The Local Voice News Magazine Winter 2017

The Local Voice
Community News Magazine for the Eastern Dandenong Ranges
Winter 2017 Issue 026
Inside...
Cover Story –
Belgrave Lantern
Festival 1, 12
Firewise Garden
Workshops 18
New Emerald
Senior Football
and Netball
Club Rooms 19
and much more....
Belgrave Lantern Festival
Photography by Ranges Academy of Performing Arts Inc.
The 11th Annual Lantern Parade will be held
on Saturday the 24th of June this year.
Though it is one of the coldest times of year,
the festival attracts around 10,000 people to
Belgrave to gather together and celebrate
as a community for Winter Solstice, the
longest night of the year.
Just as the years before, there will be
hundreds of lanterns parading up & down
the main street, accompanied by drummers,
dancers, local musicians and performers of
all sorts. There’s also a lineup of fabulous
performances and events before and after
the Parade, including the beautiful Parade
Village in Hayes Carpark, with big lantern Hayes Carpark, Blacksmith’s Way or along
teepees to gather and get cosy in, hot food Burwood Hwy in time!), but come early as
stalls from local traders, fire pits, and music there is entertainment from 4pm and a buzz
into the night.
in the street in anticipation.
The road is closed from 5:00pm – 7:30pm 2017’s Lantern Parade will be slightly
(so make sure your car is moved from different – it will be a FLAME FREE event.
Cover Story on page 12
www.thelocal.org.au

Contents:
Cover Story: Belgrave
Lantern Festival 1, 12
What’s On 2-3
Town Talk 4-6
Business 7
Health & Wellness 8-10
Education 10
Arts & Culture 11-13
Sustainability14-16
Food & Gardening16
Heritage17
Animals – Horses 18
Sport & Recreation 19
Back Cover: VASTROC Wrap-up20
CONTACT
team@thelocal.org.au
The Team
Phil Byers, Kirsty Hall, Dave Key,
Vivien Masala, Gülsen Özer, Bill Pell,
Lynda Roach, Lynne Trensky.
Guest Contributors
Chris A’Vard (Emerald Museum),
Brett Barker (CPBAG), Karen Bennetts,
Kathleen Brennan (Kathy Brennan
Counselling Services), Dr. Kurt Enzinger
(Elite Equine), Maree Fellows (Dandenong
Ranges Horse & Pony Club) Ben Kewish
(Hills Physiotherapy), Bec McBride (Bec’s
BeeHive), Dr. Chris Madden (Emerald
Medical Centre), Heike Reich (Mount
Burnett Observatory), Graham Simpson
(AWBEC), Dean Stuhldreier (Emerald
Football Netball Club), Gretel Taylor
(Kalorama Resident), Justine Walsh
(Belgrave Lantern Festival)
The Local Voice provides local business
& community groups the opportunity
to promote their services & connect
with their local community & visitors
to the Eastern Dandenong Ranges.
A product of the Eastern Dandenong
Ranges Association, The Local Voice is
produced solely by volunteers with all
advertising fees going to cover printing
costs only.
The Local Voice relies on advertising &
content provided by our local business
& community groups to exist. Please
support us to help promote your
services, news & events.
4,000 issues of The Local Voice are
produced quarterly and distributed
at key locations where there is high
foot traffic. Gembrook IGA, Gembrook
P.O., Puffing Billy Gembrook Station,
Cockatoo P.O., Avonsleigh General
Store, Emerald Woolworths, Emerald
Library, Emerald Newsagency, Eastern
Dandenong Ranges Visitor Centre,
Selby General Store, Belgrave Cameo,
Belgrave Woolworths, Kallista General
Store, Monbulk Community Centre,
Monbulk Woolworths, Yellingbo Store,
Upper Beaconsfield Community House
& selected cafés in the region.
We are always looking for people
interested to contribute to The Local
Voice. If you’d like to contribute to
articles in The Local Voice on a casual
or permanent basis please contact us at
team@thelocal.org.au
The opinions or views as expressed in
this news magazine are not necessarily
those held by members of The Local
Voice team.
www.thelocal.org.au
2
What’s On: Winter 2017
JUNE
2017
Friday June 9-11, 16-18, 23 & 24
Captain Smith by Gemco Players
The Gem Community Arts Centre
19 Kilvington Dv. Emerald
Time: 8pm, 3pm for Matinee sessions
on Jun 11 & Jun 18
Cost Adult $25, Concession $20,
Group 4+ $20 pp
5968 2844 gemcoplayers.org
Saturday June 23
The Independent Gembrook Spanish Night
79 Main St. Gembrook
Time: 5pm Cost: $58pp Drinks additional
www.theindependentgembrook.com.au
Saturday June 24
Belgrave Lantern Festival
Celebrating Winter Solstice
Hayes Car Park, Belgrave
Time: 5.30pm Enquiries: 9753 6234
Sunday June 25
Firewise Garden Workshop –
Presented by CFA & Landcare
Gembrook Community Centre
1 Beenak Rd. Gembrook
Time: 2-4pm Cost Free
JULY
2017
Saturday July 1 &
Sunday July 30
Firewise Garden Workshop –
Presented by CFA & Landcare
Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre
12-20 McBride St. Cockatoo
Time: Jul 1, 2-4pm, Jul 30 3-5pm Cost Free
Sunday July 2
“Heroes of the Past and Present”
The Gem Community Theatre
Kilvington Drive, Emerald
Times: 3pm & 6pm Cost Free/Voluntary donation
Sunday July 23
Firewise Garden Workshop –
Presented by CFA & Landcare
Gembrook Community Centre
1 Beenak Rd. Gembrook
Time: 2-4pm Cost Free
AUG
2017
Friday Aug 11
The Independent Gembrook Vegan Night
79 Main St. Gembrook
Bookings: 5968 1110
Time: 5pm Cost: $49pp Drinks additional
www.theindependentgembrook.com.au
PUFFING
BILLY
1 Old Monbulk Rd Belgrave
9757 0700 puffingbilly.com.au
Daily
Steam & Cuisine Luncheon
12pm $98.50pp 3 course meal $75pp
Natter Platter
Friday Jun 2 &
Monday Aug 5
Steam & Cuisine
Time: 7.30pm $99pp
Saturday Jun 3
Commissioner’s Train
Time: 8.00am $99pp Adult Under 14 $69
Saturday Jun 3,
Friday Jun 30,
Saturday Jul 15,
Saturday Jul 29,
Saturday Aug 12 &
Saturday Aug 26
Murder Mystery
Time: 7.00pm $112pp
Saturday Jun 17
Rhythm & Blues
Time: 7.00pm $99pp
Saturday Jun 24,
Saturday Jul 1,
Friday Jul 22
Dine & Dance
Time: 7.00pm $93pp
.
THE
MARKETS
BELGRAVE BIG DREAMS
MARKET
Hayes Car Park, Blacksmiths Way, Belgrave
Sun 11 June | Sun 9 July | Sun 13 Aug
Time 9am-2pm
COCKATOO COUNTRY
MARKET
Alma Treloar Reserve
77 Pakenham Rd, Cockatoo
Sat 3 June | Sat 1 July | Sat 5 Aug
Time 8.30am-1.30pm
EMERALD GROW IT BAKE IT
MAKE IT MARKET
Emerald Mechanics Hall
400 Belgrave-Gembrook Road, Emerald
Sun 4 June | Sun 2 July | Sun 6 Aug
Time 10am-3pm
EMERALD MARKET
Cnr Main St & Kilvington Dve, Emerald
Sun 18 June | Sun 16 July | Sun 20 Aug
Time 9am-3pm
HILLS ART MARKET
1 Memorial Drive,
behind Emerald Puffing Billy station
Sat 10 June | Sat 8 July | Sat 12 Aug
Time 9am-3pm
GEMBROOK MARKET
Gembrook Community Centre
4 Gembrook Rd, Gembrook
Sun 25 June | Sun 23 July | Sun 27 Aug
Time 9am-2pm
KALLISTA MARKET
2 Church Street, Kallista
Sat 3 June | Sat 1 July | Sat 5 Aug
Time 9am-1pm
MONBULK MARKET
Top end – Main St, Gembrook
Sat 10 June | Sat 8 July | Sat 12 Aug
Time 8am-1pm

For local business and
attractions in the region visit
dandenongsandranges.com.au
Cockatoo
Ready2Go
Ramps Up
for Winter
‘Winter
Favourites’
at The
Independent,
Gembrook
All day Wednesday-Friday
(except Friday dinner)
Enjoy the local’s favourites of
croquette, calamari, gnocchi,
chorizo and broccoli and
one house beverage
for $38 per person.
Bookings are essential on 5968 1110
or via email hola@theindependentgembrook.com.au
Please note The Independent will be closed for the Winter break
from 16 July, reopening at 5.30pm on 2 August.
Cockatoo Ready2Go is a unique resilience
program that assists people living
independently who, due to age, health
issues or lack of transport,
are unable to protect
themselves adequately
from the effects of
heatwaves, storms or other
weather emergencies.
Ready2Go allows participants to
remain in the community they love with
the assistance of a trained volunteer, who
checks on them to ensure they are safe in
extreme weather conditions. They are also
offered relocation ahead of such conditions
when appropriate.
This year Cockatoo Ready2Go is extending
its support during the winter months when
extreme weather events often lead to power
outages and concerns regarding dealing
with the impacts of storm or wind damage.
Correction:
Off Road Cycling is
Not Permitted in
Sherbrooke Forest
In the Summer 2016/17 edition (Issue
23) of The Local Voice, we printed a
composite photo of a bike rider cycling
on a wide track through a forested area
with the caption “Off road cycling in
Sherbrooke Forest”.
Thanks to one of our readers, we were
pulled up by this description and made
aware that off road cycling in Sherbrooke
Forest is actually not permitted.
What’s On: Winter 2017 3
Do you know someone who ...
• Lives alone
• Doesn’t have transport
• Needs support during extreme weather
• Wants to maintain their independence?
Cockatoo Ready2Go may be able to assist
them, so please pass on this information
about our program.
Are you someone who ...
• Wants to help others
• Is available in extreme weather
conditions
• Has a car with comprehensive insurance
• Is willing to do training?
Cockatoo Ready2Go is seeking additional
volunteers and would be happy to chat with
you further.
Contact us via the Echo office
Ph: 5968 4460, or Lead Volunteer
Sue Wales Ph: 0407 365 711. You can also
email: ready2go@echo.org.au
There are various reasons for no
cycling policies within Australian State
Forests and National Parks. As well
as negatively impacting on protected
wildlife (scaring Lyrebirds for example)
and degrading environmentally
sensitive habitat areas through erosion
caused by accelerating track damage,
cycling can also create a danger to
walkers as many forest tracks are quite
narrow.
The Local Voice apologises for this
instance and wishes to advise our
readers that greater care will be taken
in future to better research the captions
under our images prior to publication.
Follow us on Facebook at Gembrook IGA.

4 Town Talk
The Star
of Emerald
By Lynne Trensky
The Star of Emerald – Turn an old heirloom
into a new piece of art or buy something
precious to keep.
The Star of Emerald is shining brightly,
quickly becoming popular with locals and
visitors to the Dandenong Ranges.
Behind the new venture is jeweller and
entrepreneur Mark Dabrowski who moved
to the Hills two years ago and says he is not
going anywhere.
The old ANZ Bank building provides the
perfect architecture, light and backdrop
to showcase the eclectic mix of antique
furnishings, heirloom antique jewellery,
watches, clocks, locally handmade jewellery,
clothing and a selection of artworks.
Mark drew on the aspirations of our own
“Emerald Starbush” to name his retail
business. He explained the Starbush
Gembrook
Woman
Makes
Snow
Globes for
the Stars
by Lynne Trensky
In the last four years Leah Andrews, a
Gembrook resident, has become something of
a “go-to” for Hollywood stars wanting to give
a unique gift.
Her company Queen Of Snow Globes has
produced custom snow globes for highprofile
celebrities in the United States
including Steve Martin, Quentin Tarantino,
Channing Tatum and Kurt Russell, as
well as cast and crew gifts for Matilda
The Musical, for Netflix, and for other
companies and associations worldwide.
Leah Andrews
branding that appears on our Emerald
Shire signs was the first thing he noticed
when he moved to the area and the verse
behind the little white flower echoes the
sentiment, providing the perfect analogy
behind every piece created or on display for
sale at The Star of Emerald.
“I’m a little white flower beautiful and rare,
my future depends on how much you care,
La La Land Globe
“It’s so surprising to be producing these
pieces for such high profile people” says
Leah. “But for me, I’m more excited about
the fact that what I do makes people smile.
There’s something special about snow
globes that makes people happy. I love that
I get to do that every day.”
Although most of her business so far has
been from companies based in the USA,
Leah is currently working on a new, topsecret
and high profile project for an
Australian Blu-ray and DVD release
in May. She hopes it’s the first of many
more projects with Australian companies,
associations and institutions.
“Having produced so many amazing pieces
for schools, theatres, tribes and historic
buildings in the States, I’d definitely love
to work with more Australian companies”,
says Leah. “I’m really hoping that 2017 is
the start of more home-grown snow globes!”
Check out Leah’s unique gallery of work at
www.QueenOfSnowGlobes.com
talk about me often so people know, so I
can keep giving you a pretty show”.
Just like our indigenous and rare Emerald
Starbush, the Star of Emerald’s purpose
is to create and sell precious jewellery and
collectables that are treated as precious,
protected and kept for generations by the
people who own or buy them.
Take the time to drop into the The Star of
Emerald where visitors are welcome to revel
Marloi
Thai
Restaurant
by Lynne Trensky
Marloi Thai Restaurant recently opened
in Emerald. Residing in the old premises
that was Café Marte, you might recognise
owners Daniel and Nort, who became
well known for their Thai Food sold at the
Emerald monthly market under ‘Sawadee’.
Frequently being told by market goers they
Photography by Kirsty Hall
in the comforting surrounds, take time out
to enjoy a cup of tea from the Tea Bar, chat
and reminisce.
The Star of Emerald also specialises in
watch and clock repairs, jewellery resizing
and offer classes in jewellery making,
painting, sculpturing and glass blowing.
Open 10am-6pm daily at 325 Belgrave-
Gembrook Rd, Emerald. 0457 287 250
should open a restaurant, Daniel and Nort
opened Marloi Thai in February this year.
Their authentic menu draws on Nort’s
heritage born in Khon Khan in Central
North Thailand and experience running
several restaurants in Thailand. Nort said
the name Marloi Thai was hand-picked for
her by a Buddhist Monk meaning come
goodness, pleasantness, joy, happiness,
wealth etc for all. Daniel and Nort draw on
this inspiration to prepare food as closely
as possible to how Thai people have been
eating it for many generations.
The food on the menu comes from all
four regions of Thailand and offers a
good selection of vegetarian, meat and
seafood dishes to choose from dining in or
take-away.
Marloi Thai was a supporter of the PAVE
festival and one of four stages/venues used to
showcase local musical talent. They sponsor
the “Now & Then” music series through our
local radio station 3MDR and look forward
to collaborating with other community
groups to benefit the community.
Marloi Thai is open every day except
Tuesday from 5pm to 10pm and is
fully licenced.
They are located at 348 Belgrave Gembrook
Rd. Bookings 5968 4125 https://www.
facebook.com/MarloiThai/
Photography by Kirsty Hall
Photography by Kirsty Hall

Town Talk 5
The Novel Nook
The Novel Nook’s concept was born out of the
journey of raising my two children. I think
increasingly these days it is getting harder
to get young children off screens and into
pages of books as the demands for gaming,
tablets and social media are only growing.
We wanted to create a space where kids could
come and get involved in literature, with
a beautiful café for people to have space to
socialise or read. The café is currently in
operation and we are hoping to finalise our
reading rooms in the near future.
The Café
Our café has a play area with a large
communal table so that children can play
while parents / carers can supervise them
while enjoying a coffee. The main café area
has plenty of room to move with lovely
views from the large windows. We have
both inside and outside lounge areas which
are quieter spaces with lounge suites, coffee
tables, bookshelves and even a rocking chair
for those looking to relax. Our balcony
seating is a beautiful spot to sit amongst the
pot plants and trees to get some fresh air
and watch the world go by.
Our menu is still evolving and is generally
café style food. From our weekday breakfast
combo deals of a large coffee and egg and
bacon wrap with caramelised onion relish,
to lunchtime focaccias, Ruben’s sandwiches
and quiches. We have a large selection of
cakes, sweet treats and scones. We focus
on catering for most types of dietary
requirements and provide vegan, gluten
free and dairy free options. We’ve also
recently started our hot breakfast options
on weekends from 8am till 12pm where you
can order chef prepared meals off the menu
including our big breakfast, eggs benedict,
pancakes and even a vegan big breakfast.
The Reading Rooms
The vision for the reading rooms is to create
a special space to host book clubs for kids.
The weekly gatherings will be after school
Avonsleigh General Store
by Lynne Trensky
The Avonsleigh General Store is the only
store in Avonsleigh and is located on the
corner of Macclesfield Road and Belgrave
Gembrook Road. The store has seen many
changes since first opening circa 1940-45
when Avonsleigh was originally known as
East Emerald, but was renamed in 1911
after a guesthouse that was built to the east
of Emerald in about 1900.
The Khaddage family bought the General
Store in 2003. Sam, a skilled migrant of
25 years ran his own farm in Lebanon
before coming to Australia. A digital
technician by trade, Sam ran his first Milk
Bar from 1996 to 2000 in Mitcham before
moving to the Hills. They lived in the back
of the Avonsleigh shop, built as a house
for the first 3 years. Since then the store
has undergone three renovations to evolve
and meet customer’s needs with a fourth
currently near completion.
Back in 2003 the store was a post office
outlet, newsagent and you could purchase
a small selection of grocery items and hire
video cassettes. While video cassettes and
DVDs have long gone, customers can still
post and buy papers and magazines as well
as an extensive range of everyday products,
brewed coffee, hot snack foods and is a
Liquor Savers Outlet.
new Café/Restaurant is being built for the
community and people visiting the Hills
to enjoy. The Café/Restaurant will seat up
to 64 guests providing indoor and covered
outdoor dining. The front area will include
table seating, a bar area and offer a takeaway
service. Two children’s party rooms that can
each house up to 20 children will occupy the
middle section of the restaurant with access
to an outside playground and separate
family table seating. An additional 13 car
spaces will be at the back of shop.
Anyone who already visits the Avonsleigh
General Store will know how welcoming
and friendly Sam and his staff are. Sam
hours where kids will discuss sections of
books they’ve just read, highlight favourite
parts and also workshop concepts in the
books. We are not educational as such but
will be focusing on encouraging children to
use their imaginations and also to promote
the social aspect of working through books
together. Naturally if there are children who
are struggling with their reading there will
be a great amount of encouragement and
their skills will naturally improve during
Photography by Kirsty Hall
the process, but our main heart is to see
kids sparking a lifelong love with literature.
There will be different age groups running
on different nights of the week from young
primary right through to secondary school
aged kids and even study groups for VCE
English literature books. Eventually we
will also expand to hosting writer and
illustrators’ workshops run by professionals
in these fields.
The Community
When looking for a space that could house
both sides of the business together, we
found ‘the old Bailey Road fish and chip
shop’ and fell in love. All the bones where
there but it was in a nearly derelict state
after standing idle for over 7 years. Over the
past year we have put a lot of our heart and
soul into bringing it back to life. We are also
very excited to be a part of the wonderful
community here at Cockatoo and have
already felt a lot of support from locals.
Our hope is to have as many employees
from the community as possible, with our 2
main café staff and our chef all living within
walking distance to the shop. We can’t wait
to see what the next few years bring to this
beautiful town and we’re proud to play our
part and work together with other local
businesses to put Cockatoo on the map.
You can find our business on Facebook
under The Novel Nook
Our current shop hours are:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Friday: 6am-3pm
Saturday: 8am-3pm
Sunday: 8am-2pm
Old Photo of the Avonsleigh General Store (above) and Recent Photo (below).
Photography by Kirsty Hall
Rooms connected but separate to the store
on the left hand side were converted into
food premises and operated as “Sally’s
Café” in 2004 and later as Si Si Pizza which
closed last year. This part of the premises
has now been demolished and a brand
employs up to eight young local people
and will be able to offer additional job
opportunities once the Café/Restaurant
opens. If the Café/Restaurant is anything
like the quality and service you already
get at the General Store we won’t be
disappointed. I’m hoping we might even
be spoilt with some Lebanese cuisine as
well. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
The Avonsleigh General Store is open
7 days a week. 7am-9.30pm Monday to
Saturday and 8am-9.30pm on Sundays.

6
Town Talk
Great Success! Regional
World’s Longest Lunch –
Gembrook
By Lynne Trensky
150 diners wined and dined at the historic
Gembrook railway station as part of
25th year Melbourne Food & Wine
Festival celebration.
The Regional World’s Longest Lunch
was a collaboration with The Independent
Gembrook Restaurant and Puffing Billy,
featuring local produce to the region.
The theme ‘A Chef, A Train & A Lemon
Tree’ highlighted the locally grown and
humble lemon from the nearby orchards
of ‘J&D Fromhold’. Lemons were
incorporated in a five course banquet.
Chef Mauro Callegari and his team
prepared the menu for the guests sitting at
the grand table on a custom-built barbecue
made from railway tracks.
The luncheon began at The Independent
Restaurant with Melbourne Gin Company
cocktails and canapés. Mountain Harvest
Potato farmers created an entrance of
potatoes and farming machinery that
greeted guests as they passed the open air
made barbeque and outdoor kitchen to the
long table. Wines were supplied locally
from ‘One Block’ and ‘La Maison de Ong’.
Guests were treated to performances by
Tango dancers and a visit from Puffing
Billy, as they enjoyed Mauro’s ‘asado’ beef
ribs, chimichurri and lemon trifle.
The Regional World’s Longest Lunch also
provided 10 Hospitality students from
Chisholm Institute the opportunity to
buddy up with The Independent team to
experience first-hand the set-up and service
that goes behind running an event of
this stature.
Photography by Phil Byers
Cockatoo Station Reconstruction Commences
Photography by Kirsty Hall
By Brett Barker
The project to rebuild the Cockatoo Railway
Station has been approved by Puffing Billy
Railway who have advised that funding
for the materials and other costs can now
be allocated by them. In conjunction with
volunteers from the Cockatoo community
providing labour and other skills it is
intended to rebuild the station as it stood in
the 1920s, making only minimal changes to
the original design.
Work has started on signalling installations
required and the site is now pegged out in
line with a survey of the station in 1924 as a
guide for the new plans.
The original impetus to rebuild the station
commenced in June 2014 when Andrew
Rayment, Puffing Billy Volunteer for over
40 years and involved in a variety of senior
committee roles, conducted a presentation
for the Cockatoo Township Committee
on the possible future of the station. As a
result a group of locals set up the “Cockatoo
Puffing Billy Appreciation Group” Page
on Facebook, now with 832 followers, to
promote Puffing Billy’s future association
with the town. Monthly meetings were
then held with a plan formulated to rebuild
the station as it stood in the 1920s and
internally house Cockatoo and PB history,
relying solely on donated money, materials
and labour. Due to the overwhelming
local interest and support shown for the
project, Puffing Billy has now allocated
the funding for the materials required.
The latest meeting of volunteers was held at
AWBEC. Puffing Billy provided a sausage
sizzle and presentations were made by
Bret Butler, Manager, Infrastructure
Projects Puffing Billy Railway, who will
oversee the project and Di Gadsden,
Manager, Human Services Puffing Billy
Railway who will oversee the volunteer
team. Volunteers will now be advised
directly of future working days.
The plans pictured are the most recent
concept drawings by local Architect James
Cron and are still subject to council and
heritage approval. The final façade is
intended to be a close reproduction of how
it was in 1924.
It is believed that on completion Cockatoo
will be the only station in Australia built
entirely by local residents.
Volunteers are still needed particularly
from suitably qualified tradespeople.
The more labour that can be provided by
volunteers the more funds will be available
for the construction and beautification
of the station. Enquiries to Brett Barker
0421 219 899.

Town Talk 7
Business 7
Better Business Meetings
by Karen Bennetts
Do your business meetings go on and on, with
speakers rambling, or diverting the meeting
from its core purpose? Or do they start and
finish on time, with mutual respect between
participants and effective decision-making
that leads to desired outcomes?
Productive meetings are essential to all
businesses, no matter how large or small.
Meetings serve to exchange information,
pool resources, foster innovation, make
decisions and create clear accountability for
action. Meetings may be internal with staff
and management or external with clients,
consultants, government representatives,
investors or others.
Many effective meetings feature preparation
and planning. Some good questions to ask
are: Is a meeting really needed? Could it wait
a week or a month? What is the meeting’s
purpose? Do we have all the resources we
need to have a successful meeting?
Once the need for a meeting is clear, an
agenda can communicates key information
to all participants, including: location,
start and finish time, attendees, meeting
chair, meeting purpose, priority topics to
be covered, how much time for each topic,
what outcomes are anticipated and what
decisions need to be made.
The environment in which the meeting
is to be held should ideally be carefully
considered. Preparing a space that is
attractive and uncluttered with ample room
fosters a positive mood for participants.
Aspects such as the amount of light, fresh air,
kitchen and bathroom facilities, audiovisual
equipment, digital access, size and shape of
table, and seating arrangements can all have
an impact on the success of the meeting.
It is helpful if a person is assigned to take
minutes in business meetings. These are
a clear but brief summary of the meeting
including decisions taken and actions
required, with expected completion dates if
appropriate. Minutes are best distributed to
all participants within two or three days of
the meeting.
During the meeting, the Chair is responsible
for managing the meeting process to ensure
discussion proceeds smoothly. A brief
opening speech sets the tone and restates
the purpose of the meeting. The Chair
can assist by ensuring that discussion
is aligned with the agenda and flows
smoothly, and checking individual speakers
do not dominate, waste time or interrupt
others. Expect participants to make
positive comments or put their criticisms
respectfully and constructively. Participants
who are hesitant to give their opinions can
be encouraged and any minority opinions
deserve an equal hearing. Any personal
attacks are best stopped immediately with
firm guidelines.
At the end of the meeting, it is helpful if
the Chair summarises the discussion and
confirms any decision taken. Participants
should have an understanding of what
actions will be taken next and by whom.
Finishing the meeting well means
participants will leave with a sense of
accomplishment and clarity about any
overflow items that remain unresolved.
Transforming your meetings from time
wasters to effective examples of leadership
and communication takes much practice,
but can be a worthwhile investment for
any business.
Photography by Kirsty Hall
Cardinia Ranges Ward Councillor’s Report
On 11 May the Annual Mayoral Volunteers
Reception was held as part of the National
Volunteers Week. It is a wonderful
opportunity to thank so many residents who
all make a valuable contribution to their
communities. This event is always a highlight
of the year and is attended by so many, but we
acknowledge that not all our volunteers can
attend, so we would like to extend our thanks
and gratitude to all those volunteers who
weren’t able to attend as well. Without our
volunteers our communities would be very
different places to live.
The winner of the 2017 Stan Henwood
award was also announced on the night.
Six incredible volunteers were nominated
for the award recognising their passion
and dedication to their communities.
We congratulated them all for their
achievement, especially local nominees
Sharyn Thomas from Gembrook and Brian
Hannan from Emerald.
Hills Hub Update
We are in an exciting phase of the Hills Hub
project. Further consultation sessions have
occurred during May to progress the final
design brief for the hub. We are confident
that the project will be out to tender in
the later part of 2017 with an early 2018
date set for construction to commence.
We again thank all those stakeholders
involved and the wider Ranges Ward
community for their continued interest,
patience and support. We look forward to
delivering a Hills Hub that will support
many community groups and initiatives
for decades to come.
Consultation Opportunity
During June and July, the Draft Waste
and Resource Recovery Strategy 2018–27
will be released for community feedback.
This strategy identifies opportunities to
increase and improve recycling practices
which will help to decrease the garbage
sent to landfill. It covers a number of
areas including the residential kerbside
collection; the bi-annual hard and green
waste collection; public litter and illegally
dumped rubbish. A number of initiatives
are identified within the strategy and it is
important that we receive feedback from
residents on this important strategy. The
draft will be available online as well as the
Civic Centre in Officer. If you would like a
hard copy sent to you please call Customer
Service on 1300 787 624.
Cr Leticia Wilmot
E: l.wilmot@cardinia.vic.gov.au
M: 0427 135 879
F: facebook.com/LeticiaWilmot.Ranges
Cr Brett Owen
E: b.owen@cardinia.vic.gov.au
M:0418 993 379
F: facebook.com/Brett Owen – Ranges
Cr Jeff Springfield
E: j.springfield@cardinia.vic.gov.au
M: 0427 383 810
F: facebook.com/CrJeffSpringfield

8
Health & Wellness
Beating the
winter
blues
and
flu
Ankle Sprains
Dr Chris Madden
Emerald Medical Centre
Ankle injuries can range from a mild
ligament strain to ligament rupture and
fractured bone. A ‘sprain’ is the most common
type of ankle injury, caused by twisting
or ‘inversion’ rolling of the ankle whilst
running, jumping or walking on uneven
ground.
Symptoms of ankle sprains vary in severity
but usually include pain, swelling, bruising,
difficulty walking and putting weight on
through a physiotherapist. The aim of such
a recovery regime aims to slowly improve
strength and flexibility has several phases:
1) Inflammatory Control. RICE
should be employed for at least the
first week, which means Rest from
exertional activities, Ice (20 mins every
2-4 hours), Compression (bandage or
taping) and Elevation. There may be
a need for immobilization by using a
boot or crutches. Anti-inflammatory
medications should also be used.
2) Range of Motion Exercises. Scar tissue
in the ligament affects the movements
of the ankle joint so exercises should be
by Lynda Roach
Photography by Kirsty Hall
OK, I have to admit that getting an extra
hour’s sleep when the clocks went back was a
real bonus. What this also means, though, is
winter is not far away (although a couple of
days recently seem to think it’s already here!).
I love autumn with the cooler days to get
out into the garden and the wonderful
colours we have here in the hills but it
does also mean we’ll shortly start to spend
more time indoors, out of the sun and in
close proximity to those who may be a bit
sniffly. While this can be offset to a degree
with a hot chocolate and a good book, for
some people, the lack of sun can be a real
problem as they have something called
seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you
have SAD then you suffer severe depression
as the days get darker and shorter. A lesser
version of this is the winter blues. You may
want to eat more comfort food (see hot
chocolate above), have difficulty getting
motivated and hit a bit of a general slump.
Unfortunately, the change in diet and close
proximity to people with colds and flu
mean we will probably also catch it as our
immune system suffers as well.
All is not lost though. There are a few
simple things we can do to offset this.
Limit your intake of sugary foods –
tempting as it is to snuggle up on the sofa
with a chocolate bar on a cold night you’re
doing your immune system no good. Sugar
impairs the function of white blood cells
– the ones that fight the infection. It also
affects your blood glucose giving you a bit
of a boost but then dropping your energy
levels so you feel even less motivated.
Get out and about in our beautiful hills –
recent research has found that the Japanese
habit of “forest bathing” reduces the stress
hormones, boosts immunity and improves
feeling of wellbeing. Rug up and just take a
walk, around 30-45 minutes, taking in the
sights and sounds around you. The results
last from a week to up to a month after.
Check your overall diet as you adjust from
summer foods. There are some things that
will really boost your immune system and
your mood and are still healthy and tasty!
Mood boosters:
• Bananas;
• Oats;
• Oily fish – sardines, tuna, salmon;
• Turkey, lean red meat;
• Corn;
• Leafy green vegetables – lightly cooked;
• Eggs; and
• Dark chocolate (70%+) – yes, it is
allowed but preferably dark and not
too much.
Immune boosters:
• Berries, citrus fruits, kiwifruit;
• Red peppers;
• Garlic/onion/leeks;
• Leafy green vegetables – lightly cooked;
• Almonds;
• Green tea;
• Sunflower seeds and
• Poultry.
So start your day with a lovely oat porridge
with bananas and berries, lunch on chicken
soup full of vegetables and end the day with
some salmon or tuna with stir fried leafy
greens. Wash it all down with a green tea
and some nuts and fruit for snacks and
you’ll come through winter with a smile on
your face and all ready for spring.
the foot. The pain, which is usually on the
outside (lateral) part of the ankle, is caused
by inflammation from overstretching of the
ligaments that hold the ankle joint together.
More severe grades of strain can partially
or completely tear the ligament. The most
common ligament affected is the ‘anterior
talo-fibular ligament’.
Whilst simple mild strains resolve within
two weeks with simple measures at home,
more severe cases should be assessed by a
GP or physiotherapist to ensure there are
no complications like rupture of ligament,
fracture or high sprain which require
specialist management. In this case imaging
may be necessary.
The prognosis of a sprain depends on
the severity; however pain, swelling and
instability of the joint can persist for many
weeks in more critical sprains, necessitating
a more comprehensive rehabilitation regime
tailored to slowly improving this range.
Towel stretches improve flexibility, toe
walking and step ups improve strength
and ankle circling can improve mobility.
3) Balance Exercises. An injured ankle
needs to re-learn joint position sense, or
‘proprioception’ to avoid re-injury and to
boost strength. Wobble board exercises
are employed or simple measures such
as drawing the alphabet with the foot
can help this as well as boost mobility.
4) Return to activity. A slow reintroduction
to previous activities
would be tailored to a person, such as a
return to sport and exercise.
How to tape an ankle: https://www.
physioadvisor.com.au/health/tapingtechniques-lower-body/ankle/
Ankle exercises: https://uhs.berkeley.edu/
sites/default/files/anklesprains.pdf
Turn your back on pain – a look
at chiropractic
By Lynda Roach
Winter is here and those cold days have a
habit of reminding us of all our aches and
pains! The cold weather seems to be able to
find that spot that you sprained or damaged
a while ago but forgot all about during
summer. As you start to look at what you
can do to help it can get confusing with
all that’s on offer. We have a thriving
wellness industry in the hills with many
options but today we’ll specifically take a look
at chiropractic.
I spoke to Matthew Warren, a local
chiropractor at Instinctive Chiropractic
based in Emerald, to get some background
on chiropractic adjustments.
Me: Matthew, what is chiropractic?
Matthew: Chiropractic is focused on the
relationship between the musculoskeletal
system (especially the spine) and the
nervous system. Our core focus is the
nervous system which is the brain, spinal
cord, the delicate spinal nerves which exit
the spine between small holes between the
vertebrae, and the peripheral nerves that
branch out supplying not only the muscles,
Continued page 9...

Dr. Matthew Warren
joints and ligaments but all of the cells,
tissues and organs in the body.
Me: What conditions respond best to
chiropractic adjustments?
Matthew: Most clients present to
chiropractic offices for musculoskeletal
problems like neck pain, back pain
and headaches which chiropractic has
been shown to be very effective in the
management of. However, chiropractors
recognise that that the communication
between brain and the tissues and organs
may be compromised by pressure on the
nerves as they exit the spine and we focus on
maintaining this communication between
the brain and the body by maintaining
proper spinal alignment and motion. This
is why conditions which may not seem
immediately associated with spine may
respond favourably to chiropractic care.
It’s also why chiropractors will perform
chiropractic, orthopaedic and neurological
assessments on our clients.
Me: What does it take to become a
chiropractor?
Matthew: Chiropractic in Australia is a
five year university degree. All chiropractors
have to be government registered and
government regulated. A chiropractor’s
education never stops. All chiropractors
must meet minimum continuing education
requirements, completing professional
development courses and seminars to
upgrade and improve their skills.
Me: Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Matthew: I’ve been practicing for
19 years and was inspired by my father’s
own spinal problems to become a
chiropractor. I completed my degree at
RMIT and worked in Western Australia
for several years before returning and
setting up a practice in North Melbourne.
I moved to Emerald six years ago and now
divide my time between North Melbourne
and Emerald practices. My wife was
raised in Gembrook and we wanted
to grow our children in this beautiful,
country environment.
So now you know a little bit more about
chiropractic you can decide if it might be
the thing for those pesky winter aches
and pains.
Health & Wellness 9
Postural Epidemic – Do our Kids need Tablets?
When I first started as a physiotherapist
the main focus of office ergonomics and
home computer use was how to optimise the
posture of someone who had to sit at a desk
for long periods. Typically this involved
using a computer, since our whole lives
now revolve around these magnificent
devices, and the problem is that with each
new software development that replaces
an external function, more and more of our
life can be managed from the same chair.
When computers first arrived, we used
them for calculations, word processing,
and the occasional game. Then we started
using them for accounting, presentations,
photo editing, graphics, organisers. The
biggest change came with the advent of
the internet, as now our experience of the
computer became “non-local”, meaning
that it could be used for communication,
education, encyclopaediation, and the
richness and usefulness of the experience
increased exponentially. Now, instead of
going to the library and looking up books to
find out the information needed for an exam
or assignment or project, we just sit. Now,
instead of writing a letter, walking to the
post-office and posting a letter, we just sit.
Now instead of going to a coffee shop, park or
other public place to catch up, share photos or
a meal – we just sit.
So we all know that sitting too long is bad
for our health. It is bad because we are not
moving, and therefore we are not using
energy. This is compounded by our energydense
diet, resulting in storing too much
energy around our organs, waist, blood
vessels etc. Not only this, but the pressure
on our spine is absoluteley NOT what it
evolved to cope with. As a hunter-gatherer
species, we are best suited to be constantly
“on-the-move” with only brief periods of
rest to eat and sleep. This sedentary lifestyle
results in overstretched ligaments,
weakened supporting muscles, excessive
pressure on discs which in turn can protrude
into the space our nerves should travel to
our legs and arms, potentially causing pain,
weakness and numbness.
Due to our increasing dependence on
computers to facilitate our lives, this
“sedentary disease” has become an epidemic.
It is bad enough that we have had to
endure the hours of sitting for interactions
with our desk top PCs, but then someone
went and invented the laptop! Now we
can take our slave-master, our ball-andchain
with us when we are away from
home, meaning that we can be dependent
on it while travelling, in hotels, in trains,
planes, parks, and elsewhere. The real
problem with laptop PCs is that now
instead of being able to achieve a measure
of ergonomic improvement by fitting our
screen height, chair height, foot rest, wrist
rest, document holder and keyboard to
a person’s own biometric specifications,
NOW we are stuck with the screen and
keyboard being attached to each other. This
forces us to look down at the screen, or
reach up to a keyboard. The former causes
neck strain, the latter causes shoulder, elbow
or wrist strain.
For years we went along miserably chained to
our laptops getting more and more frequent
headaches, neck problems, shoulder pain,
carpal tunnel syndrome etc but getting ever
more productive. So long as we can find a
Wi-Fi hotspot or plug into a LAN, we’re
in business! These remained predominantly
the tool of the executive, professional, or
business person – until the rest of the world
realised they could play World of Warcraft
or Minecraft or whatever the latest craft
was – while on the move. Or that their kids
could do homework on the kitchen table.
Now here’s where the problem starts.
Kids are hard enough to convince to sit
properly at the best of times. It’s inherently
un-cool to sit with a straight back and
good posture (and since I was the tallest
kid in school my whole life, this was even
more acute). Now add to this the load of
doing homework, surfing the net, emailing,
youtubing, minecrafting, snapchatting,
instagramming, and all of the other essential
parts of a modern whipper-snapper’s life
and think of what that might be doing to
their long term spinal development.
But it gets worse.
Computers are bad. Laptops are worse.
Tablets are the devil.
Think of the postural issues with sitting
at a computer too long. They are bad, but
manageable with proper set up.
Think of the postural issues with using
a lap top – they are unavoidably bad and
use of these devices should be minimised,
certainly regular breaks should be take
and extension exercise, postural exercise,
stretching or just any old position change
would be better than craning one’s neck to
look down at the screen.
Think of the postural issues with using a
phone or tablet. The screen and keyboard
are the same thing. Look at you husband,
wife, child or friend right now looking
at their phone or tablet and the angle of
their neck, it is plain to see that increased
reliance on these devices will cause far
worse problems long term than using
either computers or lap-tops – and these
devices are already causing epidemic health
problems in our community.
And now our very own Department of
Education is rolling out education on tablet
style devices for the most vulnerable part of
our society – kids.
I’m not saying we can stop it. These
devices are incredibly useful in motivating
kids to learn, engage, retain, and socialise,
but we need to be much more worried
about how long they are spending on a
tablet. Adults can cope with working at a
laptop for an hour at a time, then need to
break to straighten their back, and reverse
the pressure on their discs, joints and
nerves. Tablets cause much more extreme
postural load and should only be used for
30 minutes before breaks and postural
exercises are required.
We are already seeing a significant rise
in the incidence of kids with neck pain
and headaches.
The simplest postural exercises is to stand
against a wall, pretend your head is a
balloon and you spine is a string, flattening
the lower, middle and upper backs against
the wall while lengthening the spine as
long as possible. This should be held for
60 seconds. This improves the endurance
of the muscles that support the spine and
helps reverse the forward-curve of the spine
caused by using tablets.
If your child is complaining of neck pain,
headaches or back pain, think about their
screen time at school and at home, and think
about whether they need to be assessed
by a professional if these small changes
don’t help.
By Ben Kewish
Hills Physiotherapy Clinics

10 Health & Wellness
Managing Unexpected Changes
Life consists of continual change. Sometimes
life is relatively easy and like a river on
its journey, it ebbs and flows naturally,
twisting and turning, navigating its way
with a gentle rhythm. The river may at
times become blocked with debris; however,
the river adjusts and continues to flow;
always moving forward, establishing new
temporary or permanent pathways and
reaching its destination. We are like the
river, navigating our path in life, making
adjustments as necessary, keeping up the pace
and the rhythm and flow, always moving
forward, mindful of what is obstructing our
path and reaching our destination.
Sometimes life’s changes present
unexpected difficulties and we feel out of
our depth; blindsided, confused, bewildered
and fighting to save ourselves, our sanity
and our situation. It is like we are in the
eye of the storm, aware that we are being
battered and bruised, shaken and broken;
frantically trying to hold on with every
ounce of strength we have within. It is in
the aftermath we are left to pick up the
pieces of our shattered selves, slowly
coming to terms with the fact that our
hopes, dreams, desires and life goals have
collided with the reality of our situation.
We need to either continue down the same
10 Education
path, hoping for success, or learn how to
manage unexpected, unwanted change.
Change is unavoidable and a very real
aspect of everyday life. In nature we see the
changing of the seasons, the tide, sunrise
and the sunset and the unpredictable and
extreme elements of our weather. Animals
adjust to change, needing to find new places
to find food, adjust their habits to cater to
the environment and changing weather
conditions; mindful and responsive to
danger. When we are born we are completely
dependent on our mother for everything.
Over time we grow; we learn, we change; we
move through our milestones from infancy
to adulthood, mastering competencies
along the way and by the time we reach
adulthood we are somewhat prepared for
life and yet somehow not prepared at all.
Our core beliefs and values are formed
from influences of our family of origin
and as we approach adulthood we exhibit
a host of personal qualities, integrity, goals,
hopes, dreams, plans and expectations.
We are brought up to believe that living
life in a certain manner will produce
happy, positive outcomes and we use this
as our inner compass to guide us towards
our goals and the challenges of life. We
believe that hard work, sacrifice, integrity,
decency, determination and goal setting
will be rewarded by positive outcomes
and then we surround these beliefs with
attachment of emotions. We imagine
how we will feel when we achieve our
goals and our mind positively responds
to these images. We expect that life will
support us and deliver rewarding results.
Sometimes, life has other plans and we
learn the difficult lesson that no matter how
hard we try; no matter how much we invest
of ourselves emotionally, behaviourally,
mentally, spiritually our desired outcome
will not come to fruition. It is human nature
to hold on tight to what we want or need;
to dig our heels in and to explore every
avenue that may deliver us what we truly
desire; however, when life is closing these
doors and putting continual road blocks
in our path we face the full reality of our
situation and the enormous pain and
heartache of loss.
It is a necessary step to feel and express
the pain; to feel the heartache and regret;
to mourn the loss and move through the
emotions. We must give ourselves time to
process and adjust to the change; to move
through the disbelief and the hurt; to
expand our thinking based on the evidence
of our situation, looking at the bigger
picture with great clarity and opening up
to new pathways for solution, based on the
reality of “what is”. It is only after we have
moved through these necessary stages that
we reach full awareness and acceptance.
After this process we can redirect our
energies and establish a new direction with
greater understanding of ourselves, others
and life. It takes great courage to let go
of a dream and create and embrace a new
one. “The secret of change is to focus all of
your energy, not on fighting the old, but on
building the new”. Socrates said.
Imagine you are a tree standing in the
forest. Your trunk is deeply rooted in the
soil below, safe and strong. Nature supports
you and your roots stretch out deep into the
earth below and your roots grounded in the
earth hold your values, beliefs and integrity.
Your leaves stretch up to the expansive sky
and bend and sway with the forces of nature
and the conditions of life. Just like the tree,
you can be true to your values and beliefs,
deeply rooted in your integrity, yet bend and
sway to the changes of life. In doing so, you
discover a more adaptable way to weather
the storms and to bask in the sunshine. You
discover how to live in harmony with the
laws of nature, congruent to your values and
adaptable to life.
Kathy Brennan
Counsellor, Supervisor,
Child Educator,
Mothercraft Nurse
Meet Fida
Paramedic, community volunteer.
Victoria is a special place. We have
freedoms many only dream of, like the
ability to be yourself. And when you’ve got
something to say, you can, because one law
respects us alland one law protects us all.
We’re all Victorian and it’s up to all
of us to contribute and belong.
See her story and share yours.
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

Arts & Culture
11
Heroes of the Past
and Present
by John Shiells
Former Emerald resident Katrina Welsby is
a young woman keen to meet the challenges
of her world.
Katrina’s mother June, a staunch supporter
of her daughter’s endeavours, says Katrina’s
so often out and about these days that
home life is often interrupted. Home is
presently in Montrose where Katrina lives
with her parents and a pair of pampered
family dogs.
While Katrina has long been a role model
and keen advocate for opportunities for
the differently abled, she is also caught
up with regular literacy and numeracy
workshops and cooking classes. While
still living in Emerald, Katrina helped
out with the Emerald Community House
(ECH) Childcare programme. During
this time ECH helped facilitate a course
of study to enable Katrina to qualify as a
child-care assistant.
Katrina’s activity of first choice however
remains firmly focused on the performing
arts – a passion sparked by her experience
over 14 years of learning theatre craft
with the Dandenong based Fusion
Theatre group under the direction of
Dr. Jo Raphael from the Faculty of Drama
and Education at Deakin University.
Katrina’s mum June lends her daughter
support behind the scenes as hard working
Fusion Theatre hon. secretary.
Recently, well travelled Thespis theatre
director Stathis (Steven) Grapsas, who
shares Dr. Raphael’s mission for making
the theatre experience accessible for
all, recruited Katrina and two fellow
performers from her Fusion Theatre
ensemble to work at putting together a
collaborative theatre piece exploring how
the heroic impulse from Classical Greece
is reflected in society today.
Now Katrina is looking forward to the
first Sunday in July when she revisits
Emerald to give residents the opportunity
to see her at work on stage alongside her
drama colleagues Alex Litsoudis and
Andy McKinnon, at the Gem Performing
Arts Centre in Kilvington Drive.
Their short but arresting group devised
presentation is aptly entitled Heroes
of the Past and Present. With astute
direction from Steven, cast members
have each chosen a pair of heroes for
dramatic presentation.
Katrina herself appears as the gutsy
Iphigena who sacrifices her life to appease
the goddess Artemis in order to secure fair
winds for Greek troops to sail off to battle.
Katrina also channels the courageous
Malala Yousafzai’s speech to the United
Nations delivered following Malala’s
escape and later recovery when shot by
the Taliban.
Alex Litsoudis, eldest of the three players
and a founding member of Fusion Theatre,
shows how Syrian youngster Aylan
Kurdi’s boyhood may have unfolded had
he not drowned at such a young age in his
family’s efforts to seek asylum. Alex also
gives a stirring performance with his take
on the age-old Ajax as a modern soldier
with a conscience.
Youngest cast member, Andy McKinnon,
adapts a monologue from Aeschylus
portraying a Persian messenger delivering
news on war casualties. Later, with
support from fellow cast members, Andy
depicts the disparity between routine
reporting of recent refugee lives lost
through drowning around the island of
Lampedusa, and the tragedy as related by
survivor Kebrat.
Coming off the back of a successful
premiere season of Heroes of the Past and
Present staged at the Hellenic Museum
in the city in April, director Grapsas says
he’s keen for his players to experience
the challenge of putting their acting
talents to the test in different theatre
environments. The Gem with resident
Gemco Players and a company brief to put
the ‘community’ into theatre experience,
seems a good fit.
Grapsas, of Greek extraction, spent a
decade as resident director at Hydrama
Theatre and Arts Centre on the Greek
island of Hydra. In the meantime
various projects designed to offer the
marginalized members of society a voice
have taken him all across the world.
In keeping with the director’s philosophy
for making the theatre experience
accessible, no formal admission charges
for Heroes of the Past and Present
will be asked for on the day, with the
expectation that satisfied theatregoers
may opt to make a voluntary
contribution towards production costs
and assist Steven in his outreach projects.
Summary: Heroes of the Past and
Present – a short presentation in six
episodes exploring aspects of what
constitutes heroism today with reference
to Greek myth and theatrical traditions.
Director: Stathis Grapsas
Cast: Andy McKinnon,
Katrina Welsby, Alex Listsoudis.
Venue: The Gem Community Theatre,
Kilvington Drive, Emerald
Date: Sunday 2 July 2017
Performance Times: 3pm and
6pm.
Admission: Free / Voluntary
donations to cover production
costs appreciated
Further Information:
Stathis Grapsas/Linkedin
www..stathisgrapsas.com
fusiontheatre.com.au
hellenic.org.au/heroes-of-the-past-present

12
Arts & Culture
... cover story continues
Unique artists set to delight and were
rewarded with friendly crowds, engaged,
appreciative and responsive to their work.
With over 40 events across the week, the
program was as diverse as it was accessible
and whether people saw themselves as “arts
lovers” or not, there was, to use the cliché,
truly something for everyone.
It’s hard to pick highlights to review but
here are just a few:
Belgrave
Lantern
Festival
Desperately Seeking Somewhere
This powerful piece exploring many views
and issues regarding asylum seekers viewed
by various characters was performed
by the GEMCO youth and reportedly
brought some audience members to tears.
Initially created in 2012 by GEMCO
Intermediates, the script was updated and
cast members both new and old did a
brilliant job delivering two energetic, heartfelt
performances on the same day. Thanks
to Cat Gemmell for flawless writing,
directing and organising the brilliant show
with her support crew.
Let’s go Fly a Kite!
If you happened to be walking around
Pepi’s land on 8 April, and if you looked
up, you might have noticed a giant Easter
Bunny flying in the sky, or a dragon, tiger,
pig (yes, they can) or any other number of
giant kites. It was a windy, sunny Saturday
and the scores of people who joined in
exclaimed that it was the perfect day for
kite flying. Suggestions to form a kite flying
club began and everyone hoped the giant
kites will return next year. If you missed out,
stay tuned.
D. Clarke Photography
Each year local artists run workshops so
that people can learn to build their own
lanterns, providing everything you need
to build simple, intermediate or advanced
lanterns – including lighting! If you can’t
make it along to one of the weekend
workshops, you can always find electric
candles, LED light strips or fairy lights
to add to your own beautiful lanterns you
make at home.
The upcoming Lantern Making
Workshops are as follows:
• Saturday 3 June, 10am-1pm
Simple and Intermediate;
• Sunday 4 June, 10am-2pm
Advanced;
• Saturday 5 June, 10am-1pm;
Back to the burrow
By Phil Byers
What a whirlwind yet wonderful thing when
the PAVE festival commences in Emerald
each year. The lasting effects may not always
tangible, or consciously acknowledged until
the dust settles and contemplative thoughts
begin to surface. Looking at the fantastic
wombat illustration from this year’s theme
drawn outside the post office is a lovely
reminder as we wait for a new season to
arrive.
The positive buzz produced for those
working behind the scenes is often a
mixture of different pressures and surges
of ideas, adrenaline pumping to get it right
for the artists and audiences. Taking time
to relax whenever free from the hard work
of coordinating events to simply enjoy the
entertainment amongst the crowd provides
a much needed reward.
• Sunday 11 June, 10am-
1pmFree community workshop
(making super simple gorgeous
balloon lanterns); and
• Saturday 17 June, 10am-1pm
Simple and Intermediate.
If you are a community group with a big
idea, you can book a team of experienced
lantern artists to come and run a 3-4 hour
workshop at reasonable rates to make sure
the lantern you want in the parade is just
as spectacular as your group desires!
Check the website for detailed
descriptions of workshops. Workshops
can be booked by visiting the trybooking
page at https://www.trybooking.
com/274703
The unique and special opportunities this
festival offers for community cohesion
helps to create a sense of belonging
and acceptance. Building confidence in
each other, overcoming vulnerabilities,
making contributions and remaining open
to learning is achieved by developing
authentic relationships, compromise and
sharing visions. Sometimes being knocked
down but building resilience to get back up
and fight to the end. Sounds dramatic; it’s
just an arts festival, but for those involved
organising we know it’s so much more.
Engaging different people, understanding
methods, style, backgrounds all mesh to
expose the underlying truth of motivations
to collaborate and create such rich,
meaningful community connections. A
highlight is always the involvement from
committed volunteers, working in harmony
to coordinate logistics and provide the
This year we are looking for you, our
wonderful community, to come forward
and volunteer to help the festival happen,
contributing in whatever ways you are able
to! There are many different roles and the
more volunteers we have, the smoother
everything runs. Fill in the volunteer
form on our website!
For more information aout volunteering,
workshops and any other aspect of the 11th
Annual Lantern Parade you can check
out the website (www.belgravelanterns.
org), the facebook page (www.facebook.
com/belgravelanterns/) or email us at
celebrate@belgravelanterns.org.
Justine Walsh,
Event Organiser for
Belgrave Lantern Festival
smiling face of PAVE’s mission to the
world.
Starting with a fantastic FunFest, this year’s
PAVE festival was wonderfully successful
in attracting an audience to such a wide
range of different events and provided a
celebration of ideas and experiences. The
new layout of FunFest this year added to its
success, making it easier to navigate crowds,
take a moment to sit, eat and walk leisurely
to see everything on offer.
The mix of performers, creative ideas, rich
array of food and positive vibes combined
to create an energy that outlasted the long
day. So much so, that on Sunday night, after
FunFest, the Tidal Moon concert, featuring
the beautiful sounds of Jose Garcia and
Barbara Jeffrey was standing room only, The
Hive Wine Bar was still buzzing until late
and Marloi Thai kicked on with music and
delicious food.
Venetian Masquerade Ball
History was made in the beautiful Emerald
Hall when it was transformed into a
French 16th Century theme with no
detail left untended. With the heavy rain
storm that hit just prior to the ball, we
could well have been in Venice and almost
needed a gondolier to reach the venue. But
once inside we soon warmed up with the
wonderful sounds of The SKA Vendors.
Young and old couldn’t keep off the dance
floor with their infectious beat. Some poetic
licence used perhaps, but there’s no rule that
we found that says you can’t have a ska band
with a Scottish front man play at a Venetian
Masquerade Ball. Great fun and cherished
memories for everyone who attended.
PAVE Monsters
Riding on the popularity of Pokemon Go,
the creative kids at Sherbrooke Community
School made and hid monsters all around
the township of Emerald to be found over
the week of PAVE. People enjoyed checking
in to say they’d found a monster hidden in
the bushes, under a railing or some other
nook or cranny. A simple idea, brought to
fruition can sometimes create the most
delightful, old fashioned fun.
PAVE is now taking expressions of interest
for putting on an event, playing in the
music program or volunteering for next
year’s festivals. FunFest 2018 is on Sunday
8 April and the PAVE Festival will run
8-15 April, 2018.
www.pave.org.au Enquiries 5968 3881.
Read this article online to
view festival photos.

Arts & Culture
13
Explore and experience Dance X
By Gretel Taylor
Resident of Kalorama
Dance X is an exhibition that playfully
encourages people of all ages to move: creating
opportunities through which viewers are
enticed to ‘dance without realising they are
dancing’ (as artist Viv Rogis describes it).
Viv Rogis, Gareth Hart and Gülsen Özer,
the three lead artists on this exciting new
project, evolved their curatorial concept
in a spirit of pooling their dance, spatial
and technological knowledge to create an
installation specifically for Yarra Ranges
Regional Museum. Whilst most of the works
combine dance and technology, including
360-degree HD video, X-Box and gaming
technologies, and other works employ
‘low-fi’ materials such as cardboard boxes
and flash cards, the six installations that
comprise Dance X encourage experiential
participation and (gently) impel the viewer/
participant to move.
The three renowned dance artists are
all residents of the area and have shared
interests in place-based research and
practice, as well as in motivating community
participation. The link to environments of
the Yarra Ranges, as well as the inclusion
of other local dancers in some of the works,
layered upon the architectural site of the
Museum in Lilydale, gives the exhibition
a distinctly local connection, yet it also
extends beyond these place associations.
Viv Rogis has created a choreographic
game Chance or Choice, (the title/ concept
referencing modern dance innovator Merce
Cunningham) whereby she invited local
dance artists to be photographed arcing
and stretching in relation to their favourite
trees of the area, demonstrating potential
choreographic shapes on flash cards. The
Dance X program includes a series of
workshops by Rogis, an established dance
teacher, facilitating children of various
age brackets (from 3 years old!) to create
their own dances using her game, which
originated from her explorations with
young children in her dance classes.
Gareth Hart’s 360-degree interactive film
‘this is all a little bit queer, isn’t it?’ features
six performance artists enacting distinct
and bizarre acts in the stunning Redwood
Forest outside of Warburton. Viewers
explore this dynamic between real and
surreal, self and other, via iPads in a ‘choose
your own adventure’ experience, through
which they themselves are inadvertently
moving in relation to the projected image.
Many people still think of dance as
something spectacular or virtuosic, but
Gülsen Özer’s installations draw attention
to – and offer the viewer an experience of
– the close-range engagement with one’s
own body and surroundings that a dancer’s
sensibility entails. A recorded reading of
Steve Paxton’s 1970s ‘small dance’ which
brings intimate focus to one’s eye socket
and movement of the base of the skull,
accompanies a neon sign reminding the
viewer/ participant that You are Here.
In Duet, as the viewer’s walking within a
5-metre space relates to a video image of
a dancer who appears to imitate your speed
and proximity, we realise that this pedestrian
action is potential choreography. Duet
communicates an expanded understanding
of dance and affirms to participant/ viewers
that any body can dance.
Özer’s Virtual Dance Class brings the
viewer/participant into an immersive
experience of a youth ballet class (of local
dance students taught by Viv Rogis), via
a headset and google pixel phone, whilst
the viewer is physically stationed at a
ballet barre. Like You are Here and Duet,
Özer has directed and designed this
work using simple, formal aesthetics, for
clarity of experience and reception, given
that in the 360-degree format, ‘you can’t
direct the audience’s gaze’. In contrast
to the lack of, or ‘exploded’ ‘frame’ of the
360-degree surround video, Rogis’ In and
out of the frame offers an alternative to
the technological interfaces (which can be
mysteriously mind-blowing to un-techno
types, such as the author!) This work
invites viewers/participants’ exploration of
ways of seeing through the familiar form
of cardboard boxes: breaking down the
processes of perception and selection that
are under way in the transition from live
performance to a filmic point of view.
Dance and the gallery or museum are
not new bedfellows, but this sort of
experimental, participatory adventure is a
rare treat in the outer suburban/ regional
zone we inhabit. Dance X promises to be
fun and welcoming, with ‘user-friendliness’
a major aspect of the project. Having
predominantly worked in dance contexts,
creating installations in which the viewer
becomes the performer was a particular
challenge and opportunity for these artists.
The project, supported by a Yarra Ranges
Council Arts and Heritage grant, has
enabled Özer, Hart and Rogis to explore
and expand their dance practices through
the interaction with particular technologies
and the theme of viewer participation.
The three agree that the duration of the
exhibition (three months) will also allow
them to witness how participants engage
with the works, which may inform further
iterations and future explorations.
Open Wed 10 May-Sun 30 July, 2017
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum,
35 Castella Street, Lilydale
FREE ENTRY Open 7 days 10am-4pm
(except public holidays).
CHILDREN’S
ART CLASSES
Starting in Term 2, Aukje Van Vark will teach
children about colours, composition, space,
materials, techniques and art history,
as well encouraging them to explore their
own creativity by what moves them.
GRADE 1 TO GRADE 4
Mondays 4.00PM–5.30PM
GRADE 5 TO YEAR 8
Wednesdays 4.00PM–5.30PM
$200 PER TERM
($150 for EAS members)
(Pro-rata rates if joining after term starts)
BOOKINGS: PHONE 0413 005 246
CLASSES@EMERALDARTSSOCIETY.COM.AU
Cnr Anne & Church Sts, Emerald
emeraldartssociety.com.au

14
Sustainability
Saving the Emerald Lake Park Feral Bee Hive
By Bec McBride
Becs Beehive
BEFORE
was prudent to have it removed.
The nest was located directly on the track
where thousands of people would pass.
The vibrations, noise
and movement
of so many could
irritate the colony
and the safety of all
participants in the
race was a priority.
Thankfully Ranger
Steve and his team
were well aware of
the importance bees
play in our life and wanted them removed
safely to ensure their survival so this is
where Mat and I came in.
We used our purpose built bee vacuum
which gently sucks the bees into a vented
chamber from the nest. Once the majority
“Handle a book as
a bee does a flower,
extract its sweetness
but do not damage it.”
― John Muir
so we quickly placed her in the queen
cage for safety. We were thrilled knowing
this colony had a higher rate of survival
as we had found the
Queen. Once finished
we washed down the
cavity walls with soapy
water to remove the
pheromones of the
colony to discourage
any other stray swarms
in the area. The tree
lopper was scheduled
to arrive first thing the
next day to drop it into the forest.
Once home, we released the bees into a new
beehive consisting of some honeycomb,
empty comb and we also included their
brood from their nest along with the Queen
Bee. It’s important to use their brood and
AFTER
If you have ever walked along the Nobelius
track in Emerald Lake Park next to the
Puffing Billy railway line you may have
noticed the resident bee hive nestled within
the dead hollow of a tree. Providing
pollination to the neighbouring gardens
surrounding the area where the bees would
forage to find their nectar and pollen. This
colony was a result of a swarm from the
previous spring and obviously found this
hollow appealing to set up home.
Once the bees begin building honeycombs
they become classified as a ‘Feral Hive’.
Effectively they had decided to
permanently reside in the new location or
didn’t find anywhere else suitable at the
time and needed to plant their roots. Once
established it becomes more difficult for a
beekeeper to remove the nests and often the
bees can become defensive whilst protecting
their home.
However, this bee nest seemed quite
contented, neither posing a threat to any
lone passer-by or the Puffing Billy tourists.
There were however some concerns with the
upcoming Great Train Race scheduled at
the end of April 2017. Ranger Steve from
Emerald Lake Park and his team decided it
of them were removed we proceeded to
cut out the comb, one by one, taking care
to keep it together without squashing the
structure of their architecture.
The nest consisted of approximately eight
long comb sheets with the majority of the
outside combs completely empty. There was
a little brood (baby bees developing within
the cells) and a small amount of honey
and nectar. We were fortunate enough to
spot the queen during the cutting process
Bee vacuum in use
replace it back into their hive as it holds
a unique colony pheromone (smell) and
encourages them to stay. After this process
we must sit back and wait in hope they are
contented and don’t abscond.
Thankfully they were grateful to have a
warm and secure environment to live in
as the next day we had scout bees coming
and going and re-orientating themselves
to their new environment. I also fed them
some sugar syrup and pollen to reduce
their stress levels from the big move and
ensure that they would have the best chance
of survival.
It’s now been two weeks since and all seems
to be going well. The worker bees are out
and about happily flying and foraging
on the sunnier days and I am continually
keeping the food up to them so that
they have sufficient stores for winter.
I opened up the hive and found the queen,
saw some fresh eggs and am confident this
colony will survive.
A big shout out to Ranger Steve and his
team for taking the initiative in calling me
and not a pest exterminator to help save
the bees. We are all grateful (including the
bees) – Thank you.
So the moral of this story is if you do find
a bee nest (feral colony) or a swarm of bees
clustered on a branch then contact me – Becs
BeeHive on 0409 850 735 for assistance. I
have a team of beekeepers around the area
and beyond who can help safely remove
them. Please keep this in mind once spring
arrives as it’s typically known as the “Swarm
Season”. As soon as a swarm is noticed,
please report it immediately to ensure it
doesn’t set up residence in a tree hollow, eve
or wall cavity of your home. It’s better to
catch a swarm as it’s chances of survival are
far greater. Many thanks.
Showing the proximity of the wild bee hive to the Puffing Billy track

Sustainability 15
Honeycomb & Beeswax – Nature’s masterpiece of construction
“The bee is the only creature which has
come to us unchanged from Paradise &
she gathers the wax for sacred services”
- German Proverb
As the days become shorter and the nights
get colder our Queen bee limits her egg
laying capacity so the colony numbers
decrease. Their work is done for the season
and now they prepare to bunker down for
the winter cold and nectar dearth. Once any
surplus honey has been removed and the
beekeeping season has finished, we need to
ensure our colonies are in good health, with
sufficient stores and packed down snugly for
winter. Beekeepers therefore don’t open up
our beehives under 18°C in fear we would
chill the brood and possibly kill the colony.
This usually is a time in our beekeeping
calendar when we take the opportunity
to render down the old beeswax to make
candles, creams and other delights from the
bi-products of the hive.
Honey comb beeswax is a masterpiece
in architecture with each hexagonal cell
capable of adapting its functions to either
store nectar, honey or pollen and raises
bees. But not all bees can make the sacred
wax – it all comes with the maturation of a
specific gland relevant to their set task based
on their age. The wax glands of honey bees
The next Emerald Region Bee Club meeting
is Wednesday 28 June, 7.30pm at the
Emerald Community House Church Hall.
All welcome!
winter months. Keep in touch with the
availability of these products by connecting
with Becs BeeHive on Facebook. Coming
soon online and in store.
Bee Wow Facts on Beeswax
A remarkable creation of nature
• It takes 5kg of honey to produce
1kg of wax
• The honeycomb can hold eight
times its weight in honey
• 10,000 bees produce 500g of wax
in 3 days
• Each wax-building bee produces one
batch of wax scales every 12 hours
• 100g of wax makes approx. 8,000 cells
using 125,000 wax scales
Trumpington Gve,
llist Vi
bec@becsbeehive.com.au
www.becsbeehive.com.au
reach their peak between the ages of 12-18
days old and their set task is to construct
and build comb for their colony.
The wax is produced by four pair of glands
located beneath the abdomen. It is secreted
as a liquid however solidifies on contact
with the air forming a thin small oval paper
thin scale. These wax flakes are referred to as
“wax scales”. The honey bee then chews and
kneads the wax with their mandibles whilst
mixing it with mandibular gland secretion
to create a pliable product to construct the
perfect hexagonal comb.
During the construction process you
often see the bees suspended from one
another creating a living chain or link. This
formation is so fascinating and it is referred
to as “festooning” – see picture. There are
many different theories on this function;
some say it’s the bees own structural
engineering procedure to ensure their
measurements meet hive regulations; others
say the structure acts like scaffolding so the
bees can move freely around the frames on
which the bees build comb. Bees are guided
by their sense of gravity via their sensory
hairs on their legs and this construction
process requires the wax to be warmed to
approx. 43°C so it’s pliable enough to build.
Each cell on the honeycomb is slanted
slightly upward by 9°C to 13°C to prevent
the nectar from tipping out.
Humans have found beeswax to be very
useful over the years and is used in many
different industries and has a wide amount
of uses. We are always finding new and
creative ways to utilise the by-products
from the hive whether it be candle making,
cream and balm crafting, beeswax food
wraps, furniture polish and so much
more. Beeswax is commonly used in wood
working and on musical instruments… the
list is endless.
Beeswax beauty comes from its purity with
the long association between beekeeping
and great religious buildings of the world
which have been lit for centuries by candle
light. The first record of beeswax candles
used is 400BC however none were ultilsed
in homes until the 14th Century. The magic
of the candle light is that it burns a clear
light, is smoke free and smells divine.
Beeswax candles are known to “purify the
air” as they emit negative ions into the
environment when burnt which assists in
reducing dust and mold that floats in the air.
Negative ion molecules can lift your mood,
relieve stress and provide you with energy.
The scent of beeswax candles is heavenly
filling your home with the aroma of honey.
It’s a “pure natural gift from nature” why
would you choose anything else.
Becs BeeHive hand makes and sells
beeswax candles, bee related creams and
balms which are crafted during the quieter
WOW!
Bec McBride runs Becs Beehive – a
beekeeping training and supply business
here in the Hills. Her programs are designed
to ensure beginners are confident and
fully aware of their responsibilities before
they take on the hobby – Next Workshop
24 June 2017 at Emerald – a comprehensive
list of beekeeping supplies available to
purchase at her Hive Shop. Honey stockists
available. Visit www.becsbeehive.com.au
for more information.
References
1. Candle & beeswax Photographs
by Bec McBride
2. Festooning Photograph
by Wildflower Meadows
3. Bee excreting wax by http:/rurification.
blogspot.com.au
By Bec McBride
Becs Beehive
Photography by Bec McBride

16
Sustainability
First Birthday for Ash Wednesday
Bushfire Education Centre
Hasn’t a year gone fast. Sunday 30 July 2017
marks the first birthday of the Ash Wednesday
Bushfire Education Centre (AWBEC). So to
mark the occasion we are having a birthday
party and you are invited.
Since officially opening to the public on
1 September 2016 we have had many
visitors to the centre, both local, interstate
and international. We have had many, many
positive comments.
AWBEC has had local groups use the
the building for many activities such as
meetings, training sessions, Annual General
Meetings and trophy presentations.
On the other hand we have done
presentations for several Year 11 school
groups from far and wide, fire brigades and
a variety of social groups.
We have a great team of volunteers and if
you want to join this group please let us
know. We provide excellent training and
a uniform.
The birthday will have free entry to
AWBEC, with tea or coffee available and
the cutting of the birthday cake will be held
at 1:30pm.
We are having a colouring exhibition for
children who wish to submit a coloured
entry. All age groups are welcome. You
can pick up a colouring sheet from the
Cockatoo Primary School, Cockatoo
Kinder, Cockatoo Childrens Centre,
Cockatoo Post Office, Cockatoo Bakery,
Brunch on McBride, Cockatoo IGA
and AWBEC on Saturdays and Sundays
from 1 July.
The Centre is open Saturdays and
Sundays from 11am-3pm. We hope
to see you there. Any enquiries to
Graham 0419 949 694 or awbeccockatoo@
gmail.com
IS YOUR GARDEN
BUSHFIRE SAFE?
Find out how you can make your garden
bushfire safe. During June and July there
will be four workshops held in Cockatoo and
Gembrook to help you landscape your garden
for bushfire.
The four workshops will be held on the
following dates:
Gembrook Community Centre,
u Gembrook
Sun. 25 June from 2-4pm;
Ash Wednesday Bushfire
u Education Centre, Cockatoo
Sat. 1 July from 2-4pm;
Gembrook Community Centre,
u Gembrook
Sun. 23 July from 2-4pm; and
Ash Wednesday Bushfire
u Education Centre, Cockatoo
Sun. 30 July from 3-5pm.
Workshop presentations by the Country
Fire Association and Landcare Victoria
will provide information on:
• Fuel loads, what they are;
• Different options for reducing loads;
• What fire-retardant and fire-resistant
plants are, some examples of indigenous
and exotic fire-retardant and fireresistant
plants; and
• How landholders can increase habitat
for indigenous flora and fauna, without
increasing the fuel loads on their
property.
Funding for this project has been through
The Australian Government funded
Round Two of the Dandenong Ranges
Environmental and Bushfire Reduction
Community Grants. The Eastern
Dandenong Ranges Association (EDRA)
is facilitating the project, providing a
demonstration of how EDRA collaborates
with both local groups and government
to provide support on this very important
topic to landholders in the Eastern
Dandenong Ranges.
The education benefits to the community
will continue after the final workshop,
with signage being installed at both the
Gembrook Community Centre and Ash
Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre.
Food & Gardenings 17
Winter
in the
Garden
As the morning sunshine warms the frosty
ground and the chill of another night lingers,
all of autumn’s growth is awaiting harvest
in nature’s fridge.
Winter is the time of warming soups and
warm fresh-baked bread, slow braised stews
and hearty puddings.
In the garden not a lot is growing but there
is plenty to still do. The preparation work in
beds now will be rewarded in spades come
spring. Weeding, mulching and building
compost are just some of the jobs that need
to be maintained.
With your fruit trees. Winter is the time to
buy your trees bare rooted which is generally
a cheaper option for those with a hankering
for a bargain. Ensure you prune at least a
third to a half off the tree before you plant it
to compensate for the roots removed when
prepared for sale.
Winter may also be a time for pruning your
trees. There are a lot of different opinions
and ideas around pruning trees, more than
the number of trees it seems!
I prune in winter when I want to reshape or
rework a tree as come springtime the tree
will put out lots of large long new growth
that will let you choose new branches
to keep and balance or reshape the tree.
However, if possible don’t prune your
apricots, peaches, nectarines or cherries
during winter as there is a higher chance of
bacteria and infection getting into the tree
(often seen as a sappy gum on these trees).
If you do need to rework or prune these
trees, ensure excellent hygiene and sharp
tools to minimise the stress to the tree.
A little bit of tender loving care during the
winter months will help ensure that your
trees are in prime shape come spring to
provide you with an abundant healthy crop
in the coming seasons. If you are unsure or
wish to learn more about how to look after
your trees, your local community houses
often have classes and workshops run that
will help you learn some new skills and
boost your confidence in looking after your
own tree. Just remember, there is no right
or wrong in pruning, just different methods
and ideas and most of the time the tree
will bounce right back even when given a
severe haircut!
Till next time, happy gardening.
Dave Key, Key Permaculture
0424 665 882

Heritage 17
NEW EXHIBITION AT EMERALD MUSEUM
Carl Axel Nobelius ‘an innovator in Horticulture’
The Cardinia Shire Mayor Brett Owen
Mayor opened a new exhibition last
Sunday 28 May, featuring a comprehensive
history of the famous Gembrook Nurseries in
Emerald which became the largest nursery in
the southern hemisphere in the early 1900s.
This permanent exhibition tells the story of
Carl Axel Nobelius, and his legacy. Nobelius
was known as “the man who grew a town”;
he employed more than 80 workers, many
of whom settled in the area.
Nobelius travelled throughout Australia
and New Zealand tirelessly promoting
his business, and producing a beautiful
catalogue each year. The Nursery supplied
large quantities of ornamental trees to
urban and regional municipalities to
provide shade for streets and parks. The
Botanical Gardens and the Fitzroy gardens
were regular customers.
As the nursery prospered Nobelius built
Carramar, a 16 roomed Victorian mansion
overlooking his nursery. Carramar was built
to entertain important guests among them,
Dame Nellie Melba, and the Victorian
Governor.
It hard to imagine that Emerald and the
Dandenongs was cleared of nearly all the
trees, first by the bullockies and then the
selectors. Government policy was that each
selector had to clear so much of his property
each year otherwise it would be re-claimed.
NOBELIUS HERITAGE PARK
The four hectare Nobelius Heritage Park
in Emerald, now registered as of State and
National Significance is a remnant of the
once vast Gembrook Nursery established
by Carl Axel Nobelius from 1886.
The 1900 year old packing shed and railway
siding are reminders of the significant
role Nobelius played in the Belgrave to
Gembrook narrow gauge railway line, now
part of the Puffing Billy Railway. Nobelius
lobbied the Government for this narrow
gauge rail way to transport his trees to Port
Melbourne and for public transport.
The Nursery had an extensive range of
exotic plants and fruit trees, supplied to
other prominent nurseries of the era, and
influenced garden and orchard plantings
throughout Australia, as well as exporting
to the USA, South America, South Africa,
New Zealand, Europe and Asia.
Through the supply of exotic trees to
municipal councils in many parts of
Australia, the Nobelius Nursery had
a significant influence on Victoria’s
landscapes, including public parks, private
gardens, orchards, avenues of honour and
tree-shaded streets.
By World War I. the nursery, which was
run as a family business by Nobelius and
his four sons, held two million stock trees,
produced large quantities of fruit, and
conducted a huge export trade with other
Australian states and overseas. The nursery
was the largest in the southern hemisphere
and, at its greatest extent, covered 650
hectares, including the land occupied by the
present Emerald Lake Park and Emerald
Country Resort.
The Museum contains an important
collection of relics from the Nobelius
Nursery, which includes ledgers, wages
books, stock records dating from the 1890s,
original catalogues, tools and photographs.
It is considered to be a unique record of the
nursery industry in Victoria.
Chris Britton
President
Emerald Museum
The rare Illawarra Flame Tree sits proudly outside the front of the Emerlad Museum
Nobelius with the Victorian Governor 1910
Nobelius Heritage Garden in splendid May foliage
Photography by Kirsty Hall
Gembrook Nurseries – Northern Section View
Museum News
The committee has had a very busy 2017
with the finalizing of the Cardinia Shire
maintenance grant stage 2, to fire proof the
museum. Our archives are now as safe as
possible from the threat of fire.
We have produced an illustrated brochure
for Nobelius Heritage Park, showing the
plantings and trees that match the outside
map located in front of the museum.
Next time you visit the park please pick
up a guide, the autumn trees have been
spectacular this year.
I would like to acknowledge the Emerald
Men’s Shed for making a display cabinet to
house the Nobelius labelling machine, and
also for the construction of two beautiful
park benches made from the Monterey
Cypress hedge that was removed from
Worrell Reserve. Thank you to Tom Algra
for milling the wood for this project.
Thank you Alan Bennett, Mike Ellery and
everyone who contributed to making and
installing these benches located on the
museum veranda.
We would also like to thank Graeme Legge
and Lynne Trensky for support of the
Heritage Week festival, taking many visitors
on the heritage walk around Emerald.
The museum is open every Wednesday
10am till 3pm and Sundays 1.30 till 4pm
Come and visit us and enjoy this wonderful
Emerald history,
Photography by Kirsty Hall

18
Animals – Focus on Horses
The Plight of Brumbies
By Kirsty Hall
Brumbies are a very relevant part of the
Snowy Mountains story. The history and
cultural significance of the brumbies and
mountain cattlemen is an integral part of the
Snowy Mountains identity.
These brumbies are very capable of being
educated and becoming strong, reliable,
riding and working horses with a wonderful
temperament and are extremely versatile for
the whole family.
There is the need for effective control and
management of non-native animals species
in the Alpine and Kosciuszko National Park,
however there is no need for eradication of
the brumbies. An ethical and systematic
partnership approach to management of the
brumby population which is consultative
and inclusive of experienced and qualified
horse people with local experience and
knowledge of the brumby behaviour should
be embraced.
Dandenong Ranges
Horse and Pony Club
celebrates its
70 year anniversary
on 11 November 2017
By Maree Fellows
A full day and evening of celebrations is
planned. We are very interested in talking
to anyone who has history with our club,
has old photos, stories and contributions
to share. We would love to see many of the
Dandenong Ranges Horse and Pony Club
family members attend. Please check out
and share our facebook page – dandenong
ranges horse and pony club historical or
contact our club Secretary Maree Fellows
at drhpc.secretary@gmail.com or call
0412 9525 170. New members are now
welcome. If interested in becoming a riding
member please contact the Secretary.
The Pony Club movement originated in
Britain in November, 1929 to encourage
young people to ride and provide the
opportunity of receiving a higher standard
of instruction which many would not be
able to obtain individually.
In 1954, on January 13, the Pony Club
Association of Victoria (P.C.A.V) was
founded with seven affiliated clubs, from
various locations around the State. A short
time after the P.C.A.V was formed the
Dandenong Ranges Horse and Pony Club
was founded. A large parcel of land (now
known as Lloyd Park and the present day
home of the Dandenong Ranges Horse and
Pony Club) owned by a local farmer, Mr
Lloyd was purchased in 1957. The cost to
purchase the eleven (11) acre site in 1957
was approximately £1,000.
Lloyd Park is still fully owned and
maintained by the Dandenong Ranges
Horse and Pony Club and its members.
Dandenong Ranges Horse & Pony Club
is located in Belgrave South at the
intersection of Wellington Road and
Belgrave-Hallam Roads.
Photography by Kirsty Hall
What is Cushing’s Disease
by Dr. Kurt Enzinger
Equine Cushings Disease or Pituitary
Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) is a
progressive metabolic disease. It is caused by
a benign growth within the pituitary gland
in the brain which interferes with hormone
regulation resulting in reduced dopamine
and elevated cortisol levels within the body.
PPID is often seen in middle aged to older
horses with one Australian study reporting
that 20% of horses >15 years old had PPID
with an increasing incidence for every year
after 15 years old.
Clinical signs can include: abnormal long/
curly coat, slow coat shedding, abnormal fat
deposits, weight loss, depressed demeanour,
muscle wastage, pot-bellied appearance,
increased thirst, increased urination,
excessive sweating and laminitis (founder).
Horses with PPID are immunosuppressed
and often suffer from recurrent infections
such as dental disease, sinusitis and hoof
abscesses. Clinical signs are slow in onset
with the abnormally long/curly hair coat
that most horse owner associate with the
disease generally occurring years after the
development of PPID and interestingly
only occur in 25% of cases. PPID is under
recognised in our aging horse population as
the clinical signs are non-specific.
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs
and blood tests. Treatment involves the
administration of pergolide daily to increase
dopamine levels with clinical improvement
generally seen within 6-8 weeks of initiating
treatment. Due to the progressive nature of
the disease, the amount of drug required
to manage this condition will have to be
increased over time and repeated testing
can help your veterinarian in determining
the optimum drug dose. PPID is a
lifelong condition that is poorly recognised
in our aged equine patient, however is
easily diagnosed and treated. We strongly
recommend annual testing for PPID in
older horses as medical management and
appropriate husbandry care are imperative
to improving their health, demeanour and
quality of life during their twilight years.
Elite Equine
Elite Equine Veterinarians was established
in February 2009 by Dr Kurt Enzinger and
his wife Kylie Enzinger, and has grown to be
a busy, reputable practice servicing the Yarra
Valley and Dandenong Ranges.
Elite Equine Veterinarians pride
ourselves on being up to date with current
scientifically proven diagnostics, procedures
and treatments and offer a complete range
of ambulatory services for all your equine
and farm animals.
In particular, Elite Equine Veterinarians
have a special interest in preventative
care and equine internal medicine, equine
podiatry, and advanced equine breeding
techniques.

Opening of the
New Emerald Sporting Club
By Dean Stuhldreier
Sport & Recreation 19
After
seven years of lobbying at both local
and state government level the Emerald
Sporting Club facility has finally become a
reality for the local community of Emerald.
Talking with Dean Stuhldreier, President
of the Emerald Football Netball Club,
reveals just what has taken place to get this
project of the ground.
Back in 2011, the Emerald Sporting Club
Committee was founded, consisting of
members of the Emerald Football Netball
Club and Emerald Cricket Club, with one
vision in mind to build a purpose built
facility for all user groups and the local
community to enjoy.
In March 2017, the Emerald Sporting
Club foundation Committee, with
their dedication and hard work, saw the
completion of this project after seven years.
The Emerald Sporting Club Purpose
Statement:
To develop a sporting club facility to attract
young people in the area to participate in
football, netball and cricket.
To provide a facility to attract people to
support sporting activities and encourage their
playing partners.
To provide the community with a facility that
will seat in excess of 150 people.
The Journey of Events
• High expectation of Foundation
Memberships.
• First Federal Liberal Government
Pledge, Jason Wood – unsuccessful.
• Project put on the priority list for
Cardinia Shire funds
• Second Federal Liberal Government
Pledge, MP Jason Wood – successful.
• Finally being granted the money, the
new social rooms could not be built on
the top level of the existing building,
until it was totally refurbished.
• The Emerald Sporting Club, then
committed to building the full project
without going to tender.
• All plans, drawings, computations and
soil tests were completed, to have the
social room building, in the car park
next to the pavilion.
• Months of negotiations, saw permission
from Cardinia Shire, to have the project
located to where we are now, on top of
the existing building.
Photography by Kirsty Hall
Today
we have this magnificent facility for the
local community to enjoy both on and off
the field after the resurfacing and extension
of Chandler reserve took place in 2014.
The blood sweet and tears that went into
getting this project off the ground and
delivering a first class product cannot be
underestimated and special mention must
be made to both Bill and Robyn Kuys
along with the Emerald Sporting Club
foundation committee members who
continuously focused on delivering and
never lost sight of their vision.
The Emerald Sporting Club would not have
been possible if it wasn’t for the foundation
committee, the foundation members, the
52 volunteers who gave of their time, in
excess of 5,000 hours and the generous
support of our sponsors. These sponsors
were Dandenong Ranges Community
Bank, Emerald District & Cooperative
Society - Mitre 10, ALS Cabinets, Shamic
Sheetmetal, PMS Plumbing, GJ Steer
Electrics and M.C. Huisintveld Building.
Today we have over 200 members of the
Emerald Football Netball Club along
with their families and supporters who
are taking full advantage of this wonderful
facility built by these wonderful people.
The Club is fully licenced and has a
commercial kitchen which produces
between 80 and 100 meals every Thursday
night after training to its members and is
open Friday evenings from 6.00pm to the
public where you can watch AFL free to
air live on the big screen in the comfort of
central heating or in front of the gas log fire.
Meals are available on Fridays and are only
$15 with a fully stocked bar with Carlton
Draught, Furphy and Cider on tap for just
$4.00 a pot.
The venue is also available for weddings,
corporate and private functions that are
fully catered for with bar service managed
by the club.
For bookings please contact the club via
email at emeraldfnc@outlook.com or
alternatively contact Dean on 0457 924 111

VASTROC
Wrap-Up
ESC Head of Science Brad Gibbs, MBO President James Murray and ESC Principal Jodie Doble.
Cardinia Mayor Councillor Brett Owen officially opening VASTROC.
MBO President James Murray and Professor Matthew Bailes of the OzGrav Centre
at Swinburne University with student attendees of VASTROC.
Some of the great conference food sourced from local caterer – The Laughing Fox.
Things are really booming at Mount
Burnett Observatory. The concrete base
for the new dome has been poured and
things will move quickly now. The dome
will improve access and viewing for
those who can’t make it to the
top of the main dome, not to mention
enhancing future astrophotography and
research possibilities.
In addition, they have just hosted
VASTROC, the Victorian Astronomy
Conference. From the Opening Night at
Mount Burnett, to the events at Emerald
Secondary College and the Conference
Dinner at Beaconhills Golf Club, this
was a huge and highly successful event,
featuring sessions on Galaxies, Supernovae,
Occultations, Constellations, Gravitational
Waves, Indigenous Astronomy, Gender
Imbalance in Astronomy, Astrophotography,
STEM Education, Light Pollution and
the way forward for Amateur Astronomy.
Academics from Swinburne, Monash
and more mixed with amateurs from the
ASV, Ballarat, Mornington Peninsula
and the fabulous team from the Bright
Astronomy Club who travelled all the way
to the Dandenongs with their Outreach
trailer. Add to that students, teachers and
politicians and you have an eclectic mix,
who enjoyed not only their astronomy but
all the wonderful facilities in Emerald and
the local area.
To quote James Murray, MBO President,
“42 hrs, 100 participants, 23 presenters, a
dozen volunteers and lots of food’.