Healesville Community Renewable Energy (Healesville CoRE) is inviting community members to its inaugural Expert EcoChat session
The Expert EcoChat is an opportunity for householders to get personalised advice from trusted
independent experts in sustainable housing and energy efficient living
Healesville CoRE president Karen Roberts said 10 experts will be at the event to provide free advice on subjects to do with sustainable living
if you are renovating your home and would like to discuss insulation and thermal comfort
if you are curious about electric vehicles and have questions about charging batteries
or if you are considering installing a solar system or wondering if a heat pump is worth it
our experts will be happy to have a 20-minute one-on-one
a passion for sustainable design and helping people achieve affordable and low carbon living that is comfortable all year round.”
The idea of this event came up after many questions about electrifying homes were asked during the Q and A session at the Healesville CoRE’s latest free community event
“This led us to think that it would be good to provide an opportunity for the community to be able to ask questions about their own situation
but with someone ‘in the know’ who can advise them directly,” the president said
“Our neighbours at Clean Energy Nillumbik ran an Expert EcoChat last year and we have used the same consultant to organise ours.”
Depending on the feedback of the upcoming inaugural session
the local renewable energy group is thinking of making it an annual event
using funding from our partnership grant with Yarra Ranges Council who have supported us for many years now,” Ms Roberts said
“We are also particularly trying to reach young families and local businesses
to give them the chance to get all the facts and make informed decisions and hopefully
The inaugural Expert EcoChat will be held from 11am to 1pm on Saturday 10 May at the Healesville Senior Citizens Centre on 18 Green Street
healesvillecore.org.au/events/event/expert-ecochats-saturday-10-may-2025/
please contact Healesville CoRE at events@healesvillecore.org.au
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but to miss the Cellar Bar aspect of the equation would be short-changing yourself
it’s clear the bar is no afterthought
This is a working winery with the bulk of the warehouse-like space set aside for that
The bar at the front with its umbrella-shaded outdoor seating and darkly glamorous indoor area overhung with large sculptural arrangements of dried plants and flowers has its own atmosphere
It also has an excellent menu of wine-friendly food
all of it designed with flexibility in mind
ideal accompaniment for char-grilled skewers – whole Skull Island prawns teamed with classic Marie-Rose-type sauce
or mushrooms with aïoli and porcini salt – or a not-to-be-missed chicken skin sandwich
the crisp smoky shards of skin joined by fluffy white bread
Think carefully before agreeing to share that one
Larger dishes emerge from the kitchen with a similar elevated simplicity
Meticulously boned and filleted tiger flathead gets support from a sweet-and-salty caper and raisin vinaigrette while a big-flavoured wagyu tri-tip
adds wonderful garlic butter and a bed of diced brassica florets to the mix
deftly dressed and bright with heirloom tomatoes
and textbook fries serve equally well as snacks
desserts like a pale green fig leaf pannacotta teamed with raspberries
poached rhubarb and a shortbread crumb or a dark chocolate mousse with brandied plums will close the meal very successfully
Jayden Ong Winery & Cellar Bar is an easy day trip
an overnighter that would allow a more thorough study of Ong’s deft winemaking alongside very appealing food
Michael Harden worked in restaurants and bars in New York
Tuscany and Melbourne for 15 years to support his writing
he now spends much of his time writing about eating
he is the Victorian and Tasmanian editor for Gourmet Traveller and works as a freelance author
restaurant critic and editor for publications such as Good Food and Broadsheet
He also holds the lofty title of Oceania Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Hotels
including a cultural history of the Melbourne hospitality scene called Melbourne: The Making of an Eating and Drinking Capital and Lygon Street a history of Melbourne’s original eat street
He is currently completing a novel that’s set
the town of Healesville will come alive with the sights and sounds of its annual community celebration
the two-day event promises a rich mix of culture
the ’Venue Hop’ invites visitors to explore seven local venues hosting an eclectic mix of music
Highlights include performances from blues powerhouse Lloyd Spiegel Trio and Yarra Valley favourites Smoke Stack Rhino
For those keen to dive deeper into global sounds
Saturday also features interactive workshops spanning Hungarian dance
the festival shifts outdoors with a free Family Fun Day on Green Street
and even a free guitar building session with local craftsman Brend Brute
It’s a weekend designed to bring people together—locals and visitors alike—in celebration of community
The Healesville and valley communities are being encouraged to share their thoughts and vision about how the town should look and be experienced in 20 years.
The ideas and insights will be turned into a draft Township Design Framework (TDF) later this year to provide a community supported framework for any future projects and action
Community members can now visit Shaping Yarra Ranges and take part in activities to help imagine what Healesville could look like by 2045
explained that the community’s ideas and suggestions would be used to draft a design framework
This document will then be shared with the community for review and feedback before being finalised
it is so important to hear from a wide range of people on what they love about Healesville
and what their hopes are for the future of our town
it to make sure that Council can plan and find funding for the projects that matter most; the projects that will ensure we continue to have great places for us to enjoy and come together and to support local businesses to thrive,” Cr McAllister said
“This can be as simple as wanting seating
better path connections for walking and cycling or improved ramp access
or as large as new community buildings and infrastructure
“We’ve had some great input in the past
such as with the Healesville Structure Plan
and these ideas will be included along with many other community conversations that have happened about many public spaces in Healesville
This Design Framework will get into a bit more detail to progress actual projects – a comprehensive plan that looks at the local strengths
issues and opportunities and maps out improvements across a range of timeframes
“Healesville is a special town that we all love and making sure it is the place we want and need it to be into the future is so important. I encourage everyone to be part of this conversation so please have a look at Shaping Yarra Ranges which can be accessed from Council’s website
visit one of our in-person pop-up events over the coming weeks
at the Healesville Link or send an email with your thoughts.”
Once the TDF has been developed with community input
it will inform decision making and strengthen funding requests
The TDF will be developed with consideration of the Healesville Structure Plan (2016) and the Council Plan
and will take into account other projects and relevant strategies such as Green Street Park design and the Queens Park Masterplan
Find out more and have your say at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Yarra Ranges resident can park for free with a permit - Apply Online
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Police have seized a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine and an imitation firearm as part of a major drug investigation in Healesville
The investigation commenced after police received intelligence regarding alleged drug trafficking in the Yarra Ranges area
Detectives from the Croydon Divisional Response Unit
and uniform members from Healesville and Warburton
executed warrants at a Healesville property on Thursday 1 May
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Daniel Sullivan said drug trafficking doesn’t just affect those using the substances
crime and trauma right across the community
That’s why we come down hard on anyone involved,” he said
“Our team has been relentless over the past year
and in turn have removed considerable quantities of drugs from the streets
“Our message is clear – if you’re dealing drugs
you can expect a knock at the door — and a trip to court.”
$2000 of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime
A 45-year-old Healesville man was arrested at the scene
He has been charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine
being a prohibited person in possession of an imitation firearm
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday 2 May
Police are urging anyone with information about drug trafficking to come forward and call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppers.com.au
The recent arrest forms part of an ongoing effort by the Croydon Divisional Response Unit
which has resulted in substantial quantities of illicit drugs being removed from the streets across the Yarra Ranges over the past year
New trees will be replanted at the car park of Healesville Walk Shopping Centre
There was big concern raised by Healesville residents on Facebook regarding trees being cut down at the car park of Healesville Walk Shopping Centre
widely known as Healesville Coles car park
Star Mail has been contacted by several community members via email
Healesville resident Michael Hayes is one of them who was deeply worried about what’d been done at the car park
He said he found all trees had been removed on Tuesday 29 April
“Myself and many others did not see a notice anywhere to say this would happen,” the Healesville resident said
bring shade on those hot days when we’re shopping
Star Mail was successful in contacting the property management company of the shopping centre
TLN Commercial director Phill Harrison said the landlord’s decision to go through the process of removing the trees was due to trip hazards
and the borders surrounding the trees can also create trip hazards,” he said
Mr Harrison confirmed they will replant trees soon
“After we got the approval from the council to remove the trees
we’ve got to go back to the council with our plans,” he said
“They’ve got to approve what we want to put back in there
“We want to put some sort of trees back in there but I just don’t know what kind of these will be subject to
Anzac Round and all Healesville Football and Netball teams made their way to Mt Evelyn looking forward to both checking out Mt Evelyns new facilities and also the
next challenge in their journey into Premier Division
The B grade netballers faced challenging opponents with Mt Evelyn leading by 30 goals at quarter time
Healesville managed to reduce Mt Evelyn’s scoring rate for the last three quarters
Best players for Healesville were E Roberts
Mt Evelyn led early and were ahead by 17 goals at half-time
Healesville fought hard and won the final quarter
First up on the football front was the Senior Women’s team
In their first season back in the Outer East competition for a number of years
Mt Evelyn showed Healesville why they are such a powerhouse in women’s football in Outer East
While Healesville womens battled hard all game Mt Evelyn were just way to strong winning every quarter
A lot to like about the young Healesville team though and now they have seen the benchmark they will learn and get better
Healesville’s U18’s were looking forwarding to getting back out there playing
First quarter was a low scoring tight battle with Mt Evelyn just managing to come out on top to lead 1.3.9 to Healesville 1.2.8
Beyond this though Mt Evelyn took control of the game and managed to win all the next 3 quarters of football
Final Score Mt Evelyn 14.11.95 to Healesville 3.3.21
With several of Healesville’s U18’s out of the side and playing Senior Footy
and several youngsters from the junior club stepping up to fill their spots
Healesville were really excited about this group of players coming through
Next up Reserves looking to get their first win for the season
this wasn’t to eventuate with Mt Evelyn proving to be way to strong from the first bounce
Half time saw Mt Evelyn 9.11.65 to Healesville 1.3.9
The third quarter saw Healesville a bit better with Mt Evelyn only having one more scoring shot but with much more accuracy (4.1 to 0.4) to extend their lead
Healesville really struggled in the last quarter with Mt Evelyn powering on to win 20.14.134 to 2.8.20
After a great Anzac service which saw all netballers and footballers from both clubs come together to pay their respects to all those that have served our country it was
After a great first two weeks in Premier Division Healesville boys were confident but prepared for the strong physical game that they know Mt Evelyn would bring
This proved to be the case but Healesville stuck to their game style winning the first two quarters to go into the main break leading 7.8.50 to 2.6.18
The third quarter sawthings tighten up a bit with Healesville only managing to out score a hard fighting Mt Evelyn by a single point
Healesville stuck to their plan and went on to win the last quarter and the game
Final score Healesville 12.15.87 to Mt Evelyn 5.11.41
at home up at Don Road Complex against Woori Yallock
It is also Healesville’s past players day so Healesville netballers and footballers are looking forward to a great crowd to watch some cracking football and netball games
Local children enjoyed colouring in a page of the Star Mail newspaper over the Easter holidays
Main Street Quality Butchers and Smokehouse hosted a colour-in competition/raffle
“We wanted to do something fun for the kids for Easter,” the shopowner Steve Hollis said
The colour-in competition/raffle was advertised in the Star Mail newspaper
and over 30 kids submitted their colour-in
The prize was a hamper filled with over $300 worth of products donated by local businesses in Healesville and Yarra Glen
To give an equal chance for every kid to win
the event host decided to do a lucky draw to choose a winner
Chum Creek Primary School Grade 4 student Noah Lam was chosen as a winner of the hamper
Noah was excited to receive the special prize
“Mum told me that the butchers would let me colour in a newspaper page
The event host thanked everyone who participated and supported the event
“We’re happy with responses from the community
and businesses who donated to the hamper,” Steve said
“We hope this inspires more shop owners to do something for kids in the community.”
The products for the hamper were donated by Verso Books
Healesville Jewellers’ front window is once again filled with the heartfelt feeling of Anzac Day
Shop owner Sally Piper and the Healesville Jewellers team are showcasing the Anzac Day commemorative window display
Sally said the Anzac tribute window started by honouring her dad
“It features everything from the Boer War right through to the Vietnam conflict,” she said
there’s been a different feature in the lower section
we decided to feature the Vietnam conflict
“Most young people think it was only in the 70s
but the Vietnam conflict started right back in 1946 and multiple countries were involved in it until such time as the Whitlam government decided there would be no more conscripts going off to the Vietnam War.”
There is also a section commemorating the Aboriginal soldiers who served Australia in different wars
“Even it took ages to find a replica doll that was absolutely representative of our Aboriginal army,” Sally said
“There were over 4000 of them who actually fought in those wars
“We were finally able to put that missing piece into the conflicts of how all Australians served under this one flag
and the different personalities who were involved in that.”
Sally’s dad was a Lancaster crewman who flew over Europe with the British Bomber Command during World War 2
who had done the research for the window and added new items each year
“The little memorial that we’ve got there in the front up on the top of the window is his crew
and what happened was his crew was shot down in March 1945 by a German night fighter ace named Hoffman Dietrich Schmidt,” he said
who was the normal wireless operator on the Lancaster
The gentleman who took his place was Pilot Officer Trotter
Not only their dad but also many family members served Australia in different wars
was also conscripted to the national service but didn’t get sent off to Vietnam
there were no longer sending conscripts or anyone to Vietnam,” he said
and then I was posted back to Victoria doing administrative stuff in the Central Army Records Office.”
Sally and Michael’s great uncle Wilfred Flanagan
fought at the Western Front in World War 1 as a gunner
as far as I could ascertain from his military record
He came back to Australia and lived a normal life after the war,” Michael said
was in the infantry serving on the Western Front in World War 1
“He got a version of the flu and it was so severe
so he was repatriated back to England from France
and he was in hospital in England for at least three months
sent him back to Australia in about 1917,” Michael said
Jeweller and business partner Bruce Damman’s grandfather served in New Guinea fighting against Japan
and his great-grandfather served in the Navy for both World War 1 and 2
Sally remembered her dad having lots of nightmares when she was a little kid
“There were times when I’d asked Dad about war as I grew up
Michael said Anzac Day is to recognise the sacrifices that past
today’s and future generations have made in military service
you never know what’s going to happen,” he said
“It’s always not a nice thing and never has been
and there’s no nice way of killing someone
but you’ve got to protect your own country.”
Michael is not a member of any local RSL sub-branch
Sally has been trying to persuade him to sign up for the Healesville RSL
Round 2 fixture saw Healesville travel up to Emerald on what was forecast to be a very warm day with temperatures expected to be getting close to 30 degrees
Whilst the Mens and Womens footballers were at Chandler Reserve
the Netballers had to travel at bit further into town to play at Pepi’s Land courts
Healesville’s B grade was first on court in what turned to be a tough day out for the Healesville team
Emerald dominated the game from start to finish and while Healesville battled hard Emerald went on to win 69-7
Coming off a great win against Upwey last week
A grade came into this game against Emerald confident and ready to proof that they can be competitive in Premier Division
for a hard working and talented Healesville line up
managing to out score Healesville in all four quarters to run out winners 61-36
the Senior women were up first taking on Belgrave
Healesville took control of the game from the first bounce and at managed to keep Belgrave scoreless in the first quarter while kicking 3.2
Belgrave steadied in the second quarter managing to outscore Healsville by a point but went into the major break trailing 26-7
Healesville went on to control the second half going on to win 7.5.47 to 2.5.17
Next up Healesville Reserves came out looking to improve on last weeks effort which saw them just run out of legs in the last quarter against Upwey
With the U18’s having the bye this week saw some of our up-and-coming players get their first look into Senior Footy and they didn’t disappoint
First half possession was reasonably even but incredible accuracy in front of goal saw Healesville 7.0.42 Emerald 5.8.38 at the main break
The third quarter saw Healesville maintain their lead with both sides kicking two goals straight
Emerald found something in the last quarter and in an exciting finish managed to just get over the line taking out the game 8.10.58 to 9.1.55
Disappointing for the Healesville boys but there is a lot to like about this group in their first season of Premier Division
After a really good win against Upwey last week
Healesville Seniors came into this game confident and looking to make a really good start into Premier Division Football
Healesville had the lions share of possession in the first quarter but in contrast to the Reserves game inaccuracy in front of goal meant that Healesville only had a 10 point lead at quarter time
This trend would continue for the rest of the game with Emerald only managing five behinds in the next two quarters and Healesville kicking 7.15
Emerald actually won the last quarter by a point but in the end Healesville was dominant winning 11.28.94 to 4.9.33
Maybe a bit of goal kicking practice over the Easter Break is in order
With a break this week for Easter all teams Football and Netball can look forward a rest and some extra time to refresh and get up and about for a big Round 3 Anzac Round clash against Mt Evelyn at Mt Evelyn
Yarra Ranges Council has developed a draft concept for the Green Street parklet in Healesville
and the document is now ready for community feedback
Community members are being asked to provide feedback on the concept plan before it starts being prepared for delivery
The draft concept has been published on Council’s Shaping Yarra Ranges website
showing 13 Green Street being fully retained as public open space
It proposes features to make it an attractive space for community to sit and meet and for the popular market to spill into
It also includes an option to add a small activity node that supports picnicking and cyclists
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister encouraged locals to have their say
“We have several parks and public spaces in Healesville that are treasured by our community
and this location is a small but much valued place in the heart of Healesville,” she said
“Council successfully advocated with community to keep this site for community and have now purchased the land
We then sought feedback on what community would like to see on the site
and have the much awaited design ready for final feedback from community
business owners and the wider community about developing a Healesville Township Development Framework – a long-term plan that maps out the next 20 plus years of the town’s future
is focused on an immediate opportunity for community
If we can hear whether we are on the right track with the design then we will be able to move into detailed design and get ready to deliver the project
“The community has been wonderfully engaged and passionate about the future of Green Street
and I’m so pleased this land is now in public ownership
The draft document features ideas such as:
VicTrack offered Council the land to purchase in 2017 for approximately $600,000
which the community was overwhelmingly in favour of
and Council declined to purchase the land for the higher price
and asking for the land to be gifted to Council
VicTrack agreed to sell the land to Council for $600,000 in 2023
under the condition that the land be rezoned as Public Open Space and remain so permanently
shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/open-space-design-green-street-healesville
Walking along the main street of Healesville
it’s getting easier to see either empty buildings or signs of closing-down businesses
Crumbz has turned into an online shop since Monday 3 March
Mobihub removed its Healesville branch last October
Grandma’s Gift Shoppe also left the town and the building is remaining empty
The Bodhi Tree announced the permanent closure through its Facebook page
CreditorWatch is a commercial credit agency
which provides businesses access to unique data through solutions covering the entire customer lifecycle
from customer onboarding and credit decision automation to credit risk management and automated collections
According to the data on business failure rates for all Victorian regions for the 12 months to 28 Feb 2025 supplied by CreditorWatch
the average business failure rate for all Australian regions is 5.09 per cent while Yarra Ranges sits around mid-range for Victoria at 5 per cent
The business failure rate has been rising consistently since October 2023 and reached 5.10 per cent in January 2025
which was its highest point since August 2020
CreditorWatch chief executive officer Patrick Coghlan said all regions have experienced an increase in the business failure rate post-Covid
“Government support measures such as JobKeeper and a hands-off approach to debt collection from large creditors such as the Australian Taxation Office and big banks during the pandemic
helped reduce the business failure rate during that period,” he said
“These measures prolonged the demise of some businesses that were already in trouble
high inflation and a higher interest rate regime have contributed to business closures as well
particularly those that are reliant on the discretionary spending of consumers such as hospitality
“Cutting spending in this area is one of the few levers households can pull to reduce costs
It might be eating out less at restaurants
bringing your lunch to work or having one less coffee per day.”
was originally opened up at the other end of town
where Mugshots Hair Dressers is currently located
The business expanded and moved to the location where it finally closed down
Shop owner Kay Trembath said she decided to close down the brick-and-mortar store but continue to run the online store
and then we had to renew our lease but we didn’t want to renew for another three years,” she said
“We considered everything like the volatility of the economic climate as it costs a lot to run a business these days
“It’s tough doing business at the moment
Looking back on her 14 years of journey in Healesville
Ms Trembath said it was “the best experience” in her working life
It was just somewhere I came to spend time with like-minded people,” she said
“I’d had my sadness earlier in the (last week of the brick-and-mortar store)
So we had a little bit of a celebration with the staff and some customers came in
“We got lots of beautiful flowers and bottles of champagne and lovely cards
That just made us feel better about everything.”
Crumbz aimed at spreading good influences in the community
The business not only raised funds for people in need but also educated children with life-long skills
The shopowner said Crumbz was able to reach and help a lot of different people through crafts
Beyond Blue was one of the other ones we raised money for,” she said
“We also spent time educating young people
and we did lots of really wonderful things with children.”
Crumbz remains an online shop and provides a click-and-collect service at the Healesville Library every Wednesday from 11am to 1pm
Customers can choose an option to pick up at the library in the checkout process
but they can select it to pick up at the library
If they’ve got any technical questions or need help with a knitting project
they can also pop in and ask,” Ms Trembath said
we can take it down to the library and they can have a look at it
It’s just a way for us to connect with the local community and to help those people who don’t shop online
They can certainly give us a call and we can process their order over the phone for them
They can do it when they want and just pick it up at the library on a Wednesday.”
Being asked about the last word to the community
the shopowner said nothing but “thank you”
“I would just like to thank the community for their love and support over the years,” Ms Trembath said
“We’ve made lifelong friends out of this process
and everybody that stepped through the door meant something to us
and so we really have appreciated the kindness that came from this beautiful community
the staff members I worked with were great people and highly skilled.”
Mobihub struggled with the financial challenges with its Healesville branch throughout the years
Mobihub opened the Healesville shop in 2022 after the shopowner noticed many customers from Healesville travelled to his Lilydale store to get their phones fixed
one more phone repair shop was launched at the same time period which made the shop difficult to attract customers
Mobihub owner Syed Faiq said if he had known of another phone repair shop opening
he would never have opened his shop in Healesville
“We had a good customer base but it was not that busy
It was only about 10 per cent of customers compared to the Lilydale one,” he said
the rental fee soared from $2500 to $2800 per month within one year
(The rental fee) was much higher than the Lilydale store which is $2200 right now
“We talked to the agent but they were not willing to negotiate with the landlord.”
Mr Faiq claimed the landlord could still get financial benefits from negative gearing despite losing the tenant
Negative gearing is a commonly used term used to describe a situation where expenses associated with an asset including interest expenses are greater than the income earned from the asset
Individuals who are negatively geared can deduct their loss against other income
“A lot of property owners (in Healesville) are investor companies,” Mr Faiq said
“Those investors who pay lots of tax can get benefits from negative gearing
It is better for them not to reduce the rent for tenants but to keep the shop empty
“The lease for the Healesville one was for three years
there was a jewellery shop which left after eight months of operation
two people took the shop and left and now the shop is still empty.”
Reforming negative gearing has been a hot potato nationally
as one of the ways to sort out the housing crisis by getting more available options in the market
The Bondi Tree announced its closure through Facebook expressing the sadness of the difficult decision and the gratitude to the local community and the crew
“After eight years of serving our community
we have reached the time to say goodbye to our beloved
gorgeous and quaint little space,” it reads
“We are deeply grateful for the incredible support you’ve shown us throughout our journey
support and shared memories have been the heart and soul of our restaurant … I would personally like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Bodhi Crew past and present
I wish them all the best in their future endeavours
“While this is not the news I wished to share
I want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly
This closure breaks my heart but I now need to put my family along with my own health and wellbeing as my number one priority.”
Star Mail contacted the Grandma’s Gift Shoppe
Although most of the decisions were made due to personal circumstances except for the Mobihub case
Star Mail was wondering how the recent Reserve Bank of Australia’s announcement of the interest rate cut would impact the local businesses
Mr Coghlan said the impacts of at least a couple of cuts will need to be felt by consumers to get them spending again
“Interest rate reductions (more than one) and the July 2024 tax cuts will certainly help cool things down
but businesses remain under pressure from price rises
wage increases and the impacts of lower consumer demand,” he said
“We expect this to continue until cost-of-living pressures alleviate and consumer confidence picks up
“The other big unknown is the impact of the threatened tariff regime of the Trump administration in the US
Early voting has opened for those keen to do their democratic duties before election day on 3 May
Representatives of the potential pollies were out in force at the Darren Honey Centre in Healesville on Wednesday 23 April to plead their case
With flyers in hand and signs aplenty outside early voting
Volunteering for Independent candidate Claire Ferres-Miles
Woori Yallock resident Maria Mithen said this was her first time getting involved in an election but she feels like she’s making a difference
and she has a very good background in things like the environment and climate
as well as the fact that she was an engineer by trade
a very capable lady of doing what she wants to do,” she said
“Some of her policies are to do with integrity in politics and it’s about time we had some sense in parliament and that they learn to speak nicely to themselves
but she’s listening to people in this area,”
“She asks them what they want and she would like to see emergency care for us
we’ve got Warburton Hospital sitting up there and Healesville Hospital with no emergency care and in fact
so it’s about time we did something for that.”
Representatives of the Independent candidate
the Liberal party and Family First could be found outside the early voting centre in the early afternoon
Ms Mithen said the local independent movement has done a lot of handing out and letterboxing and knocking on people’s doors this time
she (Claire) wasn’t very well known outside of the Hills
she’s still going to have an uphill battle but I think she’s going to get a lot more votes this time,” she said
we’ve had Liberals here for 40 years and people just feel they’re not being listened to and things are not being done for our area
we’re greatly inspired by Indi who are just north of us and they have had an independent now twice,”
if you belong to a party you have to vote for your party
even if it’s something you don’t really believe in
whereas an independent can work with the parties and bring about change.”
A steady stream of early voters was passing through in Healesville
foregoing their democracy sausage for a chance to cast their vote flexibly and possibly quicker than during the rush of election day
Dr Bob Rich has been volunteering before and since he became a member of the Greens in 2013 and said he does it because he wants the young people of today to have a tomorrow worth living in and he believes the Greens’ philosophy and policies are exactly in line with that
we’ve been going for over a year and with door knocks and phone calls
we’ve had over 3000 of what we call meaningful interactions where we’ve had a conversation with someone and that’s absolutely incredible,” he said
“Our team has grown and there’s a terrific young man who is a campaign organiser
I’m an old fellow but I’ve learnt lots from him and also from our wonderful candidate
“If people rush by or if they obviously favour another party that’s fine but if they have the time
then I will have a ten-second conversation with them and I reckon I swing quite a few votes because I believe what I say.”
According to the Australian Electoral Commission
other early voting locations open to Casey voters include St Patrick’s Parish Community Centre in Lilydale
the Chirnside Park Community Hub and the Old Croydon Community School (which falls just inside the Deakin electorate)
Dr Rich said you can’t ask people who they’re going to vote for but in terms of their facial expressions and body language
he thinks the ones who stop to talk to him
“I want a better world and it’s almost too late
we’re in the sixth extinction event of Earth because of greed,” he said
“We need a world that’s ruled by compassion
generosity and that’s actually part of the Greens’ ‘Four Pillars’
you must vote in a separate line for those voting from outside their electorate
Labor volunteer Sandra said she has been volunteering since the early 1970s when herself and her husband worked at a polling booth in Ascot Vale
“A lot of the voters there were 90-year-old people who’d been suffragettes and they were so passionate about people being lucky enough to be in a democracy and it was their responsibility to vote
“I just think it would be nice for the current government to be able to see through some of the policies which could help
particularly those lower socio-economic groups… it’s very much like last time
the early polling back here is very similar,”
“There’s a lot (of people) going in without needing (how to vote) cards
there’s a lot of just going through and saying ‘I’m right
I’m right’ and I think there’s a lot more holiday makers up here this year.”
represented by candidate Dan Nebauer himself
and the Liberal Party representatives declined to comment
Yarra Ranges councillors passed the motion to advocate for an urgent care clinic (UCC) to be located in Healesville
UCCs offer urgent services 24/7 or extended hours and are open to everyone with no Medicare card
The UCC services include treatment for mild infections
The Labor Government announced an election promise to open 50 UCCs across Australia of which one in the federal electorate of Casey
Lilydale has been named on the government’s potential target area list
Liberal candidate Aaron Violi also shared his plan of how he will improve the health system in Casey
promising a UCC in Healesville if he succeeds in securing the seat which he is currently holding
Following the recently announced bipartisan support for having a UCC in Casey
Yarra Ranges councillors had a long discussion to figure out what town should be equipped with a UCC
who were against and for the UCC’s location to be in Healesville respectively
attended the council meeting to voice up their reasons to the councillors
who was against the recommendation to locate the clinic in Healesville
She said Yarra Ranges Council contained significant inaccuracies and misrepresentation in the council meeting agenda report which could impact a major decision
a UCC does not replace a GP or a hospital emergency department
UCCs provide treatment for non-life threatening … They do not manage life-threatening emergencies … Chronic Illness or preventative care is also not covered by the UCC,” Ms Avery said
Ms Avery claimed many vulnerable residents in Healesville already have access to affordable
timely GP care which covers most conditions
“I called four clinics in Healesville (on Tuesday 8 April)
One still had their after-hours message on at 11.30am or 10.30am
but I did get on to three of them,” she said
“All of them could provide me with an appointment to see a GP today
and I can tell you now that doesn’t happen too often in Lilydale
Ms Avery also said Lilydale and its surroundings have eight times more people than Healesville and its surroundings
“Healesville has a population of around 7000 and spans over 142 square kilometres
it would need to include suburbs like Chirnside Park
“I’m not saying that the location must be Lilydale
is misleading if we’re genuinely pursuing equity and access
then we need to ask the community what would be a good location.”
Jane Judd was the next presenter who advocated for Healesville to be the UCC location
Ms Judd is the chairperson of Services for Healesville Hospital Action Group
which has been advocating for establishing an urgent care service in Healesville Hospital
She explained her experience and involvement in Healesville Hospital and said a UCC in Healesville would serve 30,000 people including Ryrie and O’Shannassy Wards residents
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister asked a question to Ms Judd to get her point of view regarding the assertions made by the previous presenter
“Whilst it might be fine to get an appointment at a GP during the day
what is the difference and how do the GP services and urgent care work together?” Cr McAllister asked
Ms Judd said the ideal is to set up a UCC where a community health centre and a GP clinic already exist
because when people turn up to an urgent care centre
they do have an issue that needs immediate attention
it also is a place where people can then be referred on to other services,” she said
“The Yarra Valley Health and the GP clinic on the site at the hospital
are an ideal mix to provide some care on the ground
not only just for that appointment but going into the future.”
Chirnside Ward councillor Richard Higgins asked if GPs are available on weekends at the Healesville Hospital
“There’s a GP that has a few appointments in the evening,” Ms Judd answered
Mayor and O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child asked another question to Ms Judd regarding the Ambulance Victoria service availability in Healesville
Ms Judd said the Healesville community has some challenges with it because there are only two ambulances actually allocated in the town
They actually can be called away,” she said
we had a young woman died with an asthma attack waiting for an ambulance up there because the ambulance had gone out of the area.”
Cr McAllister moved the recommendation that Yarra Ranges Council advocates for bipartisan support for the recently announced Urgent Health Care Clinic to be located in Healesville
“I know from many conversations with the community that many nights when you’ve got a screaming child or there’s a break
and your only option is to get in your car
drive down the line for 45 minutes to an hour and sit in the emergency department at Maroondah Hospital
will actually be reduced waiting times in emergency departments elsewhere
“Ambulance response time is substantially longer than average
Recent figures show between 17 and 19 minutes on average
ambulance waiting in Healesville and surrounds
The permanent population (is) 30,000 but the extended catchment is larger
and we’re talking over 3 million visitors
coming in contact with all sorts of opportunities to need some support and urgent care
he got a strong view that the shire needs more GPs
“(The report) refers to GPs multiple times
The only paragraph that we have about the UCC is in the background
it says the UCC is designed to address the gap between hospital and community-based healthcare with a goal of reducing avoidable emergency department usage and ambulance use,” he said
“The whole document goes through and talks about GPs in Healesville or Yarra Glen
saying he couldn’t find any data supporting that Healesville is the right place for a UCC
the federal government has identified that we’ve got too many people sitting on tables down at Maroondah (Hospital)
The ambulance comes in and they have nowhere to put their gurneys,” he said
“I just think we need to look at it properly and do figures that actually analyse what the outcome needs to be
The need is we need to get people out of emergency wards
“All I’m saying is it’s probably up to the state or federal government
to analyse that data and make the right decision.”
Instead of being in favour of supporting one town
Streeton Ward councillor Jeff Marriott suggested the idea of having two UCCs
Walling Ward councillor Len Cox OAM agreed with Cr Marriott
“I’ve been sitting here while the whole speeches have been going on
and I can’t justify voting for one without voting for both,” he said
“The other alternative would be to put it in Coldstream
Although Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan has family living in the Healesville and Upper Yarra region
he said he had to represent for people in his ward
“I’d like to think that the federal government understood this when they came about the plan of having it located in Lilydale
it just has to get down to how much of the community is going to serve in its location,” Cr Heenan said
we learnt tonight from Ms Avery that it would be serving over 80,000 people
Now I’ve listened to everything tonight
and I understand the time that it takes to get from certain distances to Maroondah Hospital and for the people in the Dandenong Ranges are on the other side to get across to William Angliss Hospital too
“I’ve got to think of what the people of Mount Evelyn and Lilydale would want me to put forward on behalf of them as their representative … I would say that the federal government gave due thought and understanding to place it in a central location of Lilydale
central to all of those adjoining townships and suburbs with a much greater population
and that’s not to take anything away from Healesville.”
Mayor Child said the urban area of the municipality has two hospital facilities
along with a Maroondah Medicare UCC in Bayswater
the urban area is well-catered,” he said
Healesville is the right place because of that cohort of people
30,000 and they’re spread over this huge area
and they come in from other municipalities.”
the motion was passed with seven councillors voting for and two against
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Star Mail looked back at the significant incidents in each township after the CCTV network was not maintained properly due to the lack of funding
After crime peaked across Yarra Ranges in 2016
there was a correlation between CCTV cameras being installed and the reduction in crime over the next three years but it cannot be confirmed if one impacted the other directly
The number of total crime incidents peaked in 2016 with a total number of 6308
The number reduced by 7.3 per cent in 2017 and dropped again by 5.7 per cent in the following year
the incident number soared dramatically by 10.8 per cent in 2019 and increased by 3.8 per cent again in the following year
What criminal incidents happened in Yarra Glen and Healesville after the CCTV network was not maintained properly
the Healesville Jewellers was targeted by thieves who stole a wooden puzzle box
Police told the Star Mail that a male and female offender entered the store
Shorelec Electrical Wholesaler was targeted by thieves who set off with thousands of dollars worth of stock in a robbery in early May
A group of youths comprising four females and three males attempted to break into the Yarra Glen Railway Station on Saturday 13 November
the Sloppy Seconds clothing shop and Payten and Jones Winery were targeted for burglaries
The front window of over 30 years operated local jewellery shop was smashed in two places
The store was mostly secure due to the alarm system and security shutters but a few items were stolen through the front window
The shop owner was shaken up by the incident
Sloppy Seconds lost about $300 worth of identifiable men’s designer clothing
The clothing shop closed down in the following month
It was the second time Payten and Jones Winery had been targeted
The offenders tried to enter through the rear of the building
before smashing through a glass door on the side of the building
Yarra Glen Primary School was targeted for a break-in in July
The offenders broke into the Yarra Glen Primary School’s chicken coop
and used the school’s own eggs in the offence
heading around to the front of the school from the back where the coop was located and threw the eggs to the windows
When the severe storms hit the Yarra Valley in February
Healesville’s Monroe’s Burger and Beers found the impact of the storms even harsher due to an unexpected incident
The team found someone had deliberately turned off their generator right before they reopened the shop after the severe weather event
Everything in the fridges went off due to this incident
and the team lost $3000 worth of stock as well as three days of sales opportunity
motor vehicles were broken into on Furmston Lane in Healesville
Saint Paul’s Anglican Church Yarra Glen was attacked by vandals in October
The offenders broke the windows with stones and smashed a downpipe
rubbish bins on Healesville main street were set on fire
Healesville CFA captain Brian Earl told the Star Mail someone had set two rubbish bins alight and had tried to set two more bins alight
Terminus Hotel in Healesville was targeted for a burglary just after midnight on 18 December
9News reported a staff member of the Village Grocer was allegedly punched several times by a gang of teenagers
the Healesville grocery store worker tried to stop the three teenagers who allegedly stole bottles of alcohol before attempting to run from the scene
The store worker was allegedly punched in the head and kicked several times by the teenage girls
the Star Mail confirmed with the Victoria Police the investigation for this incident remained ongoing
The latest incident happened on Sunday 23 February in Healesville
Cherry Tree Cafe owner Stephen Tuohy was shocked when he opened the cafe around 7.30am as he found the back garden was messed up
Mr Tuohy’s partner Petra Buest who runs the cafe with him said Mr Tuohy saw plants turned over and a trolley
“Our back gate was broken open and then (Stephen) went in and saw that the storeroom door was open as well
which (the offenders) had broken open,” she said
“One of them was an antique coffee machine
We had five fans that we were going to put into the shop that were taken and an electric bike that was taken as well
“A wine fridge and some beverages were taken too.”
people were staying in the Airbnb accommodation located upstairs in the same building
Ms Buest said they assumed the break-in happened around 1.30am
“The Airbnb users woke up and they saw a person entering the door (around 1.30am),” she said
“They were able to leave a statement with the police
confirming that there had been a person in and confirming the time as well.”
The cafe owners had planned to install a CCTV camera in the back garden before the incident happened
originally to check whether the tables were empty or not through their mobile phones
“(The offenders) didn’t come from the front of the cafe
The whole cafe hasn’t been disturbed at all
They came from the backside,” Ms Buest said
“We were surprised by it because we thought (if someone broke into our cafe,) they were going to enter from the front and maybe try and look for money
“We didn’t think that someone would know what’s in that storeroom
It’s so unusual that they would just target the storeroom.”
The cafe owner raised concerns regarding the increased criminal incidents in the town
“It’s frustrating because there are others who have been targeted,” Ms Buest said
“The next door was targeted as well but they didn’t get through
“The Terminus (Hotel Healesville) was targeted as well
After the huge success of the inaugural motorcycle show last year drawing over 100 people’s attention
Machine on the Green will return to Healesville
the event will be held at the Healesville RSL
Event organiser Clifford Overton said Machine on the Green successfully raised about $300 and donated it to The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
a fundraiser for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs
“Last year we had about 35 motorcycles on the green
and then a lot of visitors walked through to have a look,” he said
all proceeds raised on the day will go towards the programs run by Healesville RSL that provide support for good mental health for veterans.”
All types of motorcycles will be welcome to enter for display with a $2 entry fee
Each motorcycle will be eligible for the Best In Show award which will be chosen by the visitors
The visitors can purchase a Like On A Stick for $2 to vote for their favourite motorcycle at the show
The event coordinating group will count up the likes to find out the Best In Show winner by midday
who wishes to display their motorcycle or have a look at the show
is encouraged to turn up and buy a ticket at the event
Visit our ticketing platform to find a movie session
Yarra Ranges Film Society (YRFS) movie sessions are for members only
so individual session tickets are unavailable for purchase.
Memberships are available via annual subscription or pro rata membership throughout the year.
View our full venue and ticketing terms and conditions
Find a movie session
Melbourne’s southeast is set for smoother journeys from this week
with new traffic light intersections on both sides of the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road interchange at the Princes Freeway now open to traffic - completing a busy spring campaign of works on stage 1 of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade
Drivers can look forward to a faster and less congested commute with the traffic lights replacing the former roundabouts at the interchange
improving traffic flow and reducing queuing
New lanes are in place for people travelling directly to the Melbourne CBD and Gippsland
with dedicated turning lanes linking into each of the widened ramps at Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road
The opening of the new intersections also comes with new lanes on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road
with a new bridge now spanning the Princes Freeway alongside the existing bridge
significantly improving traffic flow in and around Pakenham
Together with the recently completed Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade
there are now two lanes in each direction all the way from Peet Street in Pakenham to Manks Road in Koo Wee Rup
As we near the completion of major works on the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade by the end of this year
finishing works continue on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road including installing safety barriers and laying the top layer of asphalt on the new lanes
Works also continue on the Princes Freeway to place the top layer of asphalt on the upgraded section between McGregor Road and Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road
with major weekend and overnight closures of the freeway throughout November and December
The project’s spring campaign included works on a new walking and cycling path on the new bridge over the freeway connecting with the new path on the neighbouring Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade project and supporting more people to walk
The Pakenham Roads Upgrade is one of a number of major infrastructure projects that is transforming travel in Melbourne’s south east – providing better connections to and from the Princes Freeway and the rapidly expanding Pakenham Employment Corridor
cutting congestion and delivering more walking and cycling options
That investment includes level crossing removals at Racecourse Road
2 new train stations at Pakenham and upgrades to Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road
Symal is delivering the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade (Princes Freeway Interchanges Upgrade)
in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria
Major works on the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade is expected to be complete by the end of the year
the finishing touches including the top layers of asphalt are currently being put on the recently completed new north and southbound lanes on McGregor Road and upgraded intersection at Henry Road and Webster Way
Work has started to widen the city-bound Princes Freeway entry ramp
which is expected to be completed in March 2025
Early works on the third and final stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade
the Racecourse Road Upgrade are underway to build an extra lane on Racecourse Road between Peet Street and Azola Drive and install traffic signals at the Bald Hill Road and Railway Avenue intersections
Major construction is expected to start in early 2025 and be completed in early 2027
Locals should continue to plan ahead while works are underway. To keep updated, visit our Pakenham Roads Upgrade page
Healesville Living and Learning Centre (HLLC) president Vicky King handed over the keys to the town’s longest-running opportunity shop to the Healesville-Yarra Glen Uniting Church on Thursday 7 November
HLLC opened the shop in the East End some 40 years ago to support their programs and as an extension of their ethos of supporting vulnerable community members
Having made the decision to step away from the shop
HLLC sought expressions of interest from community-focused organisations in the hope the diverse benefits provided by the shop would continue
“Having had custodianship of this much-needed and much-loved community institution for all those years
the HLLC board believed it was important that it be passed on to a local organisation that shared the ethos of caring for community that has been the heart and soul of its operation,” Ms King said
She paid tribute to the forward-thinking committee members who set up the shop
to the volunteers who over the years have kept it running in both good and challenging times
as well as the thousands who have supported the shop through donations and custom
from the dedicated managers to those who worked behind the scenes and front of shop
the benefits that have flowed to both the HLLC and to the wider community
would not have been possible,” the president said
“We thank every one of you for your loyalty
hard work and for the difference you have made in your community.”
The Uniting Church had been looking to open an opportunity shop in Healesville having been involved in the running of the very successful Combined Churches Opportunity Shop in Yarra Glen for many years
Uniting Church chairman Bruce Argyle said it was a timely opportunity
“We see it as a continuation of the work that we have been supporting in the community for decades
HICCI and the Walking Together Group with the Indigenous community,” he said
He said the aim was three-fold; to continue to provide a low cost opportunity shop for the Healesville and district communities
to provide a revenue stream to support local initiatives and to provide a supportive
friendly and nurturing environment for volunteers
“It is about people in the community giving to the community,” Mr Argyle said
people respecting difference and it’s also about looking after the environment through repurposing and reusing consumables.”
Work has already started on a significant facelift for the shop which includes extending the retail space and installing heating and cooling in time for a grand opening in December
“To be able to take this on as a going concern with strong community connection is particularly exciting,” Mr Argyle said
“We look forward to continuing to build on the legacy of the HLLC for the benefit of the local community.”
the drive is on to recruit volunteers for what promises to be an exciting new chapter in the story of the East End Op Shop
Anyone who would like to be part of that story can make contact through the website at healesville.unitingchurch.org.au or phone on 5962 4128
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Could you possibly have a greyhound shaped hole in your heart
it can present in a number of different ways…
An audible aww when you walk past their model like physique and shiny coats which is usually followed by your heart skipping a beat or two
you will find yourself with the need to give those velvety ears another pat
There is also a very high chance that you follow at least one pet greyhound on your Instagram feed
it presents as a little voice in your head telling you that life will be better with a greyhound by your side
There is only one cure for this greyhound shaped hole in your heart…
you don’t know you have a greyhound shaped hole in your heart until you read an article about having said hole in your heart
The Greyhound Adoption Program is coming to Healesville on Saturday 16th November for a Greyhound Adoption Day
The Healesville Greyhound Racing Club will open its picturesque doors to around 20 greyhounds looking for their perfect match from 11am to 1pm
and lazy despite being known for their athleticism
Their energy comes and goes in short spouts known as Zoomies
Adoption Days aren’t just for adopting a greyhound
they are a great way to learn more about the breed from the people who know them best – GAP staff and Volunteers
Greyhounds adopted through GAP are fully vaccinated and desexed
barista coffee and sweet treats on Saturday 16th of November at the Healesville Greyhound Racing Club from 11am
Jason Adams and George Farrugia cover a monster two meetings at Sandown Park tonight and The Meadows tomorrow
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Call Investigations Hotline 24 hours a day - 7 days a week
The new lanes are now open on the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade
marking the end of major works 18 months ahead of schedule while dramatically boosting the safety of the road for drivers
Koo Wee Rup and Nar Nar Goon CFA volunteers visited the site to see the safety improvements from the project
The Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade has been hard at work building 2 lanes in both directions from Southeast Boulevard to Manks Road
10 kms of walking and cycling path and built 3 new roundabouts
The project has delivered significant safety improvements to Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road
which has had at least 43 incidents resulting in 5 fatalities and 21 serious injuries through collisions between 2016 and September 2021
Some of the safety improvements as part of the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade include:
The upgrade has further improved driving conditions and safety for the 21,000 daily vehicles that rely on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road each day
Hear from CFA and SES crew members as well as community campaigner Gary King about how this upgrade will save lives
The Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Upgrade has delivered:
The Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments as part of the $3.1 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade package
The Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade is part of a wider investment in improving transport infrastructure in Pakenham including level crossing removals at Racecourse Road
and two new train stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham
these projects are creating a more efficient transport network for Pakenham
improving connectivity and safety for all road users
After a renowned cellar door and restaurant left Healesville
a local winery purchased the property to fill the gap and keep the Yarra Valley’s fame as Australia’s top wine region
restaurant and wedding venue Zonzo bought the Innocent Bystander’s hospitality venue at 334 Maroondah Highway
Zonzo Estate director Rod Micallef said he was pleased to have acquired the building because the space would work perfectly for Zonzo
“We purchased it because we were looking to have a home for our Zoncello (Limoncello Spritz) brand,” he said
and we want to establish a venue that shows how that product is playful and fun
“We have a lot of other new spritz products as well like Bellina and Cicchio.”
Zonzo is planning to renovate the property like a spritz bar including an Italian restaurant and a retail space
it’s not confirmed when Zonzo will unveil the new venue but the director hopes it to be “as soon as possible”
the new Zonzo venue will showcase a unique menu
Mr Micallef said he hoped to make the venue vibrant and attractive to locals as well
“I don’t have a desire to open a franchise restaurant
It will still be Italian but the menu will be different,” he said
“It’ll be something new and exciting for everyone to visit
“We are in the process of trying to get permits to extend the outdoor area in the back
Zoncello Limoncello Spritz has become one of Australia’s top-selling wine products within two years after it was launched
It is the world first pre-mixed limoncello spritz
The director said he was beyond excited to expand his business and his team
it’s a beautiful thing to have the position that we can extend our restaurant offering,” Mr Micallef said
“It’s nice that we’re committing to opening another venue in the local area in the Yarra Valley
“Creating a new brand like Zoncello and opening its own venue is exciting for us.”
By winning the same award three years in a row
Healesville Sanctuary has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Victorian Tourism Awards
hosted annually by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC)
honours business excellence and performance within the industry
and the bushland haven claimed Gold in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experiences category once again
Healesville Sanctuary director Ross Williamson said the award is a recognition of the great efforts of the many people at the Sanctuary working with Wurundjeri and other traditional custodians to bring culture to the visitors
“It was wonderful to have Murrundindi there to accept the award as his friendship and guidance has been fundamental to this journey,” he said
“Congratulations to Donna Paterson who put the submission together and the folk who have contributed so much to the story we can tell.”
Healesville Sanctuary is committed to fighting extinction and providing a future rich in wildlife
Located one hour east of Melbourne on Wurundjeri Country
Healesville Sanctuary is surrounded by the mountains that make up the Great Dividing Range and is located in the heart of the beautiful Yarra Valley
The Sanctuary has always been an iconic place for international tourists and locals to see native animals while connecting with Aboriginal Culture in an authentic way
cultivating a greater understanding of history and traditions
This honour comes in a landmark year as Healesville Sanctuary celebrates 90 years of welcoming people to Melbourne’s outer north-east; it also coincides with the 100th anniversary of the closure of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station which is linked to the wildlife park
Healesville Sanctuary visitors can learn more about Traditional Owners through educational programs
listening to Wurundjeri Elder Murrundindi play the didgeridoo or reading about Dreamtime creation stories of the Australian animals on signage around the sanctuary
Wurundjeri Walk on the Main Track provides a self-guided discovery journey
featuring a centuries old Manna Gum carved to create a canoe
and soundscapes from elders sharing stories of their ancestors
The path is bordered by native plants that were used by First Peoples for food and medicinal purposes
VTIC chief executive Felicia Mariani said the Tourism Awards showcase some of the most innovative experiences in Victorian tourism
close to 1000 tourism and events operators gathered at the 2024 Victorian Tourism Awards to celebrate the industry’s greatest achievements,” Ms Mariani said
“We extend our sincere congratulations to all our winners and finalists who set the benchmark for excellence right across our industry
The Awards program truly illustrates the essential role the visitor economy plays in creating vibrancy and energy across the state
as well as contributing significantly to the economic and social fabric of Victoria
and the launch of an exciting new category that will next year celebrate the unique Hallmark Major Event calendar the state enjoys
the event this year has affirmed Victoria’s reputation as a premier global destination for tourism and events.”
Winners and Finalists of the Victorian Tourism Awards are determined by achieving a score of 70 per cent or above
The winner is the highest scoring entrant in each category
The Hall of Fame is awarded to an entrant that has won the same category over three consecutive years
and the Highly Commended recognition is given to finalists that have not won an award but scored over 80 per cent
Healesville Sanctuary will now progress to the Australian Tourism Awards held in Adelaide in March 2025
The state tribunal ruled to remit the penalty tax from 20 per cent to five per cent for a trust
which owns the land where a Healesville service station is located
The case was presided over by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) senior member Reynah Tang AM
Mr Tang said the tribunal is not in a position to determine the quantum of tax payable in the event the registered proprietors are assessed
“It is appropriate to set aside the reassessments and remit them to the commissioner for reconsideration,” the VCAT decision reads
Effie Caloutas and John Caloutas and their two sons
are the trustees of a discretionary trust known as the Caloutas Family Trust (CFT) established in October 1995
CFT has operated various businesses and owned various properties including 366-368 Maroondah Highway
Healesville where Ampol Foodary Healesville is located
The trustees of CFT had paid land tax for three of their properties
they discovered the underpayment of land tax
and started paying the land tax at trust surcharge rates
which is four times higher than the individual land tax rates
the Commissioner of State Revenue noticed the underpayment of land tax for prior years as the CFT was reporting rental income for its three properties in the trust rather than in the names of the registered proprietors of those properties
This was contrary to the way in which the trustees had previously been assessed for land tax purposes
the commissioner reassessed the trustees’ land tax liabilities for the 2014
2015 and 2016 land tax years to include land tax
at the higher rates applicable to land held by trust
The reassessments also included penalty tax
imposed at a rate of 20 per cent for each land tax year although there was a further reassessment in respect of the 2014 land tax year to remit the penalty tax for that year in full on 16 July 2021
who represented the trustees at the hearing
accepted that the trust had recorded rental income relating to all three properties in its tax returns
he claimed it was a result of an error made by a former accountant for the family
He also pointed out the language barrier and lack of financial acumen his parents had as they were Greek immigrants to Australia and he contended that the penalty tax should be remitted because the trustees had done nothing wrong
Mr Nick Caloutas submitted that the new accountant’s letter should be given weight as it had been acted on
in terms of rectification of the trust’s tax returns for the 2017 and 2018 financial years
suggesting that it was not possible to go back further
The commissioner contended that the reassessments ought to be confirmed because the trustees have not discharged their onus of proof to establish that they did not own the properties in their capacity as trustees of the trust
the commissioner submitted there was no basis to remit the penalty tax because there was no evidence that the trustees took reasonable care or that the relevant defaults arose from circumstances beyond their control
I would have exercised the discretion in section 35 to remit the penalty tax from 20 per cent to five per cent,” the VCAT decision reads
The Hills Act Theatre Company is set to debut its inaugural production ‘Breathless’ this April
with performances strategically scheduled near Anzac Day to honour veterans and raise awareness about the lasting impacts of war
Founded in September 2024 by Laurence Webb and director Phil Stephenson
The Hills Act Theatre Company emerged to fill a crucial gap in Healesville and the Yarra Valley – providing creative opportunities for young people seeking to develop their theatrical talents after school hours
Breathless tells the powerful story of four soldiers from different conflicts who struggle with PTSD and the aftermath of war
The production features a talented cast of emerging local performers
including two first-time actors and a 16-year-old newcomer
all of whom have impressed the director with their commitment and natural abilities
The play’s journey to Healesville began when the director discovered an intriguing script that seemed to vanish while being read
Sydney-based playwright Deborah made a serendipitous visit to Healesville while caring for her daughter’s pets
She granted performance rights at a reduced fee
with proceeds supporting organisations assisting returning veterans
“It was meant to be,” Mr Stephenson said
“We found our entire cast within a week of auditions – young people searching for a creative outlet in town and had none
They have amazed me with their abilities and passion.”
the company creates a meaningful opportunity for community reflection on the experiences of service members and the challenges many face upon returning home
Breathless explores how these four soldiers from different eras are ‘thrown into a world of confusion
family troubles and left to fend for themselves’,highlighting the importance of understanding PTSD and battle fatigue
Don’t miss this moving production that promises to be both a showcase for local talent and an important conversation starter about supporting our veterans
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Luke Kidgell kicks off his new World Tour in Australia in 2025!
Luke is known for his viral crowd-work interactions that often lead to some fairly unusual
Despite not having much control over his impulsive thoughts
and this year he’s on a mission to prove it
NZ & Europe Luke is coming back home with his brand-new show Good Intentions
This performance contains Coarse Language and Adult Themes
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This performance features Coarse Language and Adult Themes and is recommended for people aged 16+
This winter seems to be unusually cold throughout S.E
have been well aware of the wintry conditions
many locals claiming they hardly remember it being so consistently cold
The Bureau of Meteorology has acknowledged ‘the cold snap’ we’ve experienced
and predicting the likelihood of ‘snow showers’ yet to come
we have been getting reports from the Northern Hemisphere of people dying from heatwaves in Northern India
of bushfires caused by severe drought and heat in Greece
and the highest temperatures ever recorded in extensive areas of North America
some climate scientists have provided data to show that 2023 was the warmest on record and that 2024 is likely to prove even hotter
are not always completely reliable; in the case of Healesville
two years in relative recent times stand out as being ‘cold’
in the context of snow falling and ‘settling’
The Healesville Guardian on 20 August 1932 described the day as follows:
‘An exceptionally heavy fall of snow occurred at Healesville on Sunday last (12 August)
Commencing early until late in the afternoon
and was the heaviest fall here for twenty years
Maroondah Reservoir presented a beautiful spectacle
the rockeries being buried deep in snow …Towards 5pm heavy rain showers dispersed the snow.’
Nicholson Street and surrounding areas covered with a good coating of snow
A photograph of two snowmen built by teacher
and students at Healesville Primary School as tall as Frank himself
gives a good indication of the amount of snow that fell at the time
Some locals remember a fair amount of snow falling in the Healesville area in 1986
Hillier areas throughout the Yarra Valley are no strangers to snowfalls
and many residents and visitors enjoy the experience
Melbourne’s lowest recorded temperature was 21 July 1869 at -2.8C (26.960F)
The final rumour related to the Oonah Aboriginal Health And Community Services (Oonah) redevelopment plan was that it would take over the Healesville Living and Learning Centre site
Oonah applied for a planning permit to construct a belonging space and a new integrated healthcare and community service centre at its current site
Healesville Living and Learning Centre (HLLC) is located next to Oonah
and Yarra Ranges Council confirmed the centre is not closing and is not included in this planning permit
HLLC is supportive of Oonah’s redevelopment plan and looks forward to more partnership opportunities with Oonah
HLLC secretary Nick Rogers said the centre believes the new development will bring many benefits to the community
“We believe that Aboriginal communities and people haven’t always got the best health services
and we think it’s important to get more culturally appropriate health and community services in the area,” Mr Rogers said
“We are keen to help facilitate further consultations with the community about the redevelopment if Oonah and the council would like us to help with that because we have had many people come to us asking questions about it.”
some locals are still unsure about the plans for the HLLC
said the services at the centre had seriously declined over the last few years
“There’s no staff on site at the Living and Learning Centre anymore
so it’s really hard to find out information and what courses are on,” they said
“It seems like nobody knows about what’s going on at the Living and Learning Centre
“What is happening with the Living and Learning Centre?”
HLLC runs three different types of programs; skill development
Although the administrative part of the organisation relocated to Healesville Community Link
the programs and activities have continued to operate at the HLLC buildings on 1 Badger Creek Road
Mr Rogers said there haven’t been any changes to the way the centre runs programs in recent years
and they don’t have any plans to relocate the centre as well
“We run different types of services and programs at different times depending on what the community wants,” he said
“What we’re trying to do is find money to complete some redevelopment works at the site
We know the community really likes the centre where it is
They think it’s got a special kind of feeling at that space
“We would welcome anybody in the community
especially businesses and enterprises that wanted to support us by providing some funding and resources to help with redevelopment at the site.”
Another Healesville resident who used to participate in the Arts and Minds program run at HLLC said they left the group after losing credibility
“Arts and Minds is a mental health peer support group
the group was told we had six months and then we had to leave because it wasn’t safe to be there and then it came down to 12 months
and the last I heard was three years,” they said
“I was told by somebody who was working for the centre and very supportive of our group
that there was going to be some funding to upgrade the centre
(Healesville Living and Learning Centre) is not a very good place for people with disabilities
We didn’t know where we stood and in the end
we couldn’t trust anything that was said to us
the group’s still there but we didn’t get the support that we needed.”
HLLC relies on three funding sources; Yarra Ranges Council
Mr Rogers said as a small community service
the centre doesn’t get enough funding for upgrades
“There are always two dimensions to funding for a service
and the second part is funding for capital works to keep the buildings and the infrastructure going,” he said
“Those funds go to our programs and services
and we’re in a good financial position
and we’re running all of the programs and services which we’re going to continue to run
“The second part is that we are definitely looking for help to redevelop our buildings because we don’t get funded for those things
What we need to do and what we’ve done this year is dip into reserve funds that we’ve got at the centre to make a substantial contribution to fixing up some of the buildings there and doing some redevelopment.”
Star Mail published a feature article for HLLC in January 2024
“Our classrooms at 1 Badger Creek Road will still be utilised until June 2024
The Hub building and the Women’s Shed will remain on the current site,” it reads
“As the year progresses we will begin to work with Yarra Ranges Council and other community groups to share the existing spaces around town
we will also be continuing the relationships we have had over so many years with Badger Creek Hall and the Darron Honey Centre.”
The article confused a Healesville resident
“Why did they say this if the Living and Learning Centre is not closing
I have to say our council has not got a great record
(The council said) Living and Learning Centre will stay there but the last thing we heard was that the buildings at Living and Learning Centre are not habitable
“The council was aware that the office building was not up to occupational health and safety standards and they’ve done nothing about it
There haven’t been any public consultations that I could find.”
the secretary of the centre articulated HLLC board always listen to the community’s voice when they make decisions
Mr Rogers said HLLC traditionally provided the services at 1 Badger Creek Road which they intend to continue
but the centre also wanted to make their services more accessible for everybody by expanding the services in other places in the town
“When we talked about moving because of some of the challenges related to the current infrastructure on the site
the community were really clear with us that they wanted to stay at that site,” he said
and we’re doing our best to create an environment there through redeveloping the site that allows us to continue running programs there
“So that’s the most important thing to say
providing outreach services into the community is also a very important way of connecting with people
What we want to do is connect with all ranges of people within the community.”
HLLC currently is in the middle of a strategic planning process
requesting community members to voice their opinions for the future of the centre
People are welcome to share their perspectives through surveys
The hard copies of the survey are stocked at the Healesville Community Link
it is accessible online at surveymonkey.com/r/9J9DL79
HLLC is also planning to host community conversations in March and April
The Women’s Shed would be relocated if the Oonah site is redeveloped
Mr Rogers said HLLC has started working closely with Oonah and Yarra Ranges Council to find the best way
“The first thing to say is the Women’s Shed is an important part of the HLLC
and it’s used by a lot of women who live in the local community
It’s a really valued part of the local community,” he said
we’re aware that we’re going to have to move the Women’s Shed
and it would be great to get a clearer idea about how that exactly is going to occur
“We have been having conversations with Oonah and with the council about how that’s happening
Oonah has given us a verbal agreement that they’re going to support us in finding a way to move the Women’s Shed to another appropriate location on our site.”
It has been “traumatic” two years for a Healesville resident
is in fear of being homeless in a few months
Ms Kennewell and her kids had lived in a house owned by Uniting from 2015 to 2024
she requested to fix issues that the house had; broken tiles
“I had asked them for many years to fix issues that got worse over time such as a massive hole in the roof that leaked water everywhere,” the 52 year old said
checked things out and said they fixed them which they never ever did.”
Ms Kennewell’s daughter died of a severe asthma attack in the house at the age of 18
Before the sorrow of losing her daughter went away
Ms Kennewell had to face another blow when she asked Uniting to repair the problems in the house one more time
“(Uniting) sent two managing directors out with two of their other staff
They had a look around everything and then decided it was unlivable,” she said
“They got me out of there pretty much straight away
in another local pub for two nights before they put me in (Maroondah Retirement Village).”
While she was staying in different temporary accommodations
she visited the Uniting’s Blackburn office with her friend where she was offered three options
One of them was taking a lease for 12 months at Maroondah Retirement Village in Healesville
and the lady said ‘indefinitely’,” Ms Kennewell said
they rang me in and sent me a notice for 90 days to vacate because they were not going to renew my lease
“It’s because I don’t meet the age criteria
It wasn’t mentioned to me at all when they put me in here
they’ve decided to use that now as an excuse.”
The age criteria for living in the retirement village is a minimum of 55
The 52 year old said it’s hard to find a new house for her with the housing crisis going on
I just want to be stable,” Ms Kennewell said
“I’ve had a very traumatic year already; losing my daughter
getting pulled out of my house and put here
so I’ve got a car to go in at least if I have to.”
A Uniting spokesperson said Uniting supports vulnerable people to secure longer-term housing and understands it is stressful when someone has to move
offering multiple housing options,” they said
“The current rental arrangement was always a temporary 12-month solution to allow Megan time to find more suitable accommodation
“We will continue to assist her but need to take into account her current household circumstances and her eligibility to access housing through the Victorian Housing Register.”
The Division 1 Grand Final between Healesville and Warburton-Millgrove took place on Saturday at Woori Yallock
With a cold front passing through there were intermittent showers and occasional hail as a large crowd assembled
The ground was firm but slippery with the wind favouring the Warburton Highway end
These two clubs had never met in a Grand Final since the Warburton-Millgrove club was formed in 1967 through the merger of the Warburton Magpies (Black and White) and Millgrove (Blue and White)
Prior to 1967 there had been numerous Grand Finals between Millgrove
through to 1962 where Healesville defeated Warburton
Healesville’s last premiership had been Division 1 (now Premier Division) in 2016 while Warburton-Millgrove had most recently won Division 2 (now Division 1) in 2006
Both of these proud clubs were looking to win and return to the top flight where they had not competed since before Covid
Healesville went into the match as favourites
having defeated the Burras three times previously this season
however the margin in the Qualifying Final three weeks ago had been just 5 points
The Bloods had also come to notice this year after recruiting ex-AFL players Levi Greenwood (North Melbourne and Collingwood) and Aaron Edwards (West Coast
North Melbourne and Richmond) which had materially bolstered their side
Healesville had first use of the breeze and kicked the only two goals of the opening quarter
It was a tight arm wrestle in the second term as both sides were only able to add one goal each
The Bloods were doing most of the attacking in the third quarter but could register just one goal for their efforts as the Warburton backs held strong in a low scoring affair
For the final quarter the wind died down and the sun came out and with this Healesville put on a clinic
and running out convincing winners by 52 points
Healesville 9.9.63 defeated Warburton-Millgrove 1.5.11
Goals: Healesville – Aaron Edwards 3
Healesville weren’t to have it all their own way for the day as their Reserves went down to a gutsy Belgrave contingent
Belgrave had lost just once during the home and away season
but were then beaten again by the Bloods in the 2nd Semi Final a fortnight ago
The Magpies recovered to get to the big one and handled the greasy conditions better to win the Reserves premiership by 17 points
Goals: Belgrave – Matthew Crichton 2
The Under 18s Grand Final pitted the top two sides all year against each other
Most of the play was at the end favoured by the wind and it would be the Rovers who would triumph by 13 points
Seville has a very strong netball program and made the Grand Finals in each of the Senior grades
The A Grade clash was an instant classic as the match went into overtime to decide a victor
Warburton-Millgrove prevailed by a solitary goal to snatch the premiership
Seville did however collect the other three flags
A Grade – Warburton-Millgrove 43 def Seville 42
B Grade – Seville 56 def Belgrave 34
C Grade – Seville 36 def Yarra Glen 22
D Grade – Seville 25 def Yarra Glen 21
It was Preliminary Final weekend at Officer on Sunday in the top Division
Fierce local rivals Woori Yallock and Wandin were to battle it out in the Seniors for the right to play Narre Warren in the Grand Final
While Narre Warren are newcomers to the Outer East
Woori Yallock and Wandin have been combatants since first meeting in July 1892
in a match that was covered in the Lilydale Express
The two teams have been League powers for the past two decades
with both sides winning 5 premierships since 2001
Wandin are the reigning premiers while the Tigers haven’t claimed a flag for a decade since their 2012-14 three-peat
but have made the finals every year and were runners up in 2017
A cold wind blew at Officer but otherwise conditions were good
getting out to a 21 point lead by quarter time and extending that to 40 points by the long break
In the second half Woori Yallock kept pace but were unable to make any inroads on the scoreboard as Wandin cruised to a 45 point victory
Aaron Mullett and Brodie Atkins kicked 3 goals each for the Bulldogs
This now sets up a rematch of last years’ Grand Final – Narre Warren v Wandin
It will also be a rematch in the Reserves where Narre Warren will take on Upwey-Tecoma after overcoming Wandin
The Under 19s will be an all South East clubs affair as neighbours Pakenham and Officer will face off in the final
Seniors – Wandin 15.8.98 def Woori Yallock 8.5.53
Reserves – Narre Warren 9.7.61 def Wandin 7.5.47
Under 19s – Officer 7.6.48 def Narre Warren 6.8.44
The netball will have a strong South East flavour in the Grand Finals next week
Evelyn (A Grade) and Wandin (C Grade) representing the Yarra Valley district out of the 8 teams in the open age Grand Finals
Wandin (Under 17s) and Monbulk (Under 15s) will also appear in two of the Junior Grand Finals to be played at Officer
Premier Division Preliminary Final results
A GRADE – Narre Warren 58 def Wandin 40
17&Under Mixed – Wandin 37 def Pakenham 24
15&Under – ROC 45 def Narre Warren 10
Something is going to be popped up in Healesville to invigorate the town with a musical vibe
Healesville Festival Incorporated is hosting a free gig series Something’s Popped Up in Healesville at the pop-up space behind the Memo Healesville on the last three Saturdays of November
Healesville Festival Incorporated founder Rose Herring said Something’s Popped Up in Healesville is an introduction for the bigger festival Healesville Festival which the group is planning to put on in May next year over the Mother’s Day weekend
“We’ve come together and thought it’d be nice to showcase some small little events with mostly local artists and some non-local artists,” she said
“This gig series is an exciting opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of local musicians while encouraging community engagement and supporting our artisans and local businesses.”
The event will take place from 12pm to 3pm on 16
Ms Herring said rap artist FemCee Kids and Little Yarra Steiner School Trio will perform on 16 November
Shauntai Sherree Abdul-Rahman will perform operatic music
who just finished performing at the Renaissance Festival
and she has a flautist who comes and performs with her,” she said
Claire Garvey is a local Wurundjeri artist who sings some covers and some of her own music
Rhys Sund will perform lovely indie and light rock music
we’ve got Kofi Kunkpe Music who plays incredible African drumming
and students from his drumming school come and perform as well
we’ll finish up the day with folk music artist Lothlorien.”
there will be face painting and sausage sizzle which are fundraisers for Healesville Festival
The volunteer group was formed this year with a mission to create accessible and inclusive events which invigorate Healesville and foster connections among residents
The group founder said she had noticed a high demand for a big festival from the community after the termination of the Healesville Music Festival last year which had been run for a long time
“Having conversations with all the different community members
they remembered lots of different festivals that used to be in Healesville
so I asked if community members would like to come and meet me to have a conversation about what they would like to see in Healesville and whether or not anybody wanted to volunteer to help,” she said
“I held two meetings back in May and June and lots of people turned up
I also did a survey to find out what people wanted
“They’d like to see a festival closer to town that has music but also includes other arts like dancing or visual arts with lots of different types of entertainment as well as being affordable for locals and encouraging tourist trade.”
U14-3 Grand Final: Healesville 8/195 defeated Wonga Park 169 – Day 2 of 2-day game
Having batted first last week and amassing 8/195
Healesville needed to buckle down in the field and bowl well to win the game
James Howden got the first wicket with a catch to keeper Aeden Senti when the score was 10
Soon after Harry Duff took another with Aeden Senti taking his second catch – Healesville were on top at 2/12
Wonga Park consolidated their innings with a 64-run partnership but two quick wickets would see Wonga Park at 2/81
Wonga Park was never going to lay down and continued scoring at a rate that never saw them requiring more than 6 an over for victory
With 50 runs required from 10 overs and 4 wickets in hand the game was in the balance
Endo Gotch (0/19 off 8) and James Howden (2/19 off 6) were economical but a high scoring over off Harry Duff (2/24) saw the run rate come down
As presure built Healesville captured two run-outs and when Max Ferris took the final wicket the Premiership was Healsville’s with 26 runs to spare
U16-4 Grand Final: Healesville 164 v South Croydon 5/166 – day 2 of 2 day split innings game
Resuming on 4/89 Healesville had 25 overs to bat and set a score to defend
Denzel Parsons and Tom Handasyde were at the crease with Denzel having only 10 balls remaining before he retired
Tom pierced the infield a few times on a wet surface on his way to 50* when he retired having faced 50 balls
With wickets falling our retired batters of Sam Drummond and Denzel Parsons would re-enter the innings
Denzel (34) didn’t last long and at 9/154 we still needed runs from our remaining 6 overs
Sam Drummond held the innings together but his final partner Tom Handasyde would be caught for 56 with 4.4 over remaining and our score ended on 164
South Croydon required 75 runs from their remaining 25 overs and Healesville needed 7 wickets
Some dropped catches allowed a partnership to build and Healesville didn’t capture a wicket until the score was 160
Another wicket to Sam Drummond (2/33) and they were 5/160
With 15 balls to spare South Croydon notched up the runs to become Premiers
A greyhound death was recorded in Healesville on Tuesday 15 October after a three-year-old had a fall on the track during a regular racing meet
“Gossips faltered and subsequently fell approaching the 150m mark
underwent a post–race veterinary examination and was found to have a left radius/ulna fracture
Gossips was humanely euthanised,” the stewards report reads
The death sparked concern with the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG)
who cited it as the 39th death recorded in Victoria this year
another death on Victorian greyhound racetracks
The sad life of a racing greyhound means that they face every race with the risk of being killed or injured,” CPG Victorian spokesperson Rebekah Herron said
“The racing industry has a skewed view of the rights of a greyhound – no human athlete lives with the same risks as a racing dog.”
The timing of the death comes at a pivotal moment
with bipartisan support in Victoria’s Parliament passing a bill requiring Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) to provide more transparent and timely data on deaths and injuries
“We know that dogs who injure themselves while racing are being killed from their injuries hours
days or even a week after racing,” Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell posted to social media
A GRV spokesperson said this most recent death would be recorded in its annual report but euthanasia and fatality figures could not be confirmed for the year
as the report has been submitted to the government ready to be tabled later this month
“Racing fatalities in Victoria over the past five years have decreased by more than 47 per cent and total racing injury rates are also down 18 per cent over that same period,” the spokesperson said
“With over 110,000 starters in about 15,000 races in Victoria annually
fatalities and serious injuries in racing are rare
The causes are multi-faceted and unique to each situation and cannot be solely attributable to the track design
A track inspection following Gossips fall found it to be safe to continue racing
382 Victorian-owned greyhounds were euthanised according to GRV’s annual report
While Ms Purcell has claimed “the greyhound industry lies” in its reporting of on-track deaths
“382 greyhounds were killed last year but nobody knows why
From now on Greyhound Racing Victoria will have to break down euthanasia by its cause,” she said
GRV chief executive officer Stuart Laing issued a statement on Friday 18 October responding to these claims and the newly passed bill
“GRV strongly refutes claims made by the AJP and others that ‘GRV lies about its welfare figures’,” he said
as we know the greyhound racing community in Victoria is as well
to the key priorities of greyhound welfare and maintaining the integrity of the industry.”
Mr Laing said GRV has taken “proactive steps to breakdown welfare figures” and improve its reporting in the 2023-24 annual report
“Those changes include a breakdown of euthanasia by reason
the publishing of deaths of registered greyhounds (not by euthanasia) and a full breakdown of race injuries
categorised by incapacitation periods,” he said
The accepted bill will require GRV to include additional information on deaths that occur as result of
an injury sustained in racing; a more detailed breakdown of non-Greyhound Adoption Program rehoming figures; and how many dogs test positive for each type of prohibited substance
Ms Purcell said “the greyhound racing industry is currently breeding almost five times more dogs than they have the ability to rehome” and will now be expected to “declare just how many dogs were rehomed and disclose exactly where dogs end up”
Mr Laing said over the last eight years GRV has been bringing down the number of injuries
that occur on the track and this motion was just another step forward for the racing industry
“The substance of the motion is in many respects already in line with GRV’s commitment to transparency of data and initiatives already delivered or in progress in this space,” he said
“It does not detract from our ongoing commitment and focus on continuing to strive for our goal of being a world class regulator and to lead
develop and regulate a responsible and sustainable greyhound racing industry in Victoria.”
greyhound racing does not align with the Australian people’s values
“Dogs being raced to death in this country is completely out of touch with modern values and attitudes
Research shows that most Australians want to see greyhound racing phased out
yet state governments continue to subsidise it,” she said
“While the industry claims tracks are safer
there is no such thing as a safe track for a racing greyhound
The numbers of dead and injured dogs attest to that
This is an industry that is not in line with current Australian values.”
Co-trainer Brad Greenough and owner/breeder Rod Campbell spoke to Corey Smith after the gutsy Sportsbet Healesville Cup win of Mile A Minute
Kangaroos were found deceased on Friday 20 September in Healesville
Five deceased Kangaroos were positioned from near the intersection of Airlie Road and Maroondah Highway along Airlie Road to Badger Creek Road direction
found them while she was heading to Lilydale around 1.20pm
She checked them out on her way back home around 3pm and reported it to Star Mail
She said it’s very suspicious because as a wildlife lover
she knows that kangaroos don’t die en masse
“Five of them have died on this road [Airlie Road] or like near this road in the last day
and one is the adult male to the group that frequents this area and he’s dead in the paddock near Maroondah Highway,” Ms Hauke said
“There’s a baby just up from him on the side of the road [Airlie Road]
so either its mother’s been scared and she’s dumped the baby to get away
which is what kangaroos do when they’re frightened
“There were two others up a bit further and one of them has been taken away since I returned to this road this afternoon
and the other one has had lime put on it.”
Ms Hauke travelled the same road two days ago when she didn’t see any deceased kangaroos
Ms Hauke originally found four kangaroos but found one more while she was showing the scene to Star Mail
A Wildlife Victoria spokesperson said it’s likely the kangaroos were reported to Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service and that volunteers were dispatched to do pouch checks
“Wildlife Victoria volunteers however do not remove any deceased wildlife as this is the responsibility of the relevant council,” they said
“There is a subset of Wildlife Victoria volunteers who are macropod experts trained in darting and euthanasia
our volunteers rescue and transport wildlife to veterinary clinics for treatment and assessment.”
due to unforeseen international scheduling issues
the upcoming Eli Paperboy Reed show at The Memo Healesville on 22 May 2025 has been cancelled by the Artist Promoter
blues and gospel explosion like never before
two powerhouse acts come together for a tour that’s more than just a celebration - it’s a full-blown revival of rhythm and soul
Eli Paperboy Reed is celebrating two decades of music with a special re-release of his very first album
Sings Walkin’ And Talkin’ And Other Smash Hits!
advance copies on CD and vinyl will be available exclusively at these shows
The Meltdown has built a reputation as one of the country’s finest
blending the raw emotion of Stax and Motown with the storytelling traditions of Nashville
Led by the unmistakable voice of Simon Burke
their sound is equal parts heart and groove - music that moves the soul and the feet
Since their breakout hit Better Days - which now celebrates its 10th anniversary - the band has amassed an impressive 125 million global streams
Their self-titled debut album (2017) garnered critical acclaim
cementing their place as a powerhouse of Southern Soul
soaring brass arrangements led by Lachlan McLean on baritone sax with Eamon McNelis on trumpet
The Meltdown’s live performances are an uplifting experience that lingers long after the last note
With new music on the horizon and exciting announcements in the works
The Meltdown continues to prove why they’re a force to be reckoned with in modern soul
Don’t miss your chance to witness an historic celebration of soul
and rhythm & blues—a show that blends deep musical history with fresh
Phone: 1300 368 333
Business owners on Healesville Main Street are disappointed at Yarra Ranges Council (YRC)
claiming there is much room to improve in its management of street cleaning
The owners have suffered from the uncleaned street
fallen leaves and dirt despite their efforts to tidy it up
has tried to fix this recurring issue and contacted YRC numerous times
asking to manage the relevant contractors in the better way over the last few years
According to the business owner’s claim
there are three main issues repeatedly happening on the Main Street of Healesville
especially from the intersection of Church Street and Maroondah Highway to his business
located next to the Healesville Post Office; a messy footpath which gets slippery
clogged drains which cause flooding during rain events and unclean litter bins
Mr Christie used to work for the council of Healesville/Yarra Ranges for 15 years and said his expectation has never been unrealistic
“I’m a little more informed than most and I’ve got reasonable expectations,” he said
“It’s the inconsistency with the council on how they control the contracts that they give out for the cleaning
whether that be the bins or the footpath cleaning or the gutter kerb channel cleaning
I probably made three off-the-cuff phone calls to them to let them know that it was an issue
Mr Christie is not the type of person who pawns his work off onto someone else as he keeps cleaning the street regularly by himself
he had to clean the road 10 times because debris kept dropping off onto the street as soon as he cleaned it
The business owner claimed the cleaning work should be done more than twice a week in certain periods of the year
“Council will not tell me and give me details of what the contract entails
but through different conversations over the years
the whole Main Street from the east end down to Terminus Hotel has to be done with the machine twice a week,” he said
all that furry stuff comes off [the trees] and gets everywhere
it gets all broken down with all the weekend traffic and everything and it’s a real mess
and then there’s autumn when they lose all the leaves
“There’s a period of time when it probably doesn’t need as much cleaning from now onwards through to summer
it is particularly bad where all the debris and other stuff block the drains and everything.”
One of the reasons Mr Christie is keen to see a better service for street cleaning is because it is related to safety issues
He said there are some particular spots where it gets really slippery if they are not well managed
“A lady carrying a little toddler in her arms had a very bad fall out the front there,” Mr Christie said
who was all but recovered from hip surgery
Star Mail asked other businesses on the Main Street of Healesville about what they think about the YRC’s management on this issue
on the specific part of the Main Street Mr Christie mentioned
are also concerned about YRC’s management on this issue for similar reasons which Mr Christie articulated
One of the business owners said they deserve better service from the local government for the rates they pay
“Healesville is a tourist destination,” they said
“Better service is needed for tourists but also for local residents
especially in Autumn and Winter when leaves fall
Mr Christie is disappointed at YRC’s management on this issue which he described as “deplorable”
“They’re more than well aware of what the problem is and the ramifications of it
it’s the same thing and then they blame the contractors and they always try and pass the buck
make it somebody else’s [responsibility] or they’ll use an excuse,” he said
“I provided them the information and they come back at me and [said] ‘you’re wrong’
so I provided them the video footage and the evidence and photos which proves what I’m telling them is not just hearsay
“They’ve sent me an email saying that they’re not going to respond to this issue any further.”
a gift shop located at a different spot on the Main Street
Owner Stu Bell uses an app called Snap Send Solve to report the problems to the council
He is satisfied with the YRC management on the issues that he deals with and said the council is doing the best they can
but every morning they come and clean it,” he said
“It’s bad on the weekend because they don’t work on weekends
“They’re thinking of putting some speakers up there to scare the birds.”
which is monitored regularly to keep track of contractors if they do their work as contracted
YRC built environment and infrastructure acting director Alanna Ford said standard township sweeping is programmed to attend twice a week on Monday and Thursday
and the Main Street is programmed for road sweeping on Tuesday and Friday to follow the footpath sweeper
“In terms of the footpath/road sweeping contractor they are contracted to sweep the footpaths and roads
If other maintenance works are required residents are encouraged to enter a service request so we can inspect
Council has a township crew that are focused on these areas and can respond to maintenance issues when required,” she said
“Bins in Main Street Healesville are emptied five days per week on Monday
“We also implement a summer collection schedule from 1 December to the last day of February
during which bins are emptied twice daily on weekends and public holidays in Healesville Township (main shops) and Queens Park
we have implemented this schedule for Melbourne Cup Weekend and run it until Easter
“The bins are scheduled for cleaning four times per year or as required.”
Ms Ford said the street is inspected once a week by the supervisor
and the Council’s vacuum truck will attend if required
“Council recognises that Healesville has many deciduous trees
is not swept extra during Autumn with the sweeping machines as it already receives twice weekly sweepings,” she said
“The community can lodge a request for service anytime by contacting our Customer Service team
sending a message on Facebook during business hours or submitting a request on our website anytime.”
Emergency services responded to reports of a vehicle accident at around 6.48am at Soul Pattinson Chemist next to Coles Healesville on Wednesday 9 October
Two CFA units from Healesville and Badger Creek attended the scene alongside Victoria Police
“Crews arrived to find a single vehicle had mounted the curb and nudged a shop front window,” a CFA spokesperson said
Victoria Police confirmed this was a crash with no injuries and minor damage
Rubbish bins on the main street of Healesville were set on fire overnight
Healesville CFA was called to this incident around 12.20am on the Maroondah Highway
Healesville CFA captain Brian Earl said it took about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire
we found two rubbish bins burning quite well
one at the front of the Bendigo Bank and the other at the front of Aldi,” he said
“We found someone had tried to set alight two other bins between those two
“We handed it over to Victoria Police to investigate.”
Victoria Police confirmed they are investigating a series of council bin fires in Healesville
“It is believed that three council bins were set alight on the Maroondah Highway in the early hours of the morning,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said
dash cam vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Healesville Sanctuary emu Blinky received incredible training to have his weight checked and chose to participate in a voluntary X-ray behaviour of both legs
Healesville Sanctuary runs special training systems to look after the health of three emus
Trainers and keepers in the sanctuary respect each animal’s opinion and trait while training them
which applies to the scale training and the voluntary X-ray behaviour training for emus
Animal Training Coordinator Katrina Beattie said emus have the right to choose whether or not to participate in medical training
“We always allow the animals to opt out of that session at any time
“When we set up the environment for the sessions
we take into account things like allowing the emus to have a clear path to walk through and past us at any point in time
“Empowering animals with that choice and control does help to maintain that strong relationship.”
Regular weight checks are crucial in monitoring emus’ health as it’s hard to tell their weight changes through observation because of their feathers
Emus are trained to stand on a platform to check their weights and to participate in body conditioning scoring
Keepers and vet staff place their hands underneath emus’ feathers and feel their back and hips to gauge their body condition
Ms Beattie said the body condition score along with the weight-checks and other observations allow the animal care team to get a full picture of the health of the emus
“The scale training is special because it’s an example of how we can teach an animal to participate in its own healthcare,” she said
“Emus are big birds covered in a lot of feathers
so it’s difficult to tell an emu if there has been a drop in weight
“Obtaining weights is important with all animals and with emus as well
through which many illnesses can manifest.”
animals have to learn a foundation behaviour first
which allows them to learn more complex behaviours
“What’s special about the scale training with emus is that it’s a foundation behaviour,” Ms Beattie said
“That was an important part of the keepers and the vet staff being able to train the voluntary X-rays.”
Healesville Sanctuary also provides a voluntary X-ray service to emus if required
participated in the X-ray behaviour last year and will participate some more in May
Keeper Zac Bryant the bird’s weight started to change
“That’s what led up to the X-ray being needed,” he said
“We’re very lucky that Blinky already had the foundations for that behaviour with the scale training in order to do the X-rays
“It really helped develop that behaviour and related to that second behaviour.”
Positive Reinforcement Training is central in building rapport with animals
which is key to making animals feel more comfortable working with keepers
Mr Bryant said animals are more inclined to want to participate in training if there’s a benefit
It’s essentially their favourite food,” he said
“Once we’ve identified the primary reinforcer
we can develop a training system that helps us guide the emus around.”
Once keepers identify the primary reinforcers for animals
they set up training suitable for each animal
We used a long stick with a tennis ball on the end
so it was easier for the emus to spot it,” Mr Bryant said
“What we asked of them was to follow us with the target stick and pick the target stick
and then they were given their primary reinforcer
“That’s how we ended up guiding them up to the scale
we were able to get the animal to slowly put one toe on and then half a foot and one foot and then the animal was understanding that’s where they have to be.”
Ms Beattie emphasised the importance of teamwork and communication in the success of providing the best animal welfare
“The emu training is a great example of what can be achieved with building that good relationship,” she said
approaching each training scenario and each animal as an individual is always part of the success
“This case of the X-rays involved excellent communication with the larger team
The whole team were there as part of the sessions
giving feedback to the sessions and the setup
and that feedback allowed the keepers to adjust their training and set the training up to achieve what we needed to.”