Tuesday, 20 January, 2026
Aid flows into fire-affected communities
Bike ride charity ambassador’s inspiring story
Photo exhibition celebrates queer communities
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
As one refund point closes, another opens, but it’s sparked...
Machine concerns By Oliver Winn The recently opened reverse vending machine in Yarra Junction has received criticisms from the community over its negative impact on the area. Business owners bemoaned the disruption caused by double parking waste collection trucks while volunteer run organisations lose out on a crucial source of income. It came after the popular community refund point at the Little Yarra Ranges Egg Farm was shut down by the network operator, Visy, on 18 December. A day later, the new reverse vending machine opened, and users of the old site switched locations to deposit their recyclables. But Ms Cordina, who runs Red Relish Cafe just two doors down from the reverse vending machine, said the arrangement was posing a safety threat to pedestrians and cars. “I think it needs to go. I think it needs to be relocated somewhere else. I don’t think it’s suitable, and I also don’t think the facility is big enough for the area,” she said. “It’s a danger where cars have to overtake and go around on the other side of the road because obviously emptying the skips isn’t a fast process. They’re here for, you know, 20 minutes, 25 min-
utes sometimes.” Visy is the network operator for the CDS Vic North Zone and manages refund points in the area, dealing with non-compliance related issues. The Star Mail contacted Visy for comment, however Visy told the Star Mail it would no longer be responding to enquiries surrounding the matter. Eildon MP Cindy McLeish has sought to represent the community’s complaints surrounding the shutdown of the egg farm and the new reverse vending machine. “It’s been a really big fight that I’m trying to continue on behalf of the people, not just at the egg farm, but the local community who got behind it,” she said. “Volunteers don’t have that time on their hands and what I’m hearing is that they’re sitting on their cans and plastics bottles hoping that it reopens,” Ms McLeish said. Visy shut down the Little Yarra Ranges Egg Farm’s refund point as the farm broke some of its contractual obligations - this included counting and checking each container individually. But the egg farm owners said it was impossible to pass audits, claiming “ they’ll always find something”. Read more on page 2
In collaboration with the community, both Ms Pickett and Ms Ruck will be constantly creating an evolving installation in the gallery space. (File: 527440)
Cloud Time exhibition here By Gabriella Vukman Local artists Mandy Pickett and Amanda Ruck have come together to create an exhibition that explores the questions: ‘How do we respond to and care for each other during times of crisis and conflict?’ and, ‘How can we maintain inner peace, social cohesion and deeper connections within our natural environments, public spaces and communities?’ The exhibition merges various practices, including dance, circus, physical theatre, painting, projection, film, storytelling, poetry, digital art, and soundscapes.
Project Manager and artist Mandy Pickett said, “This project has been quite a while in the making and it’s evolved into various versions.” “I have been inspired by Amanda’s work for a long time. I started having dreams of dancing in the sky and then I imagined myself in Amanda’s paintings, flying and dancing.” Visitors are welcome to contribute their own items to the exhibit as time passes, providing for an immersive and sensory experience. Read more on page 14
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