Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
Ex-bikie, CFMEU delegate fronts court after arrest
Million dollar upgrades underway at Ghilgai
Lilydale Theatre prepares for opening night
See Real Estate liftout inside
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Lee Suryn (Council Chair/Elder Montrose Church of Christ), Katherine Kirkwood (Stable One) and Lisa Glassbarow (Community Bank Mt Evelyn). (Stewart Chambers: 574664)
The Montrose Church of Christ has unveiled a new accessible bathroom and shower facility to support locals experiencing homelessness, made possible by a $19,000 grant from the Mt Evelyn Community Bank. The renovation transformed two outdated disabled toilets into modern amenities just in time to serve guests during Stable One’s Yarra Valley Winter Shelter program. The project was further backed by church congregation members who volunteered their design and building labour. Representatives from the bank and church highlighted the facility as a crucial longterm investment in community care and dignity. Full story on page 9
Act of bravery A Victorian man who disarmed and tackled a gunman during a violent robbery has been awarded the Australian Bravery Decoration. Richard Mathiasz, of Kilsyth, was named on National Wattle Day as one of 54 recipients honoured for selfless acts of courage. The incident unfolded on 15 March, 2023, when Mr Mathiasz and his wife stopped by the Bayswater North Pharmacy around 8pm to visit the store’s owners after finishing work early.
Shortly after their arrival, a masked offender entered the Canterbury Gardens shop, produced a handgun, and demanded staff fill a duffle bag with restricted medications. When the gunman pointed the weapon at Mr Mathiasz and his wife, threatening to shoot, Mr Mathiasz refused to comply. The assailant knocked a mobile phone from Mrs Mathiasz’s hand as she attempted to call emergency services. To de-escalate the confrontation, the pharmacy owner moved to a back room to gather the re-
quested drugs, covertly triggering a silent alarm. Upon returning, the owner handed over the bag. As the suspect turned to leave, Mr Mathiasz and the store owner simultaneously tackled him to the ground. A violent struggle ensued, scattering glass and store inventory across the floor. During the melee, the offender’s mask and firearm were knocked free while the men held him pinned until law enforcement arrived. Emergency responders dispatched multiple units, quickly securing the
scene and taking the suspect into custody. Reflecting on the encounter, Mr Mathiasz acknowledged the severe risk involved, noting the gravity of the situation only set in after the adrenaline subsided. Governor-General Sam Mostyn commended all 54 recipients, stating they were confronted with extreme danger and chose to act to protect others. Mr Mathiasz will receive his medal at an official ceremony next year. Read the full story on page 6
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Inquiry recommendations land By Gabriella Vukman A Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has called for major changes to the way injured Victorians are supported, with the report and outcome published on 25 August. Yarra Ranges residents who rely on the TAC scheme for long-term treatment and rehabilitation welcomed the inquiry, including Healesville resident Tamara Tesseyman, who was among TAC clients who gave evidence to the inquiry. More than 12 years after Ms Tesseyman and her young son Gus suffered catastrophic leg injuries after being struck by a car while walking into Bunnings at Chirnside Park, she said her family was still fighting to access treatment recommended by medical professionals. This experience led Ms Tesseyman to become an administrator of an independent online support group for TAC clients, and become a TAC claimant advocate. For Ms Tesseyman, the Inquiry was a step in the right direction, however she raised concerns over the future application and depth of the recommendations and the Inquiry as a whole. “The Inquiry identified systemic problems, but did not label them as systemic problems and then also did not treat them as such.” “We needed more transparency and more evidence, so that is where the disconnect is for me.” “There were definitely a few gaps, but on the whole, it is positive because it is a step towards change.” The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee handed down its report, Inquiry into claims made through the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), after months of submissions and public hearings involving injured Victorians, medical professionals, lawyers, advocacy organisations and the TAC. Ms Tesseyman said the findings made her and other members of her community feel their experiences had finally been recognised. “The Inquiry made us feel seen,” she said. “We felt like the findings recognised the power imbalance between TAC and us as clients, and especially people who were traumatised,” she said. That said, Ms Tesseyman noted the importance of ensuring the Inquiet recommendations come into effect. “We don’t want the Inquiry to just be ticking a box,” she said. “We want real change.” The Committee found the TAC generally operates effectively, with many clients experiencing a relatively straightforward claims process, but that the complexity of the scheme increases with the severity and duration of a person’s injuries. For people living with acquired brain injuries, serious physical disabilities, trauma or bereavement, administrative and legal requirements can become overwhelming and distressing. Ms Tesseyman said the recognition of the impact of trauma and acquired brain injury was important when taking system navigation into account. “People with brain and neurological injuries are much more disadvantaged when using the system,” she said. “I still find the system difficult to navigate, so I can’t imagine what it would be like for people with a disability or neurological injuries.” Ms Tesseyman suggested a dedicated case manager, similar to those in the NDIS system, would provide equal access to TAC, for those who need the extra aid. “I am my son’s case manager and I have to do everything from make appointments, make sure all the treatment is meeting the requirements, and talk to his lawyers.” “At the moment there is no middle person who can communicate or advocate for claimants and tell them what they are entitled to.” “There is nobody helping people work out what they actually need, so we need a case manager.” The Committee recommended additional support for people with severe injuries to ensure they have the capacity or assistance needed to participate effectively in the TAC scheme. It also called for claims management to become more consistently disability-centred and trauma-informed. Ms Tesseyman said trauma-informed practice needed to go beyond initial staff training. “There needs to be ongoing training on what a traumatized person is going through, and TAC staff need to know that their brains might not function properly,” she said. “They might be slower, they might be easier to anger.” “TAC is saying that they are already currently 2 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
The TAC Inquiry Report has been tabled. (File :541676) doing that training, but whatever they’re doing now is not working.” Communication was identified as one of the most significant areas requiring improvement. The Committee recommended the TAC produce plain-language guides explaining the claims process, including versions in languages other than English, and broader Service Charters setting clearer expectations about the services clients can expect to receive. The inquiry also found some medical providers choose not to accept TAC-funded clients because of administrative requirements and disagreements over fees, treatment options or other requirements can leave injured Victorians worse off. Ms Tesseyman said her family had experienced difficulty finding medical providers willing to take on TAC clients. “We have had prolonged periods of trying to find a service provider,” she said. “I would call and inquire, and the office would just say, we don’t deal with TAC clients.” “The only way that changes is if TAC are made to bring their fees up to market value.” The TAC has pointed to fee increases introduced during 2026, including significant increases for physiotherapy, a new occupational therapy service model and increases for psychology and neuropsychology. The Committee recommended the TAC continue improving its administrative requirements for medical practitioners and review professional development material to help medical and allied-health professionals navigate TAC processes. Regional clients face an additional challenge, with the inquiry finding they can have particular difficulty finding appropriate medical and allied-health providers. Ms Tesseyman also said delays in TAC decisions could have serious consequences for injured people. “When there was a disagreement about my ankle foot orthosis (AFO), it took two months and I had to go to the media in order to get TAC to make a decision,” she said. “That ended up being three to four months of not being able to walk safely, as the AFO had to be made and fitted after the decision.” She said her son had also experienced a period when physiotherapy was refused. “As soon as they delay something, they can then use it later on as a reason to deny your treatment,” she said. “They say ‘you’ve had a gap in your treatment, so you cannot have this other service.’” “Instead of a fraud detection system, the constant checks and complex nature of the TAC system acts like more of a deterrent for us claimants.” Fraud was also examined, but the Committee found it was very uncommon within the TAC compensation scheme.
In 2024-25, the TAC reported that seven of 43,225 clients were found to have fraudulently obtained benefits, approximately 0.02 per cent. The Committee found fraud controls were important but could also contribute to the administrative complexity experienced by legitimate clients and providers. Ms Tesseyman questioned whether the scale of fraud justified the level of scrutiny experienced by legitimate claimants. “The recommendations weren’t strong enough, especially considering that the report talks about how small fraud is within claimants, doctors, service providers and medical professionals.” “The fact that there’s such little fraud, yet there are so many checks and so much restriction put on what we can access, makes no sense” “They found that 0.02 per cent of the claims were fraudulent, yet they’re pursuing 7 per cent of claimants. That’s a lot of money and effort for a little outcome.” Another major issue was the relationship between the TAC and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). While the responsibilities of the two schemes are theoretically clear, the Committee found applying the distinction in practice can be difficult for people who are clients of both. Recommendation 10 calls on the TAC to establish protocols with other schemes, including the NDIS, to better define responsibilities for mutual clients. Ms Tesseyman said she had personally experienced confusion over which scheme should fund her own support. “TAC repeatedly told me to contact NDIS, even when all of my injury is from my accident.” “If it’s related to your road trauma, then it should be TAC funded.” She said TAC had also questioned liability for injuries it had previously accepted as being caused by the accident. “They told us they were not taking liability for Gus’ knee anymore, even though his injury was from the accident,” she said. “Since the inquiry and speaking to the media, they have now approved Gus to have surgery on his knee, which he’s having in 10 weeks.” The Committee also recommended establishing a Client Advisory Group or similar body to give the TAC Board and management advice based on lived experience. Ms Tesseyman welcomed the recommendation but said she was concerned an advisory group could become a box-ticking exercise without proper structure and integration. “It is important to have claimant representatives weighing in, however myself and other claimant advocates are worried that the Advisory Group has no power, as the recommendation doesn’t go into detail.”
“There needs to also be representatives from stakeholders and a clinical panel for price matching, and for fraud detection practices, because a lot of them already have their own practices in place.” Another key concern for claimants who submitted to the Inquiry was the outflow of money from the TAC. “Over the past few years the government has been taking lots of money out of the TAC, when they had only taken around 300 million in previous years,” Ms Tesseyman said. “How can claimants expect to get adequate support, when the TAC budget is being cut.” According to the state’s 2026-27 budget papers, the government will receive a $1.1 billion payment from the TAC in the next financial year on top of other quantities paid out by the TAC over previous years. This payout will land the total funds transferred from the TAC to the government at around $3 billion over the last three years. Ms Tesseyman also raised concerns surrounding the TAC’s dispute-resolution system and said the Commission should resolve disputes before they reach VCAT and other courts. “Other insurance companies have the incentive barrier to resolve the dispute beforehand, or they get fined,” she said. “With TAC there is no fine and there is no mark against them as an industry leader, so everything goes to the tribunal.” Ms Tesseyman noted the TAC has to pay for both representation of the claimant and themselves, as well as the Tribunal fee. “It is really clogging up the justice system and taxpayers are paying for it.” “Especially when they said only 0.2 per cent of claims were fraudulent but are pursuing 7 per cent of claimants.” “That is a lot of money for a little outcome.” The next steps for Ms Tesseyman and other TAC client advocates is to seek a review from the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO). “We want an audit of the whole TAC in general.” “We thought the committee would have asked for more evidence from the TAC on how much they are spending on lawyers, and dispute processes.” “In the report the TAC talked about how much they receive from successful fraudulent prosecutions, but they didn’t talk about how much these have cost.” Ms Tesseyman said the cost also falls on claimants. “We are the claimants who end up having our services delayed, and have to get more services because of the waiting period.” For Ms Tesseyman and other TAC clients, the Inquiry is a step in the right direction, and will be used to inform the VAGO Review.
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IN BRIEF Murder charge after Croydon death A Croydon man has been charged with the alleged murder of his neighbour after a man in his seventies was found deceased on 31 August. Emergency services were called to reports of a dispute at the Croydon property on Penhyrn Avenue on Monday at about 2.10am. A 79-year-old Croydon man was found deceased inside the property. A 57-year-old man was arrested at the scene and was transported to hospital under police guard with non-life-threatening injuries. Homicide Squad detectives charged the man with one count of murder on Wednesday 2 September. He was to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. It is alleged the parties are known to one another.
VicPol launch stolen car search Yarra Valley locals can now check if a car has been stolen thanks to a new tool from Victoria Police. Users can enter the registration, make and model of a suspect vehicle to check if it is listed as stolen and then report its location to police. Information is drawn from Victoria Police’s Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP) as well as VicRoads and the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS). You can access the tool here: shorturl.at/JaX2P
Asthma action plan reminder
Detectives from Taskforce Hawk arrested Tyrone Bell in Wandin East and a 38-year-old man in Preston on 1 September. (Victoria Police)
Ex-bikie boss Tyrone Bell arrested By Oliver Winn A former bikie boss and ex-CFMEU delegate allegedly forged safety qualifications in Seville last year to deceptively earn $424,000 from a major construction company, court documents have revealed. The former Mongols gang boss Tyrone “Little Ty” Bell fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a filing hearing two days after being arrested in Wandin East on 1 September. He was arrested along with a 38-year-old man at a separate property in Preston around 7.15am as part of investigations into criminal activity in the construction industry. The arrest came after Taskforce Hawk detectives raided several Yarra Valley properties linked to Mr Bell’s industrial relations consul-
tancy, Dynamis Health Safety Relations, in July. Victoria Police established Taskforce Hawk to specifically target organised crime in the construction industry. Charge sheets released to this masthead show police allege Mr Bell forged a Certificate IV and a Diploma of Work Health and Safety at a Seville address in April 2025. Police allege the fake certificates then led to Dynamis HSR earning $424,350 from building firm Markscon for services Mr Bell was unqualified to carry out. At a Wandin East address in May this year, Mr Bell also allegedly failed to notify a change of address within 24 hours per a firearm prohibition order. Mr Bell is the third Yarra Ranges man to be arrested by Taskforce Hawk detectives, following
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the arrest of a 36-year-old from Chirnside Park and a 56-year-old from Powelltown on 24 August. The Chirnside Park man was charged with possessing a Schedule Four drug and was bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 10 November, while the Powelltown man was released pending further enquiries. Taskforce Hawk continues to target construction industry figures with known links to outlaw motorcycle gangs. Police are also engaging relevant industry stakeholders to gather intelligence, as well as working closely with a range of law enforcement partners, regulators and government authorities. Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at http://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
As temperatures rise and Yarra Valley locals look to spend more time outdoors, Ambulance Victoria is reminding the community to get ahead of the season and update their asthma action plans. For people from the Yarra Valley living with asthma, spring conditions can trigger symptoms which can develop into a serious health concern. In spring, common outdoor environmental triggers that impact asthma include pollen, dust, air pollution and thunderstorms, as well as indoor irritants such as mould, dust mites and fumes from gas cooktops. The most common symptoms to be mindful of include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness. Asthma can also be developed for the first time in adulthood; therefore, if people are experiencing persistent allergy or hay fever symptoms, including a runny nose, itchy eyes or ongoing congestion, they should speak with their GP about appropriate treatment and whether further assessment is needed. For non-emergency care and advice, Victorians can access a range of alternative healthcare options, including: Virtual Emergency Department (VED) at ved. vic.gov.au, providing free video consultations with emergency doctors and nurses from anywhere in Victoria, 24 hours a day. Urgent Care Clinics, offering treatment for a range of non-life-threatening conditions. Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24 for free health advice from registered nurses, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Local GPs and pharmacists, who can provide timely advice, treatment and support for ongoing asthma management. Victorians should monitor the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast on the VicEmergency app or website from 1 October – 31 December.
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Calls for intersection change By Oliver Winn
Tributes left at the intersection of Queens Road and Beenak Road, Seville. (Stewart Chambers: 320070)
The intersection has been the site of several serious car crashes. (Stewart Chambers: 320070) T-intersection on Beenak Road. The upgrade will be delivered by the Yarra Ranges Council. The Black Spot Program targets dangerous road locations where crashes are occurring and provides funding for safety measures. In March this year, the council’s acting director of built environment and infrastructure, Vincenzo Lombardi, said the project was still in the design phase. “These are complex projects with multi-year timeframes, requiring detailed design development, relevant authority approvals, and engagement with local residents, to ensure the finished intersections address safety issues comprehen-
sively. “Subject to these processes, delivery of the works is anticipated to be completed by late2028,” Mr Lombardi said. But Mr Hollyoak said the intersection might need a roundabout to force drivers to slow down. “How much signage can you put up, you know? Adding another sign or something probably isn’t going to cut it. “I’m not sure whether they need to put a roundabout in or something to force people to slow down and visually be able to see it.” But while the Beenak Road and Queens Road
won’t get a roundabout installed, other projects like the Queens Road and Wandin East Road intersection would. It will see a compact roundabout with raised safety platforms and enhanced signage and line marking installed. That upgrade was allocated just under $2 million in funding. At the Clegg and Wellington Road intersection, an approach road hump at the north of the intersection on Wellington Road will be installed. This will be alongside a new kerb and channel, splitter island, lighting upgrades and pavement improvements. It will cost $677,000. Finally, roadhumps will be installed at the Beenak Road and Hunter Road intersection. It will cost $359,000. Mr Hollyoak said the council hadn’t responded to his multiple enquiries about upgrades at the Beenak Road and Queens Road intersection. “Even just a response to an email would be nice.”
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The fiance of a woman who was killed in a car crash at a dangerous Seville intersection has called for the installation of further safety measures. It came after a crash on 28 August, which saw one person hospitalised with minor injuries, brought up fresh fears about the intersection at Beenak Road and Queens Road. Joshua Hollyoak’s partner died after a threecar collision on 17 January 2023. A man in his 40s crashed into the side of a car carrying a horse float, which then crashed into his partner’s car and killed her. The man then died two weeks later in hospital. Mr Hollyoak said the design of the intersection posed a safety risk to drivers in the area. “It’s just the way the intersection is set up, and to be honest, there’s a lot of intersections in that area that are pretty similar. “It’s just dangerous,” Mr Hollyoak said. He said the intersection was hard to spot as the road looks like it goes straight ahead. “It looks like it’s a straight road when actually it’s an intersection, so I think that a lot of people miss it.” The intersection has seen several serious crashes take place in the last three years. Mr Hollyoak said he didn’t know how many more crashes needed to occur before something was changed to make the intersection safer. “There’s been multiple serious crashes afterwards, and still nothing is happening. I don’t know how many more people need to be hurt or killed there before we need to change something about it,” he said. But the Federal Government’s Black Spot Program has the intersection earmarked for safety upgrades. The intersection was one of five projects in the Casey electorate designated $3.97 million in funding under the program last year. The Beenak Road and Queens Road intersection would be realigned to become a staggered
4 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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Anaesthetist takes the cake By Callum Ludwig An anaesthetist at Eastern Health has been recognised on the national stage for her contribution to medicine. Dr Sarah Lee, founder of Anaesthesia Discussion, Views and Contemporary Evidence (ADVANCE), was recently awarded the Excellence in Healthcare Award by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for her efforts to improve anaesthesia education. Dr Lee said she felt incredibly humbled and honoured, particularly when she looked at the remarkable people who had received the award before her. “Although there is one name on the award, there are many people behind it. I have been very fortunate to have the support of my directors at Eastern Health, my department, my mentors, colleagues and the wider ADVANCE team,” she said. “So many people have generously given their time simply because they believe in education and improving patient care. “I really see this award as recognition of that collective effort and of the many educators who quietly invest in building the people around them.” Dr Lee moved from Singapore to Melbourne at the age of 16 to pursue medicine, and joined Eastern Health as a junior doctor in 2013, later training in anaesthesia and becoming qualified in 2021, despite feeling certain as a medical student she wouldn’t want to. Dr Lee said she founded ADVANCE in 2022 because one of the things that makes anaesthesia so interesting is the variation in how we practise, with several methods of approaching the same clinical problem and evidence which does not always give one simple answer. “Working in a large public hospital, I have easy access to colleagues, teaching and discussion, but that is not necessarily true for everyone, particularly those working regionally, remotely or more independently. I wanted
ADVANCE to help bridge some of that gap,” she said. “Before each session, we anonymously survey clinicians about how they practise. We then bring together the contemporary evidence and invite experts in the field to discuss it. “The aim is not to tell people how they should practise. It is to create a safe space to ask: ‘This is what I currently do. What does the evidence say? What do my peers do? And is there something I can learn from them?’” Dr Lee also decided to keep ADVANCE free because she wants the education to remain as accessible as possible, and which perhaps in part helped contribute to it being adopted around the world. Dr Lee said she definitely never expected it to grow as quickly or reach as widely as it has but its growth has really been made possible by people’s generosity. “We have had extraordinary experts, including international leaders in their fields, volunteer their time simply because they believe in sharing knowledge and helping others,” she said. “I have also been very fortunate to have wonderful cochairs and a dedicated team that volunteer many hours of their own time despite busy clinical commitments. Many dedicated colleagues, hardworking trainees, experts and supporters have contributed their time and energy along the way. “If something we have created here can be useful to somebody on the other side of the world, that is a wonderful thing.” In the long-term, the hope is that ADVANCE survey data can also be used to develop a registry and research program and use contemporary Australian anaesthesia practice to inform evidence-based education, research priorities, and guidelines. Dr Lee said anaesthetists learn enormously from the perspectives of our surgical, intensive care, nursing, allied health and physician colleagues, who see different parts of a pa-
L-R: Dr Sarah Lee receives her award, alongside former New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard. (Australian Medical Association) tient’s recovery journey. “No single person or specialty has all the answers, when we learn from one another, we gain a much more complete picture of what happens to our patients beyond the operating theatre,” she said. “A wise mentor once said to me, ‘Where there is a receptive mind and a willing heart to teach, lives can be transformed.’ I have carried those words with me. “I am still relatively young in my own journey and have so much more to learn. I just hope I can keep that passion for teaching and learning alive and continue to invest in the people around me, just as others have so generously invested in me.” Dr Lee was presented with the award at the AMA26 National Conference. AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said at the conference that Dr Lee’s commitment to knowledge sharing and supporting colleagues, not just in Australia but across the world, was an inspiration across the profession. “The dedication Dr Lee has demonstrated
since beginning her career, not only to her own continuous development but to our profession as a whole is truly commendable,” she said. “Her approach fosters both professional growth and improved patient care, and her work in setting up ADVANCE also helps with the translation of emerging evidence into everyday clinical decision-making. By creating a space where clinicians can interrogate new data, share experiences, and refine their approaches, Dr Lee has enabled a form of continuous learning that is both dynamic and directly relevant to patient outcomes. “In an era where healthcare is increasingly complex and rapidly evolving, initiatives like ADVANCE play a critical role in ensuring that clinicians remain informed, connected, and adaptable.” Dr Lee thanked the ‘village’ around her, including her family, friends, colleagues and mentors, who she is ‘incredibly grateful’ for. Dr Lee said she remains very grateful for the opportunities she has been given within the network and that medicine is an incredible privilege but it can also be demanding. “As anaesthetists, we often meet people at some of the most vulnerable, and sometimes most joyful, moments of their lives. Being entrusted with their care carries an enormous responsibility, but it also continually reminds us of the humanity at the heart of what we do,” she said. “There is a saying that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and I think in many ways it also takes a community to support a healthcare worker. Fatigue, burnout and mental wellbeing are very real challenges in healthcare today. “Sadly, our profession has lost wonderful people to mental illness, and I think that reminds us how important it is to look after one another. In a profession centred on caring for others, I think we need to extend that same care to one another.”
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Standoff to bravery medal By Mikayla van Loon The night Richard Mathiasz and his wife decided to stop by and visit a friend at work will forever be ingrained in their minds as the night they came face to face with an armed offender. On Monday 1 September, known as National Wattle Day, Mr Mathiasz was named as one of 54 people to receive an Australian Bravery Decoration. The Kilsyth residents had finished work early on Wednesday 15 March 2023 and used the unexpected time to see their friends at the Bayswater North Pharmacy at Canterbury Gardens. With the pharmacy owners behind the counter and the Mathiaszs standing and speaking to them in the store, at around 8.15pm, a masked and armed offender entered the shop. Walking directly to the four friends holding a gun, he demanded that a duffle bag be filled with drugs. “I clearly said, ‘You’re not getting anything from here’, and he cocked the gun and said, ‘I’ll shoot’. I said, ‘If you have to shoot, you shoot but you’re still not going to get anything from me’,” Mr Mathiasz said. “He didn’t hold the gun only to my head, it was to her head (Mrs Mathiasz) as well because she said, ‘I’m going to call the police’. “When she tried to use the mobile, he grabbed the mobile and threw the mobile from us. He said, ‘I’ll shoot you too, listen’.” Trying to appease the gun-wielding offender, the pharmacy owners took the duffle bag into the back room to start filling it with safestored medications. Mr Mathiasz remembers having “a standoff for about a minute” before the pharmacy owner returned with a full bag. As he handed it over, he pressed the emergency button. The offender turned to leave, and in that moment Mr Mathiasz and the pharmacy owner made the split-second decision to tackle the man to the ground. “He jumped on him at the same time I jumped on him too…He was like a wounded bull. He was strong. “He was bigger. He was taller than me, and he was like a wounded bull fighting to get out, but I had his neck throttled.” In the chaos, the offender’s mask and gun went flying, and the store was a mess of products falling and shattered glass. “Shelves were all dropping. In the pharmacy, you get all this equipment there, that all started dropping on me. All I heard was glass breaking,” Mr Mathiasz said. With the two men pinning him to the ground, Mrs Mathiasz and the female pharmacy owner were able to alert passersby of the incident. Soon after, the shopping complex car park was filled with police vehicles, with every available unit sent to the Bayswater North centre. Mr Mathiasz recalled, “I’ve never seen so many police cars under in the one space…when we came out, the whole shopping centre was blue”. In the moment, Mr Mathiasz said, “I was not scared”, rationalising that if it was his time to die, he would accept that. “For me, if we have to die on the road, you’re going to die on the road. If you die on the water, you’re going to die on the water. If you’re going to die with a bullet, you’re going to die with a bullet,” he said. It was a completely different reaction for his wife, who said, “I couldn’t even talk”.
Kilsyth resident Richard Mathiasz bravely helped wrestle a masked, armed offender at the Bayswater North Pharmacy. (Mikayla van Loon: 576580) “When he was holding the gun to my head here, and I was thinking to myself, I couldn’t even open my mouth. We’ve been married for 46 years, and I couldn’t even tell him, ‘Honey, I’ll see you on the other side’. I couldn’t even open my mouth. I was so stunned,” she said. As restaurateurs for 30 years, they had experienced the shops around them being robbed, but thankfully theirs had never been targeted. “In these 30 years, the post office got robbed next door, the liquor shop got robbed, the pizza shop got robbed. I was waiting one day till somebody came to our shop, but nobody came. “Unfortunately, we went to the pharmacy. We closed the shop because we finished early. We said, ‘We’ll see the friend in the pharmacy’ and while we were there, we were just talking with him, and all this happened. “If they were there on their own, then it could have been a different story. “We would never expect it, but who expects somebody to hold a gun to your head?” This act of bravery from Mr Mathiasz to ap-
prehend an armed offender was recognised by one of the police officers who attended and continued to ensure the Mathiaszs’ wellbeing afterwards. “I was not coping with it very well. So they kept calling me and looking after me. He organised counselling,” Mrs Mathiasz said. “He came to the house every other day. He came to ask whether we needed help or whether need this, whether we needed that,” Mr Mathiasz said. It took some time for Mrs Mathiasz to feel comfortable going to public places because of the trauma of the event. “I couldn’t go to shopping centres. I didn’t go out at all. I went into panic mode, and I couldn’t do anything… (Richard) made me understand that you need to keep going out,” she said. “But it was the first time this has happened to me. How do you cope with it?” Mr Mathiasz said that while the adrenaline in the moment carried him through, as soon as it started wearing off, he asked himself, “What
have you gone and done?” “It sank in because he could have really pulled the trigger,” he said. Three years later, the couple are not as affected by what happened, and Mr Mathiasz said he never expected to be recognised with a commendation but was grateful to the police officer. Mr Mathiasz will be invited to an official ceremony next year, where he will be presented with a medal. Governor-General Sam Mostyn congratulated the recipients for their selfless acts and bravery to protect others. “The Australians honoured today remind us of the strength and depth of the human spirit,” she said. “They were each confronted with danger and chose to act – removing others from dangerous circumstances, including beach and sea rescues, motor vehicle accidents and other treacherous and, often, unimaginable situations.”
The magpie swooping story that ended with a bang By Oliver Winn As spring marks the start of swooping season, one Yarra Ranges local shared her story of a magpie, a teacher and a shotgun. Sometime in the 70s, Sue Samphier was a Grade 5 student at Pembroke Primary School when she and another student were randomly asked to walk down a specific path through some parkland. What happened next left her horrified. “We were told just to walk across down this path through the parkland, and when we started to walk through, this magpie flew down, and then it was just, bang. “A teacher shot the magpie over by our head and killed it,” Ms Samphier said. She and the other student were unknowingly 6 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
used as a lure to get a problem magpie to swoop. Standing out of sight was a teacher, shotgun at the ready, eyes glued to the barrel and finger on the trigger. The magpie left its perch, and the thunderous crack of the shotgun quickly followed. “It was up fairly high, when it was about to swoop. “I am sure that it was perfectly safe for us, even though it sounds horrific, but I think it was probably quite a way from us,” Ms Samphier said. Many Yarra Ranges locals have shared their magpie swooping anecdotes online as the breeding season for some native birds starts. While the swooping magpie can be an annoyance for many, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Manager Wildlife Emergencies and Welfare Services, Tony
English, said the behaviour is usually shortlived. “Swooping is a natural and temporary behaviour that some native birds use to protect their eggs and chicks during the breeding season,” Mr English said. “Swooping is their way of telling you to keep your distance.” Since her run-in with a magpie and a shotgun, Ms Samphier has been passionate about animals, having worked at the Healesville Sanctuary, Mount Evelyn Zoo and the Lilydale High School’s Zoology Centre. Now she is semi-retired and runs a wildlife shelter. She said it’s important for humans to respect the behaviour of magpies. “Having a healthy respect for animals is important. It is their territory. We think, ‘Oh, they are in our territory, our backyard,’ but it is actu-
ally their territory. “The thing is, it is only four to six weeks usually, that nesting time, when they become protective, so if you can avoid them during that time... then the magpies will ignore you,” she said. Though Ms Samphier’s memory of the incident is fairly hazy, she was able to verify the story. “I actually contacted on Facebook the boy who I thought [walked with me], and he said it was not him, it was someone else. “But he said he remembered the teacher, and he had a shotgun that he brought to school.” “If someone had told me that story now, I would think, ‘Oh, get out, they would not do that,’ but they did.” Her story is certainly telling of the times. “You would not be able to do that now, let alone send two kids out as bait for the magpie.”
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School representatives Sophia, James, Annabel and Paul, with MP Daniela De Martino. (Sophia D’Alto: 576164)
Ghilgai School principal Annabel Brown and Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino at the sod turn event on Wednesday 2 September. (Sophia D’Alto: 576164)
Steiner School upgrade By Mikayla van Loon and Sophia D’Alto Upgrades have commenced at Kilsyth’s Ghilgai Steiner School after securing $1.15 million in government funding from a $450 million Building Fund for Non-Government Schools. The school is set to undergo construction to improve key spaces and add new facilities, with the sod officially turned on Wednesday 2 September. Upgrades include: New student bathrooms, a new reception area and resource room for teachers, as well as a staff room with a new cleaning storeroom, a new staff toilet and even
a washing machine, in addition to an upgraded foundation room and office rooms. School principal Annabel Brown expressed her gratitude profoundly, sharing that none of this would be possible without the help of the government and the members of the school. “These upgrades allow us to provide lowfee independent school education to families in our region,” she said. “Choice for families is extremely important, and we know that different educational environments suit different children and families, and we want families to have a range of wonderful choices in our area.”
She explained that since the establishment of the school in 1982, very little development has occurred, making the upgrades all the more meaningful for everyone at Ghilgai. They look forward to this new chapter that they hope the new school year will bring when the upgrades are expected to be completed. Also attending the event was Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino, who labelled the event as the “beginning of something great”. “I’m really, really proud, and I’m really, really happy that our government’s decided to give some money to your school to upgrade facilities, not just for yourselves as students
Construction has started on the $1.15 million upgrades to the school. (Sophia D’Alto: 576164) but also for the staff,” Ms De Martino said. “They work really hard, and it’s important that they’ve got great facilities for them as well.” She added that the co-investment from the school and the government would benefit children for future generations to come. “It’s not just the kids here; it’s those who will come through (after) as well, and providing great facilities for great education is fundamental to us.”
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Back to school!
School students across Victoria made their return to school following summer holidays, while 2021’s preps got their first taste of primary school life. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy conducted a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony for Badger Creek Primary School students and staff. See page 7 for more back to school excitment.
Back to school! School students across Victoria made their return to school following summer holidays, while 2021’s preps got their first taste of primary school life. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy By Jed Lanyon
Centre in the lead up to Christmas. Many locals far and wide were able to keep up their Christmas tradition in getting a family photo with ‘The Real Santa’ who they had grown to love. The unlikely tandem tallied upwards of $30,000 from their family Christmas photos and then selected four charities to each receive
$8400 to help make the lives of children better. The four recipients of the funds included: Backpacks 4 Vic Kids, A Better Life For Foster Kids, HeartKids and Chum Creek’s Good Life Farm. The organisations shared how the funds had already been put to good use. Backpacks 4 Vic Kids CEO and founder Sally Beard told Star Mail the donation came as a “delightful surprise”.
“We’re very, very grateful on behalf of the children, whose lives that it will impact,” she said. “We have absolutely put that money to good use.” Ms Beard shared that the $8400 donation from Branded is aiding 112 children in need with care packs filled with toiletries, spare changes of clothes, a toy and more. Continued page 2 12477022-SN06-21
It’s February, but Santa Claus’ gifts keep on coming for several charity organisations who benefited from a partnership between Saint Nick and Seville’s Branded Burger Bar. The burger bar came to the rescue when they partnered with Santa, who had seen his role replaced at Chirnside Park Shopping
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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 7
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Fast Haven Collective launch By Mikayla van Loon and Sophia D’Alto On Wednesday 2 September, support organisation Stable One officially launched its newest initiative, the Fast Haven Collective, in response to rising homelessness rates. The initiative encourages property owners to offer low-cost accommodation options, such as spare units, bungalows, or land for caravans, to community members in need. Born from both a deep understanding of a lack of affordable housing and the generosity of the community, the Collective aims to merge the two together. It was first floated as an idea by a Winter Shelter volunteer, Mark, who simply stated, “surely, there’s something more we can do”. Mark was already hosting someone in a self-contained unit he’d built within his house, providing an affordable option. Soft-launching the project during the Winter Shelter appreciation night in 2025, it was put out into the ether as a way for people to offer suggestions, feedback and to evolve the project into what launched in early September. Stable One chief executive Katherine Kirkwood acknowledged that homeowners may feel hesitant to host strangers, but she emphasised that the organisation provides thorough screening, guidance, and ongoing support. “Opening your home or property to another person is a really significant thing,” she said. “If Stable One was going to encourage people to consider doing that, we needed to make sure that we were providing good information, appropriate processes, and support around them. “That’s what much of the past 12 months has been about. We’ve done a lot of listening. We’ve spoken with potential hosts and people who are already providing accommodation. We’ve brought together a focus group.” The response has been immediate, with seven property owners already joining the collective, offering spare rooms or sections of homes, along with one small second dwelling. “We’ve even had a block of land offered, with
Stable One chief executive Katherine Kirkwood officially launched the Fast Haven Collective on Wednesday 2 September. (Mikayla van Loon: 576516) the hope that it could one day provide affordable housing,” Ms Kirkwood said. “Turning an extraordinarily generous offer like that into actual homes is not simple, so we’ve been working with other organisations to explore how we might make that dream a reality.” With the guidance and support of Anchor Community Care’s Leanne Nicholson and Yarra Ranges Council’s Tom Alexander, it helped “propel this project forward”. The initiative challenges local residents to consider how their unused assets could create housing stability by asking these questions: “Could something you already have help someone find stability?”
“What if the space you already have or the property you’ve been thinking about could change someone’s future?” Now that the Collective has officially launched, Ms Kirkwood encouraged everyone with accommodation already available or the “genuine possibility” of a space becoming available to connect with Stable One and join the collective. People already providing affordable accommodation to someone are welcome to join the Collective as well, to provide insight, knowledge and resources to others. “Just like our winter shelter network, we’re definitely stronger when we’re together,” Ms
Kirkwood said. The Fast Haven Collective is ready to take inquiries and onboard people who have a room, bungalow or unit ready to support others in the community. “The people who change communities aren’t always the ones with the most resources,” Ms Kirkwood said. “They’re the ones willing to use what they already have in generous and courageous ways. “For many people, it’s not a lack of generosity that gets in the way, it’s simply not knowing where to start.” To find out more, visit: stableone.org/fast-haven-collective/
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Elise McGuinness (Community Bank-Mt Evelyn), Lee Suryn (Council Chair/Elder Montrose Church of Christ), Justin Hall (Community Bank-Mt Evelyn),Katherine Kirkwood (Stable One) and Lisa Glassbarow (Community Bank Mt Evelyn) (Stewart Chambers: 574664)
Lee Suryn (Council Chair/Elder Montrose Church of Christ), Katherine Kirkwood (Stable One) and Lisa Glassbarow (Community Bank Mt Evelyn) (Stewart Chambers: 574664)
Montrose Church of Christ thanks Mt Evelyn Community Bank for their contribution. (Stewart Chambers: 574664)
The new accessible bathroom at Montrose Church of Christ (Stewart Chambers: 574664)
Impactful renovation done By Claudia Mather The Montrose Church of Christ has been busy celebrating an exciting and impactful upgrade in the church after the Mt Evelyn Community Bank generously funded a renovation project. The project reimagined two existing disabled toilets that were not up to current code, into a new accessible bathroom and shower room. This meant any guests staying at the church overnight as part of Stable One’s Yarra Valley Winter Shelter, were able to use the new facilities. Being warm and feeling clean are feelings most of us take for granted, but being able to come out of the cold into a welcoming community space and having the option for a warm shower is something the Winter Shelter guests were very grateful for. Stable One’s Yarra Valley Winter Shelter program partners with local churches to provide warm, overnight accommodation for community members experiencing homelessness and hardship during the winter time. This was the first winter that the Montrose Church came on board as a shelter location. About halfway through the program, the new facilities were complete, allowing overnight guests access to a warm shower. Stable One Chief executive Katherine Kirkwood explained that when considering people who don’t have access to simple facilities, like a
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shower, due to homelessness, it’s really important that community facilities are set up to be able to help people. “We have the space available, so might as well use it,” she said. Montrose Church of Christ Chair Lee Suryn said she had asked guests what they could do to help improve their stay during the Winter Shelter. One guest said it would be great if they could have a shower while they stayed and that the shower facilities were what was missing for them. “We are incredibly grateful to Bendigo Bank for what they were able to provide, because without their assistance, it wouldn’t have been able to happen,” Ms Suryn said. “I think it just came down to knowing it was what we needed. It’s not a requirement from Stable One that the churches that host guests overnight have a shower on site, but it just seemed to us to be an obvious thing that would be great for us to have.” Over nineteen thousand dollars was bountifully funded towards the new bathroom and shower for the church. Mt Evelyn Community Bank Chair Lisa Glassborow explained they “were thinking about people experiencing homelessness and having a shower is absolutely part of honouring somebody’s dignity and giving them an experience that feels a bit like a warm home. “It was a no-brainer. It was a unanimous yes
from our board to say this is a big project for us to invest in and we are 100 per cent in and behind it.” “This feels like a longer term investment, and I think it is really important for the community to have a place to go to,” Ms Glassborow explained. “That’s the beautiful part of community banks is that we have local shareholders and local staff and our profit gets invested back into our community.” Mt Evelyn Community Bank branch manager Justin Hall explained that funding projects like this one is something they would not be able to do without their customers. “It really is because people choose to bank with us that we are able to then support that into the community. It’s our customers that really made it become full circle in providing that partnership,” he said. The Montrose Church of Christ were also very fortunate to have people volunteer to help with the labour. “We were able to provide a lot of the labour, free of charge, from our members of our congregation. “One of our members is a building designer, so he was able to actually look at what we had in place and to provide some renovation drawings. “We have a builder in our congregation as well and he was able to undertake the work at a reduced price and then he had a number of people helping him who were working for free,” Ms
Suryn said. “Keith and Jeff led the bulk of the work and we want to thank them,” Ms Kirkwood said warmly. This renovation openly captures the local sense, having been brought to life entirely through the hands of the community for people in need. Guests staying at the church were very appreciative of the new shower facility. “A guest said to us it was great because the water was hot, it didn’t run out and the facilities were so clean,” Ms Suryn said. “They could come here and just feel that community, and the warmth and I think the showers are part of that for sure, but it’s also the people that’s around it. It’s radical hospitality,” Ms Kirkwood explained. “The winter shelter instigated this renovation, but it’s my belief, and hopefully the belief of our board, that churches in general need to step into the space more of just caring for people outside of their own four walls. I think that that’s the way of the future,” she said. The genuine sense of warmth radiating from the Montrose Church of Christ is thanks to the kindness of the whole community. This full-circle effort has meant that the church can continue to open its doors to people in need, and provide them with the love and care we all deserve, as well as a warm shower.
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 9
NEWS
Conversations, smiles and laughter were common throughout the appreciation night on Wednesday 2 September. (Mikayla van Loon: 576516)
Volunteers spent the evening catching up with old and new friends they’d met through the Winter Shelter. (576516)
Stable One board chair Stacey Aslangul kicked off the night with a thank you to all present in the room. (576516)
Stable One chief executive Katherine Kirkwood. (576516)
‘Changed me for the better’ By Mikayla van Loon An evening of celebration and appreciation for the staff and volunteers who made the Yarra Valley Winter Shelter possible for 2026 was held on Wednesday 2 September. The St Patrick’s Community Centre in Lilydale was filled with people who gave their time, energy, effort and resources throughout winter to support some of the most vulnerable people in the Yarra Ranges community. Stable One’s Winter Shelter program provides a safe, warm and friendly environment to people experiencing homelessness over the three coldest months of the year. Church and community organisations from across the region partner with Stable One to provide nightly accommodation, and this year, for the first time, a day centre twice a week. Board chair Stacey Aslangul said Stable One was driven for and by people, but more importantly, ensuring every person who walks through a church door knows they are “seen, valued, and welcomed”. “We may not be able to solve all the problems. We can certainly choose to live our lives working towards healing and hope and justice, right where we are in our neighbourhood,” she said. “We can offer a hand. We can create belonging. We can share a meal with a stranger to become a friend, and we can walk alongside someone doing it particularly tough in a particular season.”
While numbers, facts and figures are important to guiding the success of the Winter Shelter, Ms Aslangul said the impact is “often found in a safe place to stay, a fresh start, a meaningful connection, or simply knowing that someone cares”. Chief executive Katherine Kirkwood said the measures of success can look different for every guest, from gaining housing to finding work, or simply being able to trust in others. This was echoed by welfare coordinator Jarrod Poupard, who said some of the greatest outcomes, aside from housing and accommodation, were the relationships built within the community. From a local hairdressing salon that provided two guests with the full blow wave, cut and colour experience, to post-shelter support from organisations like Pinchapoo and Second Bite, the broader community wrapped its arms around the guests in a time of need. Ensuring guests could fulfil their goals, like one guest who, even in a time of crisis, wanted to give back and volunteer, or access health and wellbeing care like AOD support, was all part of Mr Poupard’s role. He went above and beyond to inspect houses, help write resumes and organise doctors’ appointments for the shelter’s guests. Mr Poupard, who stepped into the welfare coordinator role for this year’s shelter season, said he was overwhelmed by the clear openness and kindness of everyone involved.
Ms Kirkwood invited volunteers, staff and supporters to stand when they had contributed in a certain way. (576516) “When I first stepped into the shelter on the very first night, I had this aha moment: I’d never stepped into the shelter before, and my experience had come from crisis accommodation, where it reflected a lot of chaos, a lot of sirens, evacuations, and lots of things happening,” he said. “I stepped into the shelter on the very first night, and I got the sense of peace, calmness, and just being able to see care and love in support for people.” One of the people who offered her care and support as a volunteer this year was Grace, who said she was encouraged by the connections she made and the strength and perseverance of the
guests. “What surprised me was being able to form really special connections that I didn’t expect,” she said. “I definitely went into the program hoping to change the lives of those who were most vulnerable, and I hope I did. I tried my best. “But I think the fact that I formed such special relationships with so many people really changed me for the better and gave me hope to know that there are still some wonderful people in this world to not just help me but to help those who are struggling.” In total, operations manager Sharon Jacob said 21 guests were approved for the Winter Shelter, with 20 taking up the offer. This included eight single males, 10 single females, one couple, and one dog. The longest stay was 81 nights, followed by 78 nights and 72 nights. An additional 29 active volunteers, compared to last year, totalling 141 for this season, helped fill shifts and ensure the shelter could run smoothly. Ms Jacob highlighted some outstanding volunteer hours: one volunteer completed the most overnight shifts (25), and another completed the most in total (13 nights and 13 evening shifts). “So many of you put yourselves out of your comfort zone to provide others comfort, so thank you very much for that,” she said. “We can’t do it without you…You’ve all made an impact on people’s lives in just a short while.”
The long camp: An unforgettable Year 9 experience By Sophia D’Alto Just over a year ago, a new camp was added to the Year 9 Outdoor Education program at Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School, where the students spent 12 days at Wollangara, a remote homestead Outdoor Education Centre located in the Macalister River Gorge, south of Licola in the Victorian High Country. In May this year, Year 9 students embarked on this long journey as they became the second class to take on this experience. This camp is the longest trip in a series of six camps throughout the course of Year 9, where students spend over 30 days in total away from school. With no reception, no power and entry only available by crossing the river with a flying fox, the 10 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
not-for-profit organisation provides teenagers with a “rare opportunity to step away from modern distractions and into a world of hands-on learning, community, and adventure.” The first class of Year 9 students spent their days learning to split wood, baking fresh bread, cooking over open fires, tending to livestock and, at the end of the day, gathering by the fire to unwind and reflect, an activity that many said was their favourite. They expressed how this camp, as part of the Outdoor Education program, was one of the best things that the school has to offer. “You get to participate in new adventures and learn new things that you most likely wouldn’t be able to without the camp experiences that the school provides,” student Saskia Jacques said. Students also shared their compassion towards
Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School Year 9 students embark on six camps throughout the year, the longest being 12 days. (Unsplash) the staff at Wollangara, expressing how they felt their energy was reciprocated by the welcoming team.
Ex-Year 9 student Tilly shared her understanding that “You can get a lot done in a community with such friendly and supportive staff”, highlighting the positive impact the staff team had on the students. Towards the end of last year’s camp, students spent time exploring the stunning hills and valleys of the surrounding bushland on an overnight hiking trip. The enthusiasm from many teenagers for this particular activity was incredible, as one said, “It was very rewarding to actually be able to complete some of the goals that we had set”, referring to challenges along the hike. This year, after a camp filled with countless new lessons and memories, the Year 9 students returned with just as many positive experiences to tell.
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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels set to take the stage from September 10. (Alexandra Carter, Wanderling Photography)
Supporting Women’s Health, Every Step of the Way Con men Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson. (Alexandra Carter, Wanderling Photography)
The cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Lilydale ATC. (Alexandra Carter, Wanderling Photography)
Dirty rotten talent... By Claudia Mather From Thursday 10 September the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre is set to take to the stage for their rendition of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for season 4. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a comedic musical about two con men competing to swindle a wealthy heiress, leading to hilariously ridiculous situations and unexpected twists. Lawrence Jameson, played by Phil Lambert, makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. While Freddy Benson, played by Rob Blowers, is a more humble swindler and tells fabricated stories to women about his grandmother’s failing health. After meeting on a train and attempting to work together, they realise that the small French town isn’t big enough for them both. So, they agree on a settlement; the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female heiress, Christine Colgate, played by Madeleine Magetti, wins and the other must leave town. Through big musical numbers and witty dialogue, the hilarious battle of the con men ensues. Long-time director at Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Alan Burrows described the upcoming show as a crowd pleaser. “It’s a well-worn story, but it’s one that people can relate to and that they will know,” he said. “People will relate to it because a lot of people would have seen the original 1998 film starring Steve Martin and Michael Kane. So it’s well known in film circles.”
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Mr Burrows believes the musical will have a general appeal, with older audiences having seen the film and younger audiences enjoying the fun of the music. “The musical itself was only written in 2005, it’s only 20 years old, so I think it’s got some fairly up to date lyrics and some of the music styles are very today.” Auditions for the show took place in May and the cast has been hard at rehearsals since. Over the last 12 weeks, Mr Burrows has worked closely with a musical director and choreographer to bring the suave show to life. The local cast is varied in age, bringing together performers with a range of experience. “I’ve got a young female who’s only first year out of school in the ensemble and a young boy as well who is only a couple years older than her, and then a spread of people in between. So it’s quite a varied aged range cast,” Mr Burrows said. He promises a show that will keep audiences interested through laughter and engaging musical numbers. Including some small quirks added to accommodate the local community. “Having watched the first of our dress rehearsals, I think we’re going to get to that point where the audience will just take it at face value, go along with the ridiculousness of the story and enjoy it,” the director laughed. “There is a real twist at the end but we won’t tell you what that is, because we don’t want to spoil it!” The well known film-turned-musical will run across 15 shows until 26 September.
This Women’s Health Week, Fernwood Chirnside Park are celebrating something that has always been at the heart of who we are: women supporting women. This year’s Women’s Health Week theme, “Do It Anyway,” is a powerful reminder that looking after your health doesn’t have to mean having everything figured out. Sometimes, it’s simply about taking that first step, making time for yourself and doing something positive for your wellbeing, even when life is busy. At Fernwood, health and fitness is about so much more than exercise. It is about creating a space where women feel comfortable walking through the doors, supported to prioritise themselves and encouraged to take positive steps towards their health and wellbeing, whatever those steps may look like. Across our Fernwood communities, we see the power of women supporting women
every day. It’s in the friendly face at reception, the instructor who remembers your name, the training partner encouraging you through one more rep, and the friendships formed over a class, workout or coffee. Every woman’s health journey is different. Whether you are working towards a new goal, rebuilding confidence, looking for connection or simply wanting to feel stronger and healthier - start where you are and do it anyway. In celebration of Women’s Health Week, Fernwood Fitness is inviting local women to experience our community with a $7 for 7 Days Pass. That is seven days to move, connect, try something new and make a little more time for you. Because when women support women, we are all stronger together! https://bit.ly/fernwood7-day-pass-whw 12896897-AD37-26
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 11
NEWS
The committee holding mockup designs of the precinct. (Supplied)
New campaign begins By Oliver Winn
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A new campaign by the Seville Community Precinct will etch the present day into history while raising funds for the new facility. The precinct committee’s Founders Walk campaign will see a time capsule surrounded by commemorative engraved pavers at the precinct. Seville Community Precinct fundraising team member Gina Braidner called on locals to have their names inscribed onto the engraved pavers and donate items to go inside the capsule, which will be opened 50 years from now. Ms Braidner said it will give Seville locals a chance to leave their mark for generations to come. “The kids of today, in 50 years’ time, will be standing there and opening the time capsule with maybe their grandchildren, or their own kids, and so forth. “I’ve got my own paver down there. My 4-year-old grandson… he’s going to be 54 years old, walking through there with his children, having a look at his grandparents’ and their great-grandparents’ paver,” she said. Locals can buy an engraved paver and the funds will go towards fitting out the Seville Community Precinct once it’s built. “The State Government and council are paying for the build, the actual construction
of the pavilion. “Everything that goes inside that pavilion – if you can turn it upside down and shake it, whatever’s going to fall out is what all the clubs have to find the funds for.” Ms Braidner estimated that the committee will need to raise $100,000 to fund the entire project. The Seville Community Precinct will host several local sporting clubs alongside the Seville Community House to provide a centralised hub for everyone in the area. It will have new changerooms for umpires and players of all genders, more storage, accessible amenities for people of different abilities, a dedicated office space for the community house and multi-purpose community rooms. The precinct was funded by a $5 million State Government grant, a $1.34 million contribution by the Yarra Ranges Council and a $150,000 contribution by Seville Community Precinct Incorporated. “One day, the building we’re watching being constructed now will simply be part of Seville. Founders Walk and the time capsule give us an opportunity to preserve the story of the people who were here when it all began,” a media release from the Seville Community Precinct said. The committee plans to invite the community to donate items for the time capsule in November.
Construction at the Seville Community Precinct is expected to be finished in February 2027. (Supplied) 12 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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NEWS
Max is now put ‘Forward’ By Callum Ludwig Max Forward is on the upper house ticket for the Victorian Socialists in Eastern Victoria. The proud Warragul local has lived there for the majority of their life and been involved within local queer groups and advocacy groups for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Forward said they believe that people in all parts of Victoria, especially regional Victoria, deserve representation that will stand up to the far right One Nation, and provide a real left wing alternative to Labor. “Eastern Victoria is in dire need of improved access to healthcare, both in terms of acute hospital services, but also in terms of specialist services,” they said. “Labor and the Coalition have both repeatedly broken promises to improve access to healthcare, and in particular the new West Gippsland Hospital.” Forward worked in the medical software industry for three years and is currently studying to
become a nurse. They are also a member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Union. Forward said across all of Victoria, rents and house prices have soared as a result of a poor regulation and oversight. “Victorian Socialists will create a state-owned builder to ensure that enough houses are built without the ever-increasing profit margins that the private sector demands, so that the average worker can afford a house,” they said. “If voters have any questions about my campaign or the Victorian Socialists policy platform, they should reach out to me at my email address, max.forward@victoriansocialists.org.au.” According to their Victorian Socialists profile, Forward became seriously involved in politics when Israel escalated their war in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, believes Victorian needs an antiestablishment alternative that isn’t the ‘far-right, anti-worker One Nation’, with the Victorian Socialists a party ‘that wants to tear down the economic and political structures that serve the interests of billionaires and big corporations.’
Max Forward, Victorian Socialists for Eastern Victoria. (Murray Enders)
Renee Heath leads Liberal ticket for Eastern Victoria By Callum Ludwig Renee Heath has again put her hand up to represent the Liberal Party in Eastern Victoria at the 2026 state election. Ms Heath was first elected as a member of the Legislative Council in the region in 2022, after she was preselected ahead of former Yarra Ranges councillor Cathrine Burnett-Wake who briefly held the position prior to the election. Ms Heath, who grew up in and remains living in Eastern Victoria, said it is a community she knows, loves and is incredibly proud to represent. “Before entering Parliament, I worked as a health professional after completing a Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of Applied Science (Chiropractic), treating people of all ages and backgrounds across Gippsland,” she said. “Community service has also always been an important part of my life. I have worked with disadvantaged children, helped lead community projects focused on children’s health and our local environment. “Those experiences gave me an even deeper appreciation of the resilience and generosity that define communities across Eastern Victoria.” Ms Heath’s electorate office is in Pakenham and she was raised in Sale, where her father is the senior pastor of pentecostal City Builders Church. Ms Heath said she represents the Liberal Party because I believe strongly in the values at its heart: individual initiative, equal opportunity, strong families, freedom and a government that enables people to succeed rather than constantly interfering in their lives. “Before entering Parliament, I became increasingly concerned about the direction Victoria was heading,” she said. “I saw a steady decline in the values, culture and institutions that have helped make our state successful, alongside a government becoming bigger, more expensive and increasingly disconnected from the communities it serves. “Representing Eastern Victoria Region makes that responsibility particularly meaningful. This is my home, and regional communities deserve representatives who understand their way of life and will fight for their fair share.” In Eastern Victoria, Ms Heath’s priorities at this election include addressing constituents concerns about the rising cost of living, crime and community safety, condition of the roads, access to health and other essential services, job creation and bushfire prevention, preparedness and recovery. Ms Heath said the issues people raise with her are often very practical. “Families and businesses are under enormous financial pressure. Small businesses in
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Renee Heath is the lead Liberal candidate for Eastern Victoria. (Supplied) particular need a government that understands they create local jobs and opportunities, rather than treating them as an endless source of additional taxes and regulation,” she said. “Our roads and regional infrastructure also need greater attention. People in Eastern Victoria should not have to accept deteriorating
roads or poorer access to basic services simply because they live outside Melbourne. “Community safety is another growing concern, and people rightly expect government to adequately resource police and take crime seriously.” More broadly, she supports reducing the
state’s debt, reducing taxes, supporting small businesses, greater capacity in the health and education systems and freedom ‘to speak, debate and express differing views without unnecessary government restriction.’ Ms Heath said the state debt has grown enormously, and Victorians are paying the price through higher taxes and increasing pressure on essential services. “We need greater capacity in our health system and an education system focused strongly on giving every child the foundations they need to succeed, particularly in core academic skills,” she said. “I am passionate about creating the right environment for small business, local industry and jobs to prosper. “Government should encourage enterprise and opportunity rather than making it harder to employ people and invest.” Ms Heath can be contacted at her office, via 5941 1112, renee.heath@parliament.vic.gov.au or ‘reneeheathmp’ on Facebook and Instagram. Ms Heath said politics works best when representatives hear from the people they represent and she encourages people to get in touch with her, whether they agree with her on everything or not. “You don’t need to be a member of a political party or an expert on government policy to have something worthwhile to contribute. Some of the most important issues I deal with begin with a local resident contacting me about something happening in their street, workplace, school, business or community,” she said. “I also believe people should know what their representatives stand for. My values are important to me: freedom, individual responsibility and initiative, equal opportunity, strong families and communities, and government that is accountable for how it spends your money. “Ahead of the election, I encourage people to ask questions, scrutinise what all sides are promising and make up their own minds.” My door is always open, and I genuinely value hearing people’s experiences, concerns and ideas for making Eastern Victoria, and Victoria as a whole, better. Ms Heath concluded by reflecting on the ‘enormous privilege’ it is to represent the Eastern Victoria region. “This is the community that shaped me and the place I call home,” Ms Heath said. “Whether responding to bushfires, supporting a struggling neighbour, running a small business or volunteering with a local organisation, people here consistently demonstrate what strong communities can achieve. “I want Victoria’s government to reflect those same qualities: responsible, practical and focused on outcomes.”
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 13
NEWS
Lucas for the socialists By Callum Ludwig Lucas Deviesseux is on the ticket for the Victorian Socialists in the upcoming 2026 state election. Mr Deviesseux is running for the North-Eastern Metropolitan region, which includes the Outer East communities of Mooroolbark, Kilsyth and Croydon. Mr Deviesseux said as a big picture view, he thinks we as a society aren’t moving in a good direction. “We’re living in a world that is increasingly racked by war, environmental destruction and inequality,” he said. “That’s why I’m a socialist, because I believe we need to move in a different direction that puts people before profit. “That’s also why I’m running as a candidate, to provide that alternative vision to voters and oppose the major parties, who in my view are captured by vested interests.” Mr Deviesseux currently lives in Heidelberg Heights and has lived in that area for most of his life where he has been a part of the Banyule Palestine Action group advocating and raising funds for the plight of Palestinians, as well as a Save Our Pool campaign against Banyule City Council closing a swimming pool in West Heidelberg, which might resonate with any of his Kilsyth constituents upset at the closure of the Centenary Pool. Mr Deviesseux said when he thinks of the outer North-East, he thinks of the many people like himself who are dealing with mortgage stress, people travelling in heavy congestion everyday to jobs that don’t pay as well as they used to. “Long-term, we want to establish a State Bank of Victoria, which will offer owner-occupier home loans at below market rates and invest in useful and necessary projects such as public housing and renewable energy,” he said. “Rather than focusing on building new toll roads, we want to massively expand public transport to make it free and accessible to all Victorians and get cars off roads. “We’ll also strongly advocate for the regions to get the services they need for a growing population, including a big upgrade to healthcare, we want hospitals like Maroondah Hospital redeveloped to provide three public hospital beds per 1000 Victorians.” Mr Deviesseux encouraged anyone interested to check out their full list of policies at victoriansocialists.org.au/policies and if they have any questions, to come along to one of their events, such as the candidate forums over the next couple of months. Mr Deviesseux said the biggest issue to him is all the things that fall under the ‘cost-of-living’. “I think that’s crazy, that simply living should have a cost associated with it, unfortunately it does, and it’s going up,” he said. “Petrol, groceries, mortgages, rents, basically
Lucas Deviesseux has put his hand up for the Victorian Socialists in the North-Eastern Metropolitan region. (Supplied) everything is going up except wages, we want to turn that around and establish a Universal Living Guarantee for all Victorians that’ll include free ac-
cess to child-care five days a week, cheap access to staple groceries, and expanded and publicly run aged care with increased in-home services.
“We live in a very wealthy state, we want to make sure that all Victorians get to feel that throughout their lives.”
Aiv Puglielli goes again for the Greens in North East By Callum Ludwig Aiv Puglielli is running again to represent the North-Eastern Metropolitan region at the 2026 Victorian election. He grew up in Eltham, and had called the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne home for most of my life, currently living with his partner and adopted Great Dane in Ivanhoe. Mr Puglielli said he attended local public schools, played in local sports teams, and feels that this part of Melbourne resonates with him as a place where many people care about their local environment and their surrounding community. “I’m currently the Victorian Parliament’s youngest MP and I get a lot of direct feedback from younger people in the area…as an openly queer person I work closely with LGBTQIA+ people as part of holding the Greens LGBTQIA+ Equality portfolio, and this has also led me to securing a recent Inquiry into anti-LGBTIQA+ Hate Crimes through a Greens motion in my name in the Upper House,” he said. “I also do a lot of work with multicultural community in the region, particularly with Chinese diaspora community in areas like Box Hill and Glen Waverley as a key part of my office’s outreach to assist people in accessing advocacy and government services. “I know how crucial these connections can be with my nonni having come to Australia from Italy, for which I hold dual citizenship.” When running for office for the first time in 14 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
2022, Mr Puglielli had been forced to move back home to his parents’ place as the Covid lockdowns impacted artists like himself. Mr Puglielli said there are a lot of progressive people who call this area home and they want to see the Greens implement action on climate change. “So many people recognise the benefits of taking up renewable technology, bringing down both their power bills and emissions, we need progressive voices in Parliament, we need younger people in Parliament,” he said. “I believe I have been effective in my time representing this area, I believe I’ve helped hold this government to account while also getting things done. “People want another option than the old two major parties, and I want to give them that option. The end to industrial native forest logging, helping secure pill testing and voting for the country’s first Treaty with First Peoples are all among what Mr Puglielli was proud to push for in his first term. Mr Puglielli said he cares about making people’s lives easier, especially as people are being punished by rising cost of living. “It’s harder to pay the bills if you’ve been unable to switch to renewables, so we need to support people making that transition, essential things like groceries are getting more expensive, while massive corporations that sell these products are making record profits,” he said.
Aiv Puglielli is running again for the Greens in the North-Eastern Metropolitan region. (Supplied) “Housing in our area is out of reach for so many people, especially young people or people receiving government income support, we need to rebalance the so-called housing ‘market’ and treat housing as a human right, build public housing, prioritise developments that are going to be genuinely affordable and prioritise renters and first-home buyers over property investors. “But apart from all those things, people are fed up with politicians who go out and act in their own interests or those of their donors instead of the community, I want to get big mon-
ey out of politics and clean up some of the behaviour that goes on in the Parliament. Other policies and goals he has include free and frequent public transport, fixing the state’s public dental, looking after the environment, wildlife and green spaces and standing up for multicultural and LGBTQIA+ communities are all on his agenda.’ Mr Puglielli said this election is shaping up to be a contest where no party is going to be able to win in their own right. “There are no safe seats, I don’t take my position representing Victorians for granted and neither should anyone in public office,” he said. “My goal is always to be transparent and frank with people, I have a reputation for speaking my mind and meeting people where they’re at. A lot of people will see my work online via social media (search aivgoesgreen), especially young people. “Greens policies for the election will all be published clearly online well ahead of the election, and we make sure that our policies are appropriately costed with suggestions of bringing in revenue to make sure we can do more to improve people’s lives (like taxing the big banks and gambling industry). “While others will talk about cuts and take from one to give to another, the Greens believe we should work smarter in how we prioritise bringing down the cost of living, looking after the environment, and making our community safer and more sustainable.”
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OPINION
Catching a cough Dogs get a lot from a day out. We are lucky to have many places locally where dogs can walk, play and meet each other. When dogs share a space, they may also share more than we would like. Canine cough is one of the better-known examples. It spreads through coughs, sneezes and close contact, and may also linger on shared bowls, toys or equipment. Giardia is different. This tiny parasite is usually picked up from contaminated water, soil or faeces and causes diarrhoea or an upset stomach. The tricky part is that an infectious dog will not always look sick. Some show only mild symptoms, while others may spread an illness before their owner has reason to suspect it. Pinpointing where an infection came from is rarely straightforward, and an infection does not necessarily
Animal
aid Mark Menze Animal Aid CEO mean someone has been careless. For most healthy adult dogs, a mild infection will pass with care. However, illnesses such as parvovirus and distemper can be extremely serious. Puppies, senior dogs, unvaccinated dogs and those already managing health problems face
The Dog Stars review
The Dog Stars Starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley MA15+ 4/5 Adapted from the novel by Peter Heller, The Dog Stars follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), a mechanic and pilot in postapocalyptic Colorado, in his quest to reach other survivors at faraway Grand Central. Some viewers will find The Dog Stars slow and slack, but I’ve always enjoyed films that progress with an immersive, character-building slowness. The Dog Stars crafts a sombre but comfortable atmosphere as Hig gathers supplies, helps out a local Mennonite community and bickers with his survivalist best friend Bangley (Josh Brolin), but with loss, grief and raider attacks looming in the background. Elordi carries himself with soft-spoken compassion and resourcefulness as Hig, Brolin as Bangley and Guy Pearce as Pops/ Jack are both cynical jerks with good hearts deep down, and Margaret Qualley is kind and cunning as Cima, Hig’s love interest. The end-of-the-world mundanity and quiet stretches of characters clashing and growing closer, driven by engaging dialogue, produce a very naturalistic pace (see also Sinners, Train Dreams, Killers Of The Flower Moon and Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt). Moreover, the slow flow gives the wellcrafted action set-pieces, which include a pitched nighttime raid and a stressful plane chase, far more impact. The Dog Stars has soaring cinematography of dilapidated but lush landscapes and an elegant score by Harry GregsonWilliams, and I love the Fallout-like feel of the macabre humour and retro style in the third act (though the tonal shift will be jarring for some). Playing in most Victorian cinemas, The Dog Stars garnered a middling critical reception and flopped at the box-office, which is a shame. It doesn’t offer anything new in the post-apocalyptic genre, but it’s a compelling, touching thriller that knows to take its time to draw us in, and it’s one of director Ridley Scott’s better recent films.
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a greater risk. A few habits make a real difference. Keep vaccinations and parasite treatments current. Take water from home instead of letting your dog drink from puddles or communal bowls. Pick up faeces promptly. Most importantly, if your dog starts coughing or vomiting, has diarrhoea, or just is not behaving like themselves, skip the park and phone your vet. Tell any groomer, daycare or boarding facility about their symptoms before you visit as well. There is no way to remove every germ from a shared space, nor would we want dogs to miss out on being dogs. We just need to use a little common sense. By keeping unwell dogs home and following basic hygiene, we help make outings safer for every local dog.
CARTOON
Record-breaking productions Burrinja Theatre Trinket the Robot Meet Trinket, a little robot who dreams of becoming “real.” Join Little Wing Puppets for a lively, funny, and interactive adventure inspired by Pinocchio, exploring wonder, joy, anger, and saying goodbye. With plenty of audience participation, children will discover that all feelings are part of being human. Season: Saturday, 19 September at 10am. Venue: Lyre Room. The Round Hello Dolly Hello Dolly is a joyous, Tony Award-winning Broadway musical bursting with charm, wit and unforgettable songs. The story follows the irrepressible Dolly Levi, a clever matchmaker in 1890s New York, who sets out to find a wife for the wealthy and grumpy Horace Vandengelder, while secretly plotting to win his heart herself. Featuring the iconic score by Jerry Herman, including beloved numbers like Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Before the Parade Passes By and, of course, Hello Dolly, this high-energy romantic comedy sparkles with humour, romance and classic Broadway spectacle. Season: Friday 11 - 20 September at 7.30pm. Growing Pains Tour – Nathan Cavaleri Isn’t about fame – it’s about being human. The ache of identity. The weight of expectation. The fight to find yourself again. From child prodigy to cancer survivor, from global stages to mental health collapse, Nathan Cavaleri lays bare his extraordinary journey. In this raw, solo show filled with storytelling and music, he traces his path from busking in Campbelltown to the heights of stardom and back home to himself. Season: Saturday, 13 September at 6pm. Venue: The Round Studio. Karralyka Theatre Broadway bound – Promac’s 40th Birthday In 2026, Promac Productions, led by its producer/ Compare Christopher McKenna, will celebrate 40 years of touring Australia, primarily performing Morning Music productions
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Kemp’s curtain call In that time, Promac have produced no less than 25 different productions, ranging from fullscale productions of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, tight through to its critically acclaimed preproduction saluting the ANZACS and Vietnam Vets, up to present day with its touring production of Oh What a Beautiful Day, Roger’s Hammerstein and Hart Indeed, Promac were the first company to produce the concept of Morning shows in Victoria and Australia-wide. In this celebratory production, Christopher will be joined on the Tuesday stage by much-loved vocalist Michelle Fitzmaurice. The glorious Tenor Voice of Roy Best and the incredible musicianship of William Schmidt at the Piano. Season: 15 September 10.30am. Princess Theatre Melbourne Private Lives Starring Hugh Bonneville & Lisa McCune It was announced in Melbourne that Melbourne will welcome the record-breaking, brand-new production of Noel Coward’s comedy masterpiece Private Lives in 2027, starring internationally acclaimed British actor Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) alongside four-time Gold Logie Award-winning Australian star Lisa McCune (The King and I, South Pacific, Girl from the North Country). The announcement follows unprecedented demand for the Sydney season, which recorded the highest-first day ticket sales for a play in Theatre Royal Sydney’s history. After the Sydney season in February, the new production will open at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from March 18th 2027 for a strictly limited season. Tickets are now on sale.
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Mad Mabel review: A mystery PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN Mad Mabel is Sally Hepworth’s tenth novel. In this highly enjoyable book, the New York Times bestselling author presents a riveting mystery that is full of humour, charm and heart. It is also a celebration of resilience, friendship and community. The story is told by 81-year-old Elsie, a grumpy, tough lady living a quiet life in a peaceful neighbourhood. We soon learn there is a dark past that she desperately wants to hide. In that secret life she was known as “Mad Mabel”, the youngest Australian to be convicted of murder. The story’s two timelines – now and then – reveal how Elsie’s childhood was shaped by others with both positive and traumatising consequences. A victim of gossip, gaslighting and even grooming, she had always felt lonely, misunderstood, used and abused. The rare happiness came from care and companionship provided by other females. Elsie’s intellectual and emotional bonds with these women are some of the most tender and heart-warming parts of her story. When tragedy struck, however, young Elsie took matters into her own hands as her only way to fight back – and paid the price afterwards. Worse, her pain and grief lingers, forcing her to distance herself from those who may use it to hurt her again. It is only when she decides to speak out about her past that she truly feels at peace with herself: “Not just the catharsis of talking, although I like that part too, but the sense of taking my power back. For so long I’d accepted that I was powerless over the truth of my story, and perhaps I was, but at least now I was doing what was in my control to set the story straight.” Elsie’s story reveals how people tend to “go with the pack”, accepting the “facts” that others tell them rather than thinking for themselves. Particularly when it is convenient to conform and comply, doubts become certainties and rumours intensified, gaining momentum and transforming into something that b(l)inds people with false, simplified yet shared belief, something that invites quick and equally convenient “solutions”. The results can be dangerous – even deadly. These and other complex issues are subtly and oh-so-skilfully explored in the book, with the two timelines cleverly intersecting each other to create much tension and suspense. We cannot help but adore Elsie, but those who love and support her – those who crack her hardened shell to enchant the wounded heart inside – are equally admirable. It is often said that effortless reading is damn hard writing. In this sense, Mad Mabel demonstrates Hepworth’s brilliance in turning common, sad tropes into surprisingly delightful plot twists, achieving a wonderful balance between heartbreak and healing, condemnation and redemption, tribulation and triumph. Highly recommended. Sally Hepworth will discuss Mad Mabel and her writing with crime fiction author Kerryn Mayne at the 2026 Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival on October 9-11. Find more details here: dandyrangeslitfest. net/tickets.
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 15
DISCOVER MOUNT EVELYN
Discover art and creativity For more than 25 years, local award winning artist Jodie has been living, working and painting in the area, drawing inspiration from the beauty of the Yarra Valley and the world around her. Now, visitors to Mount Evelyn can experience her creativity first hand at Jodie Westall Art Gallery + Gifts, a welcoming space where original art, unique gifts, jewellery and creativity come together. Jodie is a self taught watercolour and mixed media artist and tutor based in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. Inspired by her travels, the natural world and the connections she forms with people and places, her work celebrates the beauty found in everyday moments. Working predominantly in watercolour, Jodie embraces the medium’s fluidity and spontaneity, balancing expressive washes with intricate detail. Her diverse subjects include florals, wildlife, architecture, portraiture and landscapes, with each piece reflecting a wonderful sense of atmosphere, light and emotion. The gallery is the perfect destination for anyone searching for a unique and meaningful gift, an original piece of art for their home, or even the opportunity to commission a personalised artwork. All artwork is created by Jodie, alongside her own range of locally printed archival quality prints and greeting cards. Her popular products are also wholesale to more than 60 stores across Australia, while her original works hang in private collections throughout Australia and overseas. Alongside her artwork, the gallery is also home to Jodie’s own Jodee Jewellery brand—a signature collection designed by Jodie and ethically handcrafted by a family of skilled artisans in Thailand. Inspired by nature, travel and meaningful connections, each piece reflects Jodie’s passion for meaning and storytelling through her designs. Creativity is at the heart of everything Jodie does. In addition to operating her gallery and exhibiting in various exhibitions throughout the year, she runs regular watercolour classes and
Jodie Westall Art Gallery + Gifts hosts workshops during the week and opens for shopping Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (Supplied)
Local artist Jodie Westall’s store is the perfect place to appreciate art or find a great gift. (Supplied) workshops, sharing her love of painting with students of all levels. Tuesday is dedicated to watercolour classes in the studio—a relaxed and welcoming space where a mix of men and women come together to share their passion for art. Through Jodie’s personalised style of teaching, students are encouraged to explore their creativity, develop their skills and build confidence in their own artistic journey. Mondays and Wednesdays are dedicated to studio time and off-site workshops held throughout Australia, with the studio also available by appointment. The gallery is open to the public Thursday
through Saturday, offering locals and visitors the chance to discover something truly special while supporting a talented local artist. Whether you are an art lover, searching for the perfect gift or looking to explore your own creative side, Jodie Westall Art Gallery + Gifts is a colourful and inspiring destination well worth discovering. Open Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 5pm and Saturday 9.30am to 3.30pm. Extended opening hours will be available during the Christmas period. For more information, visit jodiewestallart.com.au or follow @jodie_westall_art and @ jodiewestallgallerygifts.
Find Jodie Westall Art Gallery + Gifts in Mount Evelyn. (Supplied)
Jodie Westall Gallery + Gifts Offers unique meaningful artisan gifts, original art, prints and cards by Australian Artist Jodie Westall-Kimpton. The gallery also features Jodie’s working art studio, workshop & classes available
Retail OPEN THUR - SAT Classes and Studio MON - WED 12891230-CV37-26
16 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
12894451-JO37-26
6 York Rd, Mount Evelyn
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DISCOVER MOUNT EVELYN
Community Bank celebrates The Mt Evelyn Township Group have been working hard for the community of Mt Evelyn for decades. Their work brings people together through events like last years’ Christmas in Mt Evelyn event, the beloved biennial Mt Evelyn Street Party and their recent ‘Elevate Mt Evelyn’ community ideas workshop. The workshop helped to foster new connections across community, strengthen existing ones and provided a space for community to share their hopes and ideas for Mt Evelyn’s future. More than 60 people shared the day together, sharing, laughing, dreaming and identifying a range of ideas to help shape the community. Community Bank Mt Evelyn have been proud supporters of the Mt Evelyn Township Group since its early days, supporting the street party and other activities, and were delighted to fund the catering for the community workshop as well as have some of the bank’s directors and team attend. Banking is what they do - community is why they do it…and so it makes perfect sense that the Community Bank Mt Evelyn are proud supporters of the Mt Evelyn Township Group. It’s local banking, doing great things in community!
The Community Bank is proud to support the Mt Evelyn Township Group. (Supplied)
12898217-AF37-26
The Community Bank Mt Evelyn was happy to sponsor catering for the group. (Supplied)
12878757-EA29-26
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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 17
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Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in 's'.
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Today’s Aim: 16 words: Good 24 words: Very good 32 words: Excellent
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To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.
QUICK CROSSWORD
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No. 306
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11-09-26
William Matthews Funerals 24 HOUR SERVICE - ALL AREAS
9739 6868 45 Cave Hill Rd, Lilydale www.williammatthewsfunerals.com.au 12567433-SN37-22
18 MAIL | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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TURNKEY READY, A WELCOMING FAMILY HOME mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 19
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
TURNKEY READY, A WELCOMING FAMILY HOME IN UPWEY'S BEST STREET POSITIONED in one of Upwey’s most tightly held streets, this welcoming family residence captures breathtaking views across the Lysterfield Valley and spectacular sunset vistas that will leave a lasting impression. Meticulously maintained and beautifully presented, this turnkey-ready home offers the perfect balance of warmth, space and functionality for modern family living, whilst also showing a few nuances of its original 1950’s heritage. Designed with comfort and flexibility in mind, the home features four generous bedrooms plus a dedicated study, two bathrooms, and multiple living zones filled with character, charm and inviting nooks to retreat and unwind. A country-style kitchen sits at the heart of the home, complemented by a large laundry and the cosy ambience of two wood fires creating year-round comfort. Outdoors, the lifestyle appeal continues with a screened-in verandah ideal as a ’catio’ or protected entertaining space, a heated plunge pool, fire pit area, productive vegetable garden, chicken coop and wood store — all surrounded by just over a 1/3 of an acre of landscaped grounds and established trees that create a private, peaceful setting. A sunny front porch provides the perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee while taking in the tranquil surrounds. Complete with garage, carport, solar power and all services connected, this exceptional property combines country-style living with everyday convenience. With the bus stop and primary school located right in the street, this is a rare opportunity to secure a beautifully cared-for family haven in a premium Hill’s location. Minutes to Upwey Township, pre, primary and senior schools, great cafe culture, restaurants, sporting clubs, RSL and a fabulous sense of community. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 28 Griffiths Road, UPWEY Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $1,250,000 - $1,350,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Janet Hawkins 0409 117 432 and Jan Brewster 0409 558 805, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE 9754 6111
20 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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HOME FOCUS
CENTRAL EMERALD DESIGNED FOR FAMILY LIVING DESIGNED to embrace its natural surrounds, the home opens effortlessly to an expansive entertaining deck and enclosed alfresco, creating an inviting connection between indoor and outdoor living and making entertaining easy in every season. And then there’s the backyard — where family life truly comes alive. A sparkling swimming pool, relaxing spa, established vegetable gardens and easy access to Emerald Lake create a lifestyle that children and adults alike will love. Imagine morning walks around the lake, afternoons by the pool, kayaking, growing your own vegetables or simply enjoying the peace and privacy of your own leafy sanctuary. Fully fenced and beautifully established, the grounds provide a safe haven for children and pets, while mature gardens create an unmistakable sense of space, serenity and connection to nature. Comfort has been thoughtfully considered with hydronic heating, multiple split-systems, a cosy gas fireplace and ducted vacuum. A heated storage room, generous shed and double garage with additional storage provide the practicality every busy family needs, with plenty of room for hobbies, toys, equipment and everything in between. Features you’ll love: • Direct access to Emerald Lake • Spacious master suite with walk-in robes, ensuite and private retreat • Multiple living areas for relaxed family living • Dedicated pool room • Open entertaining deck and enclosed alfresco • Sparkling swimming pool and spa • Peaceful treed outlook • Hydronic heating • Multiple split-systems • Cosy gas fireplace • Ducted vacuum • Heated storage room • Double garage with additional storage • Separate generous shed • Fully fenced, established gardens • Established vegetable patch • Water tank • Sealed road access Offering a family lifestyle that’s increasingly difficult to find, this is so much more than a beautiful home. It’s a place where children can grow, family and friends can gather, weekends can be spent outdoors and everyday life feels a little more relaxed. Here, luxury is having the space to live well — to entertain, connect with nature and create lasting family memories in one of Emerald’s most sought-after settings. Call local agents Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 or Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937 to show you this great home. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 6 Durban Road, EMERALD Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 garage Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 or Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE BELGRAVE, 9754 6111 mailcommunity.com.au Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 21
HOME FOCUS
CHARACTER, SPACE AND FAMILY LIVING ON HALF AN ACRE SET on a generous 2,023sqm in Cockatoo, this character-filled three-bedroom, two-bathroom home delivers space, warmth and versatility, with multiple living areas, beautiful natural light and plenty of room for the whole family to spread out and enjoy. Steps lead up to the undercover front entry and deck, a lovely spot to start the day with a morning cuppa or settle in with a glass of wine as the afternoon winds down. Stepping inside, the spacious lounge immediately impresses with high ceilings, exposed beams and a beautiful large bay window that draws in an abundance of natural light. An open fireplace creates an inviting focal point, while a split system, gas ducted heating and new carpets throughout ensure comfort across the seasons. Adjoining the lounge, the dining area features floating floors and its own bay window, creating a bright and welcoming space for family meals. The kitchen offers excellent functionality with a gas cooktop, dishwasher, generous bench space and plenty of storage. Along the hallway are two carpeted bedrooms, one with built-in robes, along with the central family bathroom, separate toilet and laundry. Adding to the home’s flexibility is a second generous lounge, ideal as a family room, kids’ retreat or relaxed entertaining space. Featuring a split system, plenty of windows and sliding door access to the backyard, it creates an easy connection between indoor and outdoor living. Upstairs is dedicated entirely to the impressive master suite, providing a private retreat away from the rest of the home. Generously proportioned and filled with light from large windows, it is complete with a walkin robe and private ensuite. Outside provides plenty of space for children and pets to enjoy, with a fenced dog run and multiple garden sheds offering additional practicality and storage. Full of character and offering a floorplan designed to grow with the family, this inviting Cockatoo home combines generous proportions, flexible living and half an acre of space to make your own. This property has it all so don’t miss out call to arrange a private inspection today. • Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 5 Vincent Street, COCKATOO Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Price: $800,000 - $860,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Aaron Day 0407 365 994 or Brennan Mileto 0422 996 451, REAL ESTATE EMERALD 5968 6222
22 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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P 5968 6222 311-313 Main Street Emerald
390 Gem-Launching Pl Rd Launching Place
$1,650,000 - $1,725,000
189 Swales Road Macclesfield
$1,600,000 - $1,750,000
The Complete Acreage Lifestyle – Two Homes on 11 Acres.
A Rare 40-Acre Holding with Water, Views & Endless Potential.
Set across approximately 11 acres, this impressive lifestyle property offers exceptional versatility with two separate residences, seven fenced paddocks & outstanding infrastructure. The substantial main residence features five bedrooms, including four with ensuites, a well-appointed kitchen with gas cooking, dishwasher & breakfast bar, spacious living & dining areas, plantation shutters, woodfire & split systems. An undercover verandah wraps around three sides, leading to the solar-heated chlorine swimming pool. The separate two-bedroom residence includes built-in robes, kitchen, lounge, family bathroom & undercover entertaining area, ideal for extended family, guests or potential rental accommodation. Outside, an 11m x 13m barn with 15amp power, a double garage, double carport, separate studio, generator plug & double stables/shelter & seven fenced paddocks.
Spanning 40 gently undulating acres, this sun-filled rural holding delivers space, water security & serious potential. A winding creek, 3 dams & a valuable 2-megalitre water licence provide a rocksolid foundation for lifestyle living, livestock or future vision. Elevated points across the land capture sweeping 360-degree views, creating those postcard moments where the countryside rolls away in every direction. At the centre sits a neat & original 2-bedroom home, comfortable now & ready for renovation, extension or reinvention over time. Practical infrastructure includes a machinery shed, garage & established cattle race & yards, making the property immediately usable for farming or hobby stock. With sunny paddocks, natural water sources & multiple access points, everything is in place for easy rural living.
Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451
Aaron Day M 0407 365 994
Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032
7
JL Automatics Kilvington Drive Emerald
A
5
B 10 C
$165,000
Established & Profitable Local Mechanic Business. Originally established in 1979, JL Automatics has been providing the highest quality automotive repairs to Emerald & the surrounding areas ever since. JL Automatics is your one-stop shop for repairs & services for all makes & models, which currently provides a wide range of services, including: general repairs & service, power steering repairs, manual & automatic transmission repairs, tunes on all makes & models, brake inspections & repairs, air conditioning repairs, EFI diagnosis, injector cleaning & road worthy reports. Priced to walk in & start working this business includes: • 2 x hoists • Workshop tools • Spare parts • An extensive database of clients • The website • Historical average gross yearly turnover of $400,000+ Access is from Heroes Avenue, Emerald Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032
Aaron Day M 0407 365 994
2
3 Vincent Street Cockatoo
A
1
B 1 C
$410,000 - $450,000
Land, Lifestyle & Shed Ready to Go. -
2024sqm very gently sloping block 6m x 8m Shed with Concrete floor and Mezzanine level All services available Walking distance to local parks
Aaron Day M 0407 365 994
Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451
3
C
bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 23
HOME FOCUS
CHARMING COTTAGE LIVING – PERFECT FIRST HOME FULL of character and warmth, this charming cottage is the perfect place to begin your homeownership journey. Set on a generous 791sqm (approx.) block, it offers a relaxed, easy lifestyle with just the right mix of original charm and thoughtful updates. The timber floorboards add a beautiful sense of warmth throughout, while the renovated bathroom — complete with a double vanity — brings a modern touch to everyday living. It’s the kind of home where you can picture yourself straight away, whether you’re enjoying a quiet morning coffee or winding down at the end of the day. What you’ll love: • 2 comfortable bedrooms filled with natural light • Beautifully updated bathroom with double vanity • Cosy, light-filled living space with a true cottage feel • Handy study nook – ideal for working from home or study • Warm timber floorboards throughout • Generous 791sqm (approx.) block with room to enjoy Perfectly suited to first home buyers, this is a place you can move into, settle in, and truly make your own. All of this in a convenient location, just a short drive to both Emerald and Cockatoo shops, cafes, and local amenities. A home with heart, charm, and so much potential—come and see it for yourself. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 475 Belgrave-Gembrook Road, AVONSLEIGH Description: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 garage Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 or Caiti Ellis on 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE BELGRAVE, 9754 6111
24 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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Ranges 3 LOTS ON 1 TITLE
EMERALD 1-3 NOBELIuS STREET FLAT LAND IN A QUIET LOCATION
PRIME LOCATION
$1,100,000-$1,200,000 4A 2B 2C
****OFFERS CLOSINg wednesday 23rd of September at 4pm, unless sold prior**** Set on a generous 1 acre comprising 3 lots on 1 title, this home presents an exciting opportunity for those looking to create something truly their own. The home is neat and tidy with plenty of space and includes updated bathrooms, original retro kitchen, a large entryway, gDH, sealed driveway, workshop, mature gardens and magnificent trees. The location is a standout, with the property situated close to Emerald Township.
Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522
$745,000 - $815,000
HOME SWEET HOME
3A 2B C
‘Mirra Brae’- Discover a unique earthy home with a warm ambience and a relaxed Hills lifestyle in this convenient and private location only moments from all desirable amenities. you’ll find a multi-level design featuring treed views, unique kitchen with a butler’s pantry, dining area with a cosy wood heater, deluxe ensuite to the master, timber features, massive picture windows, multi point central split system heating, a spacious undercover decking, 1/4 acre with dual street access with ample off-street parking.
rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au
$850,000 - $935,000 3A 2B 5C
CHARACTER HOME
Perfectly positioned within an easy stroll of Tecoma’s vibrant township, this charming home offers an enviable lifestyle with schools, shops, cafés & public transport all just moments away. Set on a sunny corner allotment, the property boasts valuable side access to a flat usable backyard. Inside, the home retains its timeless character while offering comforts such as a wood fire, split system, floorboards and deck. Downstairs is a spacious rumpus that can, with modifications (STCA) be used for many options.
CONVENIENCE AT yOuR DOORSTEP
SELBY 5 JOHNS ROAD
9754 6111
TECOMA 1578 BuRwOOD HIgHwAy
Jan Brewster 0409 558 805
FORTHCOMINg SALE
Grant Skipsey 0418 528 102
We put you first
COCkATOO 10 CAROLINE AVENuE
$650,000 - $700,000
PERFECT PLACE TO START YOUR PROPERTY JOURNEY
3A 1B 2C
****Offers closing Monday 14th of September at 4pm, unless sold prior**** A fantastic opportunity for first home buyers & downsizers or anyone looking for a comfortable & easy-care property. Set on a generous flat 1/4-acre block, the home offers secure, fully enclosed front & rear yards, parquetry flooring, gDH, split-system A/C, solar hot water, covered entertaining area, dbl. garage (currently set up as a studio) The supermarket, public transport, primary school and local parks are a short walk away.
Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522
‘We Put You First’
Erin Davies 0494 175 410
1660 Burwood Highway, Belgrave Shop 2/24 McBride St, Cockatoo Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 25
HOME FOCUS
SPACE, SHEDDING AND A COUNTRY LIFESTYLE ON 5.6 ACRES FOUR bedrooms, three bathrooms, three living areas sounds like a dream, and it is! Privately set back from the road, this wonderful property begins with a meandering driveway that leads you across the bridge, past the dam and alongside Hoddles Creek as it winds its way through the property. As you arrive, the green paddocks open before you and the home proudly overlooks this peaceful country setting. Positioned on approximately 5.6 acres, this is a property that offers space, versatility and an enviable rural lifestyle. The substantial three bay garage features concrete flooring, power and a hoist which is included in the sale. There is additional shedding, a generator, ample vehicle parking, tank water and a woodshed, making the property exceptionally well equipped for those wanting room for machinery, cars, hobbies or work from home. Inside the home, the generous floorplan has been designed with family comfort and versatility in mind. With four bedrooms, three bathrooms and three separate living areas, there is plenty of room for everyone. The layout also lends itself beautifully to multi-
generational living, with the potential to create a separate wing for an older parent, teenager or even a deluxe home studio. The updated kitchen is both stylish and practical, with a picturesque window overlooking the property making even the everyday task of washing up a little more enjoyable. A large island bench provides the perfect gathering point, while ample cabinetry ensures there is plenty of storage. The inviting lounge is a standout space, featuring soaring cathedral ceilings and a crackling wood fire that creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere during the cooler months. Outside, the entertaining terrace is positioned to take in the tranquillity of the surrounds. Enjoy a morning coffee overlooking the paddocks, entertain friends and family, or simply sit back and appreciate the peace and privacy that comes with acreage living. With your very own creek, a dam, open green paddocks, extensive shedding and a spacious, versatile home, this is country living with all the ingredients for a truly enviable lifestyle — this one really is the dream. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 445 Gembrook-Launching Place Road, LAUNCHING PLACE Description: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 9 garage Price: $1,100,000 - $1,200,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Rebecca Doolan 0401 832 068, BELL REAL ESTATE - YARRA JUNCTION, 5967 1277 mailcommunity.com.au 26 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
P 5966 2530
3407 Warburton Highway, Warburton
187 Woods Point Road, East Warburton
$850,000 - $930,000
P 5967 1277
2457 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction
2496 Warburton Hwy, Yarra Junction
$740,000 - $790,000
“Ferndale” Warburton Retreat
Rural Charm, Mountain Views & Garden Abundance
Superbly positioned just outside the Warburton township, this is a property where location and lifestyle come together beautifully. Inside, the home offers three generous bedrooms, all with built-in robes and plenty of space to accommodate multiple beds if desired. The spacious open plan living area is made for gathering. The kitchen blends modern convenience with plenty of charm, featuring a Smeg oven, generous bench space and a neutral, contemporary palette. Stunning timber floorboards and exposed beams add warmth and character, while updated bathroom completes the home’s effortless combination of style and comfort. The rear fern garden is a wonderfully tranquil part of the property and the ideal spot to sit, reflect or meditate. Set on just over half an acre, the property also offers a lock-up garage, woodshed, 8.7kW solar system and excellent fencing.
Elevated to capture beautiful mountain views, this is a property with plenty to love. The cottage gardens are simply delightful, with winding paths, established plantings and splashes of colour at every glance. The horseshoe-shaped driveway provides ample parking, while the outdoor entertaining area is perfectly positioned to soak up the north-facing morning sun. A wood fire adds to the cosy ambience. The quaint kitchen has plenty of personality and features a seriously impressive Belling oven, sure to delight the chef of the home. There are three generous bedrooms, two enjoying access to the front decking, while the third offers its own private decking area. Adding further versatility is a separate fourth bedroom or studio. A property that offers a wonderful lifestyle.
Rebecca Doolan M 0401 832 068 Inspection: By Appointment
38 Wellington Road, Warburton
3
A
1
B 2 C
$760,000 - $830,000
Rebecca Doolan M 0401 832 068 Inspection: By Appointment
4
11 Yarra Street, Powelltown
$495,000 - $540,000
A
1
B
‘White Rabbit Cottage’ - A private garden sanctuary with timeless charm
Small Town Country Living
Tucked away and set amongst lush, established gardens, this charming home feels like a world of its own. Inside, soaring ceilings create an incredible sense of space, while timber features flowing throughout the home add warmth and timeless appeal. The inviting lounge provides a cosy place to unwind, while the stunning separate dining room is bathed in natural sunlight and enjoys picturesque garden views. The lower level offers two generous bedrooms, both with built-in robes, complemented by excellent storage throughout the home. The original kitchen and bathroom have been lovingly maintained, with the bathroom featuring a separate bath for a touch of old-world charm. Beyond this, the spacious master bedroom is a peaceful retreat, with picture-perfect windows drawing in beautiful natural light throughout the day. Come and discover the magic for yourself.
Set in colourful and picturesque surrounds with a small country town atmosphere and rural charm this property is sure to please. The home is warm and inviting offering 3 bedrooms with a large open plan kitchen and meals/dining area and a spacious lounge/living area with ample space for everyone. Head outdoors and you’re spoilt for choice, sit back relax and enjoy the mountain views from the covered front verandah, the kids and pets will love the back yard with heaps of space to enjoy and explore. Set on just over 900sqm with a huge variety of fruit trees and an array of established trees and colourful flowering shrubs. Take a short stroll to Powelltown’s one stop general store or explore the stunning nature walks through the amazing Yarra State forest, a great property in a fantastic location, relaxed country living at it’s best.
Rebecca Doolan M 0401 832 068 Inspection: By Appointment
3
A
1
B 1 C
David Carroll M 0419 539 320 Inspection: By Appointment
3
A
1
B 2 C
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Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 27
HOME FOCUS
CHARACTER, SPACE AND FLEXIBILITY ACROSS THREE LEVELS FULL of character and offering an impressive amount of space across three levels, 36 Ferny Creek Avenue, Upper Ferntree Gully is a wonderfully versatile Hills home with multiple living areas, flexible bedroom accommodation and a beautiful elevated outlook across the surrounding greenery. The middle level forms the heart of the home, featuring polished timber floors, high ceilings and a generous dining area flowing through to the separate lounge with woodburning fireplace. The well-equipped kitchen offers excellent bench and cupboard space, gas cooking, wall oven and dishwasher, while the adjoining meals area opens directly onto the covered deck for easy outdoor entertaining. Also on this level is a spacious bedroom with access to the enclosed sunroom, where large windows take advantage of the leafy outlook and distant Hills views. A flexible office/bedroom, central bathroom with bath and shower, and dedicated laundry complete this floor. Upstairs, the main bedroom creates a private retreat with its own ensuite, built-in robes and a large adjoining dressing/retreat area. The lower level adds even more flexibility with another bedroom, substantial workshop/ home office, garage and under-house storage. Outside, the established block provides plenty of usable garden space amongst mature trees, with an elevated backyard capturing an impressive outlook across the surrounding hills. A covered entertaining deck, separate shed and chook area add further practicality and appeal. Despite its peaceful setting, the home remains conveniently positioned for everyday life, with Upper Ferntree Gully shops, train station, schools, parks and major road connections all within easy reach. Offering four flexible bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones and excellent additional storage, this is a character-filled home combining space, views, land and convenience in a beautiful Hills location. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 36 Ferny Creek Avenue, UPPER FERNTREE GULL Description: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $790,000-$860,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 and Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE, 9754 6888
28 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 8 September, 2026
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20 McAllister Road, MONBULK 3
1
3
39 Fairy Dell Road, TECOMA
1188m2
3
1
2
991m2
36 Ferny Creek Ave, UPPER FERNTREE GULLY 4
3
3
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
$730,000 - $780,000
$780,000 - $850,000
$790,000-$860,000
Daniel Steen 0434 979 142
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
55 The Crescent, BELGRAVE HEIGHTS 4
2
2
1470A Burwood Highway, UPWEY
1413m2
3
2
2
546m2
1006m2
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
43B Rankins Road, MONBULK 4
3
4
2641m2
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
$795,000 - $860,000
$850,000- $920,000
$1,050,000 - $1,125,000
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
03 9754 6888 office@chandlerandco.com.au 1689 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Vic 3160 mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 29
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1. Telstra is proposing to upgrade an existing mobile phone base station on the existing 35m monopole at 120 Old Hereford Rd, LOT 1 TP144653, Mount Evelyn VIC 3796. RFNSA: 3796001. 2. In summary, this upgrade will include: • Removing nine (9) existing panel antennas; • Installing three (3) new 4G panel antennas (each 2.68m long) at a height of 35.9m; • Installing three (3) new 5G panel antennas (each 1.00m long) at a height of 35.9m; • Installing three (3) new 5G panel antennas (each 0.79m long) at a height of 34.0m; • $QFLOODU\ HTXLSPHQW LQFOXGLQJ WRZHU PRXQWHG DPSOL¿HUV UHPRWH UDGLR XQLWV *36 antenna, mounts, cables, etc and works within the equipment shelter. 3. We invite you to provide your feedback or request further information by contacting us at: Ben Lavery, Planning Consultant on behalf of Telstra at telstra.submissions@servicestream.com.au, 0497 833 252 or by post to: Service Stream (Wireless) - Level 3, Tower B, Zenith Centre, 3DFL¿F +LJKZD\ &KDWVZRRG 16: by 5pm Wednesday 23 September 2026. 4. For more information, please visit www.rfnsa.com.au/3796001. Service Stream Ltd A.B.N. 46 072 369 870 Telstra Ltd A.C.N. 086 174 781 Amplitel Pty Ltd A.C.N: 648 133 073
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The Lilydale Eagles line up for the last game of the season. (Allen Dickson)
Last game for Lilydale Eagles By Callum Ludwig The Lilydale Eagles season has come to a close. Unfortunately for the Masters, their opponents Berwick forfeited the final game of the season so they missed out on an opportunity to claim a scalp against the title-winning side. The Masters wrapped up the season in third place, behind Bayswater on goal difference and four points off of Berwick. For the Seniors, they braved the reverse trip and an undermanned side trekked to Berwick to close their season. Missing pretty much the entire backline, the hamstrung Daniel Dickson forced to step back in goal and calling on Masters players Colin Dickson, Allen Dickson and Tim Wilson for back-up, a result in the last game was going to be a tough task. Berwick had the Eagles on the back foot earlier with their pace in behind causing trouble for the admittedly not too fleet-of-foot backline. In the eighth minute, Fiifi Kwansah-Aidoo stepped out to shut down a Berwick attack and made a great tackle, but the ball rebounded back towards the goal and Xavier Wilson was able to continue his run and fire past Daniel Dickson high into the back of the net. Lilydale steadied and a few minutes later mustered their first shot of the day courtesy of persistent effort from Sean O’Connor. He fought past tackles to fire a shot with his left foot but a defender came across to put it out for a corner. A good delivery from O’Connor was diverted away for another corner O’Connor then whipped another good ball in from the corner which was only kept out by a defender near the line. The rebound fell to Marcus Salvitti who leathered it towards the goal but saw it cannon away thanks to a desperate block. Byron Loveless took the next corner and another dangerous ball in was initially flicked on by Vanderkolk, before a scramble in the box eventually saw the ball fall to Lucas Cordedda whose shot was saved from a tight angle and out for yet another corner. Berwick managed to clear the next one but only as far as Kwansah-Aidoo who recycled to
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Jake ‘Digga’ Dioguardi carries the ball forward. (Allen Dickson)
Byron Loveless fires off a shot. (Allen Dickson) Loveless. His attempted cross/shot caught the wind and sailed into the keeper’s hands. The Eagles kept the pressure on and Jake ‘Digga’ Dioguardi tried a shot after some nice interplay with Salvitti but it lacked the power to trouble the Berwick goalkeeper. Berwick missed a big chance to double their lead when an attacker chose to fire a shot from a narrow angle despite options waiting in the middle. The Eagles quickly countered and Loveless tried a shot but his effort was blocked before he was fouled after recovering the ball. The resulting free kick was blocked by the wall, picked up by Salvitti before he lost possession. Berwick countered and, despite two good interventions from Carlin Jackson and Kwansah-Aidoo, continued to push forward and eventually won a corner. The delivery was swung in and missed by Daniel Dickson, but the header went over the bar. The action settled down until the 37th minute when some nice work from Digga lined up a shot for Salvitti on the edge of the box. His effort was denied by a good diving save from the goalkeeper but he could only parry it into the path of Loveless who tapped home the rebound for 1-1. Two minutes later, Berwick surged forward
but Kwansah-Aidoo used his body to keep the attacker off the ball. Berwick appealed for a foul and in the confusion, Kwansah-Aidoo played the ball across the box to Jackson rather than leave it for Daniel Dickson. Jackson attempted to clear the ball under pressure but it only went as far Luca Burcheri who took one touch, shot while Daniel Dickson was still out of position and scored to leave Lilydale’s resistance short-lived before halftime. The first shot of the half fell Salvitti’s way after he beat a man on the edge of the box but he was closed down with a desperate sliding block. The Eagles had another chance when Salvitti whipped a ball in to Wilson who diverted it towards goal but it was unable to trouble the keeper. A golden chance then went begging for the Eagles. O’Connor played a pass back to Salvitti from a throw-in and he sent a deep cross to the back post where Wilson was on the scene but his header went the wrong side of the post. Lilydale was made to rue their missed opportunity when for the second week in a row, Kwansah-Aidoo contributed to the season’s fines tally, bundling over a Berwick player to give away a penalty, which was cooly tucked away by Burcheri. Berwick got back on top, mustering another
chance after an attack down the right was squared to the top of the box but the shot was straight at the keeper. Lilydale pressed forward and Salvitti tried his luck from range but saw the shot flash across the face of goal. Dickson was called into action again after the Berwick wing back knocked the ball past both O’Connor and Callum Ludwig before playing a pass. The Shot was probably travelling wide of the post but Daniel Dickson took no chances. The Eagles initially cleared the corner but Berwick got back on the ball, shifted it out to the right and cut it back into the box. The first shot came in and was spilled by Dickson but Caleb Wallace buried the rebound to make it 4-1. Berwick had an acrobatic attempt sail over the bar after another attack down the right wing. Lilydale mustered the next two shots, the first dragged wide by Loveless and the second from O’Connor forcing the keeper to pat the ball down to make the save. Berwick had one more chance flash across the box before the end of the match. The game was called off a couple of minutes early by the referee after a Berwick player was the victim of one of the all-time ‘falcons’, when his own teammate blasted it into his face from closerange. The Seniors finished the season in ninth after other results didn’t fall their way on the final day, where they could have finished as high as fifth.
Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 | MAIL 31
Ring Terry Miller direct for the the best best prices prices
BEST PRICE, BEST TANKS WITH A LIFETIME GUARANTEE It’s time to catch it, order and build your concrete tank NOW!!!
Ph. 0419 462 814 Concrete tanks built correctly will last a lifetime! Terry Miller from Terry Miller Concrete Tanks has been in the concrete tank building business for nearly 30 years. Being from country Victoria himself, Terry realises the importance of good water storage systems. Concrete water tanks built correctly will last a lifetime. They keep your water cool, clean and algae free. This is because our tanks have 130mm walls and a 300mm base, and are poured with 40-mpa strength concrete not 25 or 30 mpa. We also use plasticiser to keep up the strength in the tanks instead of water. And after 28 days of curing the strength of the concrete will be between 48 and 52 mpa. And each tank is poured individually on site. These tanks come out white, which is a sign of the strength in the tanks. The MPA is a measure of how much concrete there is as parts per 1000. The walls of the tank are vibrated all around to ensure that there are no air bubbles and that the concrete is compacted down. Terry generally builds tanks in three sizes, 50,000, 105,000 and 120,000 either with a silo (metal) roof, concrete top or open top tanks. The tanks will not blow away or fall apart, and this is particularly important in areas where there is high wind, or in fire prone districts. In the event of a fire, a large tank (120,000 litres) can supply water back up to the main house. By setting up a petrol powered generator and pumping water up onto the house directly, via a reverse water sprinkler system, you will keep your home cool and wet. Or if need be, you can jump into the tank to keep cool and be protected from flames and radiant heat. Water is our most important resource, and we cannot have too much of it! So for all your water storage needs when you are thinking of installing your next tank, please call Terry for a quote on 0419 462 814 or 02 6026 7021 or check out our website, www.terrymillerconcretetanks.com.au. Nearly four years ago, we suffered our own fire here, in Barnawartha, and we were lucky. But it made me realise how important good water storage is. We are in for a long, hot, dry summer, and fire restrictions are in. Having an ample supply of safely stored water is imperative. So why not contact Terry now about your water supply needs, BEFORE, the heat builds up and water scarce. There is nothing more refreshing than your own cool, clear, clean water!
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