by Kimberley Seedy RESIDENTS in high bushfire risk areas of the Yarra Valley who can’t use their mobile phones in an emergency because the signal is so bad are pushing for funding to fix the problem. Residents from East Warburton and Steels Creek, together with Casey federal Liberal MP Tony Smith and Yarra Ranges Council will make a joint submission for funding from a new $100 million Federal Government Mobile Coverage Program taskforce to fix the mobile phone black spots. East Warburton resident John Harry, part of an action group formed last year to try and get the problem fixed, said poor mobile phone reception was a huge safety problem in the area. Mr Harry said it was difficult to get reception to East Warburton, especially during bushfires, meaning ­residents couldn’t receive or send texts, access the FireReady App, or make phone calls. “It is a very, very serious safety…

The first of many grants to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC in our local Casey electorate has been approved by the Federal Government after recommendations from our local ANZAC Centenary committee, says Federal Member for Casey, Tony Smith. “A grant of $5,200 has been approved to help provide interpretative signage and a plaque at the site of a large Militia Camp at Lilydale and the site of a mock battle at Coldstream. The unveiling ceremonies surrounding these will also help mark the start of the important centenary commemorations and raise awareness of an extraordinary episode in our local history”. “The site, where the popular Lillydale Lake is today, hosted a week long ‘Camp of Instruction’ for 3000 soldiers of the 13th Infantry Brigade between 7-14 February, 1914 – some six months before the beginning of WWI”. “Their training included company and battalion drills, musketry practice and a mock battle at…