Mail - Lilydale Star Mail - 7th April 2026

By Mikayla van Loon

It’s a milestone year for the CPP Community Theatre after seven decades of bringing shows to the stage.

The theatre is celebrating with its play, COSI, set in a psychiatric facility where residents are putting on a performance of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutti.

The play, along with a selection of other fantastic shows, will be on this April starting on Friday 10.

At its heart, COSI is a comedy but vice chair Samuel Taylor said it also goes beyond that.

“It is a laugh for minutes. It is silly, it is mayhem. It is people with all sorts of, I suppose, mental health issues putting on a play that is incredibly challenging to put on,” he said.

“It’s bringing them together. We love the way that that actually just links to CPP, not not in the same way necessarily, but we feel like CPP brings together people from all walks of life, many different backgrounds.”

Read more on page 9

Education shift

By Gabriella Vukman

Independent school enrolments are surging across Victoria, outpacing growth in other parts of Australia, with Melbourne’s outer east seeing particularly strong increases.

Data from Independent Schooling shows Knox recorded a staggering 60.3 per cent jump, the Yarra Ranges rose by 11.9 per cent, while Cardinia saw a 10.8 per cent decline.

Expertssaythegrowthreflectsshiftingfamilypri-

orities, population increases in suburban corridors, and greater access to a variety of schooling models.

Nationwide, independent school enrolments grew 3.9 per cent in 2024, more than triple the overall student growth of 1.1 per cent.

Over the past decade, student numbers in the sector have climbed more than 30 per cent.

ChiefexecutiveofIndependentSchoolsVictoria, Rachel Holthouse said Melbourne’s outer growth corridors are seeing the strongest expansion.

“Families are looking for schools that reflect their values or provide specialised support. They’re prepared to make sacrifices to invest in their children’s education,” she said.

“Ms Holthouse said cheaper independent schools are giving more kids the right learning environment, while the sector also supports jobs and the local community.”

Education expert Dr Amanda Samson from the University of Melbourne highlighted that the

trend is less about quality differences and more about choice.

“Parents now have more options to select schools aligned with their values, and lower-fee independent schools in the outer suburbs are helping meet this demand,” she said.

Dr Samson said public schools are still going strong, with top academic results and plenty of local demand.

Read the full story on page 4

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Fuel excise halved and free transport

By Corey Everitt, Mikayla van Loon and AAP

The fuel excise has been halved for three months and public transport will be free in Victoria over April, as state and federal governments make attempts to relieve the pressure of soaring fuel prices.

On Monday 30 March, Prime Minister Albanese announced that the fuel excise would be halved for three months, reducing prices by 26c a litre at the pump.

This followed a national cabinet meeting of state and federal leaders on the developing fuel crisis, as diesel and petrol prices have surged over the last month beyond $3 and $2.50 a litre, respectively.

The fuel excise stands at 52.6 cents a litre, and was cut to 26.3 cents for three months starting Wednesday 1 April.

It was a noticeable change at the bowser in Lilydale, with the price dropping overnight. Petrol dropped to $2.29 at the Shell service station on Maroondah Highway and was one cent less just up the road at United. Diesel fell below the $3 mark, charging $2.98 per litre.

Prime Minister Albanese’s announcement also included slashing the heavy vehicle road user charge from 32.4 cents a litre to zero over the three months.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the federal government measures will cost $2.55 billion.

All state and territory governments signed onto a national fuel security plan with the federal government, which lays down four stages to ad-

dress the fuel crisis.

The Prime Minister addressed the nation on Wednesday 1 April, in a speech that aimed to reduce worry and encouraged people to go about their Easter weekend as normal.

He also warned there may be difficult times ahead and urged people to consider getting public transport instead of driving, and told motorists heading on road trips over Easter to only take as much fuel as they needed as the global oil crisis drags on.

“That builds our reserves and it saves fuel for people who have no choice but to drive: farmers and miners and tradies who need diesel, every single day,” he said.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor criticised the speech and said, “It could have been a social media post.”

Extra measures were announced on Thursday 2 April, with motorists to get an extra 5.7c a litre off their fuel bills after the states and territories resolved a feud over how to return an expected GST windfall to consumers.

The reduction will last until 30 June.

On Sunday 29 March, Premier Allan announced that Victoria’s public transport would be free for one month to alleviate costs on the roads.

Trains, trams and buses – including metro and V/Line were made free as a “temporary measure” from Tuesday 31 March to the end of April.

Passengers won’t be required to touch on with their myki, and won’t be charged if they accidentally touch on.

Myki pass holders can get their pass paused

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for a month or get a refund.

Passengers on V/Line coaches outside the myki network will need to book a free ticket to secure a seat.

Fuel prices have soared about 50 per cent in recent weeks, as fuel tankers are blocked in the Strait of Hormuz during the war between Iran and the US and Israel.

Unleaded 91 rose above $2.50 a litre and diesel more than $3.10 at most bowsers in the East in the past week, with scores of servos running out of fuel across the state.

On 29 March, Premier Jacinta Allan said the situation will be monitored over the month, hinting at other “solutions” to help with cost of living.

“As Premier, I’m determined to do everything within my control to help Victorians deal with rising fuel prices.

“This is a temporary measure to help with the cost of living – it will take pressure off the pump and help you save.”

Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said “free public transport will make a real difference for all”.

Victorian Farmers Federation welcomed the measures to help Victorians conserve fuel.

“If Victorians make the switch, it can make a real difference,” VFF president Brett Hosking said.

“Every commuter who leaves their car at home frees up fuel for the essential, time-critical work that keeps Victorians fed, whether that’s ensuring livestock are fed and cared for, or getting crops in the ground.”

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Test your smoke alarms

Victoria’s fire agencies are encouraging residents to test their smoke alarms with the end of daylight savings, as data shows more than half of serious house fires start in the bedroom or living room.

Smoke alarms provide a vital early warning if a fire breaks out, but only when they are installed and working properly.

On average, 18 people die in preventable house fires in Victoria each year, with two in every three fatalities occurring in a bedroom or living area.

Preventable fatalities are those that could have been avoided through safer practices, maintenance or education.

CFA Acting Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic AFSM said the figures are a timely reminder that in the event of a fire, every second counts.

“Using the end of daylight saving is a simple way to remember to check your smoke alarms are in working order as we head into the cooler months,” Alen said.

“Smoke alarms save lives and provide you and your family the opportunity to escape danger. Fires can engulf an entire room in just minutes, and smoke will not wake you up.”

Alen said it was important not only to install smoke alarms in all bedrooms, living areas and hallways, but to test them regularly.

“To test your smoke alarm, simply press the ‘test’ button for about three seconds. If you don’t hear three beeps, it’s a clear sign the battery or the unit itself needs replacing,” Alen said.

“All smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and those with replaceable batteries should be changed annually.”

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) Deputy Commissioner Community Safety and Operational Training Joshua Fischer said that testing your smoke alarm should be part of your annual Easter Sunday activities.

“Only working smoke alarms save lives, so taking a moment to crack open your Easter long-weekend by cleaning and testing your smoke alarm could be the most ‘eggcellent’ fire safety step you take for your home,” he said.

“There are plenty of smoke alarms available to suit every budget and living arrangement, and interconnected smoke alarms are a good option to ensure everyone in your home is alerted if a fire takes hold.” Road works complete between Lilydale and Coldstream

Road upgrades between The Gateway and Flowerfield Drive have been completed.

The roads are now open for all users.

Thank you for your patience while these important works were carried out.

Independent schools rising

By Gabriella Vukman

Independent school enrolments across Victoria are rising at a faster rate than other sectors nationwide, and the outer east is no exception.

In terms of total independent school enrolments, the Yarra ranges saw an increase of 11.9 per cent in independent school enrolments, Knox saw a 60.3 per cent increase, and Cardinia saw a 10.8 per cent decrease according to data from Independent Schooling.

This growth reflects shifting parental priorities, population growth in outer suburbs, and broader access to alternative education models.

Recent data from the National Report on Schooling shows that independent schools are capturing an increasing share of Australia’s student population, with enrolments growing by 3.9 per cent in 2024 alone. This is more than triple the overall student population growth of 1.1 per cent.

Over the past decade, the number of students in independent schools has risen by more than 30 per cent nationwide.

In Victoria, this trend is particularly visible in Melbourne’s outer eastern regions, including the Yarra Ranges, Maroondah and Knox.

Chief Executive of Independent Schools Victoria Rachel Holthouse, said the growth reflects both demographic change and evolving family expectations.

“Some of the strongest growth is seen in Melbourne’s outer growth corridors, including the city’s east, which has much to offer families, as inner city living becomes more challenging,” Ms Holthouse said.

Holthouse said many families are choosing independent schools because they align with their values or offer specialised support.

“Increased enrolment in independent schools is often driven by families who are looking for schooling that reflects their cultural or religious values,” Ms Holthouse said.

“They are prepared to make sacrifices to invest in their children’s education,” she said.

“The independent sector ensures the state’s education system remains responsive, inclusive and high-performing, and delivers according to the needs of Victorian families.”

Ms Holthouse also noted the growth in affordable independent options is expanding access to the sector, particularly for students needing tailored learning environments.

Beyond education, the independent school sector is playing an expanding role in Victoria’s economy.

According to Independent Schools Victoria, the sector contributes billions annually through job creation, infrastructure investment and community engagement.

Holthouse said maintaining supportive policy settings will be critical as demand grows.

“Independent schools are a crucial part of Victoria’s education ecosystem,” Ms Holthouse said.

“They ensure the system remains responsive, inclusive and high-performing,” she said.

Education expert Dr Amanda Samson from the University of Melbourne said the rise in enrolments is less about quality differences and more about increased choice.

“One of the great things about Australian education is the fact that parents do have choice,” Dr Samson said.

“Compared to a decade ago, here in Victoria, parents are more able to think carefully about what schools might align with their family values, their religious values, or their educational values,” she said.

Dr Samson pointed to the growth of lower-fee independent schools in suburban corridors as a key factor.

“Over the last 10 years there has been an increase in independent schools, particularly in those outer east growth corridors that are not incredibly expensive,” Dr Samson said.

“Fifteen or twenty years ago, independent schools were largely inner-city and high-fee. Now there’s a greater breadth of opportunity,” she said.

She emphasised that the trend should not be interpreted as a failure of public education.

“The majority of young people in Australia are educated in a very high-quality government system,” Dr Samson said.

“Schools offer different things and it’s not about one form of education being better than another,” she said.

With the rise in independent schooling, Ms Samson said families are becoming more deliberate in selecting schools that suit their child’s individual needs.

The rise in independent school enrolments is occurring alongside broader changes in how education is delivered.

Dr Samson said schools across all sectors are increasingly recognising that “one size does not fit all,” with more diverse learning models emerging.

“There are a lot of young people who need different ways of accessing education,” Dr Samson said.

“The more we can offer learning environments that suit their needs, the better,” she said.

“I think we are having much better conversations socially about what school is right for our children.”

Dr Samson also pointed to growing innovation in curriculum design, including cross-disciplinary learning and the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

While enrolment trends continue to shift, experts caution against framing the changes as a competition between sectors.

Dr Samson said the focus should remain on the broader purpose of education.

“Schooling is a cornerstone of a thriving, inclusive democracy,” Dr Samson said.

“We need to move beyond negative narratives and focus on the role education plays in shaping the society we want to live in,” she said.

“We need to be focusing on the absolute crucial importance of schooling as a cornerstone of

Yarra Valley Water opens grants

Community groups across the Yarra Ranges are being encouraged to apply for Yarra Valley Water’s 2026 Community Grants Program, which is now open and offering up to $15,000 for community-led initiatives that use water wisely, strengthen community connection, and restore and protect our natural environment.

The program is one of the many ways Yarra Valley Water partners with local organisations to create positive and lasting outcomes across Melbourne’s east.

Now in its second year, the program aims to build on its strong impact, having provided more than $100,000 to 14 community-led projects last round.

Three Yarra Ranges-based groups were among last year’s recipients, including Edible Warburton Community Garden, Monbulk Primary School and Yarra Hills Secondary College.

Yarra Valley Water’s Managing Director, Natalie Foeng, said the organisation was excited to expand the program after the positive response to its pilot program.

“The response to our last round exceeded expectations, and it’s clear the community is ready to do even more. That’s why we’re expanding the program, and we can’t wait to see what the next round of applicants will achieve,” Ms Foeng said.

“Every project we support creates a ripple effect of positive change, and we’re excited to see that impact grow even further this year.”

Edible Warburton used its grant to install a permanent rainwater supply for its community garden, replacing years of volunteers hauling water by hand.

Tarnya Harper from Edible Warburton said the grant had lifted what the garden could offer locals.

“The reliable water supply has made a huge difference for our volunteers and the wider community,” Ms Harper said.

“Instead of hauling water, we can focus on growing more produce, involving more locals and running practical workshops. Yarra Valley Water’s support has given the garden and the community around it room to grow.”

This year, projects are invited to apply for funding across three categories:

Water efficiency and water conservation - for projects that help communities save water and build water-smart habits, such as installing water-saving devices, improving irrigation or rainwater systems, carrying out water audits and efficiency upgrades, or helping people build their knowledge about water.

Thriving communities – for projects that cre-

ate positive impact in local communities. For example, initiatives that improve social and environmental wellbeing, or events and activities that help our communities connect and

our democracy.”

Despite the growth of independent schools, government schools continue to educate the majority of Victorian students.

A Department of Education spokesperson told Star Mail government schools remain in strong demand, particularly in outer eastern Melbourne.

“There are many outstanding government schools across Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges,” the spokesperson said.

“The government school share of enrolments in these areas remains higher than the statewide average, reflecting strong local demand,” they said.

The department also highlighted strong academic outcomes, noting that Victorian students achieved the first or second highest mean scores in 18 of 20 NAPLAN measures in 2025, alongside the largest improvement of any Australian jurisdiction.

Victoria was one of three jurisdictions to grow its government school student population in 2024 according to the National Report on Schooling. 2025 data is yet to be published.

As Victoria’s population grows and diversifies, the challenge for policymakers and educators will be ensuring all sectors, government, Catholic and independent, can continue to meet the needs of students and families.

Healthy natural environment – for projects that help restore and protect our natural environment.

For example, rehabilitation of landscapes and waterways, supporting our local biodiversity and wildlife or creating water-wise spaces in our community.

Eligible applicants include not-for-profit community organisations, schools, registered associations, charities, incorporated bodies and community groups across Yarra Valley Water’s service area.

Ms Foeng encouraged eligible applicants to consider how the grants could help them deliver projects with real local impact.

“We’re inviting organisations to think about how financial support could help bring their ideas to life. Practical, community-led projects can create real, lasting benefit and we’re excited to help make them happen.”

Applications open Monday 30 March 2026 and close at 5pm on Friday 1 May 2026. Eligible organisations must be based in, or deliver services within, Yarra Valley Water’s service area.

For more information and to apply, please visit: www.yvw.com.au/community-grant

$34m for infrastructure

By Mikayla van Loon

Yarra Ranges Council’s draft budget for the upcoming financial year identified several projects and initiatives for the urban area.

The draft budget documents cited the council’s advocacy priorities set for 2025 to 2027, which highlight key objectives like the installation of pedestrian crossings at high-risk locations, a business case and design of a modern aquatic and leisure centre to be located in the urban area and the duplication of the railway line between Mooroolbark and Lilydale.

Planning for the urban aquatic and leisure facility was also noted as an initiative the council would deliver over the next four years.

Infrastructure topped the spend list with a total of $34.8 million budgeted for roads, bridges, footpaths and cycleways, drainage, recreation, leisure and community facilities, parks, open space and other infrastructure.

Drainage projects for the urban area include $150,000 for upgrades to the Lilydale Tennis Courts, $250,000 for Morrison Reserve in Mount Evelyn and $300,000 for Belle Vue, Lilydale.

The bulk of the drainage expenditure was allocated to landslip management, valued at $1.2 million.

Funding has been allocated to footpath renewal along Richards Road in Montrose and Liverpool Road in Kilsyth. A further $1.3 million was put towards ‘Various Footpath Renewal’ Recreation reserves and open spaces fared well in the urban region, garnering a total spend of $3.36 million shared across Lilydale, Kilsyth, Mount Evelyn, Chirnside Park and Mooroolbark.

The Lillydale Lake Jetty Upgrade was the largest recipient of funds with $1.2 million, and a further $726,000 for Lillydale Lake Community Improvements. The breakdown of funding sources indicates that $1 million was from grants, $560,000 from borrowings and the remaining from the council’s funds.

$566,000 was assigned to McDermott Re-

serve, Mooroolbark Open Space Improvements, and $300,000 for Kilsyth Recreation Reserve’s Multipurpose Court supporting infrastructure

Smaller quantities of $150,000 to $200,000 were forecasted for Beryl Phillips Wetland, Belsay Reserve Playspace Barrier Treatment and the Lilydale Recreation Reserve Master Plan. Projects carried over from the 2025-26 year include drainage on Chapel Street, Lilydale, at the Lilydale Tennis Courts and Stuart Reserve, Lilydale. The Morrison Recreation Reserve Activation and Bike Park and the Lillydale Lake Community Improvements were also carried forward.

A grant of $984,000 for the Edward and Paynes Roads roundabout in Chirnside Park,

noted as Blackspot and R2R, was also carried forward from the previous year.

“(The) council received $3.7 million from the Federal Blackspot Funding Program for the delivery of traffic safety improvements on local roads, intersections and precincts,” the draft budget reads.

“Projects will be scoped and designed in the 2026-27 year ($0.3 million) and will be phased for delivery ($3.0 million) from the 2027-28 year onwards.”

Veteran councillor Len Cox said, as probably the 44th draft budget he’s assessed in his time on the council, it was always a good show of democracy by inviting the community to provide feedback.

“What we’ve done with this is draw up what we think needs to be spent in the community over the next 12 months,” he said.

“Because we run a democracy, it’s now going to be open for the public to come back to us and tell us whether they think what we’re doing is right or wrong, whether some of the actions we’re taking should be extended or reduced.

“And in a meeting in a month or two’s time, we’ll sit and listen to any feedback we get from residents, telling us whether they agree or not agree, with all or a part of the budget.”

The draft budget can be accessed via shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/draft-council-budget-2026-27

Submissions can be made until 26 April.

Life-saving treatment

By Oliver Winn

Amber was 16-years-old when her lungs suddenly collapsed.

She was rushed to the ICU, where she was treated and then diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition that would completely change the course of her life.

Amber lives with the rare autoimmune condition generalised myasthenia gravis, where the body’s immune system disrupts nerve–muscle communication.

For Amber, this meant everyday abilities like speaking, swallowing, walking or even breathing can suddenly fail.

Only 2600 Australians live with myasthenia gravis, which can result in severe muscle fatigue and weakness all over the body.

But a new treatment for the condition, zilucoplan, was added to the PBS on 1 April and Amber said the treatment had given her a second chance at life.

“It didn’t just change my symptoms, it completely changed my sense of what’s possible,” she said.

“It’s completely breaking through any self-limiting beliefs that I previously had. I’ve been able to accomplish things in ways that I never thought I’d previously actually be able to and so I’ve taken every opportunity that I can to go out and try new things,” she said.

The 23-year-old from Seville now takes on life with an uncontainable enthusiasm, studying physiotherapy at university during the week and going on hikes on her weekends.

But she’s had to endure years of pain and exhaustion to get to this moment. After her diagnosis at 15-years-old, she recalls a hard, arduous struggle to get through school and university.

“I got to the point where my symptoms were completely debilitating. I lost the ability to do pretty much everything.

“I would still try to go out on walks and everything, but it was just a really hard time because I wasn’t able to fully do anything that I wanted to do,” Amber said.

Unexplained muscle weakness made it difficult to hold her head up, carry schoolbooks or even smile during dance class.

She suffered a life threatening myasthenic crisis at 16, which saw her rushed to the ICU.

She had to relearn how to walk, speak and swallow - rehabilitation most teenagers could never imagine.

For the next seven years, Amber’s life was

plagued with unpredictable flareups, trips to the hospital and a constant, paralysis-like exhaustion.

But throughout the struggle, she’s had a strong support network of family, friends and teachers to help her.

“When I was getting ready for school, my mum would brush my hair, everybody would just be there as much as they could, just really going above and beyond and showing up for me.

“I had a great group of friends in high school that were so sensitive to what was going on with me. It was the biggest blessing ever, to have such amazing friends,” Amber said.

The support meant she was ultimately able to make it through year 12 and through most of her university degree, and recently, she’s gained access to the new treatment.

Associate professor Stephen Reddel, a specialist neurologist at the Sydney General Hospital, said the new treatment offered flexibility for patients.

“The new therapies for myasthenia gravis are expanding the ways clinicians can support people living with this condition. In addition, the new treatments offer convenience for patients who can use treatments at home as current rapid onset treatments require regular hospital visits.

“The new treatments are combined with the existing slow onset therapies that target long term remission to help manage debilitating symptoms,” Mr Reddel said.

Chairperson at the Myasthenia Alliance Australia Susan White said myasthenia gravis is of-

ten an invisible disease, yet its impact reaches every part of life.

“For those living with the condition, unpredictable fluctuations mean good days and bad days, making it incredibly hard to plan even the simplest activities. Beyond the physical challenges, this uncertainty brings emotional strain, including anxiety, depression, frustration, and isolation.”

Ms White called for long-term action to ensure people living with myasthenia gravis get the life they deserve.

“Today’s announcement represents an important milestone for Australians living with myasthenia gravis and their families. The availability of new therapies on the PBS expands choices for care, which is a positive step forward for the community.

“While progress like this matters, continued efforts to raise awareness and understanding remain essential to ensure people affected by myasthenia gravis receive the support they need and can regain stability to live the lives they deserve,” said Ms White.

Amber said the first thing she noticed when she started the new treatment was that her face was sore from smiling so much.

“The very first thing that I noticed when I started this new treatment was that my face was sore, not because anything was wrong, but because… the muscles in my face were actually working for the first time in almost seven years at that point. And I could feel them, it was almost like my facial muscles were having a workout because I just couldn’t stop smiling.”

No answers for family

By Gabriella Vukman

On the Easter Sunday of 23 March 2008, Warren Meyer went for a bushwalk just 15 minutes away from Healesville and never returned.

Warren Meyer left behind an array of friends and family, including his two children and wife Zee, who is still looking for him.

“I’m not going anywhere and staying silent,” Zee said.

“I’m talking up for as long as I can because there’s this chance that someone out there knows something and might reveal more,” she said.

“I am going to speak up for as long as I am able to.”

Warren and his wife were on holiday in Healesville over the 2008 Easter period with eight other friends, having chosen the area for their group’s annual easter getaway.

Following his easter Sunday traditions, Warren had arranged to go for a walk in the morning along one of the trails near the Dom Dom Saddle area before joining his wife and friends for lunch at the RACV club.

When Warren did not show, his wife and their friends called the police and drove up to the Dom Dom Saddle carpark to find Warren’s Subaru Forester, where Warren had left it.

“His phone just rang out when we tried to contact him, like it was disconnected,” Zee said.

“We couldn’t even leave a message.”

After a five-day search, Warren was still nowhere to be found and has been declared a missing person ever since.

Zee noted that she and her husband were avid and experienced hikers, having completed difficult trails in Canada and across the globe.

“Warren always built in a morning hike on Easter Sunday, so it was incredibly routine what he was doing,” Zee said.

“He was always reliable and would not go off track, choosing the easiest pathway through,” she said.

“His disappearance was beyond understanding, especially if you knew the type of person my husband was, because we had hiked together for

30 years.”

On top of Warren’s responsible nature and level of hiking experience, another perplexing factor of his disappearance is the fact that the trails he was hiking were not easy to get lost on and were wide enough for a car to drive through.

Police and Warren’s family presumed that Warren would have likely taken one of two tracks: the Monda or the Morely track.

Zee said, “A shooting took place on the Monda track on the day Warren went missing.”

“At the end of the week, people came forward to local police and said that there had been an out-of-control shooting event,” she said.

“They had six children outside their place just off Monda Track searching for easter eggs, and all of a sudden the bush blew up with a burst of gunfire, so they rounded the children up and took them into the house.”

At the time, the police did not act on this information, and the Warren family did not find out about the shooting until eight months later.

On the day Warren went missing, an absconder from a psychiatric hospital was also walking the other track, Morely Track, which Warren was also likely to have taken.

Zee said, “The patient had homicidal ideations and was planning to kill strangers.”

“During the week Warren was missing, whenever someone told the patient he would be interviewed by the police, he would escape, and after he was eventually interviewed, he escaped to the bush for three days before voluntarily coming back,” she said.

“You can’t ignore that either. But it also wasn’t investigated.”

Further complicating the case, an abandoned vehicle was also found in the Dom Dom Saddle carpark.

“A private investigator took the matter of the abandoned vehicle to the coroner and the police years later, and it was found that the unregistered car had been driven by serious criminals who had been in and out of jail, and at the time, had a warrant out for their arrest,” Zee said.

“The police that were at Dom Dom Saddle

didn’t even investigate any of that,” she said.

“Unfortunately, the belief was that Warren had just gotten lost.”

Zee believes that there is still time, even eighteen years down the track, to find out what happened to her husband.

“We still have an opportunity to tap into something that is still sitting out there,” Zee said.

“People are still alive to tell the story, and they have a guilty conscience for carrying this for so long, and they may still be prepared to speak up,” she said.

Warren was carrying a backpack containing a GPS, his fully-charged phone, and some small supplies when he went missing.

There is a debate as to whether or not Warren’s phone pinged off Gordon tower at 9:01 am, with some police officers affirming, and others denying that this was the case.

For Zee, the characterisation of Warren’s case as a hiker getting lost has cost her a lot.

“The shooting was overlooked, the car was overlooked, and the patient was overlooked, and

there was only a five-day search, half of which was in the wrong area,” Zee said.

“The investigation wasn’t handled well, and they didn’t have a missing persons team back then, so the police were busy with other things, and if the family doesn’t act, then nothing gets done,” she said.

“It’s not just our case that has been treated this way, it’s right around the country, and a lot of these cases are actually murders, but no one has time or resources to look into them.”

Zee noted the nature of the investigation was ‘unjust’ for Warren, and to her and her family.

“You end up 18 years down the track, and you are just stuck,” Zee said.

“Cases like Warren’s just lie there gathering dust until one person who cares enough comes along to look at them,” she said.

Warren and Zee met by chance while travelling through Kathmandu.

“We were travelling from Kathmandu to London in a converted army truck,” Zee said.

“We went through some incredible countries and experienced once-in-a-lifetime things,” she said.

“I couldn’t stand to say goodbye to him after the trip, so I went back to Canada with him, and we got married there.”

After a year spent living in Canada, Zee and Warren moved to Zee’s hometown, Melbourne, where they had two children.

“We had a wonderful life together,” Zee said.

Zee is grateful to the team of SES volunteers and locals who joined the search for Warren 17 years ago.

“Dealing with our trauma, the kindness from these people was amazing,” Zee said.

“The power of people is incredible.”

As to the reason for Warren’s disappearance, Zee does not believe her husband got lost.

“Warren’s case just doesn’t make sense,” Zee said.

“The formula of getting lost in the bush just doesn’t apply to Warren. It’s incorrect.”

Seventeen years down the road, Warren’s case is still open, and his family wants answers.

Compassion drives ongoing search for Warren Meyer

By April Stevens

Family, friends and volunteers bravely continue to search bushland in Yarra Ranges for Warren Meyer’s remains while Victoria Police are reportedly indifferent to recent discoveries.

Two Human Remains Detection dogs (HRD) from Search and Rescue Dogs of Australia (SARDA) located possible human remains bacteria at Mount Dom Dom where missing hiker Warren Meyer, aged 57, disappeared in March 2008. These findings at first encouraged hope that answers to Warren’s body were maybe just beneath the surface.

Initially requested by Victorian Police to help locate Warren Meyer while he was believed to be alive and only lost, Julie Cowan, founder of SARDA, has been involved with the disappearance since the beginning.

There has been an emotional investment from Julie and her team at SARDA, continually helping search for Warren even after official searches had ceased in 2008.

Ms Cowan recalled that even in the first few days of the conducted searches, gunshots echoed among the mountains and haunted those searching the terrain.

SARDA’s well known HRD Dog, Billie Jo, has been leading recent volunteer-led searches since 2023. Ms Cowan described Billie’s behaviour as “deadset” that she clearly showed signs she was interested in the Dom Dom Saddle area they have been searching.

“She was adamant that this was it,” she said.

The HRD dogs have shown consistent interest in areas examined, but Ms Cowan notes that the findings have been met with caution. She believes that external verification was sought with international experts by Victoria Police, she claims the experts supported SARDA’s accreditation and abilities.

Despite being award winning and annually accredited, with a documented record of success, the HDR dog’s finds are reportedly not sufficient under Victoria Police’s latest assessment following October, 2025.

Police unable to justify land clearing in further pursuit of Warren’s remains and unable to necessitate the cost and manpower required for a full search on Victoria Park’s land.

It was viewed by the volunteer search team and family that the recent effort and communication given by Victoria Police was ambiguous and hesitant.

“They were quite negative and not forthcoming” Ms Cowan said.

She felt that the police often downplayed and questioned the dog’s abilities, despite having used her service in the past.

Ms Cowan was left wondering if certain bodies were able to comprehend the science and methods behind the detection.

In response to the possible bacteria findings, Victoria Police Sergeant Melissa Seach said missing persons cases remained open until they’re found or identified.

“In this instance, nothing of note was located, but missing persons cases always remain active until a person is found or identified,” Ms Seach said.

In response to their efforts in locating remains following the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, Ms Cowan’s HDR dogs received the National Emergency Medal.

SARDA were the first canine search teams in Australia to have been awarded the medal.

There is little to no possibility that the HRD dogs detected human remains belonging to those lost during Black Saturday. According to the Coroner’s Court, “No unidentified deceased persons were located in the Narbethong area”

Therefore, the question of whose remains are being detected in the Yarra Ranges is left unanswered.

Ms Cowans says she and her team are “absolutely heartbroken” for Zee and her family and is disappointed following the recent assessment.

When asked what comes next and whether the outcome would halt the overall search she said she was never closing the door until she has answers.

“We’re not going to be put off by anybody,” Ms Cowan said.

The bacteria found was located in an environment where water had been travelling down the mountain, the physical origin of the bacteria hard to determine.

Warren’s doting wife, Zanette ‘Zee’ Meyer said there was “ambiguity” surrounding it all.

“However, we are realists. The bush is messy, it is not an identified grave site, but a general area, presumably relating to water runoff down a hill. We have strategies in place, a small private team will continue.”

Zee hasn’t stopped searching since the first hours of Warren’s absence.

Zee admits she is exhausted, that it’s a lot of work.

“But I won’t stop trying, not until I’m no longer here.”

Warren’s case was more complex than a kind man simply disappearing into the tall trees of the Black Spur.

Warren should have only been hearing birdsong and the crunch of his own footsteps on his morning hike, however, several rounds of gunfire were reportedly heard a short distance away.

Unfortunately, reports weren’t taken seriously by local police in March 2008 and the incident was not known by Warren’s family until months after Warren’s disappearance. It continues to be a widely unknown aspect of the case.

The incident was also reported by a frightened local family searching for Easter eggs together in Narbethon when they heard gunshots early Easter Sunday morning on the 23rd of March 2008.

According to the Coroner’s finding into a death without inquest by coroner John Olle in December 2017, local resident Craig McDermott initially reported hearing uncontrolled gunfire near Monda Track.

In a police statement dated 29 October 2008, Mr McDermott described the rapid succession of shots that caught his attention, highlighting the

intensity of the firing in that area.

Unidentified human remains, unclaimed open gunfire and an abundance of questions with no quick answers to follow.

Warren was described as a kind, adventurous, and healthy man, an intelligent engineer, and someone who had much to live for.

He had a reservation for lunch with his friends that Sunday. He was meant to go home to his young children, with plans to travel all over the world with them. He wanted to come home to his wife, whom he had loved for 30 years.

This love carries and motivates his family and others, as they continually tread through the heaviness that is a missing person’s case, contending with setbacks and constant heartache.

Today, Warren and Zee’s grandchildren help search across unrelenting grounds with their parents, grieving and searching for a grandfather they will never know, searching for a father that should be celebrating Easter with his Family.

Zee recalls at first desperately wishing that her husband would simply walk out of the bush to greet her, anticipating his return and his warm embrace.

Instead, Warren’s family will continue the brave search to look for his remains to finally bring him home.

Healesville and surrounds are a heavy tourism area.

If you were passing through or know any information about the events of 23 March 2008, including the shooting near Dom Dom Saddle or anything that may assist in locating Warren Meyer, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A celebration of 70 years

By Mikayla van Loon

It’s a milestone year for the CPP Community Theatre after seven decades of bringing shows to the stage.

And what better way to celebrate than taking to the stage with a show that “shines (a light) on the transformative nature of theatre”

COSI, set in a psychiatric facility where residents are putting on a performance of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutti, is at its heart a comedy but vice chair Samuel Taylor said it also goes beyond that.

“It is a laugh for minutes. It is silly, it is mayhem. It is people with all sorts of, I suppose, mental health issues putting on a play that is incredibly challenging to put on,” he said.

“It’s bringing them together. We love the way that that actually just links to CPP, not not in the same way necessarily, but we feel like CPP brings together people from all walks of life, many different backgrounds.

“We all go through our own personal challenges, and then we come together as as a group and put on a show.”

The CPP philosophy, Samuel said, is “community first, theatre group second” because as much as quality production is important it’s about providing experiences for members where they are surrounded by care and support.

Written in 1992, COSI has been performed widely by local theatre and Samuel said getting the balance of not laughing at the conditions of the patients but with them, has been at the forefront for the director and cast.

Knowing what we know now of mental health compared to over 30 years ago, the cast and crew have managed to remain true to the comedic roots but “in a really tasteful way”

Outside of the traditional direction CPP would take when selecting a show, Samuel said it’s not one they would have chosen 10 years ago but matches the new direction of the theatre group.

“What we absolutely loved when we were reading through the script and then picking this as as

a show was just the vibrancy of the characters,” he said.

“There are some absolute classic one liners that will get the audience laughing, and there are big, big personalities on stage. So it’s very much a show where you need performers that can do the big personality roles and basically let loose on stage.”

With an incredibly experienced cast, it has given them the creative freedom to develop their roles and lean into the boldness of their characters.

The ability to improv was almost encouraged by the director for this display of COSI, allowing the actors to “embrace the fact that the show might be just a little bit different each night”

“Embrace the moments where you get extra laughter from the audience, embrace the moments where something perhaps goes a little bit wrong on stage, because that will fit the natural themes of the show.”

COSI is just the start of the 70th anniversary celebrations, with lots planned to celebrate both the decades-long history but also the more recent history too.

“70 years is a huge anniversary, actually, and I think it’s one perhaps particularly meaningful coming off the back of some pretty challenging years,” Samuel said.

Forming a standalone group in late 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic meant the first show wasn’t staged until 2022.

Village of Rock raises money for a cause

By Tanya Steele

One day and two stages saw a jam-packed, heartfelt line-up of local bands and artists from across the Dandenong Ranges show up to support a local charity.

Sooki Lounge hosted a fundraiser gig all day on Sunday 29 March to support the Dandenong Ranges Relief Centre (DRERS), stretching tunes and good times well into the evening.

Supporting people at risk, experiencing homelessness, and those impacted by domestic violence in the Yarra Ranges for over 40 years, the event raised over $5000.

Chief Executive Officer at DRERS, Tania Bevan, said the charity felt so privileged that Sooki Lounge had another fundraiser for their service.

“We cannot say thank you enough to Steve Crombie from Sooki Lounge, his staff and all of the bands who are donating their time and skills to this event,” she said.

Sooki Lounge is a great support for local arts and across the hills and beyond, local bands played from early afternoon into the night.

Bands earlier in the line up started their sets in broad daylight, a first for some of them.

“All the crowd were lined up around the edge, a few feet up from where the band were set up, and it was buzzing and hot and it felt a bit like we were playing in a dog fighting ring. I was half-expecting someone to throw in an angry roosteralthough thankfully that didn’t happen,” said lead singer, Seamus of the recently reformed Creatures of the Bog.

From flamenco sounds with, to country hillbilly punk, a member from the band Spoof Maggots said with heaps of mates on the line up, the gig felt like a big party where no one was hugging the controller.

A member of Drowning Houdini said the gig went off with what seemed like even more people than in previous years.

“Plenty of great original music from local bands, all coming together for a good cause for those in need,” they said.

Freo from the Mast Gully Fellers said It was great to see such a good turnout.

“We felt privileged to have been in such good company on Sunday playing on that stage,” he said.

The stacked line up included Pia Nesvara, Half Cut Hicks, The Licspits, Trux, Chloe Holmes &

The Mutineers, The Defibs, Mast Gully Fellars, Creatures Of The Bog, Lost Canoe, Clint Wilson & The Ruins, Nah, Freud & The Family Solution, Primary High, Chasing Planes, Flatbread, Chasing Planes, Drowning Houdini, Naked Neighbours and the Spoof Maggots, so there was a huge array of local talent to be enjoyed.

Seamus from Creatures from the Bog, said the gig wasn’t just a great way to raise money for an important cause, but was also a pivotal moment for many hills-based music fans to come together and experience just what a strong music scene has developed in the Dandenong Ranges.

“The music scene in the hills is actually incredible,” Seamus said.

Band TRUX played mid-afternoon played an energetic set in the beer garden with classics as well as a brand new unreleased track “Slay”.

“It was great to see the locals gathered in the sun, grooving along for a good cause,” said Alex from TRUX.

“Not nearly enough Dads, but we have an insatiable Dad lust. Wu-tang,” said a member of the Spoof Maggots.

Clint Wilson from Clint Wilson and the Ruins said it was heartwarming to see how the community got around the event.

“Steve and the Sooki gang are legends for pulling off such a huge day,” he said.

“On the back end of that, being in a position now where we’re able to celebrate our 70th year in a relatively strong position, is really exciting for our group.”

Later this year, CPP will host a 70th anniversary concert, performing songs from each of its last 10 musicals, alongside some new ones.

With a steady membership of around 80 people, in addition to the volunteers, Samuel said the current age range is six to 81 years old, sometimes seeing three generations of families perform together.

Having staged CPP’s first ever junior musical last year, Samuel said in 2027 and beyond, the hope is this can become a regular fixture in the program to provide more opportunities for children to perform and shine.

Rounding out the year, CPP will bring Shrek The Musical to the stage in September. Don’t miss the chance to be part of CPP Community Theatre’s 70th year with six performances of COSI to see this April.

Opening night is Friday 10 April, with the final performance on Saturday 18 April, hosted at Boronia K-12 College’s Performing Arts Centre, Albert Avenue Boronia.

Tickets can be found at cppcommunitytheatre. com.au

Playing later in the line-up, Jacob from Chasing Panes said the vibes were incredible, and it was amazing to see the community get behind a great cause in such numbers.

“We played a set of all originals, which they seemed to vibe with; we may have rocked a little too hard and broke a bass drum pedal… whoops,” he said.

Seamus said he spent the day getting into all the local music and talent.

“Some featured friends of mine, the kids of friends of mine, people who live on my street, the bloke who fixes my house, a person who used to be the IT expert at my workplace, people who play for my soccer club, and the list goes on,” he said.

The Creatures of the Bog singer said he chatted with Sooki Lounge owner Steve Crombie and ‘Jeffbo’ or Jeff Springfield, former Cardinia Mayor and Emerald-based audio engineer, on the day.

“We all agreed that the Belgrave/Tecoma area should be crowned ‘The Village of Rock’ because there are so few places like this outside of the inner-metro area that have such an enviable and thriving live music culture and scene,” he said.

“I believe some really important bands are going to be launched from here. No doubt about it.”

“Such great locals, helping locals. What an awesome, wonderful community we have here,” said Ms Bevan.

“To

HEALTH & WELLNESS

All female dental clinic

Valley Dental Family Clinic is an all female clinic based in Lilydale.

The clinic is owned by Dr Rupali Prabhu and Dr Sonali Prabhu.

Rupali graduated from dental school in 1999. She has worked in private and public community clinics both in, and around Melbourne. She has also lived out of the city, spending a period of time in Benalla in rural Victoria.

Rupali is passionate about providing high quality dental care and takes pleasure in sharing a story and a laugh with her patients. She enjoys all aspects of dentistry and always strives to provide dental treatment in a relaxing and comfortable environment.

Rupali believes her practice and approach to dentistry creates an experience that will change your notion of what a trip to the dentist is.

Outside of work she loves to spend time with family and her young children, sharing her passion for reading and travelling with them at every opportunity.

Sonali graduated from dental school in 2003. She has worked as a dentist in both community and private practices. She has also worked various roles within the dental industry.

Sonali believes that your mouth is the gateway to better wellbeing, and that a great healthy smile will leave a great lasting impression on people.

Sonali loves interacting with patients and en-

suring they are comfortable and at-ease.

She enjoys all aspects of dentistry. She particularly loves working with older clients.

In her spare time, she loves cooking delicious Indian dishes and enjoying time with her family and friends.

The third dentist joined the Valley Dental team two years ago and has been an integral part of the team ever since.

With over 10 years of experience, Merhaz believes that world-class dentistry should be delivered to each and every patient. Mehraz has a keen interest in aesthetic dentistry and is studying a certificate of Cosmetic Dentistry to introduce lip and cheek fillers to the clinic for Valley Dental

patients.

Rupali said being an all-female team, patients were treated with care and compassion.

“Staff are very approachable and compassionate making everyone feel at ease coming to the dentist,“ she said.

The clinic offers a wide range of dental services, including general dentistry, fillings, crowns, bridges and veneers.

Take advantage of current specials, including a check-up, clean and two x-rays for $195, and inchair whitening $450.

For an appointment phone 9737 6453

RARE PLANT EXPO

Ferny Creek set to bloom

By Tanya Steele

Kicking off in the Dandenong Ranges over the last weekend of the school holidays, the Plant Collector’s Expo and Show is offering bonsai, ikebana, butterflies and more in a treat for young and old alike.

Hosting the horticultural extravaganza, the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society (FCHS) are most excited to bring their combined annual Plant Collectors’ Expo and Autumn Show to the hills on 18 and 19 April.

“Our flower hall will be bursting with hundreds of botanical entries, as well as a wonderful Ikebana display,” said a volunteer member of FCHS.

With over 40 plant vendors on site, the expo offers plant and flower enthusiasts the chance to see and purchase bulbs of all kinds, from daffodils to succulents, peonies to natives and more.

Displaying deciduous trees, perennials, salvias, rhododendrons, camellias, and alpine bulbs, the vendors will bring their favourite and unusual varieties from across Victoria, offering up a rare and unique plant wishlist found nowhere else.

The FCH society will also have its own stall, which is stocked with plants propagated from the Ferny Creek gardens, along with cut flowers and rare and unusual plants of their own, steeped in the history and knowledge of the area they are grown in.

In operation since 1932, the FCHS site sits on a ten-acre block of ornamental gardens tended by volunteers.

Sitting near Sherbrooke Forest at an elevation of around 500 metres, the FCHS cultivated gardens have many established plants, and their annual shows are long-standing events.

“Many specimen plants are over 80 years old,” said a volunteer from FCHS.

“Our garden looks beautiful and is maintained by our volunteers,” they said.

“We meet twice a week and enjoy morning tea together after our gardening efforts.”

Along with guided garden walks with Don Teese and Keith Ross, a full lineup of guest speak-

ers will give talks on a range of topics both days of the upcoming weekend, hosted by Virginia Heywood.

Sassafras Ferny Creek CFA will also be at the expo, running the free parking and a sausage sizzle to boot.

Food vans and a coffee cart will be available, along with the FCHS kitchen, which will offer up its own array of fresh sandwiches and Devonshire teas

General public tickets are $9, and kids are free

The show is open from 10am to 4pm both days at 100 Hilton Road, Sassafras, with free parking available next door at the Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve at 16 Clarkmont Road, Sassafras.

SENIOR LIVING Retirement living with heart

Where the Yarra Valley meets the Dandenong Ranges, Lilydale Valley Views offers more than a place to live, it’s a vibrant community where retirement is enjoyed to the fullest.

For over 15 years, the village has grown into a welcoming environment where residents feel at home. With 139 residences, including semi attached two and three bedroom units and cosy terraces, there is a style to suit every preference.

Whether it’s sweeping valley views or the ease of low maintenance living, each home is designed for comfort and connection.

Lifestyle is at the heart of Lilydale Valley Views. A heated indoor pool and spa provide year round relaxation, while Tai Chi, dancercise, and other group activities keep minds and bodies active. The village bus makes shopping stress free with convenient door to door service.

A strong sense of community sets the village apart. The resident social committee organises a calendar filled with outings, celebrations, and casual get togethers, ensuring there are always opportunities to connect. Friendships form quickly and newcomers are warmly welcomed, making it

easy to feel part of the community from day one. The location adds to the appeal. Doctors, supermarkets, and the train station are all within walking distance, while the nearby Warburton Trail offers scenic walks and bike rides. On site, a thriving veggie and flower garden brings people together in the simple pleasure of growing and sharing.

It is this blend of convenience, activity, and companionship that makes Lilydale Valley Views such a special place. Here, retirement is not about slowing down, but about enjoying life surround-

A better retirement lifestyle

ed by people who value the same. We invite you to experience it for yourself. Discover the comfort of terrace living, the beauty of the views, and the warmth of a truly connected community.

For more information, visit us at 471 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale, email manager@ lilydalevalleyviews.com.au, or call 03 9735 5944 to speak with our manager, Rosemary Seymour. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.

9735 5944

Be part of a vibrant Community and enjoy the Facilities

Close to all amenities - health professionals,

Supermarkets, public transport

Village volunteers can assists you around the house

Village bus for shopping excursions

Monthly calendar of events

24 Hour Emergency Assistance

Fully equipped gym

Heated indoor pool

Hairdresser, Massage & Podiatry services

4-rink Bowling Green

Entertainment Lounge

Library and Computer Room

SENIOR LIVING

Redefining your lifestyle

Imagine a life where home maintenance is a thing of the past, and new neighbours can become old friends.

This is what you can expect at Summerset Chirnside Park, conveniently located with easy access to nearby shopping centres with multiple supermarkets, petrol stations, medical centres, cafes and restaurants to choose from.

Tantalisingly close to the Yarra Valley, weekend excursions to your favourite vineyard for a long lunch just got easier. With two beautiful golf courses just a short drive away, it’s the perfect spot for wine lovers and golfers alike. With easy access to the Maroondah Highway and local train services just minutes away, staying connected to family, friends and the wider com-

munity is effortless.

Architecturally designed, our contemporary homes offer spacious, open plan living with great indoor-outdoor flow with plenty of space for the grandkids to run around.

Life at Summerset Chirnside Park isn’t about slowing down. It’s about having the free-

dom to make the most out of your retirement years.

Homes are selling off the plan now. Book an appointment at our sales and experience centre today and secure your preferred home. Contact 03 8777 4242 or visit summerset.com. au/chirnsidepark.

Imagine not having to worry about home maintenance and instead being able to get the most out of your retirement years doing the things you love – like popping to your favourite vineyard in the Yarra Valley for lunch.

Summerset Chirnside Park is a modern village with resort-style facilities that will redefine retirement living, with the reassurance that there will be a residential aged care home onsite.^

For a limited time, you can save on the lease to occupy cost of your home with our Early Bird $20k Cashback offer. Simply sign a sales application for a selected first release home before 31 May 2026 and settle by 30 September 2026.#

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Love the life you choose.

Book an appointment today Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm

Summerset Chirnside Park

Sales Suite: 273 Manchester Road, Chirnside Park 03 8777 4242 | chirnsidepark.sales@summerset.com.au

SENIOR LIVING

Stitching creativity together

Residents at Tudor Village are once again showcasing their creativity and generosity, with the Tudor Village Craft Group producing a range of handmade Easter gifts to raise funds for charity.

The group, a long-standing fixture of the village community, has been hard at work creating festive crafts for residents and visitors to purchase. Proceeds from the Easter crafts will be distributed among a range of charities chosen by members.

Meeting fortnightly at the Community Centre, the Craft Group brings together a lively circle of women who share a passion for handmade crafts. Their gatherings feature a wide variety of crafts including knitting, crochet, embroidery, patchwork and macrame, as well as more specialised projects like Faberge egg decorating and candle wicking.

Beyond seasonal items for Easter and Christmas, the group produces handmade cards yearround and contributes craft items to support other Tudor Village activities.

Their work includes poppies for ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day displays, daffodil brooches for Cancer Council fundraising events and practical donations such as bags for charitable organisations.

Founded in 1994 by a small group of residents meeting in a private home, the Craft Group moved into the Community Centre soon after its completion in 1995. Over the decades, it has been guided by several dedicated leaders, with current coordinator Roselynne Waghorn continuing a legacy established by earlier leaders Carole Darby and Wanda Batchelor.

One of the group’s most cherished creations - a detailed quilt made in 2001- remains on display in the Community Centre library. The piece, which highlights the talents of past members, narrowly avoided destruction during a 2013 fire after being temporarily stored offsite.

The Craft Group has a long history of charitable giving, supporting organisations ranging from emergency services and local community groups to wildlife care and health charities. Local groups and charities that are supported include Lilydale SES, CFA’s Lilydale, Gruyere, Coldstream and Mount Evelyn, Yarra Valley Ladies in Pink, The Mustard Tree Op Shop and Cafe, Jumpers for Penguin Rehabilitation, Spectrum Journey Inc, Tastyaz, Stable 1 at Wandin Baptist Church, Joey pouches for Wildlife Victoria, KOGO, Allity Aged Care, Stable 1, Holey

Fools and Share the Dignity.

Goods are also made and donated to needy charities in the Lilydale area including Treasured Babies, Box Hill Premmies and Red Cross Trauma Teddies.

Their contributions include handmade goods, financial donations, and large-scale community efforts - such as producing more than

1500 knitted and crocheted poppies to honour Diggers in the ANZAC Centenary in 2018. A poppy display every year since is a feature of Tudor Village’s annual ANZAC and Remembrance Days celebrations.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, members also turned their skills to producing face masks for residents and families, with funds supporting village initiatives. Today, the Tudor Village Craft

Group continues to thrive as both a creative outlet and a social hub, where members gather not only to craft but also to teach, learn and connect. The group remains grateful for the ongoing support of residents who donate supplies and purchase handmade items, helping ensure their charitable efforts can continue well into the future.

Homes Like These Don’t Come Around Often.

SPACIOUS TUDOR-STYLE LIVING WITH MODERN FINISHES — TWO EXCEPTIONAL RESIDENCES NOW AVAILABLE AT TUDOR VILLAGE.

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Three bedrooms, double garaging, and a covered pergola made for long lunches — these two Tudor-style homes at Tudor Village represent some of the finest living the village has to offer. Thoughtfully renovated with modern bathrooms and kitchens featuring stainless steel Bosch appliances, every detail has been considered for comfort and style. Homes of this calibre at Tudor Village are rarely available. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity! Enquire now for pricing and to view.

SENIOR LIVING

Volunteering is rewarding

Volunteering as a senior can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. There are many opportunities available where your skills, experience, and wisdom can make a significant impact. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Mentoring: Offer your time to mentor younger individuals or even peers who may benefit from your guidance and expertise. Many organisations, schools, and community programs are always in need of mentors.

• Tutoring: Help children or adults in your community with their education. You could volunteer at local schools, libraries, or community centres to assist with homework help, literacy programs, or adult education classes.

• Senior Centres: Many senior centres have volunteer programs where you can help organise activities, lead classes or workwshops, or simply spend time socialising with other seniors.

• Non-profit Organisations: There are countless non-profit organisations that rely on volunteers to carry out their missions. You could volunteer at a food bank, animal shelter, hospital, environmental organisation, or any cause that you’re passionate about.

• Virtual Volunteering: If mobility or health issues make it difficult for you to volunteer in person, consider virtual volunteering opportunities. You could provide online tutoring, assist with social media management for non-profits, or participate in virtual support groups. Remember to choose volunteer opportunities that align with your interests, skills, and schedule. Volunteering not only benefits others but also provides a sense of purpose, connection, and fulfilment in your own life.

Cherry Tree Grove has undergone a remarkable transformation, with refurbished community spaces and amenities, setting a new standard for retirement living. and comfort with a lively social calendar, and easy access to local shops, public transport, and recreational hubs. Choose from a selection of retirement homes with the peace of mind now and into the future.

Valley awaits a winter lens

By Gabriella Vukman

The Yarra Ranges are home to some spectacular views, splendid wildlife, and plenty of great photo opportunities.

As the months grow colder and the leaves begin to transition, the sights of the region emerge into a new world of vermillions, deep morones, and amber yellows before settling down into a twinkling frosty wonderland.

Whether it is capturing the emergence of a spotted toadstall or recording the early-morning balloons as they rise over the valley, the autumn and winter seasons are when the region shines brightest through the lens.

So, without further ado, here is a list of all of the many spectacular places in the Yarra Ranges to take photos in the cooler months.

Starting off strong with its open panoramic views, stop off at Symes Road and walk up the hill along the Warburton Highway for a picturesque vista of the ranges surrounding the lower floodplains.

Winter is the best time to visit this spot, as the fog and frost elevate the scenery.

Warburton Trail, specifically between Woori Yallock and Launching Place, is a great place to capture the colours of Autumn.

Yarra Ranges local photographer Tracey Frazer loves to photograph the fog that drifts up from the valley near Woori Yallock.

“The mood the fog brings to the photos is wonderful,” Ms Frazer said.

“If you get out early enough, the first ten minutes after sunrise, the fog is pink because the sun is furthest away from the horizon,” she said.

“One of my favourite things about living in the Yarra Ranges is that every direction you turn, it’s picture-perfect.”

Ms Frazer also suggested Emerald Lake Park as a great autumn photo location.

“Another tip is to go to the back streets because you never know what you’re going to find,” Ms Frazer said.

In terms of capturing wildlife, Ms Frazer recommended walking towards Launching Place along the trail to photograph some fairy wrens and other birds.

Ms Frazer also noted that the station at Woori Yallock along the rail trail makes for a great kangaroo-spotting location.

“There is a mob that lives down there near the river,” Ms Frazer said.

“I love capturing kangaroos in the fog. I nearly got bowled over by one last time I was out.”

Yering golf course, along with almost any winery with sprawling paddocks, is also an excellent location for spotting kangaroos- and for watching the hot air balloons rise.

For more panoramic views, drive across to Yarra Glen, where the landscape opens up to reveal a series of gently undulating hills, framed at the outskirts by the surrounding mountains.

The lookout on Old Healesville Road just past View Hill Vineyard, driving from Yarra Glen towards Healesville, yields some fabulous photo opportunities over the plains.

Once you have finished snapping the Yarra Glen scenery, head to Healesville for some of Star Mail photographer Stewart Chambers’ favourite shooting locations.

Mr Chambers dubbed Watts River in Coronation Park behind Coles a fabulous Autumn spot with leaves falling from the trees.

Maroondah Dam in the wintertime also marked one of Mr Chambers’ chosen photography spots, even if it is very chilly.

Badger Weir Creek is another of Mr Chambers’ preferred photo destinations.

When you are ready to move on from sweeping valleys and looming mountains, wait for the first Autumn rains to sneak some photos of red and white toadstalls popping up.

Maroondah Dam, Badger Creek Weir, and Doongala Reserve in the Dandenong Ranges are all great places to spot brightly coloured toadstalls between March and June.

Over in the Hills, vast canopies and windy roads make for a mysterious and whimsical winter photo destination.

Photographer Steve Taylor-Madin has a studio in Olinda and conducts monthly free photography walks throughout the Dandenong Ranges.

“The Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden always has a lot of colour through autumn,” Mr Taylor-Maden said.

“But my favourite place for colour is the George Tyndale Memorial Gardens, just a stone’s throw from the Alfred Nicholas,” he said.

“I also love heading down through Silvan and getting lost in the wilderness down there. There is always something good on the trails, whether it be echidnas or wombats.”

As a black and white photographer, winter is Mr Taylor-Maden’s preferred time to shoot.

“Winter puts a soft box over the sky in the shape of a cloud, so the light becomes really beautifully diffused, and it is much easier to get nice photos in the wilderness,” Mr Taylor-Maden said.

“Anywhere in the mountains is great, especially if you’ve got a nice low fog to drive through,” he said.

Another of Mr Taylor-Maden’s favourite hill shooting locations is the RJ Hamer Arboretum.

“There is a spot down there where there are a bunch of little dragon nests and huts that people have created,” Mr Taylor-Maden said.

“On a beautifully foggy morning one day, there was just the most delightful eerie sensation down there, and there were a couple of lyrebirds frolicking around, jumping up in the trees and really putting on a show for me,” he said.

“I was very close to them, and it was amazing.”

Mr Taylor-Maden’s photo walks stemmed from witnessing a moment in Melbourne after lockdown.

“There was a bunch of people out, taking photos, and I just thought it was unreal,” Mr Taylor-Maden said.

“I went on the hunt for a photo walk and couldn’t find one, so I made my own, and it has just grown from there,” he said.

What started as just three or four people turned into 28 over the years.

“It is pretty fun,” Mr Taylor-Maden said.

“There is no expectation of anyone to produce anything. It is just a fun day out speaking to like-minded people,” he said.

Mr Taylor-Maden’s photo walks take place on the first Sunday of every month, and are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Those interested in attending a photo walk can email Mr Taylor-Maden’s studio via olinda@ loopartphotospace.com.

So, fight the urge to stay cosied up inside this winter, and get out to capture all of the scenic wonders the Yarra Ranges has to offer.

Dancing delights of Aurora

By Mikayla van Loon

The Aurora Australis phenomenon has been gracing the night skies of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges recently, providing eager nature and space enthusiasts a chance to see the aurora down under.

While the dancing delight is never a guarantee, the vastness of the Valley and the height of the Hills have been perfect locations to sight the colourful sky.

From Selby to Healesville, having a camera ready at any moment can lead to a spectacular photo of the Southern Lights.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said the auroras are generally easier to spot around the time of equinoxes, this year’s being 20 March and 23 September.

“Auroras are caused by events that begin on the Sun. Solar winds occur when high-energy plasma (a gas of electrically charged particles) escapes from the Sun’s gravitational field,” a spokesperson said.

“These plasma clouds travel away from the Sun (sometimes in the direction of Earth) at speeds of up to 3000 km per second, and this is known as a coronal mass ejection (CME).

“When a CME reaches Earth, it results in a geomagnetic storm, and there is a build-up of energy on the night side of the Earth.

“When conditions are right, this energy is released, accelerating charged particles so they spiral around the magnetic field lines toward the north and south poles.”

To get the best chance of seeing an aurora, you’ll need a dark sky, away from light pollution, with little cloud cover, and ideally an unobstructed view of the southern horizon, free of trees and buildings.

The Bureau will issue an Aurora Watch notice at sws.bom.gov.au/Aurora when solar wind conditions look favourable for auroras to occur in the next one to three days.

Saturday, 18April 2026 7:30- 9:30PM The Memo

Autumn’s colourful display

Autumn is well and truly upon us, with leaves displaying a red and orange tinge, some even

The

Fuel-friendly fun to be had

By Callum Ludwig

With petrol prices biting at the bowser, road-tripping might be a bit out of the budget these school holidays.

Fuel-friendly fun can still be found by making your way around the Outer East without a car.

Public transport is a cheap and convenient way to travel, especially with free travel throughout April and at all times for kids with a youth Myki, which can be picked up for a $5 fee at any train station, while seniors can also travel free on weekends.

The Outer East is serviced by the Lilydale and Belgrave train lines, providing a great starting point for a trip to the Hills or the Yarra Valley.

On the Lilydale line, trains stop right in the townships of Croydon, Mooroolbark and Lilydale which are also useful for getting to towns like Montrose, Kilsyth, Chirnside Park and Wonga Park.

On the Belgrave line, you can hop off in Boronia, Ferntree Gully, Upper Ferntree Gully, Upwey, Tecoma and Belgrave.

To change between the two train lines, catch any train towards Flinders Street and swap at Ringwood, a journey which takes only 16 minutes from Lilydale and 23 minutes from Belgrave, meaning you could travel between both in under an hour.

Use the PTV app, particularly the journey planner feature, to map out the best time to line up your train or bus trip.

If your destination is a bit more specific, you might find it situated nicely alongside a bus route throughout the region.

The 663 route also travels between Lilydale and Belgrave in a total of 56 minutes via Kallista, The Patch, Monbulk, Silvan, Mt Evelyn and Montrose.

Staying in the Hills, the 695 can get you from Belgrave to Menzies Creek, Emerald, Avonsleigh, Cockatoo and Gembrook, the 697 services Belgrave South, the 699 can help you get around Upwey and Tecoma and the 696 between Olinda and Monbulk.

For a trip to Mount Dandenong, the townships below, you can take the 694 in Belgrave or Olinda which passes through Sherbrooke, Ferny Creek, Sassafras and Olinda before taking a loop up to the Mt Dandenong Observatory.

The 688 between Upper Ferntree Gully and Montrose also connects the foothills on either side to the summit of the mountain.

The shopping centre special 679 also helps connect to Mt Evelyn and Montrose while venturing from Chirnside Park Shopping Centre to

Eastland Shopping Centre. It ventures through Lilydale, heads up Hereford Road into Mt Evelyn and down York Road before heading out into the township of Montrose and through Kilsyth South on its way to Ringwood.

The 672 between Croydon and Chirnside Park can help connect you ot other routes if you are in Wonga Park, Croydon North or Croydon Hills.

Lilydale is the place to be if you want a route out to the Yarra Valley or Upper Yarra. The 685 will take you from Lilydale to Healesville Sanctuary in Badger Creek via all of Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Tarrawarra and Healesville. Meanwhile, the 683 is your one-stop shop for the Upper Yarra, stopping in every township along the Warburton Highway to East Warburton.

For a long haul out of the Outer East, you can also catch the 684 back and forth once a day when it journeys from Ringwood to Eildon, picking up passengers in Chirnside Park, Lilydale, Coldstream and Healesville. You can hop off in Narbethong, Marysville, Buxton, Taggerty, Acheron, Alexandra, Thornton or Eildon but make sure you don’t miss the bus home or have somewhere to stay!

If you are feeling fit and the weather is nice, the trails of the Outer East are a scenic way to travel on foot or by bike.

The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders alike, taking you on a bushy path that was once the train line.

While in the Upper Yarra you can also find

the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail which passes through the Yarra Ranges National Park from Don Valley to East Warburton.

The Yarra Valley Trail’s construction is still underway but the first connection from Lilydale to Yering is already complete, with a permit being acquired to start the next section to Yarra Glen. In the long-term, funding has been provided to connect from Yarra Glen to Tarrawarra and the hope is to extend it from Tarrawarra to Healesville, Healesville to Seville East and Woori Yallock to Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, creating an iconic, valley-wide loop, so this is one to return to in years to come.

Also in the Valley is the 7km trail along Steels Creek Road, passing an old quarry and mining site, a natural spring-fed water trough and the Steels Creek School which was originally built in 1886.

The Carrum to Warburton trail connects Kilsyth and Lilydale, including connecting to Brushy Creek Trail, Cambridge Road Trail, Olinda Creek Trail, Lillydale Lake and Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.

Mooroolbark residents might be able to access the 5km Brushy Creek Trail to get into town, Cambridge Road trail connects between Hull Road in Mooroolbark and Montrose Road, Montrose where you can reach the township and where you can find the Swansea Road Trail which follows Swansea Road to York Road.

From York Road, the Olinda Creek trail runs along Swansea Road and connects to Hull Road,

Lilydale.

The Mount Evelyn Aqueduct Trail is connected to both the Warburton Rail Trail and the Olinda Creek trail, following the path of the old aqueduct from the town.

Also in Mt Evelyn is the trail through Owl Land Bushland Reserve, where Powerful Owls nest, and which has a trail that connects the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail to Hereford Road in Mt Evelyn.

The Belgrave Rail Trail follows the historic route of Puffing Billy, travelling through Tecoma, Upwey, Upper Ferntree Gully, Boronia, Bayswater, Heathmont and Ringwood and connecting to the Dandenong Creek Trail and the Eastlink Trail.

The steep Lovers Walk in Belgrave heads from Belgrave Station to Kaola Street, passing the Belgrave pool, Belgrave Lake Park, Birdsland Reserve and passes through Borthwick Park, which features a significant stand of American Redwood trees.

Camping and caravanning in the Yarra Ranges

By Callum Ludwig

Cosying up to a campfire and connecting with nature are great ways to spend the cooler months, whether in one of the caravan parks or campgrounds of the Yarra Ranges.

For those seeking the added comforts of facilities and an easy “home base” to enjoy or travel from, a caravan park might be the choice for you.

Lilydale’s Pine Hill Caravan Park is perfectly placed for travellers wanting to explore the breadth of the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges, sitting at the start of the Warburton Highway in a location that offers easy access out to the Yarra Valley, Upper Yarra and Dandenong Ranges.

BIG4’s Yarra Valley Park Lane in Healesville also offers a scenic destination, with the Badger Creek and Lake Picaninny on site and the serenity of the surrounding bushland of the Yarra Ranges to enjoy.

Parks Victoria’s campsites are also bookable and half-price until July 2027 so get out and enjoy them this year while rates are lower.

Traverse the Upper Yarra all the way past Reefton to the Upper Yarra Reservoir enjoy the camping area, which offers lookouts over the dam, walks through the forest and the chance to spot a plethora of local wildlife.

For other spots nearby to the Yarra Valley be sure to check out Warrandyte’s Longridge Campground on the Yarra River, The Gums Campground in the Kinglake National Park near Glenburn or the hiking and climbing spots near Neds Gully and Cooks Mill camping areas between Buxton and Taggerty.

There are also other camping spots available for a cost in the Toolangi State Forest, popular with motorbike riders looking to get out on some local tracks. These include Dindi Mill Camp,

Bull Creek Camp, Ferns Camp and Water Gauge Camp.

For a camping getaway on a budget, there are also many free sites throughout the Yarra Valley to explore, but you may have to be quick, especially in peak periods, to ensure you get a spot.

Near Gembrook, you can find campsites at Kurth Kiln Scout Loop, Magazine Track, Nash Creek, Mortimer Picnic Ground, Freemans Mill and Dyers Camping and Picnic Area.

In the Upper Yarra, Starlings Gap in McMahons Creek and the Latrobe River camping area in Gentle Annie have easy vehicle access while there are also hike-in camping spots at Federal Mill and near the Ada Tree.

Acheron Way holds a few more spots between the Upper Yarra and the Yarra Valley including the Cliffview campsite, Feiglins Road Bridge and Grimes campsite, while before the township of Marysville you can also find Anderson Mill campground.

For the trailbike riders, there are free campsites at Kalatha Creek and Two Hills Campground in Glenburn which are accessible to four-wheel drives.

And for keen campers heading out to the many more camping opportunities beyond the Yarra Ranges, be sure to stop in our local townships along your pilgrimage to restock, refuel and refresh!

Have your pitch ready

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The Dandenongs and Hills residents are invited to bring their ideas to life through a new council-funded initiative from Yarra Ranges Council.

‘The Community Pitch Project’, aimed at connecting people and providing tools to turn community-focused ideas into real projects, will start in the Hills region from March to June 2026, with sessions taking place across the Dandenongs at Olinda Community House on Thursday, 9 April; Belgrave Community House on Wednesday, 15 April; and Monbulk Living and Learning Centre on Tuesday, 21 April.

The project will then roll out across Upper Yarra, the Valley, and Urban areas over the next two years, with all three Dandenong events running from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Participants will take part in a series of workshops designed to help them develop their ideas and deliver projects that meet local needs, with council committing $35,000 to fund chosen initiatives.

Mayor Richard Higgins said the program offered a unique chance for local people to make a tangible difference.

“Nobody knows what a community needs to thrive more than the people that live and work there,” Cr Higgins said.

“We’ve seen first-hand what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose. This program will empower the community to identify opportunities, share their ideas and build the skills required to make meaningful, long-lasting change for their community.”

Yarra Ranges Council coordinator of marketing and communications, Kirsty Elliot, said the Hills region has experienced multiple environmental and social challenges over the past few years.

“The Hills region has encountered several environmental and social challenges in recent years, including the 2021 storms and the COVID pandemic,” Ms Elliot said.

“At the same time, it has developed an extensive network of service providers and volunteer groups who are keen to get more involved - there are many groups and individuals ready to respond to the challenges and waiting for a program like this, we want to support that momentum and have heard

from the community that they are ready to be involved.”

She said while communities often know what they need, they don’t always have a way to share ideas or connect with like-minded individuals.

“Working in isolation is almost impossible for positive community benefit, so this program has been designed to foster collaboration and connection,” Ms Elliot said.

“Even if an idea isn’t ready as a deliverable project, there will still be benefits from strengthened bonds, knowledge shared and access to future opportunities.”

Council will continue supporting groups after their projects are delivered, offering guidance on governance, access to grants, and links to networks.

“The Community Pitch is a launch pad for projects, and we will continue to walk alongside community members to ensure the projects are sustainable into the future,” Ms Elliot said.

Olinda Community House manager, Belinda Young emphasised the importance of local networks in the Hills.

“We know that connection in the Hills does not occur by chance. Distance, limited transport, cost of living pressures, and a slightly older population all influence how people are able to participate,” Ms Young said.

“The 2021 storms, along with a bushfire season that appears to be lengthening, have highlighted just how vital strong local networks are - not only in times of crisis, but throughout recovery. The strength of The Community Pitch lies in its support of local people to lead local solutions; the most effective ideas are grounded in lived experience.”

“We see that when people come together, even in small ways, confidence builds, isolation diminishes, and individuals begin to show up for one another. There is greater community buy-in when initiatives are locally led, and this approach can foster deeper connection and strengthen resilience over time.”

For more information, residents can call the Partnerships and Community Building team on 1300 368 333 or email skillsbuilding@ yarraranges.vic.gov.au

Every day at Animal Aid we see how strong the bond is between people and their dogs.

Dogs get us outside, get us moving, sit with us when life’s not great, and celebrate the good days with us.

Adventure for your pooch aid Animal

That bond is exactly what Adventure Dog is all about.

But behind the scenes at Animal Aid, things have been getting tougher.

We’re seeing more animals coming into our care than we have in recent years, and at the same time, many families are doing it tough with the rising cost of living.

People are struggling with vet bills, food, housing and unexpected life changes, and sadly

Mark Menze Animal Aid CEO

that often means more animals needing our help. When intake numbers go up and donations and resources are stretched, the pressure on a shelter grows quickly.

Theatre wrap up

The Round

The 70s 80s 90s Show

Presented by entertainment BigCityBeat, Australia’s Greatest Show Band, this 19-piece musical de force celebrates the unforgettable music of the 70s, 80s, and 90s in a spectacular journey of nostalgia, humour, and crowd-pleasing fun.

From the disco anthems of ABBA, G-Bee Gees, Earth Wind and fire, and the serena of Queen and AC/DC to the 80s pop-flock powerhouses like Michael Jackson, tina Turner, Bon Joan Jett Jett, and the feel good favourites of the 90s with Shania Twain, Ricky Martin, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Robbie Williams,

Kemp’s urtain call curtain

and Acqua - every performance is bursting with iconic hits that get the whole crowd singing along.

Led by Australia’s Premier Showman, Brian Rault, the show blends powerful vocals, cheeky

More animals means more food, more medical care, more time, more staff, more volunteers, and more space.

We are committed to never turning our backs on animals in need, but we rely heavily on community support to keep doing this work.

That’s where Adventure Dog on 12 April 2026 plays such an important role.

It’s a great day out for people and their dogs, but it’s also a major fundraiser that helps us continue caring for homeless and abandoned animals in our community.

Adventure Dog isn’t about being the fastest or the most competitive.

It’s about people and dogs working together,

having a go, and enjoying a day outdoors. You’ll see families, kids, older dogs, young dogs and rescue dogs all taking part and just enjoying the experience together.

If you have a dog, we’d love you to enter. If you don’t, you can still come along, volunteer, or cheer people on. Community events like this make a real difference to what we can do for animals who don’t have anyone else.

Because at the end of the day, Animal Aid exists to give every dog the chance to have a person of their own.

Visit - animalaid.org.au for more information.

Second best Super Mario

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Starring Chris Pratt, Charlie Day and Anya Taylor-Joy PG

3.25/5

Bigger but not exactly better than its predecessor, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is cute, sugary excitement with a sloppy, madcap structure. The heroic plumber brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) must rescue Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) from the vengeful Bowser Jr. (Josh Safdie).

Like the first Mario Bros movie (the 2023 hit, not the 1994 flop), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has vibrant, beautiful animation and the action scenes are energetic and exciting. The plot follows the basic outline of the 2007 Super Mario Galaxy game but mixes in elements from other Mario games and Nintendo properties, and the legion of references and Easter eggs will delight fans but won’t feel very cohesive to non-Nintendo fans.

I’m not a Mario or Nintendo fan, but as with the previous film, I found the Super Mario Galaxy Movie cute and entertaining. However, the pacing and characters are much weaker.

Mario and Luigi feel almost interchangeable this time, with Luigi’s fun angle as the more cowardly brother all but abandoned. The plot

storytelling, and just the right amount of flair to keep audiences laughing, dancing, and reliving the best musical moment of their lives.

Season: Saturday 18 April at 7.30pm.

CPP Community Theatre Cosi

A play about friendship, community, loyalty, and digger Ence.

It’s a play about the transformative nature of the performing arts. It celebrates the individual and that all that we each bring to the table.

It is a true epic tale that reneges from humble moments deeply personal in nature, to the soaring grandeur and spectacle of Mozart’s opera

Strategies to help get you reading

If you are readingthis,chancesareyoualreadyknow about the Reaching Australian Readers: Testing behavioural strategies to increase recreational reading reportrecentlyreleasedbyCreativeAustralia,AustralianReadsandMonashUniversity’sBehaviourWorks Australia.

But, for those wondering how behavioural science can con tribute to reading advocacy, this report features valuable insights on those messages and mechanisms that are most likely to get Australians reading more.

These insights are not only useful for publishers, booksellers, librarians and broader literary industry, but they can also help families and school teachers encourage our children and teenagers to read more for pleasure.

Built upon the findings from the 2025 “Understanding Australian Readers” project, the report targets four priority segments. The first is “Engaged”

per cent) not only read inconsistently but further feel uncertain about enjoyment or motivation.

both rushes and wanders along, with none of the plot-threads, including Bowser’s (Jack Black) would-be redemption, his relationship with his estranged son Boswer Jr, and Rosalina’s past with her sister Peach (Anya TaylorJoy), given enough room to grow or hold much impact. You don’t really mind in the moment, but The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is empty calories compared to the previous film’s better development, focus and stakes (which were pretty lightweight in the first place).

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a charming, colourful watch made with clear love for the Mario games, but a big downgrade from the prior film, and as for video game movies in 2026 – we’re getting seven this year – Iron Lung still comes out on top.

Set in a psychiatric facility in Melbourne, Cosi follows the story of Lewis, a recent university graduate, who is tasked with directing a theatre performance including the residents.

It’s 1971 and Australia is protesting the war in Vietnam.

But inside the hospital, residents are listening to Mozart, learning lines, creating chaos and occasionally skipping their medication.

to change their behaviour”]. If these sound extreme, just think of traditional schooling!)

PASSION FOR PROSE

readers (30.6 per cent), who read regularly but want to read more. There are also “Aspirational” readers (14.7 per cent), who read infrequently but are eager to read more.

Then there are “Lapsed” readers (7.1 per cent), who remember the joy of reading but have lapsed intonon-reading.Finally,“Ambivalent”readers(14.8

(It should be noted here that “Avid” readers - 22.4 per cent, are neither forgotten nor taken for granted by researchers. However, the report seems to have completely given up those “Uninterested Non-Readers” - 10.4 per cent.)

The report identifies reading as a Behaviour that can be enhanced by targeting one’s Capability, Opportunity and Motivation. Based on this COM-B model, a list of intervention strategies is drawn from the so-called “Behaviour Change Wheel” , ranging from education, training and persuasion to incentivisation, modelling, enablement and environmental restructuring.

(Thelasttwointerventionstrategiesonthelistare restriction[using“rules,guidelinesorlawstoenforce behaviour change”] and coercion [creating “an expectationofpunishmentorcosttoencouragepeople

To make a very long story short, the report recognises that different strategies work for different people. While some strategies can easily influence those already wanting to read more, other, and more complex and targeted, strategies are required to encouragethosefeelinguncertainaboutreadingtofind more time and incentive to read.

More importantly, the better a strategy can capture someone’s attention and help them see how reading can fit into their busy schedule and remain relevant to their life, the bigger the impact that strategy has.

The conclusion? The most effective strategies are those that can capture people’s attention and help them see reading as a relevant, achievable and sharable behaviour.

ZONED LIVING & EXCEPTIONAL ENTERTAINING

ZONED LIVING, EXCEPTIONAL MASTERPIECE

FOR those with a discerning eye for quality, this impeccably renovated residence delivers a flawless, move-in-ready lifestyle with nothing left to do. From the moment you arrive, the home evokes a sense of refined sophistication, where attention to detail, effortless entertaining, and thoughtfully zoned living take centre stage.

Perfectly positioned for convenience, the property enjoys easy access to local shops and quality schools, with Upwey Train Station nearby and seamless connectivity via Glenfern Road.

Privately set beyond remote gates and a fully fenced perimeter, the home is accessed via a sealed driveway and offers abundant off-street parking, including a double carport—creating a secure and serene sanctuary.

Inside, a series of beautifully appointed living zones unfold, including a welcoming meals area, an elegant sunken family room, and a sophisticated lounge anchored by a combustion fireplace and bespoke display ledge. Each space flows effortlessly to one of several expansive decks, enhancing the home’s indooroutdoor connection.

The lower-level family retreat is a true highlight, showcasing soaring ceilings and direct access to the alfresco entertaining deck and landscaped grounds. Outdoors, a curated setting awaits, complete with a dedicated firepit zone and multiple entertaining areas designed for both intimate gatherings and grand occasions.

At the heart of the home, the gourmet kitchen is nothing short of exceptional. Featuring premium stone surfaces, an integrated fridge/freezer, and a suite of highend Fisher & Paykel appliances—including a gas wok burner, induction cooktop, double ovens, built-in coffee machine, and integrated dish drawer—this space is designed to impress. A tranquil central courtyard provides a private oasis, perfect for quiet moments or stylish entertaining.

Accommodation is equally impressive, comprising four generously sized, robed bedrooms. A guest suite with built-in robes and ensuite offers comfort and privacy, while the remaining bedrooms are serviced by a luxurious family bathroom, separate powder room, and a well-appointed laundry with extensive storage. The secluded master suite forms a peaceful retreat, complete with built-in robes and a private ensuite.

Additional features elevate the home further, including ducted heating, split system air conditioning, double glazing, security cameras, video intercom, an expansive storage room, two wood heaters (including a Cheminees Philippe), and a water tank.

Set on just under three-quarters of an acre, this tranquil haven is moments from Upwey South Primary School and Upwey South Reserve, and within easy reach of Upwey High School, Upwey Village, Mater Christi College, Belgrave Heights Christian School, and public transport. ●

HOME ESSENTIALS

A HOME THAT FEELS LIKE HOME IN COCKATOO

THERE’S something special about a home that just feels right — where comfort, space, and lifestyle come together seamlessly. Set on just under a quarter acre in a family-friendly neighbourhood, this charming weatherboard residence offers exactly that, making it the perfect step into the market for first home buyers or a place for growing families to truly settle in.

From the moment you arrive, the home welcomes you with its inviting street presence and relaxed front deck — the kind of spot where mornings start slowly with a coffee in hand and evenings wind down as the sun sets.

Inside, the home offers a thoughtful and practical layout, featuring four wellproportioned bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a freshly renovated main bathroom that brings a sense of modern comfort while still complementing the home’s character. Multiple split systems and air conditioning ensure year-round comfort as well as a heat redistribution vent to maximise warmth throughout the home, creating a space that’s ready to enjoy from day one.

Step outside, and the lifestyle truly opens up.

Designed with both entertaining and everyday family living in mind, the outdoor space is where this home shines. Whether it’s hosting friends at the bar, unwinding in the spa after a long week, or gathering around the fire pit on cooler nights, this is a backyard that invites connection and enjoyment. The fully fenced yard provides a safe and secure space for kids and pets to play freely, while still offering room to make it your own.

Practicality is effortlessly integrated throughout, with multiple garden sheds providing ample storage, a generator changeover switch offering added peace of mind, and easy access via a sealed road ensuring everyday convenience.

Positioned in a great neighbourhood with a strong sense of community, this is more than just a property — it’s a place where first home buyers can begin their journey with confidence, and where families can create lasting memories for years to come.

Homes with this level of space, outdoor lifestyle, and move-in readiness are in high demand — especially for buyers looking to enter the market without compromise.

YOUR NEW LIFESTYLE AWAITS ON 21 PRIVATE ACRES

CLOSING DATE FOR OFFERS 4pm MONDAY 20 APRIL (unless sold prior!)

SEALED road access and set on 21 beautiful acres, this exceptional lifestyle property offers space, charm, and endless potential.

Approximately 75% of the land is cleared, with the remaining native bush and dams adding natural beauty and privacy. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets across your own private landscape.

The home features three bedrooms, including a full ensuite, and a well-appointed Blackwood timber kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances. Generous living areas provide comfort and character, highlighted by a wood fire, 9ft ceilings, French doors, and classic sash windows, all capturing stunning views over the property.

Step outside to a huge covered verandahs, perfect for relaxing or entertaining year-round.

For those seeking space and functionality, the property includes a massive machinery shed along with excellent horse infrastructure, including a tack room, round yard, arena, and three stables.

Additional features include a 4.75kW solar system and a substantial 90,000-litre water tank.

This is a rare opportunity to secure a versatile lifestyle property with all the essentials already in place.

Nearby Cockatoo Township has everything you need. Shops, school, sporting clubs and a great community.

IMMACULATEFAMILYLIVING

Bathedinnaturalsunlight,offeringprivacy,spaceandmoderncomfort,thisbeautifully maintainedpropertydeliverstheperfectblendofpeacefullivingandeveryday conven ence.Featur nganupdated tchen,qual tycarpets,hardwoodfloor ng,awood fire,2reversecyclea r-cond t on ng,GDH,anewfrontdec ,ampleoff-streetpar ngand featuresalargeunder-roofl necarport.Theproperty salsoequ ppedw th2-phasepower andiswiredforagenerator,ensuringaddedpeaceofmindandpracticality.

JanBrewster 0409558805

5ACREHOBBYFARM

WITHPLANSAPPROVEDFORA4BEDHOME&BARN

AraresmallacreageholdingclosetoMonbulktowncentreyetideallylocateddowna quietcountryroad.Clearedwithviews,opensunnyaspects&includesahuge70mx20m approx.terracedsitewithapprovedplansfora4bed. homestead&astylishbarn.This farmhousefeaturesslidingglassdoorstoacoveredverandah,combustionwoodheater, S/Sheating&cooling,aself-containedbungalow&a7Megwater pumpinglicence.The optionsareplenty,alternatively,leasethehomeandbungalowforapprox.$860p/w.

GrantSkipsey 0418528102

CHARMINGONE-OWNERFAMILYHOME

Nestledinoneofthemosthighlysought-afterpockets,thismuch-lovedfamilyhomeis situatedonanexpansive1/2acreallotmentwithbeautifulviews.offeringafunctional floorplan,stunninghardwoodfloors(beneaththeexistingcarpet),familyroomwitha Coonara,openfireplaceintheformallivingroom,motorizedexternalshutters,multiple livingzones,apracticalserverywindowconnectingthroughtothekitchen,fullyfenced backyard,multipleshedding,chickencoop,circulardrivewayandadoublecarport.

JanBrewster 0409558805

***CLOSINGDATEFOROFFERS4pmMONDAY20thAPRIL(unlesssoldprior!)*** Thisexceptionallifestylepropertyoffersspace,charm&endlesspotential.Approx.75% ofthelandiscleared,withtheremainingnativebush&dams.Thehomefeaturesa Blackwoodtimberkitchen,generouslivingareas,awoodfire,9ftceilings,Frenchdoors, sashwindows,amassivemachineryshedandexcellenthorseinfrastructure(tackroom, roundyard,arena&threestables)Alsoa4.75kWsolarsystemanda90,000-litretank.

MickDolphin 0429684522

MikeRosario 0400972032

FAMILY COMFORT, CHARM AND CHARACTER

SET on a picturesque and private small acreage paradise on just over 8 glorious acres, this property has something for everyone. With over 8 acres to explore and enjoy you’re spoilt for choice - numerous fenced paddocks offer plenty of space for the horses, motorbikes or even a few cows and sheep. The rustic country farmhouse oozes charm and character boasting 4 bedrooms including an ensuite and walk in robe in the main bedroom. Separate family and living areas give the growing family plenty of space to spread out. The kitchen area is superb with quality appliances and ample bench and cupboard space including a butlers pantry. Head outdoors and the acreage lifestyle starts here! Huge shedding with covered high clearance truck parking and lock up garage/workshop, plus a separate open machinery shedding for floats, boats, caravans and farm equipment. Numerous well established fruit trees and decades old flowering trees, shrubs and roses. Outdoor entertaining with covered verandas and decking, and the kids will love the pool and the wide open space to run around and enjoy! For extra weekend guests, dependent family, teenagers or relatives, the separate 1 bedroom bungalow is the ideal accommodation solution. A fantastic property in every aspect and beautifully presented inside and out with nothing to do but sit back relax and enjoy the quiet, peaceful semi rural lifestyle - it’s a great place to call home. ●

9DeanCrescent,LaunchingPlace

PrimeLocationwithaBigBackyard–Solid3BedroomBrickHome

Iflocationandneat,easylivingareatthetopofyourlist,looknofurther!Setonaflat,fullyfenced blockofover800sqmandbackingontopeacefulparkland,there’splentyofspaceforkidsandpets toenjoy.Inside,thehomefeaturesthreebedrooms,twowithbuilt-inrobes,alongwithsplitsystem heatingandcoolingforyear-roundcomfort.Theneatkitchen,completewithaconvenientservery, createsawelcominghubforentertainingwitheasyaccesstotheoutdoordeckingarea.Thefamily loungeiswarmandinviting.Outside,establishedgardens,multiplesheddingoptionscompletewith amanshedwithawoodfire.Positionedclosetoschools,kindergarten,andpublictransport,this well-presentedpropertyofferslifestyle,comfort,andconvenienceinonecompletepackage.This delightfulhomeisreadytomakesomeoneveryhappy—don’tmissyouropportunity.

RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068

ModernLivingwithConvenience,SpaceandViews Justafewyearsoldthissuperbtownhouseisreadyfornewownerstoenjoy.Afunctionaland spaciousfloorplanofferamplespaceforthegrowingfamily,couplesordownsizerswith3generous bedroomsallwithbuiltinrobesincludingawalkinrobeandensuiteinthemainbedroom.Sitback andenjoythemountainviewsfromthelargeopenliving/loungeareas,thekitcheniswellappointed withqualityappliancesandfixtureswithplentyofbenchandcupboardspace.Theoutdoordeck istheidealspottoentertainandtakeinthecolourfulsceneryandadmirethemountainviewsand scenery.Agreatpropertyreadytomoveinto,convenientlylocatedclosetopublictransportandjust ashortwalktolocalschoolsandYarraJunctionsshoppinghub.

RelaxtotheSoundsoftheYarraRiverinThisImmaculatelyPresentedHaven Setonapproximately1,250sqmoflush,privategardens,thischarminghomefeaturestwospacious bedroomsandtwobathrooms,includingamasterretreatcompletewithafullensuiteandwalkin robe.Designedforeasyliving,theopenplanlivingareaopensthroughFrenchdoorsontoaprivate deck.Thewellappointedkitchenisbothfunctionalandstylish,offeringgenerousbenchspace, modernappliances,abutler’spantry,andanadjoiningmealsarea.Additionalhighlightsinclude gatedaccessleadingdowntowardstheriver,alockupgarageandplentyofstorageoptions throughout.PositionedwithineasywalkingdistancetoeverythingWarburtonhastooffer,thishome isatruesanctuaryinahighlysoughtafterlocation.Thisisarareopportunitytosecureyourplacein oneofVictoria’smostdesirableandfastgrowingregions.

RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068

95YellowgumRoad,HoddlesCreek$1,470,000-$1,570,000

Thissuperbacreagelifestyleawaitsyou.Setonjustunder20acreswithamixofclearedpastureand bush,it’stheidealplacetorelaxandenjoythescenery.Thehomesitsinacommandingposition, enjoyingthevalleyviewsallyear.Boasting4bedroomsover2levelsplusalargeoffice/studyand workfromhomesetup.Multipleliving/loungeandfamilyroomsgivethefamilyspacetospreadout. Thekitchenisimpressivewithqualityappliancesandplentyofbenchandcupboardspaceplusa separatemeals/diningarea.Stepoutsideandenjoycovereddeckingandanalfresco/BBQarea -justthespottorelaxandenjoytheYarraValleyviews.Alargehighclearancecarportandbarn offerplentyofcar,truckandcaravanaccommodation.Thefamilywilllovetheacresofspacewith somethingforeveryone!Afantasticpropertyinagloriousandprivatelocation.

HOME FOCUS

A RARE PRIVATE RAINFOREST RETREAT

TUCKED away in a breathtaking natural setting and surrounded by lush greenery, this exceptional Upwey retreat delivers a rare fusion of modern luxury and tranquil, resortstyle living.

Privately positioned amongst lush, established gardens, the home immediately captivates with its peaceful outlooks and seamless connection to nature. Inside, a beautifully renovated interior showcases a stunning contemporary kitchen complete with stone benchtops, quality appliances and sleek cabinetry, all framed by expansive windows that invite the outdoors in. The adjoining living domain is warm and inviting, centred around a cosy wood fire and complemented by large windows capturing treetop vistas and distant views across the valley.

Offering 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, the home provides excellent flexibility for families, guests or those seeking additional space to work from home. The accommodation is further enhanced by two designer bathrooms, highlighted by a luxurious main bathroom featuring a freestanding stone bath, walk-in shower and refined finishes that create a true spa-like experience. Year-round comfort is also ensured with ducted heating and cooling.

Step outside and the lifestyle appeal truly comes to life. A generous entertaining deck, complete with fire pit and dining zone, provides the perfect space to host or unwind while immersed in the surrounding greenery. Adding to the property’s unique offering is a stunning barrel sauna and outdoor shower area, delivering a private wellness retreat right at home.

Currently operating across Airbnb, Booking. com and Riparide, this property also presents a proven income opportunity, generating over $165,000 in the last calendar year. With a strong 85% occupancy rate and over 280 fivestar reviews, it sits in the top 10% of listings nationally. A new owner can continue building on that success, or simply call it home. Set on a beautifully landscaped allotment with meandering paths, established ferns and native plantings, the property offers both usability and serenity in equal measure. A large parking area with carport ensures practicality, while the peaceful setting remains just moments from Upwey Village, train station, schools and cafes.

A truly special offering where lifestyle, design and nature combine effortlessly this is a home that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.

PEACEFUL COCKATOO LIVING

POSITIONED in a quiet Cockatoo setting on approximately 1,041sqm, this inviting two-bedroom home offers comfort and convenience, just moments from Cockatoo township, local schools and public transport.

The front verandah provides the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before stepping inside to the lounge, where polished timber flooring adds warmth and charm. A woodfire creates a relaxed atmosphere during the cooler months, while a split system provides year-round comfort. Internal access to the garage adds everyday practicality.

The kitchen is both functional and lightfilled, featuring timber benchtops, a gas stovetop, integrated wall oven, pantry and fridge recess, while a skylight above allows natural light to stream in.

Down the hallway, the carpeted master bedroom and second bedroom are serviced by a central bathroom with separate toilet. The laundry provides direct access to the undercover rear deck, overlooking the backyard and offering a relaxed place to enjoy outdoor living.

Outside, the property continues to impress with a double garage with concrete floor and power, a storage shed and additional underhouse storage, providing plenty of room for tools, equipment or hobbies.

Set on a generous block with space to enjoy, this appealing property presents a fantastic opportunity to embrace the relaxed Hills lifestyle.

This property has it all so don’t miss out - CALL TO ARRANGE A PRIVATE INSPECTION TODAY! Call Aaron Day 0407 365 994 or Brennan Mileto 0422 996 451.

Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office. ●

EasyFamilyLivingwithPlentyofRoomtoMove.

Seton1052sqminbeautifulGembrook,thisdouble-storeybrickhomeoffersflexiblefamilylivingwith spacetorelaxinside&out.Acirculardrivewaywelcomesyoutotheproperty,wherethethoughtfully designedlayoutunfoldsacrosstwolevels.Upstairs,thekitchen/diningareaformsthehubofthe home,featuringawalloven,gasstovetop,dishwasher&excellentstorage.Thediningspaceopens toabalcony,whiletheadjoiningloungeisfilledwithnaturallight,asplitsystem&slidingdoorstothe undercoverentertainingarea.Themasterbedroomisalsopositionedonthislevel,completewitha walk-inrobe&ensuite.Downstairs,threecarpetedbedroomsareservicedbyacentralbathroom withseparatetoilet,asecondlivingareawithsplitsystem&accesstothedoubletandemcarport. Outside,adeckedentertainingarea,gardenshed&5000Lwatertankcompletetheproperty.

ArchitecturalElegancewithPanoramicViews! Perchedon2,671sqminpeacefulAvonsleigh,momentsfromEmerald’stownship,schools&shops, thisstriking4-bedroom,2-bathroomhomeblendsarchitecturalflairwitheverydaycomfort&breath takingtreetop&valleyviews.Awideverandahwrapsaroundthehome,leadinginsidetosoaring ceilings,timberfloors&astunningcentralatriumthatfillsthespacewithnaturallightbyday&frames thestarsbynight.Thestylishkitchenfeaturesstonebenchtops,integratedappliances&aserene outlook—perfectforrelaxedliving&entertaining.Themastersuiteenjoysverandahaccess,walk-in robe&ensuite,while3furtherbedroomsareservicedbyafamilybathroom.Freshlypainted&fitted withgasductedheating&evaporativecooling,thehomealsoincludesanundercoverentertaining area,doublegarage,carport&leafygardens—atrueHillssanctuary.

Seton5privateacreswithtwospring-fedcreeks,thisremarkablefour-bedroomhomeisanoff-grid retreatlikenoother.Ahorseshoedrivewayleadstoawideverandahembracingsweepingviews. Inside,soaringceilings,exposedbeamsandtimberfloorsframetheopen-planloungeanddining withwoodfire,ceilingfanandbararea.Thekitchenblendsrusticcharmwithfunction,offering mahoganyandblackwoodbenches,walk-inpantry,hiddenfridge,dishwasher,gas/electriccooking andanIrishStanleyslowcombustionstove.Themasterincludesawalk-throughrobeandensuitestylebathroom,whileupstairstwofurtherbedroomsandduallivingzonescapturetreetopviews. Sustainabilityshineswitha48vsolarsystem,generatorbackupandmultipleheating/coolingoptions. Withunder-housestorage,a6mx6mcarportandtotalprivacy,thisisnotjustahome—it’salifestyle.

4

offersmoderncomfort&everydayconveniencejustashortstrollfromEmerald’sschools,kinder, supermarket&vibrantmainstreet.Filledwithnaturallight,theopen-plankitchen,living&diningarea formstheheartofthehome.Thekitchenfeaturesstonebenchtops,breakfastbar,gasstovetop, dishwasher&excellentstorage,whiletheadjoininglounge&diningareaincludesasplitsystem, gasductedheating&ceilingfanforyear-roundcomfort.Slidingdoorsopentothereargarden. Themasterbedroomwithwalk-inrobe&ensuiteisprivatelypositionedatthefront.Upstairsoffers twofurtherbedroomswithbuilt-inrobes,acentralbathroom&secondlivingarea.Outside,thefully fencedyardincludesagardenshed,watertank&5kWsolarsystem.

PUZZLES

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.

ACROSS

1 Seek something (6)

4 From Egypt (8)

9 Sit on a perch (5)

10 Small figurine (9)

11 Finished (5)

12 Inherited from one’s family (9)

13 Sequence of songs (8)

15 Strata (6)

16 Entry (6)

18 Region above the eyebrows (8)

23 Or else (9)

24 Actors’ parts (5)

26 Chatty (9)

27 Hang over (5)

28 Broken down (8)

29 Power (6) DOWN

1 Distribute (food) (5,2)

2 Shirk (5)

3 Stronghold (7)

5 Deflect (6)

6 Former kingdom in northern Germany (7)

7 Meddle (9)

8 Heckles (7)

10 Fraudulent schemes (5)

14 Excessive drinker (9)

16 Not a biological offspring (7)

17 Family name (7)

19 Corpulent (5)

20 Made of clay (7)

21 Demolish (7)

22 Beachgoer’s two-piece (6)

25 Vital glandular organ (5)

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

No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.

Steady wins for croquet

By John Thomson

On Monday 30 March, the Lilydale Croquet Club Division One team played at home and hosted the Sandringham Croquet Club. This week’s team was Craig McCracken and Mick Crawley. The court played slow to start due to quite a heavy dew overnight, but soon quickened up as the sun dried it out.

The first game was the doubles, and the Lilydale team adjusted to the slower conditions a bit quicker than the Sandringham team. After the first couple of hoops, Sandringham settled into the game, and from then on, it was a fairly even game. Lilydale were able to maintain their early advantage and went on to win 7 hoops to Sandringham 5 hoops.

Mick Crawley played in the first singles game. Mick started very well and had run the first four hoops before the Sandringham player registered his first. The Sandringham player then started to work his way back into the game, but Mick missed a couple of hoops, and after the twelfth hoop it was six hoops each, with the thirteenth to be played. Both players set up reasonably well, but a tactical error by Mick let the Sandringham player in to run the hoop and win the game 7 hoops to Lilydale 6 hoops.

Craig McCracken played in the next singles game. The Sandringham player started well and had control of the game. Craig missed some hoops and clearances he normally would have made, and Sandringham went on to win 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.

At the lunch break, the scores were Sandringham 2 games 19 hoops to Lilydale 1 game 16 hoops, with the reverse singles games to play. Lilydale had to win both games to stand a chance of winning the day.

Mick Crawley played in the first game after lunch. Mick started well as he did in his first game, but this time he was determined not to let his opponent back into the game and was able to go on and win 7 hoops to Sandringham 4 hoops.

This win put both teams on 2 wins and 23 hoops each, so it came down to the very last game to decide the winner for the day.

Craig McCracken played in this game, and just like Mick in the previous game, Craig was determined not to let this one slip as he took control of the game and went on to have a comfortable 7 hoops to Sandringham 2 hoops win.

Final scores were Lilydale 3 games 30 hoops to Sandringham 2 games 25 hoops.

The Lilydale Division Two team travelled to Sandringham this week. The Lilydale team

consisted of Kerri McCracken, Mark Edgell and Scott Bradbury.

Kerri McCracken and Scott Bradbury paired up in the doubles. The Lilydale team started strongly and were both playing well and hardly gave their opponents a look-in, and went on to win 7 hoops to Sandringham 1 hoop.

Mark Edgell played in the first singles game. Just like the doubles game, Mark started strongly and controlled the game and did not let his opponent settle into the game at all. Lilydale 7 hoops to Sandringham 1 hoop. This was Mark’s best game for the season so far.

Scott Bradbury played in the next singles game. Sandringham ran the first hoop, but from then on Scott was on top and played some great croquet, going on to have a comfortable win, 7 hoops to Sandringham 2 hoops. Scott is certainly playing well for his first year in competition.

Retro race revived for fourth year

A field of 89 competitors competed for honours at the fourth annual Rob Roy Revival on 28 and 29 March, held in Christmas Hills.

Cars ran in 11 classes named after famous Australian hillclimb tracks, along with a regularity class, which provided for spirited competition among the widest array of vehicles yet seen at the Revival.

The outright winner was again Darren Visser in the Bates Cycles Cyclo 500. Visser recorded times of 27.19 seconds over the long track and 22.14 seconds on the older short track layout, giving a fastest combined total time of 49.33 seconds. He was the only driver to break the 50-second barrier.

The battle for second place was hard fought with four drivers in the 53-second bracket. Robin Bailey took the honours in a time of 53.09 seconds in his MGB GT V8, with Laurie Bennett third on 53.13 in the Elfin 600B, followed by Graeme Raper’s George Reed Monoskate Special on 53.89 and Antonio Cafiso with 53.92 in the Penrite Elfin Clubman.

The fastest lady driver on the day was young star Abby Wingett in the Elfin Ford Formula Junior. She has recently been invited to drive the Elfin in this year’s Goodwood Revival and is raising funds to help transport the car to England.

Organised by the MG Car Club Victoria, the Rob Roy Revival sees invited historic racing cars competing on the hillclimb track along with a festival, fashion show and live music.

“This year we celebrated Italian Automotive Excellence. The great marques including Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Ferrari, Lancia and Fiat were all represented and the car clubs got right behind the event,” MG Car Club Vice President Tony Lupton said. Australian Champion Driver John Bowe AM is the Event Patron. John Bowe is also a Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Champion and the MG Car Club has joined with the PCFA to raise funds for prostate cancer awareness, research and support.

At the break, it was Lilydale 3 games 21 hoops to Sandringham 0 games 4 hoops, with two games to play.

Kerri McCracken played in the next singles game. Kerri got off to a good start. The Sandringham player was trying hard, but Kerri’s experience was the telling factor, and she was able to go on to win 7 hoops to Sandringham 3 hoops.

Mark Edgell played in the last game of the day. This time it was the Sandringham player who got off to a strong start and controlled much of the game, and went on to have a good win, 7 hoops to Lilydale 3 hoops.

Final scores for the day were Lilydale 4 games 31 hoops to Sandringham 1 game 14 hoops.

A strong win by the Lilydale Division Two team.

There is no Thursday Handicap Competition this week due to the Easter holidays.

Fresh faces for Falcons

By Callum Ludwig

The Lilydale Falcons are looking to consolidate in season 2026, with connection among the playing group a key focus at The Nest.

Mark Sandilands took the reins halfway through last season and has now had a full pre-season with the side ahead of their Division Two campaign in the Eastern Football Netball League.

Sandilands said the club is excited for season 2026.

“We have a lot of fresh young faces around the club this season, all who are providing great energy and excitement for the year ahead,” he said. “The preseason has been really positive and is

setting a tone for how we will play this year.

“We have a group of new recruits into the club that add to our exciting young group of players, this group have been driving standards and professionalism up to another level.”

New signings for the boys in blue and gold include “exciting key forward” Zac Cileceken, “skilful midfield-forward” Jesse Brown, “athletic tall defender” Tom Riddiford, “strong hard-at-it inside midfielder Will Connor, “exciting hardat-it running player” Jake Vippond and “a pure footballer who will compete all day” in Andre Ryan-Bader.

Sandliands said as a club, they are not putting win and loss expectations on the group.

“We are looking at consolidation in Div Two

while playing a brand of football that reflects our playing group and block of training they have put together and see where that takes us,” he said.

We are also working hard to continue to develop and educate them off-field with strong local and community values, which the playing group have really bought into and helping build a strong connected group.

“We would love to see a strong base of positive support in 2026 after a few challenging seasons, it will be worth the trip down as you will see an exciting brand of football being played by a well-connected young group of fresh faces and a changing of the guard for Lilydale FC on the field.”

The focus on connection to the community from Lilydale has been strong in the off-season,

Big buy-in from Mustangs in 2026

By Callum Ludwig

The Mooroolbark Mustangs are gearing up for 2026 in the Eastern Football Netball League’s Division One.

The men are looking to bounce back after an injury-riddled year while the women are looking to step up to the next level after their flag win last season.

President Craig Pretty said they can’t wait for the season to start.

“Off-field, the club’s committee has a lot of great people, plus our other volunteers are amazing and financially we are rock solid,” he said.

“On-field, we have a new coach and assistant coaches for our senior men and development sides and the playing group couldn’t be happier.

“Our senior women are once again being looked after by premiership coach Keryn Ralph and assistants Mick Batten, Jo Vogt (new) and Jordy Roth. Their numbers have been fantastic and the buy-in has been even better.”

New names and faces can be found at Mooroolbark Heights Reserve, starting from the bench with David Gallagher (senior men’s coach), Troy Harkness (development coach), Hugh Beasley (assistant/forward coach) and Peter Faulks (backline coach) leading a revamped team in the dugout.

“Harrison Coe (Frankston VFL) and Zander Crowden (NSW Central Coast/trained with St Kilda VFL) headline the ins for the Senior Men’s playing group, while an injury-prone Alex Young is also set for a big impact after he was recruited last year from Bayswater but only managed to play a handful of development games.

The Senior Women have obtained some very talented U18 girls from last season which will make them an even stronger and consistent team.

Pretty said as both their men and women’s teams are in Division One, they know how hard and competitive every side is and any team can win on the day.

“With minimal injuries, we can see our senior men making finals and a different game style with our new coach ‘Gags’ , our development group have a lot of potential and are loving to see what they can produce this year,” he said.

“Also, our senior women are having an exciting year ahead after three premierships in a row,

we can see them holding their own and stepping up to their next challenge and making finals.”

“We have an amazing playing group on and off the field with the men and women, which as a club makes our job so much easier.”

The Senior Men finished seventh last season, well and truly safe from any threat of relegation despite their challenges in 2025. The Senior

Panthers preparing for premiership push

By Callum Ludwig

High expectations driven by high standards are the theme at the Chirnside Park Football Netball Club in 2026.

The senior football Panthers will certainly be pushing for premiership success after falling at the final hurdle last year.

Club president Stuart Kearney said there is a genuine sense of excitement around the club ahead of the 2026 season.

“Across both football and netball, the energy has been building strongly throughout the pre-season and there is a real feeling that the club continues to grow in both strength and connection,” he said.

“Our players, coaches, volunteers and supporters have all put in a lot of work over the off-season, and everyone is looking forward to seeing that effort come to life once the season begins.

“There is a strong buzz around the place, and it feels like we are heading into 2026 with great momentum.”

Last year, the Panthers topped Division Four before being pipped at the post on grand final day by Whitehorse, who won by a measly eight points, just a year on from when they were upset by the same side in a preliminary final after finishing the home and away

season in second.

Kearney said there are certainly some new and returning faces that supporters should be excited about.

“Each year brings a fresh wave of talent, experience and enthusiasm, and 2026 is no different,” he said.

“We have welcomed some quality additions across the playing group, while also seeing some important returning faces who already understand what this club is about.

“Just as importantly, we continue to strengthen our coaching group with people who are passionate about development, standards and building a positive club culture. Supporters can expect to see a group that is committed, competitive and proud to represent Chirnside Park.”

New signings for Chirnside Park who will be looking to cement themselves in the senior side include Sean Derksen from Montrose, Mitch Mills from Bond University, Josh Swift from Yarram, Simon Orenshaw from Upwey-Tecoma, Lachlan Hoye from Emerald, Brooklyn Lamb from Ringwood, Mitch Nugent from Bayswater and Ned Hawkins from Old Scotch. Former players/juniors Nick Woodworth, Luke Flannigan, Austin Sutherland, Sean Calcaterra, Liam Cox and Connor McGuire also rejoin, with McGuire

including getting out to thank club sponsors for their support, the Masters’ team hosting their fourth annual Men’s Health Awareness game, senior coach Sandilands dropping off donations to a local women’s shelter, the playing group attending a Team Connection Day and a visit from the team to the residents of Donwood Community Aged Care.

The Falcons finished last in Division Two last season with only two wins and will be led from the front again by quick midfielder, 2025 Team of the Year inclusion and budding finance influencer Riley ‘Santa’ Clausen.

Lilydale kick off their season with a 5.20pm twilight fixture against local rivals Croydon away from home on Saturday 11 April.

Women topped the league on percentage over Blackburn, who they beat in a final before toppling third-placed Montrose in the decider.

Pretty said all of their sides are going to be exciting to watch and you don’t want to miss out on being a part of this season.

“Our off-field is just as good, and we welcome everyone and anyone to be a part of this amazing club,” he said.

“We would like to thank our sponsors, particularly M2 Electrical, Hacer Building Group, Community Bank Mooroolbark, Jellis Craig CAP Building and The Sporting Globe Chirnside Park, along with all of our supporters, members and volunteers.

“Good luck to all clubs, officials and volunteers for the coming season, we are so lucky to be able to do what we do as a lot of people can’t.”

The Senior Men take on Wantirna South at home on Saturday 11 April in their season opener, while a week later the Senior Women will kickstart their campaign against Surrey Park away from home.

and Cox also bringing Sam Colangelo with them from Lilydale.

Kearney said in terms of ambitions, the club enters 2026 with high expectations, but also with a strong understanding that success is built through hard work, discipline and consistency.

“We want all of our sides to be competitive, to keep improving across the course of the year and to give themselves every opportunity to play finals,” he said.

“Naturally, every club wants to challenge for premiership success, and that is certainly something we aspire to, but our focus is also on continuing to build the right standards and behaviours both on and off the field.

“We want our teams to play with intensity, team-first mentality, resilience and pride in the jumper, while continuing to create an environment where players can develop and enjoy their footy and netball.”

Strength in depth may be the key for Chirnside Park, seen in the strong season from the Reserve side who also made it to a preliminary final in 2025.

Kearney said they would strongly encourage the local community to get down to Kimberley Reserve and support the club this season.

“There is something special about local

sport — the atmosphere, the connection and the sense of community it creates, Chirnside Park is a welcoming and family-friendly club, and whether you are a lifelong supporter, a past player, a parent, a sponsor or someone simply looking to enjoy a great day out, there is a place for you here,” he said.

“The support from the sidelines makes a real difference to our players and teams, and we love seeing the wider community get involved.”

Senior best-and-fairest Chaz Clavant will continue to lead the side in 2026 and is set to take them out against Fairpark away from home for their first game on Saturday 11 April.

Kearney said more broadly, 2026 is another important year in the continued growth of Chirnside Park Football Netball Club.

“We are proud of the direction the club is heading, proud of the people involved, and proud to represent our community,” he said.

“We are committed to providing a strong, inclusive and enjoyable environment for all participants, from our youngest players through to our senior programs.

“We thank our volunteers, members, sponsors and supporters for everything they do, and we look forward to sharing another exciting season with them all.”

They are successful in local business... but what do our Tip-Stars know about Footy? Follow them every week and give them the feedback they deserve...

BEST PRICE, BEST TANKS WITH A LIFETIME GUARANTEE

Concrete tanks built correctly will last a lifetime!

Terry Miller from Terry Miller Concrete Tanks has been in the concrete tank building business for nearly 30 years. Being from country Victoria himself, Terry realises the importance of good water storage systems.

Concrete water tanks built correctly will last a lifetime. They keep your water cool, clean and algae free. This is because our tanks have 130mm walls and a 300mm base, and are poured with 40-mpa strength concrete not 25 or 30 mpa. We also use plasticiser to keep up the strength in the tanks instead of water. And after 28 days of curing the strength of the concrete will be between 48 and 52 mpa. And each tank is poured individually on site. These tanks come out white, which is a sign of the strength in the tanks. The MPA is a measure of how much concrete there is as parts per 1000. The walls of the tank are vibrated all around to ensure that there are no air bubbles and that the concrete is compacted down. Terry generally builds tanks in three sizes, 50,000, 105,000 and 120,000 either with a silo (metal) roof, concrete top or open top tanks.

The tanks will not blow away or fall apart, and this is particularly important in areas where there is high wind, or in fire prone districts. In the event of a fire, a large tank (120,000 litres) can supply water back up to the main house. By setting up a petrol powered generator and pumping water up onto the house directly, via a reverse water sprinkler system, you will keep your home cool and wet. Or if need be, you can jump into the tank to keep cool and be protected from flames and radiant heat. Water is our most important resource, and we cannot have too much of it! So for all your water storage needs when you are thinking of installing your next tank, please call Terry for a quote on 0419 462 814 or 02 6026 7021 or check out our website, www.terrymillerconcretetanks.com.au.

Nearly four years ago, we suffered our own fire here, in Barnawartha, and we were lucky. But it made me realise how important good water storage is. We are in for a long, hot, dry summer, and fire restrictions are in. Having an ample supply of safely stored water is imperative. So why not contact Terry now about your water supply needs, BEFORE, the heat builds up and water scarce. There is nothing more refreshing than your own cool, clear, clean water!