Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
Youth mental health services on alert
Healesville CoRE’s cash milestone
Foster carers in the spotlight
Real estate liftout inside
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Full of whimsy By Oliver Winn Stepping into the Yarra Valley Waterwheel’s exhibition space this September is like diving into a growing garden full of whimsy. At least, that’s what it felt like, with native shrubbery and plants covering the floor, the smell of nature wafting through the air, and the sound of wind whispering through the trees. Titled Magick, Whispers, Trees, the exhibition offers an immersive, multisensory experience and a series of workshops that take place throughout the month. The “dynamic art installation” was made by local artists Nicole Murray, Amy Williams and Tayla Hansen, who said the exhibition put a new spin on past Waterwheel exhibitions. “I didn’t want it to be a traditional ‘hang things on the wall’. I wanted to actually put things into the space and live in the space,” landscape designer and feltmaker Ms Murray said. The exhibition will continue to grow throughout September. Turn to page 16 to read more
Exhibition artists Tayla Hansen, Nicole Murray and Amy Williams. (Oliver Winn: 578045)
In-principle agreement on pay and conditions to end Reservoir stand-off
Parks action ends By Gabriella Vukman Months of disruption at Maroondah Reservoir Park are expected to come to an end after Parks Victoria workers reached an in-principle agreement on pay and conditions on Friday 11 September, bringing an end to industrial action across the state. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said the agreement follows more than 12 months of negotiations and includes a 3 per cent
pay rise, a $5000 one-off payment and a structural wages uplift to boost base-level pay. The industrial action has had a flow-on effect across the Yarra Ranges, with repeated closures and access restrictions at Maroondah Reservoir Park disrupting visitors, the weekly Maroondah Dam parkrun and businesses in Healesville. Healesville resident and regular parkrun participant Chris Gander said the dispute had affected people well beyond those directly involved, with visitors to the park also supporting local ca-
fes, retailers and other businesses. “The Park Run itself not only brings in locals but it brings visitors who come out here and often go to the sanctuary and to local cafes, so it really does have an ongoing effect on the town” he said. “Visitors come here and they come into Healesville and they spend money with the retailers and all the rest of it.” Parks Victoria said contingencies had maintained visitor access to the park and confirmed 24-hour access for emergency services and Mel-
bourne Water had not been affected. The CPSU said the industrial action was the first taken by Parks Victoria staff in 15 years and included 24-hour strikes, park closures and bans on administrative tasks. With the industrial action now over, the focus turns to what the dispute has meant for local residents, visitors and businesses, and what the new deal means for Parks Victoria workers. Read the full story on Page 5
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Six months before TAC action By Gabriella Vukman The Victorian Government now faces a six-month window to decide how it will respond to a parliamentary inquiry into the Transport Accident Commission, with injured Victorians warning that the recommendations must not become another report that gathers dust. The Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee handed down its report into TAC claims processes in August, making 13 recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for injured Victorians, particularly those with complex and life-changing injuries. The recommendations include reviewing the support provided to clients with severe injuries, strengthening trauma-informed and disabilitycentred claims management, improving plainlanguage information, establishing clearer protocols between the TAC and the National Disability Insurance Scheme and creating a Client Advisory Group to bring lived experience into decisionmaking. The committee also recommended greater involvement from stakeholder and peak bodies, an issue Healesville TAC campaigner Tamara Tesseyman believes could be particularly important when decisions about treatment and services are being made. For Ms Tesseyman however, the report is less an endpoint than a starting point. She believes the committee identified a number of significant problems but did not go far enough in explaining how those problems should be addressed. “The recommendations weren’t strong or detailed enough.” “The good thing about the Inquiry and what we have said in the submissions is always going to be on the public record so we can always refer back to that.” “It’s in public documents.” Ms Tesseyman said this was particularly evident in the recommendation of a Client Advisory Group and welcomed the recommendation but questioned what authority the group would have and whether its advice would have to be formally considered by the TAC. “Myself and the other members in the advocacy group are worried that the Client Advisory Group will have no power.” “We need there to be real change.” Her concerns point to a broader question about how the recommendations will be measured. The report sets out areas for improvement, but injured people will still need to know what changes will actually be made, who will be responsible for implementing them and how progress will be assessed. The concern raises a broader question about what happens after a parliamentary committee makes recommendations. The Victorian Government has six months to respond to the report. It can accept recommendations in full, accept some or parts of recommendations, or reject them. For Ms Tesseyman, that process is particularly important given the recommendations are broad and the inquiry itself was conducted over a relatively short period.
The Victorian Government now faces a six-month window to decide how it will respond to a parliamentary inquiry into the Transport Accident Commission. (Serina Bird: Unsplash) She said the group of TAC clients involved in the campaign would now have to consider what further action was needed. Ms Tesseyman also noted the group had already been working on a potential review of the TAC through the Victorian Attorney-General’s Office before the parliamentary inquiry was announced. She said the inquiry had interrupted that work, but the report could now help the group determine what information it wanted to seek. One of the issues Ms Tesseyman believes warrants further investigation is the transparency of the TAC’s internal decision-making. She said injured people and medical professionals should be able to understand why recommendations are questioned or rejected. “TAC should need a very good reason to reject a recommended treatment from a client’s trusted provider.” “There needs to be more transparency around why treatments are being rejected.” “If a doctor is trusted by Medicare, and the Medical Board of Australia, why are their recommendations being questioned by the TAC?” The question of transparency also extends to how the TAC measures treatment decisions. TAC says 95.8 per cent of treatment requests are approved, although the figure does not provide information about the time taken to make decisions or whether treatment is delayed while decisions are reviewed or disputed. The report considers whether approval rates provide a complete picture of the experience of injured people navigating the system. It also considers how TAC’s existing processes could be adapted to better support people with significant disability and acquired brain injuries. The committee’s recommendations include a stronger trauma-informed and disability-centred approach to claims management. The report also recommends changes to the support available to people with severe injuries.
Ms Tesseyman also called for a clearer distinction between managing an insurance claim and helping someone through rehabilitation. “The claims manager at TAC is an insurance manager. They’re managing an insurance file.” “They are not worried about the overall health of the person and making sure that they’re getting better and that they’re a rehab service.” “There needs to be an advocate role similar to an NDIS support worker who knows what a person needs when they’re in that situation and can help navigate through the system.” Treatment delays are another area where greater transparency could be important. If a medically recommended treatment is delayed while a decision is being made or disputed, the consequences may extend beyond the initial claim. A person’s condition can deteriorate, additional treatment may be required, or the injured person may have to pay for care themselves. The inquiry’s findings also raise questions about the cost of disputes. As recommendations are considered, there is scope to examine not only how many disputes occur, but how many reach VCAT, how long they take and how much is spent on legal representation and dispute processes. The inquiry also examined the relationship between TAC and the NDIS and recommended clearer rules for how the two systems work together. Ms Tesseyman believes clearer rules could help prevent injured people from being caught between the two systems and having to work out who is responsible for their support. State Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish said the recommendations represented an opportunity to make the TAC more responsive to injured Victorians. “The inquiry has identified important reforms to make the TAC more client-centred, reduce bureaucracy and better support seriously injured Victorians,” she said.
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“Those seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents should not have to go through the wringer to get the services they need. Accidents are traumatic enough.” McLeish said the Government was yet to respond to the report. “The Labor Government is yet to respond to the report and the likelihood is, that given they have six months to deliver that response, it’s unlikely they ever will.” She said the Liberal Party would consider the recommendations and evidence presented to the inquiry. “As the alternate government, the Liberals will carefully consider the recommendations and the evidence provided by TAC clients and health professionals.” McLeish said the focus should ultimately remain on whether injured Victorians can access the support they need. “Victorians injured on our roads should be supported to recover, not buried in red tape or forced into lengthy battles for the treatment they need.” The TAC welcomed the report, saying the committee recognised that the scheme works well for most clients but that more needs to be done for people with complex and long-term injuries. While the TAC said it was committed to listening, learning and improving, and would wait for the Victorian Government to consider the recommendations, the Minister for TAC and the statutory insurer itself did not respond to requests for comment. The TAC has said it looks forward to the Victorian Government’s “careful consideration” of the recommendations. For injured Victorians who spent months bringing their experiences before the inquiry, the question now is whether that consideration will lead to specific, measurable changes, or whether the broad recommendations will require another round of advocacy before they translate into action.
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IN BRIEF Police on the prowl for Yarra Ranges big weekend Yarra Ranges Police units were out and about across the region on 12 to 13 September, keeping a watchful eye on both the roads and footy ground sidelines. The bumper weekend saw police in force in Healesville for the Outer East Football Netball Div One Grand Finals. Members kept things under wraps at the Don Road Sporting Complex, engaging with passionate crowds and monitoring a designated Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) site to guarantee footy and netball fans made it home safely. In addition to the grand final action, police were actively stationed across the Dandenong Ranges for the iconic Puffing Billy Running Festival, managing traffic, keeping watch over key road intersections, and supporting thousands of runners as they raced the steam train from Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park.
The Forge Institute offers young people social support through arts-based workshops. (Supplied)
Farmers: check your fences
Shock spike in youth suicide in outer east By Oliver Winn Trigger warning: this article includes mentions of suicide. As an alarming spike in youth suicides across the outer east raises questions about the availability of mental health services, the lack of supportive community spaces has also received attention. After the deaths of six people, aged 13 to 22, in September 2025, and a further four, aged 13 to 18, in May this year, an article in The Age exposed a lack of review into Victoria’s failing youth mental health system. While the spotlight raised the alarm around the capacity of Victoria’s mental health services, a father whose daughter died by suicide in September 2025 said young people also needed community organisations where they can feel safe and supported. When Brent Dakis’ 13-year-old daughter Ivy took her life in September 2025, it came as a complete shock. “When Ivy passed away, it was so out of the blue for us. There was no history of any kind of mental health or self-harm or anything for her, just a long string of bullying that was unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Mr Dakis said. The increased rates of youth suicide didn’t come as a surprise to Mr Dakis. “Unfortunately for me, I’m entirely unsurprised. When we had to sit down with detectives… I said to them, ‘I’m really concerned that you are going to start seeing more of this’.” He said the increasing rates of poor mental health were “symptomatic” of an environment where social media was fracturing today’s youth while promoting negative content that encouraged cyberbullying. “It’s an environment that online… seems to promote negative self-talk, criticism, self-criticism, all of that. And then because that has become the norm online for the younger teens, that’s then becoming the norm offline.
Brent Dakis started The Forge Institute for young people to feel safe, connected and supported. (Supplied) “So instead of it being a supportive environment and growing up and cheering on your friends, people just rag on each other and tear each other down,” he said. Ivy’s passing prompted Mr Dakis to start the Forge Institute: a not-for-profit social enterprise providing safe, welcoming spaces for young people to connect while exploring the arts. The Forge aims to provide young people with a “third place” where they can feel safe, connected, and supported by peers, outside of school or home. “My vision for The Forge is very much art class and art education as a front for social connection and social education, and the mental health support of peer support and belonging. That’s actually the intention: an underlying social support network that is using art as a vessel to do that,” Mr Dakis said. While the outer east needed more mental health care services for at-risk youth, community organisations like The Forge would help support young people dealing with mental health struggles and give them a space to feel safe. Youth mental health and suicide is a complex phenomenon, and there’s no single solution that
immediately fixes the issue. Youth mental health expert Magenta Simmons said a holistic approach would be needed to address mental health concerns in the outer east. “One part of that will be mental health services, and one part of that will be community-based programs which are fantastic and are really important to allow young people to have a place to feel socially connected and feel a sense of belonging.” Young people traditionally flock to sporting clubs for community in the outer east. But for those who aren’t into sports, it can be hard to feel like they’re a part of a community. Ms Simmons said organisations like The Forge were “filling a gap” in creative and arts-based offerings for young people in the outer east. “It’s an arts-based offer, and that’s really important, too. These creative opportunities for young people to engage in are not just social, but they’re also creative and potentially therapeutic activities.” Meanwhile, community organisations can also help connect young people to mental health services. “Community-based organisations can be a great connector to help young people get the services that they need. But we can’t expect community organisations to fix a broken mental health system. They shouldn’t be doing it alone. They should be doing it with support,” she said. Mr Dakis was also nominated for the Westfield Knox Local Heroes, a recognition, grants and partnerships program that shines the spotlight on individuals in Australia and New Zealand who make a positive impact to their local community or environment. You can vote for him here: shorturl.at/ OAlp4. For more information or to get involved, visit theforgeinstitute.au or follow them on Instagram @theforgeinstitute.inc. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available: Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800, kidshelpline.com.au. Headspace: 1800 650 890, headspace.org.au. ReachOut: ReachOut.com.
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In times of crisis, you can give
Victoria Police’s Farm Crime Unit encouraged Yarra Valley livestock owners to keep an eye on their fences to ensure livestock don’t escape onto roadways. Paul Hargrace from Victoria Police’s Farm Crime Unit said it is important to make sure you check your fences regularly. “Always a bit of a concern re: fences, what they’re like, how they’re holding in the l ivestock. If you own [livestock]... and you are looking after [your fences]... it’s really important that you consider what they look like and whether your cattle can get out onto the roadway,” Mr Hargrace said in a video posted to social media. He pointed out how landowners with properties adjoining major roadways are at risk of losing livestock while also posing a threat to drivers if they don’t maintain their fences. “We understand it’s not always intentional, but a good check of your property means good safety practices, and it means less road trauma for us, which is a better result all round,” Mr Hargrace said.
Draft Climate Strategy out for feedback Community members are being invited to share their thoughts on the council’s new draft Climate and Environment Strategy. The Climate and Environment Strategy 202636 outlines the council’s goals for the coming decade and how it will respond to climate change and protect the natural environment. Yarra Ranges Mayor Cr Richard Higgins said it was the council’s responsibility to ensure future generations of Yarra Ranges residents can live and thrive in the region. “It is beyond question that the climate is changing as a result of human behaviour, and we’re already beginning to experience what that means locally, with the incidence and intensity of extreme weather events increasing,” Cr Higgins said. Once final, the strategy will be presented to the council for adoption in the coming months. Find out more, read the document and provide feedback on Shaping Yarra Ranges.
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‘Cynical and tokenistic’ By Oliver Winn Yarra Ranges councillors called for an “urgent” extension after the minister gave just 14 days to review a 1000-page environment report for the controversial Yarra Valley Quarry expansion. Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister tabled a motion asking council to write to Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny. She said the 14-day submission period was “cynical” and “shameful” as it didn’t give the local community a chance to respond to the lengthy report. “Not only does it feel tokenistic, it is profoundly disheartening,” she said at the 8 September council meeting. “Because it feels very disrespectful and cynical to allow the community less than two weeks… to comment on a site that is already determined to have conservation significance, with several endangered species found in the neighbouring national park.” The YVQ is located at the base of Mount Toolebewong and directly adjoins the Yarra Ranges National Park. In 2024, it applied to expand its extraction area from 23 hectares to 43 hectares wide, and at 285 metres deep, it could fit the Eureka Tower. The controversial move was met with pushback from locals concerned about the expansion’s potential impacts on noise, dust and drinking water; the destruction of habitats for endangered animals and dangers caused by truck drivers. McMahons Road resident Andrea White, representing residents living near the quarry, said a two-week period was “completely inadequate” to respond to the large document. “It needs to be scrutinised by residents, the wider community and individuals/groups who have the knowledge and expertise in the necessary fields to be able to ascertain what impacts this project will have and how this report deals
The quarry is located on McMahons Rd. (File: 485339) with these impacts,” Ms White said. In January 2025, Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny determined YVQ’s proposed expansion didn’t require an EES and instead opted for a streamlined Environment Report. After it came to the council’s attention in June this year, Cr McAllister demanded the YVQ’s proposed expansion require a full Environment Effects Statement (EES). The council’s request was knocked back in less than a day.
O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child said the community’s concerns around a potential truck traffic surge needed to be addressed. “It is going to be dangerous. It is going to be dangerous to the residents that live there, and it is going to be dangerous to the people that commute on a daily basis,” Cr Child said. Cr McAllister said it was “shameful” that residents only got 14 days to respond to the report. For goodness’ sake, no matter what your view is - and I am not arguing a case for or against
the quarry - when you are looking to clear approximately 26 hectares of native forest on land zoned rural conservation, that will impact all of the residents that are abutting it and further afield, some of whom get their water from that creek, to only allow them two weeks to read and respond to a thousand-page report is shameful.” But a Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said the public’s feedback was only wanted on “specific environmental matters”. “The environment report on exhibition is a targeted assessment of specific environmental matters, and public comments are sought on these specific matters. Lyster Ward councillor Peter McIlwain said the community living near the quarry deserved a voice. “I do not see how we can have good outcomes if we do not respect democratic processes and give people a voice.” YVQ is co-owned by Regional Quarries Riviera and Dandy Premix Quarries, both owned by construction materials company Regional Group Australia. The construction materials company has hosted a series of community meetings to provide updates and answer questions from local residents. YVQ sustainability manager Garry Cranny has completed extensive off-site monitoring in response to community concerns around water quality, dust and dangerous driving from quarry trucks. “We do more water quality monitoring than any other quarry I know,” Mr Cranny said at a meeting in May. The council’s letter to Ms Kilkenny also called on State Eildon MP Cindy McLeish’s support on the matter. State Eildon MP Cindy McLeish was contacted for comment.
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Four-month disruption ends By Gabriella Vukman
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Locals have said the park’s closure has affected Healesville’s economy. (578162)
Maroondah Reservoir is one of the parks that has been subject to closures due to protected industrial action taken by Parks Victoria staff. (Gabriella Vukman: 578162) event is run entirely by volunteers and attracts people travelling from different locations. “Fortunately we were notified each time Marroondah Reservoir was going to be closed but the difficulty is getting the word out through our volunteers,” he said. Mr Gander also raised questions about emergency access when the vehicle gates were closed while members of the public could still enter the park on foot. He said the issue became particularly concerning when considering the possibility of someone requiring urgent assistance inside the park. “I was riding my bike up there and thought ‘Gee if something happened to me, how would an ambulance or the SES or fire department access the park to help me’.” Mr Gander told Star Mail vehicle access had been restricted on several occasions, including July 18, July 25 and August 29. He said that while pedestrian access might remain available, the closure of vehicle access could make the park difficult to use for some members of the community, including older visitors, families and people with mobility limitations. He also questioned whether weekend vehicle access could be maintained, particularly when Parks Victoria staff were not normally present at the park. The CPSU had previously said the protected industrial action was part of a long-running campaign for improved pay and conditions for Parks Victoria employees. In July, CPSU Victoria Secretary Jiselle Hanna said, “These actions are unfortunately the result of management’s continued failure to put forward a fair deal for PV staff.” “These people represent the very best of our public services, but are paid as the worst. This could all be resolved with the Minister and Parks Vic exec choosing to do the right thing by their staff, and commit to a fair pay deal.”
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The end of months of industrial action by Parks Victoria workers is set to bring an end to the repeated disruptions experienced by visitors, residents and businesses around Maroondah Reservoir Park. Parks Victoria workers have reached an inprinciple agreement on pay and conditions on Friday 11 September after more than 12 months of negotiations and industrial action. Repeated closures of Maroondah Reservoir Park have caused disruption for visitors, local residents, the weekly Maroondah Dam parkrun and businesses in Healesville, with concerns also raised about emergency access. The agreement means the 24-hour strikes, park closures and work bans that have affected parks across Victoria will now come to an end, after workers fought for improved pay and conditions. The closures have occurred as Parks Victoria staff undertook protected industrial action over pay and conditions, with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) previously warning that entrance gates at a number of parks and reserves could remain locked as part of work bans. The CPSU said the offer accepted by Parks Victoria workers includes a three per cent pay rise, a $5000 one-off payment and a structural wages uplift that will boost base-level pay. A spokesperson from Parks Victoria told Star Mail measures had been taken to maintain visitor access to Maroondah Reservoir Park. “Contingencies have ensured visitors can still access Maroondah Reservoir Park via the main entrance at Maroondah Highway and at McKenzie Road,” they said. “24 hour access for emergency services and Melbourne Water has not been affected.” “Parks Victoria respects the right of its employees to take lawful protected industrial action.” For Healesville resident and regular Maroondah Dam parkrun participant Chris Gander, however, the repeated closures have highlighted the broader impact that industrial disputes can have on communities and local tourism. Mr Gander said his concerns were not about the right of Parks Victoria staff to take industrial action, rather about the effect of the closures on people using the park and businesses in the surrounding area. “I don’t have any problem with people protesting, it is more the poor communication and the fact that this has gone on for so long,” he said. “There was uncertainty as to which parks were open, which parks weren’t and when.” Mr Gander said the Maroondah Dam parkrun typically attracts between 40 and 50 people each Saturday, including visitors from outside the immediate area. He said visitors who travel to the area for the park can also contribute to the local economy. “The Park Run itself not only attracts locals but it brings visitors who come out here and often go to the sanctuary and to local cafes, so it really does have an ongoing effect on the town” he said. “Visitors come here and they come into Healesville and they spend money with the retailers and all the rest of it.” For Mr Gander, one of the difficulties for parkrun organisers has been communicating unexpected cancellations to participants, given the
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locations that may be affected: Alfred Nicolas memorial gardens Bunyip State Park - Nash Creek Camping Ground, Bunyip Weir, Freemans Mill Camping Area, Dyers Camping and Picnic Ground, Mortimer Camping and Picnic Area, Lawson Falls Picnic Ground, Forest Road Unloading Area and Cannibal Creek Horse Unloading Area Cardinia Creek Parklands – Grasmere picnic area Cardinia Reservoir Park Dandenong Ranges - Grants Picnic Ground Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens Dandenong Ranges National Park - One Tree Hill Dandenong Ranges National Park – Doongalla Picnic Ground, Eagles Nest Picnic Ground, Ferntree Gully Dandenong Ranges National Park – Valley Picnic Ground Gembrook G203 Bushland Reserve Kinglake National Park – biolink area Kurth Kiln Regional Park – Ure Road, Toms Track Lysterfield Park – Horswood Rd entrance Maroondah Reservoir Park Silvan Reservoir Park – picnic area Upper Yarra Reservoir - campground Warby-Ovens Yarra Ranges National Park – Badger Weir, Donnellys Weir Yarra Valley Parklands - Westerfolds Park, Montpelier Reserve, Birrarrung Park, Yarra Flats, Banyule Flats (Parks Victoria), Banksia Park, Yarook Tambore Wetland, Glynn’s Reserve and Murundaka Swamp Yarra Valley Parklands – Longridge Campground, Yarra Flats, Birrarung Park The CPSU said the industrial action could affect entrance gates, bins, toilets and other access at public parks and reserves across Victoria. The list indicates that the potential impact extended well beyond Maroondah Reservoir Park, with a range of recreational and visitor facilities across the region identified as potentially affected. Parks Victoria has since advised that all industrial action has ceased and that contingencies have ensured visitors can still access Maroondah Reservoir Park via the main entrance at Maroondah Highway and at McKenzie Road. With Parks Victoria confirming that emergency services and Melbourne Water access has not been affected, and that visitor access to Maroondah Reservoir Park remains available via Maroondah Highway and McKenzie Road, the focus now shifts from the disruption caused by the industrial action to whether the new agreement will deliver the stability and staffing levels the union says are needed across Victoria’s parks. For local residents, parkrun participants and businesses, the end of the industrial action should also bring an end to the uncertainty that accompanied the repeated closures, although the experience has highlighted how decisions made during industrial disputes can have flow-on effects well beyond the workplace.
The union also said its members provide important firefighting and emergency response capacity during fire seasons. The CPSU said it was the first time in 15 years that Parks Victoria staff had taken industrial action, with workers undertaking 24-hour strikes, park closures and bans on administrative tasks as part of the campaign. CPSU Victoria Secretary Jiselle Hanna said the agreement was a result of the determination shown by Parks Victoria workers throughout the dispute. “This win is a direct result of the sheer determination of Parks Vic workers who didn’t back down without a fight,” Ms Hanna said. “Anyone who thinks that worker solidarity isn’t effective should speak with a Parks Victoria worker today.” The union said Parks Victoria workers were among the lowest-paid public servants in the state, with many earning close to minimum wage, and said the new pay offer would help retain experienced staff in their roles. Ms Hanna said the decision to take industrial action had not been made lightly. “These workers are incredibly dedicated to their jobs and to the Victorian community – the decision to take industrial action was not made lightly. But sometimes the risk is worth the reward,” she said. With the industrial action now over, the immediate disruption to parks and reserves caused by the work bans has come to an end, although the impact of the prolonged dispute remains evident for communities that rely on the parks for recreation, tourism and local events. For Mr Gander, the experience has nevertheless demonstrated the need to consider how the public impact of future industrial action can be minimised. Mr Gander said he wanted the dispute settled, while stressing that his concerns were about the impact on people who were not involved in the dispute. “If they’re going to take action in future, they need to do something that doesn’t affect the innocent bystanders that have nothing to do with it.” “It has been impacting the public and indirectly impacting all those who benefit from people going to those parks that are closed.” For a community that relies heavily on its parks for recreation, tourism and local events, the repeated closures have been a reminder of how access to public spaces can have consequences well beyond the gates of a park. The CPSU’s advice on protected industrial action listed the following parks, reserves and facilities across the Yarra Ranges and surrounding region as
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Staggering new roads report By Mikayla van Loon and Ethan Henson A staggering new road report released by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) about the conditions of Victoria’s roads shows an overall deterioration of the network. Despite 48 per cent of the state’s roads receiving a poor or very poor condition report, the Yarra Ranges fell below the average, with 31.38 per cent gaining the same rating. This was again lower than the 42.15 per cent recorded in 2021 for the shire. The same could not be said for neighbouring council areas of Knox, Maroondah and Cardinia, with the proportion of state roads in poor or very poor condition reaching 41.21 per cent in Knox and over 50 per cent in Maroondah and Cardinia. This was a significant rise for the Cardinia network, up from 31.76 per cent in 2021. Of the four regions that make up metropolitan Melbourne, the proportion of roads in overall poor and very poor was highest in the Metro Eastern region, the report stated. Key arterial roads across the state’s network that weave through the Yarra Ranges, including Maroondah Highway, Warburton Highway, Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, Burwood Highway and Wellington Road, saw significant increases in worsening condition. In 2021, Maroondah Highway’s condition report recorded just 25.37 per cent as very poor. This increased to 54.71 per cent in 2024. Similarly, Warburton Highway increased from 37.5 per cent in 2021 to 58.72 per cent in 2024. Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road rose to 55.49 per cent, while Burwood Highway increased from 16 per cent to 34.7 per cent in the very poor category. Wellington Road saw a staggering increase from just over one per cent in very poor condition to now rating at 68.89 per cent. Melba Highway stayed relatively unchanged, with a one per cent decrease in very poor condi-
VAGO said road conditions in Victoria have worsened. (562287) tion, from 56 per cent to 55 per cent. In total, 23,000 kilometres of the state road network were analysed, indicating a nine per cent increase in poor and very poor road conditions
since 2021. The report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday 9 September included six recommendations to the Department of Transport and Planning.
These include improving transparency around the condition, maintenance and cost of addressing backlog; defining criteria for prioritising maintenance or renewal work; better coordination of maintenance; improving data use; and strengthening oversight of maintenance contractors. Roads Minister Paul Hamer told reporters on Wednesday that he thanked VAGO for the report, but he didn’t need the report to tell him roads need to be fixed. “That’s why last week, we announced a $352 million boost to our road maintenance funding in this financial year,” Mr Hamer said. “We also announced that a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will fix the way that we fix our roads. “That includes bringing road maintenance back in-house; it means higher standards, more accountability, more transparency, more local delivery and more local expertise. “The recommendations that are in the report have been accepted, and they have already started to be implemented by the department.” Roads and Road Safety opposition spokesperson Danny O’Brien released a statement regarding the newly released audit. He said the report was a devastating indictment of more than a decade of state government neglect. “Victorians already know our roads are an appalling mess, but the Auditor-General has now revealed why,” Mr O’Brien said. “Plans to cut it again next year after the election and has failed to deliver the preventative maintenance that will stop potholes forming in the first place. “Ben Carroll cut $214 million from the roads maintenance budget over two years while he was Roads Minister. “His election-eve promises to fix the roads won’t be believed by Victorians who are sick of his potholes.”
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Council provides major boost for 13 Yarra sports clubs By Oliver Winn A $189,000 investment will help fund major infrastructure upgrades for 13 sporting clubs in the Yarra Ranges. The funding was allocated under the sporting grant stream of the Yarra Ranges Council’s 2026/27 Capital Development Grants. Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister said it was great to see local clubs supported to fund what matters to them. “We’re actually seeing thirteen pieces of work being completed by groups run by community volunteers who put in huge hours, especially for fundraising, usually to match these grants to continue to ensure their clubs can run,” she said.at the 8 September council meeting The money will fund roughly half of the cost for a particular project, with the club matching the funding with their own contribution. Woori Yallock Football Netball Club managed to secure $13,160 to install netball shelters for players, coaches and officials. Around $22,500 was allocated to the Silvan Football Netball Club for the development of its storage shed.
Kilsyth Basketball will receive $25,000 from council. (Mikayla van Loon: 495145) Meanwhile, $16,475 was allocated to the Kilsyth Cricket Club to upgrade its cricket nets. But Cr McAllister said it’s not only football, netball and cricket clubs receiving funding. “Again, a great diversity of sporting groups as well. So whilst cricket, netball, and footy are certainly present as traditional, increasingly we do see other groups: BMX, bowls, pony club, basketball, and a range of other groups in there as well,” she said. This included clubs like the Kilsyth Basket-
ball Club, which will receive $25,000 to fund the replacement of carpet in the foyer. At the Croydon and Districts Table Tennis Association, $14,000 will help fund costs to give the club’s stadium a fresh coat of paint. The Melbourne Gun Club will receive $30,000 to fund flood mitigation and levee bank infrastructure works. Cr McAllister said the flood mitigation development was one of the first she’d seen funded through the sporting grant program. “From small grants for shade, carpet, shelters, a new green, but in one instance for a levee well for flood mitigation, which again is probably, I think, one of the first times that I’ve seen that come through this particular grant program,” she said. Wailing Ward councillor Len Cox said the sporting grant stream was “one of the better things council does”. “It’s very greatly received every year, and hopefully we can continue doing that into the far future,” Cr Cox said. But he pointed out how club still had a lot of fundraising work to do in order to match the council’s contributions.
“This is only half of what they’re going to need. So there’s a lot of work to be done by the various clubs to raise that extra money to be able to finish the job that we’re funding part of,” Cr Cox said. Over in the Yarra Valley, the Healesville Tennis Club will get $4420 towards court seating upgrade costs, while the Yarra Glen Bowls Club will receive $30,000 for clubhouse renovations. The council allocated $9300 to the Yarra Junction Bowling Club to part-fund the creation of an additional rink, with seating and shade, on the existing green to accommodate extra players. Mooroolbark Cricket Club’s training nets will be part-funded by a $12,180 contribution from council. The council also allocated $4290 to Lilydale BMX Club’s track surface and sustainability upgrades. A new horse tie up area at the Seville Pony Club will be part-funded by a $3000 council contribution. Cr McAllister said it was “wonderful” to see sporting clubs taking advantage of the council’s grant streams each year.
Waterwheel has to adapt By Oliver Winn
The Yarra Valley Waterwheel committee asked Eildon MP Cindy McLeish to secure maintenance funding in August. (Oliver Winn: 573261) where they can make money. “People come in and they want to see the big trees, they want to know where the seasonal places are. “We wanna put people into the big trees where the sawdust mills used to be. Where all the places where history is. Put them up to the reservoir where the actual McVeigh’s Water Wheel is.” There’s also the struggle to stay commercially
viable. “It’s difficult. So we have to put the prices up for the gallery. We have to put prices up for the handmakers,” Ms Murray said. When the new committee took control and secured the lease to the waterwheel building in July, they were hit with costs that saw the leftover funds “shrink considerably”. The annual $50,000 provided by the Upper
Yarra Community Enterprise (UYCE) ceased this year, forcing the new committee to find new ways to source income. But the organisation doesn’t want to rely on external grants. Ms Murray said the committee wanted to become financially sustainable. “We need to run in our own shoes, not keep getting borrowed sneakers.”
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Today, travellers use the internet to plan their holidays, finding their destination’s best offerings through trending social media videos and AIgenerated overviews. But it hasn’t always been this way. Visitor information centres once held the local knowledge of the best sightseeing spots, the highest quality restaurants and where to stay. As visitor information centres continue to close around the country, the Yarra Valley Waterwheel in Warburton is adapting to the growing economic pressures to stay open. Yarra Valley Waterwheel president Nicole Murray said visitor information centres needed to be appealing and welcoming spaces to stay relevant. “The visitor centres are going into shops, they’re going to galleries… when you have them at the back of the shop on the way to the toilet, and the lighting’s really bad… it pushes people towards looking online.” But while the internet can offer plenty of information, Ms Murray said it couldn’t provide the personal touch of in-person service offered at a visitor centre. “It’s better if people actually come out and talk to people, because it’s the people who have actually been there, who actually live in the space, who can talk about the stories and the history. “Not everyone wants to go online. It’s very 2D and boring.” She said visitor information centres could also encourage travellers to experience the lesserknown places in between the tourist hotspots. “Mostly what you see online are the places
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Erosion objections ignored By Callum Ludwig Yarra Ranges councillors have approved an amendment to the Erosion Management Overlay (EMO) following a review by an independent planning panel. The amendment, passed at the Tuesday 8 September council meeting, will result in fewer properties predicted to be at risk of landslip than initially forecast. Michael Buxton spoke in objection to the motion, arguing that the panel report was grossly inadequate and required thorough council assessment. “The initial concern I have with this report is that it relies on LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), that’s a very useful tool, of course, but it only shows to the surface, including contours, it shows below vegetation, but it doesn’t show what’s underneath,” he said. “So we need other information on soil type to provide inflections for stability, and it’s otherwise unreliable and the report actually recognises this, it says the geological mapping doesn’t provide information about the geomechanical properties of the ground, for example, how hard the soil is, the depth of rock and so on. “They’re all factors for landslide susceptibility yet then the panel contradicts itself by stating that the mapping method that it uses through LiDAR is based on sufficient criteria, and it mentions underlying geology, slope angle, known history of instability and what LiDAR actually does.” Mr Buxton commissioned soil testing by Dominic Lopes of Universal Soil Laboratories at three locations on his own property, telling councillors the results reinforced his concerns about the mapping. He noted that the soil type on his land is the most stable among those listed, and that this information is already mapped. “The expert providing you with advice didn’t have to go and do thorough geological tests on the soil, he could just look at maps, and the maps are available,” he said. “The panel then goes on and says that this doesn’t really matter because whenever anybody applies for a housing development, they can provide their own soil test and it’ll be approved but that’s a very costly process, it’s time-consuming. “It’s unfair to require an applicant to actually
Erosion management remains a hot topic in the Yarra Ranges. (File: 420079) then provide the evidence when it’s clear that the evidence shows that this mapping should not have been applied.” When questioned by the councillors, Mr Buxton clarified that he didn’t believe the panel report adequately showed that they had assessed the submissions received in their responses and that his property was already in the EMO from previous mapping. Yarra Ranges Council’s manager of design and place Nathan Islip said the use of LiDAR is considered best practice in the industry at the moment. “In fact, numerous councils have been observing with interest and waiting to apply the same methodology,” he said. “We are of the view that the LiDAR adds a layer of quality and accuracy that was not in previous
mapping that was done. “We have far more confidence in this proposed EMO mapping than what was currently in the scheme.” While panel members were engineers rather than geotechnical engineers, council had the report peer-reviewed by a highly regarded geotechnical engineer. Mr Islip said the important thing is that this is helping the community. “You will know upfront when you buy a property whether it is susceptible to the landslip or whether it’s the movement of the actual soil… if we don’t have that clearly defined, that’s a risk to landowners who don’t know that when they buy their property,” he said. He noted an interim amendment with a sunset clause was currently active, adding: “Council
under the Planning and Environment Act are responsible for the mapping of these hazards... we could be seen as failing in our duty of care if we hadn’t done something about this.” The council completed some revised mapping which reduced the overall area susceptible to landslide at 117km squared compared to 137 km squared and subsequently reduced the number of properties affected by EMO1 as summarised below: Deleting the EMO where it is no longer required – 1702 properties (previously 937). Replacing the EMO with EMO1 – 9362 properties (previously 10,168). Introducing EMO1 to new properties impacted by landslip susceptibility – 1869 properties (previously 3259). No change to the EMO2 (debris flow) mapping was recommended. During the discussion by councillors, councillors Jim Child, Gareth Ward, Peter McIlwain, Jeff Marriott and mayor Richard Higgins spoke of their support for the amendment. “Wouldn’t you rather have that done so there’s peace of mind when you do a development on a property in one of these areas, you’ve done the proper analysis before you go to build,” Cr Child said. “The overlay will now affect my own property as well but I’m satisfied that we have put in the work and hired the right consultants,” Cr Ward said. “What we’re actually doing here with this overlay is a preventative measure, we’re not in the process of identifying risk per se, it’s about preventing risk in the future,” Cr McIlwain said. Councillors Tim Heenan and Len Cox OAM had some reservations. “Michael Buxton has standing over many decades of substantial planning in the whole of the city of Melbourne… it concerns me greatly that he submitted samples of rock and soil and explaining that LiDAR doesn’t understand the underlying geology in the ground, it concerns me greatly that it was obviously brushed off with his submission to the panel,” Cr Heenan said. The motion was carried with only Cr Cox voting against.
CoRE gets cash back as children’s centre pays off debt By Gabriella Vukman A Yarra Ranges community renewable energy initiative is continuing to grow, with the first organisation to receive funding through the scheme now having fully repaid its interest-free loan. Robyn Jane Children’s Centre was the first recipient of Healesville Community Renewable Energy Inc’s (Healesville CoRE) Community Energy Revolving Fund, with solar panels installed at the centre in 2021. The project was made possible by a $90,000 Federal Government grant awarded to Healesville CoRE in 2019 to support solar installations at three local not-for-profit organisations. Rather than distributing the grant as oneoff funding, Healesville CoRE established the revolving fund, allowing community organisations to access solar without the upfront cost. Under the model, organisations repay an interest-free loan using the savings generated by their solar system. Once the loan is repaid, the organisation owns the system and keeps the ongoing savings, while Healesville CoRE can use the repaid funds to support another community project. Robyn Jane Children’s Centre Manager Jo Davenport said the loan opportunity has left the centre with additional funds it can return to the community. “We are very grateful to have been recipients of Healesville CoRE’s Community Energy Revolving Fund. “The system has allowed the Centre to continue towards its goal of being as sustainable as possible. “It is great that that money can go back into the community.” Healesville CoRE president Karen Roberts said the repayment marked an important mile-
8 MAIL | Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
Left to right: the Robyn Jane Children’s Centre Manager Jo Davenport, Healesville CoRE president Karen Roberts, Children’s Centre assistant Manager Jess Haynes, and Healesville CoRE Technical Projects Manager Leo de Jong. (Gabriella Vukman: 577727) stone for the organisation. “We’re tremendously excited about this. “We were supposed to just put solar on three buildings and then walk away but we have created the revolving fund so we can use the funds on more buildings.” The Robyn Jane Children’s Centre received an interest-free loan of approximately $20,000 for its solar installation, with the system’s savings allowing the centre to repay the loan. The centre is now able to retain the savings generated by its solar system, while the repaid money can be reinvested into another local project. For Healesville CoRE, that is the central idea behind the revolving fund. “A lot of community groups would love to have solar, but they just don’t have the upfront cost, or the capital to do that,” Ms Roberts said. “This interest-free loan allows more community groups to get on board and therefore means
that more solar can be installed in Healesville and the surrounding area.” “This system helps local organisations with their power bills and combats climate change at the same time.” Since the Robyn Jane installation, the fund has supported solar projects at the Healesville Living & Learning Centre, St Brigid’s Primary School and the Healesville Lions Club. In February this year, the Lions Club had two six-kilowatt solar systems installed, one on its Op Shop and another on its Community Hall. Yarra Valley FM also installed solar panels and a battery through the revolving fund in 2024. Healesville CoRE technical manager Leo de Jong said the organisation was now looking at where the next installation could take place. One possibility is the historic courthouse, where U3A has rooms, although the project presents challenges because of surrounding
trees. The organisation is also investigating a potential project at another childcare centre in Queen’s Park. Ms Roberts said the fund could potentially support another two projects now that the Robyn Jane loan had been repaid. “We’re hoping to branch beyond Healesville as well. “We’re looking at potential recipients throughout the Yarra Ranges.” She said the organisation was particularly keen to hear from community groups that could benefit from solar but lacked the money to cover the upfront installation cost. “We want organisations to come to us. “If any community groups out there would like to save money on their power bill, they can come to us at Healesville CoRE.” The revolving fund is not the only way Healesville CoRE is working to help the community transition to renewable energy. The organisation also runs a home energy efficiency check-up program, where volunteers assess homes and provide advice about ways residents can improve energy efficiency and reduce their bills. It also holds free community events focused on energy and sustainability. Ms Roberts said the organisation’s focus had evolved since it was established in 2017. “Today, our mission statement is that we’re here to assist the community transition to renewable energy.” However, like many community organisations, Healesville CoRE is currently facing a shortage of volunteers. For more information on Healesville CoRE head to: healesvillecore.org.au
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School hits road for charity By Claudia Mather On Wednesday 9 September, 20 students, two teachers, and two wellbeing supporters from Healesville High School braved the cold to participate in a nine-kilometre walk around Healesville. The walk was part of the Out of the Shadows Walk event created by non-profit organisation Lifeline to raise awareness for Suicide Prevention Day (10 September). Tragically, over 3000 Australians lose their lives to suicide every year, and Lifeline receives over one million contacts from people in crisis each year. The Out of the Shadows Walk encourages people to walk as a personal tribute to family and friends or to show support for Australians experiencing emotional distress or mental illness. Year 11 Healesville High School student Tia Montgomery participated in this year’s walk and created her own fundraising page alongside the school’s. “I decided to take part in this walk and take it upon myself to create a fundraiser because I know and understand what so many people suffer through every single day,” she said. Ms Montgomery has raised $266 so far for Lifeline, and Healesville High has raised $881. Every $39 donated to Lifeline means one person can be connected to Lifeline’s crisis support hotline. “It is so incredibly important to spread awareness for suicide prevention because so many people are unaware of the devastating and ugly truth behind suicide in Australia,” Ms Montgomery said. Raising awareness highlights the importance of overcoming mental health stigma and represents a commitment to preventing further deaths by suicide. The Healesville High walkers spent two and a half hours outside in nature, showing their commitment to raising suicide prevention awareness. They started at the school, before making their way to Maroondah Reserve Park, where they
The students trekked through the Maroondah Reserve Park, Hendersons Road loop and returned via Donnellys Weir. walked through the park to Hendersons Road loop, up the Maroondah Forest Track and returned to Healesville High via Donnellys Weir. “It was very cold. Some parts of the walk were harder than others, but my motivation was that whatever pain or agony we are feeling now is nothing compared to the feelings of those who are suffering through the battles of their own minds,” Ms Montgomery explained. Ms Montgomery has been motivated by her own mental health battles and encouraging support from her family to participate in this year’s walk. “It’s so important for people to find ways to reach out and talk about anything that is on their mind because it can bring you so much support,” she said. All the money raised by Ms Montgomery and her school will be donated to Lifeline for their crisis support hotline, which is used to connect those who need it and bring hope to people in crisis. If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health, Lifeline is available 24 hours, seven days a week on 13 11 14.
The rain held off for Healesville High School’s students on Wednesday 9 September. (Supplied)
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SES takes to the stairs By Gabriella Vukman Healesville SES was represented at this year’s annual Firefighter Stair Climb at Melbourne’s Crown Metropol on Saturday, September 12. Volunteer at Healesville SES Calum Slinn took on 28 gruelling floors of stairs in a bid to get the community talking about the mental health challenges faced by emergency service workers. Mr Slinn carried 25 kilograms of operational equipment, along with an array of firefighters and emergency service personnel from across Australia and overseas on the day. For Mr Slinn, the event was not about the physical challenge. He wants people to understand what emergency service volunteers and professionals can be exposed to during their work and the impact those experiences can have long after a job is finished. “I decided early on that I actually don’t care about raising money,” he said. “I want people to talk about this.” The event raised over $1.1 million for cancer research and crisis support, with money going towards Lifeline, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and the 000Foundation. While the national event had a fundraising target of $1 million, Mr Slinn said his personal goal was to create conversations about the mental health pressures faced by emergency service workers. He believes encouraging people to talk about the issue can be just as valuable as making a donation. “I would rather have people sit down for 10 minutes with 10 different people and talk about the mental health challenges faced by emergency services people, than for someone to donate $100.” “If a hundred people who had never thought about it start to think about just what trauma and working in the emergency services does to our volunteers, and the professionals, that would be a win for me.” “Yes professionals are paid, but they are not paid to deal with the mental stress of the job.” Mr Slinn said the stairclimb was easier than he anticipated. “The flights of stairs were inconsistent lengths and I couldn’t get a rhythm going, but it was easier overall than what I thought it would be.”
Healesville SES member Calum Slinn is excited to take to the stairs. (Gabriella Vukman: 577143) “The fact that there was always someone behind me spurred me on. The hardest part was between the 25th and 27th levels, just knowing that the last level was close, but not close enough.” Overall, Mr Slinn said he felt drained but relaxed post-climb. “It was congratulations all round,” he said. “I made it!” Mr Slinn has been an SES volunteer since 2007 and joined the Healesville unit in 2017. As a section leader, he is one of the more experienced members of the unit and takes responsibility for a crew during jobs, while also helping with training and instruction. He says volunteering appeals to him because the work is challenging on both a physical and mental level. It requires volunteers to stay physically fit
while also assessing situations, making decisions and adapting quickly. The stair climb, however, presented a very different type of challenge, being his first attempt after his first registration was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, everything finally fell into place. Slinn’s preparation for the climb involved walking uphill, climbing stairs and carrying increasingly heavy loads. Mr Slinn said the Healesville SES has been highly supportive of his decision to participate in the stair climb, as have his colleagues across the emergency services. For him, that support reinforces the importance of looking after the people who spend their time looking after others. He hopes the stair climb will continue to en-
courage people to learn more about organisations such as Lifeline and the 000Foundation, which provide support to people experiencing mental health difficulties and crisis. Mr Slinn has personally used Lifeline and knows many others who have sought help from support organisations. The 28-storey climb is, in part, a symbol of the weight emergency workers can carry, both physically and emotionally. And while Mr Slinn survived 25 kilograms of equipment up the Crown Metropol on Saturday, he hopes the heavier issue will be the one people continue discussing long after he reached the top. For a volunteer who has spent almost two decades responding when other people need help, the stair climb was his opportunity to turn the focus back on to the people behind the emergencyservice uniforms.
Yarra Junction CFA get out in force with no fire in sight By Oliver Winn A firetruck and firefighters were out at Yarra Junction Woolworths on 5 September, but this time they weren’t turning out to a fire. The Yarra Junction CFA celebrated Father’s Day with a raffle draw that raised money for crucial brigade upgrades. It saw the brigade raise less than $4000 and give gifts for lucky raffle winners. Yarra Junction CFA captain Steve Spoor said it was a perfect day for some good old community engagement and fundraising. “It was beautiful to see that the weather held off for us, which was really good. “Woke up in the morning, and it was raining, and went, ‘Oh, no.’ But by the time we set up it was windy, there was no rain, so that was really good,” Mr Spoor said. Some 2500 raffle tickets were sold to locals, who, while waiting for the raffle draw, enjoyed some classic Aussie snags and made conversation with the volunteer firefighters. “We spent the rest of the morning just doing a sausage sizzle and a bit of community education and stuff like that, which was awesome,” Mr Spoor said. Yarra Ranges Council O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child drew the raffle to a crowd of roughly 20 people. Lucky locals won a wide range of prizes, including wine, window tint, vouchers for fuel and food, and VIP packages at local entertainment venues, among others. To top off the day, a few generous locals made extra donations to the brigade. “Had some really nice generous donations too on that day, which was beautiful to see.
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“We had a couple hundred dollars donated by one fella, local to Yarra Junction, I believe he was. “Didn’t want anything; just walked up and just handed us the money and then just walked off,” Mr Spoor said. Taken aback by the random act of kindness, the brigade members offered the man a couple of free snags and a drink. “The man said to us, ‘No, this is just for you guys, for the work you do.’ “So to see that from the community is very humbling,” Mr Spoor said. He said the community support was “just amazing”. The funds raised by the brigade will go towards essential firetruck upgrades, a thermal imaging camera, and some new hose pieces. As the summer season approaches, Mr Spoor said the best way the community can support the brigade is to prepare their properties and get fire ready. “There’s always more preparation needed, especially from everyone. I suppose that preparation starts from everyone around their own house, being able to clean their gutters and clean their leaf litter up on their lawns and too many trees that are close to the house, all that sort of stuff. “But if we go on predictions, then yeah, El Niño is around, unfortunately, at the moment, so the winter that we’ve just had has been a little bit drier than what we would have liked. “Whether that means we’ll have something in the Valley, fingers crossed that we won’t, but no doubt we will be going somewhere in Victoria to lend a helping hand, that’s for sure,” Mr Spoor said.
L-R: Yarra Junction CFA captain Steve Spoor with O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child. (Supplied)
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Donna reflects on a heartwarming foster care journey By Claudia Mather As Victoria gears up for Foster Care Week from 13-19 September, Mooroolbark local Donna Finegan reflects upon how opening her door as a respite foster carer for the past eighteen months has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. Ms Finegan finds great joy in providing a warm blanket of comfort, love and safety for the children she cares for. “It’s like being a parent; it’s a hard job, but the most rewarding job you could ever do helping somebody.” Respite care provides regular and ongoing support to a child or young person in a current foster care placement. This is done through weekends and brief stays, usually once a month. It allows full time foster carers to have a break while giving children the opportunity to experience other environments and new experiences. Without being in the right place at the right time, Ms Finegan would not have known foster caring was an option for her. “I didn’t think I could do it working full time, but being in respite means you can do it on the weekends.” “I wanted to do some sort of voluntary work, because you look at all the awful things in the world and think ‘what can I do in my own backyard?’ One day I went to a market and VACCA was there,” she explained. The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is a statewide Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) which services children, young people, families and community members in Victoria. VACCA explained to Ms Finegan that she had the opportunity and flexibility to foster, while working full time, through the respite
Donna Finegan shares her warmth through respite foster care. (Supplied) care. “I thought wow. That’d be amazing. So, that’s how it just sort of fell into my lap in the right place at the right time.” “I’ve had the same child come to me once a month for 18 months. So we’ve built up a relationship together,” Ms Finegan said. “It’s like being a Nan because I haven’t got any of my own grandchildren, it’s just a wonderful experience.” “We hang out, we come to Healesville Sanctuary, we go to the pictures a lot, we go to Lilydale lake and ride bikes and just do the fun things you would with a grandchild.” Ms Finegan noted that he has truly become a part of her family, with her own adult chil-
dren embracing roles akin to those of an aunt or uncle. “It’s a real family situation. You have your hard times and your wonderful times,” she smiled. “At first he was very wary of me, but now he’ll give me a hug goodnight, read stories and things like that,” she said. In order to learn how to be a foster parent, Ms Finegan participated in up to six months of training through VACCA. This included learning about culture. “Which is really important because for these kids it’s not only important to have a safe place, because they’re all looking for safety as soon as they walk through the door, but to have a cul-
turally safe place,” she said. “I’m very passionate about being an ally to First Nations people and to making sure that I’m doing the right things with the kids.” From talking about culture, to hanging First Nations flags and artworks, Ms Finegan learnt how to create a culturally safe environment for the children she cared for. “The training with them is fabulous, it’s really thorough. I have a worker from VACCA who will contact me after I’ve seen the children and see how I went and if there’s anything they can do to help. It’s really good support,” she said. Foster care requires a high degree of emotional intelligence and involves acknowledging that building a stable home environment is a gradual process. “It can be very challenging for the children, going from one environment into another, so it takes time to build that relationship and you’ve just got to go with the flow and let them be themselves and warm up to you and learn about you,” Ms Finegan explained. “If you can just give them that safety, they’ll slowly open up to you and build a relationship.” Ms Finegan hopes she can continue to connect with the boy as he grows up. “We just have this really good connection and he’s just so eager to learn about First Nations culture,” she smiled. Demand continues to grow for foster carers across Victoria, including the outer east. Foster care is not a one size fits all approach. People from different backgrounds, experiences and family types can be eligible to help make a difference in a child’s life. Foster care providers, along with Ms Finegan, encourage people in positions to support children needing stability, love and connection to consider fostering.
‘They just want to be loved’ By Oliver Winn As a foster carer with Anglicare Victoria, Yarra Ranges mother Kodie can see the genuine good her care gives for young people who need it most. “I love seeing the change that I can make in these kids, no matter how short a timeframe I have them. Every kid that I’ve had, I’ve seen a change in them for the positive,” she said. From driving lessons to nighttime tuck-ins, she’s helped lots of children in a wide variety of ways in the last two years. Kodie’s story is one of many being celebrated for this year’s Foster Care Week, which takes place from 13 to 19 September. She said it’s been a “super rewarding” experience to watch children grow and “break the cycle” of past life events. “I think that no matter what these kids have been through, and no matter the age of them or the trauma that they’ve been through, most of them just need an adult who cares about them.” Kodie got into foster care through a friend two years ago, and since then, she’s never looked back. She now regularly cares for foster children alongside two of her own. “I’ve got a nine and a ten-year-old, both boys, and they love it. I also have stepsons who are seventeen and twenty, and they absolutely adore all the foster kids as well,” she said. “My kids, all four of them, have absolutely thrived on being an older sibling, being a role model, or being a younger sibling to these kids in care.” She said her children have learnt kindness and empathy through caring for others. “My nine-year-old says when he grows up, he wants to be a foster carer. He can see the amazing difference that we’re making to these kids in our lives,” she said. Though the Yarra Ranges isn’t known as an area with many foster children, Kodie said you’d be surprised. “I grew up in the Yarra Ranges, and people assume that in our little bubble, there are not kids in the system. “They sort of look around and go, ‘This is a friendly, loving town, and we don’t have a lot of
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Kodie is a a mum, personal trainer, business owner and volunteer. (Supplied) foster kids,’ but that’s not the case,” she said. It highlighted Anglicare Victoria chief executive officer Paul McDonald’s concerns about foster carer availability in Victoria. Since 2020, the number of households actively providing foster care across the state has dropped 18 per cent. Meanwhile, Victoria’s east has the secondlowest share of active foster carers in the state, according to the 2025 Foster Carer Snapshot Report. “Every child deserves this, but sadly we don’t have enough carers to meet the current need,” Mr McDonald said. “We’re calling on Victorians from all walks of life to consider foster caring – whether you’re single, married, renting or part of the LGBTQIA+ community – there is a child right now needing
your care.” Kodie encouraged those on the fence about foster caring to give it a crack as it’s not all what the stereotypes make it out to be. “I definitely had this idea that all foster kids were hard… So many of these kids come in and they are genuinely the most kind-hearted, beautiful little kids who are so grateful for the opportunity that they’ve been given by coming into a safe house. “Not all of them want to run away and run back home and throw tantrums and be really defiant. They just want to be loved,” she said. While some children’s needs and situations can be more challenging than others, she said Anglicare Victoria always makes sure its foster carers are supported. “With the help of Anglicare Victoria, it doesn’t
all come down to the foster carer being there long term. A lot of this system is about reunification, and a lot of these kids do return to their family,” she said. Kodie said people can make their foster care arrangements work around their job, not the other way around. ”The other barrier is that people assume that when you’ve got a foster kid, you can’t work, and obviously the cost of living is hard – everyone has to work. “But there are so many kids out there that need help that can fit into your life and your routine that you’ve already got, and you don’t have to change your entire life to become a foster carer.” To learn more about becoming a foster carer or to register for an upcoming information session, visit the Anglicare Victoria website.
Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 | MAIL 11
NEWS
Healesville movie matinee fundraiser approaching By Gabriella Vukman As spring appears and the sun pops out, St Brigid’s Parish Care Group is already thinking about Christmas. The Healesville-based group is scheduled to host a charity movie matinee at the Memo on Sunday 11 October to support their Christmas Hamper Drive. The event will run from 1 to 4 pm and attendees are welcome to stay for afternoon tea, games and a raffle draw after watching ‘The Sheep Detective’. Member of St Brigid’s Parish Care Group Denise Phillips said the group’s Christmas hamper initiative comes at a time where locals are feeling the financial pinch. “As costs rise, it is harder to provide even basic essentials, leaving individuals and children in need.” “We rely on donations and fundraising to continue our long-running Christmas Hamper initiative, which now supports more people than ever,” she said. “Our aim is to provide some support and hopefully brighten Christmas Day with vouchers, staple foods, treats and children’s gifts and let them know that they are not alone and that the community cares.”
St Brigid’s Parish Care Group supports more than 500 individuals and family members through crisis support, advocacy, sponsorship, financial assistance, food via the Good Market, bread runs, meal delivery and outreach to vulnerable, ill or disabled people. Ms Phillips said the Group relies heavily on support from the local community to sustain its initiatives. “We do not receive official funding,” she said. “Over time, we have established relationships with other community organisations and local businesses, who generously contribute through donations of vouchers, products and or financial assistance. All of the money raised from our organisation goes back into the community as we have no overheads and our volunteers provide their time and resources for free.” The Care Group was founded in the early 1990’s and today has over 40 volunteers. Last year the group provided more than 100 hampers, 60 care parcels, and gifted to 250 children. Ms Phillips said the Group’s volunteers witness the daily struggles of locals struggling financially. “Sometimes a kind face, a chat and support is all that is needed to make a difference,” she said. “Being able to provide care and help
those in need is deeply rewarding.” Ms Phillips encouraged all members of the community to come along to the October fundraiser, and bring some cash along with them. “Please join us for a fun afternoon with the opportunity to win prizes while enjoying a movie and connecting with others in the community,” she said. “By attending our fundraiser and joining in on the fun you can help us continue our Christmas Hamper drive.” The Care Group will provide savoury and sweet treats for a $5 donation after the movie. Tickets to the fundraiser movie are $10 and can be purchased at Yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ culturetracks Each child will receive a Children’s Raffle ticket for a chance to win a small prize. The main raffle will also feature local vouchers, wines and spirits, and gifts, with tickets available on the day, along with some fundraising games for attendees to join in on. “We are fortunate to live in the Yarra Valley, where many businesses and individuals understand the need to support neighbours facing loss, hardship or a tough time,” Ms Phillips said. “Please come along on Sunday 11 October at the Memo, in Healesville and support our Christmas Hamper Drive.”
The St Brigid’s Parish Care Group’s fundraiser will support their christmas hamper initiative. (Nic Smit; unsplash).
Taking tea and tales to top By Gabriella Vukman A Healesville family business is taking the flavours and stories of the Yarra Ranges to the heart of Australian democracy, with Botanical Brothers Tea now showcased at Parliament House in Canberra. The Botanical Brothers Tea Company, founded by Healesville-based business owners James Harris and his partner, has spent the past month showcasing its locally inspired teas as part of the National Showcase initiative. The business was recently invited to Parliament House, where its products were displayed alongside other Australian producers and attracted interest from politicians, parliamentary staff and visitors. For Mr Harris, the opportunity is about more than putting a packet of tea on a shelf outside the region. He said it is a chance to tell the story of the growers, producers and landscape behind the product. “It is very important to us to showcase the beautiful producers of the Yarra Valley,” Mr Harris said. “It is great to show other people the rich depth of produce that comes out of the region.” Botanical Brothers was established after Mr Harris, who had stopped drinking alcohol, began looking for more interesting non-alcoholic alternatives. Tea presented an opportunity to combine that interest with a desire to work with local producers. The business began approaching growers across the Yarra Valley, including CherryHill Orchards and other local farms, looking at ways their produce could be incorporated into distinctive tea blends. “Consumers are very aware nowadays and they want to know the backstory to the product they are consuming,” Mr Harris said. “When people are looking for teas now, they’re looking for that provenance,” he said. “It is like wine. They want to know about the soil, the weather conditions, and how the farmer or producer has actually grown that fruit.” That connection between product and place is also helping the business promote the Yarra Ranges beyond its traditional customer base. Mr Harris said the Canberra showcase was the company’s first significant opportunity to tell its story outside the region after initially focusing on local providers and retailers. “We have been focused on local providers and retails until now, so getting that recognition from Canberra is fantastic.” “It’s really important to be able to tell those local stories.” Federal Member for Casey Aaron Violi MP said seeing Botanical Brothers represented at Parliament House was a proud moment for the
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Mr Harris along with Aaron Violi, Senator Sue Lines, and Milton Dick MP (Supplied). region. “It was a proud moment meeting James and seeing The Botanical Brothers Tea featured in Parliament House – a testament to the hard work of this family-owned Healesville business, and the incredible Yarra Valley growers who help bring their products to life,” Mr Violi said. “Having a local family run business featured in the heart of Australian democracy is a powerful reminder that our local products belong on the national stage.” “The National Showcase is an important initiative that gives small businesses across Australia the opportunity to have their products on show in Parliament.” Mr Violi said supporting small and family businesses was particularly important in the current economic environment. “As Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy, I am always looking at ways we can support small businesses to scale quality products and enter new markets through the digital economy, as well as how we can continue supporting them to tap
into export markets,” he said. He also criticised the Federal Government over funding for the Export Market Development Grant program, saying the Coalition would support small and family businesses through measures including lower taxes, cheaper energy, expanded Capital Gains Tax concessions and reduced red tape. For Mr Harris, the ultimate goal is to encourage people to discover the region and its producers for themselves. Botanical Brothers is preparing to open a shop in Healesville in October, with Mr Harris hoping it will become another way of introducing visitors to the breadth of food and beverage producers across the Yarra Valley. “We’re trying to attract people from outside of the region to come in and view the wonderful range of producers that are in the Yarra Valley,” he said. Groups including the Healesville Traders and local tourism networks provide opportunities for producers and businesses to collaborate and
promote the region as a destination for quality, locally made products. “There’s a really strong community,” Mr Harris said. “The producers and the growers all work together collaboratively and there’s a lot of opportunities to highlight the strength of the region.” “That is one of the wonderful things about being in Healesville. It is being able to work with different people to promote the area.” The Canberra event brought together a range of Victorian producers, including wine, chocolate and gin businesses, with Botanical Brothers standing out as the only tea brand. Mr Harris said the response demonstrated the interest that exists in the story behind locally made products. “There were a lot of conversations about how we produced the tea and who we work with,” he said. “It gives us an opportunity to promote the strength of our community. And we’re very proud to be part of that.”
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CFA calendar-shoot ‘fun’ By Gabriella Vukman The Healesville CFA has been busy creating its 2027 Community Calendar, featuring both businesses and brigade members. Across several weekends the brigade visited and photographed a range of local businesses, with many generously providing their time, hospitality and support. The brigade visited 12 local businesses, snapping some playful pics at each venue. Beachworth Bakery Healesville was among the businesses that sponsored the calendar. Healesville Beachworth Bakery Manager Kylie Bray said she was approached by the CFA. “The calendar fundraiser was something a little different, and a fun way for us to support a great local organisation, while showing our connection to the community.” “Being a part of the local community is really important to us.” Ms Bray said the calendar shoot was ‘a lot of fun.’ “We enjoyed being creative and working with the CFA crew, who are a great bunch of people. “If we can have a laugh while helping them raise money for much needed equipment, it is absolutely worthwhile.” Healesville CFA Fourth Lieutenant Finn Deacey said the calendar was a new initiative. “This year, the Healesville CFA decided to take a more creative approach to fundraising and created a community calendar after being inspired by Hahndorf CFS.” “The calendar provided a unique opportunity to connect with local businesses and the community.” “This fundraising operation allowed the brigade to deliver community education around bushfire preparedness and checking smoke alarm batteries. According to Mr Deacey, putting together the calendar involved much fun.
“The most memorable moment was when we took a group photo, which brought everyone together in a different way aside from formal brigade activities and operational incidents,” he said. “Many laughs were had on the day.” Mr Deacey approached a variety of businesses, ranging from a barber, butcher, florist, bakery and a printing company to name a few. “The generosity of the businesses means a lot to the brigade, from the initial sponsorship and donation of goods to appear in the photos, through to coming into work outside of hours to help facilitate the photo shoot with volunteers,” he said. “It has all been greatly appreciated.” According to Mr Deacey, the planning, coordination, actual photo shoots and photo editing have taken a while to complete. “Many late nights and hours have been put into the production by brigade members.” “More than 30 members have volunteered their time to appear in different photos, support the project and help raise funds for the brigade.” “The calendar will be very amusing and will highlight the work of businesses through their goods and services involving brigade members. With the final round of photos now completed, the brigade extends its thanks to all participating businesses and members who helped make the project possible. Available for purchase towards the end of the year, the calendars can be bought for $15 from an array of local businesses and the Healesville market when the brigade attends. Businesses interested in providing an opportunity for the brigade to sell the calendar, can contact healesville.4lt@cfa.vic.gov.au. Mr Deacey said the funds generated through the fundraising initiative will support the brigade with brigade-owned appliance replacement and acquisition of equipment such as torches, additional branches and small gear to help the brigade support our community when they need us most.
Healesville CFA members jumped in behind the counter for a picture at The Mare. (Healesville CFA)
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NEWS
Purcell seeks second term By Callum Ludwig The Animal Justice Party’s Georgie Purcell is set to contest her seat in Northern Victoria again in 2026. Ms Purcell was first elected at the 2022 state election is currently the youngest woman in Victorian parliament. Ms Purcell said representing Northern Victoria is really important to her as someone who is a born and bred regional Victorian. “I know firsthand, for as long as I can remember, growing up in a town that had limited access to services, we didn’t have any public transport where I lived, we didn’t have a supermarket, we didn’t have a doctor’s clinic,” she said. “Everything was traveling distance and that is certainly still the experience of so many regional Victorians, where we often don’t have the things we need, and we often don’t get our fair share and in the circumstances that we do, it’s certainly not as accessible as for Victorians who live in cities or metropolitan areas. “I’ve been really committed to, in my time in Parliament, trying to change that.” Ms Purcell has lived in Kyneton, in Northern Victoria, for the last decade, having grown up in Western Victoria and returned to the regions after spending a short stint in the city. She is the proud mum to her daughter Lilah and also looks after 15 sheep, three horses, three ex-puppy farm dogs and four rescue cats. Ms Purcell said she’s super lucky, given that it’s such a large electorate, that she lives right in the middle of it. “It takes up half the state, and it makes the travel that comes with work that little bit easier, being in the halfway point,” she said. “I’m involved in many community groups
Georgie Purcell is seeking a second term representing Northern Victoria. (File) here locally, particularly the local women’s footy team, the Wedgies, and I was involved in their fight, which made national news last year, over a twelve-month period after they walked away from the footy club following rampant sexism and misogyny without a league to play in. “That was a big battle that I was really proud to play a role in, where they ultimately got the outcome, and they’ve really set a standard for equity and inclusion in sport, which is obviously a really relevant topic right now across the country.” Ms Purcell also sponsors the Woodend Golf Club which takes measures to encourage native wildlife onto and around the course, rather than remove them. She has formed relationships in the Yarra Ranges too, despite the wide expanses of the Northern Victoria region, having helped support local services Waratah Wildlife Shelter and Forever Friends Animal Rescue. Across Northern Victoria, Ms Purcell highlight-
ed a number of political issues of concern to her, as well as animal justice of course. “In Northern Victoria, we know when it comes to healthcare, particularly women’s healthcare, right across the region that I represent, we’re really lacking in services and we have train lines that have been promised duplication that haven’t happened, including on the Bendigo line, while the Mildura still doesn’t have a passenger rail, which I also represent, and I’ve been involved in their campaign,” she said. “As an Animal Justice Party MP, something that I think is really important to show and to tell is this idea that caring for animals and caring for their welfare is a city-centric issue when firsthand I know that is not the case. “In fact, the values I hold come from growing up in regional Victoria, and each and every day across different parts of the region I represent, I hear from so many different people who are concerned about the treatment of animals and acknowledg-
ing the way in which they benefit and improve our lives that laws don’t consider. Other policies herself and the Animal Justice Party are championing include having pets and animals considered in family violence matters, given the significance they can hold in a victim making the decision to leave, improving access to healthcare (particularly women’s healthcare) and childcare services in the regions, addressing logging practices taking place for fire management in state and national parks, helping to reduce wildlife strikes on roads which impact road users and animals, improving inclusive infrastructure in local sport and addressing the rise of domestic violence. Ms Purcell said she has spent the last four years showing that despite the fact that she’s from the Animal Justice Party, she certainly doesn’t just consider animal welfare issues. “I take my role as an elected representative really seriously, whenever a constituent comes to us with any concern, we ensure that we always get back to them, that we pursue their matter, and work actively within communities who want change,” she said. “Recently, we’ve shown that with planning laws, with Castlemaine and Healesville trying to reject applications for McDonald’s being built in their towns and we’ve dealt with sporting clubs, we’ve dealt with roads issues, we’ve dealt with pedestrian crossings, no issue is off the agenda for my office,” she said. “The Animal Justice Party’s slogan is ‘Animals, People, Planet’ and we’ve worked really hard to show that they’re not just words, we put them into action. “I’m always happy to hear from anyone across the community even if they think that they largely won’t agree with me, it’s my role to help out, and I’m always willing and committed to doing that.”
Talia Gulpilil representing Vallence back to defend seat Greens for Eildon district By Callum Ludwig
By Callum Ludwig Talia Gulpilil is running for the Greens in the district of Eildon at the 2026 state election. A mum, First Nations Organiser and aspiring homeowner shared with the Star Mail why she has put her hand up to run for state politics. Ms Gulpilil said having grown up in Healesville, the Yarra Valley has always felt like home to her. “My connection to this region is both personal and professional. I’ve lived, worked and raised my family here and have seen first hand the strengths of our community. I’ve also spent much of my working life in community services, advocating and working alongside people whose voices aren’t always heard in decision making,” she said. “I’m running because I believe our communities deserve a strong voice in parliament. In Healesville the house prices have continued to climb and I’ve watched many family members and friends get priced out of a community they’ve been in their whole lives. “I choose the Greens because their values align with mine: equality, social justice, protecting our beautiful environment and supporting communities.” Housing and homelessness are two key issues for Ms Gulpilil, who is particularly in favour of the Greens’ proposals to increase investment in public and affordable housing, strengthen renters’ rights and address underlying causes of homelessness. Ms Gulpilil said for her, it comes back to fairness and equality “People are working hard and still finding it increasingly difficult to afford a secure home, pay their bills and give their families the life they deserve, we also need to talk seriously about access to healthcare and essential services across regional communities,” she said. “Where we live shouldn’t determine whether we access the support we need. If I was elected, I would make sure big corporations are paying their fair share of tax to fund the things we all need.
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Healesville-raised Talia Gulpilil is the Greens candidate for Eildon. (Supplied) “Housing is one of the biggest issues, housing is a human right and we need governments that are prepared to treat it that way. We know the solutions to these problems, and Eildon deserves a representative who has the courage to make them happen.” Ms Gulpilil recently launched her campaign with an event at Watts River Brewing in Healesville where she was joined by 40 Greens supporters and volunteers. Ms Gulpilil said she’d encourage people to do their research before they vote. “Look at the candidates, look at the policies,” she said. “Policies help you make the best informed decision about who you believe will best represent you and your community. “For me, this election is about making sure people have a real choice and the information they need to make that choice confidently.” You can find out more and get in touch with Ms Gulpilil via greens.org.au/vic/person/ talia-gulpilil or taliagulpilil.com.au.
Bridget Vallence will be back to contest the seat of Evelyn at the 2026 state election. The incumbent Liberal MP has held the seat since taking over from former Liberal MP Christine Fyffe in 2018. Ms Vallence said it is a privilege to serve our community as local MP. “I’ll always advocate for our fair share of investment in roads, public transport, schools, health facilities and our emergency services,” she said. “However, some of the most rewarding work is done behind-the-scenes to help people when they need it the most. This includes securing emergency accommodation and longer-term housing for vulnerable people facing homelessness, securing access to health services for people in desperate need, supporting young people to access educational and job opportunities, or securing reimbursements for people and small businesses that received incorrect tax bills from the state government. “I will keep working hard every day to deliver for our community.” The seat of Evelyn has been held by the Liberal party since 2006, with Ms Vallence holding the district with a margin of 5.4 per cent in 2022. Ms Vallence said it’s time to fix Victoria and the Victorian Liberal team has a plan to deliver, with local people telling her their key priorities are community safety and easing the cost-of-living. “We’ll recruit 3000 more police, return PSOs to every metropolitan train station and invest in crime prevention and rehabilitation initiatives, our Liberal plan will deliver a key local priority to re-open Mooroolbark Police Station every day, after its doors were shut 4 days a week under Labor Government budget cuts. Importantly, the Victorian Liberals will stop the revolving door of bail and will introduce Break Bail, Face Jail laws with a tough new one-strike rule for bail. “After years of neglect, it is time to get dangerous and potholed roads fixed, and if elected our Liberal team will finally deliver the overdue safety upgrades to Maroondah Highway and Killara Road Coldstream. “Other local priorities include more investment for local education, health and recreational facilities, improving access to public transport including more buses and more bus routes, and ensuring sustainable funding for our local emergency services including the SES and CFA Fire Brigades.” Ms Vallence also highlighted other dangerous roads that need fixing including Warburton Highway in Seville East, Clegg and Wellington Roads in Wandin, and Hull Road in Mooroolbark.
Bridget Vallence is aiming to continue in her role as the Evelyn MP in 2026. (Supplied) Staying local, Ms Vallence highlighted her efforts to make vandalism of war memorials a separate offence and the need for better health and education facilities servicing Evelyn. “War memorial vandals will face jail and be forced to pay for the restoration. After the Labor Government refused, I worked very hard together with our local veteran community including Lilydale and Mt Evelyn RSLs to make this a Liberal policy – war memorial vandalism will be made a crime under an elected Liberal government,” she said. “After the Labor Government promised to upgrade and rebuild Maroondah Hospital at the 2018 and 2022 elections, they have failed to deliver by not allocating a cent to capital works and stripping their $1 billion commitment from the state budget. I will keep campaigning for Maroondah Hospital’s facilities to be upgraded so that it is modern and fit-for-purpose for local families and the health workforce. “Our local schools are wonderful but need facility upgrades and I’ll keep campaigning for upgrades to schools including Wandin North Primary School, Birmingham Primary School Mt Evelyn, Yarra Hills Secondary, Mooroolbark College, and more. Ms Vallence has been proud to see upgrades for Coldstream Primary School, Seville Primary School, Yarra Ranges Special Developmental School in Mt Evelyn, and Manchester Primary School in Mooroolbark in recent years. Taking a statewide lens, Ms Vallence said the Victorian Liberals’ 10-year economic plan will repair the budget, grow the economy, ease the costof-living for families and small business, and guarantee essential frontline services. “Only the Liberals will lower taxes, starting with scrapping the Emergency Services Tax, scrapping Stamp Duty for first home buyers up to $1 million, reversing Labor’s Land Tax hikes lowering Land Tax for 280,000 Victorians, and delivering Payroll Tax relief for 23,000 businesses,” she said.
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Zambezi earning his stripes There is a very exciting new arrival at Mansfield Zoo, and visitors now have the chance to meet one of the zoo’s newest and most striking residents. Zambezi, the zoo’s new zebra, has recently joined the Mansfield Zoo family and has been settling into his new surroundings. With his unmistakable black and white stripes and fascinating nature, Zambezi is already attracting plenty of attention and is set to become a favourite with visitors of all ages. His arrival is an exciting addition to Mansfield Zoo and gives families another wonderful animal to discover during their visit. As Zambezi becomes familiar with his new home, visitors can enjoy watching him explore his surroundings and settle into life at the zoo. For children especially, seeing a zebra up close is a memorable experience and a fantastic opportunity to learn more about these beautiful African animals. And Zambezi is just one of the many reasons to visit Mansfield Zoo. Set on a stunning 30 hectare property with sweeping views towards Mt Buller and beyond, Mansfield Zoo is one of the best kept secrets of Victoria’s High Country. It is a fabulous day out for the whole family, with an impressive collection of Australian and exotic animals. Once through the gates, visitors can discover a special place where children can interact with and hand feed a large variety of animals. Kangaroos, deer and guinea pigs roam freely, creating wonderful opportunities for close encounters. The zoo is also home to a colony of meerkats, marmosets and capuchin monkeys, llamas and alpacas, wombats, water buffalo, antelope and a variety of birds including red tailed black cocka-
Zambezi alongside his new neighbours. (Supplied) toos and peacocks. Another major highlight is the zoo’s magnificent African lions. Mansfield Zoo is home to two rare white lions, and visitors can experience the thrill of seeing these majestic animals during the daily feeding tour. Animal feeding is a highlight of the Mansfield Zoo experience, with visitors able to hand feed animals including kangaroos, deer, wallabies, emus, ostriches and llamas throughout the day. Feed buckets are available at the zoo, making it an interactive experience that children love.
The main zookeeper feeding takes place at 1.30pm on weekends, Victorian public holidays and Victorian school holidays, with the meerkat feeding following the lion feeding. It is a great opportunity to watch the animals at feeding time while learning more about them from the dedicated zookeepers. Mansfield Zoo is also perfect for family gatherings, with undercover picnic and barbecue areas where visitors can relax and enjoy lunch. For an unforgettable family adventure, gorgeous campsites are also available, allowing guests to spend the night under the stars and wake up surround-
ed by the sounds of nature. Bronwyn and Dave, along with their dedicated team, welcome visitors every day from 10am to 6pm, except Christmas Day. With the exciting arrival of Zambezi the zebra, alongside an incredible variety of Australian and exotic animals, Mansfield Zoo is the perfect place to get closer to wildlife and enjoy a memorable day in the beautiful Victorian High Country. Make sure you keep an eye out for Zambezi on your next visit and be among the first to welcome him to his new home at Mansfield Zoo.
Meet Zambezi Our Newest Arrival Enquire about our ‘Unforgettable Over Night Camping Experience’ Watch out for Zambezi, our Zebra coming soon to Mansfield Zoo Phone 03 5777 3576 1064 Mansfield Woods Point Road, Mansfield www.mansfieldzoo.com.au 12892787-KF38-26
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Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 | MAIL 15
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
‘Dynamic and whimsical’ By Oliver Winn An ever-evolving art installation has taken over the Yarra Valley Waterwheel for September. Titled Magick, Whispers, Trees, the exhibition offers an immersive, multisensory experience that transforms the exhibition space into a growing garden. Throughout the month, a series of whimsical workshops will be available for everyone to attend over the school holidays. The “dynamic art installation” was made by local artists Nicole Murray, Amy Williams and Tayla Hansen. With native shrubbery and plants covering the floor, the smell of nature wafting through the air, and the sound of wind whispering through the trees, the exhibition space feels like a pocket of temperate rainforest. Landscape designer and feltmaker Ms Murray said Magick, Whispers Trees put a new spin on past Waterwheel exhibitions. “I didn’t want it to be a traditional ‘hang things on the wall’. I wanted to actually put things into the space and live in the space,” Ms Murray, who is also the president of the Yarra Valley Waterwheel, said. Energy healer and herbalist Tayla Hansen said the exhibition was meant to evolve and grow over the month, reflecting the constant ebb and flow of the natural world. “Nature is not the same every day. You come in and things have grown, things have shifted, animals have moved through the space, and the energy has changed. “That’s all going to be encapsulated throughout the month as this evolves and grows,” she said. Florist Amy Williams hoped the garden would encourage people to act on their curiosities and
The exhibition runs until the end of September. (578045)
A new tenant decided to make itself at home in the exhibition space. (Oliver Winn: 578045) ask questions about the space. “Since I’ve moved to Warburton, I have a real interest in connecting land and plants, and I wanted people to be excited about it,” she said. At the exhibition’s opening on 5 September, the space’s tranquillity left crowds awestruck as they took in the atmosphere. Ms Murray drew upon her experience as a feltmaker to add “whimsical” hats and fairies throughout the exhibition, which are available for purchase.
“I wanted to show that also through the hats that I make, and the fact that they can be whimsical and fun, and you can have fun in the garden,” Ms Murray said. An artfully curated selection of dandelions, calendulas and wattles was placed throughout, courtesy of Ms Williams. She also made some tadpoles to celebrate the Poorneet (tadpole) Wurundjeri season. The exhibition will host a variety of workshops over September, including a felt hat workshop, in-
The space was transformed into a growing, living garden. (578045) cense making, wildflower circlet workshops and a potions workshop. There are many more workshops on offer and bookings can be made here: coshalchemy.com/ events-workshops/.
How one man is reshaping mental health conversation By Claudia Mather There is a general understanding that men’s mental health is not talked about enough. A pervasive stigma still floats through schools, workplaces and local sports clubs, often leaving men to feel that asking for help or showing emotion is a sign of weakness. Warburton-based filmmaker and support worker Zak Marrinan is choosing to cut through the stigma and highlight the importance of men’s mental health in his upcoming comedic short film, The Bayswater Bashers. Having experienced first hand the anxieties of not being enough and endlessly searching for external validation, something we are all guilty of, Mr Marrinan hopes his short film encourages not only young men, but everyone to steer away from that mindset and to believe in themselves. “I want the film to leave people feeling a little more hopeful and remind them that when we’re struggling, opening up and connecting with someone is often more powerful than tearing ourselves apart,” he explained. Mr Marrinan has more than 15 years of experience across film, television and commercial productions. Being inspired by the likes of Indie filmmaker Joel Haver, whose philosophy is to not wait for the big grant but to simply get out there, grab a camera and film something. “Another one of my big inspirations is Peter Jackson. He was a backyard filmmaker and he was into the practical. Lord of the Rings, I think, is still one of the most important groundbreaking films that has ever been made,” he laughed. As a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and RMIT University, he has been able to develop a diverse career both in front and behind the camera. His two previous short films, Animal Work and Last Chance, have screened at numerous local, national and international film festivals, including the LA Comedy Festival and the Japan Genre Celebration Film festival. “As a kid, I was like, I just want to be part of that industry in any capacity,” Mr Marrinan said.
16 MAIL | Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
Zak Marrinan directing his short film ‘Last Chance’. (Supplied) “The collaborators and people working behind the scenes to make the sets and the props and the costumes and the special effects. I just loved all of it,” he smiled. Like any job in the creative industries, there comes a moment when you are urged to consider if this is something you should pursue long term. “I was a year or so out of acting school. I went to 16th Street, who taught a lot about implementing different techniques,” Mr Marrinan explained. “It was just really hard to fund my own acting work or to survive as an actor out there.” “I spoke to my partner and she said, well, what is it that you want to do? And I just said VCA, which is a film school. And she’s like, right well that’s it. Film school,’ he said. Going to film school was something Mr Marrinan had always put off because of the expense and concerns about it being financially rewarding. He explained that he was too focused on thinking about what he should do rather than what he actually wanted to do. “I was like, no, I just need any job and I need to earn money and otherwise I’m gonna die,” he exasperated. “Madelaine, my fiance, truly encouraged me, and said, if that’s what you want to do, that’s what you do, you know?” Sometimes it takes just one person to pull you out of your mind and remind you to follow your heart.
Local filmmaker from Warburton Zak Marrinan (Laura Brearly) His upcoming short film follows four footy players who suffer a humiliating and devastating grand final loss. The captain, Luke, decides the best way to lift the team’s spirits is by organising an end-of-season camping trip. However, Luke has no idea what he is doing and is desperately trying to prove himself as a leader and inspire his teammates. “They’re sort of inspired by some local footy teams that I used to play for. I used to play for the Boronia Hawks in the under 13s and under 12s.” Mr Marrinan said. He hopes to portray the characters in a way he believes to be a more positive way to handle mental health. Focusing specifically on depression, anxiety and aggression. “What if the audience sees them as a few boofheads that don’t know anything and then the real magic trick being that by the end of the movie you really empathise with them and see that they’re just guys figuring out their lives too.” Mr Marrinan said it is a real skill to create characters that are challenging for audiences to empathise with but if it is achieved it defies expectations of who they are. His hope is that for men who constantly feel
like they need to put the mask on and fit into this warped ideal of masculinity, can step back and realise that there is space to open up and acknowledge that not knowing all the answers to life is more than okay. “Focussing on finding a better vessel for it rather than turning it into masochisticism or dominating the other person and humiliating them.” “I aim for my audience to laugh while also recognising something of themselves in the characters,” he explained. “My main actor, Oliver, was asking about what the tone is, and I said, it’s earnest. We’re not making fun of masculinity. We’re more just showing it for what it is.” Mr Marrinan has created a crowdfunding campaign through the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) for his project, with a target of $5,000. At this stage, the community has kindly contributed $2,600 towards the campaign which will support funding equipment, filming locations and other production costs. “I’m blown away by it, truly, I was not expecting the support to just roll out like that. This neighbourhood is beautiful. We are so encouraging,” he shook his head in disbelief. “I did put it off because of the cost of living. I felt guilty asking people to put money into this,” he explained. “It got to a point where I was like, I’ve just got to trust that like, the people have the faith, the people want to be part of this.” “What made me buck up and really push for the crowdfunding and stuff is that I actually think it’s important to show potential role models and potential inspirations.” Filming for this project will take place in just a few weeks and Mr Marrinan hopes that with the community’s support and generosity he can take it to a wider range of film festivals and make a bigger impact on those who need it. Mr Marrinan’s message with The Bayswater Bashers is a timely reminder that breaking down the stigma around men’s mental health starts with honest conversations and real connection.
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OPINION
Insurance issues ongoing When I speak with local residents and small business owners, two things are front of mind. They want to feel like the government has got their back through meaningful cost-of-living relief, and they want to feel safe in our community. Cost-of-living pressures take many forms, but one of the most common issues raised with me is insurance. Our region is one of the most beautiful places to call home, but our unique landscape leaves us uniquely exposed to natural disasters. The skyrocketing cost of insurance premiums, as well as challenges in finding suitable coverage, are felt across the region. To help locals address these challenges, I recently hosted a roundtable and community insurance information webinar alongside the In-
From my
desk Federal Member for Casey surance Council of Australia. This was a great way to begin the conversation on how we can work together as a community to address these challenges, focusing on reducing cost pressures and under-insurance, boosting emergency resilience and ensuring our small businesses and local groups have the coverage
CARTOON
they need to continue supporting our region. The reality is, small business owners in Victoria are doing it tough. Not only are they dealing with increasing costs and the burden of red tape, they are facing an escalating law and order crisis driven by the illicit tobacco trade. We’ve seen news headline after headline of the almost 200-tobacco related arsons and six homicides linked to organised crime syndicates. Innocent small businesses are being impacted by this senseless crime that is lining the pockets of criminals. We saw this in our own community when Branded Burgers & Bar in Seville was forced to close for 10 months following the firebombing of the neighbouring tobacconist in February 2024. The Coalition have said enough is enough.
We will cut the tobacco excise by 80 per cent, stripping away the huge price advantage that has driven smokers to the black market. We will back this up with a $200 million nationwide law enforcement surge, delivering more raids, seizures and arrests, shutting these illegal shops and stopping shipments at the border. Our plan includes regulating adult vapes and nicotine products and committing $60 million to a public advertising campaign focusing on the harms of tobacco. This will focus on reminding Australians of the dangers of smoking, as well as how the illicit tobacco trade fuels organised crime. We have a responsibility to protect kids from illegal tobacco and vaping products and to restore safety to local communities. That’s exactly what the Coalition’s plan will do.
Hope review: Top action By Hope Starring Hwang Jung-min, Jung Ho-yeon and Zo In-sung MA15+ 4.25/5 In Hope, a riveting South Korean action movie, police chief Ko Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and his community must contend with ferocious alien creatures rampaging through their village. Hope has some of the most enthralling action in years, and the opening action sequence in particular showcases writer-director Na Hong-jin’s mastery of concussive impact, white-knuckle speed, tense pauses and clean, easy-to-follow composition. The punchy sound design, powerful score by Michael Abels and especially the intricate rubble-strewn sets are incredible, and I predict Hope will be nominated for Best Production Design at the Oscars next year (and Wicker will be nominated for Makeup and Hairstyling). As Chief Bum-seok, Jung-min is an extremely expressive, committed actor, and succeeds in playing a jerk who you still root for. Hope contains a distinctly Korean blend of dark themes and carnage with stylised characters and quirky comedy: the humour is overall very funny but doesn’t detract from the dire situation, though a scatological flashback with an old man may
be too goofy for some viewers. The CGI for the aliens looks noticeably fake, but I’m not too bothered by unreal effects as long as there is clear artistry behind them (and the aliens are immensely intimidating, especially in the panic-inducing way they gallop and hurtle after their prey). Hope’s plot, including its efforts to humanise the aliens, is a little thin and the film ends on an abrupt sequelhook, but these are only minor issues when the characters are engaging, the humour is well-handled and the action is so off-the-charts awesome. Hope is a tense, amusing and tremendously exciting action movie, and further affirms South Korea’s status as a source of outstanding genre cinema. - Seth Lukas Hynes
Complex and atmospheric outback thriller Hello Dolly review This reviewer was living under a rock and only recently discovered bestselling Australian author Chris Hammer, after the ABC started showing the TV adaptation of his book Treasure and Dirt in July 2026. With that said, perhaps you want to read the book before watching the TV series. he choice can be quite rewarding, as the novel is atmospheric, complex and gripping, and very, very Australian. It cannot be set anywhere else in the world! The book tells the story of DS Ivan Lucic, who is sent from Sydney to the outback town of Finnegan’s Gap to investigate the death and crucifixion of an opal miner. His partner is DC Nell Buchanan, a local cop highly ambitious yet rather inexperienced – at one stage, the mistake she makes is rather bizarre and inexcusable. Ivan has his own problems as well, so the two flawed heroes have to prove themselves as proper police officers not just to each other and the townspeople but also to Professional Standards at headquarters. This creates some conflict of interest and a good deal of tension, and the dynamics between them reads well. The constant switch of POV allows readers to glimpse every side of this intricate case. As the plot thickens, many shades of humanity are revealed – the pitifully hapless, the bewilderingly quirky, the evils who are well connected and/or greased, and the rich and powerful who are brutally ruthless. Not to mention those good honest folks just trying to survive. Those still chasing their dreams. Those whose dreams have died. Perhaps crime novels are less about the investigations of assaults, murders, corruptions and cover-ups. Rather, they are stories of a few individuals whose
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PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN ambitions and greed have led to a range of despicable acts that impacted and even destroyed the lives and livelihoods of many ordinary and innocent people. Hammer explores these issues by weaving together multiple storylines showcasing an expansive ensemble of characters. One of the truly outstanding characters is the town itself, which is gritty, merciless and occasionally deadly, and that is not just because of the challenging landscape and unbearable heat. More importantly, in contrast to other fictional small towns that are often portrayed as chess boards for big criminal and/or corporate players, the Aussies in Finnegan’s Gap unite and fight back in their own unique ways. Perhaps that is why Treasure and Dirt is so well received by Australian readers. Chris Hammer will deliver the opening address for the 2026 Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival at Cameo Cinemas in Belgrave on Friday 9 October. He will also be part of a Crime Fiction panel on Saturday 10 October, where he will discuss his forthcoming novel Full Circle. Find more details here: dandyrangeslitfest.net/ tickets/.
•
The Round Hello Dolly A 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 Vangelder, while secretly plotting to win his heart instead. Production finishes on Sunday, 20 September. REVIEW: Friday, 11 September was the opening night of Hello Dolly, a delightful musical starring Susan Warner as Dolly Gallagher Levi, a matchmaker with her eyes on the half-millionaire Horace Vangelder. Warner was a delight to behold, a good strong voice with a good diction making it easy to understand the lyrics. Not only a good singer but also a good actress. An overall good interpretation of the character. John Leahy was Horace Vongelser, a grumpy Hay and Feed Store owner who worked his clerks too hard. His scenes with Dolly were amazing, and the way she twisted his remarks about not marrying her was a delight to behold. An excellent voice and a great interpretation of the character. His clerks were Cornelius Hackl played by Patrick Cottin and the young junior Barnaby Tucker was played by Nathaniel Calleja. Cornelius Hackl was Chief Clerk, having just been promoted for the second time to the same position. He was definitely a conman and decided to take the day off with Barnaby and go to New York and stay there till they got their first kiss. Barnaby went along with this because he would do whatever Cornelius said. Cottin as Cornelius handled the role with ex-
Kemp’s curtain call pertise and added to it with a good singing voice. Calleja as Barnaby had one thought in mind: to see the whale in the New York Museum, regardless of what Cornelius wanted. One good scene with the two of them with their ladies was in the scene in the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant when the two young clerks realised that they did not have enough money to entertain their friends. The two friends were from the Hat Shop for Ladies, Irene Molloy who owned the shop and her assistant Minnie Fay. Irene was played by Rafaela Cleeve Greens, a remarkable actress and a voice of an angel. Her voice was outstanding and her acting lived up to her voice. An amusing scene was when the girls decided to have the most expensive meal on the menu, but they did not realise that the boys only had a dollar between them. Minnie Fay was played by Hayley Wootten, another remarkable actress with a good future ahead of her. A fine voice and good acting skills. Some of the scenes were terrific, the dancing was excellent, and this correspondent’s congratulations must go to the choreographer, Wayne Robinson. PHD, CJF. Also, congratulations to the Director, Noel Browne, for a particularly good production.
Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 | MAIL 17
PUZZLES
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9-LETTER WORD 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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5 LETTERS ABACK AFTER ALIBI ALIGN AVERT BARDS BARNS CARGO COMMA DRESS DRIVE EAVES EDGES ENSUE ERRED EVADE EVENT HABIT HEATH HOIST HORSE
HOSTS IGLOO IRATE LEVEE LOINS LOSER MATTE OLIVE OMEGA OPENS OPERA OTHER PIANO PROBE RAVEN RINGS ROSES SLUSH START STRUM SWEET TAUNT
TEARS TEASE TENET TENTS THESE TONES TOTEM
7 LETTERS ESTATES HANDLER LEOTARD ONGOING RESTORE VENEERS
6 LETTERS ESKIES POODLE ROTORS STEREO
8 LETTERS DREAMERS ENTRUSTS SALESMAN SHINGLED
T H E S E O T H E R T O T E M P I A N O O P E R A E A V E S A B A C K T E N T S S T A R T R I D I D S D R E S S S E T S T E R E O S L U S H C E D E E S T A T E S E R A B A L D F A R T I R A T E C I T Y S H I N G L E D A V O R E S T O R E O N G O I N G D R E A M E R S W I N S G E E A V O S A N T S S T R U M N A G L E O T A R D H I L T O P E N S P O O D L E E G O H O R S E V E T R E V O M E G A O L I V E A L I B I T O N E S B A R N S R A V E N E N S U E S W E E T H O S T S
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Floating marker (4) Rundown (10) Components (7) Crossed strips structure (7) Mirrors (8) State of Brazil (5) Location (4) Vexation (10) Hard rock music (5,5) Umpteen (4) Removed moisture (5) Intrepid (8) Bolting (7) Retinue (7) County town of Dorset (10) Wood heap for burning (4)
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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.
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B U O Y R A M S H A C K L E U R F S A N E L L A T T I C E F A C T O R S H A O E I T G F R E F L E C T S B A H I A S I E N H A R A S S M E N T S I T E R T V V L C M A N Y H E A V Y M E T A L E I L S D R I E D U N A F R A I D U N D R N A V C C O R T E G E L O C K I N G U S E H E L D E D O R C H E S T E R P Y R E
SUDOKU
18-09-26
Robbie, Gavan and Janet
www.heritagefunerals.com.au • Wantirna, Lilydale, Woori Yallock • 9800 3000 18 MAIL | Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
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PRIVATE HALF-ACRE RETREAT IN THE HEART OF EMERALD
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
PRIVATE HALF-ACRE RETREAT IN THE HEART OF EMERALD SET on a generous 2,177m² allotment in a beautiful Emerald setting, this wonderfully presented home offers an appealing combination of comfort, space and relaxed Hills living. Surrounded by established gardens and leafy privacy, it provides an ideal opportunity for families seeking room to grow without sacrificing convenience. Cleverly designed with multi-generational living in mind, the versatile floorplan provides separately zoned living spaces to comfortably accommodate extended family. At the heart of the home, the well-appointed kitchen and dining area connect seamlessly with two separate living rooms, creating plenty of space for everyone to come together while still enjoying their own space. Four bedrooms are thoughtfully positioned throughout the home, with three bedrooms sharing the cosy family room, while the fourth enjoys its own private living room and bathroom - an ideal arrangement for extended family accommodation, guests or teenagers seeking additional independence. Comfort is assured throughout the seasons with ducted heating and split-system cooling, while the practical laundry and excellent storage further enhance the home’s everyday functionality. Outside, the generous half-acre allotment is where this property truly comes into its own. Established gardens create a peaceful and private setting, with plenty of space for children and pets to play, keen gardeners to indulge their passion or simply relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. A great shed and chicken coop add further versatility and appeal to this wonderful lifestyle property. Ideally positioned within easy reach of Emerald’s shops, cafes, schools, public transport and sought-after community amenities, this is a rare opportunity to secure a spacious and versatile Hills home offering privacy, flexibility and genuine lifestyle appeal. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 433-437 Belgrave Gembrook, EMERALD Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Justin Barrot 0438 683 781 and Brittany Barry 0412 861 094, BARRY PLANT EMERALD, 5968 4522
20 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
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HOME FOCUS
PEACEFUL LIVING MOMENTS FROM MONBULK SET on a generous 1,538m2 and an easy 600 metre walk (approx.) from Monbulk’s Main Street, 29 Menin Road offers a wonderful blend of country charm, privacy and everyday convenience as well as being within walking distance to both primary and secondary schools and also public transport. Colourful established gardens guide you towards the front door upon arrival, setting the tone for the welcoming atmosphere found throughout. Inside, a spacious main living area provides plenty of room for the whole family and boasts natural light and warm timber shelving that adds character and charm. Split system heating/cooling, exterior roller shutters, and solar panels with battery storage provide year round climate control, improve energy efficiency and offer backup power protection during blackouts. The dining space and kitchen adjoin the living room and allow you to gaze out over the large decking towards the rear of the property. Enjoy space to cook and create whilst remaining connected to the rest of the home. From here, enjoy a secondary dining space on the rear decking which is a peaceful spot to unwind, entertain or simply take in the surrounding greenery and enjoy the tranquil Monbulk setting.
Three comfortable bedrooms, two of which are equipped with built in robes, can be found at the other end of the home, creating a peaceful space away from the living zones. The central bathroom is neat and tidy and features tiled walls, full bath with shower and vanity, bringing both practicality and character to the home. A separate toilet is ideal for busy family mornings! Downstairs, a large under house room adds another layer of flexibility, accompanied by an additional powder room. Whether used as a hobby area, home office or teenagers retreat, this versatile zone provides valuable space to adapt to your needs. There is also a well sized workshop / storage room that is perfect for all your extra bits and pieces, camping gear or trade tools and equipment. Outside, the fantastic block offers a wonderful sense of seclusion, with established gardens and greenery along with a rear paddock area that is ideal for childhood adventures whilst still keeping you close to everything Monbulk has to offer. Warm, inviting and surrounded by nature, 29 Menin Road is an ideal choice for those wanting a relaxed country lifestyle without giving up the convenience of shops, cafes and local amenities just a short walk away.
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 29 Menin Road, MONBULK Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom Price: $730,000 - $790,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442 and Jonathan Arad 0490 393 328, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE, 9754 6888
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Fax: 9308 5822 Email: sales@emuwire.com.au | www.emuwire.com.au Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 21
HOME FOCUS
HOW TO CREATE SOMETHING UNIQUE BUILD ABOVE A FLOODPLAIN THERE’S a version of the Hamlet Lilydale story where we found a flat, dry, forgettable paddock, put a fence around it, and called it a community. Easier to approve, easier to build - and it would have looked like every other development on every cleared site. That is not the story of Hamlet Lilydale. The land we chose is bordered by Olinda Creek, Bellbird Park and Lillydale Lake. The creek at the bottom of our site carries a history of flood risk. We are building above it, not in spite of that risk, but because of it. Building at the edge of that floodplain is how we’ve secured something we couldn’t otherwise promise: that the parkland outside our homeowners’ windows will still be parkland in a hundred years. You can’t manufacture forty-year-old Manna Gums, a creek lined with Silver Wattle, a local platypus population, or a lake with walking trails already worn in by decades of Lilydale residents. 375 Swansea Road came with all of that in place. Our job was building fifty homes that enjoy everything unique about this location, without inheriting its risk. What we’re doing to protect what’s already here None of that is a reason to be careless with what’s here. We’ve held an average of a 100-metre buffer between the creek and our building pad. Mature canopy trees are being retained, not cleared, and we’re replanting more than we remove. A Construction Management Plan governs run-off and sediment control to protect water quality downstream, for the platypus and everything else in the corridor. And 65% of our site stays open, green space - a fraction of the site coverage a standard subdivision would use. How we manage flood waters The flood engineering is the least visible part of this project, and the part we’ve spent the most time getting right. Melbourne Water’s standard requirement is 600mm home clearance above a 1-in-100-year flood event. Hamlet Lilydale was designed for a 1-in-2,000-year event twenty times rarer and to ensure that the site will never flood The community sits on a raised, engineered fill platform, tested layer by layer to Australian
Standard AS3798, with homes 3-4 metres above where the land currently sits. Meanwhile, the western portion, alongside the creek, is being lowered rather than filled - kept as open habitat, so the floodplain keeps the room it needs, and no home here comes at a downstream neighbour’s expense.
Why 375 Swansea Road is worth every bit of engineering A creek that floods sometimes is also a creek that carries platypus, waters forty-year-old gums, and has kept this pocket of Lilydale from ever being over-built. We think that’s a fair trade - and when the last home is handed over, this will be some of the most carefully
engineered, best-protected ground in Lilydale. If you’d like to see this unique site, Marion, our sales lead, would love to walk you through it. Visit hamletliving.com.au or call Marion on 0482 672 325. Hamlet Lilydale - grounded, elevated, here to stay. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 375 Swansea Road, LILYDALE Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: VISIT HAMLETLIVING.COM.AU OR CALL MARION ON 0482 672 325
22 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
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Come see the view that can never be built out.
Ready to have a conversation? Visit hamletliving.com.au or call 0482 672 325.
A boutique over 50s downsizer community above Olinda Creek. Only 45 homes remain. Now selling from $845,000.
375 Swansea Road sits at the edge of a floodplain, wrapped by Bellbird Park and Lillydale Lake. That’s how we’ve secured what a cleared paddock never could: parkland that stays parkland in 100 years. Fifty homes, on a building pad raised 3-4 metres a view without the flood risk. 12884025-EA38-26
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Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 23
HOME FOCUS
TWO HOMES, ONE EXCEPTIONAL GEMBROOK SETTING TUCKED away at the end of a quiet no-through road just minutes from Gembrook township, 25 Agnes Street offers a rare combination of space, privacy and genuine dual-living flexibility, with two separate homes enjoying beautiful outlooks across the surrounding countryside. The main residence is a spacious ranchstyle home with a flexible four-bedroom layout, including a generous main suite with walk-through robe and ensuite. The openplan kitchen and dining area forms the heart of the home, with a large island bench, excellent storage and quality appliances, while a separate lounge with fireplace provides another inviting place to relax. A versatile rumpus room with its own access adds further flexibility as a home office, games room, studio or additional living space. Ducted heating and refrigerated cooling ensure yearround comfort. The separate cottage is light-filled, welcoming and well suited to extended family, guests or independent living. A front verandah overlooks the peaceful surrounds, while inside, the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area creates an easy sense of space. Three bedrooms with built-in robes are complemented by a large bathroom, separate toilet and dedicated laundry, with gas heating and split-system comfort. Set across approximately 3,990m² of usable land, the property also includes a double garage, substantial farm shedding, an above-ground pool and an impressive 14.1kW solar system with 20kW battery storage. Adding to the charm of the setting, Puffing Billy can be seen and heard winding its way through the nearby hills, bringing a distinctly Gembrook touch to the landscape. With two distinct residences and plenty of room to spread out, this is a particularly appealing option for multi-generational families, those seeking independent accommodation for loved ones, or buyers simply wanting a property with more flexibility for the future. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 25 Agnes Street, GEMBROOK Price: On application Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sue Colic 0421 772 610, BARRY PLANT EMERALD, 5968 4522
24 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
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25 AGNES STREET GEMBROOK
38-40 Belgrave gemBrook road COCKATOO
433-437 Belgrave gemBrook rd EMERALD
2 HOMES, 1 EXCEPTIONAL SETTING.
PRIVATE HILLS SANCTUARY ON 2 ACRES
PRIVATE HALF-ACRE RETREAT
7A
4A
6D
4A
LANA MAHER 0408 535 075
FOR SALE $1,000,000 - $1,100,000 OFI By appointment
3B
1D
FOR SALE $1,100,000 - $1,150,000 OFI By Appointment
SUE COLIC 0421 772 610 BARRY PLANT EMERALD 5968 4522
2B
1C
FOR SALE $975,000-$1,070,000 OFI By appointment
BARRY PLANT EMERALD 5968 4522
2B JUSTIN BARROT 0438 683 781 BARRY PLANT EMERALD 5968 4522
16 QUINN ROAD GEMBROOK
80 BEDFORD ROAD COCKATOO
181 RAINY HILL ROAD COCKATOO
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BUILD THE LIFE YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING OF
4A
3D
3A
JUSTIN BARROT 0438 683 781
FOR SALE $950,000-$1,045,000 OFI By Appointment
2B
1C
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BARRY PLANT EMERALD 5968 4522
1B
1D
8505m2 JUSTIN BARROT 0438 683 781 BARRY PLANT EMERALD 5968 4522
$530,000-$580,000 OFI By Appointment
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Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 25
HOME FOCUS
SPACE, FLEXIBILITY AND CONVENIENCE OFFERING plenty of space both inside and out, 34 McAllister Road presents a comfortable three-bedroom home with an impressive collection of outdoor entertaining, workshop and additional living spaces. At the heart of the home is a generous open lounge, providing plenty of room for the family to relax and unwind. Large windows and doors bring in natural light while opening out to the covered front verandah, with ducted heating, split-system cooling and ceiling fans helping keep the home comfortable throughout the seasons. The kitchen and dining area is practical and well equipped, featuring excellent cabinetry and bench space, dishwasher and freestanding cooking, with direct access outside. Three comfortable bedrooms complete the accommodation, including a spacious main bedroom with built-in robes, while the central bathroom offers both a bath and separate shower alongside a separate toilet and laundry. Outdoor living is a major feature of the property. A substantial covered deck stretches across the rear of the home, creating a fantastic all-weather space for entertaining, relaxing or enjoying the established gardens beyond. The additional spaces outside add a huge amount of flexibility to the property. A large shed/workshop provides excellent room for tradies, storage or weekend projects, while the adjoining covered pergola creates even more usable space. A separate studio offers further versatility and could suit a home office, creative studio, hobby room, teenager’s retreat or simply valuable additional space to adapt to your lifestyle. Solar panels, established gardens, paved outdoor areas and a generous covered carport add even more practicality, while the location keeps you conveniently close to Monbulk Main Street, local shops, cafes, schools, transport and everyday amenities. With flexible additional spaces, excellent shedding, multiple covered outdoor areas and everything Monbulk has to offer close by, 34 McAllister Road is a great opportunity for families, tradies, hobbyists or anyone simply looking for more room to spread out. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 34 McAllister Road, MONBULK Description: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 garage Price: $770,000 - $820,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Brad Conder 0422 639 115 and Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE, 9754 6888
26 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
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4/83Sandellsroad,Tecoma
29Meninroad,Monbulk
34Mcallisterroad,Monbulk
2 Bed | 1 Bath | 1 Car | 147m2
3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1538m2
3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1 Car | 1154m2
For Sale $550,000 - $590,000
For Sale $730,000 - $790,000
For Sale $770,000 - $820,000
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Jonathan Arad 0490 393 328
1470aBurwoodHighway,Upwey
48Ternesroad,Upwey
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
43Brankinsroad,Monbulk
3 Bed | 2 Bath | 2 Car | 546m2
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 2123m2
4 Bed | 3 Bath | 4 Car | 2641m2
For Sale $850,000- $920,000
For Sale $950,000 - $1,040,000
For Sale $1,050,000 - $1,125,000
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Jerlyn Arradaza 0434 688 554
03 9754 6888 office@chandlerandco.com.au 1689 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Vic 3160 mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 27
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King of the greens is feted By Oliver Winn
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ŕîƙƙĿǶĚē ēĚîēŕĿŠĚƙ IJūƑ ¹ƭĚƙēîNjɈ ȃȊƥĺ ¬ĚƎƥĚŞċĚƑ ĿƙƙƭĚ îƙ IJūŕŕūDžƙɇ Thursday, 24th September at 5.00pm
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02.12.1953 – 07.09.2026 We sadly announce the passing of Paul, beloved brother of Leah and brother-in-law of Terry Hill, uncle to Marcus and Troy. Paul will be cremated at a private ceremony, and his ashes will be scattered on the Murray near his mother’s birthplace. A celebration of Paul's life will be held at Sanctuary House, 326 Badger Creek Road, at 11 am on Friday 18th September. Please text Terry 0419 678 915 if you are going to attend. R.I.P
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people here and there.” But in the end, Mr Mason isn’t leaving the club anytime soon, and he’ll continue to tend to the golf green for years to come.
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wise words. “My advice to them would be just to not take the criticism to heart, I guess. You can never please everyone. There’s always criticism from
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Paul Mason has kept Warburton Golf Club’s courses in good nick for 30 years. (Oliver Winn: 578047)
12423634-SN31-19
The Warburton Golf Club celebrated its loyal greenskeeper, Paul Mason, for 30 years of service on Saturday, 12 September. Golfers competed in various competitions on the day, including a four-ball aggregate and a shotgun start, before celebrating Mr Mason’s contributions at a presentation later in the day. Mr Mason’s greenskeeping journey began in 1996 when he was just 23 years old. After a quick job interview, he was made a part of the team the next day. Living in Lilydale, Mr Mason doesn’t mind the trip out to Warburton as the club is “just such a nice place to work”. “It’s such a nice outlook, the people are nice. It’s just a good atmosphere at the club. “I’ve had good relationships right through, for the most part. There’s been offers here and there to go elsewhere, but I’ve stuck around,” he said. He said he’s come to take a lot of pride in the work he does at the club. “I’ve been here a lot on my own over time. I don’t have a huge staff. The most we’ve ever had is maybe three. “But there’s been times when I’ve been by myself, so you take real ownership in what you do, ‘cause basically you do it all yourself. That sort of drives you to stay and to make it a better place.” But he has had a few apprentices here and there over his three-decade tenure. For Mr Mason, apprentice Rowan Ingham stood out the most. “He’s made his way through to be superintendent of Eastern Golf Club. He’s in charge down there with 20-plus staff under him and all that kind of stuff. “He started here as an apprentice, so I take a little bit of credit for that, you know?” Though it’s been 30 years, it doesn’t feel that
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SPORT
Eighty golfers hit greens By Ron Hottes The Monday girls are getting out in full force, and Michelle Jordan had a sensational win with 20 points on Monday. Obviously, the nice weather appeals to her, and that 20 points is the highest score one of the girls has recorded for quite some time. Suzanne Barrett, that ultra-consistent lady, was runner-up on a not-too-shabby 19 points. Well done, ladies! The more that come back, the better the scores will be. The Wednesday midweek went to one of my favourite members, Ian Garside. Junior actually racked up 36 points to win the day in a close contest from Trevor Porter, who had 35 points. Ian is a very popular member and clearly a more talented player than his brother Phil! The nearest-to-the-pin (NTP) prizes on Wednesday went to President Horrobin on the third, but the fifth beat everyone! On the ninth, Alan Johnson, was only 90 centimetres from the pin, so another hole-in-one was beckoning — but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Bad luck, Johnno! On the 12th, Ian Cranston snared the NTP, and the final one on offer went to Jonathan Peisch on the 15th. Saturday – Celebrating Paul Mason: On Saturday, the club had a wonderful day celebrating 30 years of greenkeeping and superintending by the great, iconic Paul Mason. There is another article in this paper about Paul, so please look for it and have a read. It was a fantastic day, very, very well supported by both members, past members and guests. There were 80-odd players, and some very good scoring took place. The winners of the aggregate four-ball were Georgie Houniet, Jane Shendzielorz, Luke Patrick and Kevin Smith, with a very impressive 135 points.
Golfers celebrated 30 years of Paul Mason as greenskeeper at the Warburton Golf Club. (File) Just behind them were Michael Pinkster, Dale Sund, young Manny Humphris and Lee Creedy, who finished on 134 points — just one point behind. And I have to mention who came third because the man of the moment, Paul Mason, along with Peter Whitehead, Ben Chester and Wes Martin, racked up an excellent 133 points. In the individual Stableford, Ken Barrett had a fantastic 42 points and is starting to show the form that he is capable of. Sam Dennis was runner-up with 40 points, while Luke Patrick also finished on 40 but was beaten on a countback. And, again, the man of the moment, Paul Mason, had a not-too-shabby 38 points. The nearest-to-pin prizes on this great day went to Ron Hanson, a very dear friend, who has come back to visit from Portarlington, on the third.
Ken Barrett, of course, had a great day, winning the individual event and also snaring the NTP on the fifth. Clint Toohey took out the ninth, Shane Bomber Campbell the 12th, and the 15th went to the man of the moment, Paul Mason, who was just 60 centimetres from the pin. That’s a great tee shot on the tough 15th! Junior Donna-Buang Challenge: One final thing that needs to be mentioned is coming up very soon. On Tuesday, 22 September, the first Tuesday of the school holidays, the Warburton Golf Club has the Junior D/B Challenge. The club currently hold the shield, which it earned in the last school holidays, and the six young gentlemen representing the club this time are: JaIden Lever, Manny Humphris, Charlie Co-
chrane, Brady Withers, Sam Hyndman and Zac Bower. Sam and Zach couldn’t attend the last challenge but are joining the team this time. It’s a match-play event, with six individual matches and a winner decided from those results. The first tee-off is at 9.00 am, so if you can, come along and watch and support these young players. Once again, that’s Tuesday, 22 September at 9.00 am. The club looks forward to seeing plenty of members there to support the future of Warburton Golf Club — these six great kids, and they really are great kids too! Thank you, and good golfing.
Get keen for Warburton Bowls Club season By Garry Lewis The Warburton Bowls Club is currently preparing for the start of the 2026/27 Summer Pennant Season. Pennant Training has commenced on Thursday evenings from 4.30pm. New Players and interested Beginners are most welcome to come along with free Coaching available across all levels. Pennant Practice Matches have been organised against Ferntree Gully (away on 19 September), Boronia (away on 3 October) and UpweyTecoma (away on 10 October) for the weekend Sides. A Midweek Practice Match will be held at home on 13 October against Yarra Junction. The Weekend Pennant Season commences on Saturday, 17 October with a side in each of Division 2 and 5. Midweek Pennant commences on Tuesday 20 October with a side in Division 1 and a combined side with Yarra Junction in Division 6. The Annual OPEN DAY will be held at the Club next Sunday 20 September from 11am. Join us for an afternoon of Barefoot Bowls, bowling arm demonstrations, free sausage sizzle, fun, games and more. This is a free event that is great for all ages and abilities. You’re never too old or too young to get involved in the world’s most accessible sport. The Club will also be hosting Adrian Goldsmith for marker/measurer and umpire accreditations during the open day for interested members. The Winter Intra Club Competitions saw several close and exciting games. Mark Smith and Gary Broussard won the Pairs Final, defeating Ben Reed and Michelle Foord. While in the Singles 21 Up Final, Michelle Foord held off a determined Mat Stoessiger to record a close victory, 21 to 19 in superb conditions last Saturday. A free community bingo night will be held for Get Online Week on Wednesday 21 October at the clubrooms. Doors open 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Social Bowls continues each Monday from 12 midday.
30 MAIL | Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
The Spring Series offers great opportunities for novice horse riders to give the sport a shot. (Supplied)
Horse Talk By Anita Prowse Wednesday 9 September saw the Shirley Heights EC Midweek Dressage Spring Series begin, with great entries and three rings running. Winners were: Preparatory - Lyndal Hall on Asham Shannon equal first with Paisley Faulkner on Mosman Park Maisey Mouse. Preliminary - Paige Huntingford on Morrfield Gloria. Novice - Kate Hadland on Love Locked. Elementary - Natasha Moody on Springside Serrano. Medium - Antony Bartlett on Fletcher VDS. Advanced - Samantha Bartlett on EJ De Romance. These series are a great way to get out and have a go in a low-pressure atmosphere with invaluable feedback from quality judges, so if you have ever thought about it, get amongst the fun. Entries for these events are available at Event Secretary. Keep an eye on those ponies (and horses) as the Spring grass begins to show itself, and happy riding, everyone!!
• • • • • •
Those keen to get into bowls are encouraged to come along to the Warburton Bowls Club. (Supplied) The Club facilities are regularly utilised by outside groups, including families and businesses, for social activities and barefoot bowls.
Contact the club for further information via email warbbowls@outlook.com or come along and visit the club and speak to a member.
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SPORT
The Lions completed their undefeated season. (Gary Sissons: 577788)
Pakenham and Seville players go up for an aerial challenge. (577788)
Lions return to top flight By Armin Richter Pakenham is back in with the big shots after two seasons in the lower tier. The Division One Grand Final day on Saturday at Healesville was about as close to ideal as could be hoped for, with warm sunny conditions and just a slight breeze. The two dominant clubs, Pakenham and Seville, had a mortgage on the day with at least one in each of the nine Grand Finals and six of the showdowns featuring a direct head to head clash between the Lions and Blues. The most significant match would be the Senior football encounter with the winner to return to the top-flight, taking the rest of their respective clubs with them. Pakenham had spent the last two seasons in Division One while for Seville it hadn’t been in the top division since 2001 but with a redeveloped oval and a magnificent new clubrooms to be open by next year they will have among the best facilities in the valley and are ready for the challenge. Seville started strongly with the first two goals before the Lions scored three majors to hit the first change with a one goal lead. It was a well contested game but Pakenham always seemed to have an answer to anything that Seville could throw at them. The Lions eventually won by 30 points to remain undefeated champions and premiers for 2026. The Pakenham Reserves were also undefeated and had a remarkable home and away percentage of 956, on the back of scoring 2209 points for and conceding just 231. They came up against a Belgrave team who had fought their way up from the Elimination Final. While the Magpies might have lost the Grand Final they gained much respect for their fight against such a dominant force to only go down by 15 points in the end. Seville did claim the Under 18s premiership with a solid display where they were too good for their Pakenham opponents. The Blues also met Pakenham in all four senior grade netball matches and made it a clean sweep against the Lions. Seville won a total of six premierships, two-thirds of those on offer, with their Under 17s also claiming the ultimate honours. The Premier Division Preliminary Finals at Yarra Glen on Sunday were played under cloudy skies and a strong wind, which gradually abated as the afternoon progressed. It turned out to be a good day for Mt Evelyn who qualified their Seniors, Reserves and three netball sides for Grand Finals this week. The Rovers’ Senior footballers looked to be in control for most of the match and appeared home when they were leading by just five goals early in the final term, before Olinda mounted a late challenge to fall just three points shy of a place in the final.
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It was a close battle between the Blues and the Lions. (577788)
A Seville player jumps high for the mark. (577788)
Warm sunny conditions and just a slight breeze made for a perfect day of footy. (577788)
Seville’s Mason O’Neill has a crack. (577788)
Supporters from both sides turned up to the Don Road Recreation Reserve. (577788)
Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 | MAIL 31
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