We asked 40 of our readers and contributors ‘What does the Mountain Views Mail mean to you?’ to mark the paper’s 40th anniversary.
The responses provide a great snapshot of the diverse range of community connections the Mail team has forged over the years.
It keeps me in touch with what’s going on.
The local newspapers play an important role.
They can make something a big issue.
I’m a great believer in the expression of democracy and it’s important to be able to put your views in the paper and to talk all things and then for people to be able to reply to you.
Ray Donkin, Buxton
Global and national news are important, but for a community with real social cohesion like ours a direct local perspective cannot be underestimated.
The importance of the local paper is really what ties the community together.
Brett Whelan, Yarra Valley Railway vice president
We at HEWI not only read the paper, but we have all the cuttings and references from 1990 onwards.
It has covered our planning efforts and all our big events.
The community diary has been amazingly helpful in sharing our events. It really helps us organise events.
Maureen Bond, Healesville Environmental Watch Inc (HEWI)
The Mountain Views Mail and I go way back to when I first came to Healesville.
The first party I went to was at the Lamberts’ house and of course Mardie was running the paper at that stage.
I feel that without the Mail, I would have great difficulties these days in keeping up with all the knowledge of what’s happening around town.
It’s still the best method of keeping in touch with everybody.
Ian Tinney, Rotary Club of Healesville vice president
The Mountain Views has been a great voice for local views and a supporter of Landcare issues, and has helped us promote our activities through articles and the Community Diary section.
Our members and community volunteers have achieved great results thanks to the Mountain Views’ coverage of our events.
Karen Garth, Northern Yarra Landcare Network
The Mountain Views is the best because it makes you feel like you’re part of the family, particularly in a community like Healesville and the Yarra Valley.
It’s not just about all the other newsy things, its about the things that are particular for us, so it makes us feel a bit special.
It’s a valued piece of communication.
Sally Piper, Healesville Jewellers
What I appreciate about the Mountains Views is it always had that connection to the community.
Every week someone would go and get the paper and they could keep up with all the local issues and what was happening, and that’s really still gone ahead – right up until now.
When we look at the Mail News Group with the five banners it’s really all grown from that one small banner back over in Healesville and I think the local concept has really stood the test of time.
Jim Child, Yarra Ranges O’Shannassy Ward Councillor
It’s where we find out what’s going on.
To me, my interest is always going straight to the entertainment section to see what’s happening here or if somebody is coming to town.
The first place I look is the Mail.
Jeff Jenkins, Healesville artist
For me, the Mountain Views Mail is a regular writing gig that allows me to entertain and inform people through my film reviews.
I’ve made several good friends during my time with the newspaper, including Kath, Jesse and Derek, and I learned valuable writing and editing skills during my internship with the paper in 2011.
Seth Lukas Hynes, Healesville
Local newspapers play a vital role in disseminating information and are a great insight into the local community they represent.
Over the years the Mountain Views has given local residents the opportunity to be engaged, have a say about the important issues affecting them, promote community events and activities and champion local community members and organisations.
The Mountain Views is a great source of information and informs locals of what is going on in their neighbourhood and reflects community attitudes and concerns.
With the saturation of 24/7 media, social media and other platforms, the Mountain Views can be trusted to deliver reliable news and content about issues of local interest.
In keeping up with technology, you can now read your local paper digitally and share your views on the paper’s Facebook site.
I enjoy reading the Mountain Views and catching up on events and activities and hearing real stories about real people.
I love that the characters come alive on every page, whether it be the president from the local football netball club, captain from the emergency services organisation, volunteer from a community group or an outstanding individual achievement.
Their personal stories and accomplishments motivate and encourage people to keep connected with one another and their community.
I am particularly delighted to have the opportunity to provide my regular State of Affairs editorial in the Mountain Views, where I can share with constituents important issues and concerns that have been raised with me at all levels of government.
In addition, it allows me to communicate what I am doing in Parliament on their behalf.
Communities are certainly enriched by the provision of a local newspaper and the Mountain Views is a great example of a great local newspaper.
Congratulations to the Mountain Views on 40 wonderful years of service to the community and I wish you continued success well into the future.
Cindy McLeish, Eildon MP
The Mountain Views Mail is our local community’s voice; the opportunity for our community no matter how old or young to tell our neighbourhood who we are and what we doing within the community.
Every local can realistically expect to feature in the Mail if they have a story to tell!
As the community director and public liaison officer for the Rotary Club of Healesville, the Mountain Views Mail not only allows us to make the local community aware of the club’s activities but also acts as an invite for locals to take part in those activities.
As a local business operator, the Mountain Views Mail remains an essential media to make the community aware of what I do.
In short the Mail is an essential part of the conversation throughout the Yarra Valley.
Ian Vine, Rotary Club of Healesville
The Mountain Views brings me the news that matters most – what’s happening in my community.
The journalism focuses on what real people are doing and achieving in our local area.
The stories celebrate everyday heroes and heroines.
The paper documents our tragedies and our successes. I love it!
Doris Pozzi, Badger Creek Community Planning Group
I have ALWAYS loved our local paper from the day it was personally delivered to our mailbox in the early ‘80 to now by email!
Hubby (Stephen) still likes to pick up a hard copy now and then and it still keeps us connected to our beautiful town and surrounds!
Linda Shambrook (pictured with husband Stephen), Chum Creek
Happy birthday and I hope there is another 40 years.
I love the fact that we still have a local paper.
In so many ways it’s the voice of the community as well as for the community, and when I think about my time on council there’s been so many important issues the Mail has been absolutely behind and from me, there’s a huge thanks for the support, particularly for the hospital campaign.
The support from the Mail was absolutely critical, and I know the support has been so appreciated by myself and everyone involved.
Fiona McAllister, Yarra Ranges Ryrie Ward Councillor
Congratulations Mail News Group on the 40th anniversary of the Mountain Views Mail!
A wonderful milestone for our community and everyone involved – today and over past years – in local news.
In an age of new media, it is truly special that the Mountain Views Mail still holds strong and continues to be embraced by residents in our community.
The Mountain Views Mail is a vital and valuable asset to our community.
With a critical eye to what matters most locally, the Mountain Views Mail tells us the stories of local people, informs us of community events, and is an accurate source of local news.
Often our community has unique local perspectives and the Mountain Views Mail gives those perspectives a voice not heard in mainstream city publications.
It’s more than just a news publication, it helps build our community!
Happy birthday!
Bridget Vallence, Evelyn MP
The Mountain Views Mail is a very in-depth newspaper written by talented journalists that have an interest in spreading the important news of the week.
It is a good way to spread the word on local events and to spread the word on the amazing work volunteers do to help those in need in the community.
Geoff Wilkinson, Healesville SES duty officer and logistics support
The Mountain Views newspaper means that the community can hear about all the good things that organisations such as the SES do in the community.
It allows the community to be up-to-date with current news events within the Yarra Valley, but also recognises individuals for the hard work that they do.
Lucy Aston, Healesville SES recruitment section leader
Mountain Views Newspaper is a conduit for us to communicate with the community, to celebrate all the achievements of our volunteers and Ecoss’ projects.
This incredible service enables us to acknowledge the huge contributions that would not otherwise be seen in the community.
We are incredibly grateful for having Mountain Views Newspaper.
Chelsea McNab, Yarra Valley ECOSS
It’s a tangible connection between community members and whatever is happening in the community.
It’s the go-to place to find out what’s been happening, stories about local people, changes happening through council and finding out about new developments like whether ALDI is going to start up in town or not.
Jenny Reddin, Yarra Valley artist
The Mountain Views Mail has been a huge support to HICCI to promote what we do and all the services we provide, which we really appreciate.
As a local in Healesville, it’s been a great form of information for sharing what is going on in the community.
I like to read it every week.
Alison Gommers, Healesville Inter-church Community Care (HICCI) executive officer
The Mountain Views Mail is, to me, one of the most effective conduits that exists between community groups, organisations, government and community members of the Yarra Valley and surrounds.
It has the ability to inform people about things that affect them, to give a platform and support for community causes, and ask questions that need to be asked with an authoritative voice.
It also has the power to remind people of the humanity, the emotions and the experiences of people they’ve never known, or only seen one side of.
The writers and editors of the Mail always do this with compassion, sensitivity and integrity, especially on divisive issues.
You might not always agree with what you see in print, of course, but you can have faith that what ends up in the paper has been written with thought, consideration and care.
It’s a paper that you’d be hard-pressed to find a copy of late in the week, as people have grabbed their copy on Tuesday and Wednesday to catch up on the latest news or to see their friends’ or family members’ photos in print.
People care about their local paper, because the team at the Mail cares for them and their community.
Congratulations to the team at the Mail – past and present – on 40 well-done years.
I look forward to seeing where the next 40 years take the Mountain Views and the community it serves.
Jesse Graham, former Healesville resident and Mail journalist
Mail News Group is always full of interesting articles.
They are very obliging when we require assistance with information and events we are holding.
Thank you for always being there for us.
Eddie Tichelaar, Montrose CFA community safety co-ordinator
Local and relevant.
Touching on the issues and events that matter.
It’s an amazing training ground for so many young, talented journalists who care about the stories they write about.
Melissa Meehan, former Mail editor
The Mountain Views Mail has always been the stand-out newspaper for being independent and dedicated to the local community.
It’s not just another of a chain of papers with a different front page, it’s unique all the way through.
It’s a true local newspaper.
Greg Carrick, Mount Evelyn
I see it as a community vehicle to get the message out about what’s happening or some of the achievements of the people of the town.
They’ve been very supportive of us when we do something that is a little bit different or for a community purpose.
It is essential.
Kay Trembath, Crumbz Craft, Healesville
The Mountain Views Mail is a vessel or tool of communication with the community.
It’s been a positive experience over the years.
It’s not delivered where I live anymore, but I’m still very aware of it and if there’s something I need to find or know, I’ll dive online.
Tim Peel, Silvermist Studios, Healesville
We get it every week and it keeps you in touch with the local community.
Some people like to get very narrow and focus on things around where they live and I think it does a great job in acting as a community link.
Anne O’Shaughnessy, Upper Yarra U3A
The Mountain Views has played a pivotal role in defining and empowering our community.
The paper was an inspired vision by the Lamberts, who recognised the need for a local paper to inform us about significant local news, issues and events, of doubtful relevance to Melbourne’s flagship newspapers.
The Mountain Views has consistently championed a broad range of local issues, informed and educated our community on social, health, environmental and government proposals, as well as tackling sensitive matters like domestic violence and religious accountability.
Through their passion for our community and its needs, coupled with their objective coverage, the paper has helped define our ‘community of interest’, protecting all which we hold dear.
Thank you for the last 40 years.
Imagine what could have been lost without your tireless advocacy, making others accountable for their actions and agendas.
Jane Judd, Services for Healesville Action Group (SHAG)
The fortieth birthday of the Mountain Views Mail is a testament to its value to our local community.
The Mail group of papers are our community’s last stand-alone local papers – and the Mountain Views Mail has been so for four decades.
And in that time they have covered our Yarra Valley story.
They have covered the triumphs and the tragedies.
They have told the countless stories of community groups doing great work, individual achievement as well as the inevitable controversies.
When our community has been shaken by life changing events, the Mountain Views Mail has been there.
The coverage of Black Saturday a decade ago not only told the story of devastation and unbearable loss, the way it was told also bound our community together.
Our community has changed enormously since 1979, and the Mountain Views Mail’s dedicated journalists from then and since have covered all the changes, happenings and developments.
As a community we have been enriched by the paper’s existence.
Its survival and success over 40 years was in no way pre-destined.
It has required hard work and dedication to produce a quality paper that is in and of our community.
Many other communities lost their local papers a long time ago but the Mountain Views Mail has thrived and continues to inform the people of the Outer East and the Yarra Valley.
Happy 40th and all the best for the decades to come.
Tony Smith, Casey MP
The Mountains Views means a voice in the local community.
It enables locals to express their views to a wider audience (not that we always agree with them).
It is informative about local social events and sporting activities.
It contains local news and reports that are seldom seen in the major newspapers.
Karl Hradsky, Healesville resident of 35 years
I think in a small community – and Healesville isn’t as small as it used to be – it’s really valuable to have your own newspaper.
It provides good information to your community – sometimes about good things, sometimes bad, sometimes funny, sometimes sad.
The Mountain Views is our newspaper.
(Husband) Robert and I were friends with (Mountain Views Mali founders) Mardie and Harry and they were close friends of my parents.
We knew (journalist) Kath Gannaway and were friends with (advertising representative) Barbara Honan.
It’s nice to have your own newspaper.
Cheryl Chippindall, Healesville
The Mountain Views Mail has supported The Good Life Farm from its very beginning.
It connects all of our community, not only with news but also events and special moments.
Lesley Porter, The Good Life Farm, Chum Creek
The Mountain Views Mail, the fine journal that it is, keeps an old bloke like me in touch.
Seth and his movie reviews are not to be missed.
If Seth says it is good, I’ll give it a whirl. I haven’t been disappointed yet. He’s a beauty.
To be able to find answers to the questions of community interest ie what’s happening with ALDI?
I love to see photos and stories about Fiona McAllister, my councillor whom I adore.
The Mountain Views Mail is light on politics which is great because readers don’t like boring and politics is as boring as bat shit.
The local sport coverage is really good, from the dish lickers to the footy. Up the mighty Bloods.
The always-entertaining letters page with its diversity of opinion is an essential part of what you do at the Mail and it is much-appreciated.
One more – the coverage of Aunty Dot’s awards recently was really well done.
What would we do without her and your people-centric newspaper?
Stanley R Burgess, Healesville
Well, the old girl is turning 40! Hip, hip, hooray.
I’ve lived in the Yarra Valley for nearly the same 40 years, as we took up residence here in 1980.
The Mail has been a constant companion for that whole period.
It is a great source of local information.
Having been a teacher in this area for most of that 40 years, I’ve got to know lots of people throughout the valley.
It’s great to catch up with the exploits and adventures of many of them, as seen through the eyes of so many Mail journos.
And, make no mistake, journalism of the highest order has been on display through all of those editions.
So, what makes the Mail compulsory viewing to many valley residents – and beyond?
Well, from my perspective, here are the little gems that I never fail to look for:
1. The letters to the editor – some absolute gems, but ALL of great interest;
2. The sports news – being from a sporting background I love catching up with the footy, cricket, little aths, golf columns, rifle club news and much more;
3. The ‘what’s on’ segment – often reminding me to go to an event/function I knew was coming up;
4. The obituaries – no, I’m not being morbid, but it’s ALWAYS interesting and often uplifting to read what people have achieved in their lives;
5. Any school news – for obvious reasons, especially at Junction or Launch;
6. The Lowdown – this new Q and A interview segment is a welcome regular column.
Some of you would recognise my name because I contribute one of the weekly golf columns.
It is a simple and short analysis of our two weekly comps and occasional extras.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people who know me read that column and give me plenty of stick if I miss a week.
Valley people like to keep up-to-date with all sorts of goings-on, including golf – and many of them don’t play the game!
That is what the Mail is all about – keeping the valley informed! Long may it reign.
Ron Hottes, Warburton
To me the paper serves many purposes.
For starters: the cartoons, then the local content and news from the valley.
Once I’m through with that I use the paper for fire starters, as a budgie poo catcher and cleaning windows.
Not much gets into the recycling.
Danny Zemp, Healesville
It means a local perspective on what’s going on in Healesville and surrounds.
I’ve been reading it for years and I knew Kath Gannaway.
It’s just a regular part of my weekly cycle.
I receive it online on Tuesday mornings and I always lookout for anything in particular of relevance as I am interested in environmental stories.
Steve Meacher, Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum president, Toolangi
For me, it’s an important way to keep informed on local activities and happenings each week.
I have been reading ‘the local’ in its changing forms for the past 30 years and always look forward to it coming out each week, catching up on the local news and especially the letters to the editor and the community diary.
Suyin Chan, Warburton
It means the source of local news, events, campaigns, opinions and information.
With local councils being the most accessible level of government for the public, it is no use grumbling about your rates if you don’t take the time to know how the bureaucracy is spending your money and that is where the Mountain Views Mail becomes a source for that information.
It was with encouragement from Mail journalist Kath Gannaway that John Rosser wrote his letter in 2001 decrying the appalling condition our roads and drainage had been allowed to degenerate into, along with the dismissive attitude towards ratepayers exhibited under the council of the day that led to the formation of Healesville Action Group (HAG).
Local papers have evolved over time from just presenting social gossip, hatches, matches and dispatches, to an important source of vital information for and about the community they service.
After reading the obituary article for Mardie Lambert by Kath, I wonder if Mardie ever envisaged the legacy she would be leaving for the Healesville community when she launched the Mountain Views 40 years ago.
The MV Mail has not only provided the information, but also the opportunity for young journalists to gain valuable experience in their chosen career under the expert guidance of the recently-retired Kath Gannaway.
While there have been many over the years, I do recall Melissa Donchi in 2007, so avidly covering the community campaign to save the 60-year-old stand of poplars in Badger Creek Road and Jesse Graham arriving at the tip site still on his red P-plates to take some photos in support of the failed campaign to stop the tip from being closed in 2014.
More recently, there was huge support from the Mail after our local midwifes exposed the attempt by Eastern Health to surreptitiously close down our hospital.
Not to overlook the past and ongoing support from the Mail in the fight to wrestle ownership of the Healesville Green park land back from VicTrack.
Not only have I read over the years the heart-rending stories following the 2009 fires, but also the informative news of local events and council activities – who could forget the infamous wombat crossing? Still there and I have yet to see a wombat using it.
It is heartening to see the editorial leadership established by Mardie, fostered by Kath and now passed to Casey Neill – the Mountain Views Mail should be around for another 40 years at least.
For me, the Mountain Views Mail has risen to the challenges of competition from social media and the advent of the digital age, although I am of the generation that probably still prefers to read the print version.
Like all ‘free’ local papers, they require advertising to pay the bills, which is why we must support local businesses who in turn will advertise and keep the paper alive and able to keep us informed.
John Anwin, Healesville Action Group
For as long as I remember, the Mountain Views has been supporting the arts in the valley.
Mardie and her husband Harry and Kath Gannaway were always supportive when Mum used to run her gallery 30 years ago.
I remember them all coming up to look at the art and attend events and I used to help out by delivering copy down to the arcade.
This was before cafe culture had started and tea rooms were the thing.
I remember them meeting Mum in the gallery tea room.
And now that I have returned to Healesville, the Mountain Views is as supportive as ever, working hard to bring arts news to the people.
Some great things never change.
Christine Joy, Hearth Galleries, Healesville
The Yarra Glen and District Historical Society looks forward each week to receiving the Mountain Views Mail to scan it for items of relevance to our community which help us build an archive of historical information for future reference.
Helen Mann, Yarra Glen and District Historical Society secretary
