Tuesday, 12 May, 2026
Sexual abuse allegations resurface against SDA
Health promises broken in State Budget
70 years on, and love still blooms in Warburton
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Mindful muse By Oliver Winn If you peruse any of the paintings on show at the Warburton Waterwheel this month, not only are you looking at some incredibly detailed pieces of contemporary abstract art - you’re also looking into the mind of a talented Yarra Valley artist. After all, that’s the point of Jerry Osadczuk’s exhibition, Mindfulness. Mindfulness showcases a series of vivid abstract paintings until 31 May, open to anyone at no cost at the Warburton Waterwheel exhibition space. The paintings are rich with texture, achieved by using many mediums and taking advantage of their individual traits. Each layer showcases a state of Mr Osadczuk’s mind, culminating in a coalescence of colour and feeling that represents the journey of creating the artwork. Mr Osadczuk said this is what Mindfulness is all about. “This exhibition is called mindfulness and I think that’s basically what it is. It’s the setting of my mind.” Read more on page 20
Mr Osadczuk’s paintings invites viewers to come up with their own interpretation. (Oliver Winn: 551992)
Its Mc-Happening By Gabriella Vukman Despite residents voting ‘no’ in 2020, plans for a Healesville McDonald’s have been given the goahead. The result of a VCAT decision on Thursday, 30 April, the new McDonald’s will be accompanied by a service station, a function centre, a 423-space carpark, a hotel and both a market and a retail
space. The amended planning permit allows the construction of an eight-metre-tall McDonald’s with an indoor play area and a restaurant seating 55 people on the land at 17-25 Maroondah Highway (Lots 1 and 2 PS747586Y), just before the 7-Eleven. As there is currently no available right turn into the lot coming from Healesville, a new
roundabout will be built on the Maroondah Highway to facilitate this turn. The road will also be widened, and there will be the addition of a splitter island to stop vehicles from turning right directly into the McDonald’s without using the roundabout. All signage associated with the lot will be turned off at 10 pm on Sundays and weekdays, and midnight on Saturday evenings.
The Yarra Ranges Council voiced its concerns during the hearing, chief among which were that the new infrastructure would impact the character of Healesville, with Maroondah Highway being the town’s gateway. While the VCAT tribunal did not see this as a major concern, the council did win out against the removal of some trees. Read more on page 3
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