Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
Expo brings people together, eases worries
Change of Seasons exhibition launches
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PAGE 12
Real estate liftout inside
Schools get ready for Spectacular show PAGE 14
A Star News Group Publication
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Vets’ stories By Mikayla van Loon
Bill Dobson the president of Lilydale RSL, Ken Mackenzie OAM, Mike Pearce and author Anthony McAleer. (Stewart Chambers: 569991)
First-hand accounts detailing how the Vietnam War shaped the Shire of Lillydale were permanently documented in a new book by historian Anthony McAleer. Produced alongside the Lilydale RSL, Vietnam - Long Hard Years Not Forgotten collected stories from over 100 contributors, including veterans, local residents, and anti-war protesters. From the district, 137 servicemen and four civilians served in the conflict, with five local soldiers killed. The publication examined shifting community attitudes, television news coverage, and the social hostility experienced by returning servicemen. Featured veterans, including Lilydale RSL president Bill Dobson, recounted difficulties reintegrating into civilian life, initial exclusion by the RSL, and local post-war campaigns, such as the 1983 effort that banned chemical 245T weed spraying on local ovals. The book was set to launch on Sunday, 16 August at Japara House in Kilsyth as part of local Vietnam Veterans Day commemorations.
Support services urge community to look beyond homelessness stereotypes...
Impact warning
...
their cars at 70-plus years old through to 17-yearolds,” Mr Taylor said. To address the shortage of affordable options, Stable One announced two upcoming initiatives: the Fast Haven Collective, connecting residents who have spare rooms or properties with people in need, and Stable One Education, a community training program. Chief executive Katherine Kirkwood urged the public to challenge common misconceptions. “Many people across all demographics in our own community are experiencing homelessness, and often because of circumstances beyond their
control,” she said. The week’s events also provided space for reflection. On Tuesday 4 August, community members gathered at the Lillydale Lake Community Room for a solemn memorial service organised by Stable One. Attendees lit candles to remember seven local individuals who passed away over the last year while experiencing housing instability. Community members looking to support local efforts can donate, volunteer, or participate in Holy Fools’ ongoing FreezeOut! fundraising campaign. Turn to pages 2 and 3 to read more
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Local support services were calling on the community to look beyond stereotypes this Homelessness Week, warning that housing stress is quietly pushing an unprecedented range of residents into crisis across the Yarra Ranges. Frontline organisations report that homelessness is increasingly hidden, with individuals and families sleeping in cars, couch surfing, or trapped in temporary accommodation. Anchor chief executive Heidi Tucker highlighted an alarming shift in who is seeking help,
noting a sharp rise in working families and older residents. “An alarming trend witnessed by our homelessness team this year has been the increase in demographics that have never accessed specialist homelessness services before,” Ms Tucker said, referencing dual-income families and residents aged 55 and older who are priced out of the rental market. At Lilydale’s Holy Fools, chief executive Neal Taylor echoed the sentiment, emphasising that sudden hardship can strike anyone. “We’ve seen people who are elderly living in
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By Callum Ludwig
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