to a tiny wanderer, and they soon became the best friends.

However, when the machines came and took the tree away, shaping her “into a thousand and one different things” , the wanderer started searching…

This is a deeply moving story, its words simple but subtle, its imaginary soft, quiet, dreamy yet expressive, conveying a sense of nostalgia and yearning for something that was once beautiful and innocent.

The only monotone drawing in the book reveals a devastated landscape where all the trees have been chopped down and cleared away.

It almost hurts looking at it.

But, without this image, it would be hard to appreciate the importance of reforestation.

Renowned Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran once wrote: “Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky. We fell them down and turn them into paper, that we may record our emptiness.”

There is a reason why the protagonist in Italo Calvino’s 1957 novel The Baron in the Trees retires to the trees and vows never to come down again: “Cosimo, in his yearning to enjoy fully that different green and the different light that shone through it, and the different silence, hung head down from the highest tree, and the upside-down garden became a forest, a forest not of the earth, a new world.”

Indeed, trees offer us a new perspective, that all things in nature are deeply connected, especially those outside of our known, human world.

With this book, the author helps us understand the concept of inter-connection and non-separation: “Life is intertwined. We can breathe in because trees breathe out.”

The ending of the book is almost magical, in the same way that life itself is full of practical, realistic magic that we witness everyday – a seed germinates, an egg hatches, and a butterfly emerges from its cocoon.

A pencil in an artist’s hand can tell the most amazing story. A tree can transform into books that transport us to other worlds. Highly recommended.

sic and East Coast Music Awards, Mythen has built a global reputation the old-fashioned way - by touring relentlessly and delivering unforgettable live shows.

They’ve appeared on stages from Glastonbury to Sydney Opera House, shared bills with artists including Rod Stewart and Lucinda Williams, and became one of the most requested return performers at major folk festivals.

Season: 27 March at 8pm.

PUZZLES

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.

ACROSS

1 Refrain; pass (7)

5 Social dance (coll) (5-2)

9 Young adulthood (11)

10 Reverential wonder (3)

11 Value (6)

12 Sound of wood burning (7)

14 Poke (4)

15 Normal or conventional (10)

17 Rival (10)

19 Book ID (1,1,1,1)

20 Fixed sum of money paid each year (7)

22 Brawny (6)

25 Bedridden (3)

26 Combined whole (11)

28 Leather factory (7)

29 Kings and queens (7) DOWN

1 Partly open (4)

2 Blizzard (9)

3 RollingintheDeep singer (5)

4 Unavoidably (11)

5 Knowledge (3)

6 Tastefully fine (7)

7 Predator (5)

8 Promotion (10)

12 Aficionado (11)

13 Doctor with superior knowledge in a specific field (10)

16 Vital, indispensable (9)

18 Territory ruled by an Islamic monarch (7)

21 Synthetic fibre (5)

23 Prepared (5)

24 Just (4)

27 Lively (3)

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.

MODERN CHARACTER

IN CENTRAL EMERALD

MODERN CHARACTER IN CENTRAL EMERALD

IS this the home you’ve been waiting for?

Only 4 years young and nestled on just over a quarter-acre on a sealed no-through road, this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom character-filled home perfectly blends modern comfort with timeless charm. Polished timber floorboards lead you down a welcoming hallway and into a bright, open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, bathed in natural light and ideal for both relaxed family living and entertaining. A second zoned living area provides extra space for family, relaxation, or hobbies, or just space of your own.

The master suite features a walk-in robe and a stylish ensuite with a spacious shower. Whilst the main family bathroom impresses with a freestanding bath, creating a perfect space for relaxation.

The contemporary kitchen is a chef’s delight, featuring an island bench, Caesarstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, and plenty of storage. You will enjoy year-round comfort with ducted heating, a gas fireplace, and two split-system air conditioners.

Outside, beautifully manicured gardens are surrounded by a fully fenced yard, featuring a sealed driveway with double carport and space for a caravan or extra vehicles. Extra features include a rear deck perfect for enjoying the peaceful outlook and lovely views, as well as a garden shed and gazebo sitting area.

All this within just a short stroll to town, with Supermarkets, transport, cafes and sporting facilities at your fingertips and with the scenic Emerald Lake accessible at the end of the road, this home combines lifestyle, convenience, and charm. Whether entertaining, relaxing in a sun-filled living space, or exploring the nearby lake, this property offers a lifestyle you’ll love coming home to every day. ●

WARM, CHARACTERFILLED HILLS HOME

NESTLED in the heart of leafy Belgrave, this charming three-bedroom home blends warmth, character and relaxed hills living. Showcasing soaring timber-lined ceilings, exposed beams and an inviting split-level design, the home offers a unique sense of space and comfort throughout.

The welcoming lounge is the heart of the home, featuring a cosy fireplace and beautiful natural light, creating the perfect setting for relaxing or entertaining. The adjoining kitchen is both functional and stylish, with quality appliances, generous bench space and a lovely outlook through the surrounding greenery. A nearby dining area connects seamlessly to the living zones and outdoor spaces.

Accommodation includes three wellsized bedrooms, including a main bedroom with walk-in robe and private ensuite. The remaining bedrooms feature built-in robes and are serviced by a central bathroom and separate laundry.

Step outside to enjoy the covered pergola – ideal for year-round entertaining or peaceful mornings surrounded by nature. A balcony off the living area adds another spot to unwind while taking in the tranquil outlook.

Additional features include a covered front porch, carport, and a large lower-level secret storage room, that can double as a 4th bedroom ideal as a teenager’s retreat. offering plenty of practical space.

Set on a peaceful hills street yet conveniently located close to Belgrave township, shops, cafes, schools and public transport, this home presents an excellent opportunity to enjoy the lifestyle the Dandenong Ranges are known for. ●

SOMETIMES you just know when you have found the right one, and 10 McAllister Road Monbulk, certainly has that feeling.

First impressions reveal a beautifully landscaped garden with a sweeping driveway to the double carport plus extra parking.

Meticulously maintained throughout, with that rustic flare – polished floor boards, iron features, combustion wood fire, split system and ducted heating, open plan kitchen/family room, movie/lounge room with built-in bar, four bedrooms with full ensuite and walk-in robe to master and the best feature is the brilliant outdoor entertaining area to relax and enjoy fun times while overseeing the kids play in their cubby house in the secure back yard.

Being this close to town (300 m) it is an easy walk to school, bowls club and dining, Woollies, Aldi or a cafe for that quiet coffee. ●

BUILDYOURDREAMHOMEON2/3ACRE

***CLOSINGDATEFOROFFERS4pmWEDNESDAY25thMARCH(unlesssoldprior!)*** It’snotoftenthataprimepieceoflandcomesupinEmeraldsoclosetofacilities,with greatsizeandonlylimitedslope.Locatedonlymetresfromasealedroadandwithabus stopatyourdoorstepaswellasafootpathforaflatwalkintotown.Abeautifulplatform tobuildyourdreamhome(STCA)onthisgentlysloping2340m2(approx)blockofland. Allservicesavailableincludingseweryoucansetyourfamilyupforabrightfuturehere!

MickDolphin 0429684522

SEPARATEBUNGALOW

CaitiEllis 0493136937

MODERNCHARACTER

LOCATEDINCENTRALEMERALD!

***CLOSINGDATEFOROFFERSTuesday7thAPRIL4pm(UnlessSoldPrior!)*** Only4yearsyoung&onjustovera1/4acreonasealedno-throughroad,thishome blendsmoderncomfortwithtimelesscharm.Featuringpolishedfloorboards,lightfilled open-planliving,dining&kitchenarea,asecondlivingarea,mastersuitefeaturesaWIR &astylishensuite,impressivefamilybathroomwithafreestandingbath,chef’skitchen, DGH,S/S’s,manicuredgardens,reardeck,gardenshed,gazebo&fullyfencedyard.

MickDolphin 0429684522

MikeRosario 0400972032

‘BUTTERCUPCOTTAGE’SETINATRANQUILSETTING

Charmingcharacterweatherboardcottagethatfeelswarm&welcoming,filledwith naturallightandofferstwoseparatelivingareas,deck,fullyfencedlowmaintenance yard.There’salsoaseparatestudio,offeringgreatflexibilityasahomeoffice,creative spaceorguestretreat.Petownerswilllovethehandyoutdoordogshower,andthe homeisconvenientlylocatedjustoffasealedroadwithmainsconnections.Setinaquiet, peacefulsettinginagreatlocation,thisisahomethat’seasytoenjoyfromdayone.

CaitiEllis 0493136937

INTHEHEARTOFTOWN

SometimesyoujustknowwhenyouhavefoundtheRIGHTone!Firstimpressionsreveal abeautifullylandscapedgardenwithasweepingdrivewaytothedoublecarportplus extraparking.Meticulouslymaintainedthroughout,withthatrusticflareofpolished floorboards,ironfeatures,combustionwoodfire,splitsystem,ductedheating,open plankitchen/familyroom,movie/loungeroomwithbuiltinbar,fullensuite&WIR,brilliant outdoorentertainingarea,acubbyhouse,securebackyard,andonly300mtoTown.

GrantSkipsey 0418528102

EASY LIVING IN THE HEART OF EMERALD

PERFECTLY positioned on a low-maintenance 246sqm, this well-designed double-storey home offers modern comfort and everyday convenience just a short stroll from Emerald’s schools, kinder, supermarket and vibrant main street.

Filled with natural light, the open-plan kitchen, living and dining area forms the welcoming heart of the home. The kitchen is both stylish and practical, featuring stone benchtops, a breakfast bar, gas stovetop, dishwasher and generous storage. The adjoining lounge and dining area is light and comfortable, complete with split system, gas ducted heating and ceiling fan for year-round comfort. Glass sliding doors lead out to the rear garden, creating an easy indoor-outdoor flow.

The laundry with separate powder room, and internal access to the double garage adds further practicality.

Privately positioned at the front of the home, the master bedroom includes a walk-in robe and ensuite with a spacious shower. Upstairs, two further carpeted bedrooms with built-in robes and ceiling fans are serviced by a central bathroom, along with a second living area — ideal as a kids’ retreat, study zone or relaxed lounge space.

Outside, the fully fenced yard provides a safe space for children and pets and includes a garden shed, water tank for garden use and a 5kW solar system.

A fantastic opportunity to secure a comfortable, low-maintenance home in a location where everything Emerald has to offer is within easy reach. This property has it all so don’t miss outcall to arrange a private inspection today.

Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●

AFirst-TimeOfferingofSpace,Comfort&Lifestyleon1¼Acres. Offeredtothemarketforthefirsttime,thisbeautifulhomedeliversspace,comfort&lifestyleon approximately1¼acresinCockatoo,justmomentsfromtown&schools.Inside,newpolishedtimber floors&soaring9ftceilingscreateawonderfulsenseoflight&space.Theopen-planliving,dining &kitchenareaformstheheartofthehome,warmedbyawoodfire&supportedbyasplitsystem &zonedgasductedheating.Thekitchenfeaturesalargeislandbench,gascooktop,dishwasher, generouspantry&excellentstorage.Slidingdoorsopentoanundercoverdeckwrappingaround twosidesofthehome.Themastersuiteincludesawalk-inrobe,ensuite&deckaccess,whilethree furtherbedroomsshareafamilybathroom.Downstairsatheatre/rumpus,cellar&garageaccess, outsideincludesaworkshop,veggiepatch,watertanks&6.6kWsolar.

Positionedon1178sqminEmerald,thissolidbrickhomedeliversspace,comfort&effortlessindooroutdoorlivingforfamilies.Polishedtimberfloors&largewindowscreatealight-filled,welcoming interior,withaspaciouslounge&diningzonefeaturingsplitsystemheating/cooling,gasducted heating&slidingdoorsopeningtoahugeundercoverentertainingarea.Thecentralkitchenis well-equippedwithanislandbench,900mmoven&gascooktop,dishwasher,largepantry&ample storage.Fournewlycarpetedbedroomsoffergreataccommodation,includingamasterwith walk-throughrobe,ensuite&splitsystem.Threeadditionalbedrooms—twowithbuilt-inrobes—are servicedbyacentralbathroomwithseparatetoilet.Outside,thefullyfencedyardprovidesspace forkids&pets,afour-cargarage&versatilewoodshedoranimalsheltercompletingthepackage.

155MtBurnettRoadPakenhamUpper$1,450,000-$1,570,000

TheUltimateLifestyleEscape–Pool,Sheds,Views&RoomforEveryone. Seton2.5lushacresinPakenhamUpper,thissuperb5-bedroom,3-bathroomhomeblendsluxury withcountrycharm.Builtin2010,itfeaturesslabheatingthroughout,awoodfire,ductedvacuum, andreverse-cyclecomfort.Thestunningkitchenoffersgranitebenches,gascooking,awalk-in pantrywithautolights,andabi-foldserverywindowtothesunroom.Enjoymultiplelivingareasand amastersuitewithdoublewalk-inrobesplusaspa-likeensuite.Outside,relaxunderthevastalfresco, diveintothesalt-chlorinepool,orunwindbythefirepit.Ahugepoweredshed,doublegarage,4-car carport,andgeneratorplughaveyousorted.There’salsoaseparatestudiowithkitchenette,dog run,veggiegardens,chookpen,twostables,haystorage,andpaddockswithwater—everything youneedforanidylliccountrylifestyle.

CHARACTERFILLED HILLS HOME WITH MULTIPLE LIVING ZONES AND DUAL STREET ACCESS

SET amongst the serene surrounds of Upwey, this warm and character-filled residence at 82 Mast Gully Road offers space, flexibility, and a true connection to nature.

Showcasing beautiful timber-lined ceilings with exposed beams, the light-filled lounge creates an inviting heart of the home. Large windows frame leafy garden outlooks, while polished timber floors and a cosy, modern aesthetic blend comfort with charm.

At the centre of the home, the spacious open-plan kitchen and dining area is perfect for family living and entertaining.

Featuring rich timber finishes, slate flooring, ducted heating, split system cooling and a well-appointed kitchen with quality appliances, this zone seamlessly connects to the surrounding living spaces while enjoying stunning elevated views through expansive windows.

The well-designed floorplan provides exceptional versatility for families of all sizes. The upper level features four bedrooms plus a flexible fifth bedroom or study-ideal as a home office, guest room, nursery, or additional bedroom depending on your needs. This adaptability makes it perfect for growing families or those working from home. The spacious main bedroom is complete with a walk-in robe and ensuite.

Multiple living zones-including a generous lounge, dining area, and sitting room-ensure plenty of space for both relaxation and entertaining.

Downstairs, a substantial rumpus room and separate office offer the ideal setup for working from home, a teenager's retreat, or guest accommodation.

Adding to the home's appeal is rear access to Gerratts Avenue, offering added convenience for parking, access, or future flexibility. ●

TWO STOREY  VERSATILE LAYOUT

PERCHED proudly at the top of exclusive Surrey Road, this mid-century home captures elevated living at its finest.

Positioned on a prized corner allotment, the home enjoys a wonderful sense of space, while established trees provide natural privacy and a peaceful setting.

Spread across two versatile levels, the upper floor is bathed in natural light thanks to expansive windows that frame beautiful mountain vistas. Upstairs comprises open plan living with a wood fire, two generous bedrooms with built-in robes, an original kitchen rich with potential, a central bathroom, and separate toilet.

Downstairs presents endless opportunity — ideal as a teenager’s retreat, guest accommodation, or dual-living option. Here you’ll find two additional bedrooms, a spacious rumpus/living zone, a large utility room with laundry facilities, and an additional toilet. Outdoors, a single carport is complemented by ample extra off-street parking.

Enjoy a lifestyle immersed in nature, just moments from the Aqueduct Trail, a short stroll to the Yarra River, and only minutes from the vibrant cafes and shops of Warburton.

Don’t miss your chance to secure a slice of one of Victoria’s most desirable and rapidly emerging regions. With the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination now open and several exciting new projects underway in town, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Secure this large home and location in one impressive package. ●

StunningNewHomewithUninterrupted,BreathtakingViews

Thisbrand-newhomemakesanunforgettablefirstimpression.Designedformodernliving,theopenplankitchenandlivingspaceisbothfunctionalandstunning.Upstairs,you’llfindthreegenerously sizedbedrooms,allwithbuiltinrobes.Themastersuiteistrulyashowpiecefeaturingaluxurious ensuitethatexceedsexpectations.Adoubleshower,doublevanity,separatetoilet,andwalkin robecompletethisexceptionalretreat.Themainbathroomservicestheremainingbedroomsand includesbothashowerandbath,aseparatetoilet,andadditionalstorage,ensuringpracticality meetsstyleonthislevel.Seamlesslyblendingindoorandoutdoorliving,slidingdoorsfromthemain livingareaopenontoadeckwhereyoucansoakinthestunningmountainscenery,peaceful surroundings,andabundantbirdlife.Thisisahomewhereeverydetailhasbeenconsidered!

RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068

SmallAcreageParadisewithGreatViewsandSpace Countrylivingatit’sbest!Thisbeautifulpropertyofferstheultimatesemirurallifestylethewholefamily willlove.Thehomeisbeautifullypresentedanddatingbacktothe1940’swithallthecharm,warmth andcharacteroftheearlydayswithhighceilings,decorativecorniceandbeautifultimberfloors. Boasting4bedroomsplusplentyoflivingspacewithaformaldining/livingareaandseparatefamily room.Thecountrystylekitchenissuperbandwellappointedwithqualityappliancesandample benchandcupboardspace.Headoutdoorssitbackandrelaxunderthehugecoveredentertaining areaandadmirethegloriousviews.Sittingonahugeallotmentofapprox.6000sqmoflushlawns,old establishedgardenswithanarrayoffloweringtrees,shrubsandfruittrees.Alargelockupgarage offersamplecarandworkshopspace.Afantasticpropertywithplentytoofferthewholefamily.

DavidCarroll M 0419539320

Setonapicturesquesmallacreageparadiseonjustover8gloriousacres,thispropertyhas somethingforeveryone.Therusticcountryfarmhouseoozescharmandcharacterboasting4 bedroomsincludinganensuiteandwalkinrobeinthemainbedroom.Separatefamilyandliving areasgivethegrowingfamilyplentyofspace.Thekitchenareaissuperbwithqualityappliancesand amplebenchandcupboardspaceincludingabutlerspantry.Hugesheddingwithcoveredhigh clearancetruckparkingandlockupgarage/workshop,plusaseparateopenmachineryshedding forfloats,boats,caravansandfarmequipment.Outdoorentertainingwithcoveredverandas anddecking.Forextraweekendguests,dependentfamily,teenagersorrelatives,theseparate1 bedroombungalowistheidealaccommodationsolution.Afantasticpropertyineveryaspect.

ComeHometoSerenityandNatureonover9acres

Setonapprox.9.1acres,(3.69ha)thefamilyhomeisthoughtfullypositioned,framedbyopen paddockstothefrontandrear,creatinganexceptionallevelofprivacy.Inside,thehomefeatures amodernkitchenwithgenerousbenchspace,electricoven,andawelldesignedbutler´spantry. Threewell-proportionedbedrooms,allwithbuilt-inrobes,enjoyingpeacefulviewsacrossthe surroundingforestandpaddocks.Alargemodernbathroom,andthebonusofanadditionaltoilet offthelaundryaddspracticalityforfamilyliving.Outdoorlivingisastandout,withthefrontdeck capturingsweepingviewsacrossopenlandandtreetopsperfectforquietmorningsorsunset relaxation.Completingthepropertyisalargepoweredshedofferingamplespaceforvehicles, storage,andrecreationalequipment,alongwithwatertanksandestablishedvegetablegardens.

EDITOR SUNRAYSIA DAILY

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced and energetic Editor to lead the editorial direction of the Sunraysia Daily and Broken Hill Times, based from our Mildura office.

Are you a persuasive communicator with a passion for sales? Are you looking for a flexible, casual, or part-time role that allows you to showcase your

Based

This is a hands-on leadership role overseeing the Sunraysia Daily’s three-times-a-week printed edition, the Broken Hill Times, daily online publishing, and support for content across the company’s social channels.

You will lead the reporting team in Mildura and work closely with the small team in Broken Hill, while being supported by the Group Editor and our production hub team.

This is a strong role for someone who understands the importance of local journalism, can drive quality and consistency across platforms, and is committed to building audience and community impact.

About the role

In this role, you will:

•edit and oversee the Sunraysia Daily print editions published three times a week

•oversee editorial output for Broken Hill Times

•manage daily digital publishing across both brands

•assist with editorial content for the company’s social media channels

•lead, mentor and manage the team of reporters in Mildura and the small team in Broken Hill

•help drive strong news judgment, story generation, planning and follow-through

•work with the Group Editor and production hub team to ensure deadlines are met and quality standards maintained

•help grow audience engagement across print, online and social platforms

•maintain high standards of accuracy, fairness, balance and community relevance

•connect with the community, attend events and meet with key members of the community

About you

To succeed in this role, you will ideally have:

•experience in editing, newsroom leadership or senior reporting

•strong news sense and a passion for regional and community journalism

•excellent writing, editing and headline skills

•the ability to manage competing deadlines across print and digital

•strong people leadership skills and a collaborative approach

•confidence working across websites, digital publishing systems and social platforms

•an understanding of how to build audience through digital content and social distribution

•a commitment to accuracy, ethics and high editorial standards

•a great sense of community

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who can:

•lead from the front

•support and develop reporters

•produce strong, relevant and engaging local content

•balance the demands of print, digital and social

•work positively with editorial, production and management teams across the group

Why join us

This is a rare opportunity to play a leading role in two important regional news mastheads and make a genuine difference in the communities they serve.

You will join a business that values trusted local journalism and supports its editors with experienced group leadership and central production resources, while still giving you the chance to have real editorial impact at the local level.

To apply

Please submit your application, including a cover letter and resume, outlining your relevant experience and why you are interested in this role to paul.thomas@starnewsgroup.com.au

our network.

What You'll Do

•Engage with potential customers over the phone to promote our advertising solutions.

• Build and maintain strong customer relationships.

•Understand customer needs and provide tailored advertising solutions.

•Meet and exceed sales targets and performance goals.

• Collaborate with a motivated and supportive team.

Requirements

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Confidence in making outbound sales calls.

• Motivated, goal-oriented, and results-driven.

•Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

•Previous sales or customer service experience is a plus, but not required.

How to Apply

If you're ready to take on this exciting role with the flexibility you desire, we want to hear from you! Please send your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant skills and why you're interested in joining Network Classifieds as a Telephone Sales Representative to Sue Hall, Classified Advertising Manager, at sales@networkclassifieds.com.au.

Join us in helping our diverse communities connect, buy, and sell through effective advertising solutions. Be a part of the Network Classifieds team and make a difference in the world of classifieds!

Kilsyth U16-3 premiership

By Les Hutchings

The U16-3 Grand Final between Kilsyth and Chirnside Park continued on Saturday morning at Alan Smith Oval, Pinks Reserve. On the first day, Kilsyth were dismissed for 213 off 49.2 overs with Rhys Kearney scoring a brilliant 94 off 110 Balls (10 fours and 1 six). On the second day, Chirnside Park set about the run chase, requiring an average of 4.28 runs per over from the allotted 50 overs. After the score had reached 15, Kilsyth’s opening bowler,TaitHarper,capturedthefirstwicketinthe sixth over of the day, well caught by Damon Cowan at mid-on. Then, Max Wills claimed the next wicket (LBW) with the score now 2/43 after 18.2 overs. At that stage, opener Judson Ross was on 28* off 63 balls and Kilsyth’s medium pacer Max Wills had taken 1/3 off 4.2 overs. It was soon 3/47 from 20.2 overs when Luke Childs took a good catch at square leg off the bowling of leg spinner Joshua Bock. By the morning tea break, Chirnside Park had progressed to 3/62 off 25 overs with Judson Ross on 38* off 80 balls, and Andrew Slinn 3* off 13 balls. So, the target was now 151 runs to win off 25 overs with 7 wickets in hand.

After the break, the score reached 3/100 off 36.3 overs and Chirnside Park’s batsmen were looking to increase the run rate. However, on the first ball of the 37th over, Judson Ross was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Hayden Monds for a well-made 56 off 108 balls (4 fours), and the score was now 4/102, with Andrew Slinn 20* off 59 balls. A good fifth wicket partnership between Andrew Slinn and Deepan Santhosh Kumar lifted the score to 161 when Kumar cut a ball to backward point for a single but then a misfield created confusion, when Slinn at the keeper’s end, was looking for two but a good recovery and throw by Max Wills to ’keeper Will Beard found him just short of his ground, when he attempted to get back into his crease. Andrew Slinn had batted well for 55 off 85 balls (4 fours). However, Chirnside were now 5/162 off 44.3 overs and needed 51 runs off 33 balls with five wickets in hand. Soon after, Max Wills took his second wicket at the end of the 46th over when

Joshua Dousset took a well-judged catch at square leg to see Chirnside 6/165. On the first ball of the 48th over, Max Wills took a good catch from a skied hit off his own bowling and then, two balls later, Joshua Dousset’s accurate throw to wicket keeper Will Beard resulted in a run out with the score now 8/175. Chirnside Park fought it out until the end and finished on 8/187cc off their 50 allotted overs, with Deepan Santhosh Kumar 31* off 34 balls and Jayden Rigg 4*. The wicket takers for Kilsyth were Max Wills, 3/27 off 10 overs (2 maidens), Joshua Bock 1/14 off 3 overs, Tait Harper 1/22 off 8 overs (2 maidens), and Hayden Monds 1/41 off 8 overs.

In between wicketkeeping, Captain Will Beard bowled 4 tidy overs for 9 runs with 1 maiden, Louis Potter yielded 0/14 off 5 overs, Joshua Dousset 0/3 off 2 overs (1 maiden), and Rhys Kearney 0/44 off 10 overs (1 maiden), including five important overs at the end when Chirnside Park were attacking the bowling. Rhys was awarded Player of the Match by

the Umpires for his splendid innings of 94 off 110 balls on the first day which helped set up victory for his team.

Well done to Chirnside Park on a good season. The two teams played each other four times during the season, with two wins each.

This was Kilsyth’s 27th Junior Premiership and 78th Premiership overall. It was also the Club’s first Under 16 Premiership since the 2014/15 season when Mooroolbark and Kilsyth formed a merged team and won the U16-1 T-20 premiership cup.

Furthermore, it is only the third time that Kilsyth Cricket Club has won two junior premierships in one season. The other instances were in 1985/86 when Kilsyth won the U14-1 premiership and shared the U14-5 flag with Vermont after there was a tie in the Grand Final, as well as in 2002/03 when Kilsyth U12-2 and U18-1 teams were both premiers.

Congratulations to the team and Coach Dylan

a

Croquet skills put to the test

By John Thomson

On Monday 16 March, the Lilydale Croquet Club hosted a team called the Woodies, which is made up of a player from Monash CC and Ringwood CC. Both players are extremely good; the player from Ringwood is on a -1 handicap and is in the Victorian state team and the player from Monash is a 3 handicap and is in the state squad, so the Lilydale team of Craig McCracken and Mick Crawley had their work cut out for them. This is Mick’s first season in Division 1 as his handicap is now down to a 5.

The first game was the doubles and the Woodies got off to a fast start. Lilydale settled after a while and ran a few nice hoops but by then it was all too late and the Woodies won 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.

Craig McCracken played in the first singles game. This game was tight all the way with both players making the most of their chances to run a hoop when they were able. At the end of the twelfth hoop, the score was six hoops each, with the thirteenth hoop to be played. Both players set up well but it was the Woodies player who was able to run the hoop and win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.

Mick Crawley played in the next singles game. Mick started well and was able to get the jump on his opponent. Mick was working to a plan of just keeping “hoop pressure” on his opponent, and it worked, as Mick went on to win 7 hoops to the Woodies 4 hoops.

At the break the scores were Woodies 2 games 18 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 17 hoops, with two games to play the match could still go either way.

Mick Crawley played in the first singles after the break. This was another close game with both players trading hoops, and after the twelfth hoop, it was six hoops each with the thirteenth hoop to be played. Mick was first to the hoop and set up well. From there, he was able to win the game 7 hoops to Woodies’ 6 hoops.

This win by Mick put both teams on 2 wins and 24 hoops each, with one game to play.

Craig McCracken played in this game. Both players started well and the game was close early until the Woodies player managed to get a break and slip way to a 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops win.

The final score for the day was the Woodies 3 games 31 hoops to Lilydale 2 games 28 hoops.

The Division Two team travelled to Monash CC this week. The Lilydale Division Two team has a bit of a different look this season, with Kerri McCracken taking over as team captain and Scott Bradbury coming into the squad.

This week’s team consisted of Kerri McCracken, Scott Bradbury and Mark Edgell.

The Monash courts are quite unique, as they slope away and don’t run true, so if you haven’t played on them before, you really struggle to get the feel for how to play them.

Scott Bradbury and Mark Edgell played in the

doubles. The game was reasonably close with the Lilydale team trying to come to grips with the court but in the end, Monash won 7 hoops to Lilydale 5 hoops.

Kerri McCracken played in the first singles game. The Monash player used his home ground knowledge to advantage and went on to have a comfortable win 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops.

Scott Bradbury played in the next singles game. This is Scott’s first season of competition and also his first time playing on these tricky Monash courts. The Monash player was able to use his home ground knowledge to his advantage and went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 2 hoops.

Mark Edgell played in the next singles game.

The Monash player started well while Mark was trying to work out the run of the court, and towards the end of the game, he was able to run some nice hoops, but it was all a bit late with

Monash winning 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.

Kerri McCracken played in the last singles game. This game went very much the same as the previous game, with Kerri starting to get the feel for the court late in the game but by then it was all over. Monash 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops.

The final scores for the day were Monash 5 games 35 hoops to Lilydale 0 games 17 hoops.

A tough day at the office for Lilydale but I am sure they will bounce back next week on their home turf.

On Thursday 19 March, the Lilydale Handicap team made the journey to the bayside suburb of Sandringham. This week’s Lilydale team was Murray McLean, Drew Pawley, Mark Edgell and Scott Bradbury.

Mark Edgell played in the first singles game. With the difference in handicaps, Mark was starting with a one hoop advantage while the San-

dringham player had a one hoop disadvantage to make up. The game was fairly even all the way, but the experience of the Sandringham player made all the difference in the end, winning, in a close one, 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.

Murray McLean and Drew Pawley played in the first doubles. There was no handicap advantage to either team in this game. The Sandringham team got off to a fast start and had the Lilydale team under pressure from the start. Lilydale tried hard to get back into the game but Sandringham went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.

Drew Pawley played in the next singles game. Again, neither player had any handicap advantage. Both players were playing well, the game was even, and at the twelfth hoop it was six hoops a piece. The thirteenth hoop was a closely contested hoop with both players clearing their opponent’s balls until a chance opened up for Drew and he was able to capitalise and win the game 7 hoops to Sandringham 6 hoops.

Mark Edgell and Scott Bradbury played in the next doubles. The Sandringham team were starting with a two-hoop disadvantage. The experience of the two Sandringham players made the difference in this game, and it was not long before they had made up their disadvantage and were able to go on and win 7 hoops to Lilydale 4 hoops. At the lunch break, the scores were Sandringham 3 games 27 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 20 hoops. With two games to play, Lilydale had their work cut out for them.

Murray McLean played in the first game after the lunch break. This was just a level play game with neither player having an advantage. I am not sure what was in Murray’s lunch but he controlled this game from the start and was able to have a comfortable win 7 hoops to Sandringham 2 hoops.

The last game was a doubles and Mark Edgell and Scott Bradbury teamed up. The Sandringham team were starting with a two-hoop disadvantage. The game was close with Sandringham working hard to make up their disadvantage and Lilydale trying just as hard to nullify their play. In the end, it was Lilydale that got up to win in a close one, 7 hoops to Sandringham 6 hoops.

The final scores for the day were Sandringham 3 games 35 hoops to Lilydale 3 games 34 hoops. You won’t get much closer than that, a good showing by Lilydale away from home.

The race for the trophy ends with a dead heat

By David Waters

The conditions at Yering Meadows were perfect for golf.

The fairways were like carpet and easy to play shots from.

The greens, if you listened to tales of missed putts, were tricky. As usual it was only mind games.

The greens were consistent with speed and lack of borrow. So much for the lies told by hackers.

The Box Hill boys were set for battle in the match play final.

The Box Hill gold team were beaten once and had three ties to head their ladder.

Box Hill green were unbeaten and were only tied once by bottom team Gardiners Run green.

The game was set up for a tight contest and proved to be the case.

The handicap average for gold was near 11 while it was over 15 for green.

Someone should have had an advantage.

The result didn’t indicate that.

In the battle for honours, four games went to 18 holes, two had one to play and only two finished early.

Barry Lacy winning 7/6 over John Gonsal and Rodney Watson winning 4/3 over Colin Looker.

The Trophy Race was a dead heat with both teams claiming three wins and two halves.

They just couldn’t decide. A four and four tie result.

Happily they went back to Box Hill to celebrate

together and share the polishing.

The teams not in match play, trialled a 4BBB aggregate stableford event for the team’s championship.

This year pairs playing from green and gold groups and different clubs.

A very social yet competitive way to play with

others of very different handicaps and from other clubs.

The aggregate scores were close with individual pairs near 40.

Only two pairs stood out.

Garry Brady and Dale Goldsmith with 46 and Graeme Miller and Alex Dean with 47.

The calm conditions were disturbed on a few occasions.

Sand went flying and the ball did not.

A long hit off the tee with nice draw being drawn into water.

The two footer that lipped out.

These drew words of high decibel level and low grade vocabulary, to go with that a low score entry.

There was some fun as well.

Watching a remote controlled buggy sneak away from its owner to finish in the reeds.

Watching Chris Hull play a submerged ball. A bit of a splash, all wet and wild.

How about the good driver yesterday hooking new balls into water. Chipping a greenside ball 20 foot, to hit the flag, not dropping but leaving 6 inches for par.

Maybe the best for the day, was the first hit, before the camera was out.

A mighty swipe and a short woodge.

Two steps to reach the second shot, with a more satisfactory result.

Highlights and lowlights aside the day turned out to be a success for golf.

The participants agreed the course was well presented, the catering excellent and the com-

panionship worth the early start to the day. There were a few announcements then came the scores after which the trophies were presented.

The winning teams had their photos taken for posterity.

The day concluded, the season finished, players departed wishing good health and safe journeys, until meeting again at different courses or until next season.

Another great season of friendly competitive golf for old blokes over 55.

Scores:

Match Play:

Box Hill gold Four tied with Box Hill green Four.

4BBB Team Championship: Churchill/Waverley green 166, Eastwood green 162, Eastern green 162, Eastern gold 160, Yering gold 160, Yering green 157, Heritage gold 153, Heritage green 152, Gardiners Run gold 152, Churchill/Waverley gold 148, Eastwood gold 147.

SPORT

Barkers begin with a loss

By Peter Stephenson

Another warm, sunny afternoon at the Kennel saw Barkers begin their league campaign by hosting newly-promoted Dandenong South, whom we had never met before. Dandy were making their State 2 debut, having finished runners-up in State 3SE in 2025. Barkers made two changes to the side knocked out of the Dockerty Cup by Altona East, with Danny Aye and Chris Potter replacing John-Paul Cooper and Michael Pezzano. Ross Clark was playing his 100th game.

Barkers began brightly, and on three minutes, Josh Cauteruccio found Clark in space close to goal, but he was off balance and could only steer his half volley over. Then Aye stole the ball from a defender 25 yards out and hit a snap shot which was held by keeper Max Krista. Dandy responded when Potter’s clearance was blocked, and Taylan Geylan played a one-two with Ali Ibraimi before curling a shot wide.

It was a scrappy game, and it wasn’t until 10 minutes before the break that Barkers threatened again. Ryan Smith headed through to Clark, who played out to Tristan Walker on the right. He crossed in, but Clark didn’t connect and the ball ran through to Aye, who shot over from a narrow angle.

Three minutes later, Dandy finally tested Vladi Velikin when Kerem Ozcagli hit a low shot from the right. Velikin parried, and the rebound was put wide. A very average half of football ended with the half-time score: Mooroolbark 0-0 Dandenong South.

Barkers had an early chance in the second when a throw-in from the right saw Clark hit a snap shot wide. Then, Barkers were the authors of their own demise. Velikin played a pass down the middle, but it was cut out by Geylan. He ran clear to the left side of goal and

crossed low for Malle Samson at the near post, who hit home from close range for 1-0 Dandy.

The introduction of substitute Marcus Watson invigorated the hosts, and just after the hour, Smith and Clark sent Watson down the middle, but a heavy touch took the ball beyond him. Then Cooper played a one-two with Aye before finding Watson, who hit a first-time curling shot over. Dandy now struck again.

As Dandy broke upfield, Barkers somehow left only one central defender marking two forwards. Sure enough, the ball was crossed in

from the left and nodded down by Yalaz into the path of Geylan, who hit a crisp shot past Velikin to make it 2-0 Dandy.

The game now opened up as Barkers desperately sought a way back into the game. Watson and Aye combined, with Watson hitting a low shot which was comfortable for Krista.

Then Dandy’s Paul Ayoul put Mustafa Suliman in on goal, but his shot skidded past both Velikin and the far post.

Barkers rallied, but in vain, as a long ball from Sean Perrin saw an acrobatic effort from

Barkerettes knocked out of Cup

By Peter Stephenson

Barkerettes made their seasonal bow with a trip to Westside Strikers, Caroline Springs. It was the first meeting between Strikers, of State 3 West and Barkerettes, hoping to celebrate their elevation to State 1 in style. Mia Paxinos and Xiang Li were making their debuts for Barkers.

Barkers had their first chance after only 46 seconds, when Alizah Jones and Laelah Gundry combined to set up Alysha Barrueto, whose low shot was gathered by keeper Chelsea Camilleri. Strikers went up the other end and forced a corner. Steff Danna sent it in from the left to the near post, and the ball ricocheted off the hapless Hannah Turnbull into the net to give Strikers an early lead at 1-0.

On 10 minutes, Kelly Butera hit a long ball to Emily Stokes on the right, but her chip to the far post was too close to Camilleri, who was able to gobble up every ball that went anywhere near her. Four minutes later, another Strikers corner, delivered from the right by Monique Da Silva, was volleyed over by Ivana Cuic.

Back came Barkers, and a throw-in from the left found Charlotte McCullough, who squared to Gracie Touliatos, who shot just wide. The game was very open, and Butera had her hands full with Bianca Van Viersen, who was given too much space too often. Gundry and Jones were seeing enough ball to be a threat but couldn’t quite test Camilleri.

Just after the half hour, a Strikers throw-in on the left from Margarita Prassinos fell to Danna. She put the ball through to Cuic, who wasn’t picked up by the defence, and she calmly slipped the ball past Ashley Barrueto into the net for 2-0 Strikers.

Before half-time, Butera sent a ball over the top for Stokes, who volleyed over, and at the other end, Isabella Gauci hit a shot that was held by Barrueto. Half-time: Strikers 2-0 Barkers, with the home side in control.

The second half began with Strikers on top as Barkers struggled to contain the physical hosts. Gauci brought a good save out of Barrueto, who turned the ball wide, then a shot from Cuic was tipped over by the busy Barkers stopper. Just after

the hour, Cuic burst through the defence to shoot wide. A rare Barkers chance saw them rob Strikers in their own half, from which Gundry found Butera, but she shot over. Barkers appeared to be slowly coming into the game as Strikers got tired in the heat, with Alifya Loka making a nuisance of herself, but along with the tireless McCullough, this wasn’t quite enough. Strikers finished the game with a flourish, as a corner hit the bar, Da Silva was denied only by a good block from Butera, and a long punt to Sarah Jenkinson drew a great save from Barrueto as she pushed the ball wide. Full-time: Strikers 2-0 Barkers.

This was not a great display from the Barkerettes, who undoubtedly had enough tricks in their locker to have won this. They were undone by some subpar displays and a failure to counter the physicality of Strikers. The positives? McCullough set a great example with her relentless running and chasing, Ashley Barrueto had a great second half, and Loka was a live threat when she came on. Now to prepare for the brave new world of State 1.

Watson, then Aye drove a shot over the bar, and a quick turn and half-volley from Smith went over. Time ran out and Dandy had the points – final score: Mooroolbark 0-2 Dandenong South. A disappointing start from Barkers, who, despite seeing plenty of the ball, didn’t create enough chances to merit any reward. Dandy took their chances, but were otherwise average. Next for Barkers is a Friday night date at Casey Comets.

Barker boys

By Peter Stephenson

On Sunday, the Barkers under 15 boys, coached by John Menzies and assisted by Glynn Powell, played in the finals of the Under 15 Youth Super Cup at City Vista Reserve, Caroline Springs. They had qualified for the finals by winning their group stage in previous weeks against sides from all over Melbourne. The semi-final pitted Barkers against Westside Strikers, who were dispatched 3-1. A gripping final saw Barkers take on George Cross. The final score was 2-2, but it was Barkers who prevailed 5-3 on penalties, thanks largely to a super save from keeper Ethan McCullough. Congratulations also to Joe Powell on winning the tournament’s Golden Boot.

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