Tuesday, 24 February, 2026
Calls for Visy investigation findings to be public
Warburton CFA member celebrates 70 years
Repower festival returning to Lilydale
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Riding to help the children By Oliver Winn The Eastern 80 charity bike ride took place on 21 February in what was another successful year for the biggest bike ride of the Upper Yarra. Riders, walkers and keen supporters rocked up to the Cog Bikes and Brew Cafe in the early hours of Saturday morning, ready for a day of fundraising. It’s Norm Orr’s 14th year running the event, which raises money for the Royal Children’s Hospital. The ambassador for this year’s Eastern 80 was Warby Weapons Basketball Club president Deni Walker and she said it was an honour to be the face of the ride. “That honour of being that person on the day to embody a story that people can directly tie a meaning to today’s achievements, I think it’s pretty special,” Ms Walker said. Riders and walkers then visited the Alpine Hotel for after-ride celebrations in the afternoon. Read more on page 13
Warburton Advancement League president Jeff Gill rides off along the Warburton-Lilydale Rail Trail. (Oliver Winn: 536187)
Choking risk care By Gabriella Vukman The death of a Healesville man has prompted recommendations for clearer guidelines surrounding care for aged care patients at risk of choking. The recommendations came after the Coroners Court of Victoria released its findings into the death of Healesville man Keith Walter Fisher, on 19 February. Staff at Holmwood Aged Care organised for Mr Fisher to see a speech pathologist after he began to struggle with swallowing. However, the recommendation from the speech pathologist that Mr Fisher be placed un-
der “distant supervision during oral intake” was not implemented as intended. Mr Fisher was found approximately ten minutes later by the Personal Care Attendant, who observed him to be grey in colour and not breathing. Approximately half an hour after he was found, Mr Fisher was pronounced dead. The coroner accepted that the absence of supervision while Mr Fisher was eating was due to a misunderstanding largely stemming from inconsistent, industry-wide interpretations of terms characterising such supervision, such as “close”,
“distant” or “direct”. The court found such misunderstandings could be avoided in future with clearer guidance to aged care providers about supervision requirements for residents at risk of choking. Evidence indicated he may have experienced a heart attack or fatal arrhythmia, either of which could have caused death. The court said this could not be conclusively established, even by autopsy. Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald said, “Whilst the occurrence of the choking incident could potentially have been prevented, it is not possible to
determine whether this would have averted Mr Fisher’s death.” The coroner directed recommendations to Speech Pathology Australia. These recommendations included advising members to discontinue the use of broad, categorical supervision descriptors such as “close” or “distant” when managing residents at risk of choking. Instead, the organisation is encouraged to endorse or develop clearer, individualised care plans aligned with best-practice guidance. Read more on page 3
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