EARLY literacy opens the door to a world of communication and opportunities.
Experts believe that in utero infants hear sounds which can shape their early literacy.
Around a week after being born, babies should be screened for hearing loss, and around six months of age for their first comprehensive eye test.
Each are equally essential to learning how to hear and form the sounds that lead to early literacy.
Children mimic what they see and hear, (don’t we know it) and new sensory experiences can be linked to early literacy.
Smiling and cooing at an infant is not only reassuring, but also develops a connection between eye contact, hearing and touch, and humming to a baby introduces the very beginnings of sound; a vibration.
An indication eye sight is developing normally is their ability to focus on care givers and when alone, crib mobiles and wind chimes are a charming way to engage baby’s senses to help develop those muscles needed later on to read from left to right, on repeat.
Sometimes, inner ear infections in children not only causes aches and pains and upsets their sleep, they can cause momentary hearing loss which can lead to early literacy milestone delays.
Finding a family doctor who is nearby and familiar with a baby’s developmental milestones is a must do.
Across Mitchell Shire Council (MSC) at their Library and Customer Service Centres, a fun weekly outing for little ones is Babytime. The stimulating session runs for 30-minutes and is suitable for babies up to 18 months.
Another MSC program which supports early literacy is Rhymetime with stories, rhymes, singing and dancing all curated with children aged 18-months to three years in mind. It’s also a short 30-minute session, however, many parents and caregivers remain at the library to peruse the ‘books just in’ section or to connect with friends family and even to share tips and tricks to further kick-start their child’s learning process.
Finally, there is Storytime, a program useful to prepare children for school as its a fantastic opportunity for your child to practice listening and interacting to become independent readers. Storytime is suitable for children aged 3 to 5 years, and all the above programs are free and facilitated by MSC.
To learn more, scan the QR code on this page to take you to the source of happy learning.
GLENAROURA Land Management Group (GLMG) hosted its annual tree planting event last month as 3500 native plants found their new homes on Tim and Penny Reeve’s property along Daisyburn Road.
Another five hundred trees were also planted on Burgess Rural’s property.
The trees provide essential animal and bird shelters and wildlife corridors across our district, whilst also helping to protect our waterways and soil integrity.
This vital environmental initiative has been going for nearly 30 years—run totally by dedicated volunteers including GLMG members, the Pajero 4WD Club, Manningham City Rotarians and Templestowe Secondary School students.
Over 100 farmers and volunteers, planted the seedlings and Community Bank Wallan, Kilmore and Broadford was a proud sponsor.
Chair Kit Holland worked alongside the volunteers.
“We are proud to have partnered with Landcare on this project to restore, protect and enhance our environment,” she said.
“We are more than a bank, what sets us apart is what we do with the profits. Every dollar invested in us, allows us to reinvest the profits back into our region.
“Thanks to all the groups who participated in this tree planting program – working together to make our community a better place.”
GLMG Chairman Paul Fleming was thrilled with the 2025 project and he urges everyone to learn more.
“Not only did everyone work hard,” he said
“We also had fun, met new people, enjoyed lovely food for morning tea and lunch, and ultimately felt a great sense of achievement by looking at what we’d been able to accomplish.”
To see the results, visit youtube.com/watch?v=FEYRWWP7fKs
THANKS to a funding partnership between Seymour Berry Street’s School Focused Youth Services program and Blue Light Victoria (BLV), students at Wallan Primary School (WPS) are exploring their values.
Across eight weeks, BLV Facilitator, Sandra Cameron nurtured a grade five and six cohort by engaging them with activities and discussions and ultimately, is supporting them to create lasting change with a community project.
The program is known as DASH, Dynamic, Active, Safe, Healthy.
DASH has been independently evaluated by the University of Melbourne’s Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre and found to be safe, inclusive, and engaging for students, including those with diverse learning needs.
Since 2022, BLV has delivered the DASH program to primary and secondary school students to promote positive well-being, encourage advocacy skills, explore community issues and take meaningful action.
The program is student-led, and at WPS the students formed four think tanks to create a school project around community concerns (that also matter to them) and these included the be physical group, the paws care group, the stop bullying group and everyone deserves to be heard group.
Following a democratic process last week, members of the Wallan Police Force and the DASH cohort elected to continue to develop just one project— everyone deserves to be heard.
To help complete the project, $1000 in funding has been made available.
Going into the next term, students will take a series of photos featuring their local school and community members holding up motivational tips to help each other speak up.
The messages will be collated into a video to be shown to all grade five and six students, who will each be given a wristband and hear from a soon to be announced guest speaker.
Later in the year, the video will be shown to parents and the entire school community.
THE Wandong community has welcomed the launch of the Train of Life artwork, created by local artist Tai Snaith.
The event marked the culmination of the Wandong Public Art Project and was attended by community members, school representatives, Mitchell Shire Council staff, and some of Tai’s close friends and family.
Councillor Timothy Hanson welcomed attendees and spoke about the importance of public art in reflecting local identity and history.
He was joined by Wandong Primary School student leaders Alyssa and Annabelle, who shared thoughtful reflections on their town’s flora and fauna, and how the sculpture beautifully ties these elements together. They highlighted the special connection between the artwork and their school’s logo – a baby echidna, or puggle.
Artist Tai Snaith spoke about her creative process and the inspiration behind the work, drawing on Wandong’s railway heritage and the resilience of both echidnas and the local community following the Black Saturday fires. She also gave a behind-the-scenes look at how the three distinct echidnas were crafted.
The striking sculpture of three echidnas crafted from bronze, charred red gum and concrete, symbolises the vital role of the railway in shaping Wandong and Heathcote Junction, and the resilience of the community and native animals through natural disasters.
Despite the weather, the event was warm and meaningful, with memorable interactions between the artist and local students. A short film and interview with Tai will be shared on line in the coming weeks, offering further insight into the story behind Train of Life.
The sculpture now stands as a proud and lasting symbol of Wandong’s spirit and as a powerful symbol of connection-past, present and future.
A packed St Patricks Church farewelled Kilmore’s John Harrington last Thursday.
The requiem mass and eulogy’s were a fitting tribute to John, a truly good man who helped countless people.
A devoted husband to Mary (pictured) for 44 years and a proud dad to Claire, Marcus, Thomas, and Declan, he was not only much loved by them, but also their partners and grandchildren.
John was a wonderful brother of Meg and brother-in-law to of Meg’s late husband, John Kelly, and he was much loved by their children, Dominic and Geraldine.
John’s parent’s, Norah, and John (Senior) were widely known in the community.
Johns untimely and sudden passing devastated Mary and family and indeed saddened countless friends.
An active person, John loved helping people, he was one of life’s great “givers.”
Beyond the Assumption College schooldays, he was a most valued employee of Dunlop Tyres for some 35 years prior to “retiring” to a busy life of garden maintenance where he did much free work for many local people.
I am one of those who owe much to John, he was a loyal friend and a great supporter of ACK sports teams.
He ran the boundary for the First XVIII until he was sixty.
Mary, a career nurse, described John as not only the love of her life, but also her best friend.
Being people of strong faith, they much admired Father Michael Elligate, an ex-ACK educator, also a TV Priest, a University Chaplain, and a Parish Pastor at St Carthage’s in Carlton, they loved attending his masses.
Youngest son, Declan’s fine eulogy covered all aspects of a life well lived and highlighted by love of family and loyalty to workmates and friends.
The congregation included many from all walks of life and this was testimony to the affection all had for a much-loved person.
Following Fr Andrew’s uplifting service and committal, many assembled for refreshments at The Grove in Hidden Valley.
PRODIGOUS KICK
Michael O’Sullivan of Seymour was a massive kick. He thrilled ACK crowds in the late seventies. Long torpedo punts from the wing often brought goals and gasps from spectators. He could teach many of todays AFL players how to kick long and accurately. He later played 53 games for Essendon and Melbourne. He and his brothers Matt and Gerard and sister Janine made wonderful contributions to the life and times of ACK. Matt and Gerard also played 1st XVIII and 1st XI and Matt, a very fine cricketer played for Essendon and for many years dominated SDCA cricket.
CRICKET PROBLEMS
It’s about time the ultra conservative Australian cricket selectors – Geroge Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald took a bolder approach and injected some youth into the test team. They must have been dragged kicking and screaming to the point where young “gun” Sam Konstas was picked to replace Marnus Labuschagne for the current tests in the West Indies.
Sam should have played at Lord’s where we lost to the South Africans in the world test title clash.
Dashing WA bat Josh Inglis was slotted in for the Barbados test, but only because Steve Smith was injured. Young South Aussie bat Jason Sangha should also be in the frame for the Ashes.
It looks like we’ll have a Dad’s Army XI opposing the much younger England side in the coming summers Ashes. If Australian cricket is serious about stopping the drift of teenagers away from the sport it needs to forcefully point out to George Bailey and co that they have a responsibility to the game in this country more than just picking “golden oldies”. In today’s world young people want some new faces to support.
Khawaja and Labuschagne even at one, two and three are sleep inducing. Khawaja has been a fine player, but his time is surely up. Huge crowds will attend the Ashes tests this coming summer, but it is likely the Poms, win, lose, or draw, will be the entertainers who give the paying public real value for money.
Families from farming communities across this vast land have been great test fans down the generations but hard times have hit with drought and crippling taxes, and some have told me they can’t afford to attend this time around with ticket prices hiked 33 percent.
The new “boss” of Cricket Australia, Todd Greenberg, may be the right man at the right time to give the sport and all who play and follow it real hope for the future. I’m sure he agrees with words spoken by the legendary Keith Miller (pictured) the greatest all-rounder in Australia’s history who said, “Cricket is important at the top, but it is much more so at the lowest levels”.
PS-I may have praised them too early. Konstas and Inglis failed badly in the West Indies test in Barbados. The first four in both innings were a disaster.
MIRROR IMAGE
Don Bradman’s “Invincibles” chased down a huge total on the final day of the Headingly test way back in 1948 to beat England. More than sixteen runs were scored for the loss of 35 wickets. In the recent England v India test at the same venue sixteen hundred and eighty runs and 35 wickets was the tally as England chased down a huge total on the last day. The crowds and TV viewers loved it. There was only one stark difference- in 1948 both sides bowled 20 overs per hour- in 2025 we get 13 per hour. Where have all the overs gone?
PS- on that distant final day at Leeds, England bowled 114 overs in under six hours. It made no attempt to cheat the game or the paying spectators.
CHEF, television personality, and artist Peter Russell-Clarke has died aged 89, leaving behind a lasting legacy in kitchens and homes across the country.
Russell-Clarke passed away on July 4, 2025, in Melbourne, surrounded by his family, after suffering a stroke.
Best known for his down-to-earth style and cheeky personality, Russell-Clarke became a household name in the 1980s as the host of Come and Get It, a popular five-minute cooking segment that ran on ABC TV for nearly a decade. His signature catchphrases like “G’day” and “You beaut!” became iconic, and his approachable cooking style resonated with Australians from all walks of life.
Born in Ballarat in 1935, Russell-Clarke’s early life was marked by hardship, including time spent in foster care and periods of homelessness as a youth in Melbourne. Despite these challenges, he carved out an extraordinary career—first as a cartoonist and illustrator, then as one of Australia’s first celebrity chefs. He authored nearly 40 cookbooks, cooked for royalty, and represented Australia as a food ambassador with the United Nations.
While many remember him from television, those close to him knew him as a passionate artist and a proud resident of Tooborac, where he spent many of his later years painting and enjoying a quieter life. His creativity extended beyond the kitchen, with his artwork and illustrations featuring in newspapers, books, and galleries. He was a regular contributor to local publications.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jan, and their two children, Peter and Wendy.
Peter Russell-Clarke’s influence on Australian food culture cannot be overstated. His charm, wit, and love of fresh, simple ingredients inspired generations to get into the kitchen—and have a laugh while doing it. His passing marks the end of a truly colourful era, but his legacy will continue to live on in cookbooks, memories, and meals shared.
A WALLAN Primary School Student became the first Australian baby to have in utero surgery to lessen the impacts of Spina Bifida six years ago.
Bryce Taylor survived the odds when his mother, Michelle Dale took matters into her own hands and researched the condition and discovered there was an answer.
“At my 12-week scan, they identified Spina Bifida – Myelomeningocele the most severe form,” she said.
“They advised me to terminate the pregnancy, but I did my own research and went with my gut. I found a surgeon who would do it in Brisbane-[Dr Glenn Gardiner].”
Ms Dayle said Bryce was an easy baby to carry and the surgery was performed at 23 weeks in utero.
“The surgery went fantastic,” she said.
“Having it closed early saved his future,” she said.
The myelomeningocele- a protrusion of spinal cord and nerves was situated at the base of Bryce’s spine and the surgery involved closing the sac before birth so that the spinal cord would not be damaged during labour or beyond.
Bryce is leading a happy and normal life, along with his older brothers, Nate and Ashton.
“They were little when Bryce was born, one was in prep and the middle child was two. All the teachers say how helpful they have been helping their brother to settle in at school.”
One of Bryce’s favourite past times is a lunch time tennis match with Ms Stacey, and he also enjoys basketball.
It’s safe to say that PE is Bryce’s favourite subject, but he is also growing into a community minded benefactor.
“I call him my little social butterfly,” mum said.
Recently Bryce facilitated a public toy box whereby he generously donated his toys for children who needed one to take home for free.
What’s more, anyone can donate a toy to the toybox situated at the Wallan Gift store, opposite the Post Office inside Wellington Square, and this thoughtful act could help families living below the poverty line to choose a toy to regift for a present.
