WHYLD Newsletter February 2019
Welcome to WHYLD country. We are delighted to bring you this third edition of our WHYLD newsletter – the first of two this year, with a second issue in July to coincide with term three. We want this newsletter to be a voice for our community, so we encourage your feedback and comments. We are also looking for articles to publish, so if you have something you’d like to promote or share, we’d love to help. Did you know that five years have passed since we launched our WHYLD Community Plan? This plan was put together after extensive community consultation and has many great ideas for projects to improve our local community, but we need volunteers to get them off the ground. You can find the plan on our new website, so take a look and send us a message. Get involved and become part of something special.
WHYLD welcomes new members, so if you are interested in any of our events or activities, please feel free to contact us by email: welcome@whyld.org.au, and please do like us on Facebook: WHYLD Community Group, or for more information visit our website: whyld.org.au.
Some of you may be aware that Yarra Ranges Council have been consulting for the development of two major trails linking Lilydale to Yarra Glen, and Yarra Glen to Healesville along the old railway lines.
Well, WHYLD Community Group have their own dream for our very own trail loop, which would link the two existing trails in the Yarra Valley, these being the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, and the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail. These link trails would provide a 17 km loop option along more undulating countryside than the current trails for more adventurous riders and walkers. With an increase in the popularity of walking, jogging and cycling, the loop would provide both locals and visitors with readily accessible trails for fitness and recreation. Our proposal has the trail leaving the Warburton Rail Trail at the Home Hotel in Launching Place. It heads north along Don Road towards Don Valley, passing the Primary School and this section of the trail has already been completed. Our proposed trail (shown in red on the map) continues to traverse Don Road beyond the school until it meets the O’Shannassy Aqueduct trail. The trail follows the Aqueduct Trail west to join McMahons Road, crossing Dalry Road to join Timberline Road and heading south towards Woori Yallock.
It would then cross the Yarra River and traverse the Healesville Koo-Wee-Rup Road to reconnect with the Warburton Trail in Woori Yallock. Note that there is also a proposed connection to the Corranderk Aqueduct Trail that leads to Healesville. While the proposed trail follows existing roads, no part of the trail except for road crossings would be on the road itself, but rather alongside the road on constructed pathways. We think this proposal has great opportunities for our WHYLD district in attracting more visitors to the area that would boost our local businesses. It would also link three of our WHYLD towns with trails, which is a long-term objective noted in our WHYLD Community Plan. This proposal was submitted to and acknowledged by Yarra Ranges Council in late 2015. Their response noted that our submission would be considered as part of the overall Hike & Bike Plan review. Many thanks to former WHYLD resident Angelo Campione who was passionate about this project and put much of this proposal together. We are interested to see what you think and would welcome your comments and feedback.
In spite of the date conflicting with the Lilydale Show, the Healesville Music Festival and coming on the back of the 100th Anniversary of the First World War commemorations, the 2018 Medieval Village Fair still managed to attract nearly 2000 people to Camelot Castle on Sunday 18th November 2018.
The weather was textbook perfect – not too hot and not too cold. Over the years the festival’s biggest attractions have been the live action role play groups, and this year saw two more Viking-style groups added to the repertory. Other new additions this year were Pony Rides and the Deer Hounds display. Planning is already underway for our 7th Medieval Village Fair which will be held on 10th November! Keep an eye out at https://www.facebook.com/groups/581569545236573/?ref=br_rs to find out the latest. Looking forward to seeing you all again later this year!
Our Winter Warming celebration in 2018 had everything set in place for Sunday 17th June. Ironically, our new artwork may have jinxed us! Wild winter weather with warnings of damaging winds, hail and snow down to 600 metres several days prior to the event set alarm bells ringing and the triggers for cancellation were realised.
We want this event to be memorable, not miserable, and so we made the call. It was a devastating blow after all the hard work, time, effort and money that had been invested already, but with the decision made we set about informing as many people as possible and our Facebook post alone reached over 4500 people. Let’s hope we can reach this same number this year with our promotion!
WHYLD hopes to compensate for the cancellation with an even bigger and better event in 2019. We aim to transform Wickhams Reserve into a winter wonderland to celebrate the season and solstice. Preparations will get into full swing by the second school term when we will engage students in a poster competition to promote the event. We also hope to engage local talent of any age in performing on our Open mic Stage. We are looking for performers and volunteers, so get involved and feel the warmth of community spirit!
Our local butcher in Woori Yallock hosts a BBQ every Saturday morning, rain, hail or shine! Rod Brooke hosts this BBQ in the spirit of goodwill. He counts it as his contribution to the community and always buys a sausage or two himself!
Rod sets up a BBQ and table outside his shop and provides sausages free of charge to local community groups who cook and sell the sausages as a fundraiser.
Currently Upper Yarra SES run the first Saturday, WHYLD Community Group the second, Hoddles Creek Red Cross the third and Rotary the fourth Saturday. This small local event has been running for around 18 years and the BBQ used to cook the sausages has seen better days. Late last year WHYLD Community Group took the initiative to seek funds to replace the BBQ. Woori Yallock & District Community Bank (WYDCOM) have generously provided these funds, with Rotary chipping in, and the new BBQ has now been purchased.
WHYLD were pleased to have been able to inaugurate the BBQ on Saturday 9th February. We were joined by members of WYDCOM, Red Cross and of course Rod Brooke himself for this photo shoot. And while it’s not up there with Bunnings, our group raised more than $200 from the sale of sausages and generous donations for a few hours of our time.
The WHYLD and worldwide communities will benefit from this sponsorship through the use of funds raised by the groups involved. Who hasn’t made a call to the SES in an emergency, or received support from the Red Cross? Rotary raise funds for notable causes, and WHYLD are supporting our local community.
These BBQs are run by volunteers who give up part of their valuable weekend. If you are looking for an opportunity to meet some locals and enjoy a social chat, why not think about getting involved? Community groups are always looking for volunteers. So, if you don’t have the spare cash to make a donation or buy a sausage, we’d love to have you lend a hand for a few hours once a month, or whenever you can. Please contact us for further details if you are interested in helping us make a difference.
As one of the groups involved in the weekly sausage sizzle (see above), WHYLD Community group have taken on running a monthly sausage sizzle at the Woori Butcher, generously sponsored by our very own local butcher Rod Brooke.
Our group has decided that we want to support the education of our younger generation, so we’ve launched a project aptly named “Kids in Need”. We understand that not everyone has the means to afford special activities that our schools offer, or maybe even the bare basics like books and uniform.
WHYLD will be contributing the proceeds of our fundraising efforts at the BBQ to our four local Primary Schools which will be allocated at the Principal’s discretion to support our needy kids and families. We hope we can count on your support by buying a sausage or giving a donation if you’re down in Woori Shops on the second Saturday of each month. We are also seeking volunteers who would like to help us run this monthly event.
Would you like to see a beautiful historic mural in Woori Yallock in the future? Well, Woori Community House is seeking community interest in a Woori Mural Project.
The project involves the painting of historical pictures of Woori Yallock and local District, highlighting its history and development since the late 1800’s. The paintings will form a mural along the base of the platform at the former Woori Yallock Station at Symes Road (along the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail).
Individuals and businesses will be sought to sponsor a photo they feel a connection to. Due to the limited photos we have available, we are encouraging people to bring any they have for consideration. This project is an extension of The Murals of Warburton https://www.warburtoninfo.com/Warburton-Train-Station-Murals . h t m l
For further information, please contact: Sonja Mazar at Woori Community House – 5964 6857 or Nicky Kosterman – 0400 203 389.
