Mail - Ranges Trader Star Mail - 17th March 2026

Councillor

By Tanya Steele

Found to have engaged in misconduct by an independent arbiter, Councillor Peter Lockwood of Baird Ward has been suspended after making disruptive meeting comments, including calling other councillors “grinches” in July last year.

A Knox Councillor has been suspended from office for one month as of 10 March for his behaviour stemming from council’s decisions on the budget for the region’s Christmas decorations.

The councillor also liked posts critical of other Knox councillors and shared part of an internal

email from the Mayor on a public Facebook page.

They included failing to treat others with respect, undermining the Mayor’s role, behaving disruptively during council meetings and engaging in conduct that could damage public confidence in local government.

During a hearing on the matter in August 2025, Cr Lockwood apologised for referring to colleagues as “grinches” and saying they “lacked heart”, but argued many of the complaints made against him were trivial or had been misinterpreted.

Arbiter Jo-Anne Mazzeo determined that Cr

Lockwood’s conduct at the July council meetings, his media comments and several social media posts constituted misconduct under the Local Government Act 2020 and ultimately decided that Cr Lockwood would not undergo any training to refresh on the code he is bound by and suspended him for one calendar month.

“Cr Lockwood is an experienced Councillor and does not lack an understanding of the Model Code, but appears to have chosen to disregard it when making the ill-considered public comments/behaviour at Council Meetings and social media interactions he engaged in,” Arbiter

Shell-abrate The Clams

By Tanya Steele

A Clam-tastic performance like no other was hosted by the Olinda Community Pool over the weekend as a self-dubbed “unprofessional ballerina workshop” performed by The Clams descended on the Hills.

The Clams, from the inner city, headed out to perform their Unprofessional Water Ballet 101 Workshop at the Olinda Community Pool, with giggles and splashes in abundance on the day. Workshop attendee and Hills resident Michelle said she was thrilled when she heard that they were coming to the Hills.

“It was exciting to have them at Olinda Pool and the performance was fabulous, so quirky with their cute caps and stunning red costumes,” she said. “I had a ball learning some signature moves.”

James Edge from the Olinda Pool Association said they were very excited about The Clams bringing their magic to the Dandenongs.

Read more on page 18

Mazzeo said in the report submitted on 2 March.

A spokesperson from Knox Council said that internal arbitration proceedings are matters conducted between the councillors involved, in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2020.

“At the Council Meeting on 10 March 2026, Council tabled a decision from a state-appointed independent arbiter, following applications under Section 143 of the Act seeking findings of misconduct against the elected representative for Baird Ward,” they said.

To read more, turn to page 3

Julie Buxton, new Labor candidate, steps up for Bayswater

By Tanya Steele

The Bayswater seat for the Australian Labor Party at the next state election has named Julie Buxton as their next candidate.

Labor’s new candidate for Bayswater will succeed MP Jackson Taylor, who took to socials to share the news last week.

“Julie is someone I’ve known and trusted for many years and was my first office manager when I was first elected in 2018,” he said.

“From day one, I saw how deeply she cared about helping people and making sure our community got the love and attention it deserves”.

Ms Buxton said Jackson Taylor is a great friend of hers.

“I’m proud to have his support and I’m looking forward to taking what he’s done even further – working hard to back in local businesses, improve services and make sure people feel heard,” she said.

The next state election candidate for Bayswater has been a resident of the eastern suburbs all of her life and she has roots in the local community. She works in the public sector in disaster recovery and said that it’s fair to say she’s not your typical pollie candidate.

“That suits me fine,” she said. “I’m a little out of the box and I plan on doing things a little differently – I think people are up for that.”

MP Jackson Taylor announced his step away from politics in September last year and said he’s stoked at what Labor been able to deliver these past eight years.

“It’s time for me to go and spend a bit more time with the family – but there’s so much more to do,” he said.

As the new candidate for Bayswater, Ms Buxton has run for a Labor seat before in 2018, losing out 41.01 per cent to 41.41 per cent of the votes to Liberal MP Nick Wakeling in Ferntree Gully.

“I’ve previously run in 2018 as Labor’s candidate for Ferntree Gully and that was a really great experience,” said Ms Buxton. “There was respect among candidates and that’s something I hope to see again this time round,” she said.

Ms Buxton recently went to Knox Fest, appearing with Mary Doyle, Member for Aston on the day and has now appeared in MP Jackson Taylor’s socials in a shared post on 6 March.

“I’ve got some exciting news. Meet Julie Buxton, she’s Labor’s candidate for Bayswater at the 2026 State Election - and she’s someone I’ve known and trusted for many years,” said MP Taylor.

MP Taylor said he knows Julie will be a strong advocate for the community and someone who will work hard every day to earn their trust and keep delivering for Knox.

Ms Buxton said she is so excited to get out and about and meet the good people of Knox to about what matters to them, their families and their community.

“I feel really lucky to be given the opportunity to earn the trust of locals and hopefully their support at this year’s state election - and I won’t take either for granted,” said Ms Buxton.

Heat on Cardinia schools

By Tanya Steele

Cardinia’s schooling community has been left frustrated again this week, after overnight local area fire ratings meant the shutdown and relocation of some local schools.

Short notice closures saw schools across Cardinia close on Wednesday 11 March, with the school community waking up to the news that kids would be home for the day.

“Cockatoo Primary School, Upper Beaconsfield Primary School and Emerald Secondary College closed or relocated as an extreme fire danger rating was issued for Cardinia overnight,” Ranges Ward Councillor David Nickells said on social media.

The school closures are due to a statewide policy that informs the bushfire at-risk register (BARR).

A Department of Education spokesperson said this assessment was conducted by the CSIRO annually for every school and early childhood service in Victoria.

All schools across Victoria are ranked, and under the Department of Education’s policy, all category two services are required to close or relocate when the LGA fire danger rating reaches extreme.

BARR can place a school or kinder into category zero, one, two or three, with category zero having the highest bushfire risk profile.

The site’s terrain, fuel and vegetation type, its Bushfire Prone Area designation and Shelter-in-Place (SIP) building are taken into account when the rank is given.

The BARR ratings are then used to decide if the school will operate, shut down or move to a partnered school on extreme fire days.

The LGA fire rating is not public, and the community must wait for late afternoon or evening communications from their schools.

“The safety of students and staff is always our highest priority,” the department spokesperson said.

“As a result of the Extreme Fire Danger Rating for the Cardinia LGA issued by the Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday morning, schools enacted their Emergency Management Plan.

“Schools communicate with parents soon after upgraded Fire Danger Ratings are released by the BOM.

“We are grateful for the support of school staff and parents to keep our school communities safe”.

In Cardinia this year, Emerald and Cockatoo have schools that are now classified as both category two and three in their suburbs, already dealing with closures in early February.

This means families with children attend-

ing across schools will have some children required to stay home or relocate, while others attend as normal.

Cr Nickells said there is a Notice of Motion already tabled for the Cardinia Council’s next meeting, along the lines that Cardinia take appropriate actions on this matter that are available to the council at a local government level.

“Unfortunately, that mostly involves escalation to the Minister for Emergency Services

and the Minister for Education, plus tabling the matter at the Regional Emergency Management Planning Committee, on behalf of our local students, parents and teaching staff affected,” he said.

“But at least it’s something, coming from the third layer of government that’s closest to the community.”

The councillor is also rallying support to write to the government about the ongoing disruptions.

“Our district needs to tell the government clearly that the current setup is confusing, self-contradictory and is causing significant disruption - and needs fixing with urgency,” he said on social media.

For a full list of the schools on the BARR, the community can head to the Department of Education’s website at: vic.gov.au/bushfire-risk-register-barr

Knox councillor cops a month suspension

By Tanya Steele

A Knox Councillor has been suspended from office for one month as of 10 March for his behaviour stemming from council’s decisions on the budget for the region’s Christmas decorations. Found to have engaged in misconduct by an independent arbiter, Councillor Peter Lockwood of Baird Ward had made disruptive meeting comments, including calling other councillors “grinches” in July last year.

The councillor also liked posts critical of other Knox councillors and shared part of an internal email from the Mayor on a public Facebook page. Complaints against Cr Lockwood were lodged on 18 August 2025 detailing parts of the model Councillor Code of Conduct that he had breached.

They included failing to treat others with respect, undermining the Mayor’s role, behaving disruptively during council meetings and engaging in conduct that could damage public confidence in local government.

During a hearing on the matter in August 2025, Cr Lockwood apologised for referring to colleagues as “grinches” and saying they “lacked heart”, but argued many of the complaints made against him were trivial or had been misinterpreted.

Arbiter Jo-Anne Mazzeo determined that Cr Lockwood’s conduct at the July council meetings, his media comments and several social media posts constituted misconduct under the Local Government Act 2020 and ultimately decided that Cr Lockwood would not undergo any training to refresh on the code he is bound by and suspended him for one calendar month.

“Cr Lockwood is an experienced Councillor and does not lack an understanding of the Model Code, but appears to have chosen to disregard it when making the ill-considered public comments/behaviour at Council Meetings and social media interactions he engaged in,” Arbiter Mazzeo said in the report submitted on 2 March.

Other local government councillors have also been suspended for violating their codes of conduct in Victoria recently.

In February, Josh Gilligan, the Mayor of Wyndham City Council, was found to have breached the council’s standards for behaviour and conduct with a Facebook post in which he described a former mayor as a “raging lunatic” and also stood down for a month.

Over at Merri-Bek Council, Deputy Mayor Jay Iwasaki has also received a month-long suspension after being found to have engaged in misconduct, accusing another councillor of potential “corruption”, making it the third sanction handed down in Merri-Bek in the last year.

“Councillors are encouraged to attempt to resolve any disputes, including disputes concerning alleged breaches of the Model Code of Conduct, through the Council’s own internal resolution procedure in the first instance,” reads the Guidance on the Model Councillor Code of Conduct document for Victoria, from 2024. Now having been found in breach of the

model code of conduct in Victoria, Cr Lockwood seems to have taken various media coverage so far of the situation lightly and took to Facebook on 12 March sharing some of the coverage.

“My bad, my humour doesn’t always come across. Just too bloody old!” he said in a post from a local social media page from Knox featuring him being grabbed by an AI version of a Grinch character.

A spokesperson from Knox Council said that internal arbitration proceedings are matters conducted between the councillors involved, in line

with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2020.

“At the Council Meeting on 10 March 2026, Council tabled a decision from a state-appointed independent arbiter, following applications under Section 143 of the Act seeking findings of misconduct against the elected representative for Baird Ward,” they said.

“The arbiter upheld the applications and has imposed a one-month suspension. For further information, the report is available on the Council’s website.”

Ongoing graffiti in Upwey

Police are urging the community to help tackle ongoing graffiti and property damage at Upwey Skate Park.

While it may seem minor, these incidents cost local residents, traders, and the council, and can make people feel less safe using public spaces.

The Yarra Ranges Council has cleaned up the latest damage, and anyone with information is asked to contact Belgrave Police Station on 9754 6677.

Community support plays an important role in keeping local spaces safe and welcoming for everyone.

Young teen from Boronia missing Police are seeking public assistance to locate 16-year-old Cannon, who was last seen at a Boronia address on 21 February around 6.30 pm.

He was wearing a red top, black vest, and black pants at the time.

Authorities have expressed concern for Cannon due to his age and a medical condition.

Anyone who sees him is urged to contact Boronia Police Station on 9760 6600.

Man charged after Emerald Lake incident

Police have charged a man following an incident that unfolded earlier this week at Emerald Lake.

Local law enforcement were first called to the area on Monday 9 March after reports of a collision involving an alleged offender, who was later taken into custody by police.

Social media noticeboards at the time claimed a man had been seen wielding a machete near the lake, driving on the wrong side of the road and crashing into a water tank near the Emerald Library before being arrested.

In a statement released following the incident, police confirmed a man was charged after he allegedly rammed a police vehicle in a carpark on Belgrave-GembrookRoadinEmeraldon9March.

The 35-year-old Drouin man was charged with multiple offences including recklessly exposing an emergency services worker to risk by driving, assaulting an emergency worker and failing to stop on police directions.

He appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where he was remanded in custody and has since been bailed to appear on 23 March.

Emerald Village Association President Peter Maloney said he was disappointed no one reported the incident to police, especially as it happened on a public holiday when the lake area was busy with visitors.

He said police cannot intervene if incidents are not reported and urged locals to report any suspicious or dangerous behaviour in the future.

Anyone involved in this incident is urged to contact Emerald Police Station on (03) 5954 0200. Anyone with information who was not involved is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Recycling hubs on the horizon

By Tanya Steele

New waste disposal options are on the horizon for residents in the Yarra Ranges, with four new recycling hubs to be launched across the region.

Sustainability Victoria announced the plans on 10 March, and the hubs will give residents more places to safely dispose of batteries, electronics and more.

Funded by Sustainability Victoria and Yarra Ranges Council, the hubs will mean residents can drop off things like loose batteries and embedded batteries, including vapes, at four council locations yet to be announced.

Strategic education officer from waste management at Yarra Ranges Council, Lisa Loulier, said the hubs will hopefully be open as soon as May this year.

“We’re really happy and we’re looking forward to having these available for people,” she said.

The centres will allow residents to drop off an array of items that can be tricky to recycle safely, giving them more options.

“It’ll also be things like light globes, fluoro tubes, X-rays, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, that kind of thing will also be accepted in those recycling hubs as well,” said Ms Loulier.

The Yarra Ranges is a large region, and recycling can be tricky depending on where you live and finding places to recycle for free can be a massive chore for time-poor households.

Ms Loulier said that, at the moment, the introduction of the hubs will mean that the option to drop off small e-waste is something that will alleviate costs for residents and keep the waste out of household bins.

“At the moment, if people have something like

a torch or an electric toothbrush, because that’s an electronic item, it can’t go into your rubbish bin or your recycling bin, and so you can take it to a transfer station, but then that incurs a fee for those small items,” she said. “If it’s something that fits into the size of your hand, it doesn’t seem worth it. Hopefully, by having these hubs, people can drop off the small handheld-size items.”

In particular, the hubs will provide another place to dispose of e-waste. E-waste is defined by the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) in the Environment Protection Regulations 202 as waste from things that involve an electric current or an electromagnetic field.

This includes discarded electrical or electronic devices and equipment like batteries (including rechargeable batteries), computers, kitchen appliances, mobile phones, photovoltaic panels, televisions (flat panel and cathode ray), and white goods. Products with minor electrical components, such as toys, are also e-waste.

Despite being banned from landfills since 2019, the safe and correct disposal of e-waste remains a challenge and households still often incorrectly place things like batteries in their rubbish bins.

When these single-use batteries and electronics end up in kerbside bins or landfills, they can then pose serious risks to people and the environment as they travel through the waste disposal process.

Particularly, lithium-ion batteries can be very dangerous and can ignite when crushed in garbage trucks or recycling facilities. They also cause dangerous fires that endanger waste workers and the community and leach toxic chemicals into the environment.

Ms Loulier said the Yarra Ranges council have

had issues from battery fires in the last couple of months, and they’re unfortunately a fairly regular thing that occurs.

“We’re trying to keep making people aware that batteries can’t go into any of your bins,” she said.

“They cause fires in the trucks and can be really dangerous for the truck drivers and the recycling centre staff.”

Across the state, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) estimates they attend one fire a day caused by rechargeable batteries.

Darren McQuade, Fire Rescue Victoria’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Community Resilience said that when electronic items containing rechargeable batteries are crushed in collection or recycling trucks after being incorrectly disposed of in kerbside bins, they can catch alight.

“This puts the community at risk,” he said.

A fire in a rubbish truck can also mean that waste and recycling has to be dumped in public spaces to safely deal with the fire, creating a huge clean-up job for councils. To help raise awareness

about how to dispose of batteries and electronics safely, Sustainability Victoria began a campaign last year. CEO of Sustainability Victoria, Matt Genever, said the campaign is about shining a light on the embedded batteries in everyday items and reminding Victorians that batteries and e-waste do not belong in kerbside bins.

“It’s a small act that has a big impact on the safety of our environment and community,” he said.

For now, residents can visit Sustainability Victoria’s website to use an interactive map to find safe disposal locations in their area, along with other websites like Recycle Mate and B-Cycle.

Back in the Yarra Ranges, Ms Loulier said that the hope is that through the install of the recycling hubs, the new locations will give people another option for those items that are really hard to recycle. “The recycling hub will hopefully make it easier for people,” she said. “If their local supermarket doesn’t have a drop-off point for batteries, they’ll be able to bring them into the recycling hubs.”

Rat poisons suspended

By Callum Ludwig

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has recommended that any chemical products containing any second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) should be restricted.

The finding follows years of calls from wildlife scientists and advocates who have seen predators of rats and mice such as owls, eagles and hawks as well as other creatures like possums becoming sick or dying from the effects of rodenticides.

Associate Professor of the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University John Smith was the co-author of a paper called released in 2023 that highlighted the prevalence of these poisons in birds.

Assoc Prof Smith said he is very pleased as this is the first steps towards an outcome that scientists in the field have been calling for for a while.

“This announcement a couple of days ago of basically registering the particular type of rat poisons, second-generation anticoagulants, as restricted chemical products, effectively will take them out of the public’s hands, which is a really good thing,” he said.

“I know a lot of the public won’t see it that way, but probably most of the poisoning of wildlife we’re seeing from possums all the way up the food chain to powerful owls, wedgetailed eagles and barn owls are largely coming out of people using these poisons in their house.

“Then rats, mice and possums and things like that are basically spreading that poison through the food chain and it’s having catastrophic impacts on our biodiversity.”

The paper, called ‘Silent killers? The widespread exposure of predatory nocturnal birds to anticoagulant rodenticides’, identified that from five eastern barn owls, 12 southern boobooks, 19 tawny frogmouths and 24 powerful owls, anticoagulant rodenticides were found

in 92 per cent of liver samples.

Assoc Prof Smith said the anticoagulants build to a level where an animal has enough of it and their blood clotting capacity stops working, meaning a fairly minor injury can result in fatal hemorrhaging and bleeding out over time.

“They’re slow to act so for say a rat eating the poison, they have them and they don’t know for several days…they get a super dose of the poison generally, well beyond what they need to kill them and their behaviour is adjusted quite dramatically and they’ll often go out in the open and then they’ll get directly eaten by something such as a frogmouth which we know has very high levels of rat poison in their system so they’re exposed to it a lot,” he said.

“The poisons are actually held in the body for a very long time, generally if you get a dose of this stuff, it will take it up to a year to get rid of all of that toxin out of the animal but if you’re just constantly encountering it over the next year, you’re just accumulating a dose until eventually It’s a death by a thousand cuts.

“Some of the older rat poisons that have

things like warfarin as their base, the body tends to get rid of them a lot quicker, most of it’s excreted and you almost have to have a couple of doses of warfarin over a week for it to have its full impact but the special properties of these poisons is they’re single feed and they are very hard for the to the animal to get it out of their body.”

A 2024 study for the journal Science of The Total Environment also found that 91 per cent of brushtail possums and 40 per cent of ringtail possums observed had rodenticide in their systems.

Local owl observer Clare Worsnop, from the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA), said there are other alternatives for killing mice and vermin and she doesn’t have a problem with getting rid of them.

“But we do have to be responsible and care for our native wildlife as they’re very precious,” she said.

I have witnessed a powerful owl of a couple of years ago in Butterfield Reserve which fell out of a tree and powerful owls don’t fall out of the trees…we picked it up and we took it to a wildlife carer and it ultimately went to Healesville Sanctuary.

“There was no real cause, like no injuries or anything like that, which would suggest what was going on with it but the actual factor was rodenticides.”

The APVMA recommendation might mean that there are tighter controls on their purchase and use, including restricting access to individuals who meet specific training and licensing requirements, such as professional pest controllers.

Assoc Prof Smith said we’ve become a society of convenience and quick responses, so really having such easy and open access to poison means that our first port of call is to use poison. “But as a vertebrate pest person back in the day, we were always told to look to understand why you have a rat problem in the

first place and try and take out those sorts of things,” he said.

“So sanitation, not festering compost heaps full of food and things exposed, not having trees up against your gutters where rats can easily climb in and out of your house and keeping things relatively clean in that sense was always the first step.

“Then, of course, the good old fashioned trap, which is what my approach to managing rats and mice around my place is, if I really get to a situation where it’s bad, I’ll use snap traps, I’ll put them out in places where only rats and mice are going to catch them and I’ll keep them running until I just stop catching them.”

SGAR products were first suspended by the APVMA in December 2025 and now the registration of all products containing SGARs will be suspended for one year from 24 March 2026.

Assoc Prof Smith said they will probably still continue to be sold over the coming months, but eventually the supply will stop.

“For many of our predators, they may still continue to be getting poisoned by this stuff that the public is putting out at this point for the next couple of years, I’d imagine, there’ll be poison sitting in people’s tablets that they continue to use, albeit at some point in time that would possibly be deemed illegal,” he said.

“The experience from overseas, when they’ve banned public use but left it with pest controllers, is that it’s still continued to poison native wildlife, but often because pest controllers start putting out a lot more rat poison, so a lot of the longer-term things will come down to how they decide in Victoria.

“Each state will probably have to decide on how they regulate the licensing and the conditions under which a pest controller can use these poisons but it’d be nice to think in the next couple of years we start to see the lowering of the amounts of rat poison we see going out and hopefully at that point, lowering of the amounts that start making it into our wildlife.”

Monbulk College upgrade gets more than $1m funding

Monbulk College has secured more than $1 million in funding as part of a statewide school maintenance blitz aimed at improving learning environments for students across the state.

The funding forms part of the Victorian Government’s Planned Maintenance Program, which will see 55 schools share in $35.077 million for essential works.

Practical measures funded through the program include upgrading emergency shelters, replacing windows, painting and resurfacing floors.

The works are designed to provide high-quality spaces for principals, teachers and staff while also delivering better learning experiences for students.

Monbulk College is among several schools receiving a funding boost, with Leongatha Secondary College poised to receive more than $2.5 million and Sunbury Primary School allocated more than $480,000.

Education minister Ben Carroll said the program ensured both new and existing schools were supported.

“Not only have we opened 121 brand-new public schools, we’re also ensuring our existing schools are in the best shape for our students,” Mr Carroll said.

“Practical improvements like a fresh coat of paint or upgrading emergency shelters mean Victorian students can learn in modern schools with up-to-date facilities.”

Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino said the investment would help improve safety and accessibility at the local school.

“I’m so pleased that our investments are making Monbulk College safer and more accessible for every student and staff member at this great local school,” she said.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the funding would help maintain safe and modern learning spaces at the college.

“This $1 million in maintenance funding for Monbulk College will ensure sure students and staff have safe, accessible, and modern spaces for teaching and learning,” the spokesperson said.

“The 2025-26 State Budget allocated $352.2 million over five years and $48.3 million ongoing to essential maintenance and compliance programs for schools across Victoria.

“This includes maintenance funding allocat-

ed directly to all government schools, as well as programs that respond to specific needs such as the Planned Maintenance, Make-safe and Accessible Buildings programs.”

Specific works at Monbulk College relate to the maintenance and upgrade of the school’s Shelter in Place, including a significant replacement of the roof for the college to help with the longevity of the overall facility.

These works have already begun and are expected to be completed in April this year.

School maintenance funding has increased six-fold under the current Federal Government

and is part of a record $18.5 billion investment in public schools.

The investment has delivered 121 new public schools and more than 2300 school upgrades across Victoria.

The infrastructure needs of schools are assessed through the State Budget process, with the department using available data, including existing condition assessments, as part of that process.

A full list of schools receiving funding is available at: schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/ planned-maintenance-program.

Deer problems disrupt hills

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

As the colder and foggier months settle over the Dandenongs, residents of Ferny Creek are raising alarm over the growing threat posed by feral deer.

The large sambar deer, once considered a rare sight, are now trampling native habitats, destroying gardens, and creating dangerous road conditions.

“The problem we have, big problem up here, is they destroy,” long-time Ferny Creek resident, Margaret Gibson said.

“They dig and scratch and they cause erosion, here, particularly, they’ve caused so much erosion just down the hill that we have landslips.”

Margaret recounted a particularly severe event in January two years ago, when heavy rainfall caused landslips along Churchill Drive.

“The bulk of it came onto the road, so that road was closed, and we only had one road to get out of here into the city,” she said.

“Every now and then, Churchill Drive will have a landslip caused by these deer.”

Beyond erosion, Margaret described the impact on local wildlife.

“The worst thing is they’re destroying lyrebird habitats, we used to see them in our front garden, but now their numbers are falling, this year I’ve only seen one,” she said.

Another resident, Tim, echoed concerns over environmental destruction and safety risks.

“Probably the most immediate issue is the amount of deer wandering around the roads. I saw one last week in the middle of the day, which is worrying. They seem bolder than what they would normally be,” he said.

“They’re heavy animals. Australia doesn’t have such heavy hoofed animals. Especially up here, where the soil is quite soft and delicate, they have a massive impact on erosion on the side of the embankments.”

Both residents highlighted the risks for local fauna and pets.

“We’ve lost half a dozen tree ferns in our backyard from deer, which has been heartbreaking,” Tim said.

“I’d assume it’s affecting lyrebirds, echidnas, wombats, rock wallabies and other wildlife,” he said.

Safety on local roads is another pressing concern. Margaret recalled near-misses with deer on narrow, fog-covered roads.

“I had to drive back from Belgrave at night last week, and the cloud had come right down on the hill. What takes me 10 to 12 minutes took nearly 40 because I had to go so slow. I was frightened of deer coming out,” Margaret said.

Tim said a fatality is inevitable.

“I’m surprised it hasn’t already happened. I’ve slammed my brakes half a dozen times trying to avoid them,” he said.

A State Government spokesperson said they are aware of the challenges posed by wild deer.

“We know deer can cause significant damage to the environment and pose safety risks, and we have provided $27 million since 2020 to reduce these significant impacts and protect our community,” the spokesperson said.

“Parks Victoria undertakes several deer management operations in Dandenong Ranges National Park each year as part of the Victorian Deer Control Strategy. The most recent in October to December 2025 removed 21 animals, with the next operation continuing from March until May.”

The Victorian Deer Control Strategy outlines a long-term plan to reduce threats from wild deer, with more than 700,000 hectares of aerial and ground deer control delivered across Victoria since 2021.

According to the State Government, more than 2780 deer have been removed in peri-urban areas including the Dandenong Ranges. Funding for 2025 to 2027 will continue to support Parks Victoria and councils to target high-value biodiversity areas, road collision hotspots, and areas where crops, gardens, and native habitats are under threat.

Residents, however, remain frustrated with the pace of action.

“Wake up councillors. Wake up state government. Our environment, our lyrebird environment, has been destroyed,” Margaret said.

“We’d like to see something done to eradicate them in the Dandenongs. The horse has bolted, so little has been done for so long that it’s completely out of control,” Margaret said.

Tim said local solutions were also needed.

“In a perfect world, we’ve shot a couple of deer and butchered them and used the meat. That was probably the most full-circle way of dealing with the problem. But immediately, they just need to go,” he said.

Orange Sky free laundry service lands in Boronia

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The not-for-profit organisation, Orange Sky, known for providing free laundry services to those experiencing homelessness is coming to Boronia.

The organisation will be expanding its reach with a new weekly service at Knox Infolink.

Orange Sky’s regional program lead, Emma Anderson said Boronia had been identified as an area in need.

“Hardship scores in Boronia, including homelessness rates and people seeking support services, show that it’s an area of need,” Ms Anderson said.

“We’re currently not in the Boronia region, so we’re in the process of recruiting volunteers to get this shift up and running.”

Currently, the closest service for Boronia residents is in Ferntree Gully, which operates once a week.

The new weekly service will bring free laundry facilities closer to home, with volunteers operating the Orange Sky van at Knox Infolink every Tuesday from 8.30am to 10.30am.

“Being able to provide that service locally, alongside a service provider like Knox Infolink, means people can access free laundry and connect with their community more easily,” Ms Anderson said.

The Orange Sky van, based in Dandenong, will travel to Boronia each week.

The van is equipped with two washing machines, two dryers, and six chairs, providing both practical support and a welcoming space for conversation.

“A big part of Orange Sky is the connection point. People can sit down, do their laundry, and chat with our volunteers,” Ms Anderson said.

Volunteers are central to Orange Sky’s operations.

“Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to reach the areas we do or support our communities,” Ms Anderson said.

The organisation currently has almost 5000 volunteers across Australia and New Zealand, and is actively looking for new team members for the Boronia shift. Interested volunteers can sign up via the Orange Sky website at orangesky.org.au/volunteer

Ms Anderson said the service was accessible to anyone experiencing hardship, not just those who are homeless.

Since its inception, Orange Sky has completed over 55,000 loads of laundry in Victoria alone and provided more than 4300 showers, alongside more than 94,000 hours of conversation with people in need.

“We don’t ask for concession cards, postcodes, or proof. Anyone in need can come along and use the service,” she said.

For Boronia residents keen to volunteer or access the service, visit Orange Sky’s website to find full details of shifts and locations.

Swimming in loving memory

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains discussion of suicide; some readers may find distressing.

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

The hills community has come together in a show of support for Kristen Parer, who tragically lost her 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, to suicide in October 2025.

In her grief, Mrs Parer has channelled her love for her daughter into raising funds for youth mental health through Laps for Life, an initiative supporting ReachOut Australia.

Elizabeth was an intelligent, kind, and creative young woman who loved swimming, performing, and scouting.

“She loved swimming and just loved to get in the pool and swim and swim,” Mrs Parer said.

“I think it’s where she could just let go of the world in a way.”

Elizabeth was a member of the 1st Belgrave South Venturer Unit, where she found a community that encouraged independence, adventure, and friendship.

“She said to me a couple of weeks before we lost her, ‘the one thing that scouting teaches you is that you can do anything,’” Mrs Parer said.

Elizabeth and her younger brother, Paul, recently completed an overnight hike at Wilson’s Promontory, an experience that left them “almost ironically, so alive,” Mrs Parer said.

Elizabeth also thrived in performing arts, particularly through Whitehorse Showtime, a Scout and Guide theatre group she loved.

She played the flute beautifully and was known for her thoughtful, caring nature.

Mrs Parer described her daughter as someone who instinctively looked after others, including her younger brother, friends, and community members.

After Elizabeth’s passing, an adult supporter from the Scout group, Carolyn Bankier, suggested that the Venturers consider taking part in Laps for Life.

“It just quietly sat there, and I thought, maybe we could do this,” Mrs Parer said.

The initiative, which runs throughout March, encourages participants to swim laps to raise money for youth suicide prevention.

Motivatedbyherdaughter’sloveofswimming, Mrs Parer formed a team, Swim for Elizabeth, which now includes members from Elizabeth’s Venturer Unit, friends Mrs Parer has shared her parenting journey with, her father-in-law, and a family friend from Adelaide.

Elizabeth’s former swim school, Paul Sadler Swimland Rowville, has also formed a team in her honour, offering free swimming lessons to Mrs Parer throughout March.

The combined effort has already raised $16,514 between the two teams, far exceeding their original goals.

The fundraising has become about more than just money.

“It’s about getting through each day,” Mrs Parer said.

“It’s about the Venturers who gathered on 17th Elizabeth’s birthday to swim 17 laps, 1.7 kilometres, or 117 laps. It’s about community supporting each other and also feeling like they can make a difference.”

For many participants, the challenge has been transformative.

A teen who had only ever swum 2.5 laps completed 51, while an adult with complex health issues swam 17 laps.

Elizabeth’s grandfather, usually quiet and reserved, secured free pool entry so he could donate the fee to the fundraiser instead.

“Wherever the team ends up on the leaderboard, our team has already achieved so much,”

Mrs Parer said.

The initiative has also strengthened connections among Elizabeth’s friends and family.

On her birthday, two of her closest school friends surprised Mrs Parer at the pool, creating an emotional moment she will never forget.

“It’s for young people,” she said.

“I want them to take that moment to see that love exists for them as well.”

Through Laps for Life, Mrs Parer hopes Elizabeth’s story will help other families and young people.

“There’s money coming into this organisation that will hopefully help some people,” she said.

“It’s the little stories about watching friends support each other…seeing kids achieve something or overcome a barrier - that has to be good.”

As March continues, the Selby community will keep swimming in Elizabeth’s memory, each lap a tribute to her life and a stand for youth mental health.

“We swim for Elizabeth. We swim for every family navigating unimaginable loss. We swim so that more young people can reach out - and

be met with support,” the Paul Sadler Swimland Rowville team said.

Supporters can donate or learn more about Swim for Elizabeth and Paul Sadler Swimland Rowville’s participation in Laps for Life here, shorturl.at/cBM9V Counselling and support services are available

• 1800 Respect, National counselling helpline: 1800 737 732

• Lifeline, 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention: 13 11 14

• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

• Headspace on 1800 650 890 (children and young people)

• ReachOut at au.reachout.com (children and young people)

We choose to start our weekends on Thursdays, sometimes Wednesdays

You’ll find five welcoming Keyton retirement communities in the Rowville area — Waterford Park, Peppertree Hill, The Links at Waterford, Waterford Valley Lakes and Waverley Country Club — each offering its own unique charm, surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens and friendly neighbourhoods.

Catch up with friends, join a class or simply relax in your own private retreat — the choice is yours across our villages. With lively social calendars and supportive onsite teams in every community, you can start the weekend early and enjoy life entirely at your own pace.

Scan the QR code to learn more about life at our Rowville-area villages and view properties currently available.

keyton.com.au | 1800 550 550

Power of care and caring

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

A Belgrave couple has found a lifelong pathway to family through Permanent Care in Victoria, a program that gives children who cannot safely live with their birth families the chance to grow up in a stable, loving home.

Belgrave resident (a pseudonym: Charlotte) said she and her partner had never even heard of Permanent Care until it became part of their lives.

“It’s been such an incredible journey for our family,” she said.

“Before we knew about Permanent Care, we honestly didn’t realise how many children need permanent families, or that there was this option available here in Victoria and learning about it changed everything for us - it gave our family the chance to grow in a way we never imagined.”

Since sharing a little about their experience locally, Charlotte has been struck by how many people in the community are unfamiliar with the program.

“I’ve been talking to people in local community groups, and the questions and curiosity have been really encouraging,” she said.

“It makes me realise how important it is to have clear information about this program, especially in a close-knit area like ours where people care so much about supporting children and each other.”

She said she has also noticed there can be quite a bit of confusion about what Permanent Care actually involves.

“I think many people assume it’s the same as foster care, or that it’s straightforward to access, but in reality the assessment process is quite thorough because the goal is to ensure children are placed with families who have the right skills, support networks and long-term capacity to meet their needs.

“Really, it’s about giving children a stable, lifelong home with adults who are committed to their wellbeing and have the support and capacity to meet their long-term needs and nurture these

important connections. Once people understand it, they often feel inspired to learn more,” Charlotte said.

Permanent Care provides a legally secure, long-term family for children who cannot return to their birth parents, with carers assuming full responsibility until age 18.

In many cases, children come to their permanent families after spending time in foster care, and those earlier relationships can remain an important part of their lives, Permanent Care does not replace these connections, but builds on them, with efforts made to maintain links with birth and foster families where safe and appropriate.

Children are usually placed with permanent carers before the age of 10, with efforts made to keep siblings together wherever possible.

This is different from foster care, which is generally a temporary arrangement that aims to reunite children with their birth families, though it can sometimes be long-term.

A permanent care order granted by the Children’s Court means the carers take on full custody and guardianship, giving children the chance to grow up in a stable, loving home with adults committed to supporting them throughout their lives.

Families who step into Permanent Care are becoming a lifelong family for a child who cannot return home, taking on all the responsibilities of parenthood while often supporting children who may have experienced significant early life challenges.

Families who take on permanent care receive support, including a level of financial assistance to help with day-to-day expenses.

Charlotte said she and her partner now hope to encourage others to explore the program by attending information sessions run by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

“Even just attending a session can give people a much clearer idea of what’s involved and whether this path might be right for them,” she said.

“After mentioning Permanent Care in a couple of community groups, I’ve had quite a few thoughtful questions and messages from people who were curious to learn more. It’s really heartening to see that sense of care and willingness to consider whether they might be able to provide a lifelong family for a child.”

The next information sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, 24 March 2026 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm in person, with venue details provided upon registration, and an online session is happening on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 from 6pm to 7pm, with login details provided upon registration.

People interested in attending can email the Permanent Care Program at apceastern@dhhs. vic.gov.au

or call 1300 528 558 for more information, while the website provides general details about the program.

Reflecting on their journey, Charlotte said Permanent Care has profoundly shaped their family.

“It has allowed our children to grow up in a stable and loving environment, and it has profoundly shaped our family,” she said.

“Sharing our story feels really important because at different times there are children across Victoria who may need a permanent family, if it helps even one other person consider this pathway, then it’s absolutely worth it.”

“Sometimes all it takes is learning a little more to realise you could provide a child with the love and security they need - that stability can change a child’s life forever.”

Belgrave traders helping to rebuild futures in Nepal

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

When powerful earthquakes struck Nepal in 2015, levelling villages and destroying hundreds of schools, Belgrave business owners Ben and his wife, Lyn Covelli knew they had to do something.

For the couple, who run the Belgrave shop Funky Stuff, the disaster felt deeply personalbecause they had been travelling to Nepal for about 40 years, including on their honeymoon, and built close connections with people in those communities.

Ben travelled to Nepal shortly after the second earthquake in May 2015, after the initial quake struck on April 25.

He spent time delivering food and shelter to families in affected areas and visiting villages that had been devastated by the disaster.

“In one village every house was destroyed or damaged and people couldn’t live in them,” Ben said.

During discussions with local residents about what they needed most, one request came through clearly - the village wanted a school.

Ben and Lyn decided to support that goal, they worked with locals to establish a primary school in the hard-hit Nuwakot District.

Over the following months Ben travelled back and forth to Nepal, helping to get the school running and working alongside the community to build it.

What began as emergency relief soon grew into a long-term commitment.

Today the school provides free education to about 80 children, covering tuition as well as uniforms, books and stationery so families do not have to pay for their children to attend.

Ben said the aim was not only to teach reading, writing and arithmetic, but also to create a strong sense of community around the school.

Students take part in activities such as art, craft, dancing and music, while parents are encouraged to be involved in the school community.

In the early days many families helped with working bees and building projects.

Ben said the connection between the school and the village remained strong.

He visits Nepal roughly every six months and often stays at the school while he is there.

Parents regularly come to see him during

those visits, sometimes bringing rice or vegetables grown in their fields as a gesture of thanks.

Over the past decade the project has grown beyond the primary school itself.

Some of the first students who attended are now in their late teens and studying at college or working in Kathmandu, supported through an ongoing sponsorship program.

According to a 2023 UNICEF Nepal factsheet, the overall literacy rate in the country is around 71 per cent, with approximately 82 per cent of males and 61 per cent of females able to read and write.

Data from the World Bank shows that primary school enrolment is high, with roughly 97 per cent of children aged 6 to 11 attending school, but attendance drops in secondary school, with only about 65 to 70 per cent of children aged 12 to 16 enrolled, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Ben said seeing those students progress has been one of the most rewarding parts of the work.

Running a school from Australia has not been without challenges, Ben said the cost of operating the school had more than doubled over the past 10 years.

The project is largely funded through the Ben’s Belgrave business, Funky Stuff, with additional support from family members who donate when they can.

Ben said working in another country also meant learning to navigate cultural differences and finding a balance between expectations.

“Children in rural Nepal, particularly girls, are sometimes expected to stay home to help families with work instead of attending school regularly,” he said.

“We discuss this with parents and teachers to ensure students attend school consistently while still respecting local traditions.”

Despite the challenges, the couple remain committed to supporting education in the village.

Ben believes even small contributions can make a meaningful difference.

“A dollar in Australia goes a long way overseas,” he said.

He hopes the story encourages other businesses and individuals to consider helping communities in need, even in small ways.

“When you know the money you make is helping someone else, it transforms how you see your work,” Ben said.

“It’s very rewarding to see the kids grow up and go on to study or find work.”

“You don’t have to build a whole school, you can help one child or one family.”

KEEP YOUR SHOWER TIME TO FOUR MINUTES

Smarter water use starts with everyday choices. Take shorter showers, run full laundry loads and turn the tap off when brushing your teeth.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

St Joseph’s College put excellence into practice

St Joseph’s College focuses on academic excellence complemented by programs to enhance wellbeing, personal growth, spirituality and physical development.

Our motto, ‘Agite Quae Didicistis’, translated as ‘Put into practice what you have learnt’, underpins our approach to a holistic education for boys in the 21st Century. Innovative and progressive teaching methods are applied to maximise engagement and success.

Our curriculum is designed specifically to cater for boys’ needs with a ‘hands-on’ approach to learning. Our trademark Year 9 program operates at the Valdocco Campus within our beautiful grounds at the foot of the Dandenongs. The College offers after-school tuition four nights a week. The GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program provides students with opportunities for enrichment and acceleration. There are several programs that support students with special needs. Students enjoy a range of extra-curricular opportunities including numerous interstate and overseas experiences. Our Masterplan ‘Towards 2040 and Beyond – An Adventure in the Spirit’ responds to the challenges of 21st century Learning. State of the art Year 7, Science, STEM, digital technologies facilities offer the most incredible start to secondary school. Our senior students absolutely love the Year 11 and 12 spaces which include collaborative learning hubs. Dynamic new visual and performing arts facilities complement the skills and creative flare of young men. A new Year 8 centre, pathways and students wellbeing hub will open in 2026.

The College’s extensive sports facilities are newly opened with an improved AFL Ground, a FIFA-sized soccer field and hockey pitch. To further complement the developments, eight tennis courts, Australian standard cricket nets, athletic

tracks and a range of field events are featured in the incredible expansions. As a member school of the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) competition, students enjoy opportunities in an extensive range of sports, debating, public speaking, arts and technology, chess, drama, music and rally days. The College’s Sports Academy offers a High-Performance Sports Program providing students with access to specialist coaching, skills development and mentoring. The teacher-student, teacher-family and student-to-peer relationships cultivated at the Students enjoy a range of ex-

tra-curricular opportunities including numerous interstate and overseas experiences. College are what truly set St Joseph’s College apart. Teaching respect within relationships is what prepares our boys for life. The College works to ensure that students are equipped to effectively take up roles in a rapidly changing world. Our students are equipped with iPads and MacBooks from the beginning of their journey at the College. STEM, digital technologies and robotics form part of our learning program. Digital citizenship approaches enable students to embrace responsible citizen-

ship within a global community. The teacher-student, teacher-family and student-to-peer relationships cultivated at the College are what truly set St Joseph’s College apart. We offer the best of both worlds – an outstanding VCE pathway and an impressive VCE Vocational Major pathway with vocational and trade options taking place on campus and externally. As experts in boys’ development, we focus on the growth of their academic skills, faith and spirituality, relationships and physical and emotional wellbeing.

Jake’s legacy carried home

By Shamsiya Hussainpoor

Belgrave runner David Gatt has completed an extraordinary 174km trail run through the Dandenong Ranges, climbing more than 14,700 metres over six loops of the Megasaw, in memory of his close friend, Jake Wolfe.

Mr Wolfe was a registered mental health, drug and alcohol coach from Olinda, he devoted his life to supporting others through addiction, trauma and mental health challenges.

The run was never about records or recognition, Mr Gatt said, but about honouring his friend and raising awareness for mental health.

“Jake was a close family friend, who we lost too early, this run was about reminding people that no one should face those battles alone,” Mr Gatt said.

Completing the challenge in 48 hours and 13 minutes, Mr Gatt received overwhelming support from family, friends and the wider community.

Jake’s mother, Ms Mariann Wolfe, said she was filled with gratitude.

“Thank you to Dave for pushing himself through 174.22 miles…putting his mind, body and soul to the extreme test. Your strength, determination and heart mean more than words can say,” she said.

The weekend also saw Torie Wolfe, the family’s daughter, coordinating aid stations and volunteers, while local businesses and supporters contributed donations, food, and time.

Ms Wolfe said nearly $15,000 was raised for mental health in Mr Wolfe’s name for the Black Dog Institute, almost three times the original goal.

“There were moments out on the trails, especially in the heat and deep into the night where I felt completely spent,” Mr Gatt said.

“But what kept me moving was knowing why we were out there. This run was never just about finishing. It was about friendship, community, and making sure Jake’s story continues to matter.”

The family said the support had been “truly incredible.”

Reminder to aid wildlife

By Callum Ludwig

A group of neighbours are keeping a close eye on a precious local creature this week in an important reminder to care for our native wildlife.

It can be daunting when faced with a sick or injured critter but a calm and informed response cn help ensure their survival.

Clare Worsnop, from the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA), has been monitoring powerful owls from Warrandyte, into Mount Evelyn and through to the Dandenongs for many years.

One particular owl that lives in her own neighbourhood was spotted by a neighbour appearing worse for wear and a crew of concerned locals took action.

Ms Worsnop said the owl in question is about four years old and her neighbours had rung her after noticing the owl was down quite low.

“It was only about two metres from the ground on a branch and its wing was hanging down in an awkward-looking position so I quickly went next door to check it out, knowing the owls very well because I see them most days,” she said.

“She was sitting on a little branch, she had half a possum in her talon, so she’d been hunting the night before…she didn’t seem to be able to fly but she’d managed to get to this branch and that’s

why he was concerned.

“We didn’t know if her wing was broken or just damaged but the best thing to do is to get a carer to come out, an established carer who knows how to catch the bird if necessary and take it into care and look after it or what to do.”

Ms Worsnop contacted avian rehabilitation shelter Boobook Wildlife Shelter as well as her friend Jason who she has monitored powerful owls with. Unfortunately for the crew, the owl gingerly flew up higher in the trees out of reach about the neighbourhood is keeping a close eye out for the vulnerable bird.

Ms Worsnop said contacting a wildlife carer or getting it to the local vet is probably the easiest way to help out.

“If in doubt and you know someone would know what to do and who to contact, then you do that,” she said.

“When you first see an animal that you think there’s something wrong with, have a look at it, even take a photo so that you can then send it to a carer or whoever you’re going to contact so that they can confirm it is in need of help.

“If they don’t (get care), then they’re likely to not recover well, and then they’ll become predated on by foxes, cats, other birds, whatever, because the wildlife will always attack the weakest thing.”

Small Scale, Big Impact: The Model Railway Returns to Lilydale

Looking for something to do or see over easter?

The Lilydale Basketball Stadium is trading its courts for a world of miniature engineering. On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of April, the Yarra Valley Model Railway Club (YVMRC) is hosting its 2026 Easter Model Train Show an event that brings the history, artistry, and sheer fun of rail to life.

A Journey from a Drafty Shed

The show’s origins are as humble as a country siding. The YVMRC started in 1989 in a drafty building in Warrandyte before finally finding a permanent home in the historic Lilydale Railway Goods Shed in 2001. Over the decades, we’ve grown from a handful of enthusiasts into a community cornerstone, and this show is the culmination of thousands of hours of delicate work by local members who simply love the magic of the rails.

Layouts from Every Corner

While the club is local, the talent is national. We have exhibitors travelling from across the state and beyond to showcase layouts that differ wildly in scale and style. You’ll see everything from the tiny, fingernail-sized Z-scale trains that can fit in a briefcase to the robust G-scale locomotives. Whether it’s a hyper-realistic recreation of the 1920s Victorian countryside or a modern-day high-speed line, the level of craftsmanship arriving in Lilydale is world-class.

A Major Draw Card for Families

We know that for many families, the love of building starts with a plastic brick. That’s why a major highlight for our younger visitors is the massive, custom-built LEGO railway layout. Featuring bustling cityscape and moving trains made entirely of the iconic bricks, it’s a high-energy display that serves as the perfect “hook” to get kids interested in the wider world of modelling. It’s colourful, creative, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Your All-Access Pass to the Hobby

For those thinking about starting their own layout, this is the place to be. We have a dedicated zone of manufacturers and specialist retailers who are bringing the best of the industry directly to you. This is your chance to get face-to-face advice from the experts—no YouTube tutorial can replace a chat with a veteran builder. Plus, the show is famous for its exclusive bargains and “show specials,” making it the most affordable time to grab a starter kit or a rare locomotive at a price you won’t find anywhere else.

Join Us This Easter

With plenty of parking, full accessibility, and a snag from the bbq, it’s the ultimate family outing for the long weekend. Come for the LEGO, stay for the artistry, and leave with a new appreciation for the world in miniature.

Fast Facts for Your Visit:

• Where: Lilydale Basketball Stadium, 26 Hutchinson Street, Lilydale.

• When: Saturday, April 4 (9:30 AM – 5:00 PM) & Sunday, April 5 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM).

• Family Attraction: Massive interactive LEGO train layout.

• For Beginners: Retail zone with expert advice and exclusive show discounts.

• Tickets: Adults $20, Children $5, Family $40. Available at the door.

April 4th & 5th

Saturday 9:30am until 5:00pm

Sunday 10:00am until 4:00pm

Life in clover

By Tanya Steele

A little luck can go a long way, but a patch of clovers in the Hills may just last some local kids a lifetime, with a local clover patch growing out not just four, but five and six-leaf clovers for them to discover.

As Saint Patrick’s Day sees people worldwide celebrate all things Irish, the Dandenong Ranges has a special little Celtic patch of greenery of its own to cherish, that local kids have come to love.

Hill’s parent, MairiRose, said her kids and a few of their friends began finding five and even six- leaf clovers in a patch they play quite regularly in.

At first, it was a novelty, but she said that now the kids find them quite often.

MairiRose said her daughter, Morgana, in particular, has a knack for finding them.

“In spring last year, she found a few four-leaf clovers, then a few five-leaf clovers and even sixleaf clovers,” she said

“We took them home and started pressing them, and also preserved some in resin,” she said.

The spot seems a little Celtic inclined, with Scottish thistles also popping up on occasion.

“It’s a very Celtic little spot, it;s a little tucked away,” said MairiRose.

A four-leaf clover is said to represent faith, hope, luck, and love and the term “luck of the Irish” is related to four-leaf clovers growing abundantly in Ireland,.

Myths have said that kids in the Middle Ages thought carrying a four-leaf clover with them would allow them to see fairies.

Five-leafs are said to be quite rare and bring a little extra luck.

The group of the kids in the hills have found many five and six-leaf clovers since they discovered the area.

“There’s not just one or two, but many and it has also got them interested in botany,” MairiRose said.

$40 for Family

( 2 Adults & 2 Children)

$20 per Adult

$5 per Child

(15 & under)

The local phenomenon has not only created a sweet childhood shared experience, but also given the kids a chance to pursue a little scientific investigation on the side.

“It was really sweet,” said MairiRose.

“We sort of also had a little bit of a look into why there were so many, the thought is that it’s generally either a result of damage, like a cow or kids stepping on it, or maybe that there’s like a genetic mutation in a particular plant that’s producing more of them,” she said.

Irish clover is a little different to the Irish Shamrock, and for centuries, the shamrock has been a symbol of Ireland, with many stories told about the shamrock.

Some legends say that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to pagan Irish people.

The clover meanwhile, also has a long history and ancient druids were said to believe they had magic powers, using them in ceremonies for their protective abilities.

The four-leaf clover is especially seen as a lucky charm still today, and was often carried for

protection or worn as a talisman for people in times past.

Clovers originate from the Mediterranean region and spread across Europe and Western Asia with migrating animals, and have now become naturalised across the globe.

With over 300 species of clover on record, the most common species in Australia is the White Clover Trifolium repens.

Jackson Ellis, President of the Friends of Glenfern Ave bushlands group, was delighted to hear about the Hills clover patch and said the agriculture industry in Australia has selectively bred many varieties for different growing conditions and functions, adding further variation to the clovers we find today.

“Clover was introduced to Australia by European settlers as a high-yielding pasture for sheep and cattle food in the late 18th century,” he said.

Considered a weed in South Australia, the clover is very suited to high rainfall regions, like the Dandenong Ranges.

Mr Ellis said the plant is nutritious and supports the growth of pasture grasses and crops by fixing nitrogen in the soil via the bacteria communities in nodules formed in the roots of legumes (of which clover is one).

“Clover also presents many uses in western herbalism, from boosting self-esteem, to digestive complaints, to regulating carbohydrate metabolism in patients with diabetes,” he said.

Crossing Australia, news will pop up in the media and internet chat boards in spring when kids discover a five-leaf clover, and the event is still considered quite rare.

Reports vary on the phenomenon, and odds are given out between a one in 25,000 chance, while others say it could be more like one in a million.

Here in the Dandenong Range, the kids now have a link to their local area, and something to scout for when they are in new places, and MairiRose said she has found that they seem to have a heightened awareness of clover.

“When one of them spots clover on the ground, they’ll kind of have a little look,” she said.

WhattrapdoIuse?HowmanydoIneed?

• Traps need to be in place before QFF movement and activity starts

• Hang traps 1.5 m high in a sparse leafy area that is warm, but is out of direct sunlight (and has easy access for you)

• Traps are the most useful when a part of a wider surveillance network

• Traps will only ever tell part of the QFF story - always check fruit for early damages, use local reports and historical data to plan your activity

Such a clamour in Olinda

By Tanya Steele

The Olinda pool community hosted power, confidence and a workshop performance like none other this past Saturday as a self-dubbed ‘unprofessional ballerina workshop’ descended on the Hills.

The Clams from the inner city headed out to perform their Unprofessional Water Ballet 101 Workshop at the Olinda Community Pool, with giggles and splashes in abundance on the day. Workshop attendee on the day, Hills resident Michelle said she was thrilled when she heard that they were coming to the Hills.

“It was exciting to have them at Olinda Pool. and the performance was fabulous, so quirky with their cute caps and stunning red costumes,” she said.

“I had a ball learning some signature moves.” James Edge from the Olinda Pool Association said they were very excited about The Clams bringing their magic to the wider Dandenong Ranges audience.

“What could be better than a water ballet workshop, in a pool, on a mountain in a forest?” he said.

Kicking off from 1pm on Saturday 14 March at the Olinda Community Pool, Clammittee member and long-time Clam, Liz said the event was open to all clamateurs of all abilities, all genders, 18 years and over.

“We’re so excited to bring this show,” she said.

“It’s our first time using little flotation devices, the Olinda Pool is quite deep.”

With routines choreographed by long-time collaborator, Gabi Barton, the Olinda workshop celebrated community and see some of the group’s best floating experiences performed in a clammy mix-tape like no other.

Liz said that the group’s choreography about

is bringing the trust and community to the forefront.

“We wanted to show how essential The Clams are to us, to share that with other people, to see and feel what it’s like to be held in the water, and trust each other,” she said.

Assembling some years ago in 2016, after being the subject of a joking idea inside the conversations of a social feminist book club, the group has always been about feminism, inclusivity, and empowerment.

“It’s about community, we never have any requirements in terms of skill level,” Liz said.

Not following the lines of traditional synchronised swimming, Liz said The Clams always wanted their group to be about art and com-

munity, and the group perform routines based around many themes, celebrating diversity and combining social commentary, comedy and body positivity in their shows.

After seeing The Clams perform as part of a bigger festival, Mr Edge said that with a mission to engage local and wider across as many different diverse audiences as possible, the volunteerled committee worked hard to pull off the opportunity for everyone.

“The opportunity arose to secure both a Yarra Ranges council event grant and The Clams to perform, and now it is almost upon us,” he said.

“We understand that the use of our muchloved local pool goes well beyond a simple summer swim, and is a connecting place for so many

different people.”

The pool is also celebrating in 2026 ten years of being led by a volunteer pool committee.

“Our volunteer committee runs the Olinda Community Pool on behalf of Yarra Ranges Council,” he said.

The workshop was well attended and the pool committee hope to have The Clams back again one day.

“Well what a way to wind up the weekend and the season,” read the Olinda Community Pool social media.

“The Clams brought the sass, joy, style, smiles, energy, music and laughter with them for a delightful performance and introductory workshop,” it read.

Museum, 3MDR celebrate International Women’s Day

In a special end to the ON AIR: 40 years of 3MDR exhibition at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, a live broadcast closed out the display and helped celebrate International Women’s Day.

“International Women’s Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women and gender-diverse people, particularly those whose voices are often underrepresented in mainstream media and culture,” 3MDR station manager Nat Grant said.

“It’s about acknowledging both the progress that has been made and the work still needed to achieve gender equality — whether that’s greater representation, respect, opportunity, or visibility.”

The Sunday 8 March broadcast featured live sets from Hannah Schmidli and Beck Sian, a true treat for the audience and was hosted by Michelle Perera and Sal Sparkles.

Time to rediscover Kirra

By Kylie Mitchell-Smith, Travel Writer/podcaster Www.travellingsenorita.com

There’s something about Kirra, from the pristine open beach to the laidback community vibe to the latest restaurant openings - it’s a popular seaside destination.

Back in the day the Southern Gold Coast neighbourhood was known for its iconic surf break and swinging ’60s Hockey Pokey dance, where beach days blended into balmy nights.

Kirra has found its groove again, from the comeback of the famous right hand point break to the reimagined Kirra Beach Hotel - a local’s favourite.

We check into the Kirra Point Holiday Apartments, set high above the Kirra Beach Hotel. The expansive hotel style apartments are styled in neutral tones, with contemporary architectural lines and coastal touches that feature throughout.

We stay in a two-bedroom ocean front apartment, that captures stunning views across to Surfers Paradise. Take your pick from a one-, two- or three-bedroom layout, or maybe a penthouse with infinity pool is more your thing.

The Kirra Beach hotel on ground level is abuzz any day of the week, offering good pub style food in a relaxed, open-air venue, looking out to the sea. Keeping the locals happy, there’s a reimagined front bar, bottle shop and cafe.

Above the hotel is the super stylish and popular Kirra Beach House, billed as a seaside dining and drinking venue with DJs and sunsets - it’s all the rage. There’s a sumptuous menu designed to share packed with salad bowls, pizzas and fresh seafood, we enjoy in the outside cabanas with the dreamiest views across the point.

Walking along the esplanade, we pass the retro surf club, it’s like stepping back in time, where locals enjoy a coldie on the deck and counter meals are served in a modest dining area. It’s where old meets new, as next door is the popular Siblings restaurant in the reimagined pizza hut space.

The restaurant has been pumping since its opening, with good service, delicious food and cocktails served by the sea - it’s a recipe for success.

We wander just north of the surf club, to the dining and cafe precinct, stopping off for dinner at Hanks (Siblings’ baby brother).

Decked out in Mediterranean style with a menu to suit, we sip on a spritz and enjoy a share plate menu of local prawn linguini and burrata with caramelised honey and fennel seed.

We rise as the sun rises and take an early morning dip across the road, with a takeaway coffee and toasted Vegemite scroll in hand from Made cafe down below.

Lunch is served at Billy Chow, a Pan-Asian beauty by the sea. The food is simply delicious, from freshly made mushroom dumplings to fried rice with a twist.

For a spot of shopping, we head to Cotton Living for homewares, Love Street Store for local threads and Gypsy and the Muse for coastal clothes and jewellery. For relaxation, we book a recovery session at Native State, a luxury bathhouse and studio gym in the Kirra Surf building to the north.

Kirra Beach offers that quintessential coastal stay on the southern Gold Coast, with beach walks to Bilinga and Tugun to the north and Coolangatta and Rainbow Bay to the South.

Next door at Agave Rosa, it’s all about tacos and margaritas, with a happy hour that makes us happy. Kirra has nailed its global food offering, with an array of restaurants, bars and cafes on offer, and word on the street is there’s more to come, as stage two of Kirra Point begins.

EAT

• Billy Chow

• Siblings

• Hanks

• Made PLAY

• Sea Sounds, Kirra Beach

• Kirra Surf Club

• Native State STAY

• Kirra Point Holiday Apartments

Aurora Expeditions explorers

Founded in 1991 as a small Australian expedition operator, Aurora Expeditions has evolved into a global leader in expedition travel, now operating three purpose-built small ships: Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and the newest addition to the fleet, Douglas Mawson. Officially welcomed and christened in Sydney in November 2025, the Douglas Mawson represents an exciting new chapter for the Australian-founded company.

Purpose-built for exploration, Douglas Mawson accommodates 154 passengers in 86 cabins and suites, including dedicated single options for solo travellers, with numbers intentionally capped at around 130 expeditioners on polar voyages for an intimate experience. Her innovative X-BOW design enables her to cut smoothly through challenging seas while enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact. During her epic inaugural season, Douglas Mawson ventured from Dunedin into some of Antarctica’s most remote and awe-inspiring frontiers, travelling through the Ross Sea and the wildliferich Subantarctic Islands.

Across its three-ship fleet, Aurora now operates itineraries across all seven continents and 26 countries. Alongside its established leadership in the polar regions, recent seasons have introduced a dedicated Small Ship Cruises program featuring voyages through the Mediterranean, British Isles and Atlantic Coast, bringing Aurora’s expedition style to new destinations.

Aurora’s growth has been deliberate. Rather than pursuing scale for its own sake, the company remains committed to small expedition groups, preserving the immersive and flexible nature of its voyages. Although the fleet can carry larger numbers, departures are typically capped at around 130 expeditioners. Combined with a

near one-to-one crew-to-expeditioner ratio, this ensures a personalised experience and allows for meaningful time ashore — often with multiple landings each day in remote environments. This intimate scale is matched by the depth of expertise on board.

Aurora’s voyages are led by seasoned expedition teams, scientists and subject-matter experts who enrich travellers’ understanding of the landscapes, wildlife and cultures encountered along the way.

Recognised for its world-leading activities

program, Aurora Expeditions offers one of the industry’s broadest range of adventure options — from sea kayaking and snorkelling to camping, diving, alpine trekking, climbing and skiing — allowing travellers to engage with the environment in deeply immersive ways.

Responsible travel is central to Aurora’s evolution. In 2024, the company became a Certified B Corporation, formalising long-held commitments to environmental and ethical standards. Initiatives such as its Ocean Regeneration Program, supporting marine restoration and the

removal of ocean-bound waste, reflect Aurora’s ambition to move beyond minimising impact and towards actively contributing to the health of the environments it visits.

To mark its 35th anniversary, Aurora is offering up to 35 per cent off selected future voyages, inviting both long-standing expeditioners and new travellers to discover a style of travel defined by smaller ships, deeper engagement and purposeful exploration. Contact Exclusively Cruising on 03 97622799 for more information or to make a booking.

Full-Board River Elegance

3 night Murray River cruise on board PS Murray Princess with all meals and sightseeing

Tour of Murray River Bridge and historic Roundhouse

Guided nature walk of Salt Bush Flat

Taste Riverland food and wine

Dragon-Fly flat-bottomed boat wildlife tour

Iconic Experiences, Expertly Escorted

Full day Barossa Valley tour with lunch and wine tastings including: Saltram wine estate, lunch and wine tasting at Lambert Estate, visit to Barossa Valley Chocolate Company, photo stop at Menglers Hill Lookout, vineyard tour & wine tasting at Jacob’s Creek visitor

centre, stop at Beerenberg Farm, and free time in Hahndorf to explore the historic German settlement

2 day Kangaroo Island tour including: Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, Clifford’s Honey Farm, In-Flight Birds of Prey Display at Raptor Domain, Seal Bay Conservation Park guided beach walk, lunch at Emu Bay Lavender Farm, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, and Flinders Chase National Park

Hand-Picked Hotel Stays

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Sail the Mekong River, where silk towns and fishing villages preserve age-old customs. Visit Angkor Wat, the jewel of Khmer architecture, and Ta Prohm, where jungle vines embrace ancient ruins. Explore Phnom Penh by cyclo rickshaw, visit Hanoi’s UNESCOlisted Old Quarter markets and connect with local children at a Viking-sponsored school. Hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City frame your cruisetour through the heart of Southeast Asia.

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Dystopia or entertainment?

By Maria Millers

The war in the Middle East doesn’t seem to show signs of abating and there are growing fears of further escalation.

The economic consequences of the conflict are already being felt worldwide.

And this week we became entangled in the distressing defection of members of the Iranian Women’s Soccer team who were granted humanitarian visas.

At the time of writing the original seven who chose to stay has now dwindled down to two, the other five choosing to rejoin their team and return home.

From Window by Forough Farrokhzad, one of the most famous modern Iranian poets, known for challenging social repression and hypocrisy:

When my trust was suspended from the fragile thread of justice and in the whole city they were chopping up my heart’s lantern when they would blindfold me with the dark handkerchief of law

The controlling nature of the authoritarian, theocratic Iranian society straightaway labels it as Orwellian after the novel 1984 by George Orwell, published in response to his disillusionment with the Stalinist era in Soviet Russia and the word has since entered our language in the way we talk about surveillance, government power and lack of freedom in society in general.

A recent depiction of such a society was the TV series based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel.

The Handmaid’s Tale: a modern dystopia which explores religious authoritarianism, gender oppression and control of bodies echoing the current Iranian regime.

The series shaped public awareness and suspicion about how surveillance can threaten freedom.

And while Australian society can in no way be said to resemble Iran we should not ignore the growing government intrusions into our lives often with our consent and conformity.

In The Unknown Citizen – W. H. Auden shows a society that monitors and measures citizens, rewarding conformity:

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be One against whom there was no official complaint,

And all the reports on his conduct agree

That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint...

In 1984, the state watches everyone through Big Brother and constant monitoring.

Today governments around the world: increasingly use surveillance technologies.

Beyond surveillance much of the data comes from people voluntarily using digital services.

Examples include: social media platforms, smartphones tracking location and behaviour, online shopping and searches, data facial recognition cameras, government data collection.

In another earlier novel, Brave New World published in 1923 by Aldous Huxley, people are happy to give up involvement with the pressing issues of the day. They are distracted by comfort and constant entertainment.

They use the drug soma to avoid any negative feelings and it is pleasure and consumerism that keeps their society stable.

So while In Huxley’s world, people take the drug soma to avoid negative emotions, today there are softer equivalents such as digital escapes into the world of games, streaming, social media. Then there is the comfort culture of wellness and beauty and other instant gratifications.

And algorithms constantly deliver to us the content we already like.

Life on Mars – Tracy K. Smith:

I will say it: the camera loves us, so we are loved.

We will have our lives displayed, Our moments preserved,

A thousand versions of ourselves, smiling, waving, in motionless perfection

Another question raised in 1984 is control of information. Today fewer and fewer people seek out credible information relying on social media where misinformation and propaganda are rife.

This is what in the novel was called Newspeak or Double speak. News has become entertainment focused, with endless streaming and short term content. Society keeps people too entertained to question things deeply.

Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube use algorithms that learn what users enjoy and keep showing similar content.

This resembles the idea of constant pleasurable distraction as described in Brave New World.

The result is endless scrolling, making it harder to focus on complex issues. Try to engage someone at a party or barbecue about any weighty topic and see what happens. My guess is you won’t be invited again. It’s easier to lean back into safe territories like football or the latest Netflix series.

Viewers of programs covering confronting or uncomfortable issues are now forewarned about coming up content that ‘may disturb some viewers.’ Few substantive topics are discussed in the

main media. Brave New World also raised questions about genetic engineering, artificial reproduction,, designer humans.

Today, real technologies like CRISPR gene editing raise similar ethical debates about how far society should go in controlling human biology but is rarely a topic of discussion.

In 1984, information is restricted and history is rewritten. In Brave New World, information isn’t banned—it’s drowned in trivial content.

Today we see massive amount of information online but also viral misinformation as the platforms compete for the advertising dollar.

The challenge becomes knowing what matters, not simply accessing information. And this is where we need to educate ourselves and our young people. Schools should incorporate into the curriculum the teaching of skills needed to discriminate between credible information and misinformation and how to evaluate sources.

So does our society resemble the one depicted in 1984 where people are controlled through fear, violence and surveillance, as we see in Iran. Or are we still controlled, but are controlled as effectively through pleasure, comfort and distraction, technology and consumerism?

Of course, not everybody in our society has the privilege of being distracted by constant entertainment and life style choices. Those already struggling with cost of living and rising interest rates will be watching the Middle East events for their impact on our economy and on their family budget.

Many analysts now argue that the modern world is a mix of both 1984 and Brave New World.

Instead of one model replacing the other, elements of both forms of control appear at the same time. 1984 shaped fears about surveillance, propaganda, and authoritarian power. Brave New World shaped debates about consumerism, entertainment, and technological control.

Neither novel predicted the future exactly, but they created powerful warning frameworks.

Today’s world contains: surveillance technology, algorithmic influence, entertainment-driven culture, advanced biotechnology.

In 1984: people hate the regime but are forced to obey.

In Brave New World: people love the system that controls them.

But modern democracies like Australia still have checks and balances and technology can empower individuals as much as governments. We just have to be careful to nurture our democracy and not take it for granted.

In Iran many brave people have challenged the regime.

Persian culture has a strong poetic tradition and many contemporary poets have written about life under repression and authoritarian rule.

Excerpt - The Wager Fattemeh Shams: We were alive, but within ourselves we had died

We’d choked down the outlawed words we were forced to hide

And though horror and fear made their nest in our souls

We would not believe in our loss… defeat was denied.

Good use of AI

PASSION FOR PROSE

WITH CHRISTINE SUN

In the Blink of an Eye, by British novelist Jo Callaghan, is a highly informative and entertaining exploration of how AI technologies can positively impact and enhance the human workforce, especially in policing.

Set in England in the near future, the police procedural begins with this shocking note: “In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds.” (FYI: In Australia, approximately 38,000 to 50,000 plus missing persons reports are filed each year, with roughly 2600-2700 people remaining long-term, i.e. missing over 90 days.)

It is impossible for any police force to have sufficient manpower, resources and time to investigate all these missing persons cases, not to mention all those other crimes that urgently demand their attention.

To solve this problem, researchers have developed AIDEs – Artificially Intelligent Detecting Entities – “basically, some sort of glorified Alexa that can crunch data and allegedly solve more crimes at a fraction of the cost of a real copper” as described by one of the characters.

Having worked as a policewoman for 25 years, to say that DCS Kat Frank is unhappy to be paired with AIDE Lock is a massive understatement.

Particularly when Lock is a hologram that constantly challenges her “hunches”, which, as the AI determines, “are subjects to errors and cognitive biases”.

“Lock closed its eyes for a second. ‘I have just read 73,239 scholarly articles on the science of decision-making, and as human decision-making processes are clearly impaired by intellectual, social and emotional factors, I conclude that your “hunches” are merely reflections of your own prejudices and assumptions.’”

Readers can almost predict how this story will unfold – something dreadful is going to happen “with lives on the line” that leads to Kat and Lock working together “before someone else becomes another statistic”. Human experience versus AI. Instinct versus logic.

Surely human and machine will end up learning much from each other and becoming an excellent team.

But the interesting thing is, as much as the story reads endearingly familiar – with Kat behaving like Detective Del Spooner in I, Robot (2004) and Lock reminding us of Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and especially with Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) being a crucial plot device – it is not only full of engaging emotions, quirky humour, thrilling suspense and astonishing twists and turns, but also exceptionally thought-provoking.

Perhaps this is because, like Chadwick Boseman’s Wakanda in Black Panther (2018), the story portrays our future world as one full of positive and innovative possibilities.

Instead of SkyNet and other dystopian AI takeover scenarios including but not limited to The Matrix (1999), Ex Machina (2014), I Am Mother (2019), M3GAN (2022), Atlas (2024) and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) – we see how AI technologies can be used adequately, progressively and comprehensively to help make our world a better place, without hindering, undermining or replacing the best part of humanity.

Such is the power of storytelling.

Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons someone might present to a physiotherapy clinic.

It might be from a fall, perhaps overdoing it in the gym, or maybe it just started a month back without any obvious reason and now you’re having trouble getting dressed and hanging out the laundry.

The shoulder is a very complex joint, it has a large range of motion and lots of moving parts.

The shoulder is strong, but sometimes it can also be a little unstable too - that’s where the “rotator cuff” comes in.

You might have heard of the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles whose primary job is to keep the shoulder “ball” centred and stabilised in its “socket” through movement.

The rotator cuff is crucially important in how the shoulder works and also a common cause of shoulder pain when injured or not working properly.

Often one of the first things people do when they develop shoulder pain is organise a scan –perhaps an MRI, Ultrasound or X-ray – which almost always shows up some version of rotator cuff pathology.

Case closed, right? Not necessarily, and this is where it starts to get complicated.

Research over the last 10-15 years has shown that rotator cuff changes appear in almost every shoulder over the age of 40 — even in people with no pain at all.

And when you hit 60, around 50 per cent of all shoulders have a visible tear, despite many having no symptoms.

We now know that it is very normal for your shoulder to show signs of age and rushing off to get surgery to fix the tears might be unnecessary without trialling other treatments first.

In other words, a scan can show changes that

CARTOON

Healthy living

Ben Croxford

Physiotherapist, Leads the team at Form & Practice Mount Evelyn and Olinda

look concerning, but it may just be part of the normal ageing process.

The good news is exercise-based treatment is one of the most effective treatments for shoulder pain.

A tailored rehabilitation program can help restore strength, improve movement and gradually settle pain so people can return to the activities they enjoy.

Of course, there still is a role for scans, such as when there has been significant trauma, other concerning symptoms are present or for when shoulder pain isn’t improving with conservative treatment.

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, the most important step is getting the right assessment and guidance.

A physiotherapist can help determine what’s likely driving your symptoms and develop a plan to get your shoulder moving comfortably again.

My take-home message is simple – don’t panic if scans show you have wear and tear and other changes in your shoulder.

The right exercises and a structured rehabilitation program might be all you need to get moving again.

Local theatre wrap up

The Round Theatre

The Sound of Music

Nova Musical Theatre is delighted to announce its upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s timeless musical The Sound of Music.

This year is the 60th anniversary of the release of the movie in 1965.

This enchanting production tells the inspiring true story of Maria Von Trapp, a spirited postulant who becomes governess to the seven von Trapp children in 1939s Austria.

As Maria brings music and joy back the the von Trapp household, she captures the heart of their widowed father, Captain von Trapp.

When the Nazi regime threatens their way of life, the family must find courage to escape to freedom, guided by the power of love and music.

• Season: Friday 20 March at 7.20pm – Sunday 23 March at 1.30pm.

Eltham Little Theatre

A Tomb with a View

Set in as sinister an old library as one is likely to come across presided over by a portrait of a grim faced. Mad eyed old man.

There, a dusty lawyer reads a will (involving some millions of pounds) to an equally sinister family, one member of which has werewolf tendencies, another wanders around in as toga of Julius Caesar and a third member is a gentle old lady who plants more than seeds in her flower beds.

• Season: 1 - 17 May.

Unwelcome

Silent Hill and Return To Silent Hill MA15+

3.5/5, 2/5

Return To Silent Hill is French director Christophe Gans’s second, much less successful stab at bringing the iconic Silent Hill horror video game series to the silver screen.

Based on the 1999 original Silent Hill game, Gans’s first Silent Hill film from 2006, in which Rose Da Silva (Radha Mitchell) must rescue her daughter Sharon (Jodelle Ferland) from a doomsday cult in the abandoned town of the title, is a pretty decent horror movie.

The film has clunky dialogue and a meandering first act, the monster babies scene is more absurd than scary, and the subplot of Rose’s husband Christopher (Sean Bean) searching for his family is redundant filler. However, the eerie, dilapidated atmosphere is outstanding (wonky CGI notwithstanding), superbly recreating the feel of the games, and the film gets into gear in the second act with several exciting, chilling sequences (a couple with franchise mainstay Pyramid Head). Rose and policewoman Cybil (Laurie Holden) both strike the right note of strength and vulnerability, Alice Krige conveys such tightly-controlled malice as the villain Christabella, and the carnagefilled church climax is awesome.

Based on Silent Hill 2 from 2001, Return To Silent Hill from this year sees painter James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine) travel to Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his dead girlfriend Mary (Hannah Emily Anderson), and is a slow, drab, rarely scary slog. The characters are thinly-developed, the plot wanders along and progresses mostly through flashbacks, corny narration and flimsy symbolism, and the game’s themes of grief, regret and punishment are barely present.

Silent Hill from 2006 is a flawed but engrossing horror movie, but 2026’s Return To Silent Hill, which is available from iTunes, is an insubstantial waste of time, and I’d recommend Gans’s bonkers 2002 historical action movie Brotherhood Of The Wolf over either of them.

- Seth Lukas Hynes

Burrinja theatre

The Farmy Farm

Set in their favourite part of Australia Legend Farms, join Kenny and Jenny for a day in the life of getting their jobs done with a tractor-load of circus and farming tomfoolery.

It’s the Castle meets Babe with jaw-dropping acrobatics on tall towers of hay, giant juggling carrots, fair dinkum high flying farmers and loads of laughs for everyone.

Created by the team that brought you Children Are Stinky in collaboration with Stunned Mullet circus, this show has award-winning roots.

Performed by Josie Wardrope (By a Thread) and Sam Aldhem (Circus Oz), you can expect big tricks and even bigger laughs.

With jaw-dropping acrobatics, highflying carrots, three metre balancing bales of hay and so much more.

It’s all in a day’s work for our dead-set legends and all-round larrikins, Keeny and Junny – they’ve been doing this for years, still, you never know if they might need you to lend aa hand.

• Season: Tuesday 14 April

Gemco theatre

Open Stage Night

Welcome one and all to Gemco’s ongoing Open Stage Night.

Hosted by Carol, the popular open stage has been running for many decades.

Held in the cosy hall, you are welcome to perform anything you like of just come for entertainment.

Enjoy music, poetry, singing, monologues or anything you wish to show.

Runs the first Saturday of every month, now starting at 7pm.

Bring your own nibbles.

The next open night is 4 April, at 7pm to 10.30pm.

The 1812 Theatre Summer of the Aliens

The year is 1962 and the world is worrying about the Cuban missile crisis, except for Lewis, a youth on the cusp of manhood, growing up in Melbourne housing commission suburb.

He is preoccupied with flying saucers, much to the disgust of his friend Brian who can think only of losing his virginity.

The play centres in relationships, especially the relationship between 14 year old Lewis and 14 year old Dulcie.

It is through Dulcie that Lewis begins to understand that the struggle to be adult is the struggle to understand the world around him.

• Season: 8 April – 2 May.

A FIRST-TIME OFFERING OF SPACE, COMFORT AND LIFESTYLE

OFFERED to the market for the first time, this beautifully appointed residence delivers an exceptional lifestyle on approximately 1¼ acres in a peaceful Cockatoo setting, just moments from town, schools and everyday conveniences. Combining generous proportions, thoughtful design and inviting outdoor spaces, the home is perfectly suited to relaxed family living and effortless entertaining.

Inside, new solid polished timber flooring and soaring 9ft ceilings create an immediate sense of space and sophistication. The expansive open-plan living, dining and kitchen domain forms the centrepiece of the home, warmed by a woodfire and complemented by a split system and zoned gas ducted heating for year-round comfort.

The kitchen is both elegant and highly functional, featuring a substantial island bench, gas cooking, dishwasher, large pantry and an abundance of bench space and storage. Sliding doors open seamlessly to an impressive undercover deck that wraps around two sides of the home, creating a beautiful setting for entertaining while enjoying the peaceful surrounds.

Privately positioned at one end of the home, the master suite offers a calm and spacious retreat complete with walk-in wardrobe, ensuite with separate toilet, split system and direct access to the rear deck. Three further bedrooms with built-in robes are thoughtfully zoned along the hallway and serviced by a bright, generously sized family bathroom with separate toilet.

Downstairs adds further versatility with a carpeted theatre or rumpus room, cellar and internal access to the garage.

Outdoors, the property continues to impress with a separate entertaining area, double garage with rear workshop, dedicated carport ideal for a boat or caravan, woodshed, greenhouse, productive veggie patch, water tanks and a 6.6kW solar system.

Peacefully positioned yet conveniently close to Cockatoo’s vibrant township, this is a rare first-time offering that combines space, quality and the relaxed charm of Hills living.

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

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

IMMACULATE FAMILY LIVING

WELCOME to Ardestie, an immaculately presented four-bedroom, two-bathroom family home set on a gently sloping 4,698m² (approx.) parcel of fully fenced land which is bathed in natural sunlight. Offering privacy, space and modern comfort, this beautifully maintained property delivers the perfect blend of peaceful living and everyday convenience.

The updated kitchen forms the heart of the home, providing a stylish and functional space for family meals, entertaining and where you can watch children and pets alike enjoy the freedom to run and play. Quality carpets and hard flooring complete this home which presents as move-in ready.

Comfort is assured year-round with a wood fire for cosy winter evenings, 2 reverse cycle air-conditioning units for efficient heating and cooling, and the added luxury of gas ducted heating throughout the home.

Stepping outside, a new front deck offers the ideal place to relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. The generous landholding provides ample off-street parking and features a large under-roofline carport, perfect for vehicles, trailers, or additional storage. The property is equipped with 2-phase power and is wired for a generator, ensuring added peace of mind and practicality.

Privately positioned in a quiet location, yet conveniently within walking distance to local high school and just moments from Monbulk Central, Ardestie offers an exceptional lifestyle opportunity for families seeking space, comfort, and convenience.

This fabulous family home is ready to welcome its next chapter. ●

A GENEROUS CHARACTER HOME

SET on a generous 1,087sqm in leafy Avonsleigh, this welcoming three/four bedroom, two-bathroom home with 4 living spaces, delivers a lifestyle centred around good food, great company and effortless indoor–outdoor living.

An undercover front verandah creates a warm arrival before stepping inside to 9-foot ceilings and character detail, whilst the comfortable and spacious lounge, complete with open fire, split system and gas ducted heating has space for the whole family to relax and enjoy.

Walk through to the separate dining zone and well-appointed kitchen — a space designed for those who love to cook, host and gather, featuring stone benchtops, a gas stove, dishwasher and pantry. Add to this a functional laundry with the added bonus of a 3rd toilet to save you walking through the home when entertaining outside.

Glass doors open directly from theh dining space to the impressive undercover deck where cafe blinds and a woodfire create a further year-round living space that sets the scene for relaxed evenings with family and friends while overlooking the fully fenced backyard and taking in distant views.

Downstairs, a versatile rumpus or theatre room with split system provides an ideal second indoor living zone, teenage retreat or could be easily divided into a rumpus + 4th bedroom. This space offers direct access to the backyard and a further entertaining area, perfect for sitting around the fire pit with family and friends.

At the end of the day, getting a good night’s sleep is easy in the privately positioned master bedroom which offers a peaceful retreat with ceiling fan, split system, walk-in robe and ensuite. Two additional, spacious bedrooms with built-in robes are serviced by a central family bathroom, while a spacious laundry with separate toilet adds practicality.

Outside, established gardens feature a productive avocado tree along with lemon, lime, pear and mandarin trees. A double carport, off-street parking, garden shed and under-house storage complete this wellrounded Character home designed for relaxed living and memorable gatherings.

This property has it all so don’t miss outcall 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. ●

CharmingHomein aTranquilGardenSetting. Setonalmostone-thirdofanacre,thischarmingdouble-storeybrickhomeofferspeacefulliving surroundedbybeautiful,bird-filledgardens. Awideundercoververandahwrapsaroundthreesides, creatinginvitingoutdoorspacestosit,relax& enjoythenaturalsetting.Inside,9ftceilings,polished floorboards,gasductedheating& double-hungwindowsenhancethehome’swelcomingfeel. Thecentraltimberkitchenincludesanislandbench,greatstorage, adishwasher,walloven &gas stovetop,flowingtobothformal& informallivingareas.Upstairs,theprivatemastersuitefeaturesa walk-inrobe,ensuite& studynook,whiletwoadditionalbedroomswithtriplerobesshare acentral bathroom.Outside,thefullyfencedyardisidealforchildren& pets,withanundercoverentertaining area,circulardriveway,remotedoublegarage &highcarportperfectfor acaravanorboat.

BethanySullivan M 0438844968

M 0407365994

AOne-of-a-KindOff-GridHaveninGembrook! Seton5 privateacreswithtwospring-fedcreeks,thisremarkablefour-bedroomhomeisanoff-grid retreatlikenoother.A horseshoedrivewayleadsto awideverandahembracingsweepingviews. Inside,soaringceilings,exposedbeamsandtimberfloorsframetheopen-planloungeanddining withwoodfire,ceilingfanandbararea.Thekitchenblendsrusticcharmwithfunction,offering mahoganyandblackwoodbenches,walk-inpantry,hiddenfridge,dishwasher,gas/electriccooking andanIrishStanleyslowcombustionstove.Themasterincludes awalk-throughrobeandensuitestylebathroom,whileupstairstwofurtherbedroomsandduallivingzonescapturetreetopviews. Sustainabilityshineswitha 48vsolarsystem,generatorbackupandmultipleheating/coolingoptions. Withunder-housestorage,a 6m x6mcarportandtotalprivacy,thisisnotjusta home—it’sa lifestyle.

shortstrollfromEmerald’sschools,kinder, supermarket& vibrantmainstreet.Filledwithnaturallight,theopen-plankitchen,living &diningarea formstheheartofthehome.Thekitchenfeaturesstonebenchtops,breakfastbar,gasstovetop, dishwasher &excellentstorage,whiletheadjoininglounge& diningareaincludes asplitsystem, gasductedheating &ceilingfanforyear-roundcomfort.Slidingdoorsopentothereargarden. Themasterbedroomwithwalk-inrobe& ensuiteisprivatelypositionedatthefront.Upstairsoffers twofurtherbedroomswithbuilt-inrobes,a centralbathroom &secondlivingarea.Outside,thefully fencedyardincludes agardenshed,watertank& 5kWsolarsystem.

AaronDay M 0407365994

BrennanMileto M 0422996451

3

CHARACTER HILLS LIVING ON A HUGE 1,744M² (APPROX.) BLOCK

SET on an expansive 1,744m² (approx.) allotment, this is a true hills home offering space, character, and flexibility for growing families. Nestled in a premium Upwey location, the property delivers the relaxed lifestyle the Dandenong Ranges are known for, while remaining close to local shops, schools, and public transport.

Warm and inviting, the home features four bedrooms plus a study and two spacious bathrooms, with a layout designed to suit modern family living.

Upstairs, the kitchen and dining area open out to a generous deck overlooking the huge rear yard, the perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee while taking in the leafy surrounds. The elevated position creates a peaceful outlook and a wonderful sense of connection to the outdoors.

Downstairs provides incredible versatility, feeling like its own private zone – ideal as a teenagers’ retreat, guest accommodation, or space for extended family. This level includes a large living area with bifold doors opening outside, a spacious bedroom, and an additional bathroom, creating a comfortable and private living environment.

The backyard is exceptionally large, offering endless potential for gardens, play space, or future enhancements.

Additional features include:

• • Carport parking

• Solar power

• Cosy wood heater

• Split system heating and cooling

• Flexible multi-level family layout

All located in a sought-after pocket of Upwey, just minutes from local cafes, shops, schools, and public transport.

A true hills lifestyle property with space, character, and versatility - ready to be enjoyed. ●

ELEVATED FAMILY LIVING WITH STYLE AND SPACE

PROUDLY positioned in one of Cockatoo’s most desirable pockets, this beautifully appointed family residence delivers the perfect balance of modern luxury, relaxed hills living and exceptional space for the entire family. Set amongst a tranquil treetop backdrop, the home has been thoughtfully designed to maximise light, comfort and effortless entertaining.

At the heart of the home lies a stunning contemporary kitchen that will delight any home chef. Featuring striking polished concrete waterfall benchtops with breakfast bar seating, quality appliances, an abundance of storage and a well-appointed butler’s pantry, it is both functional and visually impressive. The kitchen flows seamlessly into the expansive open plan living and dining zone, complemented by an additional flexible space ideal as a children’s play area, reading nook or informal lounge.

Large windows frame beautiful leafy outlooks while allowing natural light to flood the home, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere throughout. Sliding doors open effortlessly to a generous decked entertaining area, offering the perfect setting for yearround gatherings with family and friends while enjoying the peaceful surrounds.

Accommodation is equally impressive with four spacious bedrooms. The privately zoned

master suite is positioned at one end of the home and features an oversized walk-in robe along with a luxurious ensuite complete with floor-to-ceiling tiles, excellent storage and a sophisticated, hotel-inspired finish. The remaining bedrooms all include built-in robes and are serviced by a beautifully designed family bathroom showcasing a floating timber vanity and oversized bathtub.

Additional comforts include gas ducted heating, split system heating and cooling, a cosy Coonara wood heater, timber flooring throughout and double-glazed windows ensuring year-round comfort.

Outside, the property continues to impress. From the striking front gates and quality fencing to the expansive lawn areas, every element has been carefully considered. A substantial shed adds incredible versatility and is sure to be the envy of friends, ideal for storage, workshop space, hobbies or additional vehicles.

Conveniently located just a short drive from the vibrant Cockatoo township with its cafes, schools, shops and community amenities, this exceptional property offers a lifestyle opportunity that is increasingly hard to find in the hills.

A home of this calibre will not last long.

Enquire today to arrange your inspection. ●

PUZZLES

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal rows and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

ACROSS

1 Daze; stupor (6)

4 A gathering (4-2)

10 Hinge (5)

11 Social exclusion (9)

12 A large group of instrumentalists (9)

13 Strong thread (5)

14 Spice; kick the ball between an opponent’s legs (6)

15 Sole (4)

19 Formerly (4)

20 Movable shelter (6)

24 Stink (5)

25 Painting of the countryside (9)

27 Funeral or burial rites (9)

28 Barack – (5)

29 Burrow (6)

30 Land surrounded by water (6) DOWN

1 Tropical storms (8)

2 Recommend (8)

3 Reflective road marker (3’1,3)

5 Precisely (7)

6 Inconsequential things (6)

7 Inflated (6)

8 Black deposit (4)

9 Struggles; filters (7)

17 Data about data (8)

18 Desired (2,6)

19 Slanting (7)

21 Traditions (7)

22 Accompany (6)

23 Logic (6)

26 Hatchlings (4)

Using the nine letters

YARRA RANGES SHIRE COUNCIL

PROPOSED ROAD DISCONTINUANCE

Yarra Ranges Shire Council (‘Council’), acting under Section 206 (1) and Clause 3 of Schedule 10 to the Local Government Act 1989 (‘the Act’), proposes to discontinue the unused 3m2 portion of road reserve abutting 14 Upalong Road, Mount Dandenong (‘the road’) shown hatched on the plan below (‘proposal’).

It is then proposed the portion of discontinued road reserve, be sold by private treaty to the abutting owner.

Further information regarding the proposal can be obtained from Melissa Lee 1300 368 333.

In accordance with Section 223 of the Act, any person wishing to make a submission on the proposal must do so in writing by 15 April 2026. Submissions should be addressed to:

Public Submission

The Chief Executive Officer, Yarra Ranges Shire Council and can either be hand delivered to the mailbox outside 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale, emailed to mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or posted to PO Box 105, Lilydale, Vic. 3140.

Any person making a submission is entitled to request in the submission that the person wishes to appear in person, or to be represented by a person specified in the submission, at a meeting to be heard in support of that submission.

Any person requesting to appear in person or to be represented by a person specified in his or her submission will be notified of the day, time and place of the meeting of the Council or of a committee determined by the Council to hear submissions.

All submissions will be considered in accordance with Section 223 of the Act.

Copies of submissions (excluding submitter’s names and addresses) will be made available at the Council meeting when submissions are considered.

Following consideration of submissions Council may resolve to discontinue the road, discontinue a part of the road or not discontinue the road.

Top dogs keep ’em hungry

By David Waters

The final round of pennant home and away was held at Eastwood on Friday the 13th; an omen for some.

The warm start so far this season changed slightly. A light overcast and cool breeze had an almost wintery feel. The dim light at 7am didn’t help managers find names on team sheets, and the breeze caused money and notes to temporarily escape custody. A short briefing about the finish time was made before the players were sent to their starting tees.

Under way right on time. A few wayward tee shots and some long and straight ones are the usual way to commence games at this level. This is exactly what occurred. After a couple of holes or about 40 minutes, windbreakers and jackets were removed as the sun peeked through the clouds. The temperature rose. Not to the heady 30s but to the very manageable low 20s. The rise in temperature did not make the ball go longer or straighter but it took the strain out of the big muscles between the ears. The psychological aspect of feet not slipping or the hands being cold changes the players’ feelings and expectations. Unfortunately, the transfer of theory and expectation to practice and execution rarely matches up.

That being said, the aim of this competition is to enjoy golf, meet other people and have some fun, trying to play as best as possible. The Eastwood course was presented in great condition. The well-grassed fairways were delightful to play from and walk upon. They felt like a fluffy carpet. The greens were at their high velocity best. Trickle putts reached the cup while firm putts went miles past the hole if the correct line was taken.

This round, being the last before the finals, drew plenty of interest. The home teams, as usual, had their winning ways over guests. Eastwood gold 6 ½ def Yering 1 ½ and green 4 ½ def Yer-

Trades & Services

ing 3½. The green group finalist was known two weeks ago: Box Hill. The struggle remained to determine the final pecking order. The gold group had three contenders for the top spot and a finals berth. Box Hill, Eastern and Churchill/Waverley. Box Hill, with a win or tie, would remain on top. If Eastern and Churchill/Waverley both won, the percentage determined the top spot. What Happened? Eastern tied with Heritage and could win on percentage. Box Hill tied with Churchill /Waverley and went through as the gold

finalist. It went to the last pairing for the tie to be declared. Congratulations to both Box Hill teams. The final will be next Friday at Yering Meadows. Teams other than Box Hill will play a 4BBB competition to determine the team’s championship. The season finished as it started, with tied matches making ladder calculations tricky. Below are the results for the final round with ladders for both groups.

Green group: Eastwood 4 ½ def Yering 3 ½, Box Hill 4 ½ def Churchill/Waverley 3 ½, Eastern 5 ½

def Heritage 2 ½

Gold group: Eastwood 6 ½ def Yering 1 ½, Box Hill 4 tied with Churchill/Waverley 4, Eastern 4 tied with Heritage 4.

Green Ladder: Box Hill 22, Eastern 16, Eastwood 14, Churchill/Waverley 12, Yering 10, Heritage 8, Gardiners Run 2.

Gold Ladder: Box Hill 16, Churchill/Waverley 14, Eastern 14, Eastwood 12, Heritage 12, Gardiners 10, Yering 6. Play well in your finals.

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Bittersweet season ends

The final weekend of the 2025/26 cricket season arrived for the cricketers at Mt Evelyn Cricket Club, and it was left to the club’s Second and Fourth XI teams to fly the maroon and white flag in their respective Grand Finals against Seville and Vermont.

The Professionals Outer East Second XI travelled to Seville chock full of confidence after a solid month of cricket, leading to a comprehensive victory against Wandin in the semi-final. Standing in their way would be a Seville Burras outfit that had rightfully claimed top spot on the ladder through a season of exceptional results and would take some beating if the Mounters were to claim the prize.

Captain Joey Chamberlin won the toss and quickly elected to bat, as he did in the semi-final, electing to put a score on the board in a bid to put some pressure on the Burras. The Burras would take the upper hand in the contest from the beginning as they quickly removed star bats Adam Smith and Alex Brisbane-Flynn to reduce the visitors to 2/15. The Mounters would scramble through the experience of Luke Jones and Mike Mawson and would slowly fight their way back into the contest to push the score to 2/48 when drinks were taken.

Unfortunately for Jones, drinks were taken at an inopportune time, and he lost his wicket on the resumption of play. Mawson would lose his wicket shortly after, and the Mounters had stumbled once again. When Brad Jones and Semi Final star Chris Morrow fell cheaply, things looked dire for the Mounters as they had fallen to 6/80 and were a long way off building a winning total.

It was left to Brad Westaway and Billie Laird to dig in and find some inner resolve to try to eke out the innings as long as possible. They were able to extend the innings through 24 patient overs, but adding to the total proved to be painstaking. Westaway would add 23 off 112 balls, whilst Laird would be equally defiant with 12 off 69. Despite their resilience, the pair would fall together with the score on 111, leaving a huge dent in proceeding after all their hard work. Chamberlin and young star Lachie Morrow would try their best to extend the innings, however, the ship had sailed and the Mt Evelyn innings was wrapped up for a disappointing score of 121.

The Burras had 14 overs to get a head start to their innings at the end of day one, whilst Mt Evelyn had 14 overs to make an impression in the contest, or the Grand Final would be lost. The Burras top order has been their strength all season, and they would guide their team to a position of authority, closing the day on 1/44. The wicket of Frankovic to Morrow was the only highlight on an otherwise bleak afternoon for the Mounters.

Quick wickets would be the only hope for the visitors entering day two, and they wouldn’t be forthcoming. The Burras would make short work of the remainder of the chase and would notch up an impressive eight-wicket victory to claim the premiership. Although the disappointment of a missed opportunity will linger throughout the winter for the Second XI, they can be well pleased with the progress made this season, particularly from the younger brigade, and they will enter the 2026/27 season hungry for success.

The Hop Hen Brewing Fourth XI have had to do it the hard way this season, having to overcome the competition’s best to book their place in the Grand Final against Vermont. The team has taken the whole season to establish a steady lineup, and that has served them well over the closing month of the season. Captain Connor Hart-

man won the toss and elected to bowl, knowing full well they would get the opportunity to set the final chase, having batted the middle overs. Hartman tossed the ball to his reliable opening pair of Luke Thomson and Campbell Manser in a bid to capture some early wickets, as they have done all season.

Both would oblige with a wicket each, then when Lachie Robertson swept on a quick single and threw to Ezra Joyce for a swift run out, the Eagles had stumbled to 3/31 and the Mounters were in the driving seat of the contest. From there, it became a grind for both teams as the Mounters would keep up the relentless pressure, whilst some patient Vermont batting ensured they would lose any more quick wickets on their way to shoring up the innings at 3/89 at the end of their first split.

Vermont’s strength has been in their bowling, and their young tearaways gave the team an ideal start as they quickly had three Mt Evelyn bats back in the shed as the start of the two innings was identical, with the Mounters falling to 3/31. Where the Eagles dug in, the Mounters continued

to find the going tough. Semi-final heroes Craig Steele and Ezra Joyce would spend some time at the wicket, but their stays would not amount to the significance of their efforts in the final game, and when they both fell in the shadows of day one, the Mounters had limped to 5/57. Some work still to be done, but the reliable Lachie Robertson had anchored himself at the wicket, and with some valuable support from the remainder of the batting line-up, anything could be possible. Chris Doyle would make a bright start to day two in support of Robertson, and the pair looked to have set the foundations on day two to set the Eagles a tough score to chase. Robertson’s hamstring would give way, then Doyle would play an inexplicable pull shot, and the Mounters found themselves up against it once again. A nervous Thomson would go quickly, and the Mounters would fall to 7/87, and 100 looked a distant possibility. Chase Missen’s aggressive approach was going to work one of two ways, and fortunately for the visitors, he was able to combine with Robertson to take the score beyond Vermont’s, then give the Eagles a tricky chase. Missen would re-

main unbeaten on 29 as the Mounters would post a lead of 53 runs. Still behind the eight ball, but a realistic sniff of victory.

The game hit overdrive upon Vermont’s return to the wicket, and some flashy strokeplay saw the hosts quickly add to their total, albeit not without risk. When Manser finally forced the breakthrough, it was almost last rights for the Mounters, but the game quickly opened up as Mt Evelyn would capture the fifth and sixth wickets quickly after and the Eagles soon found themselves 6/116 and still 28 runs from premiership glory. Unfortunately for Mt Evelyn, Vermont would steady under the microscope, and they wouldn’t lose any more wickets in the chase, and they would claim the ultimate prize with four wickets in hand, fighting off a dogged Mt Evelyn outfit.

Like the Second XI, the Fourth XI were left with the bitter taste of defeat despite their fantastic efforts across the two weeks of finals. A bittersweet end to the season, one that saw such great growth within the team and its players, but ultimately one game short of capping off the season in memorable style.

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Welcome to Clovelly Cottage. Nestled in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges but still within close proximity to the Boronia Junction shopping precinct and amenities, it is a place our residents are proud to call home. Featuring abundant indoor and outdoor spaces with a choice of private sanctuaries and communal living, we are dedicated to delivering excellence in care and services that enable residents to live well and celebrate the autumn years of their life.