Tuesday, 11 August, 2026
Yarra Glen welcomes its new Place Plan
Local aged care residents grapple with long wait times for vital help
Locals honoured at Homelessness Week memorial
See Real Estate liftout inside
PAGE 2
PAGE 4
PAGE 9
PAGE 19
A Star News Group Publication
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
Not forgotten By Mikayla van Loon 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.
Bill Dobson the president of Lilydale RSL, Ken Mackenzie OAM, Mike Pearce and author Anthony McAleer. (Stewart Chambers: 569991)
Covid test question By Gabriella Vukman Questions were raised over the storage and planned removal of large quantities of expired Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) from the former Gateway Yarra Valley facility in Coldstream. Local residents reported that the property had been used to store test kits during the pandemic, with large quantities of expired stock removed by truck in late July. Photographs published on social media depicted numerous boxes of test kits stored at the site.
Primary local concerns centered on disposal methods and whether the Coldstream CFA had been notified. The Coldstream CFA confirmed it had no prior knowledge of the stored materials. During the pandemic, Victoria’s RAT supply was procured through Commonwealth and state channels, alongside private commercial imports regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The federal government spent over $1.6 billion securing supplies for high-risk sectors, schools, and strategic stockpiles, while the
Victorian government managed state distribution through local sites, schools, and libraries. The incident highlights ongoing uncertainty regarding leftover pandemic procurement. While Western Australia recently disclosed holding 19 million unusable tests costing $75,000 monthly in storage, the extent of Victoria’s remaining expired stock remains unconfirmed. A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing stated the department was unaware of any Common-
wealth-funded tests at the Coldstream site, noting all federal purchases complied with Commonwealth Procurement Rules. Despite local claims on social media that “millions” of expired tests were relocated, the Victorian government has not responded to clarify whether the stock was state-purchased. It remains unclear how many tests were stored at the facility, their origin, how they will be disposed of, or the future use of the vacant Gateway property.
SPECIALISTS IN
4DBO 23 DPEF UP CPPL B '3&& QSPQFSUZ BQQSBJTBM
DAVID MCKEE 0419 150 009 david.mckee@atrealty.com.au www.atrealty.com.au
12708952-JS33-24
LIC - AU36010
YOUR LOCAL YARRA VALLEY SPECIALIST
12838339-RV05-26
Ph: 0417 035 516
LICENSED ESTATE AGENT )&"-&47*--&
12788747-FR31-25
• Split Systems • Ducted Heating and Cooling • Gas Appliance Sales, Service and Installation