By PETER DOUGLAS
THE ‘Mail’ was fortunate enough recently to have been granted a personal tour of the Yarra Ranges, as seen through the eyes of new mayor, Cr Maria McCarthy.
And it doesn’t take long to understand just how passionate Cr McCarthy is about her home turf.
This is evident in the ease with which she rattles off the history of numerous sections of land or roads, or explains the changes to businesses and properties.
Cr McCarthy was raised and educated in Lilydale, eventually working at her parents’ popular milkbar and deli, Charlie’s Deli, in Lilydale when she was a teen.
She went on to run her own business for 20 years, as well as becoming deeply involved in the community.
Just some of her involvements have included the Lilydale Chamber of Commerce, Melba Support Services, the Yarra Valley Italian Cultural Group, the Mount Evelyn Street Festival and the Friends of the Lilydale Museum Trust.
Then came her appointment to council in 2013, then, in December last year, being voted in as mayor.
“Firstly, I just love the people and the communities, they are so vibrant and passionate,” she said.
“There are so many hard-working families and good people.
“There is so much diversity here, from viticulture to the fruit-growers, to the amazing mountain-scapes and the trees in the Hills.”
Our tour started through the winding roads of Cr McCarthy’s own Billanook ward and towards one of her favourite places, the Silvan Reservoir.
Our next stop was Cloudehill Gardens in Olinda, a location which best highlights the region’s diversity.
Sitting atop a slope at the top of the Dandenongs, Cloudehill features an intricate, beautiful garden with many pathways to explore.
Owner Jeremy Francis pointed out the garden is enriched through the deep volcanic loam soil, which receives 1.25m of average rainfall annually.
“There is little frost, more snow than frost in fact,” he said.
“These factors go to explain why the Dandenongs is one of the outstanding places to garden worldwide.”
As we headed off again, Cr McCarthy said the diversity of the region also presented unique challenges to council.
She highlighted the fact about 70 per cent of the shire’s population lived in the urban areas of the shire, which represents only about 4 per cent of its landmass.
One of the last destinations included the fruit-picking communities in the Silvan and Wandin regions, many of which have made the U-Pick initiative extremely popular.
Guests don’t need to bring anything, with a container supplied upon entry.
Cr McCarthy noted how much has changed over the years, saying she hoped to make a positive difference during her time as mayor.
