Business, Community and Environment in the Yarra Ranges and surrounding suburbs
Last Saturday morning the Dandenong Ranges community lost a tenacious spirit with the passing of local Emerald identity Mr David Greenaway. David was an unequivocally kind man. He never once failed to share his generous personality with his family, friends or the greater community. As […]
The Storey Players, have re-written history with their telling of the Burke and Wills Story. Few people know the full account of the Burke and Wills expedition, so Simon Storey and his travelling family of players decided to research and create a show for schools, […]
When I was a young teenager, around 14 or 15 I had a beautiful 15 hand chestnut Mare, aptly named Chessy. This horse was agisted with family friends on their property located on Wellington Road in Lysterfield. The property was quite large with a small house, stables and paddocks for the family horses and the agisted horses. One of my most distinct memories from this time was the stories they told about a large black panther like cat that roamed their property at night.
It was drummed into us to not stray to far from the house after dark. This ‘cat’ or panther had been seen on various occasions by them and the people on neighboring properties. It had been known in the area to attack live stock and even people. I remember the sounds out in the paddocks at night of growls and strange cry’s along side the whinny of the distressed horses. It was creepy, yet a running joke, a story that seemed to become more embellished with each telling.
I was thinking about this of late and decided to do some research into the phenomena. Black panther sized cats are reported to have been seen all over Victoria, but seem to be somewhat concentrated to in and around the Hills area.
A couple from Kallista reported seeing a Labrador sized cat in a paddock down the hill in Monbulk, while several teenagers reported seeing a large cat in Belgrave. One very detailed sighting comes from couple driving along the Warburton Highway who saw a panther walking along the road, the animal was large enough to reach the height of the car window. A horse in a paddock in The Basin was maulded by a creature that left large claw marks down the hind quarter of the animal, wounded down to the bone. There has even been sighing’s in Kellets Road in Lysterfield and on the 1000 Steps in Ferntree Gully. One theory of how the big cats got here is that a Monbulk man who owned a miniature zoo about 30 years ago released his animals into the bush when the zoo was closed. Others say it is an exotic native predatory species yet to be fully identified. Cryptozoology is certainly fascinating.
There are hundreds of such stories, and there are even several online forums discussing the phenomenon. The debate rages on, if these sightings are just feral cats or something else, something elusive. There is no doubt that the Australian Panther like cat is becoming an enigma, one that is ever more likely to be real.
Have you seen a Black Panther? Let us know your story.
This article was sponsored by Hills Physiotherapy. They provide the premier physiotherapy, remedial massage, myotherapy and associated health services to the hills with years of experience and expertise.
After seeing the original Star War film, A New Hope at the drive in when I was five, I have always been a fan of the franchise, even some what enjoying the disastrous George Lucas attempts at the first 3 episodes. Since Disney have purchased […]
Paul ‘Dougie’ Douglas and Belinda Smullen are well know foodies in the Hills area, and have a passion for good, wholesome locally growth seasonal food. Together they have provided the community with the successful General Food Store, that has been running since 2011. Their latest […]
If you are looking for something to do in the evening over the summer months, you can not go past the very cosmopolitan Outdoor Cinema at Cameo Cinema in Belgrave.
Cameo is an independently run business that presents a generous selection of films all year round. They have been known to give screen time to smaller local productions as well as the usual Hollywood fare. The cinemas have a very nostalgic feel are fairly priced and offer great service, comfort and atmosphere.
As the weather improves in the Dandenongs, Cameo hold an outdoor theatre that presents a wildly popular array of older films and new releases. This years calendar includes gems such as 1980’s Labyrinth and The Goonies, cult classics like A Night At The Roxbury, or even family favourite Disney’s The Lion King. On top of these options the season includes a sing-along screening of Australia’s favourite black comedy Muriel’s Wedding.
In between this inspired selection will be screenings of the new StarWars film, The Last Jedi, and several other new releases which will no doubt draw a generous crowd.
With very reasonable ticket prices and cheap tickets on Tuesdays, you can come and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Hills while watching one of your favourite films. Patrons can lounge on picnic blankets or deck chairs.
Should the temperamental Victorian weather make it impossible to go ahead with the screening session holders are given tickets to an alternate screening.
What a fabulous way to spend a summer evening with your friends, family and the greater Hills community.
For a full listing of ticket prices and the Outdoor Cinema Calendar,
http://www.cameocinemas.com.au/Page/Outdoor-Cinema.
There are many stories about the Dandenong Ranges, haunted houses, ghosts and mysterious happenings. I have personally been witness to several strange events that were difficult to define with a natural explanation. As a teenager my boyfriend and his friends would drive up to the top […]
As most people who live in the hills know the Dandenong Ranges are made up of a great deal of natural eucalyptus forest, Mountain Ash, temperate rain forest and Stringybark. Part of the life cycle of this type of forest includes fire. When burnt seed […]
The Micawber Tavern located on Monbulk Road between Belgrave and Kallista, is my favorite all time pub. It is a real traditional pub with not a Pokie machine in sight, and is a favorite drinking hole and meeting place in the Dandenong Ranges for locals and tourists alike.
This down to earth old style establishment has been a stalwart of the Dandenongs since 1923. As they say it is ‘ a beautiful little pub in a beautiful part of the country’. Bordered by a pretty little stream, on a sunny day the beer garden is a great place to enjoy one of the many inexpensive local or international beers on tap, or some of the delicious and well priced food on offer. Or come inside and sit beside the open fire, and enjoy the quirky nature of the decor. Reminiscent of a Scottish pub, this fascinating and unique place is a huge supporter of live music, having bands and individual acts on stage on Friday and Saturday night, and Sunday afternoons.
The Micawber provide meals 7 days a week with the kitchen open all day from 12pm on Saturdays and Sundays. With traditional pub food on offer, they also provide a variety of vegetarian, gluten free and even vegan options, and an excellent and cheap kids menu. The staff are outrageously friendly and provide outstanding service to their patrons. Everyone is made to feel welcome into this historic, fun and beautiful place.
Get up to the Micawber Tavern for an unusual and always enjoyable day, or night out.
http://www.micawbertavern.com.au
Plebiscites ‘An issue put to the vote which does not affect the Constitution is called a plebiscite. A plebiscite is not defined in the Australian Constitution, the Electoral Act or the Referendum Act. A plebiscite can also be referred to as a simple national vote. […]