Pieces of history
The heritage-listed Puffing Billy Railway Trestle Bridge received repairs this week to replace aging pieces of the famous structure.
Bio
Third-year cadet journalist with Star News Group, writing news and features for south-east Melbourne newspapers.
I previously wrote for Soccerscene, a Business-to-Business football publication.
I am an ethical and dedicated journalist committed to delivering factually accurate public interest journalism.
Experienced in several different facets of journalism including audio/radio, broadcast, and feature-writing.
For news related inquiries I can be contacted at parker.mckenzie@starnewsgroup.com.au.
For everything else I can be reached at parkersmckenzie@gmail.com.
Below is a small selection of my published work.
Lack of transport hits hard
An Emerald resident has revealed her frustration with a lack of transport options in the area affecting elderly and disabled members of the community.
Car auction for charities
Ferntree Gully Nissan will be holding a charity auction of a GT-R supercar to raise funds for their local CFA and a Lilydale-based charity.
Addressing climate costs
With climate change increasing the longevity and intensity of bushfires, the risk of natural disasters in the Dandenong Ranges has continued to rise.
Ranges Trader front page 1 March
Skyrocketing insurance costs a sign of what's to come
“If it means leaving the house, you’re going to lose everything that you spent your life up until then building, people are not going to leave.”
The questionnaire hasn’t been wholly em-
braced yet with some businesses shying away
from filling it in, however, the data which has
been submitted is starting to paint a reveal-
ing —albeit incomplete — picture of an issue
that could arise when another fire rages in
the Dandenongs.
Major contract win
A Ferntree Gully-based business has been awarded a $3.4 million contract with the US Navy, to deliver work stands for safe access to P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft.
Supporting girls footy
Olinda Ferny Creek Junior Football Club has received a $1600 grant from the Toyota Good for Footy Grant to make girls football more accessible and affordable.
Hatchlings hinder plans
The discovery of a second hatchling of the vulnerable blue-billed duck at a site earmarked for development has sparked further calls to protect a naturalised man-made lake just outside Ferntree Gully.
Voices of Casey speak up
Voices of Casey held a community forum with talks from environmentalist, public scientist and 2007 Australian of the Year Tim Flannery and former Indi MP Cathy McGowan as they continue their search for a candidate to run for the seat of Casey in the next federal election.
Federal Treasurer drops in
During a visit to the Four Pillars Gin Distillery with Casey Liberal candidate Aaron Violi, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg signalled the Liberal Party “is deeply committed to investing” in the electorate.
Walk works start
The three levels on government – council, state and federal – came together at the Silvan Dam lookout in Kalorama for the RidgeWalk sod-turning ceremony.
Why have no women nominated for the Streeton Ward?
The Streeton Ward by-election nominations have shown a noticeable shift in proposed councillor representation.
In 2020, women won the majority of the first preference votes in the council elections, but fast forward two years and no women nominated for the 2022 Yarra Ranges’ by-election before the deadline closed 18 January.
Dr Graeme Moad appointed a Companion of the OAM
On Australia Day, Dr Graeme Moad added being appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia to a long list of achievements and awards.
The Sassafras scientist and researcher, who has had an illustrious career since he started as a research scientist at the CSIRO in 1979, has authored or co-authored over 200 publications and co-invented 37 patent families.
Quilter receives deserved award
Janet McFadyen didn’t believe she’d been honoured with an Order of Australia when it was first announced.
“This doesn’t happen to quilters, it happens to people who cure cancer or do something big through work, not to people that run the grass-roots sort of events.” Ms McFadyen said.
Second shot at survival
Kalorama locals Mark Wales and Sam Gash
may have won the ultimate prize after meet -
ing on the set of Survivor, but now the married
couple are returning for their second shot at
$500,000.
While competing on the show in 2017 the
pair hit it off, and since have welcomed a son
Harry into their family and married in Mon-
bulk in 2019.
“I think at one point Survivor had a better
strike rate than the Bachelor for relationships,”
Mark says
Belgrave's battle
A five-year battle for the development of a multi-storey complex in Belgrave seems to have finally reached a conclusion, with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) upholding Yarra Ranges Council’s decision to refuse a planning permit.
Printed pages of history
“The first attempt to establish a local newspaper took place at the conclusion of the First War, when Arthur W. Madge, Belgrave chemist, began publication of a paper named The Tourist and hawked copies up and down trains standing in the Belgrave station.”
Story of the Dandenongs (1959) page 142-43, Written by Helen Coulson
Pushed to breaking point
The rapid rise of omicron cases across the state has put immense pressure on ambulance, hospital and triple-zero services, and it’s only expected to get worse.
Labor's bid for Casey
With major party nominations complete and campaigns beginning in earnest, Labor candidate Bill Brindle is shaping up for a 2022 federal election with a different outlook from his first attempt at becoming the member for Casey.
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