Mail - Mountain Views Star Mail - 2nd September 2025

Another success

By Dongyun Kwon

Healesville Sanctuary once again became a venue for local drinks to connect with a wider audience over the weekend of 30-31 August. Twenty-two Yarra Valley wineries, breweries and distilleries participated in the 2025 Wine and Wildlife, bringing their cellar doors on-site.

Turn to page 21 to check out photos of the event taken by Star Mail journalist Dongyun Kwon.

Power of resilience

By Oliver Winn

A ribbon cutting ceremony acknowledging new energy infrastructure has marked a new era of community resilience in Millgrove.

With the primary school, church, community building and soccer pitch all situated within a short distance from each other, the installation of energy resilient infrastructure has turned the site into a recovery hub.

It will provide electricity during outages, two commercial kitchens can be used to provide meals while the soccer club has showers and

Hosted by Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG), the event took place at the Millwarra Community Building on 27 August and saw all parties come together to celebrate the newly installed solar battery and panels on the hub. The solar panels will charge the battery, which can store enough power for the hub to run for a couple of days. The battery’s capacity will then be refreshed by incoming solar power.

change room facilities.

MRAG member Sam Rye said the community of Millgrove was deeply grateful for AusNet’s Energy Resilience Community Fund (ERCF).

“This community fund support has enabled us to install a solar array on the roof here, which is about 45 kilowatts,” Mr Rye said.

“We were also able to install a 132 kilowatthour battery on the Millwarra Community Hall, which is part of the Millwarra Primary School as well as part of the River Valley Church.

“Now, those together can act as an island so that in the event of outages, we’re able to continue to provide power.”

AusNet funded just over $277,000 to MRAG for a solar PV, battery storage and an inverter for community infrastructure at the Millwarra Primary School and Millwarra Community Hall.

MRAG is one of 13 recipients from the ERCF across Victoria, totalling close to $2.4 million, to support community energy resilience projects.

Read more on page 6

A well-intentioned tribute

By Mikayla Van Loon

In the wake of the tragic events seen in Porepunkah last week, an outpouring of tributes for the two police officers who were shot dead has reverberated across social media.

Unfortunately, one Lilydale cafe was caught up in posting an emblem now associated with the far-right and white supremacists, despite its origins being rooted in a sign of respect and camaraderie for police officers.

The image was of a black and white flag, with a thin, horizontal blue line running through the centre and an angel slumped over the flag.

Known as the thin blue line flag, it was commandeered by US white supremacist groups and those who opposed the Black Lives Matter movement, especially seen during the violent ‘Unite the Right’ rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017.

In Australia, the most recent iteration of the flag being used with racially motivated intentions was in the case of a Northern Territory police sergeant, Lee Bauwens, the direct superior of Zachary Rolfe, who fatally shot 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in the remote community of Yuendumu in 2019.

The ABC reported in early August that Sergeant Bauwens used the thin blue line flag as his cover photo on social media for three years, beginning the day of Mr Rolfe’s murder trial. Mr Rolfe was acquitted of all charges.

Independent researcher into far-right extremism, Dr Kaz Ross, said the flag has become associated with far-right extremism and racism.

“It’s more of an ambiguous symbol, because it actually just symbolises that the police are the line between order and chaos, and so therefore it’s a very politically charged thing for police to wear when they are policing protests or something like that,” she said.

The cafe manager, in a statement to Star Mail, said she was unaware of the connotations now

associated with the symbol and was just trying to acknowledge the two officers who died on duty.

She deleted the photo after Star Mail reached out.

“I would never post anything to cause harm or offence to anyone, let alone our men and women who serve us,” she said.

“I’m very sad to hear that such a tragic event of the... two police men and serious injury to a third, has resulted in this situation.”

Star Mail contacted the cafe after receiving an email from a concerned citizen, who said, “I am worried by local businesses haphazardly posting white supremacist imagery, even unintentionally”.

While there was no malice involved, nor any links to the far right, Dr Ross said this well-intentioned post was not the first incident of people unknowingly using symbols associated with extremist groups.

“I see it all the time that people just grab something that looks fun or useful or moving online, and they have no idea that there’s actually a whole history to it,” she said.

“We see it all the time with tattoos. People who have runic tattoos often have this ‘cool Viking tattoo’, but that was not actually from the Vikings. That was actually something invented by the Nazis.

“You see that all the time. It’s because we just see images flashing by us online without any context.”

Dr Ross said she likes to give people the benefit of the doubt and “it depends on the context” as to whether it is racially or extremist charged, and given the tragedy that unfolded in Porepunkah, she would suggest the post didn’t fit either of those categories.

“It’s just such a fraught and sad time, particularly for people whose relatives and partners are

in the police force. It’s a really scary time for them and I wouldn’t think it’s a problematic use of it,” she said.

“If you’re just a normal, everyday person, you have no idea what the thin blue line has come to represent.

“But if you’re an Aboriginal person, or if you’re someone who’s come up against police in protests, in some way, you do know, because you’ve been at the other side of it.”

Conjecture over whether the thin blue line flag is racist has been seen across Australia and the UK.

Police forces have invoked uniform policies to prevent the wearing of the flag as a badge, includinginVictoria,NewSouthWalesandQueensland, as well as the UK’s Metropolitan Police.

The outer east was recently the target of racially motivated graffiti, which Dr Ross at the time said she believed also had links to far-right extremist groups.

Posters and images connected to a neo-Nazi group, with a masked figure and runic symbols, have been spotted from Mount Evelyn to Mitcham, with one concerned citizen calling it out on social media, requesting people report hate or racist material.

“This isn’t just a random edgy sticker, it’s propaganda rooted in hate, racism, and extremism,” the post read.

“This kind of messaging doesn’t just appear by accident. It’s part of a broader movement that tries to make hate feel normal, acceptable, or even patriotic. And I find it disgusting that something like this is showing up in a community I love and want to feel safe in.

“I’m asking our community to stay alert, call this stuff out, and report it when you see it. Hate has no place here, and silence is what allows it to spread.”

More information on reporting racism can be found at: vic.gov.au/reporting-racism-victoria and humanrights.gov.au/complaints

Police shot man eight times to stop assault, court hears

By Oliver Winn

It took police two taser rounds and eight gunshots to stop Yarra Junction man Justin Filardo from trying to kill his sister, a court has heard.

Coroner David Ryan begun his investigation into the 45-year-old’s death on Tuesday 26 August which detailed the horrific scene confronted by police, where Mr Filardo strangled and attempted to cut his sister’s arm off with a Samurai sword.

Mr Filardo was fighting with his sister at a Warburton Highway property on July 30 when police were called after the siblings’ mother heard the daughter screaming.

The counsel assisting the coroner Jessika Syrjanen said when the senior constable and leading senior constable found Mr Filardo, they hit him with their tasers twice, but he did not stop the assault.

“Both members believed that Mr Filardo was trying to kill his sister,” Ms Syrjanen said.

After their requests for Mr Filardo to “back away” and “get down on the floor” were ignored, the senior constable fired his gun.

“The senior constable fired further rounds. After each of the rounds, Mr Filardo continued to hold his sister around her neck and made a grunt or a noise,” Ms Syrjanen said. A total of 10 shots were fired, with Mr Filardo finally releasing his grip on his sister after the

eighth shot.

Mr Filardo is diagnosed with schizophrenia and his mother believed he’d not been taking his medication.

He has no previous history of family violence, though he did have an involuntary admission into hospital in 2012.

Mr Filardo’s sister was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital where she was placed in an induced coma after surgery.

An update on her condition was not provided to the court.

Mr Ryan said he was investigating Mr Filardo’s death as he was deemed in police custody at the time.

“I would just like to say that I have viewed the body worn camera footage and understand the circumstances of Justin’s death were extremely challenging and distressing for responding police members and family,” Mr Ryan said.

But he stressed the inquest wasn’t about placing the blame on someone, but to investigate if steps could’ve been taken to stop the situation from happening again.

By Dongyun Kwon

A planning permit was lodged for the site where Matilda Bay had been located.

The Matilda Bay brewpub in Healesville closed down at the site at 336-364 Maroondah Highway, with the final day of trade to be Sunday 19 May.

In early August, the Yarra Ranges Council received a planning permit for this site. The permit is proposed to remain as a restaurant and seeks to repurpose the mezzanine level from an office to be included within the restaurant. It also includes proposals to accommodate retail shops.

The planning permit was submitted by Healesville Commercial Pty Ltd.

Local man says ‘blame misplaced’

By Mikayla van Loon, with AAP

The Israel-Palestine war is one of long, complex history, with many forming varying viewpoints and debate over Australia’s approach to the conflict’s resolution.

As the visual of protesters hitting the streets seeking an end to the attack on Palestine fills TV screens, social media and newspapers, one Dandenong Ranges resident reminds us that at the crux of this conflict is an Australian-listed terrorist group, Hamas.

Jewish man Adrian Goodman said he understands what is happening in Gaza is horrific but that the blame has been misplaced.

“To make out that Israel is the reason for the misery of the Palestinian civilians – and not Hamas, Fatah, Arafat and their other oppressive, corrupt, jihadi leaders – is to wilfully misread history,” Mr Goodman said.

“I’m not saying that Israel is without fault, or anything like that. Every country makes mistakes, especially in a war. I would hope that Israel could be treated the same way we treat other countries.”

Australia has listed Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organisation since 2001 for financial sanctions. The paramilitary wing of Hamas was first listed in 2003 and again in 2021.

The National Security listing highlights that Hamas wants to “‘liberate Palestine’ by establishing an independent Palestinian state — comprising Gaza, the West Bank and Israel” by adopting “terrorist tactics in their efforts to defeat Israel”.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas killed 1200 Israelis and took about 250 more hostage, which started Israel’s military action.

“Everybody is upset by the war, including myself, but please remember that there are still Israeli civilian hostages kept in tunnels for two years. Nobody wants a war, but we differ in how we think there will be lasting peace,” Mr Goodman said.

“My view is that Hamas started the war, and they shouldn’t have, and they still have the hostages. If they surrendered and gave the hostages back, there’d be no war.

“The Palestinian civilians are victims of Hamas, and I think they deserve better. I don’t want the Palestinians to suffer any more than anyone else, but to put the blame on Israel is unfair.”

The Australian Associated Press reported that the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has officially declared widespread famine in Gaza.

More than 470,000 people now face catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the famine declaration an “outright lie”.

More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the latest conflict, including more than 18,000 children, according to local health authorities.

Pro-Palestine protesters, both near and far, have been highly vocal in calling the war an act of genocide, as well as for Australia to end its manufacturing of key parts for F-35 fighter jets.

“People around Australia are sick and tired of seeing the Gaza Strip being absolutely annihilated and Israel being able to break every rule of law with full impunity,” Amal Naser, an organiser of Sydney’s largest pro-Palestine rallies, told AAP.

Mr Goodman said, however, “to minimise the number of Israelis killed, when compared to the Palestinians killed” is a “false comparison”

When speaking of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Mr Goodman said the same comparison of the death toll is not made.

The Guardian reported in June that one million Russian troops have been killed or injured, while Ukraine has suffered 400,000 casualties, but very few view the Russians as the victims.

The same could be said of other extremist groups.

“No one talks about proportionality when we’re trying to destroy the Islamic State, or ISIS,” he said.

“The example of World War II, when they were trying to defeat the Nazis, people weren’t talking about proportionality. People just realised that they needed to win the war.

“There’s a double standard that seems to happen; it seems like people don’t really support Israel for standing up for itself.”

Mr Goodman said because he speaks as one person, not on behalf of an organisation or group, he hopes people learn and educate themselves on what is happening in Israel and Palestine before making quick judgements, especially when it can be harmful to a minority.

“It’s a psychological impulse to scapegoat one group or one country, to try to make out like they’re the ones who were the terrible ones, and it’s not anyone else in the world,” he said. “So that’s the kind of thing that concerns me, and I think it’s easy for everyone to do a bit of a pile-on on the Jews and on Israel.”

Education around the proposed two-state solution that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced he supports, Mr Goodman said, was also essential to understanding how it may or may not work to

establish peace.

“A two-state solution has been on the table throughout history, going back to before Israel was founded.

“When Israel was formed, there was no country called Palestine. There was only the fallen Ottoman Empire. The stated intention of the British mandate was for an Arab state to be created alongside Israel, but that was rejected by the Arabs/Palestinians.

“If they wanted a state from the newly carved up Ottoman Empire, they could have had one in 1937, and no less than 10 times since, when it’s been offered to them. They refused because they would not abide by the existence of a Jewish state.

“I think that’s often been portrayed as though Israel is the one who’s refused. They’ve tried to do that, but they keep getting attacked. If they’ve expanded their borders, it’s really because they’ve been attacked and have taken over that territory to defend themselves. So Israel hasn’t started any wars of aggression in their history.”

In a statement released in early August by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said, “It is high time to finish the work the UN started (in 1948) and acknowledge a Palestinian state alongside the Jewish one.”

“Only there’s a hitch. The reason why Palestine wasn’t created in 1948 wasn’t because of opposition to it. It wasn’t because of settler violence or Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard line or a crisis in Gaza.

“It was because the Palestinians rejected it because accepting it would mean permanently entrenching a Jewish state in the Middle East.”

The complicated nature of reaching dual statehood, which both dismantles Hamas and recognises Israel, Mr Ryvchin said, may only “encourage Hamas to keep fighting” and “invigorate the most extreme elements of the anti-Israel movement”.

The Jewish Council of Australia also views Palestinian statehood as a necessity but goes further to state that Israel should be sanctioned for its actions.

“Palestinians, like all people, have the right to live in safety and dignity—free from occupation, siege and fear. These rights have been systematically denied by the state of Israel,” executive officer Sarah Schwartz said.

“Self-determination must mean more than words. It must mean freedom of movement, control over land and resources, the right to return, and full equality.”

Mr Goodman said, “I don’t claim to know the best way forward, but accepting Israel’s right to exist is a fundamental part of it, and I don’t think that’s there yet”.

Conversations, debates and viewpoints will continue to be shared, Mr Goodman just hopes it can be done with respect, understanding and acceptance of differences.

IN BRIEF

Operation Conventus continues Police started conducting Operation Conventus last Friday, 22 August to enforce rules and reduce road trauma.

Local uniform stations, highway patrol and crime investigation units patrolled the Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges areas, providing a highly visible police presence in and around known trauma locations.

Focusing on themes of speed, impaired driving, distraction and vulnerable road users (cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians), over 3700 drivers were breath tested.

One driver was detected driving in excess of the breath alcohol limit and two drivers were allegedly driving with illicit drugs in their system.

Operation Conventus will continue into September.

Community Hub relocated

The Cire Community Hub in Yarra Junction is relocating to the Cire Early Years Learning Hub at 39-43 Little Yarra Road, Yarra Junction.

The relocation was announced on mayor Cr Jim Child’s Facebook account on 24 August and services at the new hub will resume on Monday 15 September.

Meanwhile, the new hub will be able to handle incoming calls from Monday 25 August - all inquiries should be directed towards the Cire Yarra Junction Community Hub on 1300 835 235.

A statement from Cire Services said the decision was made to “ensure the safety and well being” of its staff and community.

“During this transition, some services, including the First Impressions Clothing Exchange (FICE), will be temporarily unavailable.

“We’re working hard to resume services as soon as possible and will keep you updated along the way. Thank you for your understanding and support,” the statement read.

CFA closed until further notice

The Reefton CFA has closed until further notice due to unforeseen circumstances.

The brigade would like to reassure the communities of Reefton and McMahons Creek that they will be well supported by Warburton and Wesburn/Millgrove brigades.

Brigade members will make no further comments at this time.

Theft appeal

Yarra Junction police are appealing for witnesses after the theft of a trailer from Little Yarra Steiner School, Yarra Junction.

The theft took place on Wednesday 20 August between 8.00am and 12.00pm where unknown offenders stole white box trailer from the Little Yarra Steiner School.

The trailer was towed down Little Yarra Road near the intersection of Rayner Court, when it has been left on the side of the road, but not before being broken into and the contents stolen including an expensive meat band saw.

Police are appealing for any persons who may have been travelling down Little Yarra Road during this period and may have witnessed something or have dash cam footage.

Anyone with information please contact the investigator.

Call Leading Senior Constable Rhodes at the Yarra Junction Police Station on (03) 5967 1104. Or Crimestoppers on 1300 333 000. Reference: 250350505.

Animal Aid wins contract

By Dongyun Kwon

Despite the controversial issues raised with Animal Aid in July, the Yarra Ranges Council passed a motion to sign another three-year contract with the Coldstream-based animal welfare organisation for animal pound service.

To fulfil its obligations under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, the council must have the capacity to seize and impound nuisance domestic animals, in particular dogs and cats, and it may engage a third party to fulfil that function.

At the council meeting on 26 August, Cr Len Cox said this is a contract to renew the animal pound for the next three years.

“People lose their dogs. They go astray. There’s all sorts of reasons why a dog could be one, or a cat could be wandering loose around the streets, and we can’t have that,” he said.

“And this is for when they get picked up by one of our rangers, they’ve got to find somewhere to put them, and that’s the animal pound.”

The previous ten-year contract between Animal Aid and Yarra Ranges Council for the same

service has now concluded.

Through the tender process for the next contract, only one submission by the previous con-

tractor was received.

“This tender will offer the pound service for a value of $3,126,678.50 inclusive of GST. And

that comes out to around $625,000 per year,” Cr Mitch Mazzarella said.

“I do note that that is an increase of about $350,000 per year, which seems a little high, but then again, we only got one applicant for the tender, so I look forward to seeing Animal Aid continue its record of delivering in our community.”

Along with the animal pound tender motion, councillors also discussed setting a schedule of fees and charges, including pound release for dogs and cats.

Release fee up to 48 hours for registered cats and dogs is $133, for unregistered is $199, release fee between three and five days for registered is $199, for unregistered is $288, release fee between six and eight days for registered is $262, for unregistered is $355, and release fee over eight days for both registered and unregistered is $40 per day.

Seized animal fee per day is $40 for both registered and unregistered cats and dogs.

Microchipping fee is $63 for both registered and unregistered cats and dogs.

Vet fees are charged as incurred.

Councils keep up the fight against glass-only kerbside bin

By Callum Ludwig

The deadline for Victorian councils to introduce a kerbside glass recycling bin collection is looming in July 2027 but a vast majority of councils are dragging their feet on the program.

As recently reported by the Herald Sun, 54 of the state’s 79 councils have yet to introduce a service and 32 are opposed to doing so.

All of the Outer East councils of Yarra Ranges Maroondah, Knox and Cardinia are opposed to the change according to a list shared by Maroondah City Council earlier this year, while the Yarra Ranges is the only council to have anticipated starting a collection in the 2025/26 financial year, which has now been pushed back.

A Yarra Ranges Council spokesperson said their current implementation date for glass recycling is 2027.

“However, we’re continuing to work with other Councils to advocate to the State Government for a recycling program that gets the best possible outcomes for our residents,” they said.

“We will provide our community with information in the coming year as details are confirmed.”

The glass bin idea was first announced by former Premier Daniel Andrews in 2020 with the 2027 mandatory target in mind.

Knox City Council Mayor Lisa Cooper said Knox City Council, along with approximately 30 other Victorian councils, continues to advocate to the Victorian Government for a more cost effective and environmentally sound approach to glass recycling.

“Specifically, councils are requesting an extension to the mandated timeframe for the introduction of a separate kerbside glass recycling service until national standardisation of kerbside services and the Container Deposit

Scheme (CDS) has been implemented,” she said.

“We are also calling for the expansion of the Victorian CDS to include wine and spirit bottles, aligning with schemes already in place in other Australian states, this would significantly enhance glass recovery rates and reduce the financial burden on local communities,”

The state government stands by its position of the CDS being appropriate for beverage containers commonly consumed out of the home that contribute to litter but for for food jars and bottles more commonly consumed at home.

“Furthermore, councils are urging the Victorian Government to review the effectiveness of the current CDS and assess its performance against the uptake and outcomes of kerbside glass recycling services implemented to date,” Cr Cooper said.

“Knox remains committed to achieving the best environmental and economic outcomes for our community and believes a collaborative, evidence-based approach is essential to delivering a sustainable glass recycling solution.”

Maroondah City Council and Cardinia Shire Council were contacted for comment, but have previously released statements regarding their positions in March and April this year respectively.

Maroondah Mayor Kylie Spears said in March that the group of councils advocating for this delay include a range of Victorian Councils from across metropolitan and regional areas, all of which are concerned about the cost implications the glass only bin service will have on their community.

“As part of this advocacy, a group of Councils wrote a letter to the Minister for Environment, the Hon Steve Dimopoulos, in late 2024 outlining their research findings and appealing for the

system to be reviewed,” she said.

“The research undertaken found that a glass only service would cost a typical Council approximately $4 million to implement, and on average cost an additional $27 per household per year to run the service,”

“This would be the largest increase to a waste charge that has ever been passed on to our community, something that in these challenging economic times, is concerning and unrealistic.”

The council-commissioned research also found that expanding the CDS to include wine and spirit bottles would have similar recycling benefits to a glass only bin, create less contamination reduce the millions of dollars in implementation costs.

Ms Spears said using existing infrastructure and a service that is already being used frequently and effectively by the community would require less investment, resourcing and education.

“An example is business cases released by the Queensland and South Australian Governments that assessed the net benefits of a glass only bin, as a result of this research, they opted to expand the CDS to include wine and spirit bottles instead of implementing a glass only bin service,” she said.

“Postponing the implementation date for the glass only bin would provide Councils more time to work with the Victorian Government on our research findings and find a way forward that maximises recycling efforts, but minimises the financial impact on local communities during what are challenging economic times for households.”

“Delaying the implementation date will also allow states and territories time to create a national standard for household bins.”

Cardinia Shire Council’s position was for the deadline to be postponed especially given the success of the CDS in the region.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Jack Kowarzik said in April he was thrilled with the uptake of CDS in Cardinia Shire.

“I am so proud of how the community has embraced CDS and boosted their recycling efforts. With 10c per container deposited, this also means money going back into our community, local businesses, charities, schools and sporting groups,” he said.

“Using existing infrastructure and resourcing to expand the scheme would further encourage these recycling efforts and minimise the financial cost to our community.”

The other councils opposed to the glass only bin deadline are Campaspe Shire Council, East Gippsland Shire Council, City of Greater Geelong, Wyndam City Council, Moorabool Council, Manningham Council, Latrobe City Council, Banyule City Council, City of Stonnington, Bayside City Council, Glen Eira City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Mansfield Shire, City of Monash, Nillumbik Shire, Whitehorse City Council, Hume City Council and Alpine Shire Council.

A Victorian Government spokesperson said they’ve invested $129 million to help councils to reform household recycling, including to buy new bins, improve drop off facilities, deliver education campaigns, and ensuring that they have the infrastructure in place to roll out the four bin system. “The Container Deposit Scheme has been embraced by Victorians and complements the roll out of Victoria’s four-stream waste and recycling system,” they said. “Many items, such as glass bottles and jars, are not suitable for CDS Vic – the glass bin allows households to conveniently recycle these at home.”

Have your say on the roads

By Callum Ludwig

Yarra Ranges Council has moved to update its Road Management Plan, with a draft now put out for community consultation following the Tuesday 27 August council meeting.

The new plan is an update of the 2021 plan and the community is invited to give feedback until Wednesday 24 September.

Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister she’d love to say that this document is going to solve every community concern about the state of our road network, but it’s certainly part of a very complex and expensive puzzle.

“The road management plan’s intent is to, as it says very eloquently in the report, help deliver a safe and efficient road network, it’s a really critical document that I know some in our community watch very closely and refer to in conversations with me because our road network is substantial,” she said.

“One of the engineers recently told me, which I thought was an interesting fact, is it’s almost the equivalent of Melbourne to Brisbane in length so that gives you a great kind of visual representation of what we’re responsible for managing, 1755 kilometres of roads, 40 per cent of those are unsealed,”

Yarra Ranges Council has released a draft Road Management Plan for community feedback. (File: 400686)

“A big undertaking that matters hugely to our community, it’s always the number one item for focus in any community satisfaction survey we run.”

Four key changes have been proposed through

the plan: using the Municipal Association of Victoria’s new rural template for road management, introducing night inspections, updated emergency protocols and removing shared paths that are outside the road reserve from the plan.

Cr McAllister said the plan outlines not just their role and responsibilities but also what community can expect in the level of service they will deliver in terms of inspections, proactive maintenance, reactive maintenance and a range of things.

“Adoption of a hybrid approach, looking at both the MAV rural templates and the urban templates, is recognising we have a foot in both and we absolutely have a road network in both, with very different demands and a very different need for response from us as a council,” she said.

“Adjustments that have also been made, just to name a few which again are worth pausing to reflect on whether they are well aligned with what we need in terms of maintenance and management of our network include thresholds around potholes, edge breaks and I think depressions might have been the other language in it,”

“Recognition of connectivity with footpaths, new defects and even night inspections which is interesting because again, thinking through the difference of needs around visibility and mainte-

nance of roads that are much travelled at night.” It is a legal requirement for the council’s road management plan to be updated every four years and within 12 months of the last council election.

Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan said after losing such a wad of money (Roads for Community funding) a couple of years ago, the council had to start to think differently about how they’re going to look at roads.

“It won’t be one size fits all and certainly it’s just a mammoth, mammoth task with what we have in Yarra Ranges,” he said.

“I appreciate the way in which the team has actually created this document so that it can be presented out in the public… one of the tendencies I’ve seen sometimes with council documents is that it tends to be more like a marketing exercise than it is a policy document,”

“We have the long-term considerations presented here which given the impact of climate change we must consider as well as the more immediate concerns of our community so I think that balance has been struck very well and it reads well and we should get some good feedback from the community.”

Residents can provide their feedback on the plan by visiting shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ draft-road-management-plan-2025.

New round of power saving bonus launched for bill relief

Another round of the power saving bonus has opened to provide eligible concession card households energy relief.

Applications for $100 saving bonus opened on Monday 25 August to help provide real and immediate help for vulnerable families.

Eligible Victorian households can apply for the Power Saving Bonus through the Victorian Energy Compare (VEC) website.

When applying, eligible households need a recent residential electricity bill and must hold a health care, pensioner concession, veterans’ affairs pensioner concession or veterans’ affairs gold card.

The $100 Power Saving Bonus is in addition to the $150 Energy Bill Relief Fund all households will automatically receive from the Commonwealth Government.

Any Victorian who is struggling with their energy bills can also access the Energy Assistance Program – a free over-the-phone or in-person support service delivered in partnership with Anglicare Victoria and cohealth for Victorians who are having trouble paying their energy bills.

All Victorians are encouraged to check they’re on the best deal possible by using the free and independent Energy Compare website

to shop around for a lower price – last year, users typically saved $240 per year on their energy bills by switching providers.

“This $100 payment will help vulnerable Victorians manage their winter energy bills,” energy and resources minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.

”Any Victorian can visit the Victorian Energy Compare website to check if they can switch to a cheaper energy offer.”

Are your kids living in a world revolving around their passions? That’s a good thing.

It’s why the VCE’s new Vocational Major creates worlds where passions can be explored.

From agriculture to construction, health to renewable energy. Whatever world our kids are into, there’s a VCE program to help develop the skills they’ll need to land a job in Australia’s most in-demand industries.

‘No’ to national campaign

By Dongyun Kwon

The Yarra Ranges Council rejected the Healesville Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR)’s invitation to join other local governments for the national campaign to support people seeking asylum.

The Back Your Neighbour campaign is a unified voice from local governments, advocating to the federal government to offer pathways to permanency for people seeking asylum, access to essential services and a fair chance for them to fully contribute to society.

The campaign is coordinated by the Mayoral and Councillor Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum, and over 40 councils nationally have joined the taskforce.

Healesville RAR committee member Chris Hodgson said they began to lobby the Yarra Ranges Council to join the campaign towards the end of last year.

“We wrote to the then mayor, Sophie Todorov, in April. The response we received was quite encouraging, and we met with council representatives who advised us on what to do next,” she said.

“The election then followed, so we resumed our lobbying in February this year, writing to councillors Tim Heenan and Fiona McAllister as well as our mayor Jim Child. We received no response from the council despite follow-up phone calls and sending another letter.”

Despite hard efforts by the Healesville RAR, Yarra Ranges Council informed the group that it will not be part of the Back Your Neighbour campaign but keep its “focus very local for now” via an official letter from mayor Cr Jim Child on 22 August.

“Over the past few years, we have increasingly focused on the needs and contributions of our newer refugee communities, and particularly those from the Chin state in Myanmar,” Cr Child said in the letter.

“While a decade ago, we could be characterised as not particularly culturally diverse, our work since to pivot and develop culturally responsive programs has been important. This is complex work with settlement issues such as homelessness, alcohol and other drug use, family violence and youth justice having serious impacts.

“At the same time, the Chin communities have strengths and resilience that Council wants to protect and enhance. Given the resources needed for this grassroots work, Council has decided to maintain that focus for now and ensure officer time and energy can stay on the collective impact

work with over 80 stakeholders to make a difference for refugee communities in Yarra Ranges.”

Healesville RAR committee members were disappointed seeing the local council’s response not to join the national campaign.

Ms Hodgson explained the difficulties that people seeking asylum currently face.

She said refugees are people who simply can’t stay in their country of birth for a variety of reasons, war, famine, climate change, persecution, threats to their wellbeing or lives.

“In Australia, one of the major issues of concern relates to the rights of refugees who hold certain types of visas. The system is complex, and there are a lot of different types of visas, so this is a very broad outline,” Ms Hodgson said.

“Under some visas, refugees have no or limited rights to work, no or limited access to Centrelink, and limited access to education. Some of these visas require renewal every three to five

years, so that refugees never truly feel settled and have to re-live their experiences every time they re-apply.

“The system is slow, and visa applications and renewals can take a very long time, although there have been improvements in this area. There is a group of refugees who are officially designated as ‘Stateless’, whose Australian-born children are subject to the same visa restrictions as their parents.

“Aside from the problems associated with visas, refugees face significant difficulties with housing, finance, work, education, health, transport and legal issues, all within the purview of local councils to assist with. They require timely, appropriate, culturally sensitive assistance to enable them to find safety, security and opportunities to thrive.”

The Back Your Neighbour campaign is calling on the federal government to do the following six

things: Provide everyone with a valid visa with work and study rights, Expand the Status Resolution Support Services program criteria and simplify the application process so that people in need can access affordable health care and other essential services, Ensure a timely and fair application and review for all people applying for refugee protection, Provide people who have been refused a visa to stay in Australia with a fair review, Continue to clear the backlog of applications and appeals, and Provide citizenship opportunities for all people seeking protection from war and conflict.

“At the recent National General Assembly of Local Government held in Canberra, another 70 councils signed up as Friends of the Mayoral and Councillor Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum,” Ms Hodgson said. Star Mail will introduce local refugees’ stories next week.

Switching on resilience with new solar battery and panels

By Oliver Winn

A ribbon cutting ceremony acknowledging new energy infrastructure has marked a new era of community resilience in Millgrove.

Hosted by Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG), the event took place at the Millwarra Community Building on 27 August and saw all parties come together to celebrate the newly installed solar battery and panels on the hub.

MRAG member Sam Rye said the community of Millgrove was deeply grateful for AusNet’s Energy Resilience Community Fund (ERCF) which chose the town as the first pilot site for its resilient communities plan.

“This community fund support has enabled us to install a solar array on the roof here, which is about 45 kilowatts,” Mr Rye said.

“We were also able to install a 132 kilowatt-hour battery on the Millwarra Community Hall, which is part of the Millwarra Primary School as well as part of the River Valley Church.

“Now, those together can act as an island so that in the event of outages, we’re able to continue to provide power.”

AusNet funded just over $277,000 to MRAG for a solar PV, battery storage and an inverter for community infrastructure at the Millwarra Primary School and Millwarra Community Hall.

The solar panels will charge the battery, which can store enough power for the hub to run for a couple of days. The battery’s capacity will then be refreshed by incoming solar power.

With the primary school, church, community building and soccer pitch all situated within a short distance from each other, the installation of energy resilient infrastructure has turned the site into a recovery hub.

It will provide electricity during outages, two commercial kitchens can be used to provide

meals while the soccer club has showers and change room facilities.

The Millgrove Recreation Reserve soccer pitch is also a place of last resort, which is situated right next to the Millwarra Community Building.

MRAG is one of 13 recipients from the ERCF across Victoria, totalling close to $2.4 million, to support community energy resilience projects.

AusNet executive general manager of compliance, risk and corporate affairs Amanda Rob-

ertson said while an increase of severe weather events had tested towns across the state, it also revealed the resilience of Millgrove.

“The reality is that these events can cause much more heartbreaking outcomes, so it’s wonderful to play just a small part in being able to support communities through these sort of challenging events,” Ms Robertson said.

“Millgrove, like many towns across our network, faces real risks from severe weather. But

what we see here today is not just a response to those risks, it’s proactive, it’s an inspiring model of what resilience looks like.

Millwarra Primary School principal Melanie Hancock said the ERCF was a game changer for the school.

“At the moment we can use this [infrastructure] if our power goes out, so our school can still run. Not many schools can do that,” Ms Hancock said.

“I genuinely see the benefits of it right now.”

Yarra Ranges Council mayor Cr Jim Child said the new infrastructure enabled the community of Millgrove to be dependent on themselves.

“When we get hit by disasters, we’re not always going to have members of the fire brigade at your door. You’re going to have to be resilient in your own capacity and that’s what we’re building the strength in, Cr Child said. He also praised MRAG’s initiative in establishing the crucial infrastructure.

“I think that they set the bar for what can be done in the community, I just admire the group.”

Finding local support key to prostate cancer journey

By Mikayla van Loon

For men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer, of which there are more than 70 per day around the country, finding support and guidance is an essential part of treatment.

That’s why groups like the Ringwood Prostate Cancer Support Group exist, to ensure men and their partners don’t have to go through it alone.

As the furthest support group out east, the Ringwood group brings men together at all stages of their treatment and recovery from the Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah.

Regular attendee Steve, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 2017, discovered the group about 16 months ago and said sharing information and stories is the best part.

“We’re all on the same journey, but we’re all taking different paths. Everybody’s that little bit different and you rarely find two people the same,” he said.

“One of the benefits of a support group is I can listen to Chris talking about something I want to know, so I can go have a chat with him. So you can pick people’s brains. What did it involve? How does it work? And actually get it from the horse’s mouth. That’s the beauty of this.”

Lilydale resident Chris said his diagnosis in March 2019 and subsequently joining the support group has led to his ability to strike up conversations with other men and encourage them to get tested.

Often holding stalls at markets with his wife, Chris said if a man of a similar age starts browsing, he will sometimes use it as an opportunity to mention prostate cancer and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing.

A tale all too common among the group attendees was their diagnosis leading to a conversation with others around them and they too being diagnosed shortly after.

“I was almost expecting prostate cancer because my dad had it. There’s three boys in my family. My (PSA) levels started to change, so I got onto it early. My second brother, he’s two years younger, had his prostate out six months after me,” Steve said.

But for Steve’s good friend, who for other medical reasons was getting regular blood tests and medical examinations, and aged in his sixties, it was only recently that a PSA test was included. Three months later he was having his prostate removed.

Steve and Chris said that while their levels are considered stable, they are both seeing slow increases in their PSA levels again.

With September being Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, not only was the message at the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday 26 August to get tested but to find support among men who are going through the same thing.

Meeting on the fourth Tuesday of every month, with guest speakers in attendance, this month saw Eastern Health’s specialist prostate cancer nurses Mel Caruso and Amelia Rolfs, present the current available treatments and side effects.

Mel said pre-2015 androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was really the only treatment available, but the medical field has “progressed greatly” since then, now offering radiotherapy and chemotherapy alongside hormone therapy and surgery.

Unfortunately, ADT or hormone therapy does come with some side effects that need to be monitored.

“It just blocks the testosterone in your body. Testosterone is like a fuel to prostate cancer cells, but by reducing your testosterone, you’re going to experience a lot of side effects. So it is like menopausal like side effects,” Mel said.

This includes, but is not limited to, hot flushes, metabolic syndrome, fatigue, cardiovascular risk, cognitive changes and bone density reduction.

A counteractive to much of this, however, is exercise.

“If exercise were in a pill, everyone would be taking it,” Mel said.

“There’s so much research to show that it actually mitigates a lot of the side effects.”

But with the prevalence of ADT, Mel said mental health deterioration among prostate cancer patients is high.

“The psychological impact is really, really great…the effects of ADT on mental health, so 60 per cent report negative changes in body image.

“A lot of men report that there’s a loss of manhood, a loss of control of what is happening within their bodies. A lot of men can’t do what they used to do, like mowing the lawns or tending the farm or so forth.

“Depression is really high amongst prostate cancer patients too. So 13 to 18 per cent experience depression, mood swings, which affect interpersonal relationships and self-perception.

“And then, 47 to 69 per cent of men have cognitive impairment when on ADT. So that’s a massive percentage, and we do promote counselling and support, obviously, support groups that can help you with emotional and psychological challenges.”

The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) has support services available, including a trained volunteer telephone-based service called MatesCONNECT, which connects men with someone who has been through prostate cancer and a Prostate Cancer Counselling Service that’s free of charge for men and their partners.

That’s where local peer support groups also become hugely valuable for the diagnosed person and their loved ones.

Stella Blackwell, wife of Ringwood group leader Andrew, said the support of the group has not only been immensely helpful for Andrew and his cancer journey, but also in her own acceptance of

losing her brother.

“I lost my brother three years ago, and he had a really aggressive cancer. When I hear Mel speak about how they’re doing this, that, and the other, and all these trials and with positive outcomes, I feel happy for people, but I feel sad,” she said.

“Depending on the cancer, they could throw everything at it, that’s what happened to him, it was so aggressive that it didn’t matter what they did. This has helped me, not move on because I’ll never move on, but to live with it.”

With Andrew still facing treatments, Stella said “he’ll need all the support he can get” and so being surrounded by friends and others who have been through or are going through similar makes it easier.

“Everyone here has either gone through the journey or is going through the journey, and everyone has different information,” Andrew said.

“We’re on the same train, just getting on and off at different stations.”

Andrew’s final message for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month was to get tested early and regularly.

“Prostate cancer is one of those silent cancers, unless you get tested,” he said.

The Ringwood support group will be hosting a Bunnings barbecue fundraiser in Ringwood on Saturday 20 September.

For more information about the Ringwood group, visit: pcfa.org.au/support/find-a-supportgroup/ringwood-pcsg/

Big fishing thrills at local lakes with rainbow trout stocked

Anglers across Yarra Ranges can reel in some big thrills with huge rainbow trout - weighing up to four kilograms each - being stocked across 17 metropolitan lakes, thanks to the Victorian government.

The annual stocking of 1000 rainbow trout is supported through the government’s $96 million package to improve fishing, boating, piers and aquaculture, with Victoria stocking more fish than all other states and territories combined.

The initiative provides fishers around Melbourne with access to the same ‘stonker’ trout that are stocked into the Eildon Pondage and Goulburn River each September to celebrate the opening of the trout fishing season.

These ripping rainbows take a variety of baits and are released into local lakes – many of which feature shore-based access, walking tracks and nearby facilities like playgrounds and barbecues, making for a great family day out.

The 1000 huge rainbow trout are being stocked currently into the following 17 waterways.

The locations in Yarra Ranges are Don Lake in Healesville (30 stonker rainbow trout), Emerald Lake (30), Lilydale Lake (130), and Quarry Lake in Ferntree Gully (60)

You can be a community radio presenter like Cora

By Dongyun Kwon

The opportunity to be on community radio came to Cora Zon out of the blue in July 2014, after the opening of Exit Theatre’s production The Suicide of Solitude at Rochford Wines.

Ms Zon was ready to leave after congratulating Kristof and Beata Kaczmarek on the success of the play.

But her daughter asked her to go to the bar together and mingle with people.

“At that time in my life, I was not comfortable in a big crowd, so (mingling) was the last thing I wanted to do, but I went to the bar, sat down and started talking about storytelling with a man called Mark,” Ms Zon said.

“He was a presenter at Yarra Valley FM and said to me, ‘You could have a radio program.’

“And I said, ‘Could I?’, and he said, ‘Yes, training starts in two weeks.’”

Two weeks later, Ms Zon participated in the training to be a radio presenter, where she learnt about the legal rules around broadcasting and how to operate the equipment.

Her first show was Art Journal, in which she interviewed numerous artists, mostly connected by Yarra Valley Arts.

“I love attending open studios, and the idea of interviewing artists was born. I loved the idea of bringing the intimate conversations heard in an artist’s studio about techniques, influences and tips to air,” the radio presenter said.

“I began Art Journal interviewing local artists and then reached out to TarraWarra Museum of Art to interview about upcoming exhibitions.”

She was allocated three hours for her radio show from 9am to noon on a Thursday.

Ms Zon divided the three-hour show into three different programs.

“I invited Bruce Argyle, a friend I had met at Healesville Toastmasters, to join me. I put his interview program, Community Conversations, to air at 9am, followed by Schools-In, a program presented by local primary school students at 10am and Art Journal started at 11am,” she said.

“I love the fact that our little local community

Elio

Starring Yonas Kibreab, Remy Edgerly and Zoe Saldaña

Elio is a touching, visually resplendent sci-fi family adventure that doesn’t fully realise its own disturbing implications.

After achieving his lifelong dream of being abducted by aliens, eleven-year old Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab) must save the Communiverse, an interstellar diplomatic organisation, from a warlord’s wrath.

Elio is a cute, swiftly-paced adventure with endearing characters and truly stunning art direction.

radio station has connected with other organisations in the area. Those connections have grown to include Healesville Sanctuary, with a program called Wild.

“I interview staff members, keepers, scientists, vets from Healesville Sanctuary about the different programs.”

Ms Zon had a passion for zines before becoming a radio presenter.

She said community radio is similar to zines.

“Zines are the most accessible form of self-publishing. Community radio is the most accessible form of broadcasting,” Ms Zon said.

“They both support the Do-it-Yourself and Do-it-Together ethos. I love being creative and inspiring others to be creative.”

She started with interviewing zine makers on Art Journal, inviting Luke Sinclair, co-founder of Sticky Institute, to be her co-host.

Then the Covid pandemic came, and the restrictions applied that they could no longer go into the studio.

In the middle of the crisis, Ms Zon came up with an idea, turning the crisis into a new oppor-

The vibrant Communiverse headquarters brings to mind the Citadel in the Mass Effect games and the Ouster Swarm from Dan Simmons’

tunity.

She asked the station manager, Greg Carrick, if the radio station could continue the radio programs using Zoom.

“This opened up the world. We could interview local, national and international zine makers, comic makers, zine fair and festival organisers,” the radio presenter said.

“We chatted with people from the UK, America, New Zealand and even Iceland.

“We decided to begin Australia’s only community radio program dedicated to zines. We called it ZINE and launched it on May 13, 2021.”

Ms Zon is currently on air from 10am to 1pm on Thursdays.

Schools In is on for the first one hour, and it is followed by either Art Journal or Wild for the next hour.

The three-hour show is wrapped up with ZINE.

Along with the training and mentoring at the radio station, joining Healesville Toastmasters was helpful for Ms Zon in presenting the radio show.

Hyperion novels, and the computer-generated presentation allows the filmmakers to cut loose with truly alien character designs, as opposed to humanoids with odd complexions or foreheads in so much other sci-fi.

In a possible nod to the first Star Trek movie, Elio’s plot cleverly uses the Voyager 1 space-probe and its famous golden record as the springboard for Elio’s interest in aliens, though I wish Voyager remained relevant beyond the first act.

While Elio is kind, loyal and determined, he has very little character development, experiences no lasting consequences for lying to the Communiverse, and his self-reflection on whether he was the unruly, obsessive problem on Earth holds little weight when he was right all along about the

“Healesville Toastmasters is a public speaking club that’s held in the Senior Citizens Hall from 7.15pm on the first and third Monday of the month,” Ms Zon said.

“I started training at radio and then I joined Toastmasters, and the two of them together helped improve my communication skills.

“If you want to get on radio, I recommend Toastmasters.”

Healesville Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills.

If you are interested in joining Toastmasters, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/HealesvilleTM

Healesville Toastmasters is hosting the inaugural Healesville Zine and Comic Festival on 31 October and 1 November.

In addition to being a celebration of zines, comics and spoken word, the event will celebrate all of the connections made over the years with artists, zine and comic makers, Healesville Toastmasters, Your library, Healesville Sanctuary, TarraWarra Museum of Art and the wider community through Yarra Valley FM.

Ms Zon would like to thank the Yarra Ranges Council for supporting the Healesville Zine and Comic Festival.

To learn more about the Healesville Zine and Comic Festival, visit the following website: healesvillezineandcomicfestival.org

Ms Zon said she loves radio.

“It is so much fun. You get to meet so many people, have so many interesting conversations that you probably wouldn’t normally have in regular day-to-day life,” she said.

“Radio gives you an opportunity to dig in and find out all sorts of interesting things about people.

“Yarra Valley FM is always open to new presenters coming in with fresh ideas like Andrew Kwon.”

You can listen to Ms Zon’s radio programs from 10am to 1pm on Thursdays at yarravalleyfm. org.au/listen.html or 99.1 on your FM dial.

existence of aliens.

Elio quickly befriends Glordon (Remy Edgerly), the compassionate prince of a warlike race, and his arc of not wanting to follow in his brutal father’s footsteps is much more interesting than Elio’s journey.

The plot also uses cloning for subterfuge, and feels flippant in how it treats these near-indistinguishable copies with their own consciousnesses; a father technically kills his own son, and you wonder how this didn’t occur to the filmmakers. If you can ignore the existential terrors the film raises, Elio is an energetic, moving and visually breathtaking family film currently playing at the Memorial Hall.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

Spring rains to swing the bushfire forecast

By Tanya Steele

The spring outlook for bushfires in Australia has been released, and while the forecast may change for some areas, preparation is key for the months ahead.

Across the Yarra Ranges, the predicted fire season ahead has been deemed ‘normal’ but remains quite dependent on rainfall in the next month, and local CFA are urging residents to get prepared.

The Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services (AFAC) released the seasonal bushfire outlook for Victoria on Wednesday 27 August.

AFAC CEO Rob Webb said no matter where you live or travel this season, everyone can play an important role in bushfire safety this spring by being prepared and staying alert to warnings and advice.

“Having a plan doesn’t take long and might just make the difference,” he said.

Developed by AFAC on a quarterly basis, the spring outlook report gives a national snapshot of the likelihood of fires over the spring months.

Sassafras-Ferny Creek fire brigade president, John Schauble, said that what happens in spring, pretty much over the next six to eight weeks, will be crucial in determining the bushfire risk in the Dandenongs over summer.

“There’s really little point in comparing this year with previous years leading into bad bushfire events,” he said.

“When you live in a high bushfire risk area such as the Dandenongs, it’s more a case of this year being the worst year since last year.”

The report states that across much of eastern Victoria, the fire risk potential has been assessed as normal due to higher landscape moisture.

Moving into to Yarra Valley, Coldstream CFA Captain Sean Bethell said their brigade is waiting to see what the spring rains do.

“If we don’t get the expected rain that we usually get, we could be in for a hot, dry and long summer,” he said.

Macclesfield CFA Captain Sharon Merritt said the rainfall in Macclesfield has been over 100mm less than the same time last year.

“This low rainfall and higher daytime temperatures have led to a significant increase in soil dryness, “ she said.

“We may get a wet spring, which will alleviate some of this dryness, but it will take the soil quite some time and a large amount of rain to recover.”

“If the soil remains dry, this will dry the surface leaf litter out quickly over summer and increase the chances of fire spreading quickly across the landscape.”

Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines said in a forecast delivered by the BOM on Thursday 28 August that spring in Victoria will likely deliver above average rainfall for much of the state, apart from some eastern parts.

“Average spring rainfall in recent decades has been between 100 and 300 millimetres for much of the state, 400 millimetres over the Great Dividing Range, and between 50 and 100 millimetres in the north west corner,” he said.

Mr Schauble said that the accumulated rainfall is a key factor in suppressing fire risk in forested areas such as the hills.

“Over the previous five years, we’ve had well above average rainfall,” he said.

“But this year the rainfall to date is notably down, despite a very cold winter.”

Statewide, there is a bigger risk of fire predicted for drought-affected areas, after a record-lows of rain in the last 18 months.

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said that emergency services are well prepared.

“Communities need to understand their local risks and prepare early, including how to access emergency information and warnings,” he said.

“Download the VicEmergency app to check the Fire Danger Ratings and receive vital emergency information, tune into your local emergency broadcaster and never rely on one source of information.”

Victoria State Emergency Service, State Agency Commander Aaron White said that Victorians are also at risk from severe weather, including damaging winds, and flash flooding.

“These hazards can impact communities

quickly and with little warning,” he said.

“VICSES volunteers are ready to respond to severe weather events, but preparedness is a shared responsibility, we urge all Victorians to take steps now to prepare their homes and families for all types of emergencies.”

The rainfall levels will make all the difference as spring begins in earnest in the next month.

If there is less rain, then areas like the Dandenong Ranges may change status quite quickly to an above-average fire potential.

“Monitoring of rainfall and fuel conditions will occur throughout spring to identify key risk areas leading into the summer period,” said the report.

The focus will now be on preparation and monitoring, and CFA are encouraging locals to get prepped and informed.

“Rainfall is predicted to be fairly normal in September and October at this stage, but regardless of whether we have a wet spring or not, we will still have fires over summer,” said Ms Merritt.

“I guess for some people, the lack of bushfire activity locally in recent years has led to a degree of complacency,” said Mr Schauble.

“That nasty little fire in Montrose last March was a sharp reminder of how quickly conditions can change, it was also a reminder that fires don’t have to be big to do significant damage here,” he said.

“Don’t leave it too late to prepare your property,” said Ms Merritt.

Olinda Rural Fire Brigade Captain, Deb Weber said as with all other brigades across the

Claims highlight storm prep necessity

With storms costing Victorians millions of dollars in damage annually and accounting for 80 per cent of all Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) callouts, RACV is encouraging Victorians to take proactive steps to protect their homes and vehicles from severe weather.

According to the SES, more than 12,000 storm-related requests for assistance were made in the past year, costing Victorians an estimated $28 million.

The Insurance Council of Australia also reported 27,000 insurance claims during the extreme 2024 Valentine’s Day storm.

RACV general manager insurance and roadside Bill Bloodworth said many of these issues can be prevented with simple preparation.

“Storms are one of the most common causes of damage to homes in Victoria. We know that issues like roof leaks, blocked gutters and unsecured outdoor items often lead to costly repairs that could have been avoided,” Mr Bloodworth said.

“Now is a great time for Victorians to carry out a home and garden check-up and make sure their property is storm-ready.”

RACV recommended clearing gutters, securing loose outdoor items, parking vehicles undercover and trimming overhanging branches near powerlines.

“If your home or vehicle is damaged, contact RACV Insurance as soon as it is safe. Document damage with photos and keep receipts for any urgent repairs,” Mr Bloodworth said.

“By taking action now, households can reduce the likelihood of serious storm damage and stay safer when severe weather does hit.”

Dandenong Ranges, they are concentrating on polishing their minimum firefighting skills.

“We are also preparing for our station Open Day on 11 October, where we hope to reiterate CFA’s message to our local community to ensure they prepare their properties early and have a well-thought-out plan for their family and pets when conditions reach their trigger points to act,” she said.

“Local brigades are always happy to assist with fire planning information.”

In Coldstream, Mr Bethell said their brigade is actively recruiting for new firefighters. “Especially those available during daytime hours,” he said.

Mr Schauble said everyone needs to be preparing now for the fire danger period to come.

“Develop a plan for what your family will do on high fire danger days, clean up around your property and do any necessary maintenance work on your home,” he said.

“Now is the best time to start preparing your properties for summer by clearing up fine fuels (fine vegetation and leaf litter) from around houses,” said Ms Merritt.

Mr Schauble said that as summer gets closer, people can make sure to attend a CFA community meeting to learn more about the local conditions and get some basic bushfire safety tips.

“Your local brigade can help with information and there’s loads online at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/ prepare,” he said.

Residents can also stay informed by downloading the VicEmergency app or checking the VicEmergency website.

Badger Creek and District Men’s Shed Open Day

As part of Men’s Shed Week from 8 to 13 September, the Badger Creek and District Men’s Shed will be hosting an Open Day on Wednesday 10 September from 10am to 2pm.

The theme for this year is ‘Building Health Communities’ and all are welcome to come along and see what we do and have a chat over a cuppa and lunch.

The Shed is located at 360 Badger Creek Road, Badger Creek behind the Badger Creek CFA Fire Station.

For any questions or further information contact secretary Graeme Chester by phone on 0412 165 420.

HEALTH AND 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 traveling 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 ensuring 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 2 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 our 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 2 x-rays for $195, and in-chair whitening $450.

Meet Your Local Principal

Launch PS is a vibrant and caring place of learning. At our school we know LEARNING is DOING. We challenge our students to be curious and sprint towards their learning goals. Our Launchers respect others, exercise care and compassion; and demonstrate responsibility. LPPS is situated in an attractive, natural bushland setting behind the Jadodade Community Park. Our school enrolment is currently 140 students. We are small enough that your child and your family are known by name; and large enough to provide the academic, co-curricular and social opportunities that are so important to your child’s growth and development. Our curriculum is based on the understanding that students learn best through being engaged and active in their learning. We provide a comprehensive and sequential curriculum using our gradual release, ‘I do, we do, you do’ model for teaching and learning. Our highly experienced staff provide a caring and stimulating learning environment for all. Specialist classes in Science, the Arts and Physical Education, ensure that all Launchers have the opportunity to learn and excel in subjects of interest. We pride ourselves on the continued academic success of our children as we prepare them to be contributing citizens in our local and wider community. Get in touch and let me show you around our place!

Welcome to Seville Primary School, where every child’s learning journey is valued, celebrated and nurtured. Our school sits at the heart of the Seville community and is a place where children are known, cared for and supported to grow with curiosity, confidence and resilience.

At Seville, we believe great learning goes hand in hand with wellbeing and creativity. We focus on strong academic progress while also helping children grow in character and confidence. Our students learn to think deeply, act kindly and take on challenges, preparing them to thrive both now and into the future.

We are a close-knit and caring community. Our staff nurture the unique strengths of every child, empowering them to achieve their best. Respect, inclusion and connection shape the way we work together and ensure that every child feels a strong sense of belonging.

Learning at Seville is engaging, purposeful and hands-on, sparking curiosity and confidence in every child. Students take ownership of their learning through goal setting, choice and voice in their education. From our sustainability program and thriving vegetable gardens to our focus on AUSLAN as a second language, students are encouraged to explore, create and contribute. Weekly programs in PE, Art, Science and Wellbeing further enrich the diverse opportunities on offer.

Come and see our vibrant learning community in action — a school where every child is known, supported and inspired.

Primary School is located between Yarra Junction and Powelltown.

learning,

value parent and community partnership and offer a range of Specialist subjects in PE, Performing Arts, Science, Visual Arts, Library and Auslan. We are a small school allowing us to provide individualised support to all students. We are situated on a large block, boasting many playgrounds and a large oval. Feel free to contact us anytime to arrange a visit.

We really are the Small school with Big Benefits!

Meet Your Local Principal

Healesville Primary School provides a friendly, secure and encouraging environment for our students and community members. We highly value the contribution made by every member of our school community. Our vision is at the core of everything we do. ‘At Healesville Primary School we inspire all students to be curious, creative and engaged lifelong learners. We develop resilient, confident and respectful students who have the necessary skills to be a valuable member of their community.’

The school values of Respect, Community, Confidence and Learning are the foundations of our school. Using these, we have built our School Wide Positive Behaviour program. We pride ourselves on our calm and orderly learning environments, which are engaging and inviting. Our team of professional educators and dedicated support staff take great pride in the standards of both our curriculum and extra-curricula activities. Our curriculum offers a balance of Literacy, Numeracy, Positive Education, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Physical Education as well as Creative Arts. Our students further develop their sense of community by participating in Cultural Education, which focuses on the Culture and Traditional Heritage of Healesville. Our students learn the language of the Wurundjeri people.

I feel very lucky to be working at such a wonderful school that has the community at its core. Our grounds are spectacular, with numerous outdoor learning environments and plenty of spaces for imaginative play. Our culture is one of high expectations for all leaders, teachers and students. We encourage our students to be the best they can be and to give everything a go.

I have been proud to be the principal at Don Valley Primary School for the last twenty years. We have a wonderful caring school community that values kindness, inclusiveness and respect for one another. Over the years as principal here it has been my pleasure to see how children have thrived in our small school setting, where their needs have been clearly seen and met. I value that every teacher knows every child-their strengths, their interests and their challenges so that every child has the opportunity to reach their potential. It’s exciting to see students engaged with their learning and the progress that they can make in a small class setting with individual support from their dedicated teachers and support staff. Our philosophy is that learning should be engaging challenging and fun! I love being part of a small school community, yet being able to provide so many diverse learning experiences and opportunities for our students that includes: challenge based learning, art, music, PE, LOTE, outdoor education, library, public speaking, sustainability, cooking, excursions, leadership and more! It’s also been a source of pride to be able to meet the needs of our immediate community and wider community through our Before School Care, After School Care, Vacation Care and Playgroup programs. Every day that I drive to work I’m reminded of how lucky I am to live and work in such a beautiful location, the Yarra Valley. Quiet, tranquil Don Valley is a very special part of that.

With over 16 years’ experience of teaching and leading in both Primary and Secondary settings, it is an honour to be the Principal of such a high performing and student-centred school. Warburton Primary School vibrant, dynamic and a progressive learning community, founded upon our four school values of Respect, Personal Best, Integrity and Resilience. Students are seen as individuals, understood, and catered for with a richly diverse, engaging, and meaningful curriculum.

We have high expectations of our students and staff, cultivating a warm community where students feel safe and are taught to take responsibility for their learning behaviours.

Our students are given every support they need to thrive. Student learning is targeted through expertly differentiated classroom practice and is complimented by rigorous intervention, small groups, and a stimulating High Abilities Program. We provide an extensive range of opportunities including our flourishing Harvest Cafe kitchen garden program and specialist classes of Art, Physical Education, Music and Auslan.

Our transition program allows for a fun and smooth pathway from Kinder to Prep and is complimented by our onsite Platypus Playgroup and long-standing connections with the early childhood centres in the area. We also have an on-site, school-owned and operated Outside School Hours Care service that runs before and after school each day.

We look forward to seeing you for an upcoming tour of our beautiful school.

Upper Yarra Secondary College is proud to be a central hub in the beautiful Yarra Valley community. The College is proud of its students and their fantastic achievements both within the College and beyond. We are particularly impressed with the academic successes of our students, all the way up to Year 12, which were celebrated at our mid-year awards ceremonies. The College has almost completed a modernisation program of facilities to reflect the innovative teaching and learning occurring within the school and school grounds. It is pleasing to see our students enjoying the beautiful surroundings and activities on offer that supplement highquality teaching instruction. We are a wonderful school achieving excellent results, we are excited for what lies ahead.

Meet Your Local Principal

I hold the care, safety and well-being of my students as my fundamental responsibility.

I nurture the personal, spiritual and academic growth of the students, encouraging them to be confident, successful, creative and innovative learners.

I believe in close partnership between parents and schools,based on mutual responsibility, respect and trust.

Children will learn, given quality instructions, support and encouragement. Students should receive direct, explicit instruction on behavioural expectations and be acknowledged for appropriate behaviour.

I value opportunities for students to spend time exploring our natural bush setting and participating in camps, excursions and sports activities

I am committed to reconciliation through education and strongly believe that Aboriginal culture, history and spirituality should be at the forefront of Catholic Education.

Ultimately, I am committed to providing students, families and staff with a positive experience at St Joseph’s School.

Our Values are RICH Respect, Responsibility, Resilience - Integrity - Caring - Honesty

Hoddles Creek Primary School, established in 1875, has a proud tradition of 150 years of teaching and learning in the Yarra Valley. In fact, we celebrate our 150 years this September! I began my teaching career at Hoddles Creek Primary back in 2002 and I became the principal of our wonderful school in 2018. As a teaching Principal, I feel very fortunate that my role allows me the opportunity to teach part-time in the classroom.

We have such a passionate staff who are incredibly dedicated to the work they do with our students. Our staff ensure each and every one of our students receives a highly personalised educational experience. Small class sizes ensure each student receives quality one-to-one time with their teachers, who are committed to helping them achieve their individual social, emotional, wellbeing and learning goals.

Our families and students seek out our school from surrounding areas from Yarra Junction, Launching Place, Wesburn and Woori Yallock. We are neuro-affirming, culturally inclusive and pride ourselves on the adjustments and accommodations we make for all of our students. Our students feel welcomed, safe and supported.

As a mother of three, I am well aware of individual needs; from difficulties with ‘school can’t’ and anxiety, to sensory overload and dysregulation. Teaching and learning are a passion of mine, and I feel blessed to come to work each day to be able to see our students set personalised goals and strive to achieve them. We enjoy celebrating student successes every day at Hoddles Creek.

Hoddles Creek Primary is a smaller school so we can truly offer an individualised learning program. Student wellbeing is a major focus, and we are proud of the supportive environment we create, with emotional regulation along with catering for sensory needs with lots of brain breaks. Together, students and staff set high expectations for achievement, but in a friendly, caring and supportive environment.

We offer a warm welcome to anyone who is looking for a caring school with supportive and dedicated staff. Students are welcome to have a “try” at Hoddles anytime! Feel free to call the school on 5967 4282 or drop in anytime for a visit or school tour.

Facebook: Hoddles Creek Primary School Noticeboard

We Learn For Life

I am proud and privileged to be the Principal of Wesburn Primary School. Our motto, We Learn for Life, epitomises the values we place on developing wellrounded students equipped for adult life. All staff are committed to providing the best possible education for every student so that they can reach their full potential. Wellbeing is a key priority for our school community and we welcome parent volunteers and the SRC who influence school directions.

The school, including our playgroup and before and after school care staff, maintains a strong relationship with all community stakeholders.

Wesburn Primary School’s ongoing vision is to ensure the highest quality teaching and wellbeing for all students, empowering them to be actively engaged in their learning, to be resilient, reflect our school values, and contribute to the development of the whole school community. Please take the time to visit our school for a tour - you will be most welcome.

As Principal of St. Brigid’s School in Healesville, I feel incredibly blessed to lead a community where faith, learning, and relationships are at the heart of everything we do. With over 20 years as a Catholic educator—and as a mother of four—I know firsthand that it truly takes a village to raise a child.

That belief shapes everything we do at St. Brigid’s. I’m passionate about building strong, respectful partnerships between families and staff, because when we work together, our children thrive. Our vision is to be a Christ-centred community where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential.

Alongside our dedicated staff, I’m committed to nurturing the whole child— academically, socially, and spiritually. We learn from the past, challenge the present, and create the future, always with families at the heart of our journey.

St. Brigid’s is more than a school—it’s a place where children are known, supported, and celebrated. I warmly invite you to visit and experience the joy of learning and growing in a community that truly cares.

Meet Your Local Principal

As Principal of Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Mr Philip Morison is proud to lead a school community that inspires students to grow, achieve, and thrive, but most importantly, to serve. Guided by Catholic values and Mercy traditions, Mr Morison believes education should nurture the mind, heart, and spirit of every young person. “We want each student to recognise their unique gifts and talents,” he says, “and to feel supported as they grow into confident, compassionate people who can use their gifts to benefit and improve the world around them.”

At MLMC, opportunities abound — from the arts and music to sport, leadership, and faith development. Yet, Mr Morison is equally clear that academic success remains central. The College maintains high expectations, encouraging students to challenge themselves, set ambitious goals, and take pride in their achievements.

“While we celebrate creativity and personal growth, we never want to become complacent about learning,” Mr Morison explains. “Our role is to prepare students not only for their future studies and careers, but also for life — as courageous, humble, respectful people of character who are always hospitable to the other.”

Looking ahead, Mr Morison’s vision is to ensure that MLMC continues to be a place where faith, knowledge, and community come together — empowering students to embrace their potential and make a difference in the world. “It’s a privilege to walk alongside our students on their journey,” he adds. “Seeing them flourish is the most rewarding part of this role.”

I’m thrilled to be back at Millwarra Primary School, where my teaching career began in 2009 and I feel incredibly privileged to have stepped into the role of Principal this year. Millwarra has always held a special place in my heart and I’m passionate about creating a strong school community where students, staff and families work together to achieve the very best outcomes. At Millwarra, we focus on building resilience, encouraging student voice and fostering a strong sense of belonging. Our vision is simple but powerful: Excellence is achieved together in a safe, stimulating and supportive environment. This is underpinned by our core values of Respect, Resilience, Kindness and Community.

Exciting things are happening across our curriculum this year. We have a strong focus on literacy and numeracy, introducing programs such as Little Learner’s Love Literacy and Top 10 Maths to support student learning. We also offer a range of co-curricular activities, including gardening, cooking and bike education. Our specialist classes currently include Physical Education, Science, Auslan, Art and Drumming – providing students with a rich and varied learning experience.

Millwarra is a unique two-campus school, with each campus set in beautiful natural surroundings and offering excellent facilities– including the Community Building at our Millgrove campus, complete with an indoor basketball court. It’s an exciting time for Millwarra and I’m proud to lead such a wonderful, caring community where every child can thrive.

Millwarra Primary School

millwarra.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Healesville High School has an outstanding academic record and has been an active and responsible community member, serving Healesville and surrounding districts with distinction since 1961.

Our staff members take great pride in ensuring a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. Our vision for Healesville is that of an exciting learning community where all students are challenged to achieve success and to pursue excellence and our school also prides itself on offering an extensive range of dynamic and engaging academic and extra-curricular programs.

I welcome your interest in Healesville High School and encourage you to contact me to discuss any aspect of school life or to arrange a school tour.

It is simply a joy to work in the beautiful community of Woori Yallock. Every day, I’m greeted by wonderful, happy and enthusiastic children. My name is Oliver Thockloth, I joined the Woori Yallock team in 2011 and I am in my 9th year as Principal of the school. Our school is achieving brilliant results at all levels which has made our school very popular and our community very proud of their school.

Our school has had an upgrade and now has very modern facilities. The school has beautiful views and extensive grounds for children to play. But having great bricks and mortar is not why our school is so popular.

great teaching and a focus on an orderly learning environment, we are just one big happy family.

The best thing about our school is the children, they are friendly, kind and dedicated to their school and their studies.

Woori Yallock Primary School is simply a wonderful place to guide and teach children, and to establish strong friendships and relationships.

Final fundraising push

By Oliver Winn

Members of CFAs across the Yarra Ranges are working hard to hit their donation and fitness targets in the lead up to the annual Melbourne Firefighter’s Stair Climb (MFSC).

On 6 September, firefighters from all over the state will gather at the Crown Metropol in Melbourne to take on this year’s MFSC in an epic, 28-storey ascent.

They will do so under 25 kilograms of turnout gear and will raise funds for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, Lifeline and the 000 Foundation.

In his 11th year taking part in the MFSC, Wesburn-Millgrove CFA member Tony Lewis has weathered wild conditions while climbing the Mount Donna Buang Observation Tower every Saturday morning to train.

Mr Lewis said the cold conditions haven’t deterred him and his crew from continuing their routine.

“We’ve had some challenging mornings in the snow and in the rain, but everybody’s high-spirited and has been having fun when we’re at it,” Mr Lewis said.

Overall, the MFSC campaign has raised just over $680,000 of their $1 million target with 12 days left to go.

MFSC event director Chris May was confident the campaign would reach the one million mark.

“Obviously in the days leading up to the event, we have an influx of donations, and we do keep the donations open for a little while after the stair climb so people can show all their efforts,” Mr May said.

“So we’re feeling pretty good.”

This year’s stair climb is on track to be the biggest event yet in terms of both funds raised and firefighters participating.

1000 firefighters take on the spiralling stairs of the Crown Metropol in September, an increase of 300 from last year.

Mr May said this was because more people understood the dangers of firefighting stick around long after the fire itself.

“People now are being impacted either personally, or second or third-hand through some-

one they know. As a result of that, they want to be part of the stair climb to help raise funds for charities like Lifeline and the Peter McCallum Cancer Foundation, as well as the 000 Foundation.”

Mr Lewis’s personal fundraising goal for the climb has been reached with $1190.

Meanwhile at Warburton CFA Kodie Ireland

and Andre Araujo have both raised over $1000.

Mr Lewis said while not all members from Wesburn-Millgrove CFA had hit their $1000 target, there’s still 12 days of fundraising to go.

On Sunday 31 August the Wesburn-Millgrove CFA will hold a sausage sizzle at the Millgrove Market in Millgrove where all proceeds will go towards the fundraising effort.

“We still have a couple of weeks to go, and we’re going to push hard to continue raising funds, and hopefully we can all reach our $1000 individual targets before the actual event.”

But, Mr Lewis wouldn’t be too disappointed if some missed out on their $1000 target.

“Everything counts. If we can save that one life, then that’s amazing,” Mr Lewis said.

Awards night recognises longstanding devotion to the CFA

By Oliver Winn

The Reefton CFA celebrated the efforts of its devoted members at its annual dinner and awards night in early August.

Held at the Reefton Hotel on 13 August, National Medals were bestowed to three of its members and another celebrated their upcoming retirement after nearly 53 years of service.

Reefton CFA captain Sue Jack praised the brigade’s founding member and third lieutenant, Ross Minifie, for his longstanding dedication to the community of Reefton.

“Our founding member Ross Minifie, he received not only his national medal but his first and second clasp which recognised all the extra years of service, it was great,” Ms Jack said.

The National Medal is awarded for diligent long service to the community in hazardous circumstances, including in times of emergency and national disaster, in direct protection of life and property.

It’s awarded by the Governor General to personnel in Australia’s emergency services and requires at least 15 years of service.

This meant Mr Minifie’s outstanding 45 years of service saw him receive his first and second clasp medals too, which are awarded for every 10 years of service after the initial 15.

Ms Jack also received her National Medal on the night, however she said in the end, the Reefton community was the “heart” of the Reefton CFA brigade.

“We may be a small brigade and we may be remote and to a degree isolated, but the community is at heart and always has been.

“Even if we take the service awards and the medals out of it, that’s the heart of the brigade,” Ms Jack said.

Commander Andrew Booth celebrated his upcoming retirement after nearly 53 years of service and did the presentation for the award night.

Ms Jack said Mr Booth’s presentation added a lighted hearted touch to the night.

“He struggled with the red cushion that the medals are meant to be presented on, being royal medals, and we had a laugh over that.

“That made it kind of light-hearted, but that’s what it’s all about,” Ms Jack said.

The Reefton CFA received a “significant donation” from the Reefton Hotel and thanked the hotel for its support over the years.

“They always put on a great night for us, so we like to support local.”

Ms Jack said the medals received were just an award for the service the Reefton CFA provides to the Reefton community.

“The medals and that is just a reward for all of the work that we do trying to help the community, so it’s part of that bigger picture.”

She mentioned a five year plan for the Reefton CFA which would see a hub established at the brigade’s station.

The Reefton CFA received $80,000 to install solar panels and batteries at the station to help those in need during severe weather events.

Ms Jack said the awards also showed the newer

members the recognition one can earn when putting in years of service to the Reefton community. In the end though, the Reefton CFA relied on the skills of all its members to service the local community.

“We’ve all got different levels of experience and skills that we bring to the brigade, and that’s what it takes,” Ms Jack said.

“It takes a bundle of skills, not just one person.”

SENIOR LIVING

Vibrant retirement living

In the heart of Lilydale, where the lush Yarra Valley meets the Dandenong Ranges, stands Lilydale Valley Views – not just a retirement village, but a thriving community where residents relish every moment of their golden years. For the past 15 years, we have meticulously crafted an environment that goes beyond providing accommodation; it’s a place where the essence of retirement living is fully embraced.

Our village boasts an array of accommodation options, from stunning homes with valley views to cosy terrace living. With 139 homes, including semi-attached 2/3 bedroom units, each designed to ensure a family-like atmosphere, we prioritise creating a space that fits the unique preferences of every resident.

What sets Lilydale Valley Views apart is the commitment to offering a comprehensive retirement experience. Picture a heated indoor swimming pool and spa, providing residents with an oasis for relaxation and exercise. Imagine weekly Tai Chi and dancersize sessions, tailored to keep both the body and mind active and engaged. Our village bus takes the hassle out of shopping, offering a convenient door-to-door service, freeing residents from the need to drive and park.

One of the key pillars of our community is the vibrant social committee. This dedicated group organises a plethora of indoor and outdoor activities, ensuring residents always have opportunities for connection and enjoyment. From outings to social events, our calendar is brimming with activities that cater to diverse interests, creating an enriching experience for everyone.

Yet, the true magic lies in the residents themselves. A wonderful group of people with a wide range of interests, they form the beating heart of our community. The warmth and genuine sense of camaraderie that have flourished over the years are truly heartwarming. Newcomers

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quickly find themselves embraced by the community, invited to various activities and social occasions, allowing them to tailor their level of engagement.

At Lilydale Valley Views, we recognise the importance of social connections for overall health and wellbeing as we age. Our environment is curated to facilitate an active and connected lifestyle, fostering a sense of community that extends beyond the physical boundaries of the village.

Centrally located near essential amenities, including medical practitioners, supermarkets, and the train station – all within walking distance – Lilydale Valley Views provides a seamless blend of convenience and tranquillity. The nearby Warburton Trail offers residents the op-

portunity for scenic walks or bike rides, while a thriving veggie/flower garden on-site adds to the communal spirit.

As a testament to our commitment to excellence, we are proud to have built a retirement village that has evolved into a close-knit community. Lilydale Valley Views is not merely a place to live; it’s a place where people flourish, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and cherished moments.

In celebration of our journey and the joy of vibrant retirement living, we invite you to explore Lilydale Valley Views. Come and witness firsthand the beauty of terrace living, stunning views, and the warm embrace of a community that defines the essence of retirement living.

For more information, contact Lilydale Val-

some quite

ley Views at 471 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale, email manager@lilydalevalleyviews.com.au, or call 03 9735 5944 to speak with Rosemary Seymour our manager. Our doors are open from 9am to 4.30pm, welcoming you to a new chapter of vibrant retirement living.

retirement lifestyle from $590k

Be part of a vibrant Community and enjoy the Facilities

Vintage Brut claims gold

By Dongyun Kwon

Yarra Valley-produced wines once again proved their quality in a national wine show.

Chandon Australia and Giant Steps Wine brought gold medals back home, respectively, to the Yarra Valley from the 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show.

The Sydney Royal Wine Show is judged by an independent panel, chosen for their expertise within their industry, who assess products through a blind tasting.

To achieve gold medal status, a wine must score 95 points or over and be considered ‘outstanding’.

Gold medal products within each category are then reassessed in a blind tasting by an expanded panel of judges to determine the champion trophy and prize winners.

Chandon Australia’s 2018 Chandon Vintage Brut was scored 95 points, claiming a gold in the white and rose sparkling wine, classic varieties and blends, bottle-fermented, 30 months or more tirage age category.

Chandon Australia viticulture and winemaking director Dan Buckle said the Chandon Australia team were delighted with a great result.

“We’re thrilled for a couple of reasons. I’ve been involved in the Sydney Royal Wine Show over the years. I’ve even judged there a while ago. And it is one of Australia’s preeminent wine shows, and they have a really great panel of judges and a really well respected show, so it’s a really great result to be up there,” he said.

“And the other reason I’m really happy is the other wines that were very close to us, we see them as some of Australia’s greatest sparkling wines, they’re strong competitors, and it’s nice to be in a field of really strong wines like that.”

The director explained Vintage Brut is a wine at the core of Chandon Australia’s winemaking.

“Vintage Brut is a wine that’s very close to our heart here in Chandon Australia. It’s something that we’ve made almost every year since the beginning in the 1980s,” Mr Buckle said.

“It’s a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir with a little bit of the other traditional variety, pinot meunier. It has flavours that come from chardonnay, if you think of citrus, lime and green apple, and then flavours that come from pinot noir, like strawberry and white peach as a blend, as a composition of grape varieties and different batches of wines, that’s something we look for, which is a complexity of fruit flavour and overall harmony.

“We think it’s got a lot of really lovely flavours and a really nice bubble in the mouth. So when you taste the wine, it has a sort of finesse and softness to it that makes it really delicious.”

The same wine could taste different depending on its vintage, despite being made from grapes harvested in the same vineyard.

Mr Buckle said each vintage has its own unique character.

“Primarily, the season the grapes grow in,

from November through till harvest time in March and April, has a huge influence on the flavour that the grapes have, and therefore the flavour that the wine ends up with,” he said.

“Each season has its unique weather patterns, whether that’s sunshine, heat, rain or wind, and whilst as winemakers and using fruit from similar vineyards gives us a certain degree of consistency, it’s always the weather that’s unpredictable.

“2018 was a good year, a little bit warmer, not as warm as 2016 was, but not as cool as 2017. And so it has a really nice sense of sunshine. The grapes were ripe. The weather was terrific, and

the blend came together really well.”

This year, the Sydney Royal Wine Show saw over 1500 wines assessed, with 103 gold medals awarded across five states and 23 wine regions, highlighting the exceptional calibre of wine being produced nationwide.

When asked about the secret to producing good quality wines, the Chandon Australia’s viticulture and winemaking director pointed out “attention to detail at every level”.

“It’s a big team effort, whether it’s with the guys who are just finishing pruning the vineyards now, the teams in the vineyard over summer, or

the guys in the winery making the wines, or the guys in a production area who finished the bottling and final steps of packaging,” Mr Buckle said.

“Every part of what we do is that we try to do it to the highest standard, and I think that sort of vibrant ripples through the whole of our winery, and it ends up something you can taste and feel when you hold a bottle of our wines.”

Giant Steps Wine’s 2024 Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay also won a gold medal in the Chardonnay 2025 and 2024 category.

Giant Steps Wine was contacted.

Gold too for Medhurst Wines’ 2023 Yarra River Blend

By Oliver Winn

Gruyere-based winery Medhurst Wines has won a gold medal in the coveted Sydney Royal Wine Show for its 2023 Yarra River Blend (YRB).

Announced by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW on Friday 22 August, the 2023 YRB scored 95 points in the red blends, 2023 and older category.

Medhurst Wines chief winemaker Rohan Smith was delighted to get the gold medal at a competition regarded for its tough competition.

“The Sydney Royal Wine Show is one of the premier wine shows in Australia. It’s always nice to win gold medals,” Mr Smith said.

“It’s recognition against other incredible wineries around Australia.”

“It’s incredibly competitive because you’re competing with everyone, not just people around the Yarra Valley.”

The 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show, described by Mr Smith as one of the “sternest tests that a wine can go through”, had 1551 wines assessed, 103 gold medals awarded and 28 major trophies.

Mr Smith said the 2023 YRB was a half and half Shiraz and Pinot Noir mix achieved through a process called co-fermentation.

“What that does is it gives a real lovely perfume and vibrancy to the fruit in the wine.

“So typically this wine has lovely red and blue fruits, a lovely silky tannin and a really vibrant

acidity and freshness of fruit.

“It’s a really lovely, approachable wine,” Mr Smith said.

Sydney Royal Wine Show chair of judges Mike De Luliis said this year’s Sydney Royal Wine Show was an example of the high standard in the wine industry at the moment.

“The 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show results were a testament to the incredible variety of outstanding wines that are on offer to consumers right now, whether you are looking for something to drink tonight or that special bottle that will reward you after years in the cellar.”

The red blends category held some of the

most unique and innovative wines at this year’s show, demonstrating the excellent product Medhurst had produced.

“A particularly exciting area of this year’s show were the red blend classes, where we’re seeing some fantastic new blends being made with purpose and precision.

It’s a dynamic area of the Australian wine market at the moment, and we’re seeing a rise of new and innovative players,” Mr De Luliis said.

Mr De Lullis said all of the show’s entries had “undergone rigorous assessment” which meant the award-winners were the “best of the best”.

Mr Smith agreed and said it only further validated his efforts.

“The judges in a capital city show such as [the Sydney Royal Wine Show] are absolutely the best palates going around.”

Medhurst’s 2023 YRB achieved its profile through a co-fermentation process which saw it retain the slightly tannic texture of a typical Shiraz, while also getting the “beautiful elegance and perfume” from a Pinot Noir.

Mr Smith called it a “lovely juxtaposition” of a Shiraz and a Pinot Noir.

He said Medhurst Wines would continue to produce great wine as the vineyards were kept to the best quality.

“The old adage is that great wine comes from great vineyards. That’s the most important thing.”

Innovation in care

By Callum Ludwig

A local palliative care provider has been put forward for an award recognising their attempts to innovate and develop the best possible practice in the field.

Eastern Palliative Care (EPC)’s Central Care team are nominated as a finalist for innovation in palliative care awards at the upcoming 2025 National Palliative Care Awards on 11 September.

Program development and volunteer services manager at EPC Krystal Wallis said in 2022, EPC’s Central Care Team—made up of nurses, physicians, counsellors, psychologists, social workers, and volunteers—embarked on a transformative journey.

“Over 18 months, they redesigned their entire model of care, shifting from a one-size-fits-all approach to a system that’s responsive, personalised, and sustainable, this wasn’t just a tweak, it was a complete overhaul,” she said.

“Australia is on the brink of a care crisis, according to leading demographer Bernard Salt, the country is facing a ‘tsunami of care demands’—a freight train of need driven by an ageing population,”

“By 2032, the number of Australians aged 85 and over is expected to triple, placing unprecedented pressure on palliative care services, yet funding hasn’t kept pace and community organisations like EPC are being asked to do more with less, while demand continues to rise so rather than wait for the system to catch up, EPC decided to work smarter.”

EPC is based in Mitcham, but is a free, notfor-profit, home-based palliative care provider which services the Outer East regions of Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah as well as Boroondara, Manningham, Monash and Whitehorse.

Ms Wallis said the new model of care is built around client needs, not just clinical routines, with a focus on tailored care, real-time feedback, data-driven decisions and coordinated and responsive care.

“Clients are now prioritised based on urgency and individual circumstances, those in crisis get help faster, while others have more control over how and when they engage and integrated teams, daily huddles, joint visits, new triage tools and redeployed clinicians ensure urgent needs are met quickly,” she said.

“Clients were involved from the beginning, their voices shaped the design, and their feedback continues to guide improvements, EPC now ask clients right up front what matters most to them - and care design starts from that point,”

“By analysing real-time data, the team identified key areas for improvement—like reducing waitlists, increasing psychosocial support, and shifting from reactive to preventive care.”

Other finalists up for the innovation award are Professor Jennifer Philip from the Palliative Nexus Research Group at the University of Melbourne and the Palliative Care Tasmania team.

Ms Wallis said their project didn’t just improve care—it redefined it. “It proves that innovation isn’t always about technology, sometimes, it’s about listening deeply, adapting bravely, and working together in new ways,” she said.

“EPC’s model is now being recognised as a benchmark for palliative care innovation, it’s a blueprint for how community organisations can respond to growing demand with creativity, compassion, and collaboration; even when the money doesn’t match the need,”

“Every day, the staff at EPC step into spaces that most of society prefers to avoid—supporting people at the end of life with compassion, grace, and unwavering dedication, their work is quiet,

HICCI’s commitment to helping those in need remains strong, even in the face of adversity. (File: 322983)

Federal funds on way out

After serving the Yarra Valley community for 36 years, Healesville Interchurch Community Care Inc. (HICCI) is navigating a period of significant change.

The organisation, which has long provided volunteer transport, emergency relief, and weekly community meals to residents in need, recently learned its federal government funding would end, marking the close of a partnership that spanned more than a quarter of a century.

HICCI’s roots trace back to its Emergency Relief program — its foundational effort to support those facing financial hardship.

This program has been sustained thanks to generous donations from churches, philanthropic organisations, local businesses, individuals, schools, sporting clubs, community markets, and the local council.

For over 25 years, federal government grants have further enabled HICCI to bolster its capacity, especially during challenging times such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the global financial crisis.

The recent notification that HICCI’s application for funding was unsuccessful came as a shock, leaving the organisation to reconsider how best to serve residents of Healesville, Yarra Glen, Steels Creek, Badger Creek, Dixons Creek, Castella, Toolangi, Narbethong, and Marysville.

With some traditional supporters also constrained, HICCI faces the dual challenge of reduced resources and continued — and growing — community need.

Despite these obstacles, HICCI is determined to adapt and innovate.

“We know part of our Emergency Relief Community Support program will need to pause, and things will be tough for a while,“ a spokesperson said.

powerful, and deeply human and now, it’s being recognised for something extraordinary; innovation.”

EPC’s fourth annual ‘Pound the Pavement 4 EPC’ fundraising event held at Lillydale Lake is also coming up on Sunday 12 October, with a goal of $40,000. Anyone interested can find out more at epcvic.org.au/events/event/pound-thepavement-4-epc.1010.

“EPC is proud of its team—not just for the care they provide, but for the courage to rethink how that care is delivered, in a time when community palliative care services across Victoria are stretched thin, EPC has taken bold steps to ensure that the most vulnerable receive the right support, at the right time, in the right way.”

The winners will be announced as part of the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference held from 10-12 September 2025 in Brisbane.

Palliative Care Australia’s chief executive Camilla Rowland, said the winners of eight award categories would be announced at a ceremony in Brisbane on Thursday 11 September hosted by comedy great, and palliative care advocate, Jean Kittson.

“The National Palliative Care Awards are one of the ways we can shine a light on the dedication and compassion of people across Australia who care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and the families and communities that surround them,” she said. “The award finalists are changemakers that have worked with their teams to deliver exceptional care and advocate for people at the most vulnerable moment in their lives.”

There are 24 finalists of the awards across eight categories: Emerging Leader, Emerging Researcher, Outstanding Achievement (individual, team, volunteer or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sub-categories), Innovation and Lifetime Achievement Award.

“But we also know there are new ways to succeed. This change is an opportunity for us to rethink, renew, and continue to provide vital support to our community.“

HICCI is already taking steps toward renewal.

With a smaller pool of resources and the help of its generous network of supporters, the organisation has launched a refreshed pantry initiative, the ’Community Grocer’.

This program aims to provide a greater selection of groceries, including fresh fruit and vegetables, to anyone who needs a pantry top-up, helping stretch household budgets further. Money saved on groceries can be redirected to paying bills, making this an efficient form of assistance for those struggling financially.

Beginning 1 October, the HICCI office will also serve as a hub for access to services such as Centrelink, counseling, and community support referrals throughout the week.

Agencies and organisations will be hosted on-site, with a timetable of services available on the HICCI website (hicci.org.au).

As HICCI embarks on this new chapter, the organisation remains grateful for the support that has sustained its work and optimistic about the possibilities ahead.

“Our story is still being written, shaped by the dedication of our team, the generosity of our supporters, and the enduring spirit of our community,“ the spokesperson added.

Residents seeking assistance or wishing to support HICCI can find more information by contacting the office or visiting the website.

The organisation’s commitment to helping those in need remains strong — even in the face of adversity.

Green thumbs unite

By Oliver Winn

A partnership between conservation groups has seen 1200 plants planted at a community planting day at the Murrummong Vineyard in Gruyere.

Led by Regenerating Farms and supported by Yarra Valley ECOSS, the community planting day took place on 24 August and ended with a barbecue.

Under sunny conditions, 30 people from all walks of life rocked up to the 600 acre property to help establish a nature pathway between the Yarra River and the Murrummong Vineyard.

Regenerating Farms co-founder and director Thomas Kennett said those who attended left the event with a positive experience.

“Being there with friends out in the sun and seeing what a group of people can do together is something that people seem to really connect with.

“Even just getting your hands dirty and planting trees that are part of a wider plan… is something that people generally just really like to participate in,” Mr Kennett said.

Participants planted indigenous species to restore biodiversity, support threatened species, and improve the health of surrounding rivers and farmland.

The area chosen for the planting day was identified through a land stewardship plan for the Murrummong Vineyard, which Mr Kennett said investigated how the landowner can protect and preserve the local environment while maximising its farming potential.

“The farm is very interconnected with its local environmental systems, and even more broadly, the catchment. So a land stewardship plan aims to understand those nuances around your environments that are on the farm and beyond, and then also how that integrates with the farming enterprise on that particular property,” Mr Kennett said.

Not only would the planted pathway benefit local biodiversity, it also provided unique benefits to the vineyard.

“It’s also going to act as a native insectary,

so it’s going to attract beneficial insects to help with the management of the vineyard.”

Yarra Valley ECOSS seeded the 1200 plants and supplied them to Regenerating Farms for the day - though this only represented one link in a large web of mutually beneficial relationships.

It starts with Yarra4Life’s Yering Gorge to Yarra Junction Integrated Management Catchment Project, which aims to address threats to the overall health of the Yarra Valley catchment. Regenerating Farms identified areas for revegetation through the land stewardship plans, and then ECOSS provided the plants for the

planting day.

The chain of partnership was finalised as the Yarra Ranges Council’s Ribbons of Green project funded the plants.

The Ribbons of Green project provides native plants to private properties, schools, and community groups within the Yarra Ranges, and it aims to plant 60,000 plants annually to support new green corridors on private land to connect existing habitats.

“It was quite a collaborative process between Ribbons of Green and the Yarra Ranges Council, Melbourne Water, Yarra4Life and ECOSS,” Mr Kennett said.

Mr Kennett said the opportunity to support the environment while contributing to the community was a privilege.

“It’s a community-led activity that results in a whole range of environmental, social and farming outcomes. It becomes this naturally reinforcing and very positive activity that I feel very fortunate to be able to be a part of and help facilitate.

“Coming together as one to achieve environmental outcomes is just a very powerful activity to be a part of.”

Yarra Junction Primary School gets creative for Book Week

By Oliver Winn

Yarra Junction Primary School (YJPS) showed off its love for literature during Book Week last week, where students met local authors, studied novels and dressed up as their favourite characters.

Bookending the week’s celebrations on Monday 25 August was the Book Week Parade which saw the entire school dress up as their favourite characters from the books they love.

YJPS principal Lisa Rankin said most of the school’s students and teachers dressed up in some truly creative and interesting outfits.

“We would have had probably 99 per cent of them all dressed up as well, which I think is a good sign of a school when preps through to year six all get into it.”

Students dressed up as a variety of classic characters from children’s literature: Fred Flintstone made an appearance (along with his famous car), Robin Hood was seen dashing about, plenty of Disney princesses dazzled and a couple of Harry Potter’s also turned up on the day.

But Ms Rankin said there were some out-ofthe-box dress ups too.

“Some of the kids have been really into their footy and footy card books. So they were creative and made themselves into either AFL football card books or the actual cards.

“It was pretty impressive,” Ms Rankin said.

While the dress ups drew laughs and smiles from everyone on the day, Ms Rankin said the engagement from the students pointed towards a growing enthusiasm for reading.

“Some of our students who embrace… dressing up as the footy cards and things like that, it makes that authentic link between things that you really love, and reading as well.

Book Week began on Monday 18 August and local Dandenong Ranges authors Gina and Derek Braidner visited to discuss their new book, Puffing Billy, the Gift of the Forest.

Students not only studied the novels they were reading but also realised their own inner-author and storyteller through creative writing exercises, completing the “whole literary circle”.

“They celebrated that they were also authors, doing their writing pieces in different year levels and really building that connection between reading and writing, and [then] writing and reading,” Ms Rankin said.

The preps focused on farms as a theme for their writing, while the junior school examined Egypt.

Middle school students wrote about endangered species and the senior school flexed their literary muscles through works of gothic fiction.

“Having those themes each term is making our young students as authors unbelievable - the language that they’re using is really incredible and it’s something we’re super proud of at YJ.”

Ms Rankin said the idea of having the Book Week Parade on the last day of celebrations was to sow the seed in the students’ heads and build hype for the big day.

“So we build on that, and then we do our celebration day at the end, so that the kids have all had every opportunity to be able to get their costume ready and be immersed in that.”

Ms Rankin said Book Week ultimately highlighted both the joys of literature, and its utmost importance in the students’ ability to learn, think, express themselves and connect with others.

“You don’t have to be reading a novel. Whether it’s the newspaper or a magazine or a football card book, all of that is literature and all of that is vitally important for them and their lifelong skills as well.

“I think it means that it just opens the doors to everybody.”

Celebrating our local sips

Healesville Sanctuary once again became a venue for local drinks to connect with a wider audience over the weekend of 30-31 August. The local zoo collaborated with 22 Yarra Valley wineries, breweries and distilleries, bringing their cellar doors on-site.

In its 13th year, Wine and Wildlife marked another huge success, contributing to local tourism and the economy, as well as Healesville Sanctuary’s work in caring for wildlife and its resident animals. Check out photos of the event taken by Star Mail journalist Dongyun Kwon.

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Kids’ safety crucial

The safety of our children should always be our top priority.

There are so many families and communities that have been deeply impacted by horrific incidents recently that children in Victorian childcare centres have been subject to instances of unspeakable alleged abuse.

This shocking exposure has affected us all, whether you have a child in childcare or not, it has made us question what protection systems are in place to keep our children safe within care.

It has made us question the credibility of the Working With Children Check (WWCC) process.

It has made us question what the state government is doing to make sure these terrible circumstances do not happen again.

Unfortunately, many of these questions remain unanswered as the Allan Labor Government has still failed to act and implement recommendations made in September 2022, when the Ombudsman found Victoria had one of weakest systems in Australia.

These commonsense reforms from the Ombudsman should be legislated as a matter of urgency.

The state of

affairs

Cindy McLeish MP Member for Eildon

Instead under Labor there remains loopholes within a system that continues to catastrophically fail Victorian children on their watch.

While the government did nothing, the worst thing that could happen happened.

Children were abused by a childcare worker, with a WWCC who was charged with more than 70 offences.

Another associated person holding a valid WWCC was charged after being in possession of child abuse material.

Being caught out now, the state government last week rushed headfirst to introduce legisla-

tion – and they have not got it all right.

Loopholes remain, and the Ombudsman recommendations are yet to be introduced.

This bill takes only minor steps to improve the operation of the working with children check system.

It also fails to implement the recommendation from the state government’s own rapid review into child safety.

This is just not good enough.

Three weeks ago, the Coalition put a bill before Parliament to address all the Ombudsman concerns which was voted down by Labor.

Again, last week, the Labor Government, together with the Greens, the Animal Justice Party, Legalise Cannabis Victoria, and the Libertarian Party voted down new laws brought forward by the Liberals and Nationals to fully implement recommendations made by the Victorian Ombudsman to fix our broken Working With Children Check (WWCC) system.

This is the second time in a month Labor has voted down laws that would keep children safe.

The government continues to let children down, and they should be ashamed.

Fun but a bit flimsy

3.5/5

The second solo film from Ethan Coen (half of the iconic Coen Brothers duo), Honey Don’t is fun but flimsy and not as good as Ethan’s prior film Drive-Away Dolls.

Small-town private investigator Honey O’Donaghue (Margaret Qualley) investigates a suspicious traffic fatality with a link to a local cult.

Honey Don’t is beautifully shot, the witty dialogue gave me frequent chuckles, and Qualley’s endless charm and allure, along with her anachronistic noir dame style, smooth over Honey’s lack of depth.

Honey begins a steamy relationship with MG Falcone (Aubrey Plaza), a sardonic policewoman, and as with Drive-Away Dolls, the sex scenes are hot but not exaggerated for the male gaze.

Unlike Drive-Away Dolls, their relationship lacks the friction that made Jamie and Marion’s relationship so engaging.

Honey Don’t is overall low-energy and lacking in urgency.

While I tend to enjoy slow, character-rich slice-of-life films like this, the sparse pacing and loosely-connected plot-threads will bore some viewers to tears (that is, until the jarring climax).

Chris Evans is highly entertaining as cult leader Reverend Devlin (this and Materialists feature two of the best performances of Evans’ career), but his role in the plot is less a red herring and more a red seafood buffet. “B-movie” is not a bad word in my house: Primitive War, released last week to a criminally low number of sessions and cinemas despite the winning premise of “Vietnam War with dinosaurs”, is a bold-faced B-movie and it’s awesome.

Honey Don’t is the second film in Ethan’s planned ‘lesbian B-movie trilogy’, and in this case it feels like “B-movie” gave Ethan and his wife and co-writer Tricia Cooke a license to not try very hard.

Honey Don’t is a witty, sexy but slack and insubstantial film playing in select Victorian cinemas.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

The Love Contract, by Australian author Steph Vizard, is the winner of the 2022 Banjo Prize.

The romantic comedy stars 35-year-old Zoe, who is “amazing, beautiful, smart, fun”.

She wants a baby, but none of the men she dates seems to like the idea.

So Zoe has a baby through IVF and everything’s been going according to plan – until a childcare drought prevents her from returning to work.

Desperate, she strikes a deal with her nemesis and neighbour Will, a lawyer eager to make partner in his law firm.

The deal is mutually beneficial.

On the one hand, pretending to be the father of Zoe’s baby allows Will to take parental leave, a move that enhances the law firm’s progressive outlook while making workaholic Will appear more downto-earth and relatable.

On the other hand, having a babysitter for three days each week allows Zoe to work and make a living.

It also gives her time to find a trustworthy and affordable childcare centre, which is increasingly rare. It’s rather predictable that Zoe and Will become attracted to each other – the enemies-to-lovers trope.

However, the author’s ambition is clear as she explores various social and cultural issues through wit and humour.

To start with, there’s relentless pressure for

people to perform at work, for them to maintain productivity and efficiency at all costs, while prioritising corporate success over individual welfare and subjective well-being.

Equally overwhelming are societal, cultural and even familial expectations for young people to be ambitious and preserving, to “hang in there” and “never say die”, while measuring their success by academic performance, athletic distinction, financial wealth, and/or social prestige.

Most significantly, Vizard sheds light on motherhood.

Through the eyes of her female characters, we see matrescence – the process of becoming a mother – as being not just physical and emotional but also involving considerable social and cultural shifts.

Zoe and her older sister Camille try their best to be resilient and independent for their respective families, but no one can juggle their multiple responsibilities as spouse and parent flawlessly while managing a successful career.

It’s OK to let others share some of life’s burdens.

Meanwhile, Zoe’s best friend Sofia learns the precious lesson that motherhood doesn’t come naturally and easily.

Rather, it’s a mental and psychological construct, and it takes time to adjust and adapt to such fundamental and momentous change.

Vizard tackles the widespread “perfect mother myth”, where women “naturally” believe they should take things in their stride while internalising their anger, frustration and helplessness, for fear that they would come across as “bad mothers” otherwise.

Indeed, The Love Contract gives us a unique set of strong female characters who are complex and somehow flawed, and yet are intelligent and competent as to recognise their own vulnerabilities and accept help when they need it.

ARCHITECTURAL BRILLIANCE MEETS LIFESTYLE LUXURY

ARCHITECTURAL BRILLIANCE MEETS LIFESTYLE LUXURY - A ONE OF A KIND DESIGNER HOME

A true architectural masterpiece that combines bold design, exceptional craftsmanship and luxury finishes, this bespoke residence is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Nestled on a fully landscaped half-acre (approx.) allotment, this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home plus an additional fully selfcontained 1-bedroom retreat/apartment is a triumph of modern living and creative vision.

From the moment you arrive, the home demands attention – a remote sliding gate opens to a stunning façade featuring clean architectural lines, an oversized custom front door, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the interior with natural light while framing panoramic views of the lush, established gardens that surround.

Inside, soaring ceilings and the warmth of spotted gum timber floors create a welcoming sense of scale and style. Every element has been meticulously considered, from double-glazed windows throughout to custom cabinetry, recycled timbers, and premium materials at every turn.

The showstopping kitchen is a chef’s dream with an enormous island bench, Caesarstone benchtops, smoked mirrored glass splashback, an in-bench range hood with induction cooktop, Miele dishwasher, a wood heater and inbuilt gas log fire – all seamlessly integrated into the central living zone with direct flow to outdoor entertaining.

Two very spacious and separately zoned living areas plus a dedicated study provide flexibility for families, professionals or creatives seeking room to work, rest and play. Zoned heating and cooling ensure year-round comfort, while solar hot water with a gas booster enhances efficiency.

The expansive master suite is a true sanctuary, complete with a remote-controlled blind, garden views and ample storage. Each remaining bedroom is generously sized and filled with natural light.

Outside, the property continues to impress with a double garage, large high-clearance shed featuring mezzanine storage, 3-phase power – ideal for trades, hobbyists or home businesses – and the bonus of a separate 1-bedroom self-contained apartment/retreat with its own ensuite.

At a Glance:

• Architecturally designed and masterfully built 4 spacious bedrooms + study | 2 luxury bathrooms

• Separate 1-bedroom retreat/apartment with ensuite

• 2 expansive, zoned living areas

Soaring ceilings & floor-to-ceiling windows

• Spotted gum flooring, recycled timber, custom finishes Caesarstone kitchen with Miele appliances & induction cooking

• Double glazing throughout | Gas log fire | Zoned heating & cooling | Wood

• Remote sliding gate | Fully fenced

• Double garage + high-clearance

HOME FOCUS TRANQUIL COUNTRY LIVING

PERFECTLY positioned at the end of a quiet no-through road, this spacious family home offers the peaceful country lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of. Set on over 5 acres of leafy surrounds, this well-designed residence provides a blend of comfort, space, and flexibility for growing families or multigenerational living.

At the heart of the home is the beautifully updated kitchen, ideal for the home chef. It features a walk-in pantry, a 900mm stainless steel freestanding oven with gas cooktop, a dishwasher, and plenty of bench space— perfect for entertaining. The adjoining dining area, complete with a cozy woodfire heater, flows seamlessly to a large, covered decked entertaining area—perfect for hosting family and friends year-round. There is a spacious lounge room with split system heating and cooling for relaxed living.

Accommodation includes four bedrooms, the master suite enjoys leafy views and features a walk-through robe and a private ensuite. The remaining bedrooms are serviced by a central family bathroom. The fourth bedroom or home office, offers excellent flexibility—ideal for a guest wing, teenage retreat, or extended family accommodation— with its own external access and under-roof connection to the oversized four-car garage. Above the garage is a huge rumpus room, complete with a Coonara wood heater and split system, offering a fantastic space for a games room, studio, or additional living area. Recently refreshed with new carpets and a fresh coat of paint, this home is ready for you to move in and enjoy immediately.

HOME ESSENTIALS

Outside, there is an abundance of shedding for all the toys and tools including the fourcar garage under roofline, a separate farm shed and other useful sundry shedding. The

balance of the property is a nature lovers dream, there is a dam surrounded by lovely natural bush that attracts an abundance of wildlife including but not limited to wallaby’s,

Address: 71 Marks Lane, EMERALD Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, 4 garage Price: $1,100,000 - $1,200,000 Inspect: By appointment

Contact: Justin Barrot 0438 683 781, BARRY PLANT EMERALD, 5968 4522

HOME FOCUS

SPACIOUS LIVING ON OVER 3 ACRES

NESTLED on just over 3 acres of highly sought after land, this immaculately presented home enjoys a peaceful and private setting surrounded by picturesque farmland. Offering a seamless blend of comfort, generous proportions, and exceptional functionality both inside and out, this property promises a relaxed lifestyle with space to grow and entertain.

Thoughtfully designed with a spacious and flexible floorplan, the home features multiple living zones ideal for families of all sizes. Step inside to discover a large formal living and dining area, great for hosting guests or unwinding in elegant comfort. The home’s four bedrooms are all appointed with built-in robes and while the privately positioned master suite at the rear offers a tranquil retreat, complete with a walk-in robe and stylish ensuite.

The expansive kitchen showcases a contemporary design with neutral tones, generous bench space, and an abundance of cupboards, a dream setup for the home chef.

Comfort is assured year round with a combination of split system air conditioning, evaporative cooling, and a cozy wood fire, catering to every season.

The inclusion of internal garage access adds versatility, providing the opportunity to create a home office space. A separate rumpus room enhances the home’s appeal further, offering a fantastic space for children, guests, or family movie nights.

Outdoors, the property continues to impress. A substantial carport and a separate powered garage with a concrete floor provide ample storage, workspace, or parking for trades, hobbyists, or those with larger vehicles and caravans. The wide horseshoe driveway ensures easy access and plenty of off street parking.

Whether you’re sipping your morning coffee on the verandah or taking in the sweeping rural views, you’ll enjoy the serenity and privacy that only a Yarra Valley lifestyle can offer all while remaining conveniently close to town amenities.

This is a rare opportunity to secure a slice of country paradise with all the comforts of modern living.

SuperNeat– Renovated& ReadytoEnjoy!

Thischarminglittlegemistheidealmatchforanyoneseekinga lowmaintenance,cosylifestyle in abeautifullyrenovatedhome.Stepinsidetodiscover atastefullyupdatedinterior,featuringa beautifullyappointedkitchenwithgascooktop,amplestorage,andplentyofspace.Offeringtwo bedrooms,includinga generousmastercompletewith abuiltinrobe.Outside,thefullyfenced backyardis atruehaven.Withmultipleshedstopotterinand asinglecarportplusextraparkingat thefront,thisisa greatpackageat asuperaffordableprice.

RebeccaDoolan M 0401832068

3314WarburtonHighway,Warburton $600,000

CharmingHomein aSensationalLocation

Aqualityhomeanda veryspecialWarburtonproperty,thisbeautifulhomeistheidealplaceto secureyoulittlepieceofWarburton.Theclassicweatherboardhomeisverywellpresented,well maintainedandlovedandcaredforforyears.Offering 2bedroomsplusa separatebungalowideal forthe B&Bortheextraweekendguests.Thelounge/familyroomisjustthespottositbackrelaxand enjoythecolourfulviewsandsurrounds.Ideallysituated,it’sa greatplacetocallhome.

DavidCarroll M 0419539320

27.7AcresofPrimeLand– RareOpportunitywithSpectacularViews

ThisstunningparceloflandofferssweepingpanoramicviewsacrosstheWarburtontownshipand beyond.Comprisingofthreeseparatetitles,severalopenpaddocksidealforgrazinghorsesorcattle, thepositioncreates apicturesquesettingidealforthoseseekingprivacy,lifestyle,orinvestment.With waterandelectricityalreadyconnected,thegroundworkislaidforyoutobringyourvisiontolife whetheritbea dreamhome,eco-retreat,or astrategicinvestmentinoneofthemostsoughtafter destinationsintheYarraValley.

Weareexcitedtoofferforleasethisperfectlypositionedcommercialspace,situatedwithexcellent exposureandsurroundedbyestablishedbusinesses.OfferingprominentWarburtonHwyfrontage alongwithexcellentcarparkingfacilitieswillseeyourbusinessflourish.The115sqmspaceincludes akitchenettetothefrontarea;perfectidealfor acaféorcoffeeshop,aswellas aseparatetoilet/ powderroom,smallsecondsinkinthereararea,twosplitsystemunits– oneatthefrontandoneat therear,rearandfrontaccessplusmuchmore.+PleasenoteallpricesareplusGSTandOutgoings.

AliceDavies M 59671277 Inspection:

WellPresentedHomeina PeacefulLocation

Proudlypositionedonthehighsideofthestreet,thiswellpresentedhomeenjoys aquietlocation with alovelymountainoutlook.Fullyfencedatthefrontwitha highcolourbondfence,thehome featurespolishedtimberfloorsandhasbeenfreshlypainted,makingitmoveinready.Inside,three generouslysizedbedrooms, abeautifullyrenovatedbathroom,and aspaciousupdatedkitchenwith amplestorageandtastefulfinishes.Justa shortwalktotheYarrariver,walkingtracksandshops,an idealfirsthomeora qualityinvestment,don’tmissyourchancetosecurethisone!

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STYLISHLY RENOVATED HILLS RETREAT

MOVE in and relax, enjoying this well renovated home, nestled in the heart of Belgrave. Set on a generous ¼ acre block, this move in ready home offers the perfect blend of modern comfort, timeless style and an unbeatable lifestyle location.

Positioned within a short distance to Belgrave Football Oval, Belgrave Outdoor Pool, Birdsland Reserve, local schools and both bus and train transport, this property has the very best of the Dandenong Ranges at its doorstep.

Behind its classic brick façade, you’ll discover a thoughtfully landscaped setting with a sealed driveway, easy parking, new retaining walls and a tiered lawn area that is perfect for soaking in the surrounding treetop views.

Inside, a sunlit and open-plan living/dining area awaits, showcasing wide board flooring and full-height windows that seamlessly flow onto the entertainer’s deck with steel balustrade — ideal for indoor-outdoor living. At the heart of the home is a striking designer kitchen, complete with stone benchtops, Bosch oven, Omega induction cooktop and quality dishwasher. An inviting island bench offers the perfect spot to chat with friends and enjoy an afternoon coffee whilst staring out over the nearby valley.

Three spacious bedrooms offer space and comfort, each fitted with built-in robes, large windows, quality blinds and premium loop carpet. The sleek main bathroom features a floating vanity, a walk-in rain shower and calming leafy outlooks, while the separate laundry includes a convenient guest powder room.

Additional highlights include:

• Central gas heating

• Clever orientation to capture cool valley breezes

Vast under-house storage

Off-street parking

Sealed driveway

This home is a flawless fusion of lifestyle and location, making it an ideal choice for families, professionals, or downsizers looking to embrace the natural beauty and vibrant community of the Hills.

RUSTIC CHARM, MODERN COMFORT – A UNIQUE GEMBROOK RETREAT ON 3.4 ACRES

NESTLED amid established gardens, lawns and native bushland, this enchanting lifestyle property offers a rare opportunity to secure a multi-dwelling estate just moments from the heart of Gembrook. With three distinct mudbrick buildings and a host of charming features throughout, this is a place where creativity, comfort, and connection thrive.

Main Residence:

Beautifully updated, the main home centres around a stunning open-plan kitchen with stone benchtops, quality appliances, a spacious butler’s pantry, and excellent storage. Overlooking the large living area, this inviting space brings family and friends together with ease and warmth.

The cozy lounge is warmed by a solid fuel fireplace and enjoys picturesque views from every window, inviting natural light to stream in and highlight the home’s natural features. Three well-proportioned bedrooms and a fully renovated bathroom complete the space, with thoughtful touches throughout for warmth and efficiency.

The Chalet:

Brimming with rustic charm and vintage appeal, this two-bedroom character-filled retreat is ideal for extended family, guest accommodation, or B&B use.

Downstairs, you’ll find a spacious living area with beautiful garden views, warmed by a wood fire and kept comfortable year-round with a split system. The bathroom on this level features brass fixtures, and a timeless style that blends effortlessly with the home’s country aesthetic.

Upstairs, the second living zone offers flexibility for relaxation or entertaining, while the charming country-style kitchen includes timber cabinetry, a freestanding oven, ample storage, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Two light-filled bedrooms complete the dwelling.

The Studio:

This unique two-level space is a true creative sanctuary. Featuring soaring vaulted ceilings, rich Chestnut timber stairs, and colourful stained-glass windows, it offers the perfect environment for an artist’s studio, peaceful retreat, inspiring home office, or versatile rumpus room.

The Land:

Beautifully landscaped with a variety of thoughtfully selected trees and shrubs, the gardens offer a tranquil blend of open lawns, meandering paths, and secluded nooks. There’s plenty of wide, open space for children and animals to play freely, making this a true lifestyle property where nature, family, and relaxation all come together.

Whether you’re seeking a peaceful family sanctuary, a unique work-from-home setup, or an income-generating retreat, this captivating estate delivers a truly special opportunity in one of the hills’ most picturesque townships— close to Gembrook’s cafes, restaurants, school, kindergarten, supermarket, and friendly community. ●

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.

Fume (6)

More exciting; more fragrant (7)

Jelly sweet (7)

Sense of self importance (3)

Jumble (8)

Cheapskate (5)

Milk fat (5)

Practicable (8) 22 Website address (1,1,1)

Responsiveness (11)

Enclose (7)

Commentators (7)

Barren (8)

Hamper (6)

Sibling (abbr) (3)

Moxie (5)

Indecorum (11)

Concerned (11)

15 Dope (9)

17 Sponsor (9)

18 Astrological belt (6)

21 Overrun (6)

23 Centre (5)

25 Colloquialism (5)

28 Litigate (3)

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used

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

Medical episode on golf course

By Ron Hottes

The V.V.Vs:

Well, loyal readers, our Monday morning girls can’t take a trick.

The field on this day, was progressing steadily through the front nine, when a serious medical episode occurred in a group of men immediately in front.

The incident was serious enough to need urgent medical aid, meaning the girls ended up moving away from the incident, to finish their round by playing a few back nine holes.

At this stage no update has been provided on the condition of the unwell member, but of course, the thoughts of all of our club members are with the gentleman involved.

We wish him all the best.

Wednesday 27 August - Stableford:

Under cloudy, and at times, wet skies, those conditions were always going to affect scores generally.

But, the least affected member in the smallish field was Josh Hin, who took home the top voucher, by posting a superb 39 hard won points.

Captain Whitehead grabbed the runner up prize with a creditable 35 points.

In a first for our club competition, the ball rundown reached down to 26.

Also, in an unusual way, Steuart Hawke grabbed not one, nor two, but three NTPs, with great tee shots on the fifth, ninth and 12th holes. Terrific shooting, Steuart.

The other two available NTPs were taken home by Tim Jones (third) and Ian Garside (15th).

Saturday 30 August - 4BBB Stableford:

After a soggy week on the course, the final official

winter comp was won by high profile mates, Paul Osbourne and Peter Whitehead.

The “Captain“ and “Ossie“ returned a very creditable 45 points in pretty tough conditions.

Their teamwork was as harmonious as the equally famous Captain and Tennille. The runner ups on the day were Tim Jones and Robert Mills,

with 43 points posted - although this was won on a countback.

Balls reached down to 37, a surprisingly low result.

There were four NTPs won, they going to Dale Horrobin (third), Ossie (ninth), Lee Creedy (12th) and finally to Rob Mills (15th).

Horse talk

By Anita Prowse

Not the greatest weather for three days of jumping at Shirley Heights EC over the weekend, however, it had some great rounds on brilliantly designed courses, and David Sheppherd made the trip back to the Valley to remind us all of his expertise.

The winners for this week were:

■Open 80 Ashley Fitzclarence on Quail Hollow.

■Pony 80 - Joshua Harvey on Tally Ho Primrose.

■Open 90 - Jules Fulkerson on Voltaren. ■Pony 90 - Chloe Fulkerson on Matuvu Pixie.

■Open 1m - Jules Fulkerson on Voltaren.

■ Open 1.10m - Tanner Robinson on Morrfield Gloria.

■Open 1.20 - Chloe Fulkerson on Vienne.

■ Open 85 - Amelia Terrill on Redcliffs Guns and Roses, Amelia also won the Jackpot.

■ Pony 85 - Joshua Harvey on Tally Ho Primrose, Joshua also won the Jackpot.

■ Open 95 - Amelia Terrill on Redcliffs Guns and Roses, Amelia also won the Jackpot.

■Open 1.04 - Gabrielle Kelly on Californium.

■ Open 1.15 - Gabrielle Kelly on Californium Jackpot winner was Courtney Harris on Glenhill Bounce.

■ Open1.25-CourtneyHarrisonGlenhillBounce Well done everyone, and fingers crossed for some more spring weather.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO REVIEW ROAD MANAGEMENT PLAN

In accordance with the Road Management Act 2004 and the Road Management (General) Regulations 2016, Yarra Ranges Council (Council) gives notice that it has completed its review of its Road Management Plan. As a result of that review, Council has decided that it will amend its Road Management Plan by improving readability and refining inspection frequencies and interventions on civil infrastructure assets.

A copy of the proposed amended Road Management Plan can be inspected at or obtained from Council’s Civic Centre at 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale 3140. It is also available on Council’s online community engagement platform at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au. The proposed amended Road Management Plan will be available from 27 August 2025.

Any person who is aggrieved by the proposed amended Road Management Plan may make a submission on the proposed amendments by 24 September 2025

Submissions must be in writing and addressed to the Manager Infrastructure Services via email mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or PO Box 105, LILYDALE, Victoria 3140.

Narbethong VIC 3778 (M1485 Mt Dom Dom)

2.In summary, this upgrade will comprise of: Removal of three (3) existing antennas, installation of three (3) new antennas, installation of one (1) temporary antenna to be used during construction, and installation and relocation of ancillary equipment.

3.We invite you to provide your feedback or request further information by contacting us at: at Wannan Bao, Indara, 02 9495 9000, community@indara.com or Level 1, 110 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065. We will accept submissions until 5pm on Thursday 18th September 2025.

4.For more information, please visit www.rfnsa.com.au/3778002.

Representing Australia

By Oliver Winn

Warburton local and barefoot waterskier Glenn Porter is heading to France to compete in the World Masters Barefoot Championships in September.

He will represent Australia against barefoot waterskiers from across the globe at the 2025 World Masters Barefoot Championships which kicks off in Chartres in France on 7 September.

The highly decorated waterskier, who just came out of a hip replacement 16 weeks ago, said he expected to have some nerves prior to the competition.

“There’s always nerves and I think it’s healthy to have nerves,” Mr Porter said.

An accident saw Mr Porter getting a hip replacement, which “caused a lot of chaos” for the 53-year-old.

“I’d just come off the back of a Victorian state team ready to go for these world titles and I had to have my hip replaced. So I’ve had such a challenging last couple of years personally.”

“I had to learn how to re-walk again… so I haven’t been able to water ski.”

But he remained steadfast in his attitude towards the championships - a result of the mindset he developed over his time as a barefoot waterskier.

“It provides me with that mindset to sort of say, ‘life is not that easy. Life can be very difficult.’”

“I’ve always had barefooting and water skiing in my life which has enabled me to have that character to rise above it.”

Barefoot waterskiing is the sport of waterskiing without the skis with competitors able to compete in trick, slalom or jumping events. Without skis, barefooters have to travel faster in order to be able to stay upright, usually around the 50 to 70km/h range depending on their weight.

“I’ve had very little on-water training time, but I’ve been on the mountain bike, riding the mountain,” he said.

“I’m actually physically, as a 53-year-old, probably the best condition since 2023 since I competed in Texas.”

Most waterski sites are custom built like the one in France - however, since Mr Porter lives

Though he hasn’t done any waterskiing since his injury, he has been riding his mountain bike at the new Warburton Bike Park to keep his fitness up.

in Warburton, he bounces between Lilydale and Geelong to get access to places to train.

“The Geelong Waterski Club is probably one of best ski clubs in Australia on the Barwon River and has produced many world champions including probably the greatest skier of all-time skier Jacinta Carroll who is a five-time world jump champion and five-time world record holder,” he said.

Mr Porter’s list of accolades includes the

world Open Men’s

and having been

two times as Men’s National Champion. The World Masters Barefoot Championships will take place on the private lake of Saint Prest, also known as “Étang du Gorget” near Chartres in France.

Olinda-Ferny Creek and Monbulk rise in premier football finals

By Armin Richter

Football

Premier Division (Finals Week 1)

Seniors: QF Olinda-Ferny Creek 14.7.91 def Woori Yallock 12.15.87; EF Monbulk 13.19.97 def Healesville 10.4.64

Reserves: QF Mt. Evelyn 7.10.52 def Officer 6.5.41; EF Wandin 11.6.72 def Monbulk 10.9.69 Under 18: QF Officer 5.9.39 def Wandin 4.4.28; EF Olinda-Ferny Creek 2.9.21 def Healesville 1.4.10 Division 1 (Finals Week 2) Seniors: 2SF Seville 19.12.126 def WarburtonMillgrove 9.8.62; 1SF Pakenham 15.9.99 def Alexandra 12.8.80

Reserves: 2SF Alexandra 10.13.73 def Pakenham 6.7.43; 1SF Seville 6.10.46 def Warburton-Millgrove 2.10.22

Under 18: 2SF Pakenham 11.16.82 def Seville 4.4.28; 1SF Yarra Glen 7.15.57 def Warburton-Millgrove 2.9.21

Netball

Premier Division (Finals Week 1)

A Grade: QF Wandin 65 def Monbulk 47; EF Emerald 47 def Woori Yallock 46

B Grade: QF Mt. Evelyn 49 def Wandin 44; EF Monbulk 61 def Woori Yallock 59

C Grade: QF Wandin 38 def ROC 30; EF Gembrook-Cockatoo 35 def Emerald 28

D Grade: QF Monbulk 27 def ROC 20; EF Wandin 29 def Woori Yallock 24

Under 17: QF Mt. Evelyn 29 def ROC White 24; EF Woori Yallock 47 def Wandin 23 Under 15: QF Monbulk Maroon 23 def Pakenham Maroon 16; EF Monbulk Gold 33 def ROC White 19

Division 1 (Finals Week 2)

A Grade: 2SF Seville 47 def Pakenham 38; 1SF Warburton-Millgrove 50 def Yarra Glen 37

B Grade: 2SF Seville 41 def Pakenham 34; 1SF Warburton-Millgrove 53 def Yarra Glen

38 C Grade: 2SF Pakenham 48 def Seville 39; 1SF Warburton-Millgrove 34 def Yarra Glen 30

D Grade: 2SF Seville 30 def Pakenham 24; 1SF Warburton-Millgrove 33 def Yarra Glen 21

Warburton bowls is back

By Garry Lewis

The Warburton Bowls Club is eagerly looking forward to the start of the 2025/2026 Summer Pennant Season with training commencing this Thursday 4 September from 4.30pm.

With several new and returning members, the club is looking forward to an exciting season.

Any beginners of all ages, who may be interested in taking up the game of bowls, are encouraged to come along to Pennant Training each Thursday or Social Bowls each Monday from 12 midday.

Free coaching is available. For more information contact Damian on 0419 375 065.

The Pennant Season commences on 25 October with the club having two Weekend Pennant Teams, Division Two and Five, playing on Saturdays and one Midweek Team, in Division Two, playing on Tuesdays.

An Open Day is being held at the club on Sunday 21 September from 11am to 2pm for any people interested in finding out more about the club and the game of bowls.

A free sausage sizzle will be held with many fun barefoot bowls games and activities throughout the afternoon.

Bowling arm demonstrations will also be held.

Families and people of all ages are encouraged to attend this highly enjoyable event.

One of the club’s members, Travis Appleton, participated in the Lilydale Bowls Club John Snell Club Triples Championship on Sunday with his son and new Burras Member, Lawson, and another young club member, April.

All funds raised from the event go towards the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, “Fly for the Kids”.

The event first started about five years ago with a Charity Day to help raise funds for Lawson who was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Since then, it has broadened to support this worthwhile foundation.

On Sunday, Lawson was able to bowl in his first official game and his parents donated money towards the fundraising event.

The popular Bingo Night’s will be held on Wednesdays from 6.30pm during October with many fun and enjoyable bingo games “with a difference”, including music bingo.

The Barefoot Bowls Jack Attack Triples Competition will commence on Wednesday 5 November from 6.45pm.

This competition is mainly for beginners and new bowlers and interested people are encouraged to contact Glenys on 0473 653 137 to find out more details and enter a team of three.

L-R: Young club member, April, Travis Appleton, and his son, Lawson, who participated in the Lilydale Bowls Club John Snell Club Triples Challenge on Sunday. (Supplied)

Yarra Glen teams in first semi finals

By David Ball

Yarra Glen had all four netball and the U18 football teams playing in first semi finals at Woori Yallock on Sunday.

All teams were playing Warburton-Millgrove.

D Grade netball started the day in fine conditions and faced the task of taking on a team they had been unable to beat through the season.

In a very competitive first quarter, Yarra Glen matched it with their more fancied opponents and were only three goals down at quarter time.

In the second, Yarra Glen just could not convert their chances whilst the Warby shooters were goaling with most of their shots as they were outscored two to 12 for the quarter.

In a great third quarter fightback, they outscored the Burras five to three.

The last quarter was goal for goal leaving Yarra Glen unable to bridge the gap, going down in a brave effort, 21 to 33.

C Grade started slowly with Warby taking a five goal lead at quarter time and extending this to 8 at half time.

In a great second half performance, Yarra Glen outscored Warburton-Millgrove 18 to 14 to get within four goals at the end.

Another brave effort from Yarra Glen but the Burras were too good early in the game, final

scores, Yarra Glen 30 to Warburton-Millgrove 34.

B Grade went in as massive underdogs but despite this they showed great spirit in the first quarter to be only three goals down.

With a couple of early turnovers, Warby were able to assert their superiority to be 12 up at half time.

In a massive third quarter, the Yarra girls added 14 goals to the Burras one.

Warburton-Millgrove steadied in the last to take control of the game as Yarra Glen went down 38 to 53.

Yarra Glen’s A Grade started their battle in misty rain.

The first half was a great contest as both sides had patches of great play followed by a few loose passes.

At half time, only one goal separated the two teams.

Warburton-Millgrove got on top in the second half and in a clinical display proved to be too good for a defiant Yarra Glen with the finals scores Yarra Glen 37 to Warburton-Millgrove 50.

The Under 18s were also playing WarburtonMillgrove having played out a draw in their last contest.

Both sides started nervously with ball handling errors and poor kicking effecting both

teams.

With scores level at 1.3 a piece it looked like being another close contest. Yarra Glen, however, lifted their pressure and improved their skills in the second as they kicked 3.3 to Warby’s solitary point to be 20 points ahead at half time.

The River Pigs dominated play in the third with all players lifting.

Some errant kicking for goal saw them add only the one goal for the quarter but by keeping the Burras goalless they were able to extend their lead to 29 points at the last break.

With everyone contributing in the last, the Yarra Glen boys extended their lead to go to an impressive 7.15 to 2.9 victory.

Best Players: Brody Ricco, Jake Ferris, Sam Gloury, Lachlan Rutherford, Lachlan Carter, Kobey Jarvis. Goalkickers, Lachlan Rutherford 2, Lachlan Carter 1, John Pavic 1, Hunter Grenfell 1, Robert Pavic 1, Brody Adams 1.

Next week, the Under 18s advance to the preliminary final at Yarra Junction on Saturday where they will face Seville.

Healesville Reds triumph

By Sarah Bailey

The Firsts secured promotion, the Women’s Premiers continued their undefeated streak and the U16 Hurricanes won through to next week’s cup final on a brilliant Gala Day celebrating 25 years of Healesville Soccer Club.

Healesville Firsts 3–1 Bayswater Strikers: At home amid Gala Day festivities, second-placed Healesville faced off against third-placed Bayswater in a huge game for both clubs.

After fifth-placed Monbulk forfeited against top-of-the-table Gideon’s Warriors, this became a must-win match for both teams.

Healesville wanted to keep their title chances alive, while Bayswater were hoping to stay in contention for the second promotion spot.

Aaron Violi MP gave a pre-match speech, and it seems Bayswater were still thinking about this when Healesville took the lead after 20 seconds of the contest with Daniel T finishing off a nice team move.

Things got better for Healesville as they scored a second inside five minutes with JJ finding the back of the net after a goal-mouth scramble from a corner.

The home side had the edge in the first half, but Bayswater worked their way into the contest and had their first strike on goal with five minutes of the half to go.

This spurred the Reds on, and they scored their third immediately afterwards with Daniel T’s second of the game, effectively putting the game to bed.

The second half was a more disciplined performance from Healesville with Bayswater throwing bodies forward at every opportunity, knowing they needed four unanswered goals.

Daniel T almost got his hat-trick before Bayswater finally got on the score sheet with less than 10 minutes to go.

Healesville have now sealed promotion to the top tier but need nothing other than a win next week.

They head to Cranbourne and must beat Gideon’s to seal the title in a game befitting a Grand Final.

Healesville Women’s Premiers 2–1 Bayswater:

The team continued their undefeated streak as they accounted for Bayswater on Saturday.

This fixture has become a derby over the years, and the game was as hotly contested as always.

After a messy, half-finished interval it was 0–0 at the break despite Healesville having the better of the chances.

The second half started better, and chances kept coming and going.

A little blunder put the team one down, but in a testament to their character they didn’t give up.

Kiera scored a cracker to level things up, then Kiah put one through at the death with a trademark run to the back post.

Healesville U16 Hurricanes 3–0 Knox Force: Inthecupsemi-finalawayatKnox,theHurricanes were under pressure early as Knox made a fast start and looked likely to score.

But once Healesville settled, their midfield combination of Mia K, Isla C and Eloise S began to take control, linking up with confidence and turning the game their way.

At the back, Summer C and Hana P stood strong, starting the attacks and giving the team a solid platform to build from.

The breakthrough came when Sophia B showed her pace and composure on the right wing, gliding past defenders to slot home the opener.

Moments later, more sharp passing through midfield sent Sophia clear again, and she calmly doubled the advantage.

The relentless pressure paid off once more before the break when a loose ball fell to Mahlea D at the back post.

She made no mistake, scoring for the second game in a row and giving Healesville a commanding 3–0 half-time lead.

Knox came out determined in the second half and created some chances, but Healesville steadied quickly.

With midfield control and disciplined defending, they were able to keep Knox at bay while continuing to create opportunities of their own.

Although no further goals were added, the Hurricanes always looked in control.

The 3–0 result sees Healesville through to a Cup final clash with Berwick at Blackburn next week.

Healesville U14s 5–2 Maroondah:

The Reds rounded out the season with a convincing win against Maroondah to finish in the top four.

Healesville U11 Ninjas 4–2 Mooroolbark

Panthers:

With the coaches away, the team came to play.

The Ninjas defeated the Panthers at Morrison Reserve with Rohan and Scott looking after the team.

The highlight was Felix scoring a well-deserved first goal of the season.

Healesville U12 White Diamonds 2–2 Berwick B:

In a dazzling and exciting game, the Diamonds only just missed out on a win against Berwick.

Helping out again to make a full team, Saskia started early, shooting a corner penalty directly into goals.

Unfortunately, this brilliant shot was followed by a quick equaliser from the opposition to make it one all at half time.

Relentless pressure from the Diamonds, who held the ball for a greater part of the game in their attacking half, saw at least 10 solid shots on goal that all missed by millimetres or hit the post.

The Diamonds allowed a sneak opposition breakaway to get through their solid defence line, leading to an unfortunate goal and Berwick

up 2–1.

In the dying minutes of relentless pressure on goal the Diamonds secured a penalty on the box line.

Saskia beautifully slotted it into the upper right side of goal, and the siren went seconds after for a two all finish.

All the girls played and worked so hard on the field today with no subs.

Tilly had a go in goals (as well as attack) and showed how far she can kick the ball to clear out of the goals.

Evie was unlucky not to score, as she worked tirelessly to get herself into a fantastic position in the box on several occasions.

Maddie, Anja, Emmelia, Audrey and Elodie all made deadly goal attempts also – the opposition were under constant threat and just hanging on.

Emmelia and Saskia were standouts, driving the ball through midfield into deep attack.

Other results:

■ Healesville U12 White Wolves 0–2 Blackburn Ospreys.

■Healesville U12s 0–3 Yarra Valley.

Healesville Under 18s have wrapped up their 2025 season

Healesville U18s wrapped up the season last Sunday on 31 August.

Healesville boys travelled to Yarra Junction to take on Olinda Ferny Creek in the first round of the finals.

Both sides were quiet in the first quarter.

Olinda Ferny Creek scored a behind, taking a point lead.

They added five more behinds while Healesville scored one behind up to halftime.

In the third quarter, Olinda Ferny Creek kicked two goals.

Although the Healesville boys didn’t give up, kicking a goal and adding two behinds during the last quarter, they couldn’t change the result.

The final score was Olinda Ferny Creek 2.9.21 to Healesville 1.4.10.

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