Tuesday, 9 June, 2026
Monbulk volunteer awarded OAM
Scout leader awarded OAM
Season takes king’s break
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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CFA volunteer Peter Henwood in front of a fallen Mountain Ash. (Corrina Gifford).
The great storm liams and her neighbour Gemma, recall counting 40 thuds as trees fell blindly in the dark. Five years on, Ms Williams warns that the local ecosystem remains in jeopardy, with invasive weeds increasingly overrunning the national park and private properties. Now a Gardens for Wildlife volunteer, she urged, “We need to heal the forest before it’s too late.” In recognition of their extraordinary efforts, 12 current and former members of the KaloramaMt Dandenong Fire Brigade will receive a Chief
Officer’s unit citation for courage. Responding to 34 urgent calls despite a total communications blackout, volunteers cut through fallen timber on foot to rescue trapped residents. CFA Captain William ‘Bill’ Robinson said the brigade has since fortified its resilience against future disasters. “The brigade has been able to purchase a generator... we’re now virtually self-sufficient,” Mr Robinson said. Read these stories, and others, on pages 2-5
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Five years after the devastating June 2021 windstorms tore through the Dandenong Ranges, local residents are reflecting on a night of survival, ongoing environmental concerns, and an upcoming bravery commendation for local firefighters. The storm, which brought rare Beaufort force 11 winds to elevations above 400 metres, destroyed 44 homes and damaged 111 others in the Kalorama-Mt Dandenong region. Among those trapped was Mt Dandenong
resident Danny, who was knocked unconscious when a Mountain Ash tree crushed his home. His daughters, Maeve and Elsa, administered critical first aid before Kalorama CFA volunteers Brett Glover and Kyle Leslie navigated the debris on foot to rescue him. Danny, who suffered broken ribs and punctured lungs, has since transitioned to a career in youth work following his recovery. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here,” Danny said, noting that while his family remains in the hills, rising winds still trigger anxiety. Other residents, like photographer Amber Wil-
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By Tanya Steele