Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
Smoke hits Dandenongs, causing concern
DEECA seeks federal approval for bushfire plan
Melbourne’s water storage dips below 75 per cent
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Crisis remains as fires still rage
Victoria on alert Victoria still faces widespread devastation as catastrophic bushfires rage across the state. The Longwood blaze in northern Victoria and the Mount Lawson fire on the NSW border continue to burn uncontrolled, destroying homes, schools, and livestock. The Warburton area also faced a fire sparked by an exploding E-bike battery, quickly contained thanks to local CFA efforts. In total, more than 350,000 hectares have burned, with hundreds of properties lost. Statewide fire danger reached extreme to catastrophic levels on Friday 9 January. Temperatures in the Yarra Ranges soared above 40s, with gusty winds and dry lightning heightening fire risk. A total fire ban was declared across Victoria, and multiple parks, including Dandenong Ranges National Park and Warrandyte State Park, were closed for public safety. Authorities urged residents to act early, evacuate if needed, and avoid congestion on key roads. Local responses varied, with some, like Tecoma resident Tanya, chose early evacuation for her family and pets, while others, such as Yarra Junction’s Angela Jade, stayed to safeguard livestock, emphasising the need to keep roads clear for those in immediate danger. Healesville property owner Cindy De Luca described the emotional toll of seeing nearby farms destroyed while her own property survived. Authorities and community groups stressed preparation and vigilance.
CFA and Forest Fire Management crews have been conducting aggressive fire suppression, while DEECA continues strategic forest management planning to reduce bushfire risk while protecting native flora and fauna. Public bushfire prep sessions are under way in the Dandenong Ranges, reinforcing the need for residents to stay informed and ready for rapidly changing conditions. Victoria’s bushfire crisis underscores the relentless dangers of extreme weather, the importance of preparedness, and the difficult choices residents face when deciding whether to stay or evacuate. Lilydale opened a relief centre at Lilydale High School, offering beds, a kids’ area, tea and coffee, and animal housing, with additional support from Yarra Ranges Council, The Salvation Army, and Animal Aid. For larger vehicles, the Lilydale Recreation Reserve provided extra space. Evacuation warnings continued across Marysville, Narbethong, Castella, and Kinglake, as authorities anticipated shifting winds and dangerous conditions. Residents were advised to remain off mountain areas until risks, including falling trees and lightning, passed, and to avoid congesting roads needed for emergency crews. These events highlight the importance of preparation, vigilance, and community support as Victoria faces one of its most severe bushfire crises in recent years. Read more on pages 3-6
L-R: Tayla McMillan and Josie Bamford are ready to make their mark on the AFLW competition. (Jordan Sacchetta/AFL Photos)
Friends soon to be rivals By Callum Ludwig Tayla McMillan and Josie Bamford are the two standout players from the Hills, ready to shine in the AFLW in 2026. Boronia local, Ms McMillan was drafted by her childhood club Carlton with pick 34 after leading the Eastern Ranges to a premiership and earning All-Australian honours. A tough inside midfielder, she describes her draft moment as a “dream come true,” with her whole family being lifelong
Blues supporters. Meanwhile, Josie Bamford’s rise from Bayswater to Ferntree Gully, and now Collingwood, has been nothing short of meteoric. Drafted at pick 29, Ms Bamford, who initially played as an inside midfielder and wing, now brings her high-jump athleticism to the ruck/forward role. She’s excited to debut and share the field with her best friend, Georgia Knight, at the Pies. Read more on page 33
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Speeding? Wrong choice.
The police will be using every tool they have to keep the roads safe. But if you decide to speed, how your holiday ends is your choice.
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2 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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NEWS
IN BRIEF Excessive speeds detected Highway Patrol units detected several highspeed drivers on Yarra Ranges and surrounding roads last week. A 24-year-old male driver was detected on Leith Road in Montrose travelling at a speed of 125km/h in a 60 km/h zone. His vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1016, and he was handed a court summons. On Burwood Highway in Wantirna South, a 45-year-old male driver was driving at 149 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. His vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1,016, and he was given a court summons. A 28-year-old male driver was detected doing 90 km/h in a 60 km/h zone along Olinda-Monbulk Road, Olinda. He received a $560 penalty and a three-month licence suspension. An 18-year-old male driver was also detected driving at a speed of 104 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda. He received an $865 penalty and a six-month suspension.
Community Bushfire Sessions Two free and vital bushfire prep sessions run by the local CFA in the Ranges will go ahead this week. The Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade CFA will host the timely free and informative fire safety essential sessions for the community on Thursday 15 January at 7.30ppm and Saturday 17 January at 2pm. Covering local fire risk, what to expect from fire, how to prepare for fire, and the fire safety danger ratings, the sessions are great for both new and long-time residents of the Hills to connect with their CFA on how to stay informed ahead of the summer season. The sessions are free and will run at the brigade’s station at 21 Clarkmont Rd, Sassafras.
More than 350,000 hectares have burned.
Recovery mission starts despite threat By Allanah Sciberras, AAP
Bendigo on Sunday, where they announced funding relief for residents hit hard by the fires. Residents in communities most impacted by the bushfires can claim a one-off disaster recovery payment of $1000 for each adult and $400 per child as part of a $19.5 million package. A $10 million program to help distribute fodder to farmers in need will be rolled out as part of the package. The leaders also visited the small community of Harcourt, where they witnessed the devastation firsthand. At least 50 homes and structures have been lost to the fire, which continues to burn. A state of emergency has been declared for 18 local government areas. Several emergency-level blazes were dotted across the state but firefighting efforts were concentrated on a huge blaze in Victoria’s centre and another in the north-east, near the NSW border.
Selby Community House has reported via social media that their building will be closed until at least Term Two or after Easter of 2026. Securing other venues for their curriculum, Selby House’s pre-advertised printed brochures will not reflect this development. “Whether you’re already enrolled or planning to join a class, all Term One activities are still planned to run from these temporary locations,” read the house’s social media.
Quarry Lake water still not deemed safe Knox Council has reminded residents via their news updates page that Quarry Lake is still hosting levels of bacteria considered risky to animal and human health. Testing at the Ferntree Gully Quarry Reserve Lake detected E. coli and Enterococci bacteria in the water on 15 December 2025 as not suitable for swimming and not to be ingested. With signage around the lake warning visitors not to swim, fish, or let their dogs enter the water, the issue has been ongoing since 6 November 2025 until further notice. Knox Council will continue to monitor the water quality, testing weekly until mid-April and will update the community when it returns to safe levels. For more information, see the Knox Council website or contact their Stormwater team on 9298 8000.
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Recovery efforts are ongoing in a region completely decimated by raging bushfires, though for many, the future remains uncertain. Two major Victorian bushfires are expected to burn for weeks, including the Longwood blaze in the state’s north. Cooler conditions could offer some relief to firefighting efforts, but for many small communities, the damage has already been done. Police confirmed on Sunday 11 January that human remains had been found near a fire-affected road at Gobur, a remote area east of Seymour. The remains are yet to be identified, but were discovered 100 metres from a car. The fire-affected patch was scorched when the roaring Longwood fire moved through on Friday. Paddocks are littered with the remains of an-
imals and livestock that did not make it to safety. Ruffy Country Fire Authority Captain George Noye told AAP half of the small town’s residents had lost either their homes or a structure. The local primary school is also unrecognisable after being burned to the ground. “It’s unbelievable how wide this fire is. Many people left early,” Mr Noye said. “It could have been a lot worse with the conditions that we had.” The Longwood fire has covered about 136,000 hectares since it started amid catastrophic conditions. The fire is still burning as crews work to clear roads so assistance and relief can flow. More than 350,000 hectares have burned and more than 300 properties have been lost in the state after summer heatwaves spurred out-ofcontrol bushfires. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan visited the regional town of
Selby House is closed, but classes are still on in other locations
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NEWS
Healesville resident Cindy De Luca owns a lifestyle property up in Yarck where the fires raged on Friday. (Supplied)
Over on the Ranges side, many chose to leave to wait out the dangerous period, returning home Saturday to skies still yellow.
Stay or go? The big question By Gabriella Vukman Friday’s extreme fire conditions and statewide total fire ban has raised one question for many Yarra Ranges locals. ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ With many fires dotted around the Yarra Ranges from Warburton to Seville, to Tecoma, the four days since Thursday 8 January were a whirlwind for locals and travellers alike. With a northerly breeze blowing the blistering flames in Alexandra towards Healesville and the Upper Yarra Valley, locals had varying responses to the threat. When it comes to staying and going, Tecoma local Tanya chooses leaving every time. “It felt a bit shocking but I took the warnings from Vic Emergency very seriously,” Tanya said. “As someone who is newer to the Hills, I have been aware of fire risk for a number of years and we often go away around this time of year so we haven’t really had to deal with it straight off the bat in January,” she said. “Our plan was always to go on an extreme day based on the weather.” Friday’s hot and windy forecast had Tanya and her family packing their bags to get out early Friday morning. “Once it was forecasted to be super hot and windy, we’re like, ‘now we’ve got to go,’” Tanya said. “I felt really anxious in the lead up to it. I wanted to go sooner, almost for my own peace of mind, but we didn’t actually leave until Friday about 10 o’clock.” Upon speaking with her neighbours and other Tecoma and Hills residents via a WhatsApp group, Tanya found out that it was roughly a 5050 split on who was staying and who was leaving on Friday. “My neighbours on both sides had mixed reactions as to what they were doing, but everyone had sort of clocked that it was getting a bit more serious than a standard hot day,” Tanya said. “Half of our people were still going to work and doing the usual things and others were like, ‘no, we’re going to go’.” Tanya and her family rented out an Airbnb in Blackburn for the day and night. When it came to navigating her fire plan with her family of two preteen children and her husband, Tanya said “I underestimated how my state of stress would affect my kids.” “There was a bit of arguing in our family, getting ready to go and that sort of thing. And they were very concerned about our pets. “Giving everyone in the family a job to do really helped.” Finding accommodation that would house the family cats was, in its own right, a tricky task for Tanya to navigate. “I think in future, I just need to find a few catteries that I can call in a string of 10 minutes to see if I can get them in well ahead of us going because it is so much easier to move without pets,” Tanya said.
4 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
Resident Cindy said the bush on her property was amazing, with wildlife everywhere. When it came to leaving, Tanya noted her decision relied on the navigation of multiple moving factors. “I probably would have liked to go a bit sooner, but it was confusing because if it was an extreme day, but if we had a few cool days before, I don’t know if my decision would have been different,” Tanya said. “There are many factors you’ve got to consider, and also what if we left for the day thinking it’s just an extreme day, but then it turns catastrophic, and we’ve left our pets and certain valuables behind?” According to Tanya, emotions were heightened on Friday. “Emotionally, I just kind of stressed at seeing the VicEmergency App going off a lot,” Tanya said. “On Friday morning as well, there was a small fire quite close to us in Tecoma, and that wasn’t pleasant because we could smell it as well. “Just waiting it out was not fun.” Additionally, Tanya noted that choosing to leave takes a financial toll on top of an emotional one. “Having to flip the credit card to stay just in case, I can see how that adds up,” she said. In future, Tanya will make sure everything her family needs to leave in a fire emergency will be packed in a bag near the front door for the rest of the summer. “We are also going to have a post-leaving chat with my family to kind of decide how we all feel and how we’ll be next time, as well as what our absolute trigger for leaving is,” Tanya said. “I do think extreme trending towards cata-
strophic is definitely when I would consider leaving.” Yarra Junction resident Angela Jade took a different approach on Friday. “I was on a rescue mission. I drove into it,” Angela said. “The police can’t stop you. They just say ‘We advise you not to.’” Driving through roadblocks and past towering flames, Angela was on a mission to save the livestock that were stranded on her mother-in-law’s farm. She and her family managed to save all of the livestock, moving all of the animals to a farm in Healesville. According to Angela, the fire would need to hit Healesville or Warburton before she considered leaving. “For us here in Yarra Junction, there was no reason for us to leave. We would have just been congesting the roads and making it harder for people who actually need to get out to leave,” Angela said. “We didn’t have our bags packed just yet. “We actually had family from Alexandra and Buxton come and stay with us. They were escaping the fires.” Angela noted that leaving without being in an immediate fire threat can be dangerous. “When we were on the roads driving up there to do that, the amount of cars that were leaving from places that they didn’t need to be leaving from caused bottlenecks at intersections,” Angela said.
“If you feel uncomfortable, get out and leave, and if you have a lot of animals, start moving them out, but when you have got a lot of emergency services who are trying to get people to safety, you need to leave the roads as free as possible. “If people who are 50 and 60 km away from the fires start to leave, it means that people who are closer can’t get out. “It is actually unsafe for people to be leaving when they don’t need to.” Healesville resident Cindy De Luca owns a lifestyle property up in Yarck where the fires raged on Friday. Despite many farms around the area losing everything, Cindy’s beloved family shed has remained intact. “The whole area up there has been wiped out but our shed and our main area, our buildings where we live, has all survived, thank God,” Cindy said. “We have spent 25 years making it beautiful and making it our getaway and our friends and family have just loved it. “The bush was amazing, just an amazing oasis of bird life and koalas and wombats and kangaroos and deer and just unbelievable. It’s so beautiful and now it’s all, it’s all gone.” With many Yarra Ranges residents owning property in places such as Marysville and Yarck, local townships within the shire are also feeling the burn. “There’s quite a few Healesville residents that actually have property up there. We have our own little community,” Cindy said. Cindy looks after her elderly father and took him to her house on Friday to be ready to leave if needed. “It is just so stressful, I suppose one of the big things is not knowing what’s going on up there,” Cindy said. “As soon as somebody gives you a bit of information, a guy who I know from the CFA would send me a map and show me the area, and we would see that the fire hasn’t hit our place yet. “It’s like, oh, this is so good. But you can see it’s coming, you see it was going to be inevitable, but you’re just hopeful that if it does, once it does pass us, it will, you know, we might be able to save some things.” Cindy found out from a neighbour who stayed back during the fires that her shed and main area had survived the flames. Cindy believes that it was some pre-emptive slashing and gutter clean-outs that protected her shed. “We got the whole main area slashed and did as much fire preparation as we could when we left the place after Christmas,” Cindy said. Now Cindy is trying to organise a trip back to her farm to assess the damage. “I want to salvage some items of value out of the shed because of looters,” Cindy said. “All the fences are gone, so we want to make sure we get everything out.”
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Lilydale acts as relief hub By Mikayla van Loon Lilydale opened a relief centre, seeing evacuees make use of the space as they wait to learn the fates of their properties and townships. Cars, some towing trailers of items, vans, people and their animals were continuing to flow into the Lilydale High School stadium car park at 6.40pm on Friday 9 January. The centre provided basic relief with tea and coffee facilities, beds, a kids’ area and animal housing. Support services from Yarra Ranges Council, The Salvation Army emergency relief team and Animal Aid were on-site to direct and help people as needed. For people with larger camper vans, trailers or caravans, the Lilydale Recreation Reserve was open and able to accommodate the vehicles. The relief centre was closed on Sunday and pivoted to an information centre on Monday 12 January. It will remain open until required and will be staffed by Yarra Ranges Council and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing from 9am-4.30pm. As of 5.15pm on Friday, more townships, including Marysville and Narbethong, were told to leave immediately. A warning at 5.42pm instructed residents in Castella, all of Kinglake, Pheasant Creek and
Toolangi to prepare to leave and to leave as soon as they were ready, as roads would become busy as people leave. At around 5.30pm a fleet of CFA tankers, led by a forward command vehicle, was headed up Maroondah Highway towards Healesville and likely further to assist in firefighting efforts. A wind change was expected around 8pm on Friday 9 January, causing the fire to change direction to the north east, heading back towards Strathbogie. Conditions were predicted to become very dangerous and unpredictable, according to VicEmergency. Wind conditions were picking up, seeing debris on roads around Lilydale, Wandin and Seville, and some lightning strikes spotted heading towards Lilydale along the Warburton Highway at around 6pm on Friday. In the Dandenong Ranges, resident weather authority Stuart Coombs advised that people who left earlier on Friday should remain off the mountain until later on Saturday, with the risk of falling trees, lightning and wind gusts of 90km/h expected during the southwest cool change. Temperatures did drop rapidly from about 5.15pm onwards, getting down to about 29 degrees in Healesville and 25 degrees in Monbulk after the scorching 41 degrees or more recorded throughout the day.
An emergency relief centre was opened at Lilydale High School on Friday 9 January. (Mikayla Van Loon: 527854)
The smoke was making unusual cloud formations over the Yarra Valley, looking back to Healesvile. (527854)
The sky glowing orange over Lilydale from Melba Avenue as the fire continued to rage in Longwood. (527854)
If you are seeing this ad, Chances are, so are thousands of Star Mail readers.
The sky was gloomy and dull has the haze drifted over the Valley. (527854)
A number of families, individuals and their pets were using the centre for respite after evacuating their homes. (527854)
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Smoke sparks concerns By Mikayla van Loon The extent of smoke emanating from the Longwood fires in the north-east of the state travelled so far on Friday 9 January it caused several false alarm call-outs for fire brigades. The Dandenong Ranges were dotted with reported fires, bush and grass, on Friday morning, seeing firefighters head out to investigate. Kalorama-Mount Dandenong Fire Brigade community safety co-ordinator Virginia Porter said as much as it was good people were reporting it, it did put “a bit of pressure on our brigades”. “We had a number of calls from concerned people who were reporting it as potential fires in the area,” she said. “All the ridge top brigades had calls out to what were smoke sightings. “That’s what we’re there for. We deal with it.” Fires were reported across Olinda, Mount Dandenong, Menzies Creek and Tecoma, all a result of the smoke drifting from Longwood. Multiple brigades throughout the Hills, including Monbulk, Belgrave, Upper Ferntree Gully and Montrose put out pleas to the community to only call Triple Zero “if you see flames or a column of smoke that is pushing up through the haze.” Ms Porter said if people were concerned about smoke and the fire risk, leaving early and staying off the mountain was the best course of action. That is what she and her dog did, headed off the mountain, “finding new places to go to” until well after the cool change. Volunteers from Kalorama, Olinda and Sassafras joined the response effort, and more teams were ready to be deployed. “We’ve got everybody, our brigades, on alert and on standby, ready to go away, on strike teams,” Ms Porter said. “We’ve got a lot of people up there, and they’re going to need them, by the sound of it. “We’re lucky we’ve got all those volunteers and those people that are up there. They’re doing a brilliant job, and we just hope they all stay safe.”
View from Selover’s Lookout in Healesville as smoke surrounds the hills from Longwood. (Mikayla van Loon: 527832)
Cold ash falls on Buxton as orange glow taints the skies By Mikayla van Loon A resident in Buxton confirmed cold ash began to fall over the township early on Friday afternoon, but was hopeful it wouldn’t increase before the wind changed direction. At around 2.30pm on Friday 9 January, the resident told Star Mail that cold embers were descending but that spotting was not likely as far out as Buxton. “It is dark, definitely an orange glow. There are cold embers coming down here, so they’re not warm. The fire is not predicted to come our direction,” they said. “Cold embers, basically, it means that the air hasn’t withheld enough temperature to keep them hot for a distance.” The Maroondah Highway, northbound between Mckenzie Avenue, Healesville and Anderson Lane, Narbethong, was closed at 3.42pm and remained in place over the weekend. One major issue, however, the resident said was the water supply, with Goulburn Valley Water issuing an urgent notice that the drinking water could not be maintained. Goulburn Valley Water’s notification at 2.15pm read: “The Buxton Water Treatment Plant cannot treat enough drinking water to meet current demand. “We estimate that there is about four hours of water supply left in the system. “You must limit water use to essential needs only to help us try to maintain a supply of water. “As a precaution, you should reserve drinking water. “You should ensure you have at least 10 litres of drinking water available for each person in your household for 48 hours. “Use the bathtub, tanks, buckets and any large storage containers available to reserve drinking water.” The resident said a community safety briefing in late December advised people to have a supply of bottled water on hand for situations of this kind, but the main message was to leave early. “Quite a lot of the town left yesterday (Thursday). I’m not seeing many residents still here. 6 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
An orange glow and smoke haze descended on Alexandra, and flowed down to Buxton where cold ash was starting to fall late on Friday. (Buxton CFA) The highway has been quite busy, with a constant flow of cars leading towards Melbourne. “It has settled down probably in the last half an hour. So I think everyone who’s going to leave pretty much has. “The Rangers went through the campsites everywhere, up near Eildon and up at Alexandra and all those surrounding towns yesterday morning and yesterday afternoon (8 Jan), and started forcefully evacuating people, so it’s pretty quiet here.” Healesville’s Queens Park and Don Reserve were set up as evacuation zones. Lilydale High School opened a relief centre late on Friday,
with the Lilydale Fire Brigade also opening its doors to evacuees for a reprieve. The resident did say that, given the lack of water supply, “CFA wants people in the area who are not trained and well supplied with their own water supply to leave”. “Especially with the Spur, the biggest concern is when people get distressed, and they get on the Spur, accidents happen, and then that’s our only exit. At the moment, we can’t exit in any other direction. “The more people that leave now before it gets dark tonight, in particular, which is when fear levels go up, even though Buxton’s safety
level will probably actually get safer once this cool change comes through, because it’s going to head away from us, but dark seems to make people more scared because the sky gets more scary looking. “So, particularly those who are elderly or have young children or parents, should probably be leaving now.” At the time of the interview, the resident said while the cold ash did seem to be increasing, the wind had stopped slightly, although this wasn’t a sign of safety “because the fire is big enough that it’s actually caused its own weather system”.
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The E-bike’s battery exploded, causing the fire. (Sarah Wilcox)
E-bike caused Warburton night time blaze By Oliver Winn
Kinglake Friends of the Forest campaigners at fire break renewals works on the Forty Mile track near Noojee. (Supplied)
Fires assessment gets under way By Callum Ludwig Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is seeking federal approval for its forest fire management works, with a strategic assessment underway. An agreement for the assessment was signed by the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in mid-December 2025 and the terms of reference were released for public consultation on 8 January. Kinglake Friends of the Forest (KFF) are criticising the move however, claiming it is an effort to bypass the scrutiny of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), due to an ongoing legal challenge brought against DEECA by the Warburton Environment group. KFF spokesperson Sue McKinnon said it will be like putting the fox in charge of the hen house again. “The state government has a long history of failing to regulate itself, we’ve seen court cases showing illegal logging by VicForests under similar State - Federal agreements called ‘Regional Forests Agreements’ or RFA’s,” she said. “The discredited exemption for the native forest logging industry from EPBC Act scrutiny will now be copied for the native forest burning and fuel break construction industry. “The RFAs, which exempted the state owned native forest logging company from national regulation, were shown in court to be failures. Self regulation leads to expansion without safeguards and ultimately conflict, environmental damage and expensive and socially devastating collapse.” RFAs ceased in Victoria when native forest logging was phased out at the start of 2024, but were criticised by enviornmentalists when numerous species throughout Australia in RFA areas became more threatened. Local groups like KFF and Warburton Enviornment have been vigilantly monitoring the works of Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic), which is managed by DEECA, in recent years, criticisng the organisation for allegedly failing to survey or monitor for endangered species such as the greater glider or native plants during planned burns or the construction of fuel breaks. A DEECA spokesperson said they are focused on protecting local communities and our unique natural environment from bushfires and reduce their impact across Victoria.
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Kinglake Friends of the Forest members and supporters at a meeting discussing the efficacy of planned burns with Dr Philip Zylstra. (Supplied) “The strategic assessment will give Victorians confidence that DEECA will continue to meet their legal obligations to protect wildlife and plants while we reduce bushfire risk,” they said. “DEECA’s bushfire risk reduction program is supported by a robust evidence base drawing on our deep knowledge of the Victorian bush and our communities, world-leading science and continued investment in monitoring and improvement.” The strategic assessment, which will be done by DEECA and provided to Minister for Environment and Water Murray Watt, will aim to take a landscape-scale approach to protecting plants, animals and ecosystems, and heritage locations of national significance under the EPBC Act. A DCCEEW spokesperson said strategic assessments provide long-term, program-level environmental approval for routine or ongoing actions that impact on matters of national environmental significance. “The terms of reference will guide the development of the impact assessment report which informs the assessment of a Victorian program of planned bushfire management works under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act),” they said. “Approval based on a strategic assessment ensures impacts are minimised and acceptable. Under the EPBC Act, the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment can endorse a pro-
gram which avoids and manages impacts to matters of national environmental significance. The Minister can also approve activities to be taken under an endorsed program.” A consultation on the draft terms of reference is open on the DCCEEW website from 8 January to 6 February 2026, which can be found here: consult.dcceew.gov.au/draft-tor-strat-assessment-vic-forest-fire-mngt. There will also be a public consultation on the assessment report later this year once it is completed. DEECA is legally required to dowork to prevent bushfires on public land, such as state forests, national parks and protected public land, which is done through a combination of managing fuel loads (clearing excess grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and small fallen branches) and maintaining infrastructure like fire towers and remote water points.The strategic assessment will consider any and all activities for the planned prevention of fire and use of fire (eg: planned burns) for land management purposes and all associated preparatory works. DEECA anticipates if the strategic assessment is agreed to, it will ‘streamline approvals for bushfire management activities, give the community more clarity about how DEECA manages impacts on MNES (Matters of National Environmental Significance) and support the delivery of timely planned bushfire management activities.’
An exploding E-bike battery ignited a fire in Warburton on 8 January, sending local CFA crews into a scramble to prevent a major bushfire. CFA units were paged at around 9pm on Thursday night to a fire spreading on the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail after the owner of the E-bike called emergency services when their bike’s battery went up in flames. Warburton CFA captain Ron McIntosh said it was a close call for Warburton, given the extreme fire danger rating forecast for Friday 9 January. “That’s why we had so many trucks on it, because we didn’t want that festering into today, because that would have been a nightmare to put out with this sort of temperature that we’ve got now,” he said. “It started about 9.30pm I think, somewhere around there was the call-out, and five o’clock was when my last two crew ended up coming back into the station.” “They’re also my daytime responders, so they’re at home at the moment, hopefully getting some sleep and waiting for the pagers to drop again.” Without a pinpoint location, firefighters struggled to find the blaze, and it took them 10 minutes to arrive on scene. Mr McIntosh said the help of a local on Hazelwood Road provided the CFA tankers access to the aqueduct trail. “All trucks ended up coming in off Hazelwood Road, there’s a property on Hazelwood Road and the chap there that owns it actually opened the gate up for us, as it’s a good access to get up onto the aqueduct through his property.” A total of five tankers and five slip-ons were used to put out the fire, and units from Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) also arrived on scene to chop down trees which were out of reach. Mr McIntosh said the E-bike owners attempted too extinguish the fire before it got out of control. He also urged the public to take more responsibility of their equipment when riding. “I’m not saying it was an illegal bike, but it may have been. But because it was burnt, it was a bit hard to tell,” he said. He said police spoke with the bike owners after the fire.
The fire occurred at around 9pm in Warburton. (Sarah Wilcox)
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL 7
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NEWS
With the arrival of the new year, Healesville pauses to remember the lives of ambos Robert Bland and Phillip Oakley (File: 260327_01).
Healesville community remembers lost ambos By Gabriella Vukman With the coming of January, the Healesville community pauses for a moment of recognition for two ambulance drivers who died on their way to attending an emergency on 4 January 22 years ago. Robert Bland and Phillip Oakley received a call to help a man and a woman who had driven off the road along the Black Spur. Both men climbed into their ambulance and headed out from the Healesville depot for what would be their last emergency call. Inspector at Victoria Police Sammantha Knight was one of the first units on the scene. “It came up over the police radio that there had been a collision and an ambulance was involved, so we didn’t know the extent of it immediately,” Ms Knight said. “We obviously saw the extent of the collision with the ambulance, that it had gone off the road.” “It was immediately identifiable that there was no way anyone could survive that particular type of collision,” she said. According to Ms Knight the ambulance had gone off the road and hit a tree, leaving the cabin smashed in. “It was really horrific to be honest,” Ms Knight said. “There was another ambulance that turned up that was the colleagues of Phil and Bob.” “It had a lasting traumatic impact for all of us there because you can’t unsee some of the things that we are exposed to as emergency services workers,” Ms Knight said. “No amount of training can really prepare you.” At the time of the accident, the welfare support for emergency services was not as thorough as it is today. Ms Knight said, “We did a debrief with other VicPol members where we sat there and talked about what we saw and how we felt, albeit it was many weeks after the incident.” “The impact it had on me lasted for quite a few years afterwards,” Ms Knight said. “Ev-
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ery time I had to drive through that black spur whether I was on or off duty, it was a constant reminder that that particular bend was where Phil and Rob had lost their lives.” Ms Knight was particularly shaken by the uniforms of the ambulance drivers. “You just swing into action because that’s your job. It is what you are trained to do. Take control, assess the risks and do what you need to do,” Ms Knight said. “But when you see another uniform involved, another emergency service, I think it hits us all pretty hard.” “We all want to come home from our jobs at the end of the day.” Despite having incidents of her own whilst serving over thirty years in the police force such as broken vertebrae and a broken sternum as a result of that collision, Ms Knight wouldn’t change jobs. “I have been in the job a long time and have had my ups and downs but I have really loved everything that I’ve done,” Ms Knight said. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to branch out into different areas within Victoria Police and I have to say that I have really loved my 31 years in the force.” Business owner Phillip Wright attended the first accident that Robert Bland and Phillip Oakley were on their way to. Mr Wright was driving along the black spur to drop off a delivery when he saw a man and a woman who had been injured as a result of their car running off the road. Alarmed to see a car down the embankment, Mr Wright pulled over and went to the couple’s aid, placing a call that was to be later received by Mr Bland and Mr Oakley. Mr Wright said, “I was up on top of the spur, and a guy jumped out in front of my car to wave me down, and I stopped when I saw that the man’s car was down off the side of the mountain. I grabbed my mobile phone and rang the emergency services, and they said an ambulance would be on the way, so I just stayed with the people because there was a young lady stuck in the car, and I adminis-
tered as much first aid as I could,” Mr Wright said. “The young fellow was in shock, and I was trying to keep him calm for nearly two hours.” After hours of waiting with the couple, a police motorcyclist rode up to Mr Wright. “He told me I would have to wait a bit longer and go down through Narbethong,” Mr Wright said. “He then elaborated about the two ambulance drivers losing their lives on the way up to this particular crash. “I can see the accident like it was yesterday and to sit there with the people that were injured for a good two hours before I got notified of what had happened,...it has just really stuck in my head.” While it was shocking for Mr Wright to see the injured couple and their off-roaded car down the mountain, it is the lost life of the two ambulance drivers that is of most concern to him. “It was a shock to see the couple down the mountain, but I can live with that. They are still alive,” Mr Wright said. “But for the emergency services to be on their way to attend to them because I had rung in the call and for those ambo guys to not get there…they should be able to go to an accident and come home afterwards.” After the accidents, Mr Wright sold his business and to this day refuses to drive along the black spur. “It was starting to become an absolute nightmare for me just driving the roads up there, “ Mr Wright said. “I had had a close call earlier on in the morning of the accident driving through there so I really thought about what happened and I said to myself, ‘life is worth more than what money is worth.’” “I went back there the week after the accident and saw where it happened, and I knew I had done the right thing by just closing my business and walking away from it for my own peace of mind because it really hurt,” Mr Wright said. Mr Bland was a Healesville local and had
been at the branch for eight years, and Mr Oakley had freshly moved to the branch just three months before the accident. Family, friends and colleagues spoke highly of both Mr Bland and Mr Oakley. Colleague of Mr Bland at the Healesville Ambulance Depot, Bernie Harkins, told Star Mail that Mr Bland always gave 110 per cent of himself for every call. “The Tuesday morning after the accident, a mother with six children visited the ambulance branch,” Mr Harkins said. “The oldest child, aged nine, was carrying a large preserving jar filled with coins. This was the combined savings of the six children,” Mr Harkins said. “The mother said they had come to donate the money to the branch in honour of Rob because of the extra care he had extended to the family when attending a car accident that they had been involved in.” According to Mr Harkins, the mother and youngest child had been injured, so Mr Bland immediately organised for someone to care for the remaining five children. Mr Harkins said, “When the family car was being repaired, Rob lent them a car of his own and visited the family several times to offer further assistance.” Former Chief Executive Officer of the then Metropolitan Ambulance Service, Greg Sassella, told Star Mail at the time it was hard for the ambulance community to deal with the deaths of Robert Bland and Phillip Oakley. “The sudden, tragic deaths of these two paramedics who devoted their lives to caring for others is extremely difficult for the families and their paramedic colleagues to come to terms with,” Mr Sassella said. “Our line of work, our very purpose, is to help others in need and deal with tragedy on a daily basis,” he told Star Mail. “It is extremely difficult when it is two of our own.” The funeral of Robert Bland and Phillip Oakley was attended by around 1500 emergency service personnel, family, friends and people the ambos had helped along the way.
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL 9
NEWS
Call to save water, from now By Callum Ludwig Melbourne’s water storages levels have dipped below 75 per cent in 2026, caused by hot, dry conditions, record-low streamflows and higher household use last year according to Melbourne Water’s Annual Water Outlook released on 23 December 2025. From July 2024 to June 2025, inflows to Melbourne’s storages were 36 per cent below the 30-year average, including the lowest January-June inflows on record while 38,000 new households joined the city’s water network. At the time of writing on Friday 9 January, water storage levels sit at 74.4 per cent. Yarra Valley Water’s acting managing director Bridie Fennessy said, on behalf of Melbourne’s metropolitan water corporations, that in 2025 we saw the steepest drop in Melbourne storage levels since the Millennium Drought due to significantly lower inflows of water reaching our storages and higher water use. “Our current storage levels mean that we don’t expect restrictions this summer, but declining storages are a warning sign and we’re asking Melburnians to use water wisely,” she said. “If we each save a little, we all save a lot- every drop counts.” Last financial year, Melbourne’s four major storages received 305 billion litres in annual inflows. At the same time, Melbourne’s customers used approximately 500 billion litres, with an increase of daily water use in Melbourne from 163 to 169 litres per person. All water corporations urge residents to aim for no more than 150 litres of water use per person per day, achievable by following the Permanent Water Saving Rules and taking simple actions like four-minute showers, brushing teeth with the tap off, choosing drought tolerant native plants and mulch gardens, running full washing-machine loads, watering gardens early in the morning and fixing leaks quickly. Water restrictions are not expected this summer but continued dry conditions and higher water use through 2026 may mean restrictions will be needed in summer 2026-27. The Victorian government placed an order of 50 gigalitres of water for 2025-26 in March 2025 from Victoria’s desalination plant, which has been used in 8 out of the last 10 years. When the annual water outlook was released in mid-December, Yarra Valley Water’s managing director Natalie Foeng said said storages remain secure for now – but conservation is vital to slow the decline. “Melburnians have always adapted in dry times, and we need to do that again now,” she
Water saving efforts are encouraged after storage levels steeply declined in 2025. (Unsplash). said. “Our storages are secure today, but this year’s sharp fall shows how quickly they can drop in dry conditions and when rainfall is low. “By using water wisely now, we can avoid or
delay restrictions and protect supplies for our growing city.” Specific water saving rules include only using sprinklers and watering systems between 6pm and 10am, ensuring hoses are leak-free
and have trigger nozzle for all uses, not hosing hard surfaces such as driveways and decks and using a broom instead and only using fountains and water features that recirculate water.
New government rebates to help tackle illegal dumping By Callum Ludwig The state government is supporting councils and land managers to tackle illegal dumping with a new $8.5 million Illegal Dumping Cleanup Rebate Program. The government will chip in 50 per cent of the clean-up costs for councils and Crown land management committees for claims up to $250,000 when the perpetrator cannot be traced and recover costs have been exhausted or are not feasible, at a maximum of $500,000 per financial year. This will be limited to 25 per cent of costs up to $75,000 per claim and capped at $150,000 per financial year for Parks Victoria and the Department of Transport and Planning (VicRoads and VicTrack). Contractor costs for the collection, transport and disposal of illegally dumped waste, rent of equipment such as skip bin, trailer, bobcat for disposal or fees for waste disposal at a place authorised to receive it will all be eligible for the rebate. “We welcome any State government support to help us manage the time-consuming and costly task of investigating and removing illegally dumped rubbish, which costs Yarra Ranges ratepayers around $400,000 dollars each year,” Yarra Ranges Council Acting Mayor Gareth Ward said. To help ensure more dumpers are caught, the government has also invested $13 million into the Illegal Dumping Taskforce to ramp up
Illegal waste left in Warburton in 2022. (File) surveillance, enforcement and clean-up efforts across the state. The taskforce will be led by the EPA, who will work with Conservation Regulator and undertake enforcement activities using expanded intelligence and monitoring to detect and respond to waste crimes in key locations. “Too often councils and public land managers are left with a costly mess to clean up from the actions of wrongdoers – this rebate scheme provides support to help cover these costs and keep our suburbs and towns clean,” Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said. Rubbish dumping and littering on public land is illegal with a maximum penalty of $3,951,800 for businesses and $800,000 for individuals or five years imprisonment, or both. Illegally dumped waste in Hoddles Creek in 2022. (File: 295356)
10 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL 11
NEWS
1. Warburton in Autumn. Bring it on. (Graeme Edwards)
2. The Yarra Valley has a large farming community in Launching Place. (525878)
Edwards’ top shots of year Local photographer Graeme Edwards has shared his work with the Star Mail throughout the year. His excellent photography has featured in multiple editions, capturing the beauty of the Upper Yarra throughout the seasons.
3. We all know the Valley is famous for its vineyards. (525878)
4. The Redwood Forest in East Warburton is now a huge tourist attraction. (525878)
6. The Upper Yarra Museum in Yarra Junction has captured the Valley’s history in excellent fashion. (525878)
7. Beautiful gum trees abound in The Yarra Valley. (525878)
9. Launching Place has great views to the mountains from the farms below. (525878)
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5. The 18th hole at the Warburton Golf Course is a stunning place to end a round of golf. (525878)
8. The silos in Wesburn stand today to reflect a bygone era. (525878)
10. Who can deny that a walk around the Yarra River in Warburton can be an uplifting event. (525878)
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COGNOSCENTI LOVES LOCALS
Friendship, food and wine Cognoscenti is the kind of restaurant that feels both thoughtfully crafted and comfortably familiar — a place where quality food, a considered wine list and genuine hospitality come together without fuss or pretence. Located beside the Cameo Cinema in Belgrave, the restaurant has quietly become a favourite for locals, while also drawing diners from further afield who are willing to travel for a memorable meal. The story of Cognoscenti begins long before its doors opened. Owners Adrien and Kevin first met at the age of 14 while studying at culinary school in France. Both went on to work in restaurants across France and overseas, building experience in kitchens and front-of-house roles. In 2012, they moved to Australia and began working at Donovan’s in St Kilda, where Kevin met his now wife, Emma. For almost a decade, the three worked side by side — Adrien in front of house, Emma as head chef, and Kevin later stepping into that role when Emma took a step back after the birth of their second child. During those years, the idea of opening a restaurant of their own was often discussed. That opportunity finally arrived in February 2022, when Kevin and Emma, who live locally in Upwey, noticed the space next to the Cameo Cinema had become available. Cognoscenti opened shortly after, taking over a venue that had previously operated as a wine bar. Coming out of Covid, the team chose to focus first on establishing the business rather than undertaking major changes, allowing the restaurant to evolve naturally. The aim was clear from the start — to create a relaxed but good-quality restaurant where locals could enjoy a proper meal and a solid wine list without having to travel far. The response from the community was immediate and encouraging. Over time, Cognoscenti developed into a modern Australian restaurant with European influences, guided by seasonal produce and a strong emphasis on cooking over charcoal. Wine has always been central to the ex-
The Cognoscenti team are ready to prepare your wining and dining experience. (Supplied) perience, with a list of more than 200 wines and a rotating selection available by the glass. A small rear courtyard also offers a welcoming space for drinks when the weather allows. In July 2025, the restaurant closed for seven weeks for a long-planned renovation. The kitchen was expanded to nearly double its original size, significantly improving workflow and ser-
vice, while the dining layout was refined to better suit the way the team operates. Today, Cognoscenti is owned and run by the three partners. Adrien oversees front of house, Kevin leads the kitchen, and Emma supports both operations. The menu evolves constantly with the seasons, though a handful of signature dishes — including the twice-baked goat’s
cheese souffle and the much-loved Basque cheesecake — remain enduring favourites. Open seven days a week, Cognoscenti balances its role as both a destination restaurant and a true local. It is a place to celebrate, to gather mid-week, or to enjoy a relaxed Sunday roast — reliable, welcoming, and very much part of everyday life in Belgrave.
d o o F Good phere s o m t A y l d n e i r F
The perfect destination to enjoy with family and friends. At Cognoscenti we are passionate about serving great food and sharing with our local community. Come and experience Cognoscenti Cognoscenti Food and Wine 1628a Burwood Highway Belgrave Ph: 8203 8490 cognoscentifoodandwine.com 12834566-JV03-26
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14 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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SHOP LOCAL - MONBULK
More than just a game Bowling enthusiasts and casual revellers alike, brace yourselves for an unforgettable experience at the Monbulk Bowling Club, located at 11 Moores Road, Monbulk. This vibrant establishment is not just your run-of-the-mill bowling club; it’s a haven for good times, delectable dining, and a variety of entertainment offerings that will keep you coming back for more. The Monbulk Bowling Club welcomes guests with open arms and a host of exciting events throughout the week. Families, mark your calendars for Monday because at Monbulk Bowling Club, kids eat free with the purchase of a main meal. It’s a fantastic opportunity to gather the family for a delicious feast without breaking the bank. Dial up the fun on Wednesday nights with the much-anticipated Pot and Parma Night. Indulge in the classic combo of a traditional parma served with chips and salad with a pot all for an unbeatable $25. It’s the perfect midweek treat to share with friends or family. The club opens its doors from 5.30pm from Monday through Sunday, ensuring that you have plenty of chances to enjoy these delightful specials. And what’s a Friday without a bit of Happy Hour cheer? From 4pm to 6pm, the Monbulk Bowling Club treats you to discounted prices on selected drinks. Quench your thirst with $6 schooners, $7 basic spirits, and $5 house wine. The perfect way to toast the upcoming weekend with friends. As the weather warms up, don’t miss out on the chance to try your hand at barefoot bowls for just $15 per person. This inclusive offer provides all the necessary equipment and guidance from an experienced bowler. Make sure to book in advance to secure your spot in the sunshine. Stay in the loop with all the exciting happenings at the Monbulk Bowling Club by following them on Facebook. It’s the best way to catch wind of upcoming events, promotions, and exclusive offers that will make your visits
Skye is ready to pour you a refreshingly cold drink of choice at Monbulk Bowls Club. (File: 290953) even more enjoyable. In a world where entertainment options are abundant, the Monbulk Bowling Club stands out as a beacon of camaraderie, culinary de-
lights, and good old-fashioned fun. Whether you’re a seasoned bowler or just looking for a memorable night out, this bowling club has it all. So, roll on over to 11 Moores Road,
Monbulk, or give them a call at 9757 6183. The Monbulk Bowling Club awaits, promising an evening of joy, laughter, and making memories to last a lifetime.
WHAT S ON
WHAT’S ’ ON
At Monbulk At Monbulk Bowling Bowling Club Club
MONDAY MONDAY
KIDS KIDS EAT EAT FREE FREE WITH THE THE PURCHASE PURCHASE WITH OF A A MAIN MAIN MEAL MEAL OF
FREE FREE
TU SDAY
TUESDAY
CURRY NIGHT CURRY NIGHT SERVED SERVED WITH WITH RICE RICE AND AND ROTI ROTI BREAD BREAD
$20 $20
WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY
PARMA AND PARMA AND POT POT SERVED SERVED WITH WITH CHIPS CHIPS AND AND SALAD SALAD & &A A HOUSE HOUSE DRINK DRINK
$25 $2t
THURSDAY THURSDAY BURGER AND BURGER AND BEER BEER SERVED WITH SERVED WITH CHIPS CHIPS AND A AND A HOUSE HOUSE DRINK DRINK
$25 $2t
FRIDAY FRIDAY PASTA NIGHT NIGHT PASTA SELECTIONS 44 SELECTIONS TO CHOOSE CHOOSE FROM FROM TO
$20 $20
MONBULK BOWLING CLUB | 11 MOORES ROAD MONBULK | PH: 9756 6183 | OPEN MON- SUN FROM 5:30PM | T&C’s APPLY 12776023-JV23-25
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Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL 15
OPINION
Prepare for hard waste collections On behalf of Yarra Ranges Council, welcome to 2026 and the second edition of the Star Mail News for the year. I hope you are all reading this relaxed and refreshed from your Christmas and New Year’s. There will be many community members making the most of the school holidays, so I hope your January is filled with fun with your families. This month, our hard waste collections will begin in the Yarra Valley. Our collection period will be starting later this year, from 27 January, to reduce roadside rubbish piles in the early new year. The order of collections will also be changing, so I strongly encourage everyone to visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/hardwaste to check collection weeks and see what you can put out. I’d also like to ask our community members to please not put out their rubbish until the Sunday
Mayor’s
desk Richard Higgins
before their collection week starts, so we can keep the area looking beautiful and reduce the visual impact of roadside rubbish. You can also place out bundled branches, mattresses, metals and whitegoods for collection. Items with an electrical cord or batteries – including computers, televisions, monitors and other electronics – will be sent for recycling. All other items will be sent to landfill.
We know that a lot of appliances, tools, toys and things around the house get replaced after Christmas time. Anything that can be powered by batteries or a cord is classified as e-waste and can’t go in wheelie bins. This is because these items contain hazardous materials, like lead and mercury, as well as valuable materials that can be reused. These items can go out in your hard waste, but if they’re in good condition, they can also be donated, sold on marketplace or repaired. If we think about how we dispose of our items, as well as what we buy and when we replace our things, we can all help live a little lighter on the earth. For a full list of what can be put out for collection, and to check your collection week, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/hardwaste
CARTOON
A subpar modern persona
Sentimental Value Starring Stellan Skarsgärd, Renata Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lileaas M 4/5 Nominated for seven Golden Globes, Sentimental Value is a comfortable but poignant Norwegian drama full of rich dialogue, nuanced characters and authentic, moving performances, but it’s also an overlong shadow of a sixties classic. Famous filmmaker Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgärd) returns to Norway to film his dream project and reconnect with his estranged daughters Nora (Renata Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lileaas) in the process. Skarsgärd plays Gustav as an arrogant but good-humoured, well-meaning man who can only truly connect with people through his art. Reinsve is remarkable as Nora, playing a woman palpably weighed down by anxiety and self-doubt who bursts into life on the stage. Elle Fanning plays Rachel Kemp, a perky but conflicted American actress who Gustav casts in his film (and treats like a surrogate daughter) after Nora refuses. Sentimental Value has some stunning shots and clever music choices, and draws clear inspiration from Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 classic Persona. Nora is a talented stage actress who suffers debilitating stagefright, and Persona’s Elisabet Vogler (Liv Ullmann) is an actress who suddenly turns mute on-stage. Both films address the process of moviemaking and feature a beautiful house as the setting for deep psychological introspection and revisiting past tragedy. The framing device of Gustav’s screenplay, informed by another framing device of Gustav’s mother Karin, generates a little too much detachment within the narrative, even as the plot-threads and themes of intergenerational trauma come together well by the end. 133 minutes is an awfully long time for such a low-impact narrative, and I nearly forgot Nora was in the movie after a long absence. Persona is much darker (literally; it’s black-and-white), but shorter and more focused. An awards darling and a touching character study that didn’t quite grab me, Sentimental Value is playing in select Victorian cinemas.
Make this a reading year and lose yourself in words Welcome to the 2026 edition of Passion for Prose, a column dedicated to promoting everything about books, especially those created by Australian authors and artists. To make up for my recent absence, this post begins with my Top 5 books read and reviewed in 2025: #1: This Kingdom of Dust (2024) by David Dyer #2: The Memory Collectors (2025) by Dete Meserve #3: Wild Dark Shore (2025) by Charlotte McConaghy #4: The None Shall Sleep Sequence (2020, 2023 and 2025) by Ellie Marney #5: The Wild Robot Series (2016, 2018 and 2023) by Peter Brown And the honourable mention: The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories (2022). The 2025 highlight for me was the successful launch of the Dandenong Ranges Literary Festi-
• • • • • •
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PASSION FOR PROSE WITH CHRISTINE SUN val. I also attended the Melbourne Taiwan Film Festival, where I watched the iconic A City of Sadness (1989), one of the must-see masterpieces probing the multifaceted and intersectional history of Taiwan. Another highlight was Warm Winter Read 2025, for which I managed to read and record my reading for a total of 92 days. It was purely
a personal exercise of will – nothing to write home about. Yet, it is rewarding to have spent time learning, musing and finding inspiration in something new and meaningful everyday. I finished last year with the publishing of my mother-in-law’s recipe collection as a print book. She was a beautiful woman who passed away in 2022 at the age of 92, a brilliant seamstress, a great role model whose kindness and generosity had touched numerous people within and outside of our family. As I wrote in the Editor’s Note: “These recipes reflect May’s personal style, tastes and interests. More importantly, they offer a glimpse into the many phases of her remarkable life – how the time went by, with Australia’s eating and cooking trends ever-changing...” “As expected, many of these recipes are for seafood and sweets – party time for families and friends, and with plenty of wine! But there are also
day-to-day meal ideas and tips that are worthy of note (such as cleaning the fridge with vanilla!).” Indeed, we all read different books, and the books we read very much reflect who we are. Interestingly, what we read – as well as write, publish and/or review – are also a form of documentation of our life’s journey, how we respond to the demands of our times, how we act, react and interact as members of our community. A good example came to mind. On the day this post was drafted, the temperature soared to 41 degrees and it was time to abandon work. As a result, I spent hours reading for pleasure, completely immersed in a recently published dark fantasy novel – and the day passed amazingly fast. I reckon reading is one of the best survival strategies anyone can use at times like this! I look forward to making 2026 a great reading year. Would you like to join me?
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Explore some Mekong magic By Lee McCarthy If it is time for that holiday of a lifetime, a retirement trip with a chance to see and visit exotic countries and cultures then it’s time to explore Viking’s fifteen day “Magnificent Mekong” voyage from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa. Shop Old Hanoi’s markets, see the Khmer temple complex of Angkor Wat and the haunting beauty of Ta Prohm Temple, where jungle vines embrace ancient ruins. Explore Phnom Penh by cyclo rickshaw. Discover silk towns, fishing villages, monasteries and local river life. With hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) bracketing the eight-day Mekong cruise, this cruise tour reveals the beauty and grace of a land Australians have only begun to know. All of this and more is available for travellers on the fifteen-day, two country river cruise which includes sixteen guided tours called the “Magnificent Mekong”, just one of the many river, ocean and exploration cruises available with Viking. The most wonderful fun of a river cruise besides the exceptionally comfortable rooms, the stunning seating options, the generous and tasty meals, the stunning scenery is you simply unpack once and let the dedicated crew take care of the rest allowing guests to relax on board the beautifully crafted and appointed Viking Longship. Local guides immerse guests in the history and culture of each destination with enriching excursions. Enjoy all onboard meals with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Plus, Viking guests enjoy endless specialty tea, coffee and bottled water, unlimited Wi-Fi and all onboard gratuities, port charges and taxes. Vietnam is fast becoming a desired destination and on the cruise guest will enjoy a treasure trove of tasty delights to awaken the senses in the Vietnamese capital. Hanoi is famous for its delicious street food, serving up an array of dishes from all corners across the city. Steaming bowls of pho, a Vietnamese rice noodle soup, are served alongside marinated meats grilled to perfection. The cafe scene in Vietnam is equally as popular with egg coffee a local specialty and a decadent cap to any meal. For those who have not visited the Phnom Penh, Cambodia it is a capital time seems to have passed by. Once known as the “Pearl of Asia,” this bustling Cambodian capital is home to charming French colonial architecture along relaxed boulevards, beautifully wrought pagodas and the monumental Angkorian complexes for which Cambodia is revered. The city’s park-like riverfront boasts plenty of inviting cafes and restaurants, and its rich collection of universities, museums and other institutions have grown into Cambodia’s centre of cultural heritage. For those who book before 31 March 2026, travellers can save up to $5,000 per couple fly
Twilight over West Lake or Ho Tay Lake in Hanoi.
The Viking Saigon in the Mekong-Delta in Tien Giang in Southern Vietnam.
Guests relax and feel at home in the comfortable and very classy French Balcony rooms onboard Viking.
Explore the cities on cyclo rickshaws in the Hanoi Old Quarter. free, have a flight upgrade credit on selected 2026 to 2028 cruises. The trip is priced from $12,495 per person with fifteen days accommodation in a stunning French Balcony Stateroom. With no kids, no casinos, fewer than 1,000 guests, and all veranda staterooms, Viking’s award-winning ships take guests as close as possible to each destination. For further information please call 138 747 or go to website viking.com which has this and many more stunning trips around the world to choose from.
The blue blue sky above Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (Supplied)
JULIE O’GRADY IS YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL ADVISOR Locally owned and operated www.exclusivelycruising.com.au
Award-winning independent & experienced cruise specialist Specialising in river, ocean, expedition, luxury and small ship cruising
Mention this advert for a 10% DISCOUNT on Go Travel Insurance
Personalised service & travel advice
Discover your next journey with a trusted travel and cruise professional. Call Julie
03 9762 2799 cruise@exclusivelycruising.com.au
12834639-KF02-26
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Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL 17
12740599-MC02-25
Rocky Mountaineer Magic For more than 30 years, Rocky Mountaineer has welcomed guests from around the world to experience luxury rail journeys through some of the most spectacular landscapes in North America. From the dramatic peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains to the vast deserts and red-rock canyons of the American Southwest, these iconic journeys are designed for travellers who want to slow down, look out the window, and truly savour the scenery. Travelling by luxury glass-domed train, guests are treated to ever-changing vistas of sky-high mountains, turquoise lakes, ancient glaciers, rugged canyons and, with a little luck, glimpses of wildlife along the way. It’s a front-row seat to nature at its most impressive, paired with impeccable service and refined comfort onboard. Rocky Mountaineer offers four unique rail routes. The most popular, First Passage to the West, retraces historic Canadian rail lines between Vancouver and the celebrated mountain towns of Banff and Lake Louise. Over two days, the train winds through British Columbia and Alberta, passing thundering waterfalls, icy glaciers and dramatic mountain scenery. Another favourite is Journey through the Clouds, connecting Vancouver with Jasper National Park. This route travels through some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring landscapes in Canada, showcasing remote wilderness and towering peaks that feel untouched by time. For those wanting a longer adventure, the three-day Rainforest to Gold Rush journey travels from the lush coastal rainforest through desert terrain and ranchland before reaching the heart of the Rockies. Rocky Mountaineer’s only U.S. route, Rockies to the Red Rocks, runs between Denver, Colorado and Moab, Utah. Launched in 2021, this two-day
An unforgettable Rocky Mountaineer Experience. journey highlights the raw beauty of the American Southwest, with sweeping canyons, striking red sandstone formations and wide-open desert landscapes. Onboard, the experience is elevated by awardwinning service and regionally inspired cuisine. Each season, Rocky Mountaineer’s Executive
Chef creates menus showcasing local produce, from Alberta beef to Pacific seafood and fresh seasonal fruits, all served as the Host team ensures every detail is taken care of. Beyond the rail journey itself, guests can add customised pre- and post-tour experiences, from exploring glaciers and national parks to gondola
rides, wildlife encounters or desert adventures. Effortlessly combining luxury with the spirit of exploration, Rocky Mountaineer is a truly memorable way to experience North America. To plan your journey and tailor it perfectly to your travel style, speak with Exclusively Cruising, your local travel specialist, on 03 9762 2799.
Truly Moving Train Journeys The majesty of the Rockies meets the comfort of luxury train travel.
Explore in 2026 Promotion Book any 2026 Rocky Mountaineer package on select dates and save
$550.00 per person on GoldLeaf Service $375.00 per person on SilverLeaf Service Offer available from 13 January 2026 to 10 February 2026.
For Bookings & Enquiries Contact
cruise@exclusivelycruising.com.au
03 9762 2799 https://www.exclusivelycruising.com.au
18 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
12834641-MC03-26
c
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FESTIVE
SHORES 15 NIGHTS FROM AN INCREDIBLE
$3,699pp
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS DAY & NEW YEAR’S EVE ON BOARD
COMPLIMENTARY FLIGHTS & HOTEL STAY IN SYDNEY
Christmas & New Year South Australia Discovery Voyage 15 Nights
19 December 2026
Embrace the festive season with this South Australian discovery, celebrating Christmas surrounded by Holland America Line’s elegant interiors and welcoming the New Year against the magical backdrop of Tasmania’s coastline.
Your Holiday Includes Full-Board Cruise
Complimentary Hotel Stay
14 night full-board cruise on board Noordam
1 night four-star hotel stay in Sydney at the Rydges World Square with breakfast
Visiting: Sydney, Phillip Island, Melbourne, Burnie (Tasmania), Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Hobart (Tasmania), Port Arthur, Eden, Sydney
Complimentary Flights & Taxes Transfers not included but can be added on at the time of booking
Celebrate Christmas and New Year on board your ship
Call us on
(07) 3558 9908
Visit us online imaginecruising.com.au
INSIDE FROM
OCEAN VIEW FROM
$3,699PP
$4,299PP
VERANDAH FROM
SIGNATURE SUITE FROM
$5,299PP
$6,499PP
Scan the QR code or search the holiday code on our website.
Excellent
HOLIDAY CODE: AUS7554
Terms and Conditions apply, for full details please visit imaginecruising.com.au. All prices shown in AUS Dollars. Prices are per person based on two adults sharing a cruise cabin or suite and include flights from Melbourne (regional flights available at a supplement). Credit cards charged at 1%, if paying by AMEX a charge of 2.5% will be added. ABN number 48614987718. Prices are correct at the time of print and are subject to change. Offer applies to new bookings only. Named hotels are based on availability and are subject to change without notice. Alternative hotels will always be of equal or higher star rating.
12834638-MC03-26
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Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL 19
FLY FREE, FLIGHT UPGRADE CREDIT OR SAVE UP TO AU$2,500 PER COUPLE
LISBON, PORTUGAL COMPANION
THE CHOICE IS YOURS
FLY FREE ECONOMY CLASS
Florence/Pisa CROATIA MONACO (Livorno) Venice Šibenik Monte Carlo Marseille Split ITALY Dubrovnik Sète SPAIN Kotor MONTENEGRO Barcelona Naples GREECE Istanbul TURKEY PORTUGAL CORFU Palma de Rome Bari Troy Kérkrya Mallorca (Civitavecchia) Crotone Granada Athens (Çanakkale) Lisbon (Málaga) (Piraeus) Mediterranean Ephesus Seville Messina Ionian Sea (Kuşadasi) (Cádiz) SICILY Sea Murcia Olympia Rhodes (Cartagena) Tangier (Katakolon) Heraklion MOROCCO CRETE FRANCE
UPGRADE BUSINESS CLASS AIRFARE CREDIT
GRAND MEDITERRANEAN EXPLORER Lisbon to Istanbul 36 DAYS • 10 COUNTRIES • 29 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL • MAR, APR, SEP 2027; MAR, AUG 2028
Overnight in Por t
OR
SAIL FOR LESS ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING No kids, voted world’s best Private veranda stateroom Nordic spa facilities
From AU$33,295pp in Veranda Stateroom From AU$40,795pp in Penthouse Veranda
– Cruise •
OR
Shore excursions Choice of 8 dining options Wi-Fi & gratuities
Florence/Pisa (Livorno) Venice MONACO (Chioggia) CROATIA Monte Carlo Šibenik ITALY
FRANCE
Marseille Sète SPAIN
PORTUGAL
Palma de Mallorca
Lisbon
Granada (Málaga)
Seville (Cádiz)
Tangier
Naples Rome Bari (Civitavecchia) Crotone
Mediterranean Sea
Messina SICILY
Ionian Sea
22 DAYS • 7 COUNTRIES • 18 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL • FEB-JUN, AUG, SEP 2027; FEB, MAR, MAY, JUN, SEP 2028
Wine & beer served with lunch & dinner 24-hour room service Newest small ship fleet
Murcia (Cartagena)
From AU$17,295pp in Veranda Stateroom From AU$21,295pp in Penthouse Veranda
MOROCCO
– Cruise •
Barcelona
ADRIATIC & MEDITERRANEAN DISCOVERY Venice (Chioggi) to Lisbon
Overnight in Por t
SCAN QR CODE FOR OFFERS FRANCE Marseille
MONACO
ITALY
Monte Carlo
Florence/Pisa (Livorno) Rome (Civitavecchia)
Sète Barcelona PORTUGAL
SPAIN
Lisbon Seville (Cádiz)
Granada (Málaga)
Tangier MOROCCO
– Cruise •
Overnight in Por t
Palma de Mallorca
Murcia (Cartagena)
Mediterranean Sea
SPAIN, PORTUGAL & THE MEDITERRANEAN Lisbon to Rome (Civitavecchia) 15 DAYS • 6 COUNTRIES • 15 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL • NOV 2026; JAN-JUN 2027, SEP-DEC 2027, JAN-JUN, SEP 2028
From AU$8,495pp in Veranda Stateroom From AU$10,295pp in Penthouse Veranda
0800 447 913 VIKING.COM
*Choose one offer per booking (all guests must select the same): Companion Fly Free (Economy) up to AU$2,500 per couple (code CFE25) OR Business Class Air Credit AU$2,500 per couple (CFB25) OR Cruise-Only Save AU$2,500 per couple (CRX25). Valid on selected 2026–2028 Viking Ocean voyages. New bookings only, prices in AUD per person (twin share), subject to availability, not combinable. Grand Mediterranean Explorer based on 02 March 2028 departure. Adriatic & Mediterranean Discovery based on 22 February 2028 departure. Spain, Portugal & the Mediterranean based on 13 December 2027 departure. Booking window: 02 Dec 2025 – 31 Mar 2026 (AEDT). Full T&Cs: viking.com.
OR CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR
12823004-AA02-26
20 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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THE PERFECT ESCAPE THIS IS THE ONE YOU MUST SEE mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 21
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
THE PERFECT ESCAPE -THIS IS THE ONE YOU MUST SEE - IMMACULATE IN EVERY WAY JUST around an hour’s drive from the CBD and 7km from the shopping centre. For the first time in more than 50 years, this much-loved Spanish style estate is ready for its next chapter. Set on 21 acres of mostly cleared, gently rolling land, it’s a property that has been treasured by one family for half a century. As you arrive, a caretaker’s cottage welcomes you at the front, and electric gates open to reveal a home full of character, warmth with beautifully updated modern touches. The classic Spanish façade sets the tone, but once inside you’re met with a contemporary, light-filled interior spread across two generous levels. Upstairs is the main living zone, where the kitchen, dining and living areas come together in a bright, open space with high ceilings and peaceful views across the property. It’s the kind of area that naturally becomes the centre of daily life— relaxed, inviting, and easy to live in. Downstairs is designed for entertaining and hosting. A second full kitchen, a bar and an amazing wine cellar, create the perfect setting for gatherings of any size, while extra living areas flow for the perfect entertainment space and add even more versatility. One of the standout features is how effortlessly this whole lower level opens out to the pool and spa area on one side and the alfresco area on the other side – entertain here for the largest of gatherings! It creates a smooth indoor– outdoor flow that feels great in summer and makes entertaining feel completely seamless. The home offers 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, including a master suite that feels like a private retreat. It comes with a spacious dressing room and a large ensuite, giving you the sense of having your own luxurious getaway within the home. Guests are also spoilt, with a dedicated guest suite featuring its own balcony, ensuite, and separate sitting area. And don’t forget the caretaker’s cottage! Comfort is well taken care of with split systems, hydronic heating, and air conditioning. There is a large automatic generator to run the entire home in case of power failure, excellent internet access with Starlink, eleven external cameras, internal and internal security. Outside, the property continues to impress: a wide deck for outdoor dining, a workshop, entertainment retreat for club meetings and gatherings, a dam with a gazebo, and a creek running along the back boundary all add to the sense of space and tranquillity. Bore water drawn to top up tank water, from a charming wishing well adds a practical—and nostalgic—touch. With most of the 21 acres already cleared, the land offers plenty of freedom and potential, whether for hobby farming, horses, gardens or simply enjoying the open space. It’s rare to find a property that blends architectural charm, modern living and so much land in one place—especially one that has been so lovingly held for so long. This estate offers something truly special: room to breathe, room to grow, and a lifestyle that feels both peaceful and full of possibility. A home with history, heart, and an unmistakable sense of place. ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 749 Woori Yallock Road, NANGANA Description: 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $2,700,000 - $2,970,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE 9754 6111
22 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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HOME FOCUS
EXQUISITE “BUILDER’S OWN” RESIDENCE CRAFTED to exacting standards and designed with a meticulous eye for detail, 238 Emerald Monbulk Road is a masterclass in contemporary luxury and functionality. North-facing and beautifully proportioned, this builder’s own home boasts quality, comfort and clever design at every turn. Occupying the entire lower level, the expansive 170sqm garage (with over 3-metre ceilings) is a dream come true for car enthusiasts, trades, or those seeking a flexible multipurpose space. Whether it’s a collector’s haven, home gym, workshop, or studio - the options are endless. Upstairs, the home opens to stunning views across the Monbulk Valley. The lightfilled interiors are perfectly balanced between sophistication and warmth. Four spacious bedrooms are strategically positioned for privacy, with the master suite featuring a picturesque bay window, walk-in robe, and indulgent ensuite, whilst an open-plan living and dining zone provides the ideal space for family connection and entertaining. As a centrepiece, the French Provincial-inspired kitchen is a showstopper, boasting stone benchtops, a walk-in butler’s pantry, and quality finishes that elevate everyday living. Designed with sustainability and comfort in mind, the home features a 6-star energy rating, double-glazed windows, electric ducted and cooling plus a gas log fire - ensuring perfect temperature control all year round. Set on just under half an acre of beautifully cared for grounds, the property offers: A 4.3m x 2.3m swim-spa pool for summer enjoyment: gas heated with swim jets Expansive undercover decking for effortless entertaining Tiered lawns ideal for children and pets A sealed driveway, additional parking, and rear yard access
• • • •
Attic storage with ladder access adds yet another layer of practicality to this impressive home. Perfectly positioned within walking distance of Monbulk’s main street, public transport, and local schools, this superior residence combines the best of tranquillity with everyday convenience. Whether you’re seeking a luxurious family home or a refined retreat with room for all your passions, 238 Emerald Monbulk Road delivers an unmatched lifestyle opportunity - a property where craftsmanship, comfort, and class come together in perfect harmony.
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 238 Emerald-Monbulk Road, MONBULK Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 garage Price: $1,250,000-1,350,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442 and Kate Johnson, 0434 670 177, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 9754 6888
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Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 23
HOME FOCUS
MODERNIST STYLING ON 75 ACRES WITH VIEWS PRIVATELY located at the end of a long driveway and offering amazing views of the surrounding rolling hillsides, this beautiful 9 year old home sits on 75 beautiful acres with a mix of 9 clear paddocks (8 watered) with a section of bushland. Access to the property is provided off a sealed road. Built to a very high energy efficiency rating, the home is comfortable all year round. The home boasts a wonderful series of rural outlooks from every room, the living spaces offer both casual and formal settings, with the stylish lounge adjoining the dining space with a strategically placed wood-heater offering both warmth and ambiance. Enjoy entertaining outside on the travertine tiled alfresco area whilst soaking in the views. Indoor and outdoor spaces combine here for absolute lifestyle pleasure. True to the owner’s intentions, the home is an entertainer’s delight, with the modern gourmet kitchen appointed with stone benchtops, abundant storage and huge pantry, dual ovens including a steam oven, Induction cooktop and dishwasher. Offering 5 bedrooms, the layout consists of 4 robed bedrooms, serviced by a family bathroom that offers a separate living space also. Whilst the master suite is large and offers a study nook, enormous walk in robe and ensuite with walk in shower. Special features include polished concrete floors, double glazing, solar hot water, 3 split systems and mains and tank water. Outside offers a mix of garden beds (but not too many!), veggie patch, fruit trees, chook run and a large 18m x 6m shed with concrete floor and attached side roof that would serve a multitude of purposes including farm equipment, cars, trailers etc. With this much land you can take up the rural pursuit you have desired - perhaps a few sheep, alpacas, a horse or two or some cows, with beautiful visiting birds and wildlife - come home to paradise! Located approximately 1 hour from Melbourne CBD, locally you have easy access to Primary Schools, kindergarten, supermarkets, with a High School in nearby Emerald. Rail connections in Belgrave and Pakeham and Wellington Road accessibility to M1. This property truly is your piece of paradise in the hills – so be quick, this one won’t last! ●
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 8 Kennedy Road, AVONSLEIGH Description: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 6 garage Price: $2,300,000 - $2,500,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Mick Dolphin 0429 684 522 and Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937, RANGES FIRST NATIONAL REAL ESTATE 9754 6111
24 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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Ranges 4.4 Sunny acreS
CoCkatoo 35 edmundS rOad Immaculate masterpiece, Privately located
rich in characTer
$1,600,000-$1,700,000
olINda 24-26 mccarThy rOad
$1,500,000-$1,600,000
4A 2B 4C
dual living with Endless Views!
4A 2B 6C
Privately located at the end of a no-through road and exhibiting amazing rural views, this beautiful home sits on 4.4 beautiful acres. enjoying a wonderful series of rural outlooks from every room, the living spaces offer both casual and formal settings, the stylish lounge with wood heater, family dining and living areas with French doors to the covered deck. indoor and outdoor spaces combine here for absolute lifestyle pleasure.
mick dolphin 0429 684 522
Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937
Over 3700 m2
$1,100,000-$1,200,000
Private. Peaceful. Family Home.
5A 2B 4C
This timber residence exudes character, combining timeless craftsmanship with open, light-filled interiors and dramatic cathedral ceilings. Set on a generous landholding, it enjoys beautiful, treed vistas from every window—quintessential “hills living.” The home offers five bedrooms, with the spacious main suite privately positioned on the ground level and featuring a soaking tub, separate shower, and walk-in robe. The remaining four bedrooms, all with built-in robes, occupy the first floor.
9754 6111
rangesfn.com.au mailcommunity.com.au
Set on 1.74 hectares of beautifully established gardens, this enchanting dual-dwelling property offers the kind of space, flexibility, and character that is increasingly hard to find — all just minutes from the heart of monbulk township. From the moment you arrive, the home reveals a sense of warmth and rustic appeal. The main residence features four generously sized bedrooms and two bathrooms, thoughtfully designed to support family living at every stage.
mick dolphin 0429 684 522
Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937
rear STreeT acceSS
EmErald 37 Fern Glade drive
mick dolphin 0429 684 522
We put you first
Caiti Ellis 0493 136 937
BElgraVE 22 WaraTah avenue PrIVatE FamIlY SaNtUarY oN 1¼ aCrES
$1,550,000-$1,705,000 4A 3B 8C
Set amidst a gorgeous, treed landscape, this impressive four-bedroom brick veneer residence offers exceptional privacy, space and resort-style living on an expansive 1¼-acre sun filled allotment to enjoy. designed for relaxed family living and effortless entertaining, the home features separate living zones from the dining area to the large lounge which features an open fire, to the generous rumpus and meals area perfectly designed for both quiet retreats or vibrant gatherings.
Jan Brewster 0409 558 805
‘We Put You First’
1660 Burwood Highway, Belgrave Shop 2/24 McBride St, Cockatoo Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 25
HOME FOCUS
THE PERFECT BLEND OF HILLS LIFESTYLE AND CONTEMPORARY COMFORT BEAUTIFULLY positioned on a tranquil nothrough road just moments from the heart of Belgrave, this exceptional property combines modern updates, flexible living options, and a true connection with nature. Set on a picturesque 1,220sqm (approx.) block with Monbulk Creek gently meandering by, it’s a home that perfectly captures the relaxed Hills lifestyle. From the moment you arrive, the home’s striking street presence impresses - a sealed driveway, double garage, and stylish steel balustrades lead the way to a residence that is both sophisticated and welcoming. Across two thoughtfully designed levels, this home delivers outstanding versatility. The lower level features a stunning openplan living zone warmed by a wood fire, anchored by a gourmet kitchen showcasing Smartstone benchtops, 2-pack cabinetry, a Bosch dishwasher, gas cooktop, and stainlesssteel oven. Entertain with ease thanks to the seamless flow out to a covered alfresco area and a lower deck complete with pizza oven - all overlooking lush gardens that roll down to the creek’s edge. Upstairs, the clever retention of the original kitchen (with gas cooktop, wall oven, and dishwasher) adds impressive flexibility - ideal for multi-generational living, guest accommodation, or growing families. A cosy lounge and meals area with a second wood fire and reverse-cycle heating/cooling ensures comfort year-round. Four adaptable bedrooms, two stylish bathrooms, and an additional living zone complete the layout, ensuring there’s room for everyone. Every detail of this property reflects thoughtful design and quality living, from the inviting indoor spaces to the serene outdoor zones perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying the sounds of the creek. Homes offering this level of versatility, privacy, and beauty are a rare find - and this one delivers it all.
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 14 Bellbird Street, BELGRAVE Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 garage Price: $900,000 - $990,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Daniel Steen 0434 979 142, CHANDLER & CO REAL ESTATE 9754 6888
26 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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Real Estate you can trust! We’re here to help.
2 Francis Street, TEComa
14 Bellbird Street, BElgRavE
1153 m2
5
2
3
1225m2
4 Francis Street, TEComa 5
2
6
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
$460,000 - $500,000
$900,000 - $990,000
$990,000-$1,089,000
daniel Steen 0434 979 142
daniel Steen 0434 979 142
daniel Steen 0434 979 142
238 Emerald - monbulk Road, monBulk 4
2
4+
19 Colehurst Crescent, olinda
1807m2
4
2
31100m2
1468m2
46 Beaconsfield-Emerald Road, EmERald 4
2
2
6628m2
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
$1,250,000 - $1,350,000
$1,650,000 - $1,750,000
$1,680,000 - $1,740,000
Sharyn Chandler 0439 882 442
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
Brad Conder 0422 639 115
kate Johnson 0434 670 177
Jerlyn arradaza 0434 688 554
Jerlyn arradaza 0434 688 554
03 9754 6888 office@chandlerandco.com.au 1689 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Vic 3160 mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 27
HOME FOCUS
MUDBRICK CHARM ON OVER AN ACRE SET on a generous 5,060sqm block with dual road frontage, in a peaceful and private Cockatoo setting, this four-bedroom mudbrick home delivers warmth, space, and timeless Hill’s character. A wraparound undercover verandah invites you in and sets the tone for relaxed indoor–outdoor living. Inside, the spacious main living and separate dining zone showcases slate flooring, a pitched ceiling with striking exposed beams, beautiful leadlight windows and an ambient open fireplace that anchors the space beautifully. The kitchen is practical and welcoming, offering a gas cooktop, fridge recess, excellent bench space, and ample storage. A second sitting room adds flexibility, featuring timber floorboards, a woodfire heater, and direct access to the verandah—perfect for everyday living or quiet retreat. Add to this gas ducted heating for year-round convenience. Down the hallway, the master bedroom includes built-in robes and outdoor access, while two further carpeted bedrooms also feature builtin robes. A potential fourth bedroom or home office provides versatility, and all are serviced by a central family bathroom. Outdoors, a generous undercover rear entertaining area overlooks the stunning block and established gardens, complemented by under-house storage, a double garage with remote door and a circular drive. Offering absolute privacy from all sides and garden views from every window, this property offers a home rich in character and a property abundant with opportunity and lifestyle appeal. This property has it all so don’t miss out - call to arrange a private inspection today. Please note: All property details shown are correct at time of publishing. Some properties may have been sold in the preceding 24 hours and we recommend that you confirm open for inspection times with the listing agent direct or the listing office.
HOME ESSENTIALS Address: 35 Second Avenue, COCKATOO Description: 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 garage Price: $840,000 - $920,000 Inspect: By appointment Contact: Samantha Scott 0438 680 032, BELL REAL ESTATE EMERALD 5968 6222
28 MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
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P 5968 6222 311-313 Main Street Emerald
39 Bellbird Crescent Emerald
$795,000 - $870,000
115 Uren Road Emerald
$1,590,000 - $1,690,000
Emerald Living with Space, Privacy & a Front-Row Seat to Puffing Billy!
Expansive Country Estate on 30 Acres (approx)
Set on a fully fenced 2,513sqm in a quiet Emerald pocket, this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home delivers space, privacy & a true Hills lifestyle. With Puffing Billy chugging past & walking tracks leading to Emerald Lake Park. An undercover entry opens to timber floorboards throughout & a light-filled loungeroom with woodfire, complemented by gas ducted heating. The kitchen & dining zone features timber benchtops, gas cooktop, dishwasher, excellent storage & easy outdoor access. The master bedroom with verandah access, ensuite, ceiling fan, step-down walk-in robe & a loftstyle nook ideal for a study or reading space. Three further bedrooms are serviced by an updated bathroom with spa bath & separate toilet. Outdoors offers an undercover entertaining area, solarheated pool with gas spa, cubby house, water tank, workshop, container & double carport.
Designed for large families, multi-generational living, or guest accommodation, this expansive 9-bedroom, 3-bathroom brick residence offers remarkable space on a totally private 30 acres. With almost no neighbours, huge cleared paddocks, a year-round creek & a forest walk to a dam & waterfall. Initial council support allows for replacing the existing cottage or adding a second dwelling along Butterfield Road, enhancing dual-accommodation potential. A sweeping circular driveway leads to a drive-through carport & massive garage with toilet, plus extra cleared land. Inside, 2 mirrored, fully air-conditioned wings include 2 kitchens, 2 laundries, multiple living zones with fireplaces & generous bedroom accommodation. Outdoors features an inground heated pool, inground trampoline, powered sheds, dams & wide-open land ideal for horses or hobby farming .
Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032
Aaron Day M 0407 365 994
4
155 Mt Burnett Road Pakenham Upper
A
2
B 2 C
$1,500,000 - $1,620,000
The Ultimate Lifestyle Escape – Pool, Sheds, Views & Room for Everyone. Set on 2.5 lush acres in Pakenham Upper, this superb 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom home blends luxury with country charm. Built in 2010, it features slab heating throughout, a wood fire, ducted vacuum, and reverse-cycle comfort. The stunning kitchen offers granite benches, gas cooking, a walk-in pantry with auto lights, and a bi-fold servery window to the sunroom. Enjoy multiple living areas and a master suite with double walk-in robes plus a spa-like ensuite. Outside, relax under the vast alfresco, dive into the salt-chlorine pool, or unwind by the fire pit. A huge powered shed, double garage, 4-car carport, and generator plug have you sorted. There’s also a separate studio with kitchenette, dog run, veggie gardens, chook pen, two stables, hay storage, and paddocks with water—everything you need for an idyllic country lifestyle. Aaron Day M 0407 365 994
Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451
Brennan Mileto M 0422 996 451
9
74 Beenak Road Gembrook
A
3
B 4 C
$1,380,000 -$1,500,000
Stunning & Immaculate Hills Retreat with Dual Accommodation & Beautiful Views on Over 3 Acres Set on just over 3 acres with 2 street frontages, a circular driveway & views from every window, this exceptional property blends space, flexibility & tranquillity. The main home features 3 bedrooms (master with ensuite & walk-in robe) a bright open-plan kitchen with stone benchtops & 900mm gas stove & split-level living with a lounge warmed by a wood fire & split system. Step onto the expansive deck to enjoy distant hill views, a spa bath & overhead heaters — perfect for year-round entertaining. A separate studio with bathroom, Juliette balcony & workshop below adds dual-living or guest potential. Additional highlights include a 4-car powered garage, extensive veggie garden, 2 fenced paddocks, an orchard of 27 fruit trees & an 8.5 KVA diesel generator with automatic cut-in. Samantha Scott M 0438 680 032
5
A
3
B 6 C
4
A
3
B 2 C
bellrealestate.com.au mailcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL PROPERTY GUIDE 29
PUZZLES No. 272
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.
easy
3 4 5
2 1
9 8
6
5
2
8 5 6 6 8 4 3 7 9 7 6 2 8 8 5 7 1 6 6 9 2 4 medium
1 5 2 5 9 1 4 7 3 1 5 4 1 6 7
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS
15
23
23
18
23
5
17 2
19
15
9
21
26
D
12
20
22
7
6 2 5 9 8 1 5 7 6 2 9 3
9
6
7
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D 1
15
11
7
17
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17
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8
21
17
17
2
12
2
4
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12
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14
2
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22
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23
22
23
7
8
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6
15
23
14
5
25
3 LETTERS ALL ASH AVO BOA DAM DNA ELK FRO GOT HOE ICE ILK INK INN ITS PAD PAR PER SAC SHE SPA UGH USE WIT
B
23
8
25
4
WORDFIT
B
25
B
18
17
16 17
11 17
4
4
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26
5
15
11
3
7
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23
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14
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15
No. 304
16
17 16
15
26
12
17
4
17
17
2 5 7 4 2 7 3
19
21
12 23
23
7
18 23
23
12
7
14
21
9
9
hard
Surrender (6) Difficult to understand (7) Odd (7) Slash (4) Stated an argument (10) Trying (7) Newspaper executives (7) Begins a voyage (4,4) Personal items (10) Pledged (8) Woodlands (7) Islamic state (7) Farm vehicle (7) Forbidden by law (7) Complimentary (6) Notion (4)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 13 16 18 19 20 21 22 25
DECODER
23
2 1 4 6 4 4 7 2 5 9 6 1 3 6
DOWN
Foot covers (5) Pleasure (9) Purchaser (5) Verification schedule (9) Purpose (6) Fearful (8) Speed up (10) Snow runner (3) Officiate (abbr) (3) Self-centred (10) Wedlock (8) Telemarketer (6) Kept up (9) Taut (5) Indigestion (9) Acting parts (5)
1 4 9 10 11 12 14 15 17 19 23 24 26 27 28 29
No. 272
7
15
18
23
23
1 21
D
24 17
17
16
23
10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
B D N A M E I P W T Y S K B D
1
15
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22
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26
V O F G C H L Z Q X R U J 2
3
4
5
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7
8
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11
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13
4 8 4
14
8
9-LETTER WORD
easy
medium
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural nouns ending in “s”.
E
Today’s Aim: 18 words: Good 27 words: Very good
3 4 1 5 8 6 2 7 9 9 5 2 7 4 1 3 8 6 7 8 6 2 3 9 1 4 5 2 9 4 8 5 7 6 3 1 5 6 8 4 1 3 7 9 2 1 3 7 9 6 2 4 5 8 8 2 3 6 9 4 5 1 7 4 7 5 1 2 8 9 6 3 6 1 9 3 7 5 8 2 4
6 3 9 8 2 7 1 4 5 2 5 8 9 1 4 7 3 6 1 7 4 3 6 5 2 8 9 4 2 1 5 3 6 8 9 7 7 8 5 4 9 2 6 1 3 9 6 3 1 7 8 4 5 2 5 1 2 6 8 3 9 7 4 8 4 7 2 5 9 3 6 1 3 9 6 7 4 1 5 2 8
37 words: Excellent
hard
A
I
S
H H
R
R
ashore, hair, hare, harries, harsh, harsher, hash, hear, hears, heir, hero, hers, hire, hirer, hires, hoarier, hoarse, hoarser, hoes, horse, HORSEHAIR, hose, hosier, rash, rasher, rehash, rhea, shah, share, sharer, shea, shear, shier, shire, shirr, shoe, shore
3 5 6 2 7 1 9 8 4 1 8 7 5 4 9 6 2 3 9 2 4 3 8 6 5 7 1 6 3 1 8 9 5 7 4 2 2 4 8 1 6 7 3 5 9 5 7 9 4 3 2 8 1 6 4 6 2 7 5 3 1 9 8 8 9 5 6 1 4 2 3 7 7 1 3 9 2 8 4 6 5 Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters | pagemasters.com
O
4 LETTERS APED DYED ENDS GOOF HOWS KEGS LAMP MONK ROES SAFE SLAG SLED TENS THAW 5 LETTERS ABATE ABODE
No. 272
M O N K
ALPHA APART CRIES CROCS DIETS DODGE DRONE DUVET EARLY EATEN ERODE EVENS EVOKE FAUNA FORTE KEEPS KNEED LISTS LITHE LOWER LUNAR MATTE
NAVAL NOOSE OFTEN ONION OPALS PATIO PREEN REBUT SEEKS SERUM SKATE SORTS SOUTH STAID STAVE STEEL STEMS STRUT TENTS TITLE TOUGH TSARS
ROOSTER RUPTURE TINSELS
UNTIE USERS WINED WREST 6 LETTERS LUSTRE ORDAIN RIDERS TRADES
8 LETTERS ASSURING ASTUTEST INITIATE TOLERATE
7 LETTERS AROUSES ENACTED PRISONS K E E P S L I T H E O P A L S N A V A L O N I O N R E B U T E R O D E W I N E D D R O N E E L K D I E T S S P A D A M C R I E S R I D E R S D Y E D U S E A L L I N N S T A V E T S A R S A P E D G O O F A V O T O L E R A T E R U P T U R E E N A C T E D U G H M O N K A S S U R I N G U S E R S N O O S E T H AW I T S G O T S A C L U S T R E S O U T H S A F E I N K A S H S T E E L B O A S T A I D O F T E N A P A R T WR E S T M A T T E T I T L E S O R T S P R E E N S E E K S
SUDOKU
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SPORT
Mansfield shooter and Rio Olympics gold medallist Catherine Skinner. (527441)
New Zealand Sue Kwek travelled across the ditch to compete for the Commonwealth title. (527441)
Adam Brown from Orange Clay Target Club. (527441)
Olympians here with a bang By Gabriella Vukman Thursday 8 January marked the commencement of a four-day frenzy at the Melbourne Gun Club in Yering. From the Commonwealth Championship competition to the Australian Clay Target National for Trap, the Melbourne Gun Club saw endless spells of bullets long into the weekend. Shotgun Programme Manager at Shooting Australia Adam Hosking said, “We work closely with the Australian Clay Target Association to deliver the nationals for the Australian Clay Target. “We at Shooting Australia have used this event as a selection event for a series of competitions to choose athletes to represent Australia at World Cup events early in 2026,” Mr Hosking said. According to Mr Hosking, World Cups are a good preparation point for the shooting athletes as they progress through the four-year cycle to the Olympics. A number of Olympians ventured out to the Yarra Valley to compete in the competitions, with Mitch Iles, James Willett, and Penny Smith among them. Some competitors from New Zealand also attended the Commonwealth Championships at the club. Mr Hosking said, “This event, because there is a selection overlay, really attracts all those top quality Australian shooters to Melbourne.” “Melbourne Gun Club is one of the best in the country. They have a sufficient amount of layouts and are well equipped to host a competition of this size,” Mr Hosking said. “We are always really happy to come here and compete.” Unlike many other Olympic sports, many of the shooting athletes are not paid for their profession, and work part time jobs on top of competing. “These guys are really pursuing their dreams and passions when they travel to be here,” Mr Hosking said. Treasurer of the Melbourne Gun Club and Coldstream local Lenny Harrison started shooting at Melbourne Gun club in 2022. “We are one of the best venues in the country. We are known as one of the premier shooting facilities,” Ms Harrison said. “We have beautiful grounds with eight trenches and eight layouts in total,” she said. Originally planned to be held in Echuca, last week’s competitions were moved last minute to the Melbourne Gun Club, due to heat wave fears. Ms Harrison told Star Mail, “They contacted the president, Craig, and they said, ‘We need your grounds,’ and Craig, of course, said, ‘yep, okay.’” “It was a flurry of text messages to see if we could all help get the place ready and we did, just in time,” she said. Ms Harrison was most eager to see Mitchell Iles and James Willett take aim last week. “They are just so fluid in the way they shoot,” she said. “It is exciting to watch.’ One of the things Ms Harrison loves most about the club is the members. “It feels like family,” Ms Harrison said. “Everyone is friends.” The club encourages everyone to come down
32 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
Camperdown Olympian Penny Smith with the trophy she won at the event. (Rob Carew: 527441)
Colin Kneebone takes aim. (527441)
Samar Salha. (527441)
New Zealand’s Natalie Foss. (527441)
Olympian Penny Smith with her mum, Kim, and the trophy Penny won at the event. (527441)
Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Laetisha Scanlan lines up her shot. (527441)
Melbourne Gun Club president and Olympian Craig Henwood. (527441)
and have a try. “We sometimes get people who have never shot a gun before and they are really tense at first,
but then they loosen up and go ‘wow,’” Ms Harrison said. “Anyone can come along,” she said.
In terms of 2026 events, the club looks forward to hosting the World UT Championships in February.
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Sky’s the limit for new Pie By Callum Ludwig From signing up to play footy with her sister to being drafted alongside some of her closest friends, it’s been a meteoric rise for Josie Bamford. The Bayswater and Ferntree Gully junior was greeted by close friend, Monbulk junior and Collingwood player Georgia Knight on draft night ahead of her first season at the Pies. Bamford said she started playing with Bayswater in 2017 or 2018 before moving to Ferntree Gully in 2021. “I think it was the Under 12s in 2018, we won the premiership for Bayswater, which is really good and my dad was the assistant coach so I was really happy with that one,” she said. “Then in my third year, I filled in a lot for my sister’s team, which was I think the Under 18s and that was good fun, because I would play a game in the morning and then in the afternoon with my sister.” Bamford’s talents saw her picked to play in interleague, Eastern Ranges and eventually Vic Metro squads throughout her junior years. Bamford said it was when she was picked for the Vic Metro Under 16s that she realised a footy career is what she’d really like to pursue. “I wanted to go to the Olympics for high jump so my dreams changed to footy which I thought was a lot more realistic,” she said. “I talked to a manager throughout the year, and he was thinking about (pick) 20 to 30, something like that but it was during pre-season for Metro, where it was a summer hub and we talking to clubs, that was when it was starting to feel really real. Bamford was selected with Pick 29 in the draft. Bamford said ahead of draft night, she wasn’t feeling too nervous. “I was talking to Jordi (Jordyn Allen, pick 16 to Melbourne) and Tayla (McMillan, pick 34 to Carlton), my best friends from Ranges, and they were really nervous even though I don’t know why either of them would be really nervous,” she said. “I was pretty laid back, I’ve been trusting the process, but I had all my friends over at my house, so that made me a bit more nervous when they all showed up, “My name got called out, it was a bit of a shock, I was hoping for Collingwood, but I didn’t know it and I’ve been best friends with Georgia Knight from when we played Ranges together… she showed up to my house to give me the jumper and I didn’t even know how to process it all.”
Josie Bamford (left) using her height to her advantage as a junior. (Supplied) While her height and high jump background have lent themselves well to playing as a ruck/ forward, Bamford began as an inside midfielder or wing as a junior and only started playing in the ruck at Under 16 level with the Eastern Ranges. “I think my playstyle is an athletic ruck, I like to get around the ground fast to all the stoppages,” he said. “Pies fans can look forward to seeing me dominate in the ruck and hand it to my midfielders cleanly and efficiently. “I hope to debut this year and play consistently, I’m looking forward to playing with Georgia Knight and players like Ash Centra…I’m even really excited for the professionalism because it’s my full-time job now and I don’t have to really focus on anything else other than footy.”
A first of hopefully many for Josie Bamford at Bayswater. (Supplied)
McMillan achieves her childhood dream with Carlton By Callum Ludwig Wantirna South superstar Tayla McMillan, raised in Boronia, is another AFLW draftee from the Outer East hoping to leave a mark on the competition in 2026 and beyond. McMillan, taken with pick 34 by her childhood club Carlton, captained the Eastern Ranges to the premiership, co-captained the Vic Metro side and was awarded All-Australian honours and named in the Talent League Team of the Year in her draft year. McMillan said it was very special being picked up by the club she has always supported. “I think it’s obviously a dream of everyone’s, getting picked up by the club you’ve grown up barracking for, but my whole family are big Blues fans, so when they called out my name, it just made it 10 times more special,” she said. “I was very stressed at the start just waiting as the picks go down, waiting to hopefully hear your name get called out so it was very stressful up until the moment,. “Then once your name’s called out, it’s such a relief and excitement from then on, just knowing, it all starts here now, and you’ve achieved your dream.” The tough inside midfielder averaged 20 disposals per game for Vic Metro in the national championships and was best-on-ground for the Eastern Ranges as they brought home a historymaking flag. McMillan said she started playing footy for the love of the sport and playing with her
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Tayla McMillan stands tall in a tackle. (Jordan Sacchetta/AFL Photos) friends, but it was once she started making the Eastern Ranges side that playing professionally became real to her. “You realise you could have a chance here, because you are in those higher sides and then
after watching a couple of my friends get picked up the year before me, that probably made it a bit more real,” she said. “I was like ‘Oh wow, this could really be me next year if I really push myself’ so I think being
in Eastern made it a bit more eye-opening, and watching my friends get picked up was really that next step that pushed me to keep working harder and strive. “Seeing them achieve their dreams, it made me think that I could achieve mine if I put in the work.” Blues fans can look forward to McMillan’s competitive streak and desire to get in and win the contest in the years to come, showing the passion and love for the club she has had her whole life, growing up idolising the likes of Chris Judd and Patrick Cripps. Carlton Head of AFLW Ash Naulty said the addition of McMillan was a great result for the football club. “Welcoming Tayla to IKON Park is so exciting - we couldn’t be happier to bring her to Carlton, ever since she burst onto the scene as an All Australian at under-16 level in 2023, Tayla has shown her capacity for the big moment,” she said. “She’s the kind of player who gives her absolute all, 100 percent of the time, we love what she can do with ball in hand, she connects the play in transition with her footy IQ and clean fundamentals. “Having her join our emerging midfield group with the likes of Abbie McKay, Mimi Hill and Keeley Sherar is super exciting for the longterm future of our club. As someone who’s loved the Club for a long time, this a dream come true for her - we can’t wait to see what she can provide for us in the years to come.”
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL 33
SPORT
Daniel Sanders competes during stage two of the 2026 Dakar Rally from Yanbu to Al Ula, Saudi Arabia on 5 January, 2026. (Florent Gooden / DPPI / Red Bull Content Pool)
Dakar: Sanders holds firm By Oliver Winn Motocross maestro Daniel “Chucky” Sanders remains on top position after stage seven in the 2026 Dakar Rally, despite suffering a speeding penalty. The Three Bridges local sped off to a great start in stage six, collecting time bonuses and overtaking the leaders, but was setback to third position after he was hit with a six minute speeding penalty. “Really disappointed after today. I pushed so hard from start to finish and started to collect time bonuses because I overtook the leaders and was opening the stage. This gave me a really good lead, but then I was given a six minute speeding penalty, which put me back to third position. “I am still leading the overall, but with a slim
margin,” he said in a Facebook post. He hit the ground running in stage seven where he managed to catch both leaders, improving his overall lead and finishing in fourth position. The start of stage seven saw Sanders flying at high speeds through large open valleys, before he slowed his pace to confront more technical terrain in the latter half. “The start of the stage was super fast, but towards the end there was some fun rocky terrain. Tomorrow I start in fourth position and I’m ready to go.” Sanders finished stage seven behind KTM teammates Luciano Benavides and Edgar Canet, while Honda’s Adrien Van Beveren sits in third place.
Sanders starts stage eight in fourth position on 13 January. (Kin Marcin / Red Bull Content Pool)
Basketball Victoria leads way with road safety message Blue armbands will be a familiar sight across courts in the east after Basketball Victoria partnered with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to support a new road safety initiative that will see tens of thousands of grassroots and elite sportspeople join its mission to save lives and prevent injuries on the state’s roads. The partnership was announced recently at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne joined the TAC and leaders from Basketball Victoria, Cricket Victoria and Football Victoria to launch the expanded program, which will engage more than 1700 sporting clubs statewide. At the centre of the initiative is the TAC Club Participation Program, which will see Road Safety Rounds delivered across multiple sports. Basketball Victoria will activate its Road Safety Round from 19 January to 1 February, with players, coaches and officials wearing blue armbands to Band Together for road safety awareness and in recognition of those impacted by road trauma. Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey said the initiative reflects the scale, reach and responsibility of basketball communities across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria. “Basketball is Victoria’s highest-participation team sport, with more than 691,000 participants and over 29 million visits to basketball venues each year,” Honey said. “Our participants, particularly young drivers, parents and supporters, travel more kilometres per season than any other team sport, with 100
34 MAIL | Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
Basketball Victoria will be first cab off the rank in 2026, activating its Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Road Safety Round from January 19 to February 1. (Gary Sissons: 492204) of our associations located outside metropolitan areas. “This partnership allows us to speak directly to our community about making safer choices every time they get behind the wheel.” Through the program, community basketball clubs will be eligible to share in merchandise and vouchers valued at $40,000 by
demonstrating how they are actively promoting road safety within their local communities. Across summer, the pilot will focus on the dangers of speed, equipping clubs with resources to promote the TAC’s campaign messages: Slow down on the road. Make the right choice. Be the Difference.
These messages reinforce the shared responsibility all road users have to keep themselves and others safe. TAC CEO Tracey Slatter said sporting organisations play a vital role in influencing positive behaviour beyond the field of play. “The TAC is proud to expand its involvement in grassroots sport to reach as many people as possible with the simple but lifesaving message to slow down,” Slatter said. “Whether it’s players, families, volunteers or supporters, sporting communities have the power to model safe driving behaviour and create lasting cultural change.” The initiative builds on the success of the TAC’s Club Rewards program, which has seen hundreds of football and netball clubs become road safety advocates across Victoria over the past six years. Elite basketball clubs, including Melbourne United and Bendigo Spirit, will also amplify road safety messages throughout the season, extending the campaign’s reach to fans and members across the state. The partnership comes after 288 people lost their lives on Victorian roads last year, with speeding a major contributor to around 30 per cent of fatalities. The TAC has recently launched its major holiday road safety advertising campaign, featuring new television ads highlighting the dangers of speed and drink driving.
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Smith steers Twos to win Cricket returned after its summer siesta over the Christmas period on Saturday, and Mt Evelyn’s cricketers braced themselves for the big run into finals with just over a month to book their places. The Community Bank - Mt Evelyn First XI’s season has struggled to take flight, and they find themselves in a desperate fight to remain in the Wilkins Cup competition. With a restructure of grading for the 2026/27 season, three teams will be relegated, and the Mounters currently find themselves short of the mark. They hit the road to Kilsyth for their first game of the new year in a bid to turn things around. Mt Evelyn won the toss and captain Campbell Mole elected to take the front foot and chose to bat first. The Mounters’ top order woes continued with gun bats Malinga De Silva and Jake Blackwell back in the sheds in quick succession to put the innings on the back foot from the outset. Daniel Fraser would do his best to keep the innings together and would compile a useful innings of 49. Mole would combine with Fraser for a steadying partnership of 44 through the middle overs, but when both departed with the score just beyond three figures, the task became great for the rest of the batting line-up. A blistering half-century from Jett Hartman kept the scoreboard ticking over through the back end of the innings, pushing the final score to 7/185. By no means a huge total, but one that gave the visitors an opportunity for victory should they bowl well. When Hrabe struck in the first over, things looked bright for the Mounters. From there, neither team would yield. For the Redbacks, the key would be wickets in hand as they would reach 2/95 at the halfway point of the innings. Mt Evelyn in much need of some wickets. Darcy Fraser and Malinga De Silva would strike in consecutive overs upon the resumption of play, breathing new life into the contest and to Mt Evelyn’s chances. The game was still up for grabs after 30 overs, with the hosts still requiring 52 off the last 10 overs, but with the benefit of still six wickets in the sheds. In the blink of an eye…the game was over. Kilsyth would proceed to smash the required runs off the next three overs, yanking the victory with brutal force. A shell-shocked Mt Evelyn team left to lament another loss, and the gravity of the task ahead in the remaining rounds to avoid relegation. The Professionals Outer East Second XI entered the new year in the top four, but seeking some consistency over the back end of the season, as solid wins had been accompanied by the occasional slip up leaving the 2nd XI far from comfortable with their standing. Up first were the top of the table Bulldogs from Wandin. A big test straight off the bat. Gary Martin Oval has been the source of quick and plentiful runs this season, so when the Mounters started with the ball, they knew they needed to be persistent and resilient, as runs would be the order of the day. Openers Kynan Yates and Brad Jones would be disciplined with their lines and lengths and would be ably supported by young star Billie Laird. Regular wickets would stymy the flow of the innings and despite reaching a useful total of 9/211, the hosts still would be well pleased with their efforts in the field. The only blemish would be the 30 extras gifted to their opponents. Would that prove fatal? Right from the outset, the total was going to look well under par. Opener Adam Smith was particularly unforgiving, blasting 94 runs off 68 deliveries littered with 14 fours and four sixes. The only hiccup in his brilliant innings was that he wasn’t able to capture a much-deserved century. The rest of the top order would follow Smith’s lead, with Mike Mawson’s unbeaten half-century capping off a brisk chase, taking the Mounters to victory within 30 overs and seven wickets in hand. The victory is the perfect start to the new year for the Second XI, however, they would be well aware that wins will be at a premium for the remainder of the season, as the gap between the top of the table and the bottom of the table is minimal. String some late-season wins together, and home finals beckon. Lose games and finals may be missed. The Rhead Group Third XI have also had a steady start to the season, sneaking into the top four by Christmas. Their biggest challenge has been trying to knock off the competition’s top teams, and Saturday’s game presented them with the perfect opportunity to break their duck as they travelled to Warrandyte to take on the highflying Bloods.
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Despite the effort, Smith was unable to capture the century. (Supplied)
Smith was firing off shots, with 14 fours and four sixes. Warrandyte would open up with the bat, and it soon became clear to the Mounters how big their task would be. The Bloods flew out of the gates courtesy of openers Sean Dixon and Tim Winter. The pair would rack up a remarkable 124run partnership within the first seven overs when captain Graeme Foster finally broke through for the floundering visitors. The run rate would slow, but with Winter batting throughout the innings, it was still a run-a-ball pace. Eventually, the Mounters were given a reprieve when the innings closed at 6/310, a huge total to chase for victory. No bowlers were spared in the onslaught, with wickets shared. As predicted, the chase proved to be too difficult and even though the Mounters had an honest crack at chasing the score, the risks in chasing such a huge total meant that wickets fell too regularly in the pursuit of quick runs. The Mounters would be bowled out in the 30th over with the score on 197. Alex Whiting (38), Luke Paterson (37) and Zeke Tressider (23*) would be the key contributors to the innings, but no batter could kick on to the big innings that the chase needed. Although the Third XI still sit third on the ladder, the traffic jam through the middle means that wins are still vital in the run home should they want to participate in the finals action. The Hop Hen Brewing Fourth XI’s season has been progressing nicely with a string of wins leading into the break, consolidating their position in the top four. In a close competition, their opening game of the new year against third-placed Ainslie Park could prove crucial to final standings. The Parkers would put a strong and experienced team on the park who would be a tough challenge for the improving Mounters. Ainslie would bat first and compile a very useful total of 6/257. A well-paced and well-compiled innings. The Mt Evelyn bowlers would battle manfully, but on the quick Gruyere Reserve, runs were hard to stop. Campbell Manser would be the best of the bowlers, capturing 2/29. Unperturbed, the Mounters went about their business with the chase, knowing full well that if
Adam Smith helped steer the Second XI to victory, notching up 94 runs.
they could keep wickets in hand, the run friendly conditions would pay them back handsomely. Opener Lachie Robertson and Jarrod Hartman provided the steady base on which to build as their 116-run partnership pushed the total to 2/155. Unfortunately for the hosts, the run rate was always behind the eight ball, and when the whips started cracking in the run home, the Mounters couldn’t muster the scoring rate to realistically challenge Ainslie’s score. Robertson (61) and Hartman (62) made excellent half centuries, but if the Mounters were to chase down the total, one or both of them needed to kick on until the end. When stumps were drawn, the Mounters would find themselves 40 runs short with a score of 6/217. A promising showing with plenty of positives, but short of victory. The Fourth XI find themselves in a precarious position defending their place in the top four. They have some breathing space ahead of Wonga Park in fifth place, but some losses could see that gap close quickly. The Lilydale Tyres Fifth XI have had a mixed start to the season after stepping up a grade this season. The competition has some strong sides that have been tough to break down, whilst the rest of the teams have provided a level competition. With the Mounters sitting fourth on the ladder, wins against teams around them on the ladder become imperative. Their opponents on the weekend, Croydon North, have been one of the high flyers this season, so it was a tough assignment first up after a spell. It proved to be as the Knights’ batting line up put them to the sword. The Mounters would experience some early success with a pair of wickets to Harry Dunstone, reducing the score to 2/35, but from there, the batting was unforgiving on the Mt Evelyn bowlers. At the end of the 36 overs, Croydon North would amass a huge total, scoring 6/296. A tough chase for the visitors. A tough chase it proved to be as regular wickets had the Mounters scrambling from the outset. With the score at 7/90, it looked like it was going to be an early finish for all and sundry. Paul Flavel
(43 not out) and Ryan Doyle (24 not out) would dig their heels in and show a little fight when all was lost to ensure the game would go the distance, but the chase was well and truly out of sight, and when stumps were drawn, the Mounters were 150 runs short with 7/146 on the scoreboard. The Flowtec Sixth XI have battled along this season. Generally not disgraced in any of their games, but have fallen short in key moments of games. Their opponents on Saturday, Bayswater Park, top of the ladder and a tough challenge to start the new year. After scrambling a team together at the last moment, Mt Evelyn opened up the contest with the bat on the ‘Postage Stamp’ at Mt Evelyn with a high scoring affair in the offing. Ring in, Jackson Merrett quickly asserted his influence on the game, racing to his retirement of 50 in quick time. Craig Carsten would ensure the total would tick on with a blistering 32 before his hamstring gave way, whilst Dave Henderson (36) and Casey Burton (28) had the Mounters well on task to a defendable total. The cherry on the top was Merrett’s return to the wicket as he would add another 82 runs to his personal total of 132 not out, his maiden century after a long absence from the game. His end-of-innings flurry boosted the score to an imposing 8/306. Although the total looks impassable on paper, everyone on both sides knew this contest was far from over on the unforgiving surrounds. Bayswater Park would start steadily in their pursuit of the runs, and their openers would establish a firm base on which to build. What followed was a brutal attack through the middle overs, keeping the Sharks well on track, if not always ahead of the task. The Mounters would give themselves every chance as Mikey Gibbons would become the unlikely destroyer with the ball, taking four big wickets to tighten things up, but the Sharks were too classy and accomplished to let this one slip as they passed the score with three overs in the bank and three wickets in the shed. A tough loss for the Mounters, but another encouraging performance nonetheless.
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 | MAIL 35
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