Upwey textile artist Natasja van Wyk has spent the last year stitching red thread through fabric – not just as a form of art her work has found a powerful public voice in ‘Threads of Violence’ a raw and deeply moving exhibition on display at The Memo in Healesville from Thursday Ms Van Wyk’s work invites viewers into a space of vulnerability and reflection lies something much more intimate – the lived experience of trauma Ms van Wyk received the call no one should ever get: her brother she retreated to her studio at Burrinja and started sewing “I didn’t know how to talk about it,” she said the clothes I was wearing when I was mugged necessary — became the foundation of Threads of Violence It is a textile exhibition unlike any other: intimate Visitors are invited to examine the work with UV flashlights revealing hidden messages stitched into the cloth — stories Ms van Wyk never meant to tell the conversations she wished she never had to have What lies beneath the surface is what truly matters I’m telling the stories I never told before — the ones that shape us but that we’re not always brave enough to say out loud,” she said Every thread in the exhibition carries weight: memory violence — including hijackings like the one that took Johannes’ life — has become frighteningly normalised This exhibition holds space for what is too often silenced or accepted as “just how things are.” the exhibition features Threads of Connection — a growing community quilt stitched from the words of strangers Visitors are invited to write down a conversation they wish they never had “There’s no pressure to write anything,” Ms van Wyk said She is turning those words into a large floral quilt — a work of collective remembrance Threads of Violence is showing at The Memo in Healesville until Sunday Council has received written confirmation from the Commonwealth Government’s Minister for Infrastructure Hon Catherine King MP of the funding cuts to the Roads for Community program which will see $47.7 million honoured from the original $150 million commitment Council can continue to progress works on all road projects that have commenced construction and projects where the contract for works have been awarded there is now insufficient funding for this project to proceed We are extremely disappointed that funding to this Community Infrastructure Program has been slashed by over $100M and Council will continue to advocate to have program funding fully restored To read more, visit our funding cuts FAQ's. The location of passing bays will be determined by the width of the existing gravel road formation and the presence of significant vegetation In 2019 the Federal Government announced a nine year $150 million funding plan for Yarra Ranges Council to seal roads within the Dandenong Ranges and surrounding areas This funding program has been named the Roads for the Community Initiative Council has prioritised roads that will be constructed through this program to ensure funding is used in a way that will provide maximum benefit to the greatest number of residents and visitors to our area. For information explaining how priority was assigned, please see Roads for the Community FAQ's. 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Freedom of information Yarra Ranges Council If you think the privacy of your personal or health information has been interfered with, within Council or we have breached the Privacy Policy, please contact the Privacy Officer on 1300 368 333 or email mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at web@yarraranges.vic.gov.au Need an account? Sign up today We will send you instructions to reset your password Back to Log in Completing the questions below helps us better understand the diverse range of people who contribute their ideas Would you like to follow this project to receive email updates Would you like to create an account or sign in Have an account? Log in Since the Upwey-Tecoma football club formed in 1946, Monbulk have been their most played opponent. The Hawks met the Tigers for the 161st time on Saturday at Upwey, with the record standing at 64 wins, 94 losses and two draws leading into the match. Monbulk 17.13.115 def Upwey-Tecoma 10.8.68 Best: Adam Banks, Lochlan Beecroft, Joel Wensley, Lachlan Sheppard, Ryan Burleigh, Josh Wentworth Goals: Joel Wensley 5, Lochlan Beecroft 4, Pat Barge 2, Bailey Rutherford 2, Ziggy Hatherley 2, Josh Wentworth 1, Declan Browne 1 The unbeaten Upwey and Monbulk sides met to decide who would take the top position on the ladder and premiership favouritism. Upwey found too many avenues to goal and a gallant display by the Hawks was no match in the end as the Tigers won comfortably. Monbulk 5.1.31 def by Upwey-Tecoma 13.9.87 Best: Johnathon Hevern, Nicholas Heron, Coby Passingham, Ryan Gilbert, Dylan Werts, Jayden Spencer Goals: Nicholas Heron 2, Matthew James 1, Johnathon Hevern 1, Aaron Smith 1 Despite giving away some height and weight, the Monbulk Unders took the match right up to the Tigers. Early in the second term they had established a 10 point lead but weren’t able to maintain the pressure and were eventually overrun but not disgraced. Monbulk 3.3.21 def by Upwey-Tecoma 9.12.66 Best: Brock Downey, William Hughson, Eamon Dawson, Finley Ede, Finn Horsfall, Ryder Koelewyn Goals: Cooper Palmer 1, Charlie Seamer 1, Finn Horsfall 1 Monbulk and Upwey were two of the seven Division 1 teams that comprised the original netball competition 20 years ago in 2005. Upwey-Tecoma won the inaugural A Grade premiership with Monbulk claiming the 2006 flag, incidentally against the Tigers. The clubs had met 34 times leading up to Saturday’s clash, with the Tigers ahead 20-14. Upwey-Tecoma won 17 consecutive matches 2007-2016 although Monbulk had emerged victorious on the last nine occasions. Sophie Stubbs, who debuted for Monbulk in 2011, played her 200th game for the Hawks. 190 of these games have been played in A Grade by the 2015 Best & Fairest, which is the club record in this grade. In a fiercely contested match the Tigers challenged the Hawks but Monbulk just had an edge in class and emerged victorious by nine goals in their tenth consecutive win against Upwey. The Hawks remain third while Peri Reid has opened up a lead of 46 amongst the goal shooters. Best: Paige Whitworth, Nicole Macdowell, Stephanie Ferguson Goals: Peri Reid 39, Stephanie Ferguson 24 The longer the game went, the stronger Monbulk looked in B Grade. The ladder leading Hawks had a seven goal lead at half time but then outscored the Tigers 32 to 10 in the second half to come away with a resounding win. Jorja Wragg is leading the competition shooters in B Grade with 167 after four games. Best: Asha Jones, Dayna Walsham, Elizabeth Cutting Goals: Jorja Wragg 34, Dayna Walsham 20, Chloe Carmichael 3 This match was to ebb and flow as Upwey led by seven goals at half time before the Hawks bounced back to tie the match at the last change of ends. The Tigers steadied to register their first win of the season while Monbulk dropped to seventh. Best: Laura Del Biondo, Courtney Witt, Maddy Buckland Goals: Chloe Carmichael 21, Grace Sands 4, Maddy Buckland 3 Monbulk proved more agile around the court to record their second win of the season and stay in touch with the leaders. The win was set up in a 9-4 second quarter as the rest of the match remained close on the scoreboard. Best: Macy Giling, Simone Beattie, Jamie Sands It was a tough day at the office for the Under 17s as ladder leaders ROC White proved too strong for the last placed Hawks. Best: Ella Flynn, Maddison Bedet, Isabelle Cross Goals: Ella Flynn 2, Maddison Bedet 1, Kaitlyn Summers 1 The ladder topping Monbulk Maroon had a bye while Monbulk Gold met ROC White at Officer. Both sides had a win each and it was ROC that started better. After quarter time however Monbulk came to the fore and scored a well deserved win by 8 goals. Eden Murphy heads the league goal shooting over Monbulk Maroon’s Isla Stubbs, who still has a game in hand. Best: Amelia Magarry, Eden Murphy, Olivia Leonard Goals: Eden Murphy 16, Amelia Magarry 9, Sophie Pringle 1 Upwey South Primary School's NAPLAN results have skyrocketed over the past six years Upwey South Primary School's academic results have lifted dramatically since changing its teaching practices with the 2024 results released this week showing one in three students need more help with English and maths More schools are retraining staff in explicit instruction while the federal government is also mandating universities teach it to aspiring teachers Link copiedShareShare articleFor most schools it doesn't get much better than seeing academic scores skyrocket its NAPLAN results across the board have surged — in reading alone But principal Damien Kitch is even prouder of something else Principal Damien Kitch oversaw the shift in teaching practices Upwey South students are at the vanguard of a teaching revolution the school decided to change the way it taught literacy abandoning an approach known as "whole language" evidence-based approach known as "structured literacy" Mr Kitch retrained the school's teachers in direct "And since we began … we've just seen huge positive results across the school not just in academics for English but also in mathematics in the culture of the school and in children's engagement," he said The NAPLAN results at Upwey South Primary have dramatically risen since the school changed its teaching practices with the school's NAPLAN scores bucking the national trend The 2024 results, released on Wednesday, showed for the second year in a row that one third of Australian students across all year levels had not met numeracy and literacy benchmarks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the results were "alarming", while the federal opposition called them "disastrous". While wider debate will continue over the causes of this failure, there will not be a post-mortem at Upwey South. Its 2024 results in every domain were higher than the average compared to "similar schools" — a metric calculated by NAPLAN authorities that considers things like parental education levels and occupation, disability and languages other than English to roughly group schools together by socio-economic advantage. Mr Kitch said an effective school needed three things: predictability, consistency and immediate reinforcement of desirable behaviours, a practice known as proximity praise. Lead teacher Melinda Rowe said the consistency across the school had helped identify students needing additional support to catch up. "We could really tell who was picking concepts up, who needed that extra intervention with small groups or even a one-to-one process," Ms Rowe said. As well as improved engagement, Ms Rowe said it had led to better behaviour and less classroom disruption. Melinda Rowe says changing teaching styles has had a profound impact. (ABC News: Patrick Stone) There is hope that more schools will be able to supercharge their academic results. The teaching practices at Upwey South have now been adopted across all of Victoria's public schools. The move was opposed by teachers' unions, but momentum has been growing — a number of private schools have started retraining teachers in explicit instruction, too. To try and boost English proficiency across the entire school system, the federal government is also mandating universities to teach the next generation of educators structured literacy. The latest NAPLAN report cards are in. Put your English and maths skills to the test with our quiz. Glenn Fahey, the education director at the Centre for Independent Studies, said other government reforms, such as Year 1 phonics and numeracy checks, would also be crucial in turning around NAPLAN results. "The latest data shows why the steps taken by the federal government in its new school reform agreements are so critical," he said. "The government's efforts to introduce improvement targets in NAPLAN are essential for lifting the ambition of [education] systems." Jordana Hunter, the Grattan Institute's education director, said urgent action was required otherwise an entire generation's education would be at risk. "At a bare minimum, all states and territories should introduce a mandatory Year 1 phonics screening check from next year, with a resit process in Year 2 for those students who fall short." CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Seniors: Woori Yallock 10.8.68 def Healesville 4.5.29; Monbulk 17.13.115 def Upwey-Tecoma 10.8.68; Officer 10.4.64 def Mt Evelyn 7.12.54; Wandin 21.15.141 def Emerald 2.5.17; Olinda-Ferny Creek 20.22.142 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 8.10.58 Reserves: Woori Yallock 10.5.65 def Healesville 7.6.48; Upwey-Tecoma 13.9.87 def Monbulk 5.1.31; Officer 9.6.60 def Mt Evelyn 5.7.37; Wandin 10.7.67 def Emerald 4.8.32; Gembrook-Cockatoo 7.14.56 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 3.9.27 Under 18: Upwey-Tecoma 9.12.66 def Monbulk 3.3.21; Healesville 18.11.119 def Woori Yallock 4.4.28; Mt Evelyn 9.13.67 def Officer 5.3.33; Olinda-Ferny Creek 16.9.105 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 2.3.15; Wandin bye Seniors: Seville 11.8.74 def Warburton-Millgrove 9.12.66; Yarra Glen 25.19.169 def Yarra Junction 8.2.50; Alexandra 17.15.117 def Powelltown 10.9.69; Pakenham 25.14.164 def Belgrave 7.8.50; Yea bye Reserves: Seville 18.6.114 def Warburton-Millgrove 3.4.22; Yarra Junction 8.4.52 def Yarra Glen 3.11.29; Alexandra 6.7.43 def Powelltown 6.5.41; Pakenham 7.3.45 def Belgrave 1.8.14; Yea bye Under 18: Warburton-Millgrove 7.7.49 def Yarra Glen 5.4.34; Pakenham 19.17.131 def Yea 0.0.0; Alexandra + Seville bye Women (Div 1): Healesville 11.8.74 def Woori Yallock 3.2.20; Mt Evelyn 8.8.56 def Upwey-Tecoma 3.1.19; Belgrave 10.5.65 def Pakenham 1.3.9; Olinda-Ferny Creek bye Women (Div 2): Thornton-Eildon 5.7.37 def Officer 2.4.16; Warburton-Wesburn 18.16.124 def Seville 0.1.1; Wandin 5.3.33 def Emerald 3.11.29; Yea bye Veterans (Round 2): Gembrook-Cockatoo 9.5.59 def Belgrave 5.10.40; Mt Evelyn 6.7.43 def Officer 2.6.18; Yarra Glen bye A Grade: Woori Yallock 43 def Healesville 39; Monbulk 64 def Upwey-Tecoma 55; Mt Evelyn 62 def ROC 25; Wandin 47 def Emerald 43; Olinda-Ferny Creek 47 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 30 B Grade: Woori Yallock 77 def Healesville 11; Monbulk 57 def Upwey-Tecoma 28; ROC 42 def Mt Evelyn 41; Wandin 48 def Emerald 45; Olinda-Ferny Creek 40 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 38 C Grade: Upwey-Tecoma 31 def Monbulk 28; Mt Evelyn 29 def ROC 18; Wandin 39 def Emerald 17; Gembrook-Cockatoo 45 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 29; Woori Yallock bye D Grade: Monbulk 34 def Upwey-Tecoma 23; ROC 26 def Mt Evelyn 25; Wandin 22 def Emerald 19; Olinda-Ferny Creek 38 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 14; Woori Yallock bye Under 17: ROC White 35 def Monbulk 4; ROC Blue 30 def Mt Evelyn 29; Wandin 25 def Emerald 18; Woori Yallock bye Under 15: ROC Blue 38 def Woori Yallock 12; Pakenham Maroon 38 def Pakenham Gold 12; Monbulk Gold 26 def ROC White 18 A Grade: Seville 51 def Warburton-Millgrove 46; Yarra Glen 55 def Yarra Junction 44; Pakenham 83 def Belgrave 21; Alexandra 67 def Powelltown 28; Yea bye B Grade: Yarra Glen 59 def Yarra Junction 25; Pakenham 56 def Belgrave 26; Alexandra 47 def Powelltown 37; Seville 66 def Warburton-Millgrove 27; Yea bye C Grade: Seville 40 def Warburton-Millgrove 22; Yarra Glen 39 def Yarra Junction 30; Pakenham 58 def Belgrave 19; Alexandra 37 def Powelltown 26; Yea bye D Grade: Seville 43 def Warburton-Millgrove 19; Yarra Glen 39 def Yarra Junction 21; Pakenham 40 def Belgrave 3; Alexandra 26 def Powelltown 10; Yea bye Under 17: Seville 48 def Warburton-Millgrove 13; Pakenham Gold 43 def Pakenham Maroon 18; Alexandra 25 def Powelltown 22 Upwey’s Singularity Choir is preparing to bring a splash of colour charm and old-school theatre magic to the stage – thanks in no small part to their beloved costume artist whose hand-crafted creations have become a much-loved feature of the group’s annual Gilbert and Sullivan operettas Singularity has been running for close to 20 years performing classical choral works for charity But it’s their yearly costumed production that gets everyone talking – not just for the music but for the sheer joy and visual feast that Ms Ebbsworthy helps bring to life is a characteristically quirky tale of fairies and politicians complete with dramatic costumes and surprise wings now oversees the entire look of each production – choosing colours and stitching it all together from op shop treasures like doona covers and hospital sheets What she can create from a $2 find is nothing short of magical “She creates everything from scratch – even the flowers in the fairies’ hair and matches each set to the costume’s colour palette It’s creative and meticulous and done with so much love.” But it’s not just about looking beautiful – it’s about feeling it Ms Ebbsworthy takes great care in making each singer feel confident Ms Tyson said Ms Ebbsworthy works with mannequins of different shapes and sizes at home and cleverly tailors each costume to flatter the person wearing it “The singers don’t always know why they look so good – but it’s because Ms Ebbsworthy’s thought through every little detail,” Ms Tyson said Ms Ebbsworthy most theatrical challenge has been designing hidden channels in the British peers’ jackets to allow fairy wings to spring out on cue colourful wings suddenly bursting out of very serious costumes – it’s one of those moments that gets a real reaction from the crowd.” 18 May at 2pm at Upwey Baptist Community Church complete with a proper afternoon tea put on by the church community and ticket sales go directly to a local charity chosen by the church – last year’s concert helped fund their weekly meal program costumers and musical director Cecily Woodbury The choir is supported by Coonara Community House in Upper Ferntree Gully and it raises money for a great cause,” Ms Tyson said “There’s something really special about coming together for that.” visit: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1323701 or at the door on the day healing and late-stage capitalism – the young artists of the Yarra Ranges have come together to unveil a collective VCE showcase that does not disappoint Four students from the exhibit spoke with Star Mail journalist Tanya Steele ahead of their official launch at Burrinja Cultural Centre on Friday 2 May sharing their works and process as developing artists With an interest in the macabre and the detail in anatomy Harrison from Upwey High School has created a giant interactive sculpture of human organs the piece has an interactive element with fake blood dripping from it which Harrison said was partly inspired by an exhibit he saw in the city “It was part of this whole thing with pipes and wires everywhere – It was really cool I really liked the sound of the water actually dripping through it,” he said Harrison said he ended up creating the massive set of organs for his work they’re squishy and they’re sometimes crunchy,” he said applied a nostalgic lens to her showcase piece the circular oil painting explores themes of perfection and anxiety with two figures representing the transition and changes between school and adult life “I think everyone in this exhibition– we’re at a point where we are going from childhood out of school into adulthood for the first time,” said Patience Putting storytelling threads into her work Patience said she looks back on like moments that might have been insignificant at the time “I actually got my friends to model – it was my first big oil painting,” she said Milla from Mater Christie has focused her attention on sculpture work for the showcase “I made it to represent the healing process victims of sexual assault experience,” she said A set of pristine white wings with bloodied handprints explores Milla’s feelings and processing of the horrific numbers of women who experience sexual assault in Victoria “I put red handprints on it to show the scars left on those girls’ lives,” Milla said Dean from Lilydale High School chatted about his two paintings featured in the showcase that critiqued late-stage capitalism and planned obsolescence His two different paintings show fine detail and slow decay in one Dean is inspired by the world around him and said his work represents the idea that despite the illusion of improvement in technology over the years specifically with how late-stage capitalism is sort of eating itself,” he said All four artists met with others from the showcase on Friday 2 May and celebrated their work and achievements together – a chance to collaborate and connect across the Yarra Ranges The Creative Showcase will be on display for free until 18 May at the Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey Witnesses are being sought after an alleged assault in Upwey last month The alleged altercation between a youth and man happened mid-morning and Belgrave Police are seeking anyone who witnessed the incident The alleged assault that happened between 9.40am and 10.10am on 14 February on Morris Rd Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Belgrave Police on 97546677 Upwey Belgrave RSL commemorated ANZAC Day this year with a full program bringing locals young and old together in a shared spirit of remembrance and unity The day began at 6am with the Dawn Service offering a moment of quiet reflection in the stillness before sunrise packed the RSL grounds in the pre-dawn air and was broadcast live via 3MDR Radio RSL Secretary Graeme Tuplin said the addition of students from Mater Christi College singing the national anthems and reading during the service added new dimension to the day “This year was their first official public performance and they did an amazing job,” he said “To their credit they learnt the New Zealand anthem – both the Maori and English and also sang Spirit of the Anzac.” he said Mater Christi teacher and head of music Helen Metcalfe said the school was approached by the RSL and they jumped at the opportunity “This is exactly the sort of event that I feel local schools should be supporting As a music and drama teacher I recognise the vital importance of ‘story’ and to be able to contribute to the telling of the Anzac story to the current generation is a real privilege,” she said attendees shared in the tradition of a Gunfire Breakfast enjoying egg and bacon sandwiches together at the RSL the streets of Upwey came alive as veterans and service personnel took part in the Veterans’ March down Main Street to meet again at the RSL for the morning service Both services featured a heartfelt ANZAC Day address from President Fred Schmager with the mounting of the guard by by Australian Army cadets at 31ACU The Roulettes made a scheduled flyover around 10.15am as students from Mater Christi College told Anzac Day stories to the crowd and wreaths were laid Flag Raising and National Anthems from Australia and New Zealand morning tea was provided for veterans and their immediate families while crowds gathered to reflect and connect Rotary Club of Belgrave kept the sausage sizzle going strong and live music continued into the afternoon The RSL thanked all involved for the help to put on the day on social media and said the day could not take place volunteers “Fantastic that we have so many families and young ones come along to Anzac Day,” the post read. Seniors: Olinda-Ferny Creek 6.8.44 def Upwey-Tecoma 5.7.37; Healesville 12.15.87 def Mt Evelyn 5.11.41; Woori Yallock 18.12.120 def Officer 7.8.50; Emerald 10.10.70 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 10.8.68; Wandin 23.9.147 def Monbulk 6.7.43 Reserves: Upwey-Tecoma 11.8.74 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 6.5.41; Emerald 8.9.57 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 8.3.51; Monbulk 8.9.57 def Wandin 1.8.14; Mt Evelyn 20.14.134 def Healesville 2.8.20; Officer 17.5.107 def Woori Yallock 6.7.43 Under 18: Upwey-Tecoma 9.14.68 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 6.9.45; Wandin 18.8.116 def Monbulk 3.5.23; Mt Evelyn 14.11.95 def Healesville 3.3.21; Officer 14.22.106 def Woori Yallock 1.4.10; Gembrook-Cockatoo bye Seniors: Seville 7.17.59 def Belgrave 7.10.52; Yarra Glen 8.12.60 def Yea 5.12.42; Pakenham 14.7.91 def Alexandra 6.11.47; Warburton-Millgrove 36.30.246 def Yarra Junction 1.2.8; Powelltown bye Reserves: Seville 10.6.66 def Belgrave 4.7.31; Yea 7.21.63 def Yarra Glen 3.6.24; Pakenham 14.8.92 def Alexandra 5.3.33; Warburton-Millgrove 18.10.118 def Yarra Junction 2.2.14; Powelltown bye Under 18: Yarra Glen 9.12.66 def Yea 1.2.8; Pakenham 25.20.170 def Alexandra 0.0.0; Seville 12.27.99 def Warburton-Millgrove 0.3.3 Women (Div 1): Belgrave 4.4.28 def Woori Yallock 2.5.17; Upwey-Tecoma 3.8.26 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 1.3.9; Mt Evelyn 16.12.108 def Healesville 0.2.2; Pakenham bye Women (Div 2): Yea 3.13.31 def Officer 1.3.9; Warburton-Wesburn 12.6.78 def Wandin 3.4.22; Emerald 4.12.36 def Seville 0.2.2; Thornton-Eildon bye A Grade: Upwey-Tecoma 50 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 34; Wandin 72 def Monbulk 49; Emerald 77 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 32; Mt Evelyn 59 def Healesville 35; Woori Yallock 55 def ROC 45 B Grade: Olinda-Ferny Creek 48 def Upwey-Tecoma 24; Emerald 41 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 28; Mt Evelyn 101 def Healesville 3; ROC 67 def Woori Yallock 54; Monbulk 59 def Wandin 43 C Grade: Olinda-Ferny Creek 28 def Upwey-Tecoma 24; Gembrook-Cockatoo 29 def Emerald 25; ROC 51 def Woori Yallock 26; Wandin 45 def Monbulk 20; Mt D Grade: Olinda-Ferny Creek 34 def Upwey-Tecoma 25; Gembrook-Cockatoo 27 def Emerald 26; Wandin 31 def Monbulk 22; Woori Yallock 23 def ROC 22; Mt Under 17: ROC White 31 def Emerald 17; Wandin 38 def Monbulk 31; ROC Blue 43 def Woori Yallock 12; Mt Under 15: Monbulk Maroon 34 def Monbulk Gold 22; Pakenham Maroon 31 def ROC White 8; ROC Blue 36 def Pakenham Gold 9; Woori Yallock bye A Grade: Seville 81 def Belgrave 26; Warburton-Millgrove 46 def Yarra Junction 25; Yarra Glen 60 def Yea 38; Pakenham 75 def Alexandra 25; Powelltown bye B Grade: Seville 68 def Belgrave 15; Warburton-Millgrove 49 def Yarra Junction 24; Yarra Glen 55 def Yea 26; Pakenham 75 def Alexander 13; Powelltown bye C Grade: Seville 62 def Belgrave 17; Warburton-Millgrove 42 def Yarra Junction 22; Yarra Glen 37 def Yea 22; Pakenham 60 def Alexandra 34 D Grade: Seville 37 def Belgrave 9; Warburton-Millgrove 48 def Yarra Junction 11; Yarra Glen 20 def Yea 15; Pakenham 50 def Alexandra 9; Powelltown bye Under 17: Pakenham Gold 53 def Alexandra 10; Seville 58 def Pakenham Maroon 9; Powelltown + Warburton-Millgrove bye bringing locals together in a shared spirit of remembrance and unity Flag Raising and National Anthems from Australia and New Zealand sung by students from the Mater Christi College Upwey CFA is getting ready for its 54th annual jumble sale and this year’s event promises to be another highlight for the community Liam Rhodes said it’s not just a jumble sale where you can find some great second-hand goodies – it’s also the brigade’s biggest fundraiser of the year helping to support all the important work they do the jumble sale represents the heart of what the CFA stands for – community connection and support we wouldn’t be able to support our community in return,” he said He has been volunteering with the CFA for nearly 13 years and serving as captain for nearly a year The funds raised from this event are crucial for maintaining equipment and ensuring that Upwey CFA is ready for any emergency With firefighting vehicles having a lifespan of around 20 years and rising costs of gear and uniforms “One vehicle could easily cost $250,000 now these things are getting more and more expensive,” he said The jumble sale plays a huge part in helping to meet these costs ranging from second-hand furniture and books to kitchenware Mr Rhodes said while they don’t keep track of every single donation they’re confident there will be plenty for bargain hunters to dig through on the day The event will kick off in the morning with a wide selection of donated items available for sale offering plenty of time to browse and find a bargain And it’s not just about shopping – there will also be a barbecue running throughout the day including a trailer load of firewood – cash and EFTPOS will be available the support of the local community is what makes this event possible “We’ve got about 35 to 40 operational members who are out there protecting the community 24/7 365 days a year – and they do it all for free,” he said whatever the community spends at the jumble sale is returned back to them in the service that we provide.” Even though Upwey CFA has been fortunate to avoid major local fires in recent years their members are always ready to jump into action when needed Whether it’s supporting firefighting efforts in the Grampians or helping during local storms the CFA volunteers make themselves available whenever they’re needed most often putting their personal lives on hold seeing the same faces return year after year to support the jumble sale is one of the highlights of the event “We appreciate the community support both with donations of goods and then with coming along to purchase It’s something that’s grown over the years and it’s amazing to see the same faces come back knowing that we’re all in this together,” he said Upwey CFA’s 54th annual jumble sale isn’t just a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of the community’s heart and generosity Mr Rhodes is encouraging everyone to come down to the Upwey CFA hall on Saturday and feel good knowing that every cent you spend helps support the brave volunteers who keep our community safe Upwey South Tennis Club is marking its 50th birthday – a milestone that’s been decades in the making with a strong sense of community at its heart and the whole community is invited to join the celebration on Sunday The club will open its gates on Eloera Street to host a free fun-filled day for everyone – past and present members as well as anyone interested in seeing what the club’s all about has been with Upwey South for over 20 years and she’s one of the first to tell you how much this day means to the club “It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years already,” Ms Beer said Just look at the flags in our clubhouse – they’re a testament to our history and how far we’ve come Having 500 members on our database is something we’re really proud of – that’s not easy to achieve.” with Ms Beer highlighting the recent upgrades as a key achievement All courts have been upgraded from en-tout-cas to synthetic grass and the outdated halogen lights have been replaced with energy-efficient LED lighting “We’ve always tried to stay ahead of the curve,” she said But it’s not just about the courts and lights Ms Beer said the club’s longstanding partnership with Extreme Tennis has been a cornerstone of the club’s coaching programs for more than 20 years “A solid coaching program is key to any great club and we’re lucky to have such a loyal partner in Extreme Tennis,” she said no club’s journey is without its challenges and it took a dedicated group of volunteers to save it “We had a real crossroads moment back then if it wasn’t for the people who stepped up the club might not have survived,” she said But the club is not only surviving – it’s thriving the club’s previous committee worked tirelessly to keep members engaged securing grants that allowed the club to upgrade its facilities Ms Beer said they’re more optimistic than ever about the club’s future and it’s exciting to see what’s coming next,” she said why is this 50th anniversary such a big deal It’s a time to celebrate the club’s history and and we wouldn’t be here without the support of our members, this is our way of saying thank you and reflecting on everything we’ve accomplished together,” Ms Beer said promises something for everyone – whether you’re a fan of social tennis looking for fun Hot Shots activities for the kids or keen to catch some exciting exhibition matches For those who love a bit of friendly competition there will be a speed radar and ball machine The Upwey Men’s Shed will be firing up the barbecue to add some delicious flavour to the day Ms Beer said you don’t have to be a member to play “We’re one of the few clubs around that allows non-members to come and play without signing up first It’s all about making tennis accessible for everyone,” she said The club’s treasurer said the club has always been about more than just tennis – it’s about creating a community the club has hosted a range of activities for all ages and it continues to offer opportunities for everyone whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out A few of the club’s recent achievements include winning the Wilson Round the World competition for the Asia-Pacific region and claiming their first Tennis Victoria pennant flag Ms Beer said they are a club that truly punches above its weight “We’re proud of where we’ve come from but we’re just as excited about where we’re headed there’s so much more to come,” she said have been awarded significant funding as part of the State Government’s ongoing effort to support veterans and their communities Veterans Minister Natalie Suleyman and Monbulk Member Daniela De Martino annouced the recipients of the Veterans Capital Works 2024-25 grants Both Upwey Belgrave and Emerald RSLs are among the lucky recipients set to receive much-needed upgrades that will benefit veterans and the local community Upwey Belgrave RSL will use its grant to install solar panels in a move to boost the energy efficiency of the club The installation is expected to save the RSL approximately $500 per month a critical cost-saving measure for an organisation grappling with rising energy costs “The Upwey Belgrave RSL is proud to announce we have been successful in our application for Government funding to upgrade our Solar installation including the addition of batteries,” Upwey-Belgrave RSL project manager “This substantial upgrade is projected to save us around $500 per month which is huge for our little RSL that continues to be impacted by increasing costs – many of which are simply beyond our control.” “This new installation will also provide a level of power backup for our operations which is a real bonus given the frequent outages that occur in the hills.” The RSL also expressed gratitude to local government representatives and the volunteers who helped prepare the grant application Emerald RSL is set to make much-needed improvements to its clubroom thanks to funding for upgrades to disability access and bathroom facilities The renovations will include new handrails and safety upgrades to the club’s bathrooms to ensure that all members of the community “Emerald RSL Sub-Branch applied for a Grant through the Veterans Capital Works Grant Program and recently received advice our application has been successful,” Emerald RSL secretary “We are very grateful and excited about the upcoming works which will enable improved handrails as well as toilet facility safety upgrades and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our Clubrooms and supporting our community all-inclusively.” Both RSLs are part of the 26 successful recipients of the Veterans Capital Works 2024-25 program which is distributing more than $780,000 across the state to improve facilities for veterans and their families The funding is part of the State Government’s broader commitment to preserving the legacy of Victoria’s veterans with other grants going to projects such as the restoration of war memorials and avenues of honour which will use its grant to restore its War Memorial addressing natural wear and tear and ensuring the memorial is preserved for future generations Veterans Minister Natalie Suleyman highlighted the importance of these grants in maintaining and improving spaces where veterans’ stories are honoured “These projects are a powerful way we’re preserving the unforgettable legacy of our veterans by improving the places where their stories are honoured and remembered,” Ms Suleyman said “By investing in community projects across the state we’re paying tribute to our veterans and creating inclusive welcoming spaces for future generations to gather and reflect on Victoria’s history.” Monbulk Member Daniela De Martino also spoke to the significance of these projects “By preserving memorials and upgrading veteran facilities we’re helping future generations understand the legacy of service,” Ms De Martino said “These projects make sure the stories of our veterans live on in every community they helped shape.” For more information on the successful grant recipients and details about these programs visit the official Victorian Government websites: vic.gov.au/veterans-capital-works and vic.gov.au/restoring-community-war-memorials People in the Upwey and Hills community have been invited to a food relief pop up stall next week in Upwey Foothills Community Care will host a pop-up market on Tuesday 21 January for anyone who needs it From 12.20 to 2pm at the Upwey Baptist Church 21 Darling Ave – The volunteers will be giving away free fresh produce to anyone who needs it People should bring your own bags (with a limit of 2 per person so the group can share the love) Foothills gave big thanks to their friends at Outer East Foodshare on social media on Friday 17 January for helping with the event ‘Spread the word and see you there!’ read the post The Dandenong Ranges community may have noticed Upwey now has some additional feature lighting twinkling away in the autumn night in two of the trees along the main street Monday 17 March saw the Upwey Community Group (UCG) officially celebrate the installation of the solar fairy tree lights marking the occasion with a small gathering of those who made the project possible “Everyone is very excited it has come to fruition,” Upwey Community Group member Kerrie-Anne and Bendigo Bank provided a grant for decorative lighting,” she said like murals on the bridge and running the Upwey Markets.” Originally beginning before the COVID lockdowns the project had been delayed until it was picked up again by a small team of volunteers from the group in 2024 and took around 12 months to get to this final stage provided support in managing the supply and installation of the lights and Stuart Templeton and Kieran McGrane from the company both live in Upwey and gave their time to work with UCG and Yarra Ranges Council to get the right commercial equipment for the job “It was a fortunate partnership that was formed with Leadsun and they worked with the UCG and Yarra Ranges Council very closely,” said Kerrie-Anne Leadsun Australia then worked with D and L Lighting Systems to install the solar engines and lights over five days and both companies have been involved in delivering similar community projects before UCG President Jacqui Buckland thanked all involved for their support “And for helping our group of volunteers make this possible,” she said “They continue to support the bank enabling them to support these community projects,” he said Residents and those beyond are now welcome to step into Upwey to see the trees lit up every evening “Some of the social media pages have been saying the lights bring joy and feel a bit magical – which is lovely,” said Kerrie-Anne Upwey Community Group is a volunteer-led community organisation and has more events planned on the horizon like Sunday Sounds on 30 March and the annual Upwey Archies art competition “We’re always looking for new members,” said Kerrie-Anne The group meet quarterly and people can find out more on their website at https://www.upweytownship.au/ The Girl Guides in Upwey had a special ceremony just before Christmas of 2024 awarding and celebrating three of its members for some of their incredible work and dedication in the community Three young preteens in Upwey celebrated a year of hard work as Girl Guides and by December they were all awarded a high-level achievement from the Guiding organisation for their efforts Rosalie and Lily received the Junior Baden-Powell (JBP) and Baden-Powell (BP) Awards which are the second highest accolades for Girl Guides Upwey Girl Guide Leader Rebecca Broecker said these prestigious awards require an extraordinary level of dedication “It was with immense pride that we celebrated Elke for earning the JBP Award and Rosalie and Lily for earning the BP Award at Upwey Girl Guides,” she said Some of the activities the trio did to earn their awards included running fundraising and community events A highlight included raising around $400 for the charity Dolly’s Dream from putting on a fundraising disco night in the Upwey township The Dolly’s Dream organisation is committed to changing the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying “Lily and Rosalie did all the research for it and found out about Dolly’s Dream and then together the three of them ran the night and charged an entry,” said Ms Broecker “It was a huge thing to do,” she said Ms Broecker has been a leader with the Upwey Girl Guides for five years and said she enjoys providing a variety of activities for the girls the Upwey group currently has 32 members and has gone through significant growth “I was a girl guide and it has been nice to come back into this space,” said Ms Broecker Ms Broecker said that these days there is a huge variety of extracurricular activities kids can do and while not everyone fits into those mainstream categories people are also often surprised by what the guides get up to – in one activity last year the girl guides met women from the Hills community that are qualified and work in fields that are usually male-dominated roles a builder and a CEO come in,” said Ms Broecker “It doesn’t need to be just the gender norms,” she said we do roping and lots of outdoor stuff as well.” “I’m really big on pushing the girl empowerment – this term and talking about why it’s so important to have equality between men and women,” she said The awards themselves take a lot of time and effort and Ms Broecker said the JBP takes about six months to complete and the BP award takes about 12 months “The JBP Award sets a high standard for guides wanting to push themselves and actively contribute to their community,” she said growing in confidence and stepping out of her comfort zone to reach this incredible milestone.” The BP Award required guides to demonstrate exceptional leadership and the ability to plan and execute complex projects earning the BP Award represents the culmination of a year of hard work “Both have grown remarkably through this process becoming confident and capable young women who embody the values of Girl Guides,” Ms Broecker said Ms Broecker said having the three girls receive the awards has in turn inspired the younger members of the unit and Elke Lily and Rosalie will continue in Girl Guides and start working on the next level up 2025 will see the Upwey Girl Guides take on more community access and advocacy activities both worldwide and on a local level they will have the opportunity to push themselves and go to statewide activity events,” said Ms Broecker It has been 17 years since anyone at Upwey Girl Guides has earned the BP award and Ms Broecker said for all three girls accomplishing this in the same year is a historic moment for the unit “Their success is an inspiration to all guides and a reminder of the profound growth and achievement that can come through guiding,” she said The Upwey Community Group (UCG) has unveiled six vibrant new murals on the side of the Pearl Garden Chinese restaurant in Upwey Village Green in celebration of the diverse culture and history under the theme ‘Moving Forward Together’ The murals funded by the Yarra Ranges Council and UCG aims to enhance public art while simultaneously shedding light on Indigenous and multicultural stories in the community Volunteers from the UCG played an important role in bringing the new murals to life – they applied for the Yarra Ranges Council grant and worked closely with the council throughout the process The project leader and a passionate advocate for community art Linda Fullagar said a few years ago the community group held a public meeting to gather input on what residents wanted to see in the town’s future – one key suggestion was a desire for more public art especially to represent Indigenous culture “This feedback inspired the current mural project the group commissioned two artists to create a total of six murals celebrating the community’s diverse heritage and enhancing the local artistic landscape,” Ms Fullagar said “We wanted to create a welcoming and safe space for everyone and art plays a crucial role in that.” Indigenous Australian Thulli Mara and Shwshanni Rose Guecia-Gherlardini who has Italian and Native American heritage The proud Wurundjeri Indigenous artist from Bayswater Thulli Mara was contacted by another indigenous artist about the opportunity “I wanted to share a bit of my journey and story through my artwork my culture is all about storytelling and self-expression which I find really therapeutic and one of my biggest inspirations for art is seeing people’s reactions to it,” Mr Mara said “I chose to depict the rainbow serpent “Yurlunggur” who is always creating paths and changing the landscape – this resonates with me because we are always constantly moving forward and adapting through ups and downs.” symbolising protection and watching over everyone.” The proud Wurundjeri artists enjoys painting landscapes incorporating symbolism like his’s line work and Dreamtime stories The mural on the opposite wall has a colonial feel with a tall ship which made him reflect on changing representations but I realised it depicted us as bush people living in trees featuring a rising moon and showing hunters or warriors returning to their camp surrounded by the big gum trees and eucalypts of the Dandenongs – a Dreamtime serpent stretches through both paintings.” and focuses on a tree that holds significant stories for local communities – trees have been around for thousands of years and carry a lot of history we have many different types of trees in our culture too which play important roles in our Dreamtime stories and I wanted to incorporate that significance into my artwork.” Both artists were able to finish the murals from their homes and often communicated through video calls and messages to share their ideas The murals ended up with Ms Guecia-Gherlardini focusing on a very feminine side while Mr Mara worked on a more masculine aspect Shwshanni Rose Guecia-Gherlardini who just finished a large project on a big Volkswagen van featuring an Australian sunset with ochre colours and local flora and fauna when the council reached out to her to see if she’d be interested in the Upwey mural project She incorporated the multicultural aspect of the murals drawing from her Italian and Native American heritage “The original brief focused on moving together as a community and adding more diversity to Upwey as many existing murals tell the coloniser’s story which is a big part of the Hills area,” Ms Guecia-Gherlardini said including night-time birds like the tawny frogmouth and kookaburra along with the Black Cockatoo and for the daytime I featured the Australian honeyeater and flowers that bloom in the sun.” “The central figure is a fiery sun energy woman representing my art and Native American culture while paying homage to Indigenous Australian land – I hope these murals reflect on people’s understanding of Australia and their place in it.” Each mural symbolises the theme of ‘moving forward together,’ allowing the artists to interpret the concept in unique ways that resonate with local culture “I hope these murals deepens people’s understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture and I hope for a treaty that gives Indigenous people a greater voice in how this land is nurtured and cultivated particularly in nature-rich areas like this,” she said “It’s incredible that for thousands of years Indigenous culture thrived without harming biodiversity – seeing a return to that harmonious way of living would be beautiful for Australia and I believe that’s an important goal for the future.” The funding for the project was given in January and finally wrapped up and launched on Saturday 25 October at 9am “We hope this would encourage more people to visit our town because the murals are really rich pieces of art in the Village Green,” Ms Fullagar said “I wanted to create something in a public space that makes people think about our culture and background and European influences – the art reflects the beautiful nature around us Visitors to the murals will be able to scan a QR code located next to the artworks giving access to short interviews with the artists – these interviews offer deeper insights into the inspiration behind each mural and the meanings they convey Working alongside the artists and video maker Daniel Jackson the volunteers prepared the mural boards and applied an anti-graffiti coating to protect the artworks as well as promoting the event by uploading videos to YouTube and mounted the murals and accompanying signage ensuring the community could fully enjoy this vibrant new addition “I’d call them artworks more than murals because the artists have done an amazing job we were truly blown away by their talent – it’s incredible,” Ms Fullagar said Residents in the surrounds of The Highway and Mast Gully Road in Upwey were advised via Vic Emergency to stay indoors on Wednesday 5 February after reports of a gas leak emerged in the mid-afternoon Hills residents posted to social media about smells of burning plastic and the air smelling ‘funny’ in the afternoon that day Vic Emergency advised via their app and social media that residents should keep windows and doors closed and to stay informed about a chemical hazard in the Upwey vicinity A CFA spokesperson said three CFA units responded to reports of a gas leak on the Highway in Upwey at around 2.13pm “Units responded from Belgrave and Upwey and crews discovered a natural gas leak,” they said “Power and gas company were called to the scene to assist.” The CFA spokesperson said a community warning was issued and evacuations were not required “The incident was deemed under control at 2.59pm,” they said With Anzac Day falling on the Friday after Easter here’s where to attend your local services across the Outer East Dandenong Ranges RSL will hold a 6.30am Dawn Service at the memorial on the corner of Sherbrooke Road and Mt Dandenong Tourist Road which will be followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at the Ferny Creek Scouts Hall there will also be a Commemorative March and Service at the Sassafras Village Green on the corner of Mountain Highway and Mt Dandenong Tourist Road including refreshments at the Sub Branch at 1773 Mountain Highway Upwey/Belgrave RSL will hold a 6am Dawn Service at the RSL at 1 Mast Gully Road which will be followed by a gunfire breakfast There will then be a Services March from 9.45am through the main street of Upwey starting from the IGA before the main morning service at the sub-branch at 10am traditional games of ‘two-up’ and screening of the Collingwood vs Essendon Anzac Day match will follow Ferntree Gully will be held at 5.45am with attendees welcome to bring a torch and chair if needed the usual Commerative March held the Sunday before Anzac Day has been cancelled this year due to Easter Emerald RSL Sub-Branch’s Dawn Service at Anzac Place A march will also be held from 10am at The Cenotaph in the town centre with a 10.30am service to follow Kalorama will hold a 9am Commemorative Service at the Peace Memorial located at Ellis Jeeves Reserve on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road in Kalorama Monbulk RSL will host 5.45am Dawn Service at the sub-branch at 48 Main Road Monbulk as well as a 9.45am Commemorative March starting from St George’s Church Monbulk and ending back at the RSL for a 10.00am Commemorative Service Wandin’s Commemorative Service hosted by the Rotary Club of Wandin will be held again at 8.30am at the Wandin Cenotaph on the corner of Hunter Road and Beenak Road The restored Seville War Memorial will host its 5.45am Dawn Service with a free community breakfast provided Yarra Junction’s Dawn Service hosted by the Upper Yarra RSL will start at 6am sharp at the Yarra Junction Cenotaph near the Yarra Centre with attendees asked to arrive and be settled in by 5.45am to reduce interruption to the service attendees are asked find a spot on Main Street from 10am before it steps off from the Commonwelath bank at 10.30am where the march will proceed to the Cenotaph for the Morning Service at around 10.45am Millgrove’s Dawn Service will be held at Millgrove Memorial Park from 6am with car parking available at Millwarra Primary School and a gunfire breakfast at the Wesburn/Millgrove CFA Warburton will have a Commemorative Parade at 10.40am followed by a Commemorative Service at the Cenotaph on Warburton Highway There will be a 5.45am Dawn Service at Healesville RSL on Maroondah Highway followed by Gunfire Breakfast There will also be a 10.00am Commemorative March which will assemble at 9.30am at the corner of Maroondah Highway and Church Street and then a 10.30am Morning Service at the Healesville Memorial Hall Yarra Glen will have a Commemorative March assembling outside the Yarra Glen Police Station at 10.00am and commencing at 10.15am followed by a Commemorative Service at the Cenotaph There will be a 5.45am Dawn Service at the Lilydale Cenotaph with attendees asked to assemble at 5.30am followed by refreshments at the Lilydale RSL in Anderson St Mt Evelyn will also hold a 5.45am Dawn Service at Mt Evelyn War Memorial Park on the corner of Wray Crescent and Birmingham Road There will be a 10.00am Commemorative Service at the Montrose Memorial on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road Mooroolbark will host a 12pm Commemorative service in Hookey Park on Charles Streeet followed by refreshments and sausage sizzle put on by the scouts Croydon RSL asks attendees of their Dawn Service to arrive at the Croydon War Memorial at 5.30am for a 5.45am start with a gunfire breakfast afterwards at the RSL at 1 Civic Square 19 January 2025 | Tennis Victoria The Australian Open (AO) is not only a stage for the world’s best tennis players; it also provides a space for Victorian youngsters to shine 17 dedicated volunteers have stepped up to assist Tennis Victoria staff in carrying out their daily tasks during the busy AO season three volunteers from the same club – Upwey South Tennis Club proud representatives of Upwey South Tennis Club and a shared passion for tennis to their volunteer roles Josh and Shae participated in Tennis Victoria’s Future Leaders program in 2023 while Finn completed the program most recently in 2024 Their club’s committee and coach have played a vital role in supporting their journey fostering their growth and enabling them to give back to the tennis community “our coaches encouraged us to join Future Leaders,” points out how the support of Upwey South Tennis Club’s committee and coach have been instrumental in fostering an environment where young players feel motivated to step up and contribute Josh and Shae’s involvement with Upwey South Tennis Club has extended well beyond the Future Leaders program These initiatives showcase their dedication to nurturing a thriving tennis community and ensuring their club’s continued success When asked what excites him most about volunteering at the AO “I’m most excited to see the up-and-coming players and to witness some really great quality tennis.” the youngest and the most recent graduate of the Future Leaders program out of the trio His Future Leaders project centres on celebrating Upwey South TC’s 50th anniversary His efforts are set to create a memorable milestone for the club and its community The Future Leaders program by Tennis Victoria equips young tennis enthusiasts with the skills and confidence to take on leadership roles within their clubs and communities the program has been a valuable experience providing them with opportunities to grow and make meaningful contributions Their efforts at the Australian Open and within Upwey South Tennis Club demonstrate the positive impact of investing in youth leadership through programs such as Future Leaders Through their hard work and genuine passion for the sport they are not only shaping their own futures but also inspiring others to get more involved at their local club Some of their daily tasks at the AO involve: the contributions of these young leaders remind us of the power of community and the importance of supporting the next generation of tennis enthusiasts Upwey South Tennis Club can be proud of the legacy Josh Click here to see our conversation with the trio For more information about the Future Leaders Program, click here Stay up to date with #VicsAtTheAO to see what Victorians have been up to at the AO Finn Fitzgerald – Upwey South Tennis Club Belgrave RSL was one of the very first RSLs in Victoria The Belgrave Memorial (RSL) Hall was destroyed by fire in June 1957 with the amalgamation of Belgrave there were two premises used for the RSL Services at different times and both were located at or near the Cameo Cinema Now known as the Upwey-Belgrave RSL and Running Rabbits Military Museum operating in Upwey on Mast Gully Road Upwey and services our communities throughout the local and surrounding region nestled in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges We are committed to providing vital resources and services that support and enhance the social and physical wellbeing of our Veterans and the Community Our outreach to Veterans and their families is predominantly enabled through fundraising activities events and the commitment of our dedicated volunteers Have you heard of our very Special Poppies Bistro A must-visit with family and friends for special occasions Open Wednesday through Saturday for dinner Our special catering outreach extends to Functions and Events of all sizes and celebrations We offer a wonderful variety of entertainment including music from the best of local talent to special shows and celebratory days on everybody’s calendar a pleasant afternoon or evening to wind down and membership categories cater from Veterans through to social members As we remember with pride and gratitude on this Remembrance Day we also draw our local community to support our RSL Club to continue our vital outreach Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers Baseball Club is set for a bright future with the completion of new lighting at its Kings Park home on Saturday 8 February Community and government officials alike gathered to formally celebrate the project in Upper Ferntree Gully The official opening coincided with the club’s annual Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) fundraising round which saw players wear pink to honour those affected by breast cancer “The launch of the lights was part of the weekend as well,” Club President Dwain Richardson said Mr Richardson said the lights have been part of a 12-year process to improve club facilities that were previosuly at an ‘all-time low’ The club itself has been around for 60 years and progressed to a higher level playing club within Victoria “This most recent step of the addition of the lights takes us to having one of the best facilities within the league,” he said Mr Richardson said the lights will allow the premier one-league club to play more night and mid-week games throughout the year “It will also give us greater flexibility,” he said Member for Monbulk Daniela De Martino joined Knox City Council Deputy Mayor Cr Glen Atwell to officially flick the switch on the new lights backed by a $190,000 investment from the local sports infrastructure fund “Local clubs like the Tigers are the heart and soul of our community They deserve modern facilities they can be proud of,” Ms De Martino said “Local baseballers now have a facility that is set to put a spotlight on the local game and will take their game to the next level,” she said the new 750 lux infield and 500 lux outfield LED lighting is a huge win for the Tigers who are making big gains in the Dandenong Baseball Association and the Victorian Summer Baseball League competition The new brighter LED lighting complies with current baseball infield and outfield training and competition standards providing local baseballers the opportunity to spend more time on the field doing what they love best The Victorian government has invested more than $2.3 billion in community sport and active recreation infrastructure over the past decade The Victorian Budget 2024/25 is providing more than $23 million to continue the delivery of community sport and active recreation infrastructure and programs to increase participation opportunities and improve accessibility investments like these provide high-quality and accessible places for Victorians to reap the benefits of sport and active recreation participation Daniela De Martino MP acknowledged Knox City Council for its more than $335,000 financial contribution and commitment to delivering the new lighting For more information about infrastructure grant opportunities available through the Victorian Government visit sport.vic.gov.au WAKE is a performance installation by powerhouse experimental theatre makers THE RABBLE created with an ensemble of older women from the Yarra Ranges part conversation and part town hall meeting, WAKE asks audiences to consider the difficult and taboo discussions around aging but also celebrates the gloriousness of these spectacular older women. WAKE embraces connection the rituals we inhabit as we age and the spaces where we feel most comfortable Exploring the ever-increasing hostility towards women’s bodies particularly for older people WAKE features acts of artistic courage created by the participating women featuring anything from a ukulele solo to a professional wrestling bout; a Shakespeare monologue to a political speech Upwey South Tennis Club has always been a great place for tennis players to grow three of its members had the chance to volunteer at the Australian Open (AO) who all took part in Tennis Victoria’s Future Leaders program supporting young players and working with the Tennis Victoria team volunteering at the AO was a great way to give back to the sport they love remembered his first experience with the sport: “I joined a HotShots clinic in school and had so much fun running around and playing.” The Future Leaders program helped them become more confident and learn how to lead “The program taught me how to work with kids and run events – it made me a better leader,” Josh said the program helped him learn how to stay calm and keep a positive attitude when things don’t go as planned “I learned how to stay focused and keep the kids together when things changed,” he said found that leadership is not just about being good at tennis but also about helping others and setting a good example the trio worked with the Kids on Court program where they guided groups of kids through Melbourne Park and made sure everyone had a great experience Shae’s favourite part was taking the kids onto Rod Laver Arena and seeing their excitement “It was amazing to see them so happy and serious about being on such a big court,” she said Josh also enjoyed watching the tennis matches especially Novak Djokovic’s performance against Carlos Alcaraz “It was incredible to see him play,” Josh said The volunteers’ experience at the AO showed just how much support they’ve had from Upwey South Tennis Club “The club has always helped me grow as a leader and I’m proud to represent our club and show what we’re all about,” Josh said Upwey South Tennis Club has been a big part of their journey offering mentorship and opportunities to take on leadership roles “The club has always supported us in our growth it feels good to know we’re representing the whole club,” Finn said the three volunteers are excited about what’s ahead for tennis Shae is especially happy to see more girls getting involved in the sport “It’s great to see more girls playing tennis I’ll keep working to make sure tennis stays fun for everyone,” she said Josh and Finn agreed – they said they hope their experience will inspire others to get involved “You don’t have to be the best player to be a leader in tennis it’s about having a positive attitude and helping others,” Josh said Upwey South Tennis Club is also getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year The event will bring together past and present club members for a day of tennis It’s a great way to celebrate the club’s history and the role it’s played in shaping future leaders Local law enforcement has discovered drugs weapons and cash after searching a home in the Yarra Ranges last Friday Belgrave Police executed a search warrant at a residential address in Kooringal Rd Police said via Eyewatch that they discovered “allegedly trafficable amounts of MDMA cannabis and ketamine as well as in excess of $16000 cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.” Police also seized gel blasters and an imitation firearm Two people – 38 year old female and a 35 year old male from Upwey have been charged and will now face the Ringwood Magistrates Court on the 7 August Police stated on the Eyewatch post that those who are profiting from the illicit drug trade cause considerable harm “The ongoing social impacts can contribute to addiction drug-related road trauma and family violence These impacts cause long-term effects for both the individual and the wider community.” it said Public are asked that if they have information that may assist Police in their investigations submit an anonymous report at https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime/ Community Alert Sirens are used as part of Victoria’s warning system for all hazards – including flood They are only used when there is imminent threat to the community Short Siren (up to 90 seconds) – indicates a CFA Brigade has responded to an emergency incident nearby Extended Siren (5 minutes) – indicates that a current emergency has been identified in the local area and people should seek further information immediately The emergency incident will impact people in this area Sirens are not stand alone means of warning the community and do not replace the need for people to monitor the conditions around them A number of factors will limit who will hear the siren including adverse weather conditions They are currently active in the following localities: View more contacts The Facebook feed is contained within an iframe and as such is not available via keyboard access. 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Tweets by CFA_Updates We are currently experiencing issues with our embedded Twitter feed We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land Copyright 2025 CFA (Country Fire Authority) Drivers along the mad mile stretch of Burwood Highway between Upper Ferntree Gully and Upwey had to contend with a newly formed pothole in the left-hand lane on Saturday 30 November The rainy Saturday saw a number of road users hit with damages to their cars as they drove into Upwey with drivers taking to social media to warn others A representative from RACV media said on Saturday 30 November RACV Emergency Roadside Assist responded to five calls to address tyre-related damage “If you do hit a pothole and you’re concerned about potential damage to your vehicle pull over to a safe space and contact RACV Emergency Roadside Assist on 13 11 11 for assistance,” they said and in some cases can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle avoid sudden braking and dangerous swerving into oncoming traffic Keep firm control of the steering wheel – which can be jolted with impact,” RACV media “Some puddles can be hiding large potholes so avoid driving over puddles where possible The area was reported to Vic Roads and a crew was seen repairing the road on Saturday afternoon Two teenage males will face court today after being arrested in Ferntree Gully and Ringwood following a series of alleged burglaries and aggravated crimes in Upwey A 17 year old Ferntree Gully male and a 19 year old Bayswater male were arrested in Upwey at about 2.00am this morning It is alleged the two males attempted to enter a premises in Glenfern Rd where they left after being disturbed by the occupant The males have then attended an address in Mahoney St where they have stolen two sets of car keys from inside the premises and two vehicles from the property Police arriving at the address have observed the vehicles leaving Mahoney St Police apprehended one offender on Glenfern Rd Upper Ferntree Gully after he had collided with a roundabout The second offender was apprehended after having a collision in the Mullum Mullum Tunnel The 19 year old will front the Ringwood Magistrates Court later today The 17 year old will front the Ringwood Children’s Court on a later date Police are urging homeowners around the Glenfern Rd / Mahoney St area to check their vehicles as property located on the offenders indicates there may be unreported thefts from motor vehicles Ray WhiteNathan Mawby set one of the highest price for a midweek auction ahead of the AFL Grand Final with a $1.675m sale on Thursday night Melbourne home sellers have been warned they are risking the best chance of a sale by turning their backs on midweek auctions With just 246 homes put under the hammer across Victoria this week as the city’s property market took a back seat to the AFL Grand Final But across the past 12 months PropTrack data shows that figure was 86 per cent RELATED: Big mistake homehunters make that costs them thousands Huge change to how Aussies do real estate Melbourne spring selling: Suburbs where homes are selling faster than last year | PropTrack During the city’s protracted Covid-19 lockdowns the rise of online auctions and crowd capacity caps prompted a surge in vendors testing the market from Monday to Friday By 2022 the share of Melbourne’s auctions held on a Saturday had fallen to just 80 per cent PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty said the seeming return to Melbourne’s Saturday auction dominance wasn’t necessarily good news there might be more than one property they are considering buying or to bid on and so it can be a risk to have too many on the Saturday,” Ms Flaherty said “And people are more likely to have obligations on the weekends so it makes sense to have more weekday auctions.” A Wednesday night auction accompanied by free pizza helped 109 Renou Rd to a $1,341,500 sale in a week when the AFL Grand Final usually sidelines sales Ray White Cheltenham and 2023 Real Estate Institute of Victoria senior auctioneer of the year Greg Brydon said he was working to increase the number of auctions he called during the week “There’s less competition from other sellers and the buyers will typically go to the auction that comes first and the Saturday is a back up,” Mr Brydon said At a twilight Thursday auction for 17 O’Donnell Close a solid crowd turned out to watch the home go under the hammer Mr Brydon said it had flushed out a pair of bidders with negotiations continuing into the weekend Other agents are already hosting significant numbers of auctions during the week sold more than $100,000 above its reserve at a midweek auction Ray White Melton auctioneer Mark Mintoff’s firm sold eight of the 13 homes they put under the hammer on Wednesday night this week it equates to a 70 per cent clearance rate that tops the Melbourne-wide figure of about 60 per cent “On Saturday people are going to the footy or taking the kids to basketball and all the other agents are doing inspections … and people are working on the weekends now development site sold for $675,000 under the hammer on Wednesday evening Mr Mintoff said the home had a reserve of just $550,000 and with four bidders active the result showed how effective midweek sales could be “And it’s quite hard to sell development properties at the moment,” he said There were further strong results for 24 Fergus St which sold for $725,000 and about $15,000 above the owner’s expectations snared a sale at $460,000 after being advertised at $399,000-$438,000 earned its vendors $15,000 more than they had hoped when it went under the hammer on Wednesday Ms Flaherty added that while Melbourne was the nation’s auction capital it did not appear to be as adaptable as the rest of the nation with just 73 per cent of auctions held on a Saturday nationwide The economist said this likely hinted Sydneysiders were more open to selling on other days the data shows Thursday is the city’s next busiest day for auctions with about 7 per cent of all auctions nationwide scheduled on that day Sunday and Wednesday have switched between third and fourth while Monday has the least appeal — with just 1 per cent of auctions held then While there were just 246 auctions scheduled this week the numbers are expected to surge in the coming weeks with PropTrack anticipating almost 2500 across the coming fortnight Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: ‘They lied’: Teams turn on sisters, Block’s reputation questioned David Bromley: Famed artist’s former St Kilda home with custom mural listed for nearly $9m Footscray: Historic haunted 1900s-era house with its own ballroom is set to smash record third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Following in the footsteps of last year’s initiative the Transport Accident Commision (TAC) has set a $10,000 incentive for local sporting clubs to advocate for road safety The Upwey-Tecoma Football and Netball Club is once again partnering with the TAC and AFLV to champion road safety among their players and community Club secretary and captain of the Upwey-Tecoma senior women’s footy team Alex Bantock said “this year is the first year that we have had an u18s and u19s team” “It’s a new structure for the league and we recognise that there’s a lot of young people around the club that are new to driving and obviously there’s a big culture in footy of arriving at the game together and then celebrating afterwards so there’s a lot of work that needs to be done in that space,” Alex said “You look at the area and there’s a number of accidents that are involving young people so we need to encourage safe driving.” The TAC sends out a set of criteria that they want clubs to address “You start off looking at the criteria and make sure you are addressing it Part of our commitment from last year was continuing our messaging But there are new guidelines that have come out now on how to address the TAC program this year.” “10,000 is the maximum you can be allocated and basically it is a sliding scale from there on inwards,” Alex said “They’re looking for you to be a bit creative in different ways that you can get their messaging out there.” Last year the Upwey-Tecoma Football and Netball Club created a movement centred around the theme ‘who are you coming home alive for.’ “We put it out to the community and said ‘send us group photos of your reasons to arrive home alive.” The captain of the men’s football team got a photo with his children wearing his jumper saying ‘my reason to arrive alive’ So we got a lot of unexpected community engagement in it People taking photos of their pets in jumpers It was really lovely to see the community coming together over something like that the first thing you see when you go up the stairs is that we have printed out and framed all the photos that our community put together It’s the first thing that you see when you arrive at the club And it’s the very last thing that you see when you leave the club.” With each element of the criteria accounting for a monetary sum the Upwey-Tecoma club wants to go above and beyond “We tried to do something a bit more personal We didn’t really just want to tick the boxes we wanted to be something that became a part of our culture,” Alex said The TAC also sent out surveys on how to check vehicles to ensure that they are safe “We’re a community that unites young people together We need to be proactive for that sort of thing and one of things we are doing is encouraging vehicle safety.” “How to get home safely from a function which is a big thing Setting up designated drivers and looking after your mates and that sort of stuff,” Alex said “With the introduction of our 18s and 19s team it’s going to be focussed heavily on that particular age group just because they make up such a large portion of our community now.” statistics show that Red P-platers are seven times more likely to be injured or killed driving at night than fully licensed drivers “The whole idea of leaving the club on a Saturday evening It’s just that reminder as you get in the car “It’s pretty early on in the campaign at the moment but we are just really hoping to do something right for our community and protect our community in the best way that we can,” Alex said The Upwey-Tecoma club is looking to improve upon last year’s $6,800 and push for the full $10,000 “Obviously community clubs need that sort of thing and with the addition of the new teams we’re looking for new trainers new equipment and new resources to try and facilitate the five footy teams and the four netball teams We are running a full house so every bit counts.” TAC Executive General Manager of Community Jacqui Sampson said “One of the most effective ways to tackle road trauma is changing driving behaviours and attitudes and this program enables us to speak directly with communities through local footy and netball clubs.” “This program is particularly important in the Yarra Ranges region as we know footy and netball club players and volunteers travel hundreds of kilometres every year for games and many of those trips are on high-speed regional roads,” she said This year the TAC is prompting clubs to tackle the topic of speeding as one of the main catalysts for serious crashes “Low-level speeding is a major concern Going a few kilometres over won’t save much time but travelling five kilometres an hour less could mean the difference between death and avoiding a crash altogether,” Jacqui said “We’re calling on the leaders of Yarra Ranges clubs to be road safety ambassadors and help cultivate a culture that values road safety by leading by example.” Outer East Football Netball handed out its league awards for Premier Division Football and Netball as well as the Under 19s competition on Monday night OUTER EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL PREMIER DIVISION LEAGUE AWARDS A GRADE – Cailtin Cooke – Pakenham B GRADE – Sidney Kneebone – ROC C GRADE – Dorothy Maepu – Narre Warren D GRADE – Kealey Earney – Wandin U17 PREMIER – Oliver Stenhouse – Woori Yallock SENIORS – Zach Monkhorst – Woori Yallock RESERVES – Tanner Thomson – Officer U19s – William Stow Upwey – Tecoma A GRADE – Kaylah Loulanting – Emerald (739) B GRADE – Mercy Ioelu – Narre Warren (780) C GRADE – Alyssa Hunter – Narre Warren (520) D GRADE – Savannah Stodal – Narre Warren (441) U17 PREMIER – Kaelah O’Shannasey – ROC (476) SENIORS – Taylor Gibson Woori Yallock (64) RESERVES – Blair Sheppard Upwey Tecoma (52) MARK OF THE YEAR – Konner Allcott – Gembrook Cockatoo GOAL OF THE YEAR – Liam Odea – Woori Yallock BEST CONDUCTED PREMIER DIVISION CLUB – Olinda Ferny Creek 2024 Team of the Year – SENIOR FOOTBALL B Bayley Forbes Joshua Westra Joel Sarlo HB Jordan Stewart Matthew Scharenberg Chayce Black C Jordan Williams Daimon Kift Angus Smith Woori Yallock Mt Evelyn Woori Yallock HF Jordan Jaworski Aaron Mullett Lochlan Beecroft Narre Warren Woori Yallock Narre Warren FOLL Zach Monkhorst Samuel Raru Kurt Mutimer Woori Yallock Upwey Tecoma Narre Warren I/C Hayden Dwyer Patrick Bruzzese Ewan Wadsworth Callum Urquhart Narre Warren Wandin Emerald Mt Evelyn COACH – Steven Kidd – Narre Warren ASSISTANT COACH – Matt Cunningham – Monbulk 2024 Team of the Year – A-GRADE NETBALL ASSISTANT COACH Kaitlyn Black – Mt Evelyn Tarsha Collette (Woori Yallock) – 15 Dorothy Maepu (Narre Warren) – 35 votes Sophie Barker (Gembrook Cockatoo) – 20 Sarah Seddon (Olinda Ferny Creek) – 14 Michelle Johnson (Upwey Tecoma) – 22 Nicole Hampton (Gembrook Cockatoo) – 14 Oliver Stenhouse (Woori Yallock) – 28 votes Zach Monkhorst (Woori Yallock) – 26 votes Jake O’Sullivan (Gembrook Cockatoo) – 18 Jackson Hannagan (Upwey Tecoma) – 12 William Stow (Upwey Tecoma) – 26 votes ‘stress-reducing’ coffee: This haven in the hills is not your usual Melbourne cafeThe menu leans Indian but among the dhal and dosas there’s halloumi Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime It takes about one second to realise Nevedya is not like other cafes. In an era of blond ply, concrete and minimalism, this calm, healing haven expresses itself with hand-hewn timber tables, a shopping display of crystals and smudge sticks, and an outdoor seating area under a teepee with permaculture beds and acushioned nook for shoes-off dining. The menu is different, too, a not-easy-to-grasp traipse from fusion tapas to Indian brunches, vegan desserts and medicinal coffees. It’s hard to do the place justice in one visit. Before I got to the potato masala dosa thali on page four, I was thinking I’d return. After I turned to page six and found the sacred mushroom cacao elixir, I bookmarked the train timetable to Upwey. Potato masala dosa thali platter.Paul JeffersThis suburban hamlet is in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, 33 kilometres east of the city. Nevedya opened in 2018, the culmination of much dreaming and planning by chef Shakti Em Iyer and her partner Daniel Rigos, who manages the restaurant. Shakti started cooking in an ashram, first for the masses, and then as a personal chef, learning from Indian aunties how to coax the best from spices. Food-focused travels and a stint at now-defunct hippie restaurant Lentil As Anything helped hone the concept for Nevedya, which is a mostly daytime place that supports local organic farms. Kindness is also a founding principle: the kitchen is an adrenalin-free zone and employees have good working conditions. The food and drinks are evocative and colourful. You’ve had coffee before but have you had adaptogenic cardamom coffee elixir? I hadn’t either. This concoction includes ghee and ashwagandha, a herb said to reduce stress. I don’t know about that, but I do know I’d order this silky, heady beverage again because it tastes good. The cuisine leans Indian but is freewheeling: there’s halloumi with honey, cheddar-scrambled eggs and dolmades with tahini in among the dhal and dosas. Uttapam with coconut chutney.Paul JeffersI adored the uttapam, a fermented pancake topped with onion and served with excellent coconut chutney. The spirit bowl is a feel-good array of tofu, sweet potato, brown rice, kimchi and cucumber salad. There’s an attractive thali platter of the day’s favourite curries. Kichadi is a supremely comforting dish of rice and lentils fragrant with spices and curry leaves. Vegan cheesecake.Paul JeffersVegan sweets usually disappoint me because they are a coconut oil assault. Not here: the cashew cheesecake with a raw crust of macadamia and medjool dates is pleasing in texture and flavour. Nevedya means “sacred offering” in Sanskrit and I could feel the giving energy in this food. From the welcome to the spicing to the feeling you carry away, this heart-centred cafe is truly nourishing. Melbourne Indian hospitality royalty open new bigger, brighter bayside restaurantCafe Southall, the follow-up to beloved restaurant Bombay by Night, has moved to a bigger spot near the sea. And it’s sparked excitement in the kitchen. This new St Kilda wine bar isn’t afraid to break the rulesDark timbers and an inky palette are banished. Cocktails don’t come with names. And Sunday is the most indulgent day of the week. Melbourne icon review: This timeless cafe celebrates 25 years and seven million lattesWhen Wall Two 80 opened in 1998, almonds and oats were as yet unmilked and no one had a labradoodle. news and the hottest openings served to your inbox A house was destroyed in Upwey last night after fire engulfed the single-storey home photo by CFA Operations Officer Don Tomkins CFA firefighters were called to the scene in Glenfern Avenue just before 11pm and found the house well alight A teenager inside the house managed to escape with no injuries Another woman who lives at the house is unaccounted for at this time The fire was brought under control around 11.15pm Fire investigation will take place today (9 Oct) View all stories The Dandenong Ranges wasn’t spared from the flash flooding on Tuesday 25 October throughout the eastern suburbs with the border of Upwey and Tecoma reportedly experiencing almost 94.6 millimetres of rain A gauge off Glenfern Road is also believed to have received 133 millimetres of rain with locals taking to social media to share the footage of motorists driving past a flooded McNicol Road in Tecoma It is also understood some residents have experienced significant damage to homes and property with those affected reaching out to their insurance providers for information Emerald SES Unit Controller Ben Owen said crews received 34 calls for assistance in Upwey and Tecoma carpets and property damaged due to the flash flooding “The Ferny Creek creek which runs in behind Upwey Tecoma and Belgrave rose very quickly and inundated properties and houses” Mr Owen said they didn’t even have time to move their cars so they had all three cars that had water in the floor pan… “They didn’t have time to move the cars out of a ticket to a higher spot Emerald SES crews also attended a landslip at Upwey High School causing the closure of a footpath and blocking an entryway for school buses Mr Owen said there are concerns future landslips caused by saturated earth may cause traffic hazards and structure damage “The forecast over the long weekend (Monday so there’s going to be a heightened concern in that space again,” Mr Owen said Greater Dandenong and Nillumbik units also attended to assists Emerald SES crews for what Mr Owen called a one-in-four year flash flooding occurrence we think that we’re okay being in the hills and these little creeks and streams just can’t deal with it With more flash flooding over the Christmas period Mr Owen is reminding people to avoid any moving water on roads and stay well away from hazardous materials Yarra Ranges Council said on Wednesday 26 October several landslips impacting roads and access to properties had been reported “We’re working through a significant number of calls for assistance due to flash flooding drainage issues and road closures after heavy rainfall yesterday saw 65mm of rain landing in Lilydale at a rate as high as 120mm per hour,” the post read “If you have to travel it’s recommended that you check the latest emergency advice at www.emergency.vic.gov.au and the latest road conditions/closures at https://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/ before you leave overflowing drains and safety issues on roads can be reported to Council on 1300 368 333.” post office awaits new ownerAlesha Capone A 150-year old Upwey house that was previously home to a nine-hole golf is on the market The four-bedroom home at 265-269 Glenfern Rd is for sale with a $1.49m-$1.639m asking range the circa-1870 house named “Eloera” features gables a timber-panelled family room and a flagstone chimney believed to have been built from bricks brought over from England as a ship’s ballast RELATED: The suburbs where homes are still being snapped up quickly Outer northeast, east click as Melbourne’s most in-demand with buyers Melbourne suburbs where discounts, days on market give buyers chance to nab a deal there is a flagstone terrace with a built-in barbecue a salt chlorinated pool and an alfresco area framed by an ornamental grapevine canopy The garden boasts plants including azaleas fruit trees and an avenue of daffodils and silver birches Eloera was originally built in the 1860s as a farmhouse set upon 300 acres (121.4ha) of land A provincial style kitchen with an island breakfast bench and stainless-steel appliances including a Smeg 900mm induction oven and cooktop A vintage poster published when the house was for sale in 1937 It was owned by a man named Henry Morris who dubbed the site “View Hill Farm” a new owner renamed the property “Eloera” and transformed it into a guesthouse with a nine-hole golf course on the grounds The home had the area’s first telegraph installed and served as the local post office from 1923 Present-day owner Rodney Taylor described Eloera as “a bit Gothic and quite distinctive” He said new wings had been added to the original farmhouse’s entrance foyer kitchen and two upstairs bedrooms across the years whose great-grandfather was one of Upwey’s early selectors and councillors purchased Eloera more than a decade ago when he and wife Leah decided they would like a tree change ash and peppercorn trees and vegetable plots feature in the garden Mr Taylor said that they fell in love with Eloera’s period charms and researched its past while living there “The property has got a nice view towards the Dandenong Ranges and the other side looking to Lysterfield over the established gardens,” Mr Taylor said He said one of the upstairs bedrooms has a cupboard featuring a small door leading to the attic “sort of like a secret hidden room” Bell Real Estate Olinda agent Corinne Sukroo said Eloera was one of Upwey’s most historically significant houses Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Rail to sale: Circa-1917 Red Rattler train carriage a feature of Pakenham house Victoria’s real estate agents of influence turn Instagram reels into million-dollar deals King Charles must now pay rent to Prince William after death of Queen Elizabeth II The Upwey-Belgrave RSL has had an influx of support after announcing its potential closure by Anzac Day this year providing a glimmer of hope for the community When the RSL made the announcement in late December 2022 that the venue was scheduled to close its doors by April due to financial issues it was shared across social media with concerned reactions from locals; and around 70 people have offered to lend a hand according to RSL president Anthony Stewart “From the responses we’ve received through Facebook people are saying ‘we don’t want to see anything else there,'” RSL president Anthony Stewart said “Somebody’s even reached out on Facebook and said ‘Dan Andrews help them out…there really is support out there for the place.” Mr Stewart said he was expecting business for the RSL to pick up he said this was not the case despite multiple bookings over the Christmas period; and the tasks to keep the RSL running require more than the current core group of volunteers “The situation that was happening at that time quite possible [to close by ANZAC Day]…with the outreach that we’re getting from community you don’t know what sort of response you’re going to get,” Mr Stewart said comes with not knowing if the uptake of volunteers will last in the long term “Until we create a list of people ,where they can be [It’s] rather difficult to know moving forward how long it will go for.” the RSL has been offered bookkeeping assistance and six people with a Responsible Serving of Alcohol (RSA) certificate have offered to man the bar I’ve had Aaron Violi who’s the local member for Casey on the phone to me,” he said “We’re looking for front of house people we’ve had three bus drivers put their hands out say ‘yes we’ll drive the courtesy bus at the RSL.'” Mr Stewart said there are 14 groups including the local Labor party darts clubs and football clubs that use the Upwey-Belgrave RSL premises “I’d like to thank you everyone in the community for their support because we don’t know longevity wise what’s going to happen…people can keep volunteering or putting their hand up…we’re very appreciative.” If you’re looking to volunteer at Upwey-Belgrave RSL or Upwey-Belgrave RSL treasurer Mark Addison at mark@upwey.net Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Asbestos is feared to have been found on a freshly redeveloped school oval in Melbourne’s outer east after state railway corporation VicTrack used the site as a temporary car park An oval on the site that is home to both Upwey High School and Upwey Primary School was used as a construction site and spillover public car park for months last year while VicTrack built a multi-deck car park at nearby Belgrave train station The grounds of Upwey High School and Primary School are believed to be contaminated with asbestos The oval has just been rebuilt but remains under VicTrack’s control and is out of bounds until further notice Upwey High School assistant principal Debbie Martine told families on Tuesday night the oval was re-built to facilitate the construction of an overflow car park during delivery of the new multi-level car park at Belgrave station,” Martine said in a note to families “We have now been informed that potential asbestos-containing debris and other materials have recently been discovered on the oval.” Martine said access to the oval would continue to be restricted with a licensed occupational hygienist attending the site to test the materials we have chosen to keep affected areas fenced off from students while further testing is undertaken,” she wrote The car park at Belgrave station opened to commuters in December but the oval had not yet been returned to the government school The 640-space car park is part of the Allan government’s Car Parks for Commuters program and was VicTrack’s biggest construction project to date “The car park has been quite a challenging site with rail tracks on one side and a steep hill on the other we built the structure in stages,” VicTrack senior project manager Gurinder Singh said upon completion of the project in January The source of the suspected asbestos is not yet known The high school’s warning to the community comes after asbestos-contaminated mulch was found at dozens of public parks and schools in NSW and Queensland last month prompting a major testing and clean-up effort there that is expected to take several months to complete The contamination outbreak in NSW and Queensland prompted Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority to initiate inspections of local mulch providers “We are carrying out a targeted program of spot inspections to ensure Victorian mulch producers have effective systems in place to prevent contamination from occurring,” the EPA said “While we place strict conditions on industry and conduct regular inspections we take the potential risk of asbestos contamination very seriously.” The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here Asbestos is feared to have been found on a freshly redeveloped school oval in Melbourne\\u2019s outer east after state railway corporation VicTrack used the site as a temporary car park The oval has just been rebuilt but remains under VicTrack\\u2019s control and is out of bounds until further notice the oval was re-built to facilitate the construction of an overflow car park during delivery of the new multi-level car park at Belgrave station,\\u201D Martine said in a note to families \\u201CWe have now been informed that potential asbestos-containing debris and other materials have recently been discovered on the oval.\\u201D we have chosen to keep affected areas fenced off from students while further testing is undertaken,\\u201D she wrote The 640-space car park is part of the Allan government\\u2019s Car Parks for Commuters program and was VicTrack\\u2019s biggest construction project to date \\u201CThe car park has been quite a challenging site we built the structure in stages,\\u201D VicTrack senior project manager Gurinder Singh said upon completion of the project in January The high school\\u2019s warning to the community comes after asbestos-contaminated mulch was found at dozens of public parks and schools in NSW and Queensland last month The contamination outbreak in NSW and Queensland prompted Victoria\\u2019s Environment Protection Authority to initiate inspections of local mulch providers \\u201CWe are carrying out a targeted program of spot inspections to ensure Victorian mulch producers have effective systems in place to prevent contamination from occurring,\\u201D the EPA said \\u201CWhile we place strict conditions on industry and conduct regular inspections we take the potential risk of asbestos contamination very seriously.\\u201D Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used for construction in Australia before its phase-out from the late 1980s The Cancer Council says exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing cancers of the The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories Cop Shop actor Gil Tucker (left) celebrated his sixtieth birthday at 27 Wright Ave where singer Ronnie Charles (right) also often performed A leafy Upwey property where 250 guests celebrated iconic Cop Shop actor Gil Tucker’s birthday is on the market Named “Treehaven”, the four-bedroom house at 27 Wright Ave is set on 3240sq m of sprawling gardens including courtyards with a sunken barbecue pit and a Korean-style burning pit who has a PhD in biomedical science and spent 10 years working at Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine scientist Tony Eden and Professor Bayden Wood are selling after almost 40 years at Treehaven RELATED: Circa-1870s Upwey house that was home to post office awaits new owner Melbourne suburbs where discounts, days on market give buyers chance to nab a deal They have enjoyed several parties across the years including when they hosted the 60th birthday of their friend Tucker who portrayed Constable Roy Baker in the long-running Australian television show Cop Shop which aired between 1977-1984 One of the many alfresco entertaining areas Ronnie Charles and Brian Cadd performing in Adelaide “We had Paula Duncan and all the ‘60s luminaries who were part of his particular cohort at the event,” Dr Heraud said The open plan kitchen featuring European appliances karri inlaid bench tops and a large walk-in pantry The gardens are full of mostly-native plants and trees The spiral Jarrah staircase enclosed in a glass box made of forged glass Music identities often performed at the parties including Australian singer Ronnie Charles a former member of The Groop alongside Brian Cadd it was “all ‘70s” with “lots of brown” and purple shag pile carpet in one section They renovated and extended two-storey home with the aim of adding warmth and showcasing souvenirs from their travels across the world Food can be passed from the kitchen to outdoors Wrap balconies and travertine alfresco spaces look out onto the surrounding garden where he Bayden and Tony have planted about 1000 plants – inspiring the property’s name – and installed paths “We’ve done extensive work in the garden,” Dr Heraud said “You’re at tree height in the main room and it’s like a treehouse.” The house has hosted many parties across the years More than 70 bird species visit the garden Marcus Graham and Gil Tucker in the television show Good Guys Bad Guys The main living and meals area has “beautiful cathedral ceilings with clerestory windows which allow movement of air” Tiffany leadlight lamps and velvet curtains add to the cosiness Another eye-catching feature is the spiral Jarrah staircase enclosed in a glass box made of forged glass Dr Heraud said they commissioned Melbourne-based Toucan Forged Glass studio to design and manufacture the box “It was forged with a pattern that’s really lovely it adds some light into the stairwell and it’s beautiful,” he added Tiffany leadlight lamps and velvet curtains The main bedroom boasts a huge walk-in wardrobe and its own courtyard a rainwater tank capable of storing more than 80,000L an in-house bush fire sprinkler system and a separate studio with a balcony Treehaven is for sale with $1.19m-$1.29m asking range Bell Real Estate Olinda agent Corinne Sukroo has the listing MORE: One-of-a-kind invisible house listed for $26m in Joshua Tree Brutalist Murray Valley Private Hospital sells for close to $7m a thought out study pattern or strict regimen was not what got him a high score in his Year 12 results “I am sure the very best students had study calendars and scheduled tutor meetings and group homework clubs but I basically just committed to studying every day on whatever particular subject or project I currently had in my mind,” Isaac Sands-Smith who received an ATAR score of 96.80 earlier this month “I was really just hoping to get an 88 to get into my chosen degree at uni so a 96 plus is at the upper limits of what I could hope for really; more than enough to get me into [a] Bachelor of Science so more than enough to make me happy.” Isaac completed the subjects of Literature Physics and Psychology which he took as an accelerated Year 12 subject in Year 11 “Sometimes I procrastinated maths chapters I didn’t want to do or getting through a literature paper I should read but eventually always got around to them,” he said “Sometimes you just don’t want to do something that instant said he would “love” to jump from high school to university with his eyes set to Melbourne University of Monash University to complete his degree travel [etc] would possibly clarify life and career goals – which currently are directed but unfocused – and be fun I thought ‘why not just extend the schooling I have been enjoying and see where it takes me?” he said Isaac said he regularly interspersed his year with personal reading and music while honing in on schoolwork in the crunch before exams “Having a close group of friends in all of my classes was a huge benefit to me too; people that I count myself lucky to have been able to discuss While not everything can be a group effort in the end we all helped each other learn more than we would have alone,” he said “If I did not keep my mind regularly distracted and sometimes dissociated from homework then I would succumb to its extent and at least variation in what I did it was manageable Isaac said he got to work directly with teachers principals and the school as a whole in his role as School Captain and on the School Representative Council while organising programs “It was brilliant to work with the rest of the leadership team; the other school captains were brilliant I am lucky to be friends with them and get to see where they go next,” he said my Mum was less than impressed at the early rises and lifts she gave on the mornings when I helped out with the breakfast club.” my family supported me throughout my whole education Year 12 “isn’t easy,” but he hopes those coming into their final year of high school can look back and appreciate how much they achieved “Not even the best student’s life is solely school but you have to concurrently live your life too,” he said