Tuesday, 7 April, 2026
Small businesses outage-proofing the Hills
Yarra Valley Aurora spectacle
Monbulk Hawks ready for ’26 season
Real estate lifout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Let’s rock By Tanya Steele One day and two stages saw a jam-packed, heartfelt line-up of local bands and artists from across the Dandenong Ranges show up to support a local charity. Sooki Lounge hosted a fundraiser gig all day on Sunday 29 March to support the Dandenong Ranges Relief Centre (DRERS), stretching tunes and good times well into the evening. Supporting people at risk, experiencing homelessness, and those impacted by domestic violence in the Yarra Ranges for over 40 years, the event raised over $5000. Chief Executive Officer at DRERS, Tania Bevan, said the charity felt so privileged that Sooki Lounge had another fundraiser for their service. “We cannot say thank you enough to Steve Crombie from Sooki Lounge, his staff and all of the bands who are donating their time and skills to this event, she said. Across the hills and beyond, local bands played from early afternoon into the night. Turn to page 14 for highlights from the day
The Lickspits cranked tunes at Sooki Lounge, along with a stacked line up of local bands. (Mitch Achten, Shattered Glass Studios)
Independent rise strongest expansion. “Families are looking for schools that reflect their values or provide specialised support. They’re prepared to make sacrifices to invest in their children’s education,” she said. “Ms Holthouse said cheaper independent schools are giving more kids the right learning environment, while the sector also supports jobs and the local community.” Education expert Dr Amanda Samson from the University of Melbourne highlighted that the
trend is less about quality differences and more about choice. “Parents now have more options to select schools aligned with their values, and lower-fee independent schools in the outer suburbs are helping meet this demand,” she said. Dr Samson said public schools are still going strong, with top academic results and plenty of local demand. Read the full story on page 6
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Independent school enrolments are surging across Victoria, outpacing growth in other parts of Australia, with Melbourne’s outer east seeing particularly strong increases. Data from Independent Schooling shows Knox recorded a staggering 60.3 per cent jump, the Yarra Ranges rose by 11.9 per cent, while Cardinia saw a 10.8 per cent decline. Experts say the growth reflects shifting family
priorities, population increases in suburban corridors, and greater access to a variety of schooling models. Nationwide, independent school enrolments grew 3.9 per cent in 2024, more than triple the overall student growth of 1.1 per cent. Over the past decade, student numbers in the sector have climbed more than 30 per cent. Chief executive of Independent Schools Victoria, Rachel Holthouse said Melbourne’s outer growth corridors are seeing the
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By Gabriella Vukman