Issue 69 | Thursday April 17, 2025
Easter, ANZAC Day, and Election information
In This Issue
Community Calendar
Easter Picnic
ANZAC Day Dawn Service
Meet the Candidates
Where to Vote
Mt Evelyn in the News
Sport Calendar
Community Calendar
~ FRIDAY, APRIL 18 ~
Mt Evelyn Presbyterian Church Easter Friday Service
10am
30-36 Birmingham Rd
Discovery Church Easter Friday Service
10am
89 Monbulk Rd
~ SUNDAY, APRIL 20 ~
Discovery Church Easter Sunday Service
9am and 11am
89 Monbulk Rd
Mt Evelyn Presbyterian Church Easter Sunday Service
10am
30-36 Birmingham Rd
Easter Picnic
12:30pm - 2pm
Free, please RSVP https://discovery-community-care-461615.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2854755 or administration@discoverycc.org.au
Discovery Community Care, 87 Monbulk Rd
Easter Picnic
Discovery Community Care
Come along to a Easter Picnic up at the DCC house after the 11am service at Discovery on Easter Sunday!
12:30pm at the Discovery Community Care house
87 Monbulk Rd Mt Evelyn
Please RSVP for this session so we know how many we are expecting to come along.
https://discovery-community-care-461615.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2854755
or email administration@discoverycc.org.au
ANZAC Day Dawn Service
The ANZAC Day Dawn Service will be held on Friday, April 25 at the RSL Memorial Garden, cnr Wray Cres and Birmingham Rds, starting at 5:45am.
Meet the Candidates
Last week was the close of nominations for the upcoming Federal Election on May 3.
Our Electorate of Casey has eight Candidates, they will appear on the Ballot as follows:
COURTIS, Phillip - Trumpet of Patriots
LIVORI, Ambere - Pauline Hanson's One Nation
BOND, Chloe - Animal Justice Party
NEBAUER, Dan - Family First
BLAIR, Merran - The Greens
OAKLEY, Naomi - Australian Labor Party
FERRES MILES, Claire - Independent
VIOLI, Aaron - Liberal
The M.E. & You contacted each Candidate (or their Party if a direct contact wasn’t found) and invited them to share some information about themselves and local policies. At the time of publishing, only two have responded*. Candidate websites, and responses, are below in order of how they appear on the Ballot.
*Updated with new Candidate introductions at 3pm April 17.
Phillip Courtis - Trumpet of Patriots
https://trumpetofpatriots.org/candidates/phillip-courtis/
Ambere Livori - Pauline Hanson's One Nation
https://www.onenation.org.au (visit the website for their policies, but there is no information on the Casey Candidate at the time of publication)
Chloe Bond - Animal Justice Party
https://vic.animaljusticeparty.org/chloe-bond-for-casey
Dan Nebauer - Family First
I am standing in this election for Family First as I believe I am a strong and trustworthy candidate. My 25 years in the RAAF (and a Vietnam Veteran), nine years in senior management of a major multinational company, and some 11 years of owning and managing my own travel company have given me strong leadership and management skills.
I am a man of Christian faith and have been married to my wonderful wife Anne for more than 58 years – we have three adult children with their own families and five grand children ranging from 28 to five years of age.
Having lived in this region for many years, I share the same pressures of high living costs including power & gas prices, the cost of putting meals on the table, paying council rates, meeting high insurance costs or filling up the family car - the list goes on and on. Watching my adult children trying to buy a home has made me so aware of the pressure on people seeking to get into the housing market today.
I have a very strong affinity with the aims and convictions of Family First – the family comes first in all we aim to achieve – whether it is addressing the issues I mentioned above, or addressing the needs of parents facing uncertainty for the future of their children in a schooling system that no longer teaches pride in themselves or their nation but has a deliberate intent on creating uncertainty about their gender – from a very early age – Family First has a wide range of policies aimed at tackling these issues from a faith based family perspective – you can see all of Family First’s published policies here: https://www.familyfirstparty.org.au/policies - I don’t think there would be a single person or family in Mt Evelyn that would not benefit from these policies.
Dan Nebauer – your Family First candidate for Casey.
Merran Blair - The Greens
https://greens.org.au/vic/person/merran-blair
Naomi Oakley - Australian Labor Party
https://www.facebook.com/NaomiOakleyLabor4Casey
Claire Ferres Miles - Independent
I'm running as the Community Independent candidate for Casey because I believe our community deserves a representative who will speak up on the issues our community wants action on, will always put the community first, is 100% accountable to the community, and not just toe the party line.
I've lived in Upwey for 27 years with my husband and five kids. I'm a small business owner and engineer who's run large organisations and held senior roles in business and government, including as head of Sustainability Victoria.
I am a passionate problem solver and community organiser - I know how government works (and doesn't work). I have the skills to be an effective Community Independent MP for Casey and I really want the job.
People are telling me the two-party system is broken. People are disappointed with the government and feel the parties are not working for the people, rather major corporations, vested interests and donors. As Zoe Daniel MP said at the National Press Club this week, 'The real risk isn’t change — the real risk is expecting the same people to fix the problems they created.'
As a Community Independent I am free to speak up for our community, not just toe the party line. My policies are the priority issues people want action.
Every vote I make in Parliament is a vote for our community. It may be my face on the poster but it's the voice of the Casey community in Parliament.
Voices for Casey conducted a 2024 Listening Campaign with over 1,000 people responding. The Top 5 issues identified were Cost of Living, Housing, Health care, Climate Action and Integrity. These Top 5 issues continue to dominate every conversation I have with people from across the Casey electorate.
Aaron Violi - Liberal
I’m Aaron Violi, the Federal Member for Casey, having been endorsed by our community to be our local representative in the 2022 Federal Election.
I haven't wasted a day getting out into our community, listening to what matters in every corner and fighting for our community in Parliament.
I am a proud third generation resident of Casey, ever since my family migrated from Italy and settled in Silvan in 1953.
My wife Rachel and I both grew up locally and it’s where we are raising our two children.
I’ve spent my whole life living in Casey – I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
I attended Yarra Glen Primary School and Mt Lilydale Mercy College, and my first job was at a Yarra Valley catering company, Prestige Events.
After school I attained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at La Trobe University, and then went on to do a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Deakin University.
Locally, I have been fighting for reliable telecommunications, funding to seal our local roads and improved local facilities.
I have announced that an elected Liberal Government will deliver $3 million to strengthen our local telecommunications network to deliver increased battery back-up at mobile towers during power outages.
An elected Liberal Government will also reinstate the program to seal dirt roads across our community.
I have also announced an elected Liberal Government will provide $365,000 to upgrade the lighting at the Morrison Reserve Athletics Track in Mt Evelyn, to improve access all year round and a safer environment for the many locals who utilise this great athletics track.
As a Liberal, I am part of a team that has a strong plan to get Australia back on track – you can read more at https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan
With deep roots in our community, I am honoured to be your local Federal member and voice in the Australian Parliament.
Where to Vote
EARLY VOTING
Early voting begins on April 22.
As there is no early voting centre in Mt Evelyn, our closest one is St Patrick's Parish Community Centre, 35 Jones St, Lilydale.
It will be open the following times:
Tuesday, April 22 to Thursday, April 24 - 8:30am to 5:30pm
ANZAC Day - Closed
Saturday, April 26 - 9am to 4pm
Sunday - Closed
Monday, April 28 to Thursday, May 1 - 8:30am to 5:30pm
Friday, May 2 - 8:30am to 6pm
ELECTION DAY
Saturday, May 3
You will be able to vote at the following locations:
- Mount Evelyn Primary School, 33 Monbulk Rd
- Mount Evelyn Christian Reformed Church, 45-47 Birmingham Rd
Voting is open from 8am until 6pm
Mt Evelyn in the News
Yarra Ranges Council endorses motion, advocating for urgent care clinic to be located in Healesville
Star Mail
https://mountainviews.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2025-04-14/yarra-ranges-council-endorses-motion-advocating-for-urgent-care-clinic-to-be-located-in-healesville/
Looking After Yarra Ranges: March Minor Works
Yarra Ranges Council
https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Council/Latest-news/Looking-After-Yarra-Ranges-March-Minor-Works-2025
Sport Calendar
FOOTBALL
Find this week’s match details via the links below: